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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Commission file number 0-23634
KFX INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 84-1079971
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
Incorporation or organization) IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3200, DENVER, COLORADO USA 80202
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
(303) 293-2992
(REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER INCLUDING AREA CODE)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
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Common Stock, $.001 par value American Stock Exchange
================================================================================
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes [ X ] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]
As of March 26, 1999, the aggregate market value of the Registrant's common
stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $17,059,000.
At March 26, 1999, 23,951,740 shares of common stock of the Registrant were
outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Portions of the Registrant's definitive
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 17,
1999 are incorporated by reference into Part III.
KFX INC.
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
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PART I
Item 1. Business........................................................................ 1
Item 2. Properties...................................................................... 14
Item 3. Legal Proceedings............................................................... 14
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders............................. 15
PART II
Item 5. Market for Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters......................... 16
Item 6. Selected Financial Data......................................................... 17
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations........................................................... 18
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk...................... 24
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data...................................... 24
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
And Financial Disclosures....................................................... 24
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers................................................ 25
Item 11. Executive Compensation.......................................................... 25
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.................. 25
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.................................. 25
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K................. 26
SIGNATURES...................................................................... 29
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
KFx Inc. (the "Company" or "KFx"), a Delaware corporation formed in 1988,
is engaged in developing and delivering various technology and service solutions
to the electric power generation industry to facilitate the industry's
compliance with air emission standards and transformation to intensive
competition as the domestic power industry undergoes deregulation. The Company
currently considers its business to be in one industry segment since its
existing products and services serve the same end industry and provide similar
benefits. In addition, new products and services under development are expected
to be complementary. Currently, the Company has technology solutions that
enhance the output of coal-fired electric utility boilers while simultaneously
reducing the related environmental impacts. Although the Company is pursuing
various international opportunities, during each of the three years ended
December 31, 1998, substantially all of the Company's operating activities were
conducted domestically.
The patented K-Fuel Technology uses heat and pressure to physically and
chemically transform high-moisture, low-energy value coal and other organic
feedstocks into a low-moisture, high-energy solid clean fuel ("K-Fuel"). The
principal benefit of the K-Fuel Technology is that the fuel produced from the
process can facilitate the efforts of electric power producers and other large-
scale users of coal to meet the clean air standards imposed by the Clean Air
Act, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (the "CAAA"). Based on
various analyses, the environmental benefits of burning K-Fuel versus most other
coals appear to include significant reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxide
(NO\\x\\), sulfur dioxide (SO\\2\\), carbon dioxide (CO\\2\\), mercury and
chlorine. KFx plans to license K-Fuel Technology domestically and
internationally to various parties wishing to construct and operate K-Fuel
production facilities.
In early 1998, through the acquisition of a controlling interest in Pegasus
Technologies, Limited ("Pegasus") and the Company's formation in mid 1998 of Net
Power Solutions, LLC ("NPS"), the Company added NeuSIGHT(TM) to its solutions.
NeuSIGHT is the leading combustion optimization product for coal-fired electric
utility boilers, which, in addition to improving boiler efficiency, reduces
NO\\x\\ emissions. NeuSIGHT is a neural network-based (i.e. artificial
intelligence) software technology. Pegasus developed NeuSIGHT and continues to
enhance it and develop related products while NPS focuses on marketing and sales
of NeuSIGHT licenses and related implementation services.
The Company is actively exploring various options to expand its business by
adding other solutions (technologies, products and services) to meet: (a) the
needs of the electric power industry as it is transformed by deregulation into a
highly competitive industry; and (b) the increasingly stringent environmental
standards triggered by indications of global warming and other environmental
concerns.
NET POWER SOLUTIONS & PEGASUS
General
In March 1998 the Company purchased a 60% interest in Pegasus. Pegasus has
developed a neural network-based (i.e., artificial intelligence) software
technology that optimizes the combustion performance of coal-fired electric
utility boilers. Pegasus' software product, known as NeuSIGHT, provides two
primary benefits: improved combustion performance and reduction in NO\\x\\
emissions. NO\\x\\ is a primary component of ground level smog. See "Market
Drivers-Domestic Market." Additional benefits of NeuSIGHT include a)
improvements in boiler efficiency (heat rate), which translates into lower fuel
costs, as well as lower emissions of SO\\2\\ and CO\\2\\; b) an increase in
gross generating capacity, providing more electricity for the power company to
sell; c) lower carbon in the ash waste by-product, which can convert a related
waste product disposal cost into a marketable ash product; and d) improvements
in opacity, which refers to the visible exhaust discharged from an emissions
stack.
1
NeuSIGHT dynamically models in real time the operating conditions of the
electric utility boiler combustion process and makes alterations to operating
variables, which improve boiler heat-rate performance, reduce harmful emissions
and lower fuel costs. Maximum benefits are achieved by allowing NeuSIGHT to
operate in closed loop mode wherein its alterations to operating variables are
automatically invoked.
NeuSIGHT utilizes a neural network technology licensed from a subsidiary of
Computer Associates (CA) under an agreement which, among other terms, grants
Pegasus a perpetual, irrevocable, world-wide, exclusive right and license for
use in process monitoring and control applications in the electric utilities
industry. Under the license agreement each NeuSight license sale requires the
Company to remit a payment to CA. CA is also a 15% owner of Pegasus. Pegasus
management holds the 25% balance of ownership in Pegasus.
In August 1998, the Company formed Net Power Solutions, LLC (NPS) to
provide marketing and sales services to Pegasus, and in October, hired a chief
executive officer for NPS with considerable experience in growing software
businesses. In addition, in late 1998 and early 1999, NPS hired a marketing and
sales staff. During the last quarter of 1998 and early 1999, NPS further
analyzed the benefits and market potential of NeuSIGHT, in terms of price and
volume potential. This analysis has resulted in a new sales and marketing
approach, targeted at executive management in the electric power generation
industry and focused on the value delivered by NeuSIGHT. Management believes
that this approach will facilitate acceleration in the growth of NPS and Pegasus
triggered by improvements in pricing and the volume of NeuSIGHT installations.
NPS and Pegasus have primarily used their own marketing and sales force but have
taken and will continue to take advantage of consultants and others periodically
to assist in these efforts.
During 1998, NPS assisted Pegasus with most of its sales and marketing
activities, but did not generate sales for its own account. Nevertheless, since
the activities of NPS and Pegasus are closely intertwined, they are generally
referred to together in this discussion as NPS/Pegasus or NPS and Pegasus.
As of March 26, 1999, NPS and Pegasus have firm unfilled sales commitments
(backlog) for 12 NeuSIGHT licenses and related installations at an estimated
contract value of $1,263,000, which are generally expected to be filled within
approximately the next 3-12 months. Of these 12 installations, 11 were started
in 1998 or before (including 8 started before September 30, 1998).
Strategic Relationships
In September 1998 NPS negotiated an agreement with Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC) providing SAIC with certain exclusive rights to
install NeuSIGHT software, as a subcontractor to NPS, in North America. SAIC is
a diversified, employee-owned, high technology research and engineering company
based in San Diego that provides, among various other services, computer systems
integration services, and derives a significant portion of its revenues from the
energy and utility sector. SAIC has over 35,000 employees and generates annual
revenues in excess of $4 billion. Under the terms of the definitive agreement
executed in March 1999, SAIC has the right to perform NeuSIGHT installations
that NPS does not elect to perform with its own staff. Subject to certain
termination provisions covering performance and other matters, the agreement
expires after SAIC completes 30 installations of NeuSIGHT or three years,
whichever occurs first. In exchange for certain services, investments and
preferred billing rates by SAIC, the agreement also provides for a 50/50 sharing
of gross profits from the installation services provided by SAIC to NPS
customers under the agreement.
Competition
NPS and Pegasus face competition from several companies that offer software
products providing combustion optimization benefits to the electric power
industry. Management believes the NeuSIGHT software solution offers several
competitive advantages over competitor's offerings. Most significantly, in a
recent independent study, NeuSIGHT has been documented as providing greater
benefits in the areas of NO\\x\\ reduction and heat rate improvement. In
addition, NeuSIGHT has demonstrated an ability to operate in closed-loop
supervisory mode for extended time periods without intervention. NeuSIGHT's
neural network model is considerably more extensive and therefore more effective
than competing products, through its ability to manage higher volumes of input
variables (up to 7 times the level of competing products). While NeuSIGHT's
neural network models are sophisticated and complex, the software has a unique
capability to retrain the model automatically as operating
2
conditions change in the plant. Competing product models are generally static
and require periodic re-tuning, making them more costly to maintain and less
effective over time. In Management's opinion, these and other features provide a
much greater ability for the software to adapt to changing environmental
conditions, equipment degradation, instrument calibration drift, and operating
variances.
In the opinion of management, compared with competing companies, NPS and
Pegasus provide more extensive implementation and training programs that result
in an end product more closely correlated to the actual operating conditions of
the specific boiler unit. NPS and Pegasus are focused exclusively on the needs
of the electric power generation industry rather than serving various industries
with differing needs. This focus, coupled with the expertise of its personnel in
this market, enable NPS/Pegasus to deliver solutions that provide significantly
greater reductions in NO\\x\\, higher levels of operating efficiency and other
benefits not provided by competitors. Competing products tend to emphasize price
as their basis of comparison, while NPS/Pegasus is focused on cost benefit
analysis and return on investment (ROI). While NPS/Pegasus believes it is the
leader in the industry, based on the number of installed systems in the electric
power generation industry, certain competing companies may have greater
financial and other resources. In addition, NPS/Pegasus may face new
competition from other vendors to the electric power generation industry, many
of which have significantly greater financial and other resources than
NPS/Pegasus and KFx.
K-FUEL TECHNOLOGY
General
The K-Fuel Technology is comprised of three groups, or Series', of patents.
The Series "A" and Series "B" Technology patents are based on hot gas and steam
heat-transfer mediums, respectively. The Series "C" Technology is based on a
nitrogen heat-transfer medium. The principal difference between the Series "A"
and "B" Technologies and the Series "C" Technology is that Series "C" is based
on a more simplified design with respect to the manufacturing equipment and
facilities, resulting in lower capital costs. The Company expects the Series
"C" Technology to be primarily used for coal fuel product-manufacturing
facilities. The Series "A" and "B" Technologies can also be used for coal fuel
product facilities, but the Company expects they may be more likely used for
renewable resource (e.g., bagasse, municipal solid waste, sludge and wood waste)
fuel product manufacturing facilities. The Series "A" and "B" Technology
patents were developed by Edward Koppelman and assigned to the Company under a
research and development contract (the "R&D Contract") with the Company. The
Company purchased the initial Series "C" Technology patent directly from Mr.
Koppelman at a later date after completion of the R&D Contract. The Company is
currently focusing all of its commercialization efforts on the development of
projects for the manufacture of coal fuel product using the Series "C"
Technology. To date, one commercial-scale K-Fuel manufacturing facility has
been constructed, which began operations in 1998. See "Strategic
Relationships--Thermo Ecotek Corporation and KFX Fuel Partners" in this section.
In the Series "C" process, raw coal is crushed and screened before it is
introduced into a steel alloy processing vessel that is then pressurized and
heated indirectly using vertical tube heat exchangers. Nitrogen, serving as an
inert, non-oxidizing heat-transfer medium, is admitted to the tube side of the
processing vessel at a pressure of approximately 125 pounds per square inch
("psi"). After the nitrogen is inserted, it picks up heat from the walls of the
tube and gradually expands to approximately 800 psi. Water is released from the
coal during this expansion period. When the temperature in the tubes reaches in
excess of 520 degrees Fahrenheit, any water remaining in the coal turns to steam
and continues to process the raw coal. When the temperature of the coal reaches
approximately 650 to 740 degrees Fahrenheit, the process is complete. The
process takes 30 to 40 minutes to complete from initial loading of the raw coal
into the processing vessels to final discharge of finished K-Fuel product.
The principal benefit of the K-Fuel Technology in the United States is that
the fuel produced from the process can facilitate the efforts of electric power
producers, manufacturers and other large-scale users of coal to meet the clean
air standards imposed by the Clean Air Act, as amended by the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 (the "CAAA"). Based on various analyses, the environmental
benefits of burning K-Fuel versus most other coals appear to include significant
reductions in emissions of NO\\x\\, SO\\2\\, carbon dioxide (CO\\2\\), mercury
and chlorine. K-Fuel is the first beneficiated coal product that has not
exhibited any significant signs of spontaneous combustion. In addition, K-Fuel
has been demonstrated to increase gross power generation, reduce fuel-
pulverizing requirements,
3
blend well with other coals and flow well through coal handling systems. K-Fuel
has exhibited a level of dustiness that requires the use of dust suppression
equipment on site at most domestic coal-fired power plants. Efforts are underway
to determine ways in which dust can be reduced.
Strategic Relationships
Thermo Ecotek Corporation and KFX Fuel Partners. In August 1995, the
-----------------------------------------------
Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase
Agreement"), with Thermo Ecotek Corporation ("TCK"), a Massachusetts company
engaged primarily in non-utility electric power generation using environmentally
responsible technologies. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, in 1995 TCK
purchased 3 million shares of Common Stock for $6 million, or approximately 14
percent of the outstanding Common Stock as of December 31, 1996, and in 1997
purchased an additional 1.25 million shares of Common Stock for $2.5 million,
increasing its ownership to approximately 18 percent of the outstanding Common
Stock. As part of the transaction TCK was also granted (i) a warrant ("Warrant
A") to purchase an additional 7,750,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to
certain adjustments) at an exercise price of $3.65 per share, exercisable on
January 1, 2000 and expiring July 1, 2001; and (ii) a warrant ("Warrant B"),
that gives it the right to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock (at the
then prevailing market price) that, when added to all shares owned by TCK on the
exercise date, including any shares acquired by the exercise of Warrant A, would
be sufficient to give TCK 51 percent of the outstanding Common Stock, on a fully
diluted basis. Warrant B has the same exercise and termination dates as Warrant
A. In August 1995, the Company and TCK entered into a separate agreement to
construct and operate a 500,000 ton-per-year ("TPY") commercial-scale K-Fuel
production facility.
In August 1995, the Company and TCK, acting through wholly-owned
subsidiaries KFX Wyoming, Inc. ("KFX Wyoming", 100 percent owned by the Company)
and Eco Fuels, Inc. (100 percent owned by TCK), formed KFX Fuel Partners, L.P.
("KFP"), a Delaware limited partnership, and began construction of a 500,000 TPY
K-Fuel coal production facility (the "KFP Facility") near Gillette, Wyoming
using the Company's Series "C" K-Fuel Technology. The Company has a 5 percent
interest in KFP, with the remaining 95 percent held by TCK. TCK is the managing
general partner for KFP and makes all day-to-day operating decisions.
KFP began operations at the KFP facility in April 1998 and completed a
successful test burn in May 1998 and a successful commercial burn in February
1999, as discussed in the succeeding two paragraphs. Although the facility is
operating and producing commercially salable product, KFP has encountered
certain difficulties in optimizing its performance to achieve optimal and
sustained operations. KFP has addressed and resolved certain problems
previously encountered, including a fire at the facility and certain
construction problems, including issues relating to the flow of materials within
the facility and the design and operation of certain pressure release equipment.
KFP continues to experience certain operational problems relating to tar and
fines residue build-up within the system during production and product quality
issues related to product dusting. KFP is actively exploring solutions to these
problems. Because the technology being developed is new, no assurance can be
given that other difficulties will not arise or that KFP will be able to correct
these problems and achieve optimal and sustained performance. The Company does
not believe its share of any additional costs required to bring the KFP Facility
to optimal operating performance, if incurred, will be material. KFP's economic
returns from the KFP Facility are expected to result primarily from Section 29
tax credits (see discussion of Section 29 below) on the facility's production of
K-Fuel. KFP expects to report operating losses for financial reporting purposes
primarily as a result of recording depreciation over the expected life of the
Section 29 tax credit.
In May 1998, the Southern Research Institute conducted a test burn of
approximately 10 tons of K-Fuel, which were also overseen by a technical
services affiliate of Kennecott Energy and Coal Company. The results of this
test burn are summarized in the table below:
Emissions (ppm)
BTU (Corrected to 3% O\\2\\ Dry Basis)
----------------------------------
(As Received) NO\\x\\ SO\\x\\
------------- -------- -------
K-Fuel 11,703 142 173
Dry Fork Subbituminous 8,903 172 215
Lone Mountain Bituminous 13,315 265 530
4
In February 1999, the first commercial burn of K-Fuel was completed. A unit
train (approximately 12,000 tons) was burned at Indiana-Kentucky Electric
Corporation's Clifty Creek generating station in southern Indiana. A fuel blend
of approximately 60% K-Fuel, with the balance consisting of a blend of high-Btu,
high and low-sulfur Eastern coals, replaced relatively low-Btu, low-sulfur
southern Powder River Basin ("PRB") coal in one of the station's boiler units.
