Form 8-K/A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K/A

 


AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January 25, 2007 (January 10, 2007)

 


SunPower Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

Delaware   000-51593   94-3008969

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3939 North First Street, San Jose, California 95134

(Address, Including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)

(408) 240-5500

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

(Former Name or Former Address,

if Changed Since Last Report)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



EXPLANATORY NOTE

On January 17, 2007, SunPower Corporation (“SunPower” or the “Company”) filed a current report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”) to announce the completion of the previously announced merger transaction (the “Merger”) involving the Company, Pluto Acquisition Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), and PowerLight Corporation, a California corporation (“PowerLight”) on January 10, 2007. This Amendment No. 1 to the Form 8-K is being filed to provide certain updated information with respect to the Company, including additional information with respect to the PowerLight business, and to provide the financial information required under Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events.

As a result of the completion of the Merger, PowerLight became a wholly owned subsidiary of SunPower. SunPower currently expects to operate PowerLight as a stand-alone business unit, and it will retain its own facilities and management team within the overall SunPower reporting structure.

The PowerLight Business

Company Overview

PowerLight is a leading global provider of large-scale solar power systems. PowerLight designs, assembles, markets and sells solar electric power system technology that integrates solar cells and solar panels from SunPower and other suppliers to convert sunlight to electricity compatible with the utility network. PowerLight also provides solar power systems to end customers on a turn-key whole-solution basis by developing, engineering, procuring permits and equipment for, managing construction of, offering access to financing for, and providing monitoring, operations and maintenance services for large-scale roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar power applications. PowerLight’s customers include industrial, commercial and public sector entities, investors, utilities and production home builders. PowerLight’s solar power systems generate electricity over a system design life typically exceeding 25 years. PowerLight’s solar systems are principally designed to be used in large-scale applications exceeding 300 kilowatts, including the development of solar production home communities. PowerLight has completed or is in the process of completing over 300 projects worldwide, rated in aggregate at over 100 megawatts peak capacity for PowerLight customers in North America, Europe and Asia. In the U.S., PowerLight typically sells solar systems rated up to one megawatt of capacity to provide a supplemental, distributed source of electricity for a customer’s facility. In Europe and South Korea, PowerLight’s products and systems are often purchased by third-party investors as central station solar power plants, typically rated from one to 20 megawatts, which generate electricity for sale under tariff to regional and public utilities.

PowerLight designs and engineers complete solar power systems that combine its roof-mounted or ground-mounted products with electrical inverters and other standard components that connect to the customer’s existing electrical system or directly to the utility network. PowerLight solar system technology integrates solar cells and solar panels manufactured by SunPower and other suppliers, such as ErSol Solar Energy AG, Evergreen Solar, Inc., JingAo Solar Company, Ltd.,


Mitsui Comtek Corp., a distributor for Sanyo Electronics Co., Ltd., or Sanyo, and SunTech Power Co., Ltd., Q-Cells Aktiengesellschaft, Schott Solar, Inc., Sharp Electronics Corporation and Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH, which support their products with long-term manufacturing warranties of up to 25 years. PowerLight has contracted with some of these suppliers for multi-year supply agreements.

PowerLight’s diversified customer base includes industrial, commercial and governmental organizations as well as production home builders. In the U.S., it has completed, or is in the process of completing, projects for Chevron Corporation, FedEx Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Lowe’s Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Target Corporation, Toyota Motor Company, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Postal Service, a wide variety of state and local government agencies and districts and production home builders including Lennar, Premier Homes, Centex, Grupe, William Lyon, Standard Pacific, Castle and Cook, and Shea.

There are several public policy considerations that have a significant impact on PowerLight’s business. Substantially all of these considerations are similar to those faced by SunPower and which are described in SunPower’s SEC filings from time to time.

PowerLight’s Products

PowerLight’s solar electric power system technology integrates solar cells and solar panels to convert sunlight to electricity. PowerLight’s systems are principally designed to be used in large-scale utility, commercial, public sector and production home applications.

PowerGuard® Roof System.

PowerLight’s PowerGuard® Roof System is a roof-mounted solar panel mounting system that delivers reliable, clean electricity while insulating and protecting the roof. PowerGuard® is a proprietary, pre-engineered solar power roofing tile system. Each PowerGuard® tile consists of a solar laminate, lightweight cement substrate and styrofoam base. Designed for quick and easy installation, PowerGuard® tiles fit together with interlocking tongue-and-groove side surfaces that enable the system to resist wind uplift without the need to secure the system to the building by penetrating the roof covering or membrane. In addition to generating electricity, PowerGuard® roof systems also insulate and protect the roof membrane from ultraviolet rays and thermal degradation. This saves both heating and cooling energy expenses and extends the roof life. The PowerGuard® roof system has been tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratories, or UL, and has received a UL Class B fire rating which PowerLight believes facilitates obtaining building permits and inspector approvals.

PowerLight’s PowerGuard® system resists wind uplift without compromising the rooftop’s structural integrity. In comparison, conventional solar power systems typically penetrate the roof or require additional weight for stability. Systems that require drilling many holes into rooftops to install and secure solar panels may compromise the integrity of the roof and reduce its life span. To avoid drilling holes, certain other conventional systems add weight for stability against wind and weather, which may exceed weight limits for some commercial buildings’ roofs.


PowerGuard® tiles typically weigh approximately four pounds per square foot, which is supported by most commercial rooftops. PowerLight’s technology integrates this lightweight construction with a patented pressure equalizing design that has been tested to withstand winds of up to 140 mph. PowerGuard® roof systems have been installed in a broad range of climates, including California, Chicago, Hawaii, Boston, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Canada and Switzerland and a wide variety of building types, from rural single story warehouses to urban high rise structures.

PowerTilt™ Solar Power System.

PowerLight’s PowerTilt™ System features pre-engineered solar panels that tilt at a 10-degree angle to generate up to 10% more annual energy output than traditional flat roof-mounted systems depending on geographic location and local climate conditions. PowerTilt™’s non-penetrating panels interlock for secure, rapid installation on rooftops without compromising the structural integrity of the roof.

Similar to PowerLight’s PowerGuard® product, PowerTilt™ is lightweight, weighing less than four pounds per square foot, and is installed without penetrating the roof surface. Sloped side and rear wind deflectors improve wind performance, allowing PowerTilt™ arrays to withstand winds up to 120 miles per hour.

Whereas PowerGuard® performance is optimized in constrained rooftop environments where it contributes to maximum power density, PowerTilt™ performance is optimized for larger roofs with less space constraints as well as underutilized tracks of land, such as ground reservoirs.

SunTile®—Roof Integrated System for Residential Market.

SunTile® is a highly efficient solar power shingle roofing system utilizing SunPower’s A-300 solar cell technology that is designed to integrate with conventional residential roofing materials. SunTile® solar shingles are designed to replace multiple types of roof panels, including the most common concrete flat, low and high profile “S” tile and composition shingles. PowerLight believes that SunTile® is less visible on a roof than conventional solar technology because the solar panel is integrated directly into the roofing material instead of mounted onto the roof. SunTile® has a UL-listed Class A fire rating, which is the highest level of fire rating provided by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. SunTile® is designed to be incorporated by production home builders into the construction of their new homes communities.

Ground Mounted PowerTracker® Systems.

PowerLight offers several types of ground-mounted solar power systems using its PowerTracker® technology. PowerTracker® is a single-axis tracking system that automatically pivots solar panels to track the sun’s movement throughout the day. We believe this tracking feature increases the amount of sunlight that is captured and converted into energy by up to 35% over flat or fixed-tilt systems depending on geographic location and local climate conditions. A single motor and drive mechanism can control 10 to 20 rows or 200+ kilowatts of solar panels. The multi-row feature represents a cost advantage for PowerLight’s customers over dual axis tracking systems, as such systems require more motors, drives, land, and power to operate per


kilowatt capacity. The PowerTracker® system can be assembled onsite, and is easily scalable. PowerLight has installed ground-mounted systems integrating PowerTracker® in a wide range of geographical markets including Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Germany, Portugal, Spain and South Korea.

Fixed Tilt and PowerTracker® Systems for Parking Structures.

PowerLight has developed and patented several designs for solar power systems for parking structures in multiple configurations. These dual use systems typically incorporate solar panels into the roof of a carport or similar structure to deliver onsite solar power while providing shade and protection. Aesthetic, standardized and scalable, they are well suited for parking lots adjacent to facilities. In addition, PowerLight has incorporated its PowerTracker® technology into certain of its systems for elevated parking structures to provide a differentiated product offering to its customers. PowerLight has completed complex parking structure-based systems for clients such as the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Postal Service and Johnson & Johnson.

Other System Offerings.

PowerLight has other products that leverage its core systems. For example, its metal roof system is designed for sloped-metal roof buildings, which are used in some winery and warehouse applications. This solar power system is designed for rapid installation, and complements PowerLight’s PowerGuard® and PowerTilt™. PowerLight also offers other architectural products such as day lighting with translucent solar panels.

PowerLight’s Client Services

PowerLight provides its customers and partners with a variety of services, including system design, financial consulting and analysis, construction management and maintenance and monitoring.

System Design.

PowerLight designs solar power systems taking into account the customer’s location, site conditions and energy needs. During the preliminary design phase, PowerLight conducts a site audit and building assessment for onsite generation feasibility and identifies energy efficiency savings opportunities. PowerLight models the performance of a proposed system design taking into account variables such as local weather patterns, utility rates and other relevant factors at the customer’s location. PowerLight also identifies necessary permits and design its systems to comply with applicable building codes and other regulations.

Financial Consulting and Analysis.

PowerLight offers financial consulting services to its customers using various financing vehicles and government programs. PowerLight assists its customers in developing funding strategies for solar power projects depending on a customer’s size, cash flow and tax status. PowerLight has partnered with financial companies and organizations such as Deutsche Structured Finance GmbH, GE Commercial Finance and MuniMae, which provide project development financing and bonding for its customers. To date, PowerLight has successfully arranged financing for clients ranging from simple loans and tax-advantaged operating leases to long-term, multi-party power purchase agreements.


Construction Management.

PowerLight offers general contracting services and employs project managers to oversee all aspects of system installation, including securing necessary permits and approvals. Subcontractors, typically electricians and roofers, usually provide the construction labor, tools and heavy equipment for solar system installation. PowerLight has developed relationships with subcontractors in many target markets, and requires subcontractors to be licensed, carry appropriate insurance and adhere to the local labor and payroll requirements. PowerLight’s construction management services include system testing, commissioning and management of utility network interconnection.

Maintenance and Monitoring.

PowerLight also offers post-installation services in support of its solar power systems, including:

 

    Operations and Maintenance: PowerLight’s systems have a design life in excess of 25 years. PowerLight typically provides its customers with a one, two or five-year parts and workmanship system warranty, after which the customer may extend the period covered by PowerLight’s warranty for an additional fee. PowerLight also passes through to customers long-term warranties from the original equipment manufacturers of certain system components. Warranties of 20-25 years from solar panels suppliers are standard, while inverters typically carry a 2-5 year warranty. PowerLight offers its customers a series of maintenance services ranging from its Standard Service level to its Plus Service level. Standard Service includes continuous remote monitoring of system performance and 72-hour on-site response to any system problem through a qualified local service technician. Plus Service includes annual preventive maintenance as well as certain forms of system testing.

 

    Monitoring: PowerLight has developed its proprietary PowerLight Data Acquisition System, or DAS, to monitor system performance used in most of the systems it installs. The DAS continuously scans the performance of the system and local weather data and stores average data for the past 15 minutes in a data logger. An automated daily algorithm determines if systems are performing per specification, and an automated report is generated for PowerLight’s customer service department, allowing for proactive performance diagnostics and maintenance. Customers can access historical daily or real-time system performance data through PowerLight’s customer website www.mypowerlight.com. PowerLight’s customers often choose to install electronic kiosks for flat-panel displays to track performance information at their facility. PowerLight believes these displays enhance its brand and educate the public and prospective customers about solar power.


Energy Efficiency Consulting and Related Services

In addition to PowerLight’s solar power systems, PowerLight provides related PowerLight Energy Efficiency services which increase the total return on investment through an integrated, seamless solution. PowerLight provides custom solar power generation and demand side management solutions to minimize facility energy use and demand, improve building operation controls and increase the comfort level of building occupants. Its experienced personnel have completed projects that include:

 

    Heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades: reduces energy use, facilitates building operations and improves the comfort level of inhabitants.

 

    Variable frequency drives: reduces energy use by controlling motors installed on pumps, fans, compressors, chillers and boilers to optimize motor performance and reduce load.

 

    Lighting efficiency services: reduces energy use by determining the optimal mix of energy efficient lighting though comprehensive assessment of light levels, spectrum and energy consumption.

 

    Energy management systems: minimizes costs by balancing energy consumption and supply; achieves energy savings through equipment scheduling, automated controls/alarms and performance monitoring.

 

    Building retro commissioning: offers a building “tune-up” to ensure optimal performance, specifically focusing on equipment scheduling and diagnostics, sequence of operations and control set points.

Customers and Projects

PowerLight has completed or is in the process of completing over 300 projects of increasing size, with the majority of its recent projects having generating capacities rated in excess of 300 kilowatts. PowerLight’s customers include industrial, commercial and public sector entities, investors, utilities and production home builders. In June 2004, PowerLight completed the installation of a series of such systems in Germany that together represented the largest installed solar power project in the world, rated at over ten megawatts. In June 2006, PowerLight commenced groundbreaking in Serpa, Portugal on an 11 megawatt project on a single site that is expected to be completed in early 2007. For fiscal 2005, approximately half of PowerLight’s U.S. revenue was derived from public sector customers and the other half from the private sector.

In fiscal 2005, installations in Germany, California and New Jersey accounted for 14%, 60% and 15% of PowerLight’s revenues, respectively. PowerLight’s customers in the U.S. typically purchase systems rated up to one megawatt to provide electricity for a single facility, and up to three megawatts for multiple facilities. PowerLight has developed long-standing relationships with many of its customers. In 2005, an estimated 17% of PowerLight’s revenues came from existing customers.


Sales and Marketing

In addition to its direct sales force, PowerLight has sales affiliates in the U.S., Europe and Korea. PowerLight also partners with certain value-added resellers, or VARs, and in Europe, site rights providers. Its VARs include Atersa, S.A., Elecnor, S.A., Chevron Energy and Solar Design Associates. In 2005, approximately 83% of its revenues were derived through PowerLight’s direct sales force and sales affiliates, with the remainder from VARs. PowerLight provides warranty coverage on systems it sells through PowerLight’s direct sales force, sales affiliates and VARs. To the extent PowerLight sells through VARs, it may provide system design and support services while the VARs are responsible for construction, maintenance and service.

Research and Development

PowerLight has selectively pursued contract research, product development and market development programs funded by various agencies of the U.S. federal and state governments to complement and enhance its own resources. These contracts are generally cost-shared between the funding agency and PowerLight. The contracts normally expire between six months and three years from their initiation. Funding from government grants is recorded as an offset to its research and development expenses.

From January 1, 2003 to September 30, 2006, PowerLight has received an aggregate of $5.8 million in research and development funding to further develop its technology. These and other research contracts it has obtained generally provide for development or improvement of solar power products or energy efficiency solutions. In general, under these grants, PowerLight retains ownership rights to any intellectual property and technological developments resulting from the government funding, although the granting agencies usually retain “march-in” rights. March-in rights refer to the right of the U.S. government or government agency to require PowerLight to grant a license to the developed technology or products to a responsible applicant or, if PowerLight refuses, the government may grant the license itself. The government can exercise its march-in rights if it determines that action is necessary because it fails to achieve practical application of the technology or because action is necessary to alleviate health or safety needs, to meet requirements of U.S. federal regulations or to give the U.S. industry preference. Government contracts also usually require the submission by PowerLight of technical progress reports, most of which may become publicly available.

Intellectual Property

As of September 30, 2006, including the U.S. and foreign countries, PowerLight had a total 61 issued patents and 44 pending patent applications. Pending patent applications or any future patent application may or may not result in a patent being issued with the scope of the claims PowerLight seeks, and issued patents may be challenged, invalidated or declared unenforceable. PowerLight intends to continue to seek patent protection for those aspects of its technology, designs, and methodologies and processes that it believes provide significant competitive advantages. PowerLight’s material patents primarily relate to PowerGuard®, PowerTilt™ and PowerTracker®.


PowerLight holds registered trademarks for PowerLight®, PowerGuard®, PowerTracker® and SunTile® in the U.S., registered trademarks for PowerLight® and PowerGuard® in Europe, and pending trademark applications for PowerTilt™ in the U.S. It has not registered, and may not be able to register, these trademarks elsewhere.

PowerLight relies on a combination of copyright, trade secret, trademark and contractual protection to establish and protect its proprietary rights in technologies, designs, methodologies and processes that are not protected by patents. It also typically enters into confidentiality agreements with its employees and consultants. Its policy is to require its customers and partners to enter into confidentiality agreements before it discloses any sensitive aspects of its technology, designs or business plans.

PowerLight’s precautions may not prevent misappropriation or infringement of its intellectual property. Third parties could infringe or misappropriate PowerLight’s patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other proprietary rights. Its failure or inability to adequately protect its intellectual property could materially harm its business.

License Agreements Related to PowerTracker®.

In September 2002, PowerLight entered into a Technology Assignment and Services Agreement and other ancillary agreements with Jefferson Shingleton and MaxTracker Services, LLC, a New York limited liability company controlled by Mr. Shingleton. These agreements form the basis for PowerLight’s intellectual property rights in PowerLight’s PowerTracker® products. Under such agreements, as later amended, Mr. Shingleton assigned to PowerLight his MaxTracker™, MaxRack™, MaxRack Ballast™ and MaxClip™ products and all related intellectual property rights. Mr. Shingleton is also obligated to provide consulting services to PowerLight related to such technology until December 31, 2012 and is required to assign to PowerLight any enhancements he makes to the technology while providing such consulting services. Mr. Shingleton retains a first security interest in the patents and patent applications assigned until the earlier of the expiration of the patents, full payment by PowerLight to Mr. Shingleton of all of the royalty obligations under the Technology Assignment and Services Agreement, or the termination of the Technology Assignment and Services Agreement. In the event of PowerLight’s default under the Technology Assignment and Services Agreement, MaxTracker Services and Mr. Shingleton may terminate the agreements and the related assignments and cause the intellectual property rights assigned to PowerLight to be returned to Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services, including patents related to PowerTracker®. In addition, upon such termination, PowerLight must grant Mr. Shingleton a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license to use, sell and otherwise exploit throughout the world any intellectual property MaxTracker Services or Mr. Shingleton developed during the provision of consulting services to PowerLight. Events of default by PowerLight which could enable Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services to terminate the agreements and the related assignments and cause the intellectual rights assigned to PowerLight to be returned to Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services include the following:

 

    If PowerLight files a petition in bankruptcy or equivalent order or petition under the laws of any jurisdiction;


    If a petition in bankruptcy or equivalent order or petition under the laws of any jurisdiction is filed against PowerLight which is not dismissed within 60 days of such filing;

 

    If PowerLight’s assets are assigned for the benefit of creditors;

 

    If PowerLight voluntarily or involuntarily dissolves;

 

    If PowerLight fails to pay any amount due under the agreements when due and it does not remedy such failure to pay within 10 days of written notice of such failure to pay; or

 

    If PowerLight defaults in the performance of any of its material obligations under the agreements when required (other than payment of amounts due under the agreements), and such failure is not remedied within 30 days of written notice to it of such default from Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services. However, if such a default can reasonably be cured after the 30-day period, and PowerLight commences cure of such default within 30-day period and diligently prosecute that cure to completion, such default does not trigger a termination right unless and until PowerLight cease commercially reasonable efforts to cure such default.

In connection with the agreements, PowerLight is obligated to pay Mr. Shingleton royalties on certain products sold by PowerLight until 2012. If PowerLight sublicenses the acquired technology to a third party, it must pay Mr. Shingleton a percentage of any license fees it receives prior to January 1, 2013 and, if in connection with such third party license it receives any royalty fees from the third party licensee, PowerLight must pay Mr. Shingleton the royalty that would have been due had it made such sale directly rather than by such third-party licensee. PowerLight is obligated to make certain minimum royalty and consulting fee payments to Mr. Shingleton each year from 2005 to 2012. In connection with his provision of consulting services, PowerLight also granted Mr. Shingleton an option to acquire shares of PowerLight common stock.