Initial results of the test burn indicate that K-Fuel appeared to produce: a) a
reduction in NO\\x\\ emissions while maintaining full load yet reducing
auxiliary power, b) no unusual slagging or fouling of the boiler, c) a reduction
in the fuel pulverizing operations, d) no spontaneous combustion and e) an
improvement in boiler efficiency. Indiana-Kentucky Electric's fuel is procured
by American Electric Power ("AEP").
The results from this commercial scale burn at Clifty Creek generally
confirm the results of the test burn performed by the Southern Research
Institute. The Company believes that K-Fuel produced a reduction in SO\\2\\ and
CO\\2\\ emissions but the plant instrumentation precluded clear quantification.
Indiana-Kentucky Electric has requested additional unit train shipments of K-
Fuel for burning at Clifty Creek, which are expected to clarify these benefits.
The handling characteristics of K-Fuel were acceptable with proper use of the
power station's existing dust suppressant system. KFx is working with TCK to
improve the handling characteristics of K-Fuel.
In addition to its 5 percent ownership of KFP, the Company receives a
production royalty of 3 percent of the gross sales of KFP, payable quarterly.
See "Patents, Licenses and Royalty Agreements." The Company, in conjunction with
K-Fuel LLC, is also performing certain marketing activities for KFP, for which
the Company is substantially reimbursed.
KFP has signed a Fuel Supply Agreement (the "FSA") with Ohio Valley
Electric Corporation ("OVEC"), a subsidiary of AEP, whereby KFP will supply K-
Fuel to OVEC upon the satisfactory completion of the test burn procedure
described in the FSA. The term of the FSA commenced in 1998 with the
commencement of commercial operations of the KFP Facility, and will continue
until December 31, 1999 (the "Original Term"). The term may be extended, at the
option of OVEC, for a period of up to 120 months (the "Initial Extended Term"),
and may be extended further, at the option of OVEC, for a period up to 60 months
beyond the Initial Extended Term. KFP's initial shipment of K-Fuel product to
OVEC occurred in the first quarter of 1999. Maximum tonnage as per the FSA over
the Original Term is 500,000 tons. See "Patents, Licenses and Royalty
Agreements." KFP is currently purchasing its raw coal feedstock on a spot market
basis from a neighboring coal mine, and is negotiating for a long-term coal
purchase contract.
The KFP Facility qualifies for a tax credit available under Section 29 of
the United States Internal Revenue Code entitled "Credit for Producing Fuel From
a Nonconventional Source" ("Section 29"). Section 29, which was originally
adopted in 1980, provides a tax credit to the producer of fuel from alternative
sources. The credit is equal to $3.00 in 1979 dollars for each barrel equivalent
of crude oil ("OBE"), which is defined as 5.8 million Btu. Section 29 contains
provisions requiring a phase out of the credit that begins as the reference
price of oil (the average price of oil for the year as announced by the
Secretary of the Treasury) exceeds $47.78 per barrel (in 1997 dollars, the
latest available information) and is fully phased out if the reference price
exceeds $58.98 (in 1997 dollars). For 1997 the reference price of oil was $17.24
per barrel. Section 29 applies to qualified fuels which are produced in a
facility placed in service before July 1, 1998 pursuant to a binding written
contract in effect before January 1, 1997, and which are sold after December
1992 and before January 2008. Calculated in 1997 dollars, the current tax credit
value ranges from $24.19 to $26.29 per ton of the K-Fuel product (based on a
range of K-Fuel Btu content from 11,500 to 12,500 Btu per pound). The credit per
OBE and the phase-out prices for oil are adjusted annually for inflation. If the
KFP Facility is not deemed to be placed in service by July 1, 1998, thereby
qualifying for the Section 29 tax credit, the return on investment on the KFP
Facility will be materially adversely affected. TCK and the Company believe that
the KFP Facility meets the requirements to qualify for Section 29 tax credits.
Other than alternative minimum tax provisions, generally there is no
provision for carrybacks or carryovers in the event the taxpayer cannot use the
entire alternative fuel production credit available for the taxable year. There
are also no recapture provisions that apply to this credit. The Company is
currently unable to directly utilize any Section 29 tax credits derived from its
5 percent ownership of KFP because of its cumulative net operating loss
carryforward.
5
Kennecott Energy and Coal Company and K-Fuel LLC. In April 1996, the
-------------------------------------------------
Company entered into a joint venture agreement (the "Kennecott Agreement") with
Kennecott Alternative Fuels, Inc. ("KAFI"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Kennecott Energy and Coal Company ("KECC"). The joint venture, a Delaware
limited liability company named K-Fuel, L.L.C. ("K-Fuel LLC"), will be the
vehicle for further technical advancement and the commercialization of business
opportunities arising out of the K-Fuel Technology, including research and
development, sublicensing, marketing and consulting, but not including the
construction of facilities to produce K-Fuel products on a commercial basis
("Commercial Projects"). Commercial Projects will be constructed by separate
entities in which KAFI, the Company or both will have an equity interest and
which will be granted a sublicense from K-Fuel LLC for the K-Fuel Technology. As
of March 26, 1999, there were no commitments to construct any Commercial
Projects.
Initially, the Company has a 51 percent interest in K-Fuel LLC and KAFI has
a 49 percent interest. Certain research and development and amortization
expenses are allocated 100 percent to KAFI. At such time as entities in which
KAFI has an equity interest have placed into service Commercial Projects with a
collective design capacity equal to or in excess of 3 million tons per year
("TPY") of K-Fuel product, KAFI will have a 51 percent interest in K-Fuel LLC
and the Company will have a 49 percent interest. In addition to a fee of $1
million paid to the Company in 1996 to enter into the K-Fuel LLC joint venture,
and subject to certain conditions, KAFI has agreed to pay to K-Fuel LLC such
amounts as may be necessary for all research and development costs incurred by
K-Fuel LLC, up to $4 million (the "Initial Work Plan"). During 1998, 1997 and
1996, KAFI incurred related research and development costs totaling
approximately $51,000, $879,000 and $1,410,000, respectively.
In the event that KAFI has not, as of December 31, 2001, approved for
construction Commercial Projects in which KAFI will have an equity interest
having a design capacity equal to 1 million TPY of K-Fuel product, then the
Company may purchase KAFI's interest in K-Fuel LLC for a purchase price equal
to: (a) 100 percent of the aggregate amount expended on third party costs; and
(b) 75 percent of the aggregate amount charged for internal KAFI or KECC costs
incurred for the Initial Work Plan or any subsequent research and development
plan, plus a reasonable return on capital percentage. In the event, however,
that KAFI and KECC have not met certain other commitments under the Kennecott
Agreement, the Company has the right to purchase KAFI's interest in K-Fuel LLC
for $1000.
In connection with the Kennecott Agreement, the Company granted K-Fuel LLC
an exclusive, worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free right and license (including
the right to grant sublicenses) to and under the K-Fuel Technology, except to
the extent that it pertains to the beneficiation or restructuring of coal or
coal-related feedstocks covered under the Heartland Fuels Corporation License
(as defined below) (the "KFX License"). In addition, Heartland Fuels
Corporation, an 85 percent-owned subsidiary of the Company, granted K-Fuel LLC
an exclusive, worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free right and license (including
the right to grant sublicenses) to and under the Series "A" and Series "B" K-
Fuel Technology, as it pertains to the beneficiation or restructuring of coal or
coal-related feedstocks (the "HFC License"). (Coal beneficiation refers to
processes, such as the K-Fuel Technology, intended to produce, using run-of-mine
coal as feedstock, fuels with improved energy and environmental values.) Both
the KFX License and the HFC License specify minimum terms and provisions for any
sublicenses granted by K-Fuel LLC to third parties.
Under the current agreement, with respect to future Commercial Projects to
be licensed by K-Fuel LLC, the Company is entitled to a one-time license fee
approximating $3 per ton of annual design capacity of each project, to be paid
one-half at the time the license is granted, with the remaining one-half paid
over a period of three years beginning when the project begins commercial
operations. The Company will also receive a production royalty, to be paid each
calendar quarter, depending on certain levels of the projects' selling price per
ton of coal product. Additionally, the Company will be entitled to an additional
payment based on a percentage of the excess of (1) annual cash revenue from each
project, or (2) annual pre-tax cash operating costs of each project plus an
annual capital charge ("Bonus Royalty") related to each project. The Kennecott
Agreement provides that KAFI will fund 100 percent of the capital requirements
for each Commercial Project that it elects to participate in, provided however
that the Company retains the option to fund and invest up to 50 percent of the
capital requirements for any Commercial Project.
In connection with consideration and design of the next phase of
development and commercialization of K-Fuel under the Kennecott Agreement, the
Company and KECC are discussing certain of the terms outlined above.
6
The outcome and timing of these discussions cannot be predicted with
certainty but, based on indications from KECC, management expects to reach a
conclusion favorable to the Company in the second quarter of 1999.
Patents, Licenses and Royalty Agreements
The Company has patents or patent applications for the K-Fuel Technology
registered in the United States and over 40 foreign countries, including all
major industrialized countries that either have significant reserves of high-
moisture lignite or subbituminous coal, or that are readily accessible to such
reserves via large-scale transportation infrastructure (primarily ocean barge
vessels). Included in the pending patent applications are inventions developed
by the Company as well as seven improvement patent applications assigned to the
Company as a result of the K-Fuel LLC research activities.
The only licenses the Company has granted to the K-Fuel Technology are to
the KFP Facility (Series "C"), K-Fuel LLC (Series "C"), and Heartland Fuels
Corporation ("HFC") (Series "A" and "B"). The Company owns 85 percent of the
common stock of HFC, and as a condition of the Kennecott Agreement, the Company
caused HFC to grant to K-Fuel LLC an exclusive sublicense to the Series "A" and
"B" Technologies.
In connection with the KFP Project, the Company and OVEC entered into a
Fuel Option Agreement (the "OVEC Fuel Option Agreement") in 1995 whereby, in the
event OVEC exercises its option to extend the Original Term of the FSA for the
full 120-month period of the Initial Extended Term, OVEC will have the right to
designate, and, if designated, the obligation to provide, at the Company's
expense, one or more sites suitable for the location of plants for the
processing of K-Fuel. Upon the Company's determination at the time of each such
designation that the plant will be commercially viable, the Company or an
affiliate thereof, and OVEC and/or Indiana Kentucky Corporation, a subsidiary of
AEP, shall promptly thereafter negotiate in good faith and enter into a purchase
agreement whereby OVEC will purchase the K-Fuel produced by any such plant built
by the Company on terms and conditions substantially similar to those in the
FSA. In the event the Company decides not to proceed with the construction of
such plant, the Company is obligated to grant OVEC a non-exclusive license for
the Series "C" Technology to enable OVEC to proceed with the development and
construction of such plant, and OVEC is required to pay the Company a royalty of
$0.65 per ton on any fuel produced at such plant. Additionally, the Company
entered into a Fuel Option Agreement with Indiana Michigan Power Company
("I&M"), a subsidiary of AEP, dated August 17, 1995 (the "I&M Fuel Option
Agreement"), which provides that under certain circumstances I&M shall have the
same rights as OVEC pursuant to the OVEC Fuel Option Agreement.
A predecessor entity of the Company acquired the Series "A" and "B"
Technologies from Edward Koppelman and other investors (the "Koppelman Group")
in 1984 for $10 million in cash and a royalty agreement of $90 million. In June
1996, the Company entered into a royalty amendment agreement with Edward
Koppelman, the inventor of the K-Fuel Technology. Prior to the agreement, Mr.
Koppelman was entitled to a royalty of 2 percent on the gross sales value of K-
Fuel product produced by any entity, including any product produced by the
Company. As a result of the amended agreement, Mr. Koppelman's royalty is now
25 percent of the Company's worldwide royalty and license fee revenue, computed
after the State of Wyoming royalty (discussed below). The royalty to Mr.
Koppelman will cease when the cumulative payments to him reach the sum of
approximately $75,222,000. As consideration for the royalty amendment agreement,
the Company paid Mr. Koppelman $300,000 cash and issued a promissory note for
$200,000. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. The $500,000
prepaid royalty will be amortized based on the difference between what royalty
payments to Mr. Koppelman would have been on the original royalty agreement and
the amended royalty agreement reached in 1996. Also as part of the royalty
agreement, Mr. Koppelman indemnified the Company for any claims made by the
Koppelman Group. Mr. Koppelman is now deceased and all his rights and
obligations discussed above are held by his estate.
7
The following table summarizes the Company's royalty obligations to various
third parties based on licensing and royalty revenues received by the Company
and the geographic source of the revenues:
Royalty Obligation United States International Expiration Date or Maximum Amount
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estate of Edward 25 Percent (1) 25 Percent $ 75,222,000
Koppelman
State of Wyoming 12 Percent (2) NA - None $ 5,000,000/(2)/
Fort Union Ltd. 20 Percent (3) Canada, Mexico Earlier of cumulative royalties paid of
$1,500,000 or September 15, 2015
Ohio Valley Electric 0.5 Percent (4) NA - None None
/(1)/ Computed after the State of Wyoming's royalty, and applies to both
license fees and royalties.
/(2)/ The royalty percentage decreases to 6 percent when $5,000,000 has
been paid. There is no expiration date or maximum amount on the remaining
6 percent, and applies to both license fees and royalties.
/(3)/ Applies to royalties only and is also applicable to any production
in Canada or Mexico.
/(4)/ Applies to royalties only and does not include the plant constructed
in 1996 by KFP or any future plants constructed under the OVEC Fuel Option
Agreement or the I&M Fuel Option Agreement.
Competition
To the best of the Company's knowledge, there are currently no competitors
producing significant commercial quantities of beneficiated clean coal fuel
products either in the United States or in international markets. However,
there are other clean coal technology ("CCT") companies, primarily in the United
States, that are developing fuel combustion and product technologies that would
reduce emission pollutants and/or increase the heating value of coal feedstock
fuel sources. Many of these CCT competitors have greater financial, technical
and operational resources than the Company. To the best of management's
knowledge, however, none of these other efforts have yet resulted in an
economically viable and commercially acceptable product with the economic and
commercial potential of K-Fuel.
In the United States market, the Company must also compete with other
naturally low-sulfur coals. Also, sulfur dioxide emission credits ("emission
credits") allow non-compliance users of higher sulfur coal to bundle coal
purchases with these emission credits to meet the CAAA requirements. Because of
an over-compliance situation that has developed in Phase I of the CAAA, there is
currently an abundant supply of emission credits in the U.S. market. However,
Phase II implementation of the CAAA beginning in January 2000 is expected to
result in a decreasing availability of emission credits. Additionally, existing
supplies of naturally low-sulfur coal are continually being depleted.
The Company is not able to predict the impact that competing coal
beneficiation technologies, the availability and pricing of low-sulfur coal
reserves or the availability and pricing of emission credits will have on the
future competitive position of the Company. To the best of the Company's
knowledge however, none of its competitors have been able to demonstrate as many
quantifiable and potential benefits in a commercial setting as K-Fuel recently
achieved in February 1999 at Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corporation's Clifty
Creek generating station in southern Indiana. See "Strategic Relationships-
Thermo Ecotek Corporation and KFX Fuel Partners LP." Management believes that
this is a significant competitive advantage.
Other
Indonesia In September 1995, KFX Indonesia, a joint venture between the
---------
Company and RCD Development, a Maryland partnership ("RCD"), entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding with PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam ("PTBA"), an
Indonesian state-owned coal-mining company, to jointly undertake a feasibility
8
study on the commercialization of the K-Fuel Technology in Indonesia using
PTBA's high-moisture coal as feedstock. KAFI, through its interest in K-Fuel
LLC, subsequently participated in the feasibility study. In 1996, KFX
Indonesia, KAFI and PTBA completed the feasibility study and identified a
potential K-Fuel project on the southern portion of the Indonesian island of
Sumatra ("Indonesia Project"). The proposed Indonesia Project is an
approximately 1.5 million metric ton-per-year ("MTPY") facility, with an
estimated development and construction cost of approximately $160 million,
including approximately $21 million to develop an existing coal reserve of PTBA
estimated at approximately 180 million metric tons. The Company expects to have
no direct financial ownership in the initial Indonesia Project other than
license fees, royalties and Bonus Royalty. The funding for the Indonesia
Project, other than the feasibility study costs incurred in 1996, is expected to
be funded 100 percent by KAFI and PTBA. Feasibility study costs incurred in
1997 and 1998 for the Indonesia Project were not material. It is possible that
PTBA will participate in the Indonesia Project only as a supplier of raw coal
feedstock, rather than being the coal supplier and a partner in the Indonesia
Project. Also, with the Company's consent, KAFI may transfer its rights in the
Indonesia Project to one or more international affiliates. There are no
assurances that the Indonesia Project or other possible future projects in
Indonesia will be constructed.