Product Assembly

PowerLight does not manufacture or develop the individual solar cells or solar panels it uses in its systems. Instead, it buys these materials from third-party solar cell and solar panel suppliers. PowerLight sources the balance of system components based on quality, performance and cost considerations. “Balance of system components” are in the components of a solar power system other than the solar panels, including mounting structures, tracking devices, inverters, charge controllers, grid interconnection equipment, and other devices depending upon the specific requirements of a particular system and project. PowerLight generally assembles proprietary components, such as cementitious coatings and certain adhesive applications, while it purchases generally available components from third-party suppliers.

PowerLight assembles certain of its products, such as its PowerGuard® and SunTile® products, at its assembly plant prior to shipment to the project location. Other products such as its PowerTracker® and PowerTilt™ systems are field assembled with components shipped


directly from suppliers. PowerLight currently has the capacity to produce up to an aggregate of 20 megawatts of its PowerGuard® and SunTile® products per year, depending on product mix, in its Berkeley, California assembly plant. From time to time PowerLight supplements the capacity of its Berkeley facility by using third-party contractors.

Supplier Relationships

Crystalline silicon is the leading commercial material for solar cells and is used in several forms, including single-crystalline, or monocrystalline silicon, multicrystalline, or polycrystalline silicon, ribbon and sheet silicon and thin-layer silicon. There is currently an industry-wide shortage of polysilicon, an essential raw material in the production of silicon solar cells. PowerLight believes that this shortage will continue through 2007, or potentially for a longer period. The prices that PowerLight pays for solar cells and solar panels have increased recently, and PowerLight expects prices to remain elevated near or above current levels at least through 2007.

PowerLight is able to utilize solar panels from various manufacturers depending on power, performance and cost requirements. It views solar cell and panel manufacturers as partners rather than competitors and has historically partnered, and intends to continue to partner, with suppliers that offer the most advanced solar panel technologies and the highest quality products, including SunPower, ErSol Solar Energy AG, Evergreen Solar, Inc., JingAo Solar Company, Ltd., Mitsui Comtek Corp., a distributor for Sanyo Electronics Co., Ltd., or Sanyo, and SunTech Power Co., Ltd., Q-Cells Aktiengesellschaft, Schott Solar, Inc., Sharp Electronics Corporation and Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH.

PowerLight purchases solar panels and balance of system components on both a contracted and a purchase order basis. PowerLight has contracted with some of its suppliers for multi-year supply agreements. Under such agreements, PowerLight has annual minimum purchase obligations. Many of these agreements include liquidated damages if either party fails to perform. To date, PowerLight has not experienced supply disruptions under any of these multi-year supply agreements.

For suppliers operating under purchase orders, PowerLight typically presents non-binding forecasts of its annual or quarterly solar panel needs to its suppliers and then periodically issues purchase orders for specific projects. These suppliers are generally under no legal obligation to supply solar panels or other components or raw materials to PowerLight until they have accepted its purchase orders. PowerLight has experienced situations in which pricing terms and quantity commitments under accepted purchase orders were not honored as a result of the polysilicon shortage.

SunPower directly competes with PowerLight’s other suppliers of solar cells and panels. As a result, the Merger could cause certain solar cell and panel suppliers to reduce or terminate their business relationship with PowerLight. PowerLight believes it has historically had good relationships with most suppliers but expects that reductions or terminations could occur at some level. Any such reaction could adversely affect its ability to meet customer demand for its solar power systems, and materially adversely affect its results of operation and financial condition. SunPower has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to replace any lost solar cells or panels with its own inventory to mitigate the impact on the PowerLight business. However, such replacements may not be sufficient to fully address solar supply short falls experienced by the PowerLight business, and in any event would negatively impact SunPower’s earnings and revenues.


Competition

PowerLight’s solar products and services compete against other distributed generation technologies such as micro-turbines, sterling engines and fuel cells. We believe solar power has certain advantages when compared to these other power generating technologies. We believe solar power offers a stable power price compared to utility network power, which typically increases as fossil fuel prices increase. In addition, solar power systems are deployed in many sizes and configurations and do not produce air, water and noise emissions. Most other distributed generation technologies create environmental impacts of some sort. The high up-front cost of solar relative to utility network power, however, is the primary market barrier for on-grid applications.

The solar power market is intensely competitive and rapidly evolving. In the large-scale, on-grid solar power systems market, PowerLight competes directly with a number of companies that manufacture, distribute or install solar power systems. Many of these companies also sell PowerLight’s products in addition to their own or those of other manufacturers. PowerLight’s primary competitors in the U.S. include Arizona Public Service Company, BP Solar International, Inc., a subsidiary of BP p.l.c., Conergy Inc., Dome-Tech Group, Eastwood Energy, EI Solutions, Inc., GE Energy, a subsidiary of General Electric Corporation, Global Solar Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of Solon AG, Power-Fab, Schott Solar, Inc., Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc., SPG Solar, Inc., Sun Edison LLC, SunTechnics Installation & Services, Inc., Thompson Technology Industries, Inc., and WorldWater & Power Corporation. PowerLight’s primary competitors in Europe include Conergy AG (through its subsidiaries AET Alternitive Energie Technik GmbH, SunTechnics Solartechnik GmbH and voltwerk AG), BP Solar, Solon AG, SAG Solarstrom AG, PV-Systemtechnik Gbr, and Taufer Solar GmbH. Other existing and potential competitors in the solar power market include universities and research institutions. PowerLight also expects that future competition will include new entrants to the solar power market offering new technological solutions. Furthermore, PowerLight expects competition to increase, especially as it enters the residential new construction market in the U.S. and other new markets and pursues additional applications for its products and services, which may result in price reductions, reduced margins or loss of market share. Additionally, PowerLight occasionally competes with distributed generation equipment suppliers such as Caterpillar, Inc. and Cummins Inc.

Many of PowerLight’s competitors have greater name recognition, a more established distribution network and a larger installed base of customers than PowerLight. In addition, many of PowerLight’s competitors have well-established relationships with PowerLight’s current and potential resellers and their customers and have extensive knowledge of its target markets. As a result, its competitors may be able to devote greater resources to the research, development, promotion and sale of their products and respond more quickly to evolving industry standards and changing customer requirements than PowerLight can. Consolidation or strategic alliances among its competitors may strengthen these advantages and may provide them greater access to customers or new technologies. PowerLight may also face competition from some of its resellers, who may develop products internally that compete with its product and service


offerings, or who may enter into strategic relationships with or acquire other existing solar power system providers. To the extent that government funding for research and development grants, customer tax rebates and other programs that promote the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy are limited, PowerLight competes for such funds, both directly and indirectly, with other renewable energy providers and their customers.

The principal elements of competition in the solar power industry include technical expertise, experience, delivery capabilities, diversity of product offerings, price, product performance, quality and reliability, and technical service and support. PowerLight believes that it competes favorably with respect to each of these factors, although it may be at a disadvantage in comparison to larger companies with broader product lines and greater technical service and support capabilities and financial resources. If the PowerLight business cannot compete successfully in the solar power industry, its operating results and financial condition will be adversely affected.

Employees

As of September 30, 2006, PowerLight had 164 full-time employees, including 10 employees engaged in research and development, 62 employees in its projects (construction) department, 38 employees in sales and marketing, 12 employees in product assembly and 42 employees in general and administrative. None of PowerLight’s employees are represented by any collective bargaining agreements. PowerLight has never experienced a work stoppage and believes its employee relations are good.

Environmental Regulation

PowerLight uses, generates and discharges toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals and wastes in its research and development and product assembly activities. It is subject to a variety of foreign, U.S. federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations related to the purchase, storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials. If PowerLight fails to comply with present or future environmental laws and regulations, it could be subject to fines, suspension of production or a cessation of operations. In addition, under some foreign, U.S. federal, state and local statutes and regulations, a governmental agency may seek recovery and response costs from operators of property where releases of hazardous substances have occurred or are ongoing, even if the operator was not responsible for the release or otherwise was not at fault.

PowerLight believes that it has all environmental permits necessary to conduct its business and expect to obtain all necessary environmental permits for its Berkeley, California facilities. PowerLight believes that it has properly handled its hazardous materials and wastes and have appropriately remediated any contamination at any of its premises. PowerLight is not aware of any pending or threatened environmental investigation, proceeding or action by foreign, U.S. federal, state or local agencies, or third parties involving its current facilities. Any failure by PowerLight to control the use of, or to restrict adequately the discharge of, hazardous substances could subject it to substantial financial liabilities, operational interruptions and adverse publicity, any of which could materially and adversely affect its business, results of operations and financial condition.


Facilities

PowerLight’s corporate headquarters are located in Berkeley, California, where it has its corporate offices and its primary assembly plant. PowerLight currently does not own any real property. It leases the use of these facilities from unaffiliated third parties under leases that expire at various times, beginning in August 2007. From time to time, PowerLight supplements the capacity of its Berkeley assembly plant by utilizing third-party contractors. In addition to these facilities, it also has sales and support offices in New Jersey, Southern California, Europe and South Korea. PowerLight’s European headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland. PowerLight maintains a construction office in Regensburg, Germany. Details regarding its primary facilities are set forth below:

 

Property Location

 

Use

 

Floor Space

Berkeley, California   Corporate Headquarters   26,714 square feet
Berkeley, California   Assembly plant   16,714 square feet

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, PowerLight may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. As of the date of this current report on Form 8-K, it is not involved in any material legal proceedings.

Certain Effects of the Merger on SunPower’s Financial Condition and Results of Operations

SunPower has historically operated within only one reportable segment. As a result of the completion of the Merger, the Company is presently evaluating whether or not the acquisition of the PowerLight business will result in the Company being required to report its financial results in more than one reportable segment.

The Merger is being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, Business Combinations. Under the purchase method of accounting, PowerLight’s results of operations and the impact of the completion of the Merger will be reflected in the Company’s financial statements on a prospective basis. The following table shows SunPower’s preliminary estimate of fiscal year 2007 to 2011 Merger related stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets and in-process research and development expenses (in thousands):

 

     2007    2008    2009    2010    2011

Stock-based compensation

   $ 36,773    $ 36,863    $ 5,538    $ 5,066    $ 1,432

Amortization of intangible assets

     25,954      15,800      15,800      15,800      8,305

In-process research and development

     4,447      —        —        —        —  
                                  

Total

   $ 67,174    $ 52,663    $ 21,338    $ 20,866    $ 9,733
                                  

SunPower has not completed its final calculation of these amounts and therefore they remain subject to change based on a final determination of the closing balance of PowerLight as of January 10, 2007. SunPower anticipates that the estimated charges enumerated in the table above will be included in its future results of operations presented on a basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).


In addition, SunPower may incur certain other Merger related charges and/or restructuring expenses in the future that are not reflected in the table above.

SunPower’s results of operations did not include any revenues from the PowerLight business and no expenses therefrom for any period in SunPower’s 2006 fiscal year. SunPower expects that the results of operations of the PowerLight business will be material to the overall results of the combined company in future periods and, accordingly, SunPower’s historical financial results are not expected to be indicative of its future results.

Risk Factors

Investing in SunPower and our securities involves risks, including additional risks as a result of the completion of the Merger. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as other risks described in our filings with the SEC from time to time before making an investment decision. The risks and uncertainties described below and in our other filings with the SEC are not the only ones facing SunPower. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also adversely affect us. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially harmed. In such case, the value of our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Recent Merger with PowerLight

As a result of the significant cash paid in the Merger, we intend to raise additional funds to support our business, and if we are unable to secure adequate funds on terms acceptable to us, our business could suffer.

As of September 30, 2006, we had approximately $254 million of cash and cash equivalents, and we paid approximately $120.7 million in cash to holders of PowerLight stock and assumed options in connection with the Merger, leaving us with approximately $153.7 million in cash as of September 30, 2006 on a pro forma basis giving effect to the Merger. We expect to continue to make significant capital expenditures, particularly in our manufacturing facilities and anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as we expand our manufacturing operations, hire additional personnel, pay more or make advance payments for raw material, especially polysilicon, increase our sales and marketing efforts, pursue more large scale solar power plant projects, invest in joint ventures and acquisitions and continue our research and development efforts with respect to its products and manufacturing technologies. We expect total capital expenditures of approximately $170 to $190 million in 2007 as we continue to increase our manufacturing capacity. These expenditures would be greater if we decide to bring capacity on line more rapidly. In addition, our PowerLight business has typically required significant working capital in order to fund planned projects in advance of the receipt of customer payments and it is expected to continue to do so.

Given these capital needs, we intend to seek additional capital in the near future. We will likely seek to sell additional equity securities or debt securities or obtain other debt financing. The sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt securities would result in additional dilution to our stockholders. Additional debt would result in increased expenses and could require us to abide by covenants that would restrict our operations. Our $25.0 million three-year revolving credit facility, or our revolving credit facility, contains customary covenants and defaults, including, among others, limitations on dividends, incurrence of indebtedness and liens and mergers and acquisitions and may restrict our operating flexibility. If adequate funds are not available or not available on acceptable terms or terms consistent with any new our credit agreement we may enter into, our ability to fund our operations, develop and expand our manufacturing operations and distribution network, maintain our research and development efforts or otherwise respond to competitive pressures would be significantly impaired.


Although we expect the Merger to be beneficial for us, such benefits may not be realized because of integration difficulties or other challenges.

PowerLight has global operations that will need to be integrated successfully in order for us to realize the benefits anticipated from the Merger. Realizing these benefits will require the meshing of technology, operations and personnel of SunPower and PowerLight into a single organization. We expect the integration to be a complex, time-consuming and expensive process that, even with proper planning and implementation, could cause significant disruption. The challenges that we may face include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

    consolidating operations, including rationalizing corporate information technology and administrative infrastructures;

 

    our management gaining sufficient experience with technologies and markets in which the PowerLight business is involved, which may be necessary to successfully operate and integrate the business;

 

    coordinating sales and marketing efforts between the two companies;

 

    overcoming any perceived adverse changes in business focus or model;

 

    realizing synergies necessary to meet our long-term margin targets, given PowerLight’s historical margins;

 

    coordinating and harmonizing research and development activities to accelerate introduction of new products and technologies with reduced cost;

 

    preserving customer, supplier, distribution and other important relationships of SunPower and PowerLight and resolving any potential conflicts that may arise;

 

    retaining key employees and maintaining employee morale;

 

    addressing differences in the business cultures of SunPower and PowerLight;

 

    coordinating and combining operations, relationships and facilities outside of the United States, which may be subject to additional constraints imposed by geographic distance, local laws and regulations; and

 

    creating a consolidated internal control over financial reporting structure so that we and our independent auditors can report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.

We may not be able to successfully integrate the operations of PowerLight in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, we may not realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the Merger to the extent or when anticipated. Even if the integration of SunPower’s and PowerLight’s operations, products and personnel is successful, it may place a significant burden on our management resources. The diversion of management’s attention and any difficulties encountered in the transition and integration process could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

The completion of the Merger could cause certain solar cell and panel suppliers to reduce or terminate their business relationship with our PowerLight business, which could adversely affect the ability of our PowerLight business to meet customer demand for its solar power systems and materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

As a result of the Merger, we now directly compete with certain suppliers of solar cells and panels to our PowerLight business. As a result, the Merger could cause one or more solar cell and panel suppliers to reduce or

 

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terminate their business relationship with our PowerLight business. We believe that a significant level of reductions or terminations could occur. Any such reductions or terminations could adversely affect the ability of our PowerLight business to meet customer demand for its solar power systems, and materially adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition, which would likely materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We will use commercially reasonable efforts to replace any lost solar cells or panels with our own inventory to mitigate the impact on the PowerLight business. However, such replacements may not be sufficient to fully address solar supply shortfalls experienced by our PowerLight business, and in any event could negatively impact our revenue and earnings as it forgoes selling such inventory to third parties.

The completion of the Merger could cause our customers to reduce or terminate their business relationship with us, which could adversely affect our ability to distribute our products and materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

PowerLight directly competes, as a distributor of solar panels and systems, with many of our customers. For instance, both Conergy AG and Solon AG, two of our largest customers, actively compete with our PowerLight business in the large-scale solar power plant market. The completion of the Merger could cause these customers to be concerned that we will reduce our level of business with them and perform a significant portion of our integration activities through our PowerLight business, thereby competing with certain of our customers. As a result, customers might reduce or terminate their business relationships with us, making it more difficult for us to sell our products and expand our business. Any such outcome could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and earnings.

We may be harmed by liabilities arising out of our acquisition of PowerLight and the indemnity they have agreed to provide may be insufficient to compensate us for these damages.

PowerLight has made representations and warranties to us in the Merger Agreement, including those relating to the accuracy of its financial statements, the absence of litigation and environmental matters and the consents needed to transfer permits, licenses and third-party contracts in connection with our acquisition of PowerLight. To the extent that we are harmed by a breach of these representations and warranties, PowerLight’s stockholders have agreed to indemnify us for monetary damages from an escrowed proceeds account. In most cases we are required to absorb approximately the first $2.4 million before we are entitled to indemnification. The escrowed proceeds account is limited to $19.7 million in cash and 840,000 shares of our class A common stock, of which approximately one-half of the original escrow will be released (less any pending claims) at the first anniversary of the closing date. Our rights to recover damages under several provisions of the Merger Agreement will also expire on the first anniversary of the closing date. After the first anniversary of the closing date we will be entitled to recover only limited types of losses, and our recovery will be limited to the amount available in the escrow fund at the time of a claim. The amount available in the escrow fund will be progressively reduced to zero over the period from the first to the fifth anniversaries of the closing date. We may incur liabilities from this acquisition which are not covered by the representations and warranties set forth in the agreement or which are non-monetary in nature. Consequently, our acquisition of PowerLight may expose us to liabilities for which we are not entitled to indemnification or our indemnification rights are insufficient.

PowerLight will need to obtain regulatory and third-party consents as a result of the Merger, and, if it cannot obtain these consents, PowerLight and/or SunPower business by be harmed.

PowerLight is currently attempting to obtain regulatory and third-party consents which are triggered upon a change of control. If PowerLight is unable to do so, it may be forced to renegotiate these agreements or be exposed to regulatory sanctions. There can be no assurance that PowerLight will be able to obtain any required regulatory approvals or renegotiate or to negotiate new agreements on favorable terms, or at all.

We expect to continue to incur significant costs in connection with the Merger.

We expect our direct transaction costs will total approximately $3.0 million in connection with the Merger, which costs will be capitalized as purchase price. We believe that we will also incur charges to operations in the first quarter of 2007 to reflect the costs of integrating the two companies, but cannot reasonably estimate those costs at this time. There can be no assurance that we will not incur additional material charges in subsequent quarters to reflect additional costs associated with the Merger.

Charges to earnings resulting from the application of the purchase method of accounting to the Merger may adversely affect the market value of our class A common stock.

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principals in the Unites States, or US GAAP, we are accounting for the Merger using the purchase method of accounting, which may require an increase in the value of intangible assets and inventory to their respective fair values. Further, a portion of the purchase price paid in the Merger has been allocated to in-process research and development. These purchase accounting adjustments may result in material recurring and nonrecurring charges to earnings that could have a material adverse effect on the market value of our class A common stock. Under the purchase method of accounting, we will allocate the total purchase price to PowerLight’s net tangible assets and intangible assets based on their fair values as of the date of completion of the Merger and record the excess of the purchase price over those fair values as goodwill. We will incur amortization expense over the useful lives of amortizable intangible assets acquired in connection with the Merger. In addition, to the extent the value of goodwill and long lived assets becomes impaired, we may be required to incur material charges relating to the impairment of those assets. Further, we may be impacted by nonrecurring charges related to reduced gross profit margins from the requirement to adjust PowerLight’s inventory to fair value. Finally, we will incur ongoing compensation charges associated with assumed options, equity held by employees of PowerLight and subjected to equity restriction agreements, and restricted stock granted to employees of our PowerLight business. We estimate that these charges will aggregate approximately $33 million in each of 2007 and 2008 and lesser amounts in the succeeding two years. Any of the foregoing charges could have a material impact on our results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Business

The solar power industry is currently experiencing an industry-wide shortage of polysilicon. The prices that we pay for polysilicon have increased recently and we expect prices to remain at or above current levels for the foreseeable future, which may constrain our revenue growth and decrease our gross margins and profitability.