In January 1997, the Company and K-Fuel LLC entered into an amended
agreement with RCD regarding certain future performance fees related to a
successful Indonesia K-Fuel project. In the event that the Company and/or K-Fuel
LLC construct or license an Indonesia K-Fuel project utilizing at least 25
percent raw coal feedstock supplied by PTBA, RCD would be entitled to a fee of
$2.00 per U.S. short ton (2,000 lbs.) for the first 1.5 million tons of
installed capacity, and a fee of $1.33 per ton for the second 1.5 million tons
of installed capacity. The fees RCD derives from individual K-Fuel projects in
Indonesia supplied by PTBA coal are not expected to impact the license fees or
royalties the Company would separately receive under its license agreement with
K-Fuel LLC.
Development of the Indonesia Project in 1997 and 1998 suffered from the
overall economic and political problems experienced by Indonesia and other Asian
countries beginning in 1997. Further development of the Indonesian Project
(other than periodic assessment of Indonesian coal trade and overall economic
conditions) has been limited pending completion of commercial K-Fuel product
test burns and the return to a more stable economic and political environment in
Indonesia. The Company is not able to determine when such conditions will
materialize to allow the Indonesia Project to commence construction.
Turkey In June 1996, the Company entered into a non-binding memorandum
------
of understanding with Soma Komur Isletmerleri A.S. ("SOMA"), a Turkish private
coal-mining company, to cooperate in the development of a proposed 500,000 TPY
K-Fuel project in the Soma Basin coal-mining region in western Turkey ("Turkey
Project"). The intended use of K-Fuel from the Turkey Project would be for
household heating markets in urban areas in Turkey. The Company has provided K-
Fuel pellets produced from Turkish coal to SOMA and the City of Ankara
("Ankara"), which are being tested in Turkey by SOMA and Ankara. The Company
has been advised that if the test results are satisfactory, SOMA and Ankara wish
to enter into a K-Fuel license agreement. As of March 26, 1999, however, there
are not yet any definitive agreements with respect to a Turkey K-Fuel production
facility, and the Company is not able to predict if or when a K-Fuel production
facility will be constructed in Turkey.
MARKET DRIVERS
Domestic Market
There are two primary market drivers for the NeuSIGHT and K-Fuel technology
solutions offered by the Company. For a number of years various regulations and
other requirements have placed increasingly stringent standards on the air
emissions generated by the electric power generation industry and others. In
addition, as the power industry undergoes the rigors of deregulation and is
transformed into a highly competitive industry, there will be increasing
pressure to meet such air emission standards in more cost effective ways as well
as to improve the overall cost efficiency of electric power generation.
Air Emission Standards The CAAA has been the primary historical stimulus
----------------------
for the developing United States market for beneficiated clean coal fuel
products, such as K-Fuel, and for combustion optimization products, such as
NeuSIGHT. Specifically, Title IV of the CAAA requires electric utilities to
reduce emissions of NO\\x\\ and SO\\2\\.
9
In September 1998, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
("EPA") issued a rule requiring 22 Midwestern and Southern states and the
District of Columbia to prepare plans to significantly reduce current allowed
levels of NO\\x\\ (in some states by up to 40 percent). NO\\x\\ is a primary
component in ground-level smog and is also a contributor to acid rain. Coal-
fired electric utility power plants are widely considered to be the most likely
targets to achieve the required reductions in NOx. Publication of these rules in
the Federal Register is expected in the second quarter of 1999, after which
----------------
interested parties have 60 days to file challenges. Although the ultimate
outcome of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, over the past several
years there has been a clear trend of increasingly stringent air emissions
standards promulgated by the EPA and various state environmental agencies.
NeuSIGHT has been demonstrated to typically reduce NOx by 25% to 30%. K-
Fuel Technology can also produce lower NO\\x\\ emissions (when using PRB coal as
the feedstock) as compared to typical eastern coals by levels approximating 25%,
as indicated in recent commercial tests. Through the combination of NeuSIGHT and
K-Fuel, management believes that the Company is in a unique position to assist
the electric power generation industry in achieving required reductions in
NO\\x\\, more cost effectively than various other solutions, some of which are
highly capital intensive and also increase operating costs.
Title IV of the CAAA specifies a two-phase implementation schedule that
primarily targets electric utility companies with annual generating capacities
in excess of 25 megawatts ("MW"). Phase I implementation began on January 1,
1995, and affected 110 large, high-emission generating plants in 21 states
(primarily in the industrial Midwest). The emissions limit for these plants
during Phase I is 2.5 lbs. SO2 per million Btu ("MMBtu") of heat output. Phase
II will begin in the year 2000 and will affect over 1,400 electrical generating
plants and other industrial users of coal. The effective SO\\2\\ emission rate
limitation under Phase II will be reduced to 1.2 lbs. SO\\2\\ per MMBtu. When
using Wyoming Powder River Basin ("PRB") coal as feedstock material, the K-Fuel
Technology produces a fuel product that has an SO\\2\\ emission rate of
approximately 0.7 to 1.0 lbs. SO2 per MMBtu. NeuSIGHT also produces reductions
in SO\\2\\ as a byproduct of heat rate improvements and combustion optimization.
The Company's United States marketing emphasis is directed primarily at
electric utilities located in the industrial Midwest and eastern states, more
specifically those under EPA scrutiny. In these states there are approximately
300 utility operated coal-fired boiler units with power generation capacity of
200 megawatts (MW) or greater each. The entire U. S. contains approximately 500
of such utility operated coal-fired boiler units.
The combustion characteristics of cyclone furnace boilers, a common boiler
type of Midwestern utilities originally designed to burn high-sulfur Midwestern
coal, are particularly well suited to the K-Fuel product manufactured from PRB
coal. As reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the total domestic market
for coal fuel is approximately 1 billion tons per year ("TPY"), of which
electric utility companies use the majority of the tonnage (in excess of 80
percent). Coal-fired electricity generation currently accounts for
approximately 58 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. The Company
has estimated, based on published utility coal consumption data and responses to
Phase I and Phase II requirements of the CAAA, that a market of approximately
100 to 150 million TPY of clean coal fuel products will develop between the
years 2000 and 2010. This anticipated market assumes that regulations passed
under the CAAA remain in force. Any amendments to the CAAA that reduce the
specified limits on industrial SO\\2\\ emissions could negatively impact the
potential size of the market and the domestic growth prospects of the Company.
In addition to the electric utility industry, the Company believes there is
potential for a market for K-Fuel with manufacturers and other large-scale
industrial coal users that are either subject to the NO\\x\\ and SO\\2\\
provisions of the CAAA or that desire to improve their fuel combustion
performance. Fuel combustion performance is becoming more important to electric
utilities and others because of the need to cut costs and become more efficient
in an increasingly competitive market environment.
Carbon dioxide (CO\\2\\) is widely considered to be a primary component of
greenhouse gases that have given rise to worldwide concerns of global warming.
The December 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change ("Kyoto Protocol") targets CO\\2\\ and certain other greenhouse
gas emissions for aggressive reduction in the years 2008 to 2012. In addition,
the Kyoto Protocol notes electric power generation as one of the specific
industry sectors that should be reviewed to achieve the targeted reductions. A
very important by-product of the efficiency gains at electric power generation
boiler units achievable through the use of NeuSIGHT and/or K-Fuel is a
corresponding reduction in the level of CO\\2\\. Management believes that the
level of
10
CO\\2\\ reduction available through the use of K-Fuel. Thirty-eight countries
and the European Community have signed the Kyoto Protocol. Although the United
States has signed the Kyoto Protocol, it has not yet been ratified by the United
States Senate, as would be required to be applicable in the United States. The
Company is not able to predict if and when the United States Senate might ratify
the Kyoto Protocol and the impact that such action or inaction could have on the
demand for K-Fuel and NeuSIGHT. Nevertheless, initiatives such as the Kyoto
Protocol, targeted at reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gases are expected to
continue to progress and create additional demand for alternatives to achieve
significant reductions in such emissions.
The EPA, under section 114 of the CAAA, requires that all coal-fired
electric utility steam generating boiler units provide certain information that
will allow the EPA to calculate the annual mercury emissions from each unit.
This information will be used to determine if it is appropriate and necessary to
regulate emissions of hazardous pollutants, as defined, which include mercury,
from electric utility boiler units. According to independent research, a
significant level of mercury is removed from run-of-mine coal during the K-Fuel
production process. These tests indicate any mercury contained in K-Fuel is
below detectable levels of .05 parts per million (ppm), compared to mercury
levels of typical Eastern bituminous coals of .15 ppm to .20 ppm. Based on these
test results, in the event that EPA adopts regulations to restrict the level of
mercury emissions, K-Fuel may offer advantages over other high-energy value
coals. In addition these tests indicate that the chlorine content of K-Fuel is
also below the detectable levels of .05 ppm. Although the Company is not aware
of any initiatives underway to regulate emissions of chlorine, it is commonly
considered to be a hazardous material that is regulated in various settings, and
emissions of chlorine are generally considered to be undesirable. Accordingly,
regulation of chlorine emissions could develop in the future, which could create
another competitive advantage for K-Fuel.
Deregulation of the United States Power Industry Deregulation in the
------------------------------------------------
electric power industry is expected to result in intensified price competition,
increased price volatility, shorter-term wholesale electricity transactions, and
industry consolidation and structural changes. The electric power industry is
moving toward retail competition while the wholesale market has already been
established as full-scale open competition. While the electric power industry is
experiencing consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, the industry is
concurrently unbundling generation, transmission and distribution services from
the traditionally integrated structure.
This restructuring is expected to cause some electricity generators to
operate as merchant plants without a guaranteed market for their production
output. In such an environment these businesses will be under constant
competition for the sales of their products and services. As a result, plant
operators will be expected to look to cut costs and improve operating
efficiencies wherever possible.
According to the latest industry-wide information, operations and
maintenance costs in conjunction with fuel expenses in 1996 accounted for nearly
58% of utility revenues. Of the $109 billion in operation and maintenance
("O&M") expenses (including fuels), 44% went to power production, 29% to power
purchases, 13% to G&A expenses, 8% to transmission and distribution costs and 6%
to sales expenses. Although the cost of power generation has been reduced
overall to an average cost of 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour ("kwh") in 1996, from
4.6 cents per kwh in 1986, much of this reduction has been attributed to
reductions in force. Employment at major utilities from 1986 to 1996 was reduced
by about 25%, or more than 100,000 employees. In the opinion of management,
competition in a deregulated power industry will require further reductions in
the cost of power generation. To further reduce the cost of power generation,
savings must begin to come from areas other than personnel reductions, such as
more effective fuel purchase practices and efficiency gains in the core
processes in the generation of power.
The need for these expense reductions by power generating companies to
remain competitive in the deregulated market comes at a time when EPA
regulations are causing further capital investment in plants to obtain emissions
compliance. Management believes that power-generating companies will look for
solutions, such as NeuSIGHT software and K-Fuel, to reduce these operating costs
and to run their plants more efficiently.
These developments are expected to produce a strong incentive for
electricity generators to become low cost producers and expand market share in
order to remain profitable in the deregulated environment. In a fully
11
competitive retail electricity market, only those generators with costs low
enough to produce electricity at market acceptable prices, not simply low enough
to meet regulatory oversight, will be able to sell electricity profitably and
remain viable.
Foreign Markets
The international coal market is approximately four times the size of the
United States market. The Company's objective is to concentrate on markets where
there is either a significant need for more energy efficient and environmentally
responsible fuel products, or where abundant coal reserves can be utilized in
conjunction with the K-Fuel Technology to develop a value-added export product.
The principal benefit of the K-Fuel Technology in foreign markets is that low-
rank indigenous coal reserves can be upgraded to provide a more cost effective
and less environmentally damaging fuel source for power producers, manufacturers
and households, either in internal markets or for export. The Company currently
has international commercialization opportunities related to K-Fuel in Indonesia
and Turkey, as discussed above.
In addition, although management expects to initially concentrate its
marketing and sales efforts domestically for reasons similar to those cited
above relative to K-Fuel and certain of the U. S. market drivers, there is
significant market potential for NeuSIGHT and related products internationally.
In late 1998, NPS/Pegasus announced a specific opportunity in Poland in
conjunction with ABB Centrum to install NeuSIGHT in up to six boiler units over
1999 and 2000. Efforts are underway to execute a definitive agreement with ABB
Centrum.
CHARCO REDONDO, LLC
In December 1997, the Company purchased a 12.6 percent interest in Charco
Redondo, LLC, a Texas limited liability company ("Charco"), in consideration for
its commitment to contribute $540,000 to Charco as working capital. Funding
under this commitment began in January 1998, and during 1998 the Company
contributed $629,000 to Charco to satisfy this commitment and additional capital
calls.
Charco was formed to develop and complete a project intended to demonstrate
the effectiveness of Synthetic Energy Corporation's ("Synthetic") patented
process, which uses mining techniques in connection with superheated steam and
moderate pressure to extract crude oil that otherwise cannot be extracted by
conventional production techniques. The technology licensed to Charco is based
on a patent held by John A. Masek (the "Masek Technology"). Charco has an
exclusive sublicense to use the Masek Technology in a four-county area of Texas
(the "AMI"), which is believed to have reservoirs containing approximately 1
billion barrels of crude oil which would be appropriate targets for application
of the Masek Technology. The pilot project (the "Charco Pilot Project") has
been conducted on a mineral lease covering approximately 1800 acres in southern
Texas (the "Charco Redondo Lease"). Drilling, completion and start-up
activities were completed late in the second quarter of 1998 and injection
operations commenced. The Charco Pilot Project achieved its initial objectives
of demonstrating the technical and operational feasibility of the Masek
Technology. Further improvements to the technology are presently in progress.
Efforts are currently underway to obtain outside financing to complete
development of the Charco Redondo Lease. In view of the recent uncertainty with
respect to the price of crude oil, there can be no assurance that such financing
will be obtained. If such financing cannot be obtained on satisfactory terms or
at all, this project could be abandoned.
The Company also entered into an option agreement with Synthetic with
respect to the use of the Masek Technology outside the AMI. The option agreement
provides that the Company and Synthetic will form a joint venture to be owned
55% by the Company and 45% by Synthetic. Exercise of the option requires that
the Company pay a total of $100,000 to Synthetic, of which a total of $50,000
was paid upon execution of the option agreement. The Company is not committed
to pay any additional amounts to Synthetic under the option agreement until
certain performance milestones of the Charco Pilot Project are met. The option
will expire if it is not exercised after such milestones are met. No such
milestones were met during 1998.
GOVERNMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
Generally, environmental permitting and operating regulations in countries
outside the United States that the Company is currently pursuing for
international development (i.e., Indonesia, Turkey and Poland) are not as
12
stringent as those within the United States. Nevertheless, international
initiatives, such as the Kyoto Protocol, are expected to create increasing
pressures on the electric power generation industry on a world-wide basis to
reduce emissions of various pollutants, which management expects will create
additional demand for its products and services.
Net Power Solutions & Pegasus
See "Market Drivers" for a discussion of various environmental regulations
that are expected to generate demand for the products and services of Net Power
Solutions and Pegasus. Otherwise, the operations of Net Power Solutions and
Pegasus are not significantly impacted by governmental regulation with respect
to the development and delivery of NeuSIGHT and related software products and
services.
K-Fuel
See "Market Drivers" for a discussion of various environmental regulations
that are expected to generate demand for K-Fuel.
In the United States, the K-Fuel product is not expected to be subject to
significant amounts of local, state or federal regulation with respect to its
transportation and distribution. However, any future United States production
plants will require numerous permits, approvals and certificates from
appropriate federal, state and local governmental agencies before construction
of each facility can begin, and will be subject to periodic maintenance and
review requirements once facilities begin production. Typically, state laws
govern most permitting requirements, but the EPA has the authority to overrule
state permitting decisions. The following types of permits are typically
required for commercial production facilities: (a) air quality, (b) wastewater
discharge, (c) land use, and (d) hazardous waste treatment, storage and
disposal. KFP has in place all permits for the operation of the KFP Facility.
The K-Fuel Technology process generates only waste gas, waste discharge water,
and a small amount of fuel liquid as by-products of the process. The KFP
Facility has waste gas and water treatment facilities to treat and dispose of
the waste by-products.
The Company currently has an operating permit in the name of KFX Wyoming,
issued by the Land Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality ("DEQ"), that encompasses all of the operating activities of the KFP
Facility and the mine property adjacent to the KFP Facility that was sold to KFP
during 1998 (see "ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES"). In connection with the sale of the
mine property to KFP during 1998, an application to formally transfer this
permit and the related reclamation obligations to KFP has been filed with the
DEQ. Approval of this application is expected to be received and completion of
this transfer is expected to be completed in 1999.
Future international K-Fuel production plants will also be subject to
various permitting and operational regulations specific to each country.
Charco Redondo, LLC
The operations of Charco are regulated to the extent of environmental
permitting by various state and local governmental authorities and by the Mine
Safety and Health Administration ("MSHA") with regard to its mining activities
to excavate subsurface production rooms. In addition, the Texas Railroad
Commission regulates oil drilling and production activities in the State of
Texas. To the best of the Company's knowledge, Charco is currently in compliance
with all such governmental regulations.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
In 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company incurred approximately $1,027,000,
$1,251,000 and $1,198,000, respectively, in research and development ("R&D")
expenses (including demonstration plant and laboratory operating expenses) to
further refine and develop the K-Fuel Technology process and to develop products
and services complementary to NeuSIGHT.
13
EMPLOYEES
The Company currently has approximately 16 full-time employees who work in
the areas of marketing, finance and administration, and research and
development. The Company considers its relations with all employees to be
excellent.
Net Power Solutions and Pegasus currently have approximately 27 full-time
employees who work in the areas of marketing, software development,
implementation, finance and administration.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
For its principal executive offices, the Company has leased approximately
5,900 square feet of office space for a period of five years ending September
30, 2000 located at 1999 Broadway, Suite 3200, Denver, Colorado 80202. The base
rent under the lease is $6,783 per month; the Company is also obligated to pay,
as additional rent, allocable operating costs. The Company has a right of
refusal on additional adjacent office space, and has the option to renew the
lease for one additional five-year term. NPS uses certain of this office space
for its principal executive offices.
The Company has leased approximately 2,300 square feet of office space for
a period of five years ending June 30, 2003 located at 2300 Clarendon Boulevard,
Suite 401, Arlington, Virginia 22201. The base rent under the lease is
approximately $5,078 per month, with escalations of 2.5 percent for each
subsequent year of the lease term. The Company is also obligated to pay, as
additional rent, an allocable share of increases in certain operating costs. The
Company has the option to renew the lease for one additional five-year term.
The Company, through its KFX Technology, Inc. ("KFXT") subsidiary, owns a
demonstration plant and leases from KFP (on a rent-free basis) a research and
development laboratory adjacent to the KFP Facility (the "Gillette Facility").
The Gillette Facility is located on approximately 80 acres of land, inside the
rail loop of Fort Union Mine, in Campbell County, Wyoming, approximately 5 miles
northeast of Gillette, Wyoming. The Gillette Facility is comprised of three
buildings totaling approximately 7,100 square feet.
Pegasus has leased approximately 4,000 square feet of office space for a
period of three years ending October 31, 1999 located at 1100 Mentor Avenue,
Painesville, Ohio 44077. The base rent under the lease is currently
approximately $2,350 per month. In addition, Pegasus is obligated to pay the
cost of certain utilities. Pegasus has options to renew the lease for three
one-year periods at increased lease rates.
In 1995, the Company acquired the Fort Union Mine ("Pit 1"), which consists
of approximately 1,002 acres of surface and coal lands located northeast of
Gillette, Campbell County, Wyoming, and a coal loadout facility located on a
railroad loop connecting to the Burlington Northern Railroad. Recoverable coal
lying within Pit 1 is approximately 1.3 million tons. In 1997, the Company
transferred ownership of approximately 348 acres of surface land and the coal
loadout facilities to KFP. In 1998 Pit 1 was transferred to KFP at a gain of
approximately $700,000; see Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In November 1995, the Company filed a lawsuit against Fru-Con Construction
Corporation and Fru-Con Engineering, Inc. (collectively, "Fru-Con") in the
Wyoming State Court, 6th Judicial District. The action was removed to the
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming ("Court"). The
Company's lawsuit requested that the court enter a judgement that Fru-Con has no
interest or claim in or against the Company or any of the Company's property or
interests, or that Fru-Con is barred from such claims. Fru-Con had asserted
claims for approximately $1.8 million for engineering services and an interest
in K-Fuel plants built in North America by virtue of contractual arrangements
with a limited partnership sponsored by corporations in which a predecessor
entity to the Company had a partnership interest. Because the work done by Fru-
Con was for a limited partnership in which the Company's predecessor entity was
not a partner, and because payment for the work performed by Fru-Con was
contingent upon successful project financing which never materialized, as well
as for other legal and
14
factual reasons, the Company believes that Fru-Con had no valid rights or claims
against the Company. On May 20, 1997, the Court granted the Company's Motion for
Summary Judgment on all claims. Fru-Con subsequently appealed to the 10th
Circuit Court of Appeals. On September 1, 1998 the Appeals Court affirmed the
District Court's opinion. The Company believes that any further developments in
this matter will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position
or results of operations.
On March 9, 1998, Fidelity and Deposit of Maryland ("F&D"), as subrogee of
Walsh Construction Company ("Walsh"), a division of Guy F. Atkinson Company,
filed a construction lien against KFP with respect to the construction of the
KFP Facility in the amount of approximately $5.9 million. It is not possible at
this time to evaluate the merits of the claim or the range of potential loss.
However, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of this action will
not have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position or
results of operations. In connection with this action, KFP has filed a
counterclaim in excess of $29 million against F&D, the surety for Walsh. The
counterclaim asserts various claims of faulty construction performed by Walsh at
the KFP facility. The counterclaim is in discovery and it is not possible to
predict the outcome of this action; however the Company believes that the
counterclaim will not have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial
position or results of operations.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of 1998.
15
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Beginning January 30, 1996, the Common Stock was traded on the American
Stock Exchange (under the trading symbol "KFX"). From January 1 to January 29,
1996, the Common Stock traded on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market (under the trading
symbol "KFXI"). The following table presents the reported sales prices on the
American Stock Exchange for the two-year period ended December 31, 1998.
YEAR PERIOD HIGH LOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 First Quarter $ 3 7/8 $ 2 5/8
Second Quarter 3 5/8 2 1/2
Third Quarter 3 1/4 2
Fourth Quarter 2 3/8 1 1/8
1997 First Quarter $ 5 3/4 $ 3 7/8
Second Quarter 4 1/2 3 1/4
Third Quarter 4 1/16 2 5/8
Fourth Quarter 3 13/16 2 7/16
As of March 26, 1999, the Company had 211 holders of record of the Common
Stock. This does not include holdings in street or nominee names. On March 26,
1999, the closing price of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange was
$1.50 per share.
The Company has never paid cash dividends and does not anticipate paying
dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company is also restricted from paying
dividends pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Debenture Indenture. In
addition, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, so long as TCK, together
with its affiliates, owns at least 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock and either
of the related warrants are outstanding, the Company may not declare or pay any
dividends on the Common Stock other than dividends payable solely in shares of
Common Stock. See "ITEM 1 - BUSINESS - Strategic Relationships - Thermo Ecotek
Corporation and KFX Fuel Partners."
During 1998, the following securities were issued pursuant to the exemption
in Section 4.2 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended:
DATE Security Sold Consideration Received Class of
---- ------------- ---------------------- --------
Persons
-------
1/98 Warrants to purchase 100,000 common shares at $3.75 Professional services Consultant
per share, fully vested, expire 3 years from grant
1/98 Re-price options to purchase 90,000 common shares from Professional services Consultant
$9 to $6 per share, fully vested, expire 12/31/2000
6/98 Grant of 5000 common shares at $3.75 per share Professional services Consultant
8/98 Re-price warrants to purchase 55,000 common shares Professional services Consultant
from $4 to $3.75 per share and extend term 3 years to
2001, fully vested
8/98 Extend term of warrants to purchase 75,000 common Professional services Consultant and
shares at $4.25 per share, for 3 years to 2001, fully Director
vested
9/98 Option to purchase 100,000 common shares at $3.75 per Professional services Director
share, fully vested, expiring 5 years from grant
10/98 Option to purchase 335,000 common shares at $3.75 per Employment incentive Corporate
share, vesting 20% each anniversary, expiring 7 years employees
from grant
12/98 Grant of 20,700 common shares at $3.75 per share Professional Services Consultant
16
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31:
Operating revenues........... $ 2,220,585 $ 1,084,823 $ 1,596,298 $ 254,363 $ 364,587
Other income................. 1,368,202 650,353 171,269 124,959 88,188
Loss before income taxes
and extraordinary item.... (6,783,817) (5,095,160) (5,628,541) (8,795,929) (6,119,677)
Net income (loss)............ (6,783,817) (5,095,160) (5,628,541) (6,228,720) 2,349,126
Basic and diluted net
income (loss) per share... (.28) (.21) (.25) (.33) .14
Average shares
outstanding .............. 23,931,000 23,820,000 22,458,000 18,578,000 16,621,000
BALANCE SHEET DATA
AT DECEMBER 31:
Current assets ............ $ 7,004,806 $14,461,198 $ 1,957,005 $ 4,680,784 $ 449,895
Working capital (deficit) 4,751,499 12,565,373 (166,521) 2,253,682 (6,940,882)
Total assets............... 22,672,289 29,057,706 14,923,567 18,611,493 11,630,896
Long-term debt ............ 17,890,793 17,500,000 1,110,000 1,399,851 650,000
Stockholders' equity....... 2,258,289 8,495,881 10,524,041 13,752,528 3,590,119
17
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This 10-K filing contains, in addition to historical information, forward-
looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, that include risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
The forward looking statements contained in this filing include, among others,
statements regarding the Company's goals for 1999; availability of potential
funding sources; expected future operating results and financial condition; the
expected impact of and changes in environmental regulations; effects of
deregulation of the electric power generation industry; expected effects of a
new marketing approach adopted by NPS and Pegasus; expected benefits to
customers of the NeuSIGHT product and the K-Fuel Technology; timing of filling
of sales commitments; effects of the Company's competition; expected
applications of K-Fuel Technology; impact on the Company of future possible
costs at the KFP Facility; results of test burns of K-Fuel; expected results of
further test burns of K-Fuel; expected timing of future K-Fuel shipments;
outcome of discussions with KECC regarding the Kennecott Agreement; proposed
projects in Poland, Turkey and Indonesia; anticipated markets for the Company's
products and services; and potential expansions of product and service
offerings. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, adverse
market and various other conditions that could inhibit the Company's ability to
obtain financing; competition and technological developments by competitors;
lack of market interest in the Company's existing and any new products and
services; changes in environmental, electric utility and other governmental
regulations; availability of Section 29 tax credits; actions of the Company's
strategic partners; breadth or degree of protection available to the Company's
intellectual property; availability of key management and skilled personnel;
unanticipated problems that arise from research and development activities; cost
overruns, delays and damage that may occur in developing, permitting, financing
and constructing K-Fuel production facilities; and domestic and international
economic and political conditions. The Company does not undertake to update,
revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements.
OVERVIEW
Stimulated by the acquisition of Pegasus Technologies Limited (Pegasus) in
early 1998, and the formation of Net Power Solutions (NPS) in mid-1998, KFx
significantly broadened its technology solutions in order to meet the evolving
needs of the electric power industry as triggered by the deregulation of the
domestic power industry and the ever more stringent air quality standards. In
combination, Pegasus and NPS generated $1.3 million in revenues over the nine
months from the date of the Pegasus acquisition, a 65% increase from the
revenues posted by Pegasus during 1997. With the foundation of NPS's recently
installed professional, seasoned software marketing team and Pegasus' NeuSIGHT,
the leading combustion optimization software product, management has set a 1999
goal of growing its software related revenues by a factor of 2-4 times the level
of 1998. Our ability to achieve this goal will become clearer during the course
of the year as new marketing plans for NPS/Pegasus are fully implemented and
become effective. Key to the new marketing strategy is more effectively
communicating the full potential benefits of NeuSIGHT to the marketplace and
receiving value commensurate with the benefits delivered to our electric utility
clients. An additional factor supporting this goal is a recently completed
alliance with Science Applications International Corporation ("SAIC"), that we
anticipate will result in the development of a strong installation partner to
help accelerate NPS's ability to install NeuSIGHT and, in conjunction with other
factors, also facilitate an acceleration of revenue recognition for the license
fee element of this revenue stream.
Progress on commercializing K-Fuel continued during 1998, with a successful
first commercial burn of a unit train load of product (approximately 12,000
tons) at a generating station in southern Indiana in February 1999. After the
completion of additional commercial burns with this customer, management expects
to further clarify the significant benefits available from K-Fuel. Various
solutions to certain waste handling system bottlenecks at the KFx Fuel Partners
production facility (KFP Facility), operated by our 95% partner Thermo Ecotek
Corporation (TCK), that have significantly limited production volume at the
facility, are being evaluated. In addition, certain
18
fine-tuning of the K-Fuel production process is being considered to increase
product size and minimize the level of dust associated with the product.
During 1998, management actively sought and analyzed several opportunities
to invest in existing and new activated carbon operations that could have
generated synergies with the operations of KFP. After evaluation of the
potential risks and rewards, however, in management's opinion, none of the
opportunities presented a prudent investment for KFx at this time.
In view of: a) the magnitude of the opportunity presented by the market
potential for NPS/Pegasus' products and services, b) the progress made
demonstrating in a commercial setting the benefits and potential of K-Fuel and
c) other opportunities that management believes will be available as the power
industry evolves under deregulation but with continued emphasis on addressing
environmental concerns, management is focused on i) growing NPS/Pegasus quickly
into a positive contributor to the Company's earnings and operating cash flows,
ii) continuing its efforts to fully commercialize the licensing potential of K-
Fuel and iii) evaluating opportunities to invest with partners, as has been our
past general practice, in new ventures designed to meet the expanding product
and service needs of the evolving power industry.
The Company's principal goals for 1999 are to:
. Increase revenues from NPS/Pegasus, as outlined above. With this operation in
a building mode, it is likely, however, to experience negative operating cash
flows for at least the first half of 1999.
. Pursue acquisition opportunities synergistic to NeuSIGHT and K-Fuel.
. Evaluate opportunities, in conjunction with partners, to expand the Company's
product and service offerings to meet the evolving needs of the power
industry as it is transformed by the combination of deregulation and
continuing pressure to meet more stringent air quality standards.
. Improve operations and increase production, through TKC, at the KFP facility,
and execute at least one license agreement. Such license agreement may be
largely dependent on obtaining an extension of the Section 29 tax credit in
1999.
. Facilitate outside financing for further development at Charco Redondo.
As a company still in the process of developing its business, the nature of
the opportunities KFx is pursuing and their status make it rather difficult to
predict financial results with meaningful accuracy and also leads to
difficulties in achieving positive and stable financial results in the short
term. These issues are exacerbated by the volatile nature of the stock market.
The delays in the development of K-Fuel, coupled with the weakness in the stock
market for non-internet small cap companies, have negatively affected KFx's
stock price. Nevertheless, the continued progress of K-Fuel, coupled with the
potential to grow NPS/Pegasus, reaffirm management's confidence in the
opportunity to create long-term value for KFx shareholders.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 VS. YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
The consolidated operating loss in 1998 of $6,419,000 exceeded the 1997
consolidated operating loss by $1,488,000, principally attributable to the
combined operating loss of NPS and Pegasus that approximated $1.6 million.
Despite its operating loss, NPS/Pegasus posted a gross margin of $573,000, or
43%, on revenues of $1,328,000. The operating loss in NPS/Pegasus was incurred
in connection with building a marketing and sales function to grow the future
revenue, earnings and operating cash flow streams of this element of KFx. The
1998 consolidated operating loss includes $2,996,000 of non-cash expenses.
Revenues for 1998 of $2,221,000 were $1,136,000 higher than for 1997
primarily due to $1,328,000 in revenues from the software licenses and services
generated by NPS and Pegasus. The decline in contract revenues stemmed from a
reduction in work performed for K-Fuel LLC.
Consolidated costs and expenses include $755,000 of costs associated with
software licenses and services revenues of NPS/Pegasus. Marketing, general and
administrative expenses increased by $1,352,000 in 1998 over
19
1997 primarily due to $1,589,000 of such costs associated with NPS/Pegasus,
partially offset by reductions in various other costs. Research and development
costs decreased by $168,000 from 1997 to 1998 due to a lower level of K-Fuel
related research and development activities as the KFP Facility commenced
operations April 1, 1998, offset by $138,000 in research and development
expenses in NPS/Pegasus associated with planning and developing NeuSIGHT
improvements and new products related to combustion optimization. Costs
associated with operating the K-Fuel demonstration plant and laboratory declined
in 1998 by $71,000 due to some curtailment in activities as the KFP facility
commenced operations. Depreciation and amortization for 1998 increased over the
1997 level by $741,000 primarily due to $369,000 of goodwill amortization
associated with the acquisition of Pegasus, and a $287,000 increase in
amortization of deferred costs associated with the issuance of convertible
debentures in August 1997.