Polysilicon is an essential raw material in our production of photovoltaic, or solar, cells, and also in the solar cells and modules used by our PowerLight business to produce solar systems. Polysilicon is created by refining quartz or sand. Polysilicon is melted and grown into crystalline ingots by companies specializing in ingot growth. We procure silicon ingots from these suppliers on a contractual basis and then slice these ingots into wafers. We also purchase wafers and polysilicon from third-party vendors. The ingots are sliced and the wafers are processed into solar cells in our Philippines manufacturing facility.

There is currently an industry-wide shortage of polysilicon, which has resulted in significant price increases. We expect that the average price of polysilicon will continue to increase. Increases in polysilicon prices have in the past increased our manufacturing costs and may impact our manufacturing costs and net income in the future. As demand for solar cells has increased, many of our principal competitors have announced plans to add additional manufacturing capacity. As this manufacturing capacity becomes operational, it will increase the demand for polysilicon and further exacerbate the current shortage. Polysilicon is also used in the semiconductor industry generally and any increase in demand from that sector will compound the shortage. The production of polysilicon is capital intensive and adding additional capacity requires significant lead time. While we are aware that several new facilities for the manufacture of polysilicon are under construction, we do not believe that the supply imbalance will be remedied in the near term. We expect that polysilicon demand will continue to outstrip supply throughout 2007 and potentially for a longer period.

Although we have contracted with vendors for what we believe will be an adequate supply of silicon ingots through 2007, our estimates regarding our supply needs may not be correct and our purchase orders and contracts may be cancelled by our suppliers. The volume and pricing associated with these purchase orders and contracts may be changed by our suppliers based on market conditions. Our purchase orders are generally non-binding in nature. If our suppliers were to cancel our purchase orders or change the volume or pricing associated with these purchase orders and/or contracts, we may be unable to meet customer demand for our products, which could cause us to lose customers, market share and revenue. This would have a material negative impact on our business and operating results. If our manufacturing yields decrease significantly, we add manufacturing capacity faster than currently planned or our suppliers cancel or fail to deliver, we may not have made adequate provision for our polysilicon needs for the balance of the year. In addition, we currently purchase polysilicon and make advances to suppliers to secure future polysilicon supply, which adversely affects our liquidity. These advances may in the future take the form of equity issuances, which would result in additional dilution to our stockholders.

In addition, since some of our silicon ingot and wafer arrangements are with suppliers who do not themselves manufacture polysilicon but instead purchase their requirements from other vendors, these suppliers may not be able to obtain sufficient polysilicon to satisfy their contractual obligations to us.

There are a limited number of polysilicon suppliers. Many of our competitors also purchase polysilicon from our suppliers. Since we have only been purchasing polysilicon in bulk for slightly more than one year, which is a shorter period than our competitors, these other competitors have longer and perhaps stronger relationships with our suppliers than we do. Many of them also have greater buying power than we do. Some of our competitors also have inter-locking board members with their polysilicon suppliers or have entered into joint ventures with their suppliers. Additionally, a substantial amount of our future polysilicon requirements are expected to be sourced by new suppliers that have not yet proven their ability to manufacture large volumes of polysilicon. In some cases we expect that new entrants will provide us with polysilicon and ingots. The failure of these new entrants to produce adequate supplies of polysilicon and/or ingots in the quantities and quality we require could adversely affect our ability to grow production volumes and revenues and could also result in a decline in our gross profit margin. Since we have committed to significantly increase our manufacturing output, an inadequate supply of polysilicon would harm us more than it would harm many of our competitors.

The inability to obtain sufficient polysilicon, ingots or wafers at commercially reasonable prices or at all would adversely affect our ability to meet existing and future customer demand for our products and could cause us

 

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to make fewer shipments, lose customers and market share and generate lower than anticipated revenue, thereby seriously harming our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A limited number of our customers are expected to continue to comprise a significant portion of our revenues and any decrease in revenue from these customers could have an adverse effect on us.

Even though our customer base is expected to increase and our revenue streams to diversify as a result of the Merger, a large portion of our net revenues will likely continue to depend on sales to a limited number of customers. During the first nine months of 2006, sales to our top ten customers accounted for approximately 60.7% of our revenues. Currently, our largest customers for our solar power products are Conergy AG, or Conergy, and Solon AG, or Solon. Conergy accounted for approximately 24% of our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Solon AG, or Solon, accounted for approximately 27% of our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The loss of sales to any of these customers would have a significant negative impact on our business. Our agreements with these customers may be cancelled if we fail to meet certain product specifications or materially breach the agreement or in the event of bankruptcy, and our customers may seek to renegotiate the terms of current agreements or renewals. Most of the solar panels we sell to the European market are sold through our agreement with Conergy, and we may enter into similar agreements in the future.

We currently sell to a relatively small number of customers, and we expect our operating results will likely continue to depend on sales to a relatively small number of customers for the foreseeable future, as well as the ability of these customers to sell solar power products that incorporate our solar cells. Our customer relationships have been developed over a short period of time and are generally in their preliminary stages. We cannot be certain that these customers will generate significant revenue for us in the future or if these customer relationships will continue to develop. If our relationships with our other customers do not continue to develop, we may not be able to expand our customer base or maintain or increase our revenue. This is exacerbated by our current manufacturing constraints for solar cells which limit our ability to sell to other customers and our contractual arrangements which require us to sell part of our future output to Conergy and Solon. In addition, our business is affected by competition in the market for the end products that each of Conergy and Solon sell, and any decline in their business could harm our business and cause our revenue to decline.

Our operating results will be subject to fluctuations and are inherently unpredictable; if we fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors, our stock price may decline significantly.

Our quarterly revenue and operating results will be difficult to predict and SunPower’s and PowerLight’s results have in the past fluctuated from quarter to quarter. It is possible that our operating results in some quarters will be below market expectations. Our quarterly operating results will be affected by a number of factors, including:

 

    the average selling price of SunPower’s solar cells and panels and imaging detectors and our PowerLight business’ solar power systems;

 

    the availability and pricing of raw materials, particularly polysilicon;

 

    the availability, pricing and timeliness of delivery of raw materials and components, particularly solar panels and balance of systems components including steel, necessary for our PowerLight business’ solar power systems to function;

 

    the rate and cost at which we are able to expand our manufacturing and product assembly capacity to meet customer demand, including costs and timing of adding personnel;

 

    the amount and timing of sales of our PowerLight business’ systems, especially medium and large-scale projects, which may individually cause severe fluctuations in our revenue;

 

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    our ability to meet project completion schedules and the corresponding revenue impact under the percentage-of-completion method of recognizing revenue for projects of our PowerLight business;

 

    construction cost overruns, including those associated with the introduction of new products;

 

    the impact of seasonal variations in demand and/or revenue recognition linked to construction cycles and weather conditions;

 

    timing, availability and changes in government incentive programs;

 

    unplanned additional expenses such as manufacturing failures, defects or downtime;

 

    acquisition and investment related costs;

 

    unpredictable volume and timing of customer orders, some of which are not fixed by contract but vary on a purchase order basis;

 

    the loss of one or more key customers or the significant reduction or postponement of orders from these customers;

 

    geopolitical turmoil within any of the countries in which we operate or sell products;

 

    foreign currency fluctuations, particularly in the Euro, Philippine peso or South Korean won;

 

    the effect of currency hedging activities;

 

    our ability to establish and expand customer relationships;

 

    changes in our manufacturing costs;

 

    changes in the relative sales mix of our solar cells, solar panels and imaging detectors;

 

    the availability, pricing and timeliness of delivery of other products, such as inverters necessary for our solar power products to function;

 

    our ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new or enhanced solar power products in a timely manner, and the amount and timing of related research and development costs;

 

    the timing of new product or technology announcements or introductions by our competitors and other developments in the competitive environment;

 

    the willingness of competing solar cell and panel suppliers to continue product sales to our PowerLight business;

 

    increases or decreases in electric rates due to changes in fossil fuel prices or other factors; and

 

    shipping delays.

We will base our planned operating expenses in part on our expectations of future revenue, and a significant portion of our expenses will be relatively fixed in the short term. If revenue for a particular quarter is lower than we expect, we likely will be unable to proportionately reduce our operating expenses for that quarter, which would harm our operating results for that quarter. This may cause us to miss analysts’ guidance or any future guidance announced by us. If we fail to meet or exceed analyst or investor expectations or our own future guidance, even by a small amount, our stock price could decline, perhaps substantially.

We have four solar cell production lines which are located in our manufacturing facilities in the Philippines and if we experience interruptions in the operation of these production lines or are unable to add additional production lines, it would likely result in lower revenue and earnings than anticipated.

As of September 30, 2006, we currently operate four solar cell manufacturing lines, which are located at our manufacturing facilities in the Philippines. If our current or future production lines were to experience any problems or downtime, including those caused by intermittent electricity supply at our Philippines facilities, we would be unable to meet our production targets and our business would suffer. If any piece of equipment were to break down or experience downtime, it could cause our production lines to go down. We have recently acquired a second solar cell manufacturing facility nearby our existing facility in the Philippines. This expansion has required and will continue to require significant management attention, a significant investment of capital and substantial engineering expenditures and is subject to significant risks including:

 

    we may experience cost overruns, delays, equipment problems and other operating difficulties;

 

    we may experience difficulties expanding our processes to larger production capacity;

 

    our custom-built equipment may take longer and cost more to engineer than planned and may never operate as designed; and

 

    we are incorporating first-time equipment designs and technology improvements, which we expect to lower unit capital and operating costs, but this new technology may not be successful.

If we experience any of these or similar difficulties, we may be unable to complete the addition of new production lines on schedule in order to expand our manufacturing facility and our manufacturing capacity could be substantially constrained. If this were to occur, our per-unit manufacturing costs would increase, we would be unable to increase sales as planned and our earnings would likely be materially impaired.

We have recently established a captive solar panel assembly and test facility, and, if this panel manufacturing facility is unable to produce high quality solar panels at commercially reasonable costs, our revenue growth and gross margin could be adversely affected.