In 1998 the Company sold a mineral property with a book value of $466,000
to KFP in exchange for KFP's assumption of a related $1,166,000 reclamation
obligation, and recorded a gain of $701,000. In 1996 a $701,000 provision was
recorded to write this property down to its estimated recoverable value and to
recognize the estimated reclamation obligation, based on information available
and management's judgment at that time. Interest and other income for 1998 of
$668,000 is only slightly higher than the 1997 level of $650,000. Interest
expense for 1998 of $1,160,000 exceeded the 1997 level by $613,000 due to the
$17 million convertible debenture issuance in August 1997. The $573,000 in
equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates consists primarily of the Company's
5% share ($410,000) of KFP losses. No such losses were incurred in 1997 since
KFP did not commence operations until April 1998. In addition, this category
includes $163,000 in losses associated with the Company's 51% interest in K-
Fuel, LLC.
The Company does not record a deferred tax benefit from its net operating
loss carryforwards, which approximate $28 million at December 31, 1998, because
there is no assurance that the Company will be able to realize such benefit as
an offset to future income taxes payable.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 VS. YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
The Company had a net loss of approximately $5,095,000 in 1997 compared to
a net loss of approximately $5,629,000 in 1996. The decrease of approximately
$534,000 is attributable to a decrease in revenue of approximately $32,000 in
1997 as compared to 1996, and a decrease in expenses of approximately $566,000
in 1997 as compared to 1996.
Revenues decreased slightly from 1996 to 1997 due to several factors: 1) a
one-time joint venture fee of $1,000,000 received in 1996 which was not repeated
in 1997; 2) an increase in contract revenues of $489,000 from the increased
level of technical subcontract work the Company performed for KFP, and 3) an
increase in interest and other income of $479,000 as a result of overall higher
cash balances resulting from the Debenture Offering, and certain payable write-
offs.. The decrease in technical subcontract work performed for K-Fuel LLC in
1997 was expected given the planned schedule and timing of the K-Fuel LLC
Initial Work Plan.
Expenses decreased by approximately $566,000 in 1997 as compared to 1996.
The components of the overall decrease in expenses are summarized as follows
(all figures are approximate):
Decrease in marketing, general and administrative expenses............... $ 569,000
Write-down of mine property and reclamation costs incurred in 1996....... 701,000
Increase in depreciation and amortization expense........................ (108,000)
Increase in research and development / laboratory operating expenses..... (52,000)
Increase in equity loss of unconsolidated affiliates..................... (182,000)
Increase in interest expense............................................. (362,000)
---------
Net decrease in expenses.............................................. $ 566,000
=========
Marketing, general and administrative expenses decreased by
approximately $569,000 in 1997 compared to 1996 primarily as a result of (1)
personnel reductions in 1997 which decreased salaries and wages by approximately
$220,000; (2) an overall decrease in professional fees in 1997 by approximately
$487,000; and (3) reduction of
20
travel expenses in 1997 by approximately $100,000. These decreases were
partially offset by an overall increase in other general and administrative
expenses in 1997 of approximately $238,000.
The decrease in salaries and wages in 1997 is attributable to the Company
implementing a personnel reduction program in which the total number of
employees of the Company was reduced from 17 in 1996 to 12 in 1997 (reduction of
3 executive positions and 2 administrative positions). Professional fees
decreased in 1997 primarily due to $340,000 of legal expenses related to the K-
Fuel, LLC joint venture agreement incurred in 1996. The increase in general and
administrative expenses is primarily due to (1) a one-time charge of $163,000 to
write-off previously capitalized project development expenses associated with
the previously planned KFP II Project; (2) approximately $100,000 of internal
costs associated with a debt offering and permitting costs related to the
Company's coal mining property adjacent to the KFP Facility; offset by a one-
time payment of a $50,000 listing fee with the American Stock Exchange incurred
only in 1996.
The mine property and reclamation costs write-down of $701,000 relating to
the Company's coal mine located near Gillette, Wyoming was a one-time expense
incurred only in 1996. This property was sold in 1998.
The increase in depreciation and amortization expense in 1997 is primarily
attributable to the Company's re-evaluation of the depreciable useful lives of
certain demonstration plant and laboratory equipment located in Gillette,
Wyoming (approximately $216,000), the amortization of Debenture Offering costs
beginning in August 1997 (approximately $205,000), offset by the amortization of
a consulting contract in 1996 of approximately $281,000.
The increase in research and development and laboratory expenses is
attributable to increased efforts associated with overall project developments
activities, with particular emphasis on the activated carbon program, the
proposed projects in Indonesia and Turkey, and the start-up of the KFP Facility.
The increase in equity loss of unconsolidated affiliates relates to losses
the Company recognized for its 51 percent share of the marketing, general and
administrative expenses of K-Fuel LLC for a full year in 1997 versus a partial
year in 1996.
The increase in interest expense is attributable to the Debenture offering
completed in July 1997 which has resulted in monthly interest of $85,000
beginning in August 1997. The Company incurred $425,000 of interest expense
related to this debt in 1997. This was partially offset by overall lower levels
of other debt in 1997.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's primary financial goal for 1998 was to improve operating cash
flow to produce a break-even level in the fourth quarter of the year, which was
largely dependent on the outcome of negotiations with one of our partners in the
development of K-Fuel. Unexpected delays in these negotiations have occurred
which prevented achievement of this goal. Nevertheless, management is
optimistic that negotiations will be concluded in the second quarter and will
result in a significant payment to KFx. During 1998 $4.6 million in net cash
was used in operating activities to continue the commercialization of K-Fuel and
build the marketing and sales function of NPS/Pegasus. Of this amount
approximately $1.4 million was associated with working capital needs, including
a $950,000 increase in receivables from Pegasus clients, which were fully
collected subsequent to year-end. Investing activities in 1998 required $3.8
million in cash, including $1.6 million required for the acquisition of Pegasus,
$583,000 related to K-Fuel activities and $629,000 related to Charco Redondo,
LLC. There were no significant financing activities in 1998.
The Company expects most or all of its cash requirements in 1999 with
respect to day-to-day operations and debt service requirements will be satisfied
by a) cash on hand, which as of March 26, 1999 was approximately $4.1 million;
b) certain revenues under technical subcontracts to be performed for KFP; c)
certain contract revenues relating to a research and development program
conducted by the Company; and d) revenues related to the operations of
NPS/Pegasus (although material net operating cash flows related to NPS/Pegasus
are not expected to materialize until late 1999 or later). In addition the
Company believes there is potential for additional funding in 1999 from: (i) the
potential payment referred to in the preceding paragraph; (ii) fees from
licensing new K-Fuel
21
facilities; and (iii) funding from potential partners in connection with
opportunities to expand the Company's product and service offerings to the power
industry.
Depending on the outcome of various uncertainties, including those
discussed herein, the Company may be required to seek additional debt and/or
equity financing in mid-2000 for general operating purposes. If acquisitions or
significant capital investments are made in this time period, the need to seek
additional debt and/or equity financing may be accelerated. In addition, the
timing of collection of NPS/Pegasus accounts receivable and other working
capital items could significantly alter the Company's needs for at least
temporary financing. There can be no assurance that the Company will not need at
least temporary financing during 1999 and that, if financing is required in
1999, that it will be available when needed and on satisfactory terms, if at
all.
The Company does not expect material net operating revenues or net
operating cash flows from its ownership interest in KFP in the foreseeable
future. The Company's net production royalty (after fulfilling related royalty
obligations) once the KFP Facility reaches full production is projected to be
less than $200,000 per year. The potential for Section 29 tax credit for the KFP
production of K-Fuel represents additional potential value but since the Company
has a net operating loss carryforward, it is most likely that a structured
transaction would be required to generate any significant value from the
potential Section 29 tax credit. With the KFP Facility now in production and
therefore generating Section 29 tax credits, management is exploring potential
Section 29 structured transactions but the value, amount or likelihood of any
such transaction is not clearly determinable at this time.
The Company expects no additional stock purchases by TCK in 1999. Under
the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the next possible investment by TCK
is not until a period of time beginning in January 2000 and expiring in July
2001. There are no assurances that TCK will make any investments in the Company
at that time. Additionally, the Stock Purchase Agreement prohibits the Company
from issuing shares of Common Stock to other investors unless at least 90
percent of the proceeds from such stock issuances are used to invest in K-Fuel
production facilities. Furthermore, in the event of any stock issuances by the
Company, TCK's Warrant "A" may be subject to certain adjustments that increase
the number of shares available to TCK under Warrant "A." See "ITEM 1 - BUSINESS
- - Strategic Relationships - Thermo Ecotek Corporation and KFX Fuel Partners."
Should the Company be required to seek any additional debt or equity
financing, the ability of the Company to do so will be affected by an existing
agreement with TCK and by the terms of the Convertible Debentures. With respect
to TCK, the Company must obtain TCK's consent to sell any Common Stock or to
incur any indebtedness other than indebtedness that is secured only by the
assets of a particular project and is non-recourse to the Company and its
subsidiaries. With respect to the Convertible Debentures, the Company may only
incur unsecured indebtedness of up to $8.0 million (of which not in excess of
approximately $.7 million was outstanding as of March 26, 1999) and indebtedness
that is secured only by the assets of a particular project and is non-recourse
to the Company and its subsidiaries.
There are no assurances that any of these potential funding sources will
materialize, and the Company does not currently have any commitments with
respect to any such funding sources. If the overall outcome of the various
uncertainties affecting the Company is not favorable, the Company may be forced
to seek debt and/or equity financing on terms and conditions that may be
unfavorable to the Company, if available at all. If the Company requires
additional financing and cannot obtain it when needed, it may default on
payments when due.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The Company has determined that the adoption of recently issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 132, "Employer's Disclosures
about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits," and SFAS No. 133, "Accounting
for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" will not have a material
impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or footnote
disclosures.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
Like many other companies, the Company is aware of the problems associated
with the "Year 2000 issue." This issue centers on certain computer systems
being unable to recognize the year 2000 as a valid date or possibly interpreting
a date in the format of "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This
system issue creates risk
22
for the Company from unforeseen problems in its own computer systems and from
third parties with which the Company conducts business. Such failures of the
Company's and third parties' computer systems could potentially have a material
adverse impact on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
The Company is currently engaged in a process to evaluate the potential
impacts of the Year 2000 issue and implement remedial actions. In 1998, the
Company engaged a third party consultant to complete an analysis of its
information technology ("IT") and non-IT systems, such as office and other
hardware containing embedded technology, in its executive offices. The Company
completed remediation steps recommended as a result of this analysis at a
nominal cost. Future upgrades to these systems and/or new acquisitions are
subjected to a similar analysis with the assistance of the third party
consultant. The Company substantially completed similar analyses at the offices
of Pegasus during 1998. Based on the results of these analyses, management
believes that the IT and non-IT systems of its executive offices and the offices
of Net Power Solutions and Pegasus are Year 2000 compliant and does not believe
that there is a significant risk to the Company's future business operations.
In addition, during 1998, the Company substantially completed an assessment
of the impact that the Year 2000 issue may have on other systems that support
the Company's operations, including but not limited to, supplier systems,
shipper systems, systems of suppliers of banking and other financial services,
environmental control systems and building security systems. This analysis was
largely based on interviews, certifications and other correspondence. At this
time, the Company cannot determine the effects, if any, that any non-compliant
systems of such third parties may have on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations, and there can be no assurance that such
effects, if any, would not be material. Nevertheless, based on the analyses
performed to date, management does not expect these third party systems to
present a significant Year 2000 risk to the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
During 1999, the Company engaged a third party consultant to perform an
analysis of its non-IT systems at its laboratory facility near Gillette Wyoming.
This location does not have any IT systems. Once this analysis is complete the
Company plans to implement any recommended remedial actions, which based on the
analysis performed to date, are expected to be at a nominal cost and are
expected to be completed during the second quarter of 1999.
The Company has also been advised that KFP has undertaken appropriate Year
2000 analyses with respect to its IT and non-IT systems, including its
manufacturing equipment. These analyses are not yet complete, but the Company
has been advised that KFP will implement any necessary remedial actions, which
based on the analysis performed to date, are estimated to be at a nominal cost.
Such analyses and any remedial actions are expected to be completed in the third
quarter of 1999.
With respect to Year 2000 issue compliance of Pegasus' NeuSIGHT and related
software products, Pegasus personnel have performed extensive analysis, with the
assistance of third party consultants, and believe that such products are Year
2000 compliant. The remediation costs relative to these products was nominal.
To date, the costs incurred by the Company with respect to the Year 2000
issue have not been material. The Company cannot estimate future costs until
the analyses referred to in the preceding paragraphs are completed. The Company
expects, however, but can provide no assurances, that the future costs will not
be material.
The Company does not expect the impact of the Year 2000 issue will be
material in the systems assessed or being assessed. The Company plans, however,
to continue to monitor this issue with respect to the various computer systems
that it relies on, directly and indirectly, and will take additional steps as it
considers prudent to minimize the potential adverse impact of this issue,
including performing additional analysis and related remediation, as may appear
necessary. In addition, if the Company determines that it will not be able to
achieve Year 2000 compliance in a function that is critical to the future of the
Company, it will immediately develop contingency plans and will attempt to
quantify any impacts of any failure to timely correct non Year 2000 compliant
computer systems. There can be no assurance that the Company will discover all
Year 2000 issues in the course of its assessment or be able to implement timely
and cost effective remedial actions for the Year 2000 issues that it does
discover, such that the Year 2000 issue will not have a material adverse impact
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
23
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is not currently subject to a significant level of direct
market risk related to interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates,
commodity prices or equity prices. The Company has no derivative instruments or
any floating rate debt and does not expect to derive a material amount of its
revenues from interest bearing securities. Currently the Company has no
significant foreign operations. To the extent that the Company establishes
significant foreign operations in the future, it will attempt to mitigate risks
associated with foreign currency exchange rates contractually and through the
use of hedging activities and other means considered appropriate. The Company
is indirectly exposed to fluctuations in fuel commodity prices. To the extent
that fuel prices rise, there may be a tendency for greater demand for certain of
the Company's products and services, since K-Fuel and NeuSIGHT have been shown
to result in lower usage of coal and coal beneficiated fuel products when used
to generate electric power. The Company's fuel-related products provide various
environmental benefits that management believes significantly mitigate the fuel
commodity risk associated with the Company's business. The Company holds no
equity market securities, but does face equity market risk relative to its own
equity securities. This risk is most likely to be manifested by influencing the
Company's ability to raise debt or equity financing, if needed.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this
item are indexed on page F-1 "Index to Consolidated Financial Statements."
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
There were no changes in or significant disagreements with the Company's
independent accountants in 1998.
24
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by items 10 through 13 is set forth under the
captions "Election of Directors," "Executive Officers," "Executive
Compensation," "Stock Ownership," and "Related Party Transactions" in the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, not later than 120 days after the close of the Company's
fiscal year on December 31, 1998, and is incorporated herein by reference as if
set forth in full.
25
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(1) Exhibits List
The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference
to exhibits previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company shall furnish copies of exhibits for a reasonable fee (covering the
expense of furnishing copies) upon written request. (Breaks in the sequence of
10.x exhibits listed below result from material contracts that have expired or
been cancelled.)
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION Page Number
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1/(1)/ Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company -
3.2/(1)/ Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of -
the Company
3.3/(5)/ Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company -
4.1/(5)/ Sample Common Stock Certificate -
4.2/(9)/ Indenture dated July 25, 1997 by and between the Company and -
Colorado National Bank
4.3 See item 10.18 below
10.1/(1)/ Amendments to Agreements between Theodore Venners, -
S.A. Wilson, Koppelman Fuel Development Company, and
the Koppelman Group dated December 29, 1992
10.2/(1)/ Assignment of U.S. Patents by K-Fuel Limited Partnership to the -
Company dated July 23, 1993
10.3/(1)/ Assignment of U.S. Trademark Registration by K-Fuel Limited -
Partnership to the Company dated July 23, 1993
10.4/(1)/ Royalty Agreement dated December 29, 1992 between the Company -
and the Koppelman Group
10.5/(1)/ Agreement dated December 19, 1991 among K-Fuel Partnership, -
Edward Koppelman, K-Fuel Limited Partnership and KSA Inc.
10.8/(5)/ Fourth Amendment to Office Lease dated August 17, 1995 between -
1999 Broadway Partnership and the Company
10.9/(1)/ Restricted Stock Plan for Directors and Selected Officers dated -
December 16, 1993
10.10/(4)/ Restricted Stock Plan for Selected Independent Contractors dated -
February 16, 1994
10.11/(1)/ Stock Option Plan dated December 16, 1993 -
10.12/(1)/ Settlement Agreement dated December 14, 1992 -
10.13/(1)/ Stock Exchange Agreement Dated December 14, 1992 -
10.14/(1)/ Stipulation and Agreement dated February 28, 1994 between Energy -
Brothers Technology, Inc., State of Wyoming, the Company,
Theodore Venners, Edward Koppelman and Energy
Brothers Holding, Inc.
10.15/(4)/ Internal Revenue Service Private Letter ruling dated March 20, 1995 -
10.16/(4)/ Extension of Stock Forfeiture Agreement between Theodore Venners -
and Rudolph G. Swenson; Joyce M. Goldman; David Bretzlauf;
Joseph M. Butler; R.C. Whitner; Hillari Koppelman; Thomas D.
Smart and Susan M. Thevenet; Charles F. Vance
10.17/(2)/ Stock Purchase Agreement dated August 18, 1995 between the -
Company and Thermo Ecotek Corporation
10.18/(2)/ Stock Purchase Warrants dated August 18, 1995 between the -
Company and Thermo Ecotek Corporation
26
10.19/(2)/ Stockholders' Voting and Co-Sale Agreement dated August 18, 1995 -
among the Company, Thermo Ecotek Corporation and
Theodore Venners.
10.20/(2)/ Registration Rights Agreement dated August 18, 1995 between the -
Company and Thermo Ecotek Corporation
10.21/(3)/ Limited Partnership Agreement of KFX Fuel Partners, L.P. -
dated August 18, 1995
10.22/(3)/ Letter Agreement dated August 18, 1995 between Eco Fuels, Inc. -
and KFX Wyoming, Inc. regarding the Management, Operations
and Maintenance Agreement
10.23/(3)/ Gross Royalty Share Agreement dated August 17, 1995 between -
the Company and Fort Union, Ltd.
10.24/(3)/ Indemnity Agreement dated August 18, 1995 between the Company -
and Thermo Ecotek Corporation
10.25/(3)/ Letter of Agreement dated August 15, 1995 between the Company -
and Edward Koppelman
10.26/(3)/ Assignment dated August 29, 1995 executed by Edward Koppelman -
in favor of the Company
10.28/(3)/ Patent and Technology License dated August 17, 1995 between -
Edward Koppelman and KFX Fuel Partners, L.P.
10.29/(3)/ Notice of Termination dated August 16, 1995 between Edward -
Koppelman and Energy Brothers Holding, Inc.
10.30/(5)/ Letter Agreement dated February 28, 1995 between RCD -
Development and the Company
10.31/(6)/ Limited Liability Company Agreement of K-Fuel, L.L.C. -
dated April 19, 1996
10.32/(6)/ Pledge Agreement executed by Theodore Venners in favor of -
Kennecott Energy and Coal Company dated April 19, 1996
10.33/(6)/ Letter Agreement between Theodore Venners and Kennecott -
Energy and Coal Company dated April 22, 1996
10.34/(6)/ Amended and Restated Heartland License Agreement between -
Heartland Fuels Corporation and the Company dated
April 19, 1996
10.35/(7)/ Royalty Amendment Agreement dated June 3, 1996 between the -
Company, Edward Koppelman and Theodore Venners
10.37/(8)/ Design-Build Agreement between the Company and Yanke Energy
dated December 30, 1996 -
10.38/(8)/ Amendment to Agreement between the Company and
RCD Development dated January 16, 1997 -
10.39/(9)/ Purchase Agreement dated March 23, 1998 among the Company and -
Pegasus Technologies, Ltd. and the Lucier Group and The Radl Group
10.40/(9)/ Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Pegasus Technologies -
dated March 23, 1998
10.41/(*)/ 1998 Directors Nonqualified Stock Option Plan -
10.42/(*)/ 1998 Advisory Committee Nonqualified Stock Option Plan -
10.43/(*)/ Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between -
the Company and Seth L. Patterson
21.1/(*)/ Subsidiaries 30
23.1/(*)/ Consent of Independent Accountants 31
27.1/(*)/ Financial Data Schedule -
27
____________________________________
/(*)/ Filed herewith.
/(1)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 1, 1994 as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-SB
and incorporated herein by reference.
/(2)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August
18, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference.
/(3)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File
No. 33-97418) and incorporated herein by reference.
/(4)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File
No. 33-90128) and incorporated herein by reference.
/(5)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended,
for the year ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by
reference.
/(6)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April
19, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
/(7)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
/(8)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
/(9)/ Document previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
NA - None.
(3) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant during the quarter
ended December 31, 1998.
28
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THE REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT TO BE SIGNED ON
ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED.
KFX INC.
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Theodore Venners
--------------------------------------
Theodore Venners
Chairman of the Board of Directors
President and Chief Executive Officer
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE
REGISTRANT AND IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Theodore Venners
--------------------------------------
Theodore Venners
Chairman of the Board of Directors
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Seth L. Patterson
--------------------------------------
Seth L. Patterson
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer)
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Stanford M. Adelstein
-------------------------------------
Stanford M. Adelstein
Director
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Vincent N. Cook
--------------------------------------
Vincent N. Cook
Director
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Brian D. Holt
--------------------------------------
Brian D. Holt
Director
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Peter G. Martin
--------------------------------------
Peter G. Martin
Director
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Jack C. Pester
--------------------------------------
Jack C. Pester
Director
Date: March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Stanley G. Tate
--------------------------------------
Stanley G. Tate
Director
29
SUBSIDIARIES - EXHIBIT 21.1
Address of principal STATE OF INCORPORATION PERCENTAGE
Subsidiary place of business OR ORGANIZATION OWNERSHIP
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KFX Technology, Inc. 3574 Garner Lake Road Wyoming 99.8 %
Gillette, Wyoming 82716
KFX Wyoming, Inc. 1999 Broadway Wyoming 100.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
Heartland Fuels Corporation/(*)/ 1999 Broadway Wisconsin 85.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
K-Fuel L.L.C. 1999 Broadway Delaware 51.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
KFX Fuel Partners II, L.P./(*)/ 1999 Broadway Delaware 100.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
KFX Bohemia, s.r.o./(*)/ 1999 Broadway Czech Republic 100.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
KSA Partnership/(*)/ 1999 Broadway Delaware 67.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
Pegasus Technologies, Ltd. 1100 Mentor Avenue Ohio 60.0 %
Painesville, OH 44077
Net Power Solutions, LLC 1999 Broadway Delaware 100.0 %
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
/(*)/ Entity is substantially inactive with no significant assets or revenues.
30
Consent of Independent Accountants - Exhibit 23.1
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectuses
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-4298), the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-28129) and the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-9873) of KFX Inc. of our report dated March 30,
1999 appearing on page F-2 of this Form 10-K.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- -----------------------------
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Denver, Colorado
March 30, 1999
31
KFX INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Accountants...................................................... F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets............................................................ F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations.................................................. F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity........................................ F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................................................. F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................................. F-7 to F-20
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of KFX Inc:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of operations, of stockholders' equity and of cash flows
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of KFx Inc. and
its subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management;
our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards that require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed
above.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- -----------------------------
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Denver, Colorado
March 30, 1999
F-2
KFX INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997
--------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents.......................................... $ 5,649,992 $ 14,078,773
Accounts receivable................................................ 952,977 220,729
Accounts receivable-affiliates..................................... 193,842 -
Accrued interest receivable........................................ 17,200 52,000
Prepaid expenses................................................... 190,795 109,696
------------ ------------
Total current assets............................................ 7,004,806 14,461,198
------------ ------------
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation....... 3,243,812 4,458,305
Patents, net of accumulated amortization............................. 2,722,069 3,087,853
Investment in and advances to KFX Fuel Partners, L.P................. 3,779,412 3,787,138
Investment in K-Fuel, L.L.C.......................................... 159,967 224,016
Investment in Chardo Redondo, L.L.C.................................. 629,238 -
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization............................ 2,066,669 -
Debt issue costs, net of accumulated amortization.................... 1,738,565 2,230,565
Prepaid royalty...................................................... 498,500 500,000
Other assets......................................................... 829,251 308,631
------------ ------------
$ 22,672,289 $ 29,057,706
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable................................................... $ 188,578 $ 389,780
Accrued expenses................................................... 247,011 190,001
Due to related parties............................................. 471,504 531,623
Interest payable................................................... 531,007 504,421
Deferred revenue................................................... 381,000 -
Current maturity of long-term debt................................. 704,207 280,000
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities....................................... 2,523,307 1,895,825
------------ ------------
Long-term debt, less current maturities.............................. 890,793 500,000
Convertible debentures............................................... 17,000,000 17,000,000
Mine reclamation liability........................................... - 1,166,000
------------ ------------
Total liabilities............................................... 20,414,100 20,561,825
------------ ------------
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 3, 9, 16)
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized;
none issued........................................... - -
Common stock, $.001 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized;
23,951,740 and 23,926,040 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively................................................... 23,952 23,926
Additional paid-in capital......................................... 48,304,942 47,758,843
Accumulated deficit................................................ (46,070,705) (39,286,888)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity...................................... 2,258,189 8,495,881
------------ ------------
$ 22,672,289 $ 29,057,706
============ ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-3
KFX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING REVENUES
Software licenses and services........................ $ 1,328,491 $ - $ -
Contract revenue...................................... 892,094 1,084,823 596,298
Joint venture fee..................................... - - 1,000,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating revenues............................ 2,220,585 1,084,823 1,596,298
----------- ----------- -----------
OPERATING COSTS & EXPENSES
Cost of software licenses and services................ 755,281 - -
Marketing, general and administrative expenses........ 4,146,797 2,795,121 3,364,574
Research and development.............................. 340,947 493,723 465,166
Demonstration plant and laboratory operations......... 686,004 756,969 733,268
Depreciation and amortization......................... 2,710,570 1,969,561 1,861,164
----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating costs & expenses.................... 8,639,599 6,015,374 6,424,172
----------- ----------- -----------
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) (6,419,014) (4,930,551) (4,827,874)
Gain of sale of mine.................................. 700,500 - -
Interest and other income............................. 667,702 650,353 171,269
Interest expense...................................... (1,159,925) (546,985) (184,864)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates........... (573,080) (267,977) (86,572)
Write-down of mine property and reclamation costs..... - - (700,500)
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss before income taxes.............................. (6,783,817) (5,095,160) (5,628,541)
Income tax benefit.................................... - - -
----------- ----------- -----------
NET LOSS.............................................. $(6,783,817) $(5,095,160) $(5,628,541)
=========== =========== ===========
BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE.. $ (.28) $ (.21) $ (.25)
=========== =========== ===========
Weighted average common shares outstanding............ 23,931,000 23,820,000 22,458,000
=========== =========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-4
KFX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
ADDITIONAL
COMMON STOCK PAID-IN ACCUMULATED
------------------
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL DEFICIT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1995............. 22,159,374 $22,159 $42,293,556 $(28,563,187)
Stock issued for cash.................. 382,000 382 1,449,498 -
Stock issued for services and board
of director fees.................. 134,666 135 650,039 -
Warrants issued for services........... - - 300,000 -
Net loss............................... - - - (5,628,541)
---------- ------- ----------- ------------
Balance, December 31, 1996............. 22,676,040 22,676 44,693,093 (34,191,728)
Stock issued for cash.................. 1,250,000 1,250 2,498,750 -
Warrants issued in connection with
placement of convertible
debentures........................ - - 567,000 -
Net loss............................... - - - (5,095,160)
---------- ------- ----------- ------------
Balance, December 31, 1997............. 23,926,040 23,926 47,758,843 (39,286,888)
Warrants and options issued for
services.............................. - - 196,000 -
Options issued in connection with
acquisition........................... - - 253,750 -
Stock issued for services.............. 25,700 26 96,349 -
Net loss............................... - - - (6,783,817)
---------- ------- ----------- ------------
Balance, December 31, 1998............. 23,951,740 $23,952 $48,304,942 $(46,070,705)
========== ======= =========== ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-5
KFX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss.............................................. $(6,783,817) $(5,095,160) $(5,628,541)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash
Used in operating activities
Depreciation and amortization..................... 2,710,570 1,969,561 1,861,164
Gain on sale of mine.............................. (700,500) - -
Write-down of mine property and
reclamation costs................................ - - 700,500
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates....... 573,080 267,977 86,572
Common stock issued for services.................. 292,374 - -
Stock options and warrants issued for services.... - - 237,500
Other, net........................................ (81,069) (16,197) -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Receivables and unbilled revenue.................. (482,823) (155,332) (669,687)
Trade and related party payables.................. (133,624) (590,715) 569,925
Accrued interest and other liabilities............ 86,649 435,452 (28,886)
Prepaid royalty................................... - - (300,000)
Other............................................. (122,898) (147,281) (37,431)
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash used in operating activities....................... (4,642,058) (3,331,695) (3,208,884)
----------- ----------- -----------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of Pegasus Technologies, Limited.......... (1,610,657) - -
Patents acquisition and pending patent applications... (269,016) (59,260) (35,918)
Investments in K-Fuel, L.L.C.......................... (98,876) (334,813) (243,752)
Investments in KFX Fuel Partners, L.P................. (215,183) (733,120) -
Investments in Charco Redondo, LLC .... (629,238) - -
Purchases of property and equipment................... (302,075) (16,175) (211,700)
Reclamation deposit................................... - - 1,503,032
Other................................................. (701,878) (36,224) (130,221)
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities......... (3,826,923) (1,179,592) 881,441
----------- ----------- -----------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from sale of common stock................ - 2,500,000 1,449,880
Proceeds from issuance of notes/debentures............ 115,000 17,000,000 -
Debenture placement fees.............................. - (1,868,565) -
Payments on promissory notes.......................... (74,800) (445,000) (588,851)
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash provided by financing activities................... 40,200 17,186,435 861,029
----------- ----------- -----------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents........ (8,428,781) 12,675,148 (1,466,414)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period.......... 14,078,773 1,403,625 2,870,039
----------- ----------- -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD................ $ 5,649,992 $14,078,773 $ 1,403,625
=========== =========== ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest.................................. $ 1,130,437 $ 134,605 $ 157,404
=========== =========== ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
See Notes 2, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-6
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
CONSOLIDATION POLICY
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of KFX Inc.
("KFX" or the "Company"), its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Net Power Solutions,
LLC ("NPS") and KFX Wyoming, Inc. ("KFXW"), and its majority-owned subsidiaries,
Pegasus Technologies, Limited ("Pegasus"), KFX Technology, Inc. ("KFXT"), and
Heartland Fuels Corporation ("HFC"). The Company's 51 percent interest in K-
Fuel, L.L.C. ("K-Fuel LLC"), and its 5 percent interest in KFX Fuel Partners,
L.P. ("KFP") are accounted for as equity investments as the Company does not
have the authority or ability to control these entities. All significant inter-
company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
The Company is engaged in developing and delivering various technology
and service solutions to the electric power generation industry to facilitate
the industry's compliance with air emission standards and transformation to
intensive competition as the domestic power industry undergoes deregulation. The
Company considers its business to be in one industry segment since its existing
products and services serve the same end industry and provide similar benefits.
In addition, new products and services under development are expected to be
complementary. As the Company's business evolves, it may determine that it
operates in more than one segment. During each of the three years ended December
31, 1998, substantially all of the Company's operating activities was conducted
domestically.
Currently the Company has technology solutions that enhance the output
of coal-fired electric utility boilers while simultaneously reducing the related
environmental impacts. The patented K-Fuel Technology uses heat and pressure to
physically and chemically transform high-moisture, low-energy value coal and
other organic feedstocks into a low-moisture, high-energy solid clean fuel ("K-
Fuel"). KFx plans to license K-Fuel Technology domestically and internationally
to various parties wishing to construct and operate K-Fuel production
facilities.
In 1998, through the acquisition of a controlling interest in Pegasus
and the Company's formation of NPS, the Company added NeuSIGHT(TM) to its
solutions. NeuSIGHT is the leading combustion optimization product for coal-
fired electric utility boilers, which, in addition to improving boiler
efficiency, reduces NOX emissions. NeuSIGHT is a neural network-based (i.e.,
artificial intelligence) software technology. Pegasus developed NeuSIGHT and
continues to enhance NeuSIGHT and develop related products while NPS focuses on
marketing and sales of NeuSIGHT licenses and related implementation services.