We have constructed a new 30-megawatt automated solar panel assembly and test facility in the Philippines. This facility commenced commercial production during the fourth quarter of 2006. Much of the manufacturing equipment and technology in this facility is new and unproven in volume production of solar panels. In the event that this facility is unable to ramp production with commercially reasonable yields and competitive production costs, our anticipated revenue growth and gross margin will be adversely affected.

If we do not achieve satisfactory yields or quality in manufacturing our solar cells, our sales could decrease and our relationships with our customers and our reputation may be harmed.

The manufacture of solar cells is a highly complex process. Minor deviations in the manufacturing process can cause substantial decreases in yield and in some cases, cause production to be suspended or yield no output. We have from time to time experienced lower than anticipated manufacturing yields. This often occurs during the production of new products or the installation and start-up of new process technologies or equipment. For example, we recently acquired a building to house our second solar cell manufacturing facility nearby our existing facility. As we expand our manufacturing capacity and bring additional lines or facilities into production, we may experience lower yields initially as is typical with any new equipment or process. We also expect to experience lower yields as we continue the initial migration of our manufacturing processes to thinner wafers. If we do not achieve planned yields, our product costs could increase, and product availability would decrease resulting in lower revenues than expected.

 

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The reduction or elimination of government and economic incentives could cause our revenue to decline.

We believe that the near-term growth of the market for on-grid applications, where solar power is used to supplement a customer’s electricity purchased from the utility network or sold to a utility under tariff, depends in large part on the availability and size of government and economic incentives. Because a majority of our sales are in the on-grid market, the reduction or elimination of government and economic incentives may adversely affect the growth of this market or result in increased price competition, both of which could cause our revenue to decline.

Today, the cost of solar power exceeds retail electric rates in many locations. As a result, federal, state and local government bodies in many countries, most notably Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy, Portugal, South Korea and the United States, have provided incentives in the form of feed-in tariffs, rebates, tax credits and other incentives to end users, distributors, system integrators and manufacturers of solar power products to promote the use of solar energy in on-grid applications and to reduce dependency on other forms of energy. These government economic incentives could be reduced or eliminated altogether. For example, Germany has been a strong supporter of solar power products and systems and political changes in Germany could result in significant reductions or eliminations of incentives, including the reduction of feed-in tariffs more rapidly than required by current law. Some solar program incentives expire, decline over time, are limited in total funding or require renewal of authority. Net metering and other operational policies in California, Japan or other markets could limit the amount of solar power installed there. Reductions in, or eliminations or expirations of, governmental incentives could result in decreased demand for and lower revenue from our products. Changes in the level or structure of a renewable portfolio standard could also result in decreased demand for and lower revenue from our products.

 

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Existing regulations and policies and changes to these regulations and policies may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar power products, which may significantly reduce demand for our products.

The market for electricity generation products is heavily influenced by foreign, U.S. federal, state and local government regulations and policies concerning the electric utility industry, as well as policies promulgated by electric utilities. These regulations and policies often relate to electricity pricing and technical interconnection of customer-owned electricity generation. In the U.S. and in a number of other countries, these regulations and policies are being modified and may continue to be modified. Customer purchases of, or further investment in the research and development of, alternative energy sources, including solar power technology, could be deterred by these regulations and policies, which could result in a significant reduction in the potential demand for our solar power products. For example, without a regulatory mandated exception for solar power systems, utility customers are often charged interconnection or standby fees for putting distributed power generation on the electric utility network. These fees could increase the cost to our customers of using our solar power products and make them less desirable, thereby harming our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

We anticipate that our solar power products and their installation will be subject to oversight and regulation in accordance with national and local ordinances relating to building codes, safety, environmental protection, utility interconnection and metering and related matters. It is difficult to track the requirements of individual states and design equipment to comply with the varying standards. Any new government regulations or utility policies pertaining to our solar power products may result in significant additional expenses to us and our resellers and their customers and, as a result, could cause a significant reduction in demand for our solar power products.

Changes in tax laws or fiscal policies may decrease the return on investment for customers of our PowerLight business, and for certain investors in its projects, which could decrease demand for its products and services and harm its business.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2006, 22% of PowerLight’s revenues were derived from sales of solar power systems to companies formed to develop and operate solar power generation facilities. Such companies have been formed by third party investors with some frequency in the United States, Germany, Spain, South Korea and Portugal, as these investors seek to benefit from government mandated feed-in tariffs and similar legislation. PowerLight’s business depends in part on the continuing formation of such companies and the potential revenue source they represent. In deciding whether to form and invest in such companies, potential investors weigh a variety of considerations, including their projected return on investment. Such projections are based on current and proposed federal, state and local laws, particularly tax legislation. Changes to these laws, including amendments to existing tax laws or the introduction of new tax laws, tax court rulings as well as changes in administrative guidelines, ordinances and similar rules and regulations could result in different tax assessments and may adversely affect an investor’s projected return on investment, which could have a material adverse effect on PowerLight’s business and results of operations.

Problems with product quality or product performance, including defects, in our solar cells could result in a decrease in customers and revenue, unexpected expenses and loss of market share.

Our solar cells are complex and must meet stringent quality requirements. Products as complex as ours may contain undetected errors or defects, especially when first introduced. For example, our solar cells and solar panels may contain defects that are not detected until after they are shipped or are installed because we cannot test for all possible scenarios. These defects could cause us to incur significant re-engineering costs, divert the attention of our engineering personnel from product development efforts and significantly affect our customer relations and business reputation. If we deliver solar cells or solar panels with errors or defects, or if there is a perception that our solar cells or solar panels contain errors or defects, our credibility and the market acceptance and sales of our solar power products could be harmed.

The possibility of future product failures could cause us to incur substantial expense to repair or replace defective products. Furthermore, widespread product failures may damage our market reputation and reduce our market share and cause sales to decline. We have agreed to indemnify our customers and our distributors in some circumstances against liability from defects in our solar cells. A successful indemnification claim against us could require us to make significant damage payments, which would negatively affect our financial results.

If we are subject to warranty and product liability claims, such claims could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Like other retailers, distributors and manufacturers of products that are used by consumers, we face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of the solar power products into which

 

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our solar cells and solar panels are incorporated results in injury. Our PowerLight business may be subject to warranty and product liability claims in the event that its solar power systems fail to perform as expected or if a failure of its solar power systems results, or is alleged to result, in bodily injury, property damage or other damages. Since our solar power products are electricity producing devices, it is possible that our products could result in injury, whether by product malfunctions, defects, improper installation or other causes. In addition, since we only began selling our solar cells and solar panels in late 2004 and the products we are developing incorporate new technologies and use new installation methods, we cannot predict whether or not product liability claims will be brought against us in the future or the effect of any resulting negative publicity on our business. Moreover, we may not have adequate resources in the event of a successful claim against us. We have evaluated the potential risks we face and believe that we have appropriate levels of insurance for product liability claims. We rely on our general liability insurance to cover product liability claims and have not obtained separate product liability insurance. However, a successful warranty or product liability claim against us that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of our available insurance limits could require us to make significant payments of damages. In addition, quality issues can have various other ramifications, including delays in the recognition of revenue, loss of revenue, loss of future sales opportunities, increased costs associated with repairing or replacing products, and a negative impact on our goodwill and reputation, which could also adversely affect our business and operating results. Our PowerLight business’ exposure to warranty and product liability claims is expected to increase significantly in connection with its planned expansion into the new home development market.

Warranty and product liability claims may result from defects or quality issues in certain third party technology and components that our PowerLight business incorporates into its solar power systems, particularly solar cells and panels, over which it has no control. While its agreements with its suppliers generally include warranties, such provisions may not fully compensate us for any loss associated with third-party claims caused by defects or quality issues in such products. In the event we seek recourse through warranties, we will also be dependent on the creditworthiness and continued existence of the suppliers to our PowerLight business.

Our PowerLight business’ current standard warranty differs by geography and end-customer application and includes either a one, two or five-year comprehensive parts and workmanship warranty, after which the customer may typically extend the period covered by its warranty for an additional fee. Due to the warranty period, our PowerLight business bears the risk of extensive warranty claims long after it has completed a project and recognized revenues. Future product failures could cause our PowerLight business to incur substantial expenses to repair or replace defective products. While our PowerLight business generally passes through manufacturer warranties it receives from its suppliers to its customers, it is responsible for repairing or replacing any defective parts during its warranty period, often including those covered by manufacturers warranties. If the manufacturer disputes or otherwise fails to honor its warranty obligations, our PowerLight business may be required to incur substantial costs before it is compensated, if at all, by the manufacturer. Furthermore, the PowerLight business’ warranties may exceed the period of any warranties from the PowerLight business’ suppliers covering components included in its systems, such as inverters.

In February 2004, one of PowerLight’s major panel suppliers at the time, AstroPower, Inc., filed for bankruptcy. PowerLight had installed systems incorporating over 30,000 AstroPower panels, and approximately 27,000 of these panels incorporated into systems that are still under warranty by it. The majority of these warranties expire by 2008, and all expire by 2010. While PowerLight has not experienced a significant number of warranty or other claims related to installed AstroPower panels, it may in the future incur significant unreimbursable expenses in connection with the repair or replacement of these panels, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, another major supplier of solar panels notified PowerLight of a product defect that may affect a substantial number of panels installed by PowerLight during the period 2002 through September 2006. If the supplier does not perform its contractual obligations to remediate the defective panels, we will be exposed to those costs it would incur under the warranty with its customers. See note 9 to PowerLight’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 included in our current report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on January 25, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference, for further information regarding this product defect and PowerLight potential warranty exposure.

We have incurred operating losses since inception, and may not be able to generate sufficient revenue in the future to achieve or sustain profitability.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, on a pro forma basis for the Merger, we would have had net losses of approximately $35.0 million. To achieve profitability, we will need to generate and sustain higher revenue while maintaining reasonable cost and expense levels. We do not

 

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know if our revenue will grow, or if it will grow sufficiently to outpace our expenses, which we expect to increase as we expand our manufacturing capacity. We may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or an annual basis. If we do not sustain profitability or otherwise meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors, the market price of our common stock will likely decline.

We will continue to be dependent on a limited number of third-party suppliers for key components for its products, which could prevent us from delivering our products to our customers within required timeframes, which could result in installation delays, cancellations, liquidated damages and loss of market share.