SOFTWARE LICENSE AND SERVICES REVENUE
The Company recognizes software licenses and services revenue in
accordance with the provisions of Statement of Position 97-2, "Software Revenue
Recognition." The Company derives revenues from license fees for the Company's
NeuSIGHT software and services, including installation and implementations,
under the terms of both fixed price and time and material contracts.
Since most of the NeuSIGHT revenues in 1998 were derived from turnkey
projects wherein the Company was required to provide the license and
installation and implementation services in one fixed price contract, license
fees and services revenues during 1998 were generally recognized using the
percentage-of-completion method of accounting. The percentage of completion for
each contract is determined based on the ratio of direct labor hours incurred to
total estimated direct labor hours required to complete the contract. The
Company may periodically encounter changes in costs, estimated costs and
F-7
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
other factors that may lead to a change in the original estimated profitability
of a fixed price contract. In such circumstances, adjustments to cost and
profitability estimates are made in the periods in which the underlying factors
requiring such revisions become known. If such revisions indicate a loss on a
contract, the entire loss is recorded at such time. Amounts billed in advance of
services being performed are recorded as deferred revenue and are generally
billed and collected within twelve months.. Unbilled work-in-progress
represents revenue earned but not yet billed under the terms of fixed price
contracts.
Revenue from other services provided pursuant to time-and-materials
contracts is recognized as the services are performed. The Company did not
derive a significant level of revenues from maintenance contracts or training
services during 1998.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures that
extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized. Repairs and maintenance that
do not extend the useful lives of the assets are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the
following estimated useful lives:
Plant, machinery and equipment 7-15 years
Office furniture and equipment 3-5 years
PATENTS
The Company holds patents to the Series "A", "B" and "C" K-Fuel
Technology. The costs of obtaining new patents are capitalized; costs of
defending and maintaining patents are expensed as incurred. Patents are
amortized over the lives of the respective patents of 17 to 20 years for
domestic patents and 5 to 20 years for foreign patents.
GOODWILL
Goodwill, which was recorded in connection with the acquisition of
Pegasus using the purchase accounting method, is amortized on a straight-line
basis over an estimated useful life of five years.
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS
The Company capitalized issuance costs related to the convertible
debentures. These costs are amortized over the life of the debentures using the
straight-line method, the results of which are not materially different than
using the effective interest method because of the short life of the debentures.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Research and development costs related to software development and K-
Fuel technology research are expensed as incurred. Such costs are required to be
expensed until such time as technological feasibility of the product, process or
improvement thereto is established, after which remaining costs can be
capitalized until general availability of the product. The period of time
between achieving technological feasibility and general availability is
typically short. Accordingly, costs incurred after technological feasibility
that are otherwise capitalizable, are charged to expense because they are not
significant.
F-8
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
The Company periodically grants qualified and non-qualified stock
options to certain executive officers, non-employee directors and other key
employees under two employee stock option plans as well as outside these plans.
Stock options granted are accounted for in accordance with Accounting Principles
Board Opinion No. 25 - "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB25"),
which generally provides that no compensation expense is recorded in connection
with the granting of stock options if the options are granted at prices at least
equal to fair value at date of grant.
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
Basic net income (loss) per common share excludes any dilutive effects
of options, warrants and convertible securities. All options and warrants have
been excluded from diluted net loss per share because the impact of such
inclusion on a net loss is inherently anti-dilutive.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an
original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At December
31, 1998 and 1997, cash and cash equivalents included commercial paper and money
market accounts of $5,564,992 and $14,068,510, respectively. Such amounts are
carried at cost, which at December 31, 1998 and 1997 approximated fair market
value.
ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods
presented. Significant estimates have been made by management with respect to
the realizability of the Company's property, plant and equipment, patents,
equity investments, and prepaid royalty. Actual results could differ from these
estimates, making it possible that a change in these estimates could occur in
the near term.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 1997 and 1996
financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
NOTE 2. PEGASUS TECHNOLOGIES, LIMITED
On March 23, 1998, the Company acquired a 60 percent interest in
Pegasus, an Ohio limited liability company that develops and markets computer
software products intended to optimize combustion and provide related benefits
in coal-fired electric utility power plants. The purchase price totaled
$2,574,000 and consisted of a cash payment of $1,100,000, $600,000 in four-year
promissory notes, the agreement to provide an immediate capital contribution of
$500,000 and certain costs related to the acquisition. The promissory notes bear
interest at 5% and require annual principal payments of $150,000 each
anniversary date until fully paid in March 2002. In addition, the Company agreed
to issue to certain Pegasus principals non-qualified stock options to purchase
75,000 common shares under the Company's 1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan at
$3.75 per share. The Company also issued 100,000 fully vested non-qualified
stock options under the Company's 1996 Stock Option and Incentive Plan to a
consultant who provided certain acquisition services. Using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model, the stock options were valued at $253,750; this amount is
included in goodwill and acquisition costs related to the acquisition
F-9
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
of Pegasus. In addition, the Company agreed to provide Pegasus $1,400,000 in
working capital guarantees secured through lines of credit or other financing
sources mutually acceptable to the Company and Pegasus.
Of the total purchase price, approximately $2,209,000 was allocated to
goodwill, since at date of acquisition fair value of the underlying net assets
of Pegasus was negative and there were no significant assets nor any research
and development in process. Goodwill is being amortized over five years. The
financial condition of Pegasus at December 31, 1998 and its results of
operations for the period March 24, 1998 to December 31, 1998 are included in
the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Unaudited pro forma
operating results as if the acquisition of Pegasus had occurred as of January 1,
1997 are summarized as follows:
1998 1997
-------------------------------------
(unaudited)
Operating revenues............................................... $ 2,266,000 $ 1,891,000
Net loss......................................................... $(7,131,000) $(5,873,000)
Basic net loss per common share.................................. $ (.30) $ (.25)
Note 3. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997
-------------------------------------------
Demonstration plant........................................... $10,854,375 $10,854,375
Mine property................................................. - 465,500
Office and computer equipment................................. 382,485 192,589
Other......................................................... 344,220 144,661
----------- -----------
11,581,080 11,657,125
Less accumulated depreciation................................. (8,337,268) (7,198,820)
----------- -----------
$ 3,243,812 $ 4,458,305
=========== ===========
Depreciation expense was $1,109,928, $1,016,670 and $837,945 in 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively.
In order to facilitate the development of the production facility
discussed in Note 5, in 1995 the Company acquired certain coal mining and
surface properties near Gillette, Wyoming. The consideration paid for the
properties is in the form of a royalty share agreement whereby the Company is
required to pay Fort Union an amount equal to 20 percent of the royalty income
received by the Company from all North American applications of the K-Fuel
process until the earlier of such time as (1) Fort Union has received royalty
share payments in the amount of $1,500,000, or (2) September 15, 2015.
Additionally, the Company was required to assume the reclamation liabilities
related to the acquired properties. In 1996, the Company reassessed the value of
this asset and wrote down its investment in mining property to an estimated fair
market value of $465,500. The charge of $566,512 is reflected in the results of
operations of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1996. During 1998,
this property was sold to KFP in exchange for KFP's assumption of the mine
reclamation liability, resulting in a gain of $700,500. Application has been
made to the State of Wyoming for formal transfer of the mine reclamation
liability and related operating permit, which are expected to be received in
1999.
F-10
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
NOTE 4. PATENTS
Patents consisted of the following:
DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997
-----------------------------------
Series "A" and "B" patents........................................ $ 8,800,000 $ 8,800,000
Series "C" patents................................................ 1,335,134 1,335,134
Foreign patents - granted......................................... 212,922 212,922
Domestic and foreign patents - pending............................ 401,604 182,589
Other............................................................. 50,000 -
----------- -----------
10,799,660 10,530,645
Less accumulated amortization..................................... (8,077,591) (7,442,792)
----------- -----------
$ 2,722,069 $ 3,087,853
=========== ===========
Patents amortization expense, including abandoned patents, was
$634,799, $637,765 and $646,607 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
NOTE 5. INVESTMENT IN KFX FUEL PARTNERS, L.P.
In August 1995, the Company acquired a 5 percent general and limited
partnership interest in KFP. Thermo Ecotek Corporation ("TCK") holds the
remaining 95 percent general and limited partnership interest in KFP. In
September 1995, KFP began construction of a 500,000 tons-per-year K-Fuel
production facility near Gillette, Wyoming. At December 31, 1998, total
construction costs of the facility were approximately $66.5 million. As part of
its investment in 1995, the Company contributed to KFP certain assets from its
demonstration facility near Gillette, Wyoming with a book value of approximately
$411,000, and certain permitting and engineering costs incurred by the Company
totaling approximately $620,000. Additionally, as a condition of acquiring the
5 percent interest in KFP, in August 1995 the Company acquired an additional 80
percent interest in HFC in exchange for 375,000 shares of the Company's common
stock valued at $1,875,000, a cash payment of $100,000, and a promissory note of
$150,000 paid in 1996. HFC's only asset is a license to the Company's Series "A"
and "B" K-Fuel technology. Prior to the HFC transaction, the Company held a 5
percent interest in HFC and was indebted to HFC in the amount of approximately
$364,000. The total consideration paid for the HFC interest, less the
indebtedness of the Company to HFC, was also recorded as part of the Company's
investment in KFP.
In addition to its 5 percent interest in KFP, the Company receives a
royalty of 3 percent of the net sales of the KFP facility. The Company also
performed $519,501 and $395,679 of technical services for KFP in 1998 and 1997,
respectively; these amounts are included in contract revenues for the periods.
KFP began operations at the KFP facility in April 1998. Although the
facility is operating and producing commercially salable product, KFP has
encountered certain difficulties in optimizing its performance to achieve
optimal and sustained operations. KFP has addressed and resolved certain
problems previously encountered, including a fire at the facility and certain
construction problems, including issues relating to the flow of materials within
the facility and the design and operation of certain pressure release equipment.
KFP continues to experience certain operational problems relating to tar and
fines residue build-up within the system during production and product quality
issues related to product dusting. KFP is actively exploring solutions to these
problems. Because the technology being developed is new, no assurance can be
given that other difficulties will not arise or that KFP will be able to correct
these problems and achieve optimal and sustained performance.
F-11
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
In connection with the commencement of operations of the KFP Facility
in April 1998, the Company reclassified $269,883 to accounts receivable from
affiliates for certain capitalized contract services, which were reimbursed by
KFP in July 1998.
KFP had total assets of approximately $68.4 million and $55.4 million
and total liabilities of approximately $12.3 million and $3.6 million at
December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 1998,
KFP reported $173,000 in revenues and $7.4 million in net loss. For the years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, KFP generated no revenues and had no net
income since all of KFP's efforts were directed towards start-up of the
facility.
NOTE 6. THERMO ECOTEK CORPORATION STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
In August 1995, the Company and TCK entered into a stock purchase
agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") whereby TCK acquired 1,500,000 shares
of the Company's common stock for $3 million, and the right to purchase up to an
additional 2,750,000 shares of the Company's common stock at the same price per
share. In December 1995, TCK purchased an additional 1,500,000 shares for $3
million. Additionally, TCK purchased the remaining 1,250,000 shares of common
stock in January 1997 for $2.5 million, increasing its ownership in the Company
to approximately 18 percent.
In addition, as part of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company
issued two common stock purchase warrants to TCK. The first warrant ("Warrant
A") is for 7,750,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price
of $3.65 per share (subject to certain adjustments), and is exercisable, in
whole or in part, commencing on January 1, 2000 and expiring on July 31, 2001.
The second warrant ("Warrant B") gives TCK the right to purchase the number of
shares of common stock that, when added to the shares owned by TCK on the
exercise date or which TCK has the right to acquire 60 days after the exercise
date, would be sufficient to give TCK ownership of 51 percent of the outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company, on a fully diluted basis, on the exercise
date. Warrant B is exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on January 1,
2000 and expiring on July 31, 2001, provided, however, that Warrant B may not be
exercised unless TCK has fully exercised Warrant A. The exercise price of
Warrant B will be the average daily closing price of the common stock for the 40
trading days immediately preceding the exercise date.
NOTE 7. INVESTMENT IN K-FUEL, L.L.C.
In April 1996, the Company and Kennecott Alternative Fuels, Inc.
("KAFI"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kennecott Energy and Coal Company
("KECC"), formed K-Fuel, LLC. Pursuant to the Limited Liability Company
Agreement (the "Agreement"), K-Fuel, LLC is intended to be the vehicle for
further technical advancement and the commercialization of business
opportunities arising out of the K-Fuel Technology, including research and
development, sublicensing, marketing and consulting, but not including any
actual construction of plants or facilities to produce K-Fuel products on a
commercial basis ("Commercial Projects"). Commercial Projects will be
constructed by separate entities in which KAFI, the Company or both may have an
equity interest and which will receive a sublicense from K-Fuel, LLC for the K-
Fuel Technology.
Initially, the Company has a 51 percent interest in K-Fuel, LLC and
KAFI has a 49 percent interest, except to the extent of certain research and
development and amortization expenses, which by written agreement are allocated
100 percent to KAFI. At such time as entities in which KAFI has an equity
interest have placed into service Commercial Projects with a collective design
capacity equal to or in excess of 3 million tons of K-Fuel product per annum,
KAFI will have a 51 percent interest in K-Fuel, LLC and the Company will have a
49 percent interest. A fee of $1,000,000 was paid to the Company in
consideration for the Company entering into the Agreement, and has been recorded
by the Company as
F-12
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
joint venture fee revenue in 1996. Subject to certain conditions, KAFI has also
agreed to make additional capital contributions to K-Fuel, LLC in such amounts
as may be necessary for all research and development costs incurred by K-Fuel,
LLC, up to $4,000,000. KAFI incurred such research and development costs
totaling approximately $51,000, $879,000 and $1,440,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively, and an additional $209,000, $327,000 and $371,000, for certain
administrative, marketing and project development activities in the United
States and Indonesia for the same periods. The Company contributed $99,000,
$334,000 and $386,000 to K-Fuel, LLC in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, for
certain administrative, marketing and project development activities in the
United States and Indonesia. As of December 31, 1998, K-Fuel, LLC was not
committed to fund or construct any Commercial Projects.
The activities and financial results of K-Fuel, LLC are accounted for
by the Company using the equity method, rather than as a consolidated
subsidiary, since the Company does not have the authority to control K-Fuel,
LLC. The Company recognized an expense of $319,460, $267,977 and $86,572 for
its equity share of the marketing, general and administrative expenses of K-
Fuel, LLC for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The Company's investment in K-
Fuel, LLC at December 31, 1998 was approximately $160,000.
In connection with the Agreement, the Company granted K-Fuel, LLC an
exclusive, worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free right and license (including the
right to grant sublicenses) to and under the K-Fuel Technology, except to the
extent that it pertains to the beneficiation or restructuring of coal or coal-
related feedstocks covered under the HFC License (as defined below) (the "KFX
License"). In addition, Heartland Fuels Corporation, an 85 percent owned
subsidiary of the Company, granted K-Fuel, LLC an exclusive, worldwide, fully-
paid, royalty-free right and license (including the right to grant sublicenses)
to and under the Series "A" and Series "B" K-Fuel Technology, as it pertains to
the beneficiation or restructuring of coal or coal-related feedstocks (the "HFC
License"). Both the KFX License and the HFC License specify minimum terms and
provisions for any sublicenses granted by K-Fuel, LLC to third parties.
NOTE 8. CHARCO REDONDO, LLC
In December 1997, the Company purchased a 12.6 percent interest in
Charco Redondo, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, ("Charco") for $540,000,
which was funded during 1998. The Company has made additional investments
approximating $89,000 pursuant to cash calls made by Charco through December 31,
1998. Charco is a pilot tertiary oil recovery project.
NOTE 9. PREPAID ROYALTY
In June 1996, the Company entered into a royalty amendment agreement
with Edward Koppelman, the inventor of the K-Fuel Technology. Prior to the
agreement, Mr. Koppelman was entitled to a royalty of 2 percent on the gross
sales value of K-Fuel product produced by any entity, including any product
produced by the Company. As a result of the agreement, Mr. Koppelman's royalty
is now 25 percent of the Company's worldwide royalty and license fee revenue,
computed after a State of Wyoming royalty. The royalty to Mr. Koppelman will
cease when the cumulative payments to him reach the sum of approximately
$75,222,000. Mr. Koppelman is now deceased and his estate holds all royalty
rights.
As consideration for the royalty amendment agreement, the Company paid
Mr. Koppelman $300,000 in cash and issued a promissory note for $200,000, which
was paid in full in 1997. The $500,000 prepaid royalty will be amortized based
on the difference between what royalty payments to Mr. Koppelman would have been
on the original royalty agreement and the amended royalty agreement reached in
1996.