In addition to our reliance on a small number of suppliers for its solar cells and panels, our PowerLight business relies on third-party suppliers for key components for its solar power systems, such as inverters that convert the direct current electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current electricity usable by the customer. For the year ended December 31, 2005, one supplier, Xantrex Technology, Inc., accounted for nearly all of PowerLight’s inverter purchases for domestic projects and one supplier, Siemens Power Systems, Inc., accounted for most of the inverter purchases for European projects. In addition, The Dow Chemical Company supplies all of the foam required to manufacture PowerLight’s PowerGuard® roof system.

If we fail to develop or maintain our relationships with these or our other suppliers, we may be unable to manufacture our products or our products may be available only at a higher cost or after a long delay, which could prevent us from delivering our products to our customers within required timeframes and we may experience order cancellation and loss of market share. To the extent the processes that our suppliers use to manufacture components are proprietary, we may be unable to obtain comparable components from alternative suppliers. The failure of a supplier to supply components in a timely manner, or to supply components that meet our quality, quantity and cost requirements, could impair our ability to manufacture our products or decrease their costs. If we cannot obtain substitute materials on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, we could be prevented from delivering our products to our customers within required timeframes, which could result in installation delays, cancellations, liquidated damages and loss of market share, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Any firm commitment supply agreements with solar panel manufacturers could result in insufficient or excess inventory.

PowerLight recently attempted to address the solar cell and panel shortage by negotiating certain multi-year contractual commitments from suppliers. Under such agreements, it is generally required to purchase a specified number of solar cells or panels at fixed prices. Our PowerLight business’ failure to satisfy its purchase obligations may result in substantial liquidated or other damages that we will be required to pay these suppliers. PowerLight did not obtain, and we do not intend to obtain, contracts or commitments from customers for products incorporating solar panels prior to the negotiation of such firm commitment contracts. Instead, PowerLight relies on its long-term internal forecasts to determine the timing of its production schedules and the volume and mix of its products to be manufactured, including the estimated number of solar panels needed. The level and timing of orders placed by customers may vary for many reasons. As a result, at any particular time, we may have insufficient or excess inventory, and incur liquidated or other damages with suppliers to our PowerLight business for failure to satisfy its purchase obligations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, if we enter into long-term solar panel purchase commitments, due to the rapid pace of technological advancements in the solar power industry, we increase our risk of obsolescence of products that we have agreed to purchase over extended periods.

Acquisitions of other companies or investments in joint ventures with other companies could adversely affect our operating results, dilute our stockholders’ equity, or cause us to incur additional debt or assume contingent liabilities.

To increase our business and maintain our competitive position, we may acquire other companies or engage in joint ventures in the future. Acquisitions and joint ventures involve a number of risks that could harm our business and result in the acquired business or joint venture not performing as expected, including:

 

    insufficient experience with technologies and markets in which the acquired business is involved, which may be necessary to successfully operate and integrate the business;

 

    problems integrating the acquired operations, personnel, technologies or products with the existing business and products;

 

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    diversion of management time and attention from the core business to the acquired business or joint venture;

 

    potential failure to retain key technical, management, sales and other personnel of the acquired business or joint venture;

 

    difficulties in retaining relationships with suppliers and customers of the acquired business, particularly where such customers or suppliers compete with us; and

 

    subsequent impairment of the acquired assets, including intangible assets.

We may decide that it is in its best interests to enter into acquisitions or joint ventures that are dilutive to earnings per share or that negatively impact margins as a whole. In addition, acquisitions or joint ventures could require investment of significant financial resources and require us to obtain additional equity financing, which may dilute our stockholders’ equity, or require us to incur additional indebtedness.

To the extent that we invest in upstream suppliers or downstream channel capabilities, we may experience competition or channel conflict with certain of our existing and potential suppliers and customers. Specifically, existing and potential suppliers and customers may perceive that we are competing directly with them by virtue of such investments and may decide to reduce or eliminate their supply volume to us or order volume from us. In particular, any supply reductions from our polysilicon, ingot or wafer suppliers could materially reduce manufacturing volume.

We have significant international activities and customers, and plan to continue these efforts, which subject us to additional business risks, including logistical complexity, political instability and currency fluctuations.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, a substantial portion of our sales, on a pro forma basis for the Merger, were made to customers outside of the United States. We currently have four solar cell production lines in operation, which are located at our manufacturing facility in the Philippines. In addition, a majority of our assembly functions have historically been conducted by a third-party subcontractor in China. PowerLight has historically had significant sales in Germany, Portugal and Spain. Risks we face in conducting business internationally include:

 

    multiple, conflicting and changing laws and regulations, export and import restrictions, employment laws, regulatory requirements and other government approvals, permits and licenses;

 

    difficulties and costs in staffing and managing foreign operations such as our manufacturing facility in the Philippines, as well as cultural differences;

 

    difficulties and costs in recruiting and retaining individuals skilled in international business operations;

 

    increased costs associated with maintaining international marketing efforts;

 

    potentially adverse tax consequences;

 

    inadequate local infrastructure;

 

    financial risks, such as longer sales and payment cycles and greater difficulty collecting accounts receivable; and

 

    political and economic instability, including wars, acts of terrorism, political unrest, boycotts, curtailments of trade and other business restrictions.

Specifically, we face risks associated with political and economic instability and civil unrest in the Philippines. In addition, in the Asia/Pacific region generally, we face risks associated with a recurrence of Significant Acute Respiratory Syndrome (“SARS”), tensions between countries in that region, such as political tensions between China and Taiwan, the ongoing discussions with North Korea regarding its nuclear weapons program, potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights, government-fixed foreign exchange rates, relatively uncertain legal systems and developing telecommunications infrastructures. In addition, some countries in this region, such as China, have adopted laws, regulations and policies which impose additional restrictions on the ability of foreign companies to conduct business in that country or otherwise place them at a competitive disadvantage in relation to domestic companies.

In addition, although base wages are lower in the Philippines than in the United States, wages for our employees in the Philippines are increasing, which could result in increased costs to employ our manufacturing engineers. As of September 30, 2006, approximately 93% of SunPower’s employees were located in the Philippines. We also are faced with competition in the Philippines for employees, and we expect this competition to increase as additional solar companies enter the market and expand their operations. In particular, there may be limited availability of qualified manufacturing engineers. We have benefited from an excess of supply over demand for college graduates in the field of engineering in the Philippines. If this favorable imbalance changes due to increased competition, it could affect the availability or cost of qualified employees, who are critical to our performance. This could increase our costs and turnover rates.

A significant portion of our operations occur outside the United States. Currency fluctuations in the Euro, Philippine peso or the South Korean won relative to the U.S. dollar could decrease revenue or increase its expenses.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, approximately 70% of SunPower’s total revenue, on a pro forma basis for the Merger, was generated outside the United States. We presently have currency exposure arising from sales, capital equipment purchases, prepayments and customer advances denominated in foreign currencies. A majority of SunPower’s total revenue is denominated in Euros, including fixed price agreements with Conergy and Solon, and a significant portion is denominated in U.S. dollars, while a portion of SunPower’s costs are incurred and paid in Euros and a smaller portion of SunPower’s expenses are paid in Philippine pesos and Japanese yen. In addition, SunPower’s prepayment to Wacker-Chemie AG, a polysilicon supplier to SunPower, and SunPower’s customer advances from Solon are denominated in Euros. In 2005 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, approximately 19% and 34%, respectively, of PowerLight’s total revenue was generated outside the U.S. PowerLight presently has currency exposure arising from both sales and purchases denominated in foreign currencies. A large portion of PowerLight’s total revenue is denominated in Euros, and a significant portion of its costs are incurred and paid in Euros.

We are exposed to the risk of a decrease in the value of the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar, which would decrease our total revenue. Changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar may adversely affect our operating margins. For example, if these foreign currencies appreciate against the U.S. dollar, it will make it more expensive in terms of U.S. dollars to purchase inventory or pay expenses with foreign currencies. In addition, currency devaluation can result in a loss to us if we hold deposits of that currency as well as make our products, which are usually purchased with U.S. dollars, relatively more expensive than products manufactured locally. An increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could make our solar cells more expensive for international customers, thus potentially leading to a reduction in our sales and profitability. Furthermore, many of our competitors will be foreign companies that could benefit from such a currency fluctuation, making it more difficult for us to compete with those companies. We currently conduct hedging activities, which involve the use of currency forward contracts. We cannot predict the impact of future exchange rate fluctuations on our business and operating results. In the past, we have experienced an adverse impact on our total revenue and profitability as a result of foreign currency fluctuations.

 

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The current tax holidays in the Philippines will expire within the next several years.

We currently benefit from income tax holiday incentives in the Philippines pursuant to our Philippine subsidiary’s registrations with the Board of Investments and Philippine Economic Zone Authority, which provide that we pay no income tax in the Philippines for four years pursuant to our Board of Investments non-pioneer status and Philippine Economic Zone Authority registrations, and six years pursuant to our Board of Investments pioneer status registration. Our current income tax holidays expire in 2010, and we intend to apply for extensions. However, these tax holidays may or may not be extended. We believe that as our Philippine tax holidays expire, (a) gross income attributable to activities covered by our Philippine Economic Zone Authority registrations will be taxed at a 5% preferential rate, and (b) our Philippine net income attributable to all other activities will be taxed at the statutory Philippine corporate income tax rate of 32%. As of yet no tax benefit has been realized from the income tax holiday due to operating losses in the Philippines.

We may not be able to increase or sustain our recent growth rate, and we may not be able to manage our future growth effectively.

We may be unable to continue to expand our business or manage future growth. Our recent expansion has placed, and our planned expansion and any other future expansion will continue to place, a significant strain on our management, personnel, systems and resources. We plan to purchase additional equipment to significantly expand our manufacturing capacity and to hire additional employees to support an increase in manufacturing, research and development and our sales and marketing efforts. To successfully manage our growth and handle the responsibilities of being a public company, we believe we must effectively:

 

    hire, train, integrate and manage additional qualified engineers for research and development activities, sales and marketing personnel, and financial and information technology personnel;

 

    retain key management and augment our management team, particularly if we lose key members;

 

    continue to enhance our customer resource management and manufacturing management systems;

 

    implement and improve additional and existing administrative, financial and operations systems, procedures and controls, including the need to integrate our financial internal control systems in our Philippines facility with those of our San Jose, California headquarters;

 

    expand and upgrade our technological capabilities; and

 

    manage multiple relationships with our customers, suppliers and other third parties.