F-13
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
NOTE 10. DUE TO RELATED PARTIES
Due to related parties consisted of the following:
DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997
---------------------------------------
Due to KFx Fuel Partners, L.P..................................... $ 267,446 $ -
Due to K-Fuel, L.L.C.............................................. 204,058 244,665
Due to KSA Partnership............................................ - 286,958
------------ ------------
Total related party liabilities................................. $ 471,504 $ 531,623
============ ============
During 1998 and 1997, the Company wrote off $95,653 and $237,438,
respectively, in net trade and related party payables since such amounts were
forgiven or otherwise determined to be no longer due.
NOTE 11. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997
-------------------------------------------
Unsecured promissory note, interest at 6.5 percent and payable
May 28, 1999..................................................... $ 500,000 $ 500,000
Unsecured promissory note, interest at 8.0 percent and payable
April 20, 1999................................................... 260,000 280,000
Unsecured promissory note, interest at 6.0 percent, payable in
$10,000 quarterly installments beginning March 2000 with the
balance due December 2001........................................ 170,000 -
Unsecured promissory note, interest at 5.0 percent due with
principal payments in four annual payments approximating
$150,000 each beginning March 1999............................... 600,000 -
Other, due and paid January 1999.................................. 65,000 -
----------- ---------
1,595,000 780,000
Less current maturities........................................... (704,207) (280,000)
----------- ---------
$ 890,793 $ 500,000
=========== =========
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 1998 are as
follows: $704,207 in 1999, $446,167 in 2000, $283,476 in 2001, and $17,161,150
(including the Convertible Debentures) in 2002.
NOTE 12. CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
On July 31, 1997, the Company completed a private placement of
unsecured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") totaling $17.0 million. The
Debentures mature in July 2002 at 112% of principal amount, and have an annual
interest rate of 6.0 percent, payable semi-annually on January 31 and July 31.
The Debentures became convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at a
conversion price of $3.75 per share, beginning on October 30, 1997. On November
1, 1999, the conversion price will change to be 90 percent of the average
closing price of the Company's common stock for the 15 days immediately
preceding November 1, 1999. The conversion price on November 1, 1999 cannot be
less than $3.65 per share, subject to certain adjustments. The Debentures are
redeemable at 130% of principal amount after July 31, 1999. The Debentures
contain covenants related to investments, payment of
F-14
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
dividends, additional indebtedness and certain other matters. Management
believes that the Company has complied with the Debenture's covenants in all
material respects. In connection with the sale of the Debentures, the Company
issued warrants to purchase 453,333 shares of common stock to the placement
agents. See Note 15.
The Debentures were offered, sold and delivered only to non-United
States persons outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The net cash proceeds from the sale of the Debentures (approximately
$15.1 million) have been and will be used for the acquisition and development of
strategic businesses expected to enhance the growth and financial performance of
the Company, and for general corporate purposes.
NOTE 13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
In 1998, the Company granted warrants and options to purchase 320,000
shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $3.75 per share in
exchange for certain professional services. Using the Black-Scholes option-
pricing model, the warrants were valued at $196,000; this amount is included in
marketing, general and administrative expenses for 1998.
In 1998, the Company granted purchase options for 175,000 shares of
the Company's common stock under the Company's 1996 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan in connection with the Company's acquisition of a 60 percent interest in
Pegasus Technologies, LLC. Using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, the
stock options were valued at $253,750; this amount is included in goodwill and
acquisition costs related to the acquisition of Pegasus Technologies, LLC.
During 1998, the Company issued 25,700 shares of its common stock at
$3.75 per share in exchange for consulting services; $96,375 of related expense
is included in marketing, general and administrative expenses.
During 1997, the Company issued 1,250,000 shares of common stock for
$2,500,000 as part of the Stock Purchase Agreement.
In connection with the sale of the Debentures, the Company issued to
the placement agents warrants to purchase 453,333 shares of common stock at an
exercise price of $5.00 per share, expiring in July 2002. The warrants were
valued at $567,000 using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and are included
in the total debenture offering costs of $2,435,565.
During 1996, the Company issued 382,000 shares of common stock for net
cash proceeds of $1,449,880, resulting from the exercise of outstanding common
stock purchase warrants issued prior to 1996.
During 1996, the Company issued (1) 93,240 shares of common stock and
warrants to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock in exchange for professional
service fee obligations totaling $740,394, of which $502,894 was accrued at
December 31, 1995, and (2) 41,426 shares of common stock in exchange for 1995
board of director fees totaling $209,780 which were accrued at December 31,
1995. The warrants are exercisable for $4.00 per share and expire 100,000 each
in November and December 1999.
F-15
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
14. STOCK OPTION PLANS
The Company has two employee stock option plans - the Amended and
Restated Stock Option Plan (the "1992 Plan"), and the 1996 Stock Option and
Incentive Plan (the "1996 Plan").
The 1992 Plan provides for the award to executive officers (including
officers who are also directors), non-employee directors and other key employees
of the Company of either non-qualified stock options ("NSO") or incentive stock
options ("ISO"), as defined in Section 422 of the United States Internal Revenue
Code. Stock options, either NSO or ISO, granted under the 1992 Plan vest 20
percent on the date of grant, with an additional 20 percent vesting on each
anniversary date of the grant until fully vested, unless other terms of vesting
are specified by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Committee"). Additionally, the Committee can accelerate the vesting of an
outstanding option at its sole discretion, and is required to accelerate the
vesting of all outstanding options outstanding under the 1992 Plan in the event
of a change in control of the Company, as defined (which includes, in general
and among other items, a change in ownership of 15% or more, a sale of
substantially all of the Company's assets and a merger involving the Company).
All stock options granted under the 1992 Plan expire ten years from the
date of grant. The Company has reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock for
issuance under the 1992 Plan., of which 148,000 options remain available for
grant. As a result of TCK's investment in the Company on January 31,1997,
increasing its ownership in the Company to in excess of 15 percent, all options
outstanding under the 1992 Plan at that date became fully vested at that time.
The 1996 Plan provides for the award to executive officers, non-
employee directors and other key employees and consultants of the Company of
only non-qualified stock options. Stock options granted under the 1996 Plan
generally vest 20 percent on the first anniversary date of the grant, and an
additional 20 percent each anniversary date thereafter until fully vested. The
Committee has similar authority to accelerate the vesting of any outstanding
option as described above under the 1992 Plan, except there are no specific
change in control vesting requirements. All stock options granted under the
1996 Plan expire seven years from the date of grant. The Company has reserved
1,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 1996 Plan, of which
85,000 options remain available for grant
In addition to the 1992 Plan and the 1996 Plan, the Company has issued
non-qualified stock options related to various compensation and fee agreements
with employees of and consultants to the Company.
The following table summarizes the Company's stock option activity for
the three-year period ending December 31, 1998:
OPTION ACTIVITY OPTIONS EXERCISABLE AT YEAR END
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
WEIGHTED WEIGHTED
TOTAL AVERAGE AVERAGE
OPTIONS PRICE PER SHARE BALANCE PRICE PER SHARE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance 12-31-95........... 1,370,000 $4.55
Granted.................... 1,025,500 $6.37
Expired and cancelled...... (30,000) $5.13
---------
Balance 12-31-96........... 2,365,500 $5.28 1,460,000 $4.66
Granted.................... 885,000 $4.01
Expired and cancelled...... (388,000) $5.92
---------
Balance 12-31-97........... 2,862,500 $4.80 1,637,100 $4.67
Granted.................... 1,310,000 $4.05
Expired and cancelled...... (300,500) $6.87
---------
Balance 12-31-98........... 3,872,000 $4.38 2,273,000 $4.42
=========
F-16
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
The range of exercise prices for stock options outstanding and
exercisable at December 31, 1998 was $3.75 per share to $7.39 per share. All
stock options granted during each of the three years ended December 31, 1998
were at exercise prices that were not below the fair market value of the
Company's common stock on the date of grant. Generally such grants were at the
greater of fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant
or $3.75 per share, due to restrictions imposed under the Convertible Debentures
and the TCK Stock Purchase Agreement.
The Company measures compensation expense under Accounting Principles
Board ("APB") No. 25, which uses an intrinsic value approach to measurement,
i.e., compensation expense is generally recognized only when the exercise price
of an employee stock option or similar equity instrument is below the fair
market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.
The following table summarizes the pro forma effects on net loss, and
the related assumptions under the Black-Scholes option pricing model, for the
three most recent fiscal years as if the Company had elected to implement the
fair value approach of accounting for stock options as provided by Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation) issued in 1995:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1998 1997 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss - pro forma............................ $(8,066,000) $(7,959,000) $(6,321,000)
Net loss per share - pro forma.................. $ (.34) $ (.33) $ (.28)
Weighted average................................
Risk free interest rate.................... 4.86% 6.48% 6.66%
Expected option life (years)............... 5.9 6.7 7.0
Expected volatility........................ 50.6% 50.4% 54.8%
Expected dividends......................... NA NA NA
NOTE 15. WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
See Note 6 regarding the warrants held by TCK to acquire up to 51% of
the shares of the Company's common stock beginning in January 2000.
Associated with various financing transactions and professional
service agreements, the Company has issued transferable warrants to purchase
common stock. The following table summarizes the outstanding warrants as of
December 31, 1998, all of which are fully exercisable as of that date:
TYPE OF NUMBER OF EXERCISE PRICE
TRANSACTION SHARES PER SHARE EXPIRATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Granted in 1996........... Services 200,000 $ 4.00 1999
Granted in 1997........... Services 453,333 $ 5.00 2002
GRANTED IN 1998........... SERVICES 230,000 $4.38-$ 3.75 2001
-------
883,333
=======
F-17
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Related to the issuance of the warrants in 1996 for services, the
Company recorded non-cash charges of $237,500 in 1996 for the difference between
the fair market value per share of the Company's common stock and the warrant
price on the date of the issuance. Warrants granted in 1997 related to the
placement of the Convertible Debentures. Warrants granted in 1998 related to
certain professional service expenses totaling $196,000.
NOTE 16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The Company is obligated for noncancelable operating leases with
initial terms exceeding one year relating to office space and certain equipment
and vehicle leases. Rent expense in 1998, 1997, and 1996 was $204,847, $182,005
and $226,025, respectively. The lease agreements require future minimum lease
payments as follows:
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT PAYABLE
----------------------- --------------
1999................................. $206,000
2000................................. 136,000
2001................................. 72,000
2002................................. 68,000
2003................................. 33,000
--------
$515,000
========
Pursuant to a Pledge Agreement dated April 19, 1996 between an officer
and director of the Company and KECC, the same officer and director pledged to
KECC 500,000 shares of his ownership of the Company's common stock in the event
KECC suffers any loss related to possible losses from the purchase and sale of
product pursuant to a fuel purchase option between KECC and KFP dated April 19,
1996.
As part of the restructured bond agreement with the State of Wyoming
(Wyoming) in 1994, Energy Brothers Holding, Inc., an affiliate of the Company,
and an officer and director of the Company executed a promissory note to the
State of Wyoming for $819,000, with annual interest at 6 percent. The Company
has agreed to indemnify both Energy Brothers Holding, Inc. and the officer and
director of the Company to the extent that payments are made to the State of
Wyoming under the agreement. In addition, the Company entered into a royalty
agreement with Wyoming, which requires the Company to pay Wyoming 12 percent of
its domestic K-Fuel license and royalty revenue. The rate decreases to 6
percent when cumulative payments under the royalty agreement total $5 million.
The Company is contingently liable to Ohio Valley Electric Corporation
("OVEC") for an overriding royalty of 0.5 percent to OVEC on the gross revenues
generated by the sale of fuel produced from any production plant (other than the
current facility being constructed by KFP) located in the United States in which
the feedstock is coal and which uses the Company's proprietary Series "C" K-Fuel
technology to produce fuel. The Company is contingently liable to Fort Union
for 20 percent of the Company's North American royalty proceeds.
Pursuant to an Indemnity Agreement dated August 18, 1995 between the
Company and TCK, the parties agreed, among other things, that (i) neither party,
nor any affiliate thereof may build, construct or operate, or have any interest
in a plant or facility, except as contemplated by the OVEC Fuel Option Agreement
and the I&M Fuel Option Agreement that would compete, directly or indirectly,
with the Project until the earlier of (a) five years after the date the KFP
Project commences commercial operation, (b) the date on which KFP has entered
into contracts for the sale of a minimum of 70 percent of the output
F-18
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
of the KFP Project for a term of at least five years, and (c) the date on
which the combined KFP interests of the Company and TCK total less than 50.1
percent; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to the
operations or activities of the parties with respect to international (excluding
Canada and Mexico) business ventures and activities; and (ii) the Company shall
guarantee any loan created pursuant to the Partnership Agreement relating to a
capital call for the license to mine coal. An officer and director of the
Company has pledged 225,000 shares of his ownership of the Company's common
stock to guarantee any obligations of the Company arising from the Indemnity
Agreement.
In November 1995, the Company filed a lawsuit against Fru-Con
Construction Corporation and Fru-Con Engineering, Inc. (collectively, "Fru-Con")
in the Wyoming State Court, 6th Judicial District. The action has been removed
to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. The Company's
lawsuit requests that the court enter a judgement that Fru-Con has no interest
or claim in or against the Company or any of the Company's property or
interests, or that Fru-Con is barred from such claims. Fru-Con had asserted
claims for approximately $1.8 million for engineering services and an interest
in K-Fuel plants built in North America by virtue of contractual arrangements
with a limited partnership sponsored by corporations in which a predecessor
entity to the Company had a partnership interest. Because the work done by Fru-
Con was for a limited partnership in which the Company's predecessor entity was
not a partner, and because payment for the work performed by Fru-Con was
contingent upon successful project financing which never materialized, as well
as for other legal and factual reasons, the Company believes that Fru-Con has no
valid rights or claims against the Company. On May 20, 1997, the Court granted
the Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on all claims. Fru-Con subsequently
appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. On September 1, 1998 the Appeals
Court affirmed the District Court's opinion. The Company believes that any
further developments in this matter will not have a material adverse impact on
the Company's financial position or results of operations.
On March 9, 1998, Fidelity and Deposit of Maryland (F&D), as subrogee
of Walsh Construction Company (Walsh), a division of Guy F. Atkinson Company,
filed a construction lien against KFP with respect to the construction of the
KFP Facility in the amount of approximately $5.9 million. It is not possible at
this time to evaluate the merits of the claim or the range of potential loss.
However, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of this action will
not have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position or
results of operations. In connection with this action, KFP has filed a
counterclaim in excess of $29 million against F&D, the surety company for Walsh.
The counterclaim asserts various claims of faulty construction performed by
Walsh at the KFP Facility. The counterclaim is in discovery and it is not
possible to predict the outcome of this action; however, the Company believes
that the counterclaim will not have a material adverse impact on the Company's
financial position or results of operations.
NOTE 17. INCOME TAXES
All of the Company's operations are currently domestic, with income
taxable at the federal statutory rate of 34 percent plus applicable state rates.
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) were comprised of the following:
1998 1997
--------------------------------------------------
Gross deferred tax assets:
Loss (NOL) carryforwards.............................. $ 10,712,000 $ 8,229,000
Depreciation and amortization......................... 632,000 491,000
Deferred compensation................................. 482,000 544,000
Other................................................. 64,000 119,000
------------ -----------
Gross deferred tax assets.......................... 11,890,000 9,383,000
Deferred tax assets valuation allowance............ (11,890,000) (9,383,000)
------------ -----------
Net deferred tax assets.......................... $ - $ -
============ ===========
F-19
KFX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONCLUDED)
No net deferred tax asset has been recorded for NOL carryforwards or
other deferred tax assets because there is no assurance that such benefits will
be realized. The Company's loss carryforwards of approximately $28,700,000
expire in various amounts through 2013. The Internal Revenue Code places
certain limitations on the annual amount of NOL carryforwards that can be used
to offset taxable income in instances in which certain significant changes in
the Company's ownership have occurred over a three year period. The Company
does not believe that its NOL carryforward is currently subject to such
limitations but future ownership changes may trigger such limitations.
The Company's total provision for income taxes in 1998, 1997 and 1996
were different from the amount expected by applying the statutory federal income
tax rate to the net loss. The approximate differences are as follows:
1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------
Expected tax benefit on loss before income taxes $(2,306,000) $(1,732,000) $(1,914,000)
Expected state tax benefit, net.... (220,000) (166,000) (172,000)
Non-deductible items............................. 42,000 27,000 142,000
Increase in valuation allowance.................. 2,507,000 1,704,000 1,662,000
Other............................................ (23,000) 167,000 282,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Total income tax benefit....................... $ - $ - $ -
=========== =========== ===========
F-20