PowerLight experienced significant revenue growth due primarily to the development and market acceptance of its PowerGuard® roof system, the acquisition and introduction of its PowerTracker® ground and elevated parking systems, its development of other technologies and increasing global interest and demand for renewable energy sources, including solar power generation. As a result, PowerLight increased its revenues in a relatively short period of time. Its annual revenue increased from $50.9 million in 2003 to $87.6 million in 2004 to $107.8 million in 2005, and from $66.7 million to $140.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Our PowerLight business may not experience similar revenue growth in future periods. Accordingly, you should not rely on the results of any prior quarterly or annual period as an indication of the future operating performance of our PowerLight business.

We may encounter difficulties in effectively managing the budgeting, forecasting and other process control issues presented by rapid growth. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may not be able to take advantage of market opportunities, develop new solar cells and other products, satisfy customer requirements, execute our business plan or respond to competitive pressures.

We had approximately 1630 full-time employees as of January 1, 2007 on a pro forma combined basis, and we anticipate that we will need to hire a significant number of highly skilled technical, manufacturing, sales, marketing, administrative and accounting personnel. The competition for qualified personnel is intense in our industry. We may not be successful in attracting and retaining sufficient numbers of qualified personnel to support our anticipated growth. Since we are a public company, may have more difficulty than our private competitors in attracting personnel because of the perception that the stock option component of our compensation package may not be as valuable.

 

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The success of our PowerLight business will depend in part on the continuing formation of such companies and the potential revenue source they represent. In deciding whether to form and invest in such companies, potential investors weigh a variety of considerations, including their projected return on investment. Such projections are based on current and proposed federal, state and local laws, particularly tax legislation. Changes to these laws, including amendments to existing tax laws or the introduction of new tax laws, tax court rulings as well as changes in administrative guidelines, ordinances and similar rules and regulations could result in different tax assessments and may adversely affect an investor’s projected return on investment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

The steps we have taken to increase the efficiency of our polysilicon utilization are unproven at volume production levels and may not enable us to realize the cost reductions we anticipate.

Given the polysilicon shortage, we believe the efficient use of polysilicon will be critical to our ability to reduce our manufacturing costs. We continue to implement several measures to increase the efficient use of polysilicon in our manufacturing process. For example, we are developing processes to utilize thinner wafers which require less polysilicon and improved wafer-slicing technology to reduce the amount of material lost while slicing wafers, otherwise known as kerf loss. Although we have implemented some production on thinner wafers and anticipate further reductions in wafer thickness, these methods may have unforeseen negative consequences on our yields or our solar cell efficiency or reliability once they are put into large-scale commercial production or they may not enable us to realize the cost reductions we hope to achieve.

PowerLight recognizes revenue on a “percent completion” basis and upon the achievement of contractual milestones. We intend to recognize revenue from projects our PowerLight business on a similar basis, and any delay or cancellation of a project could adversely affect our business.

PowerLight recognized revenue on a “percent completion” basis and, as a result, the revenue from this business was driven by its performance of its contractual obligations, which is generally driven by timelines for the installation of its solar power systems at customer sites. We will recognize revenue from projects of the PowerLight business on a similar basis. As with any project-related business, there is the potential for delays within any particular customer project. Variation of project timelines and estimates may impact our ability to recognize revenue in a particular period. In addition, certain customer contracts may include payment milestones due at specified points during a project. Because our PowerLight business usually must invest substantial time and incur significant expense in advance of achieving milestones and the receipt of payment, failure to achieve such milestones could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our PowerLight business’ sales cycles can be longer than those of SunPower and may require significant upfront investment by it which may not ultimately result in signing of a sales contract, which could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our PowerLight business’ sales cycles, which measure the time between its first contact with a customer and the signing of a sales contract for a particular project, vary substantially and average approximately eight months. Sales cycles for the PowerLight business’ systems are lengthy for a number of reasons, including:

 

    its customers often delay purchasing decisions until their eligibility for an installation rebate is confirmed, which generally takes several months;

 

    the long time required to secure adequate financing for system purchases on terms acceptable to customers; and

 

    the customer’s review and approval processes for system purchases are lengthy and time consuming.

As a result of these long sales cycles, our PowerLight business must make significant upfront investments of resources in advance of the signing of sales contracts and the receipt of any revenues, most of which are not recognized for several additional months following contract signing. Accordingly, our PowerLight business must focus its limited resources on sales opportunities that it believes it can secure. Its inability to enter into sales

 

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contracts with potential customers after it makes such an investment could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We depend on a combination of our own wafer-slicing operations and those of other vendors for the wafer-slicing stage of our manufacturing, and any technical problems, breakdowns, delays or cost increases could significantly delay our manufacturing operations, decrease our output and increase our costs.

We have historically depended on the wafer-slicing operations of third-party vendors to slice ingots into wafers. We have established our own wafer-slicing operations, and in the first nine months of 2006, we sliced approximately 61% of our wafers. If our third-party vendors increase their prices or decrease or discontinue their shipments to us, as a result of equipment malfunctions, competing purchasers or otherwise, and we are unable to obtain substitute wafer-slicing from another vendor on acceptable terms, or increase our own wafer-slicing operations on a timely basis, our sales will decrease, our costs may increase or our business will otherwise be harmed.

We obtain capital equipment used in our manufacturing process from sole suppliers and if this equipment is damaged or otherwise unavailable, our ability to deliver products on time will suffer, which in turn could result in order cancellations and loss of revenue.

Some of the capital equipment used in the manufacture of our solar power products and in our wafer-slicing operations has been developed and made specifically for us, is not readily available from multiple vendors and would be difficult to repair or replace if it were to become damaged or stop working. In addition, we currently obtain the equipment for many of our manufacturing processes from sole suppliers and we obtain our wafer-slicing equipment from one supplier. If any of these suppliers were to experience financial difficulties or go out of business, or if there were any damage to or a breakdown of our manufacturing or wafer-slicing equipment at a time when we are manufacturing commercial quantities of our products, our business would suffer. In addition, a supplier’s failure to supply this equipment in a timely manner, with adequate quality and on terms acceptable to us, could delay our capacity expansion of our manufacturing facility and otherwise disrupt our production schedule or increase our costs of production.

We will continue to be dependent on a limited number of third-party suppliers for key components for our products, which could prevent us from delivering our products to our customers within required timeframes, which could result in installation delays, cancellations, liquidated damages and loss of market share.

We manufacture all of our solar power products using components procured from a limited number of third-party suppliers. For example, we currently purchase glass from one supplier and aluminum frames and plastic back-sheet materials which we use in our products from a limited number of suppliers. In North America, where we intend to increase our sales and marketing efforts, systems incorporating our solar cells and solar panels currently require a specialized inverter. To date we have obtained the inverters that we sell with our solar panels from only two suppliers and we do not expect to obtain inverters from any additional suppliers for the foreseeable future. We believe there are only a few suppliers of inverters that are compatible with our solar cells and solar panels. We have no long-term commitments regarding supply or price from our supplier of inverters, which leaves us vulnerable to the risk that our suppliers may stop supplying inverters to us for any reason, including their financial viability. If we or our customers cannot obtain substitute sources of inverters on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, these supply problems may cause our revenue to decline, increase our costs, delay solar power system installations, result in loss of market share or otherwise harm our business. In addition to solar cells and panels, PowerLight relies on other key components for its solar power systems, such as inverters that convert the direct current electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current electricity usable by the customer. For the year ended December 31, 2005, one supplier, Xantrex Technology, Inc., accounted for nearly all of the inverter purchases for domestic projects and one supplier, Siemens Power Systems, Inc., accounted for most of the inverter purchases for European projects. In addition, The Dow Chemical Company supplies all of the foam required to manufacture PowerLight’s PowerGuard® roof system. PowerLight generally does not have long-term contractual commitments regarding supply or price from its inverter, foam, steel or other suppliers, and its suppliers may stop supplying key materials at any time to PowerLight for any reason. If PowerLight or its customers cannot obtain substitute materials on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, PowerLight could be prevented from delivering its products to its customers within required timeframes, which could result in installation delays, cancellations, liquidated damages and loss of market share, any of which could have a material adverse effect on its business and results of operations.

We generally do not have long-term agreements with our customers and accordingly could lose customers without warning.

 

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We do not have long-term agreements with other customers but instead operate on a purchase order basis. PowerLight is typically contracted to perform large project with no assurance of repeat business from the same customers in the future. Although we believe that cancellations on our purchase orders to date have been insignificant, our customers may cancel or reschedule purchase orders with us on relatively short notice. Cancellations or rescheduling of customer orders could result in the delay or loss of anticipated sales without allowing us sufficient time to reduce, or delay the incurrence of, our corresponding inventory and operating expenses. In addition, changes in forecasts or the timing of orders from these or other customers expose us to the risks of inventory shortages or excess inventory. This, in addition to the completion and non-repetition of large PowerLight projects, in turn could cause our operating results to fluctuate.

Sales contracts for PowerLight’s products with increasing frequency have begun to include provisions regarding liquidated damages for installation delays, electricity generation or other solar power system performance guarantees and conditional payments. If they continue, such provisions will put us at economic risk for future uncertain events.

Some of PowerLight’s larger customers require that it pay substantial liquidated damages for each day or other period its solar installation is not completed beyond an agreed target date. This is particularly true in Europe, where long-term, fixed feed-in tariffs available to investors are typically set during the year of project completion, but the fixed amount declines over time for projects completed in subsequent years. In addition, investors often require that the solar power system generate specified levels of electricity in order to maintain their investment returns, allocating risk and financial penalties to PowerLight if those levels are not achieved. Furthermore, its customers often require protections in the form of conditional payments, payment retentions or holdbacks, and similar arrangements that condition its future payments on performance. Delays in solar panel or other supply shipments, other construction delays, unexpected performance problems in electricity generation or other events could cause our PowerLight business to fail to meet these performance criteria, resulting in unanticipated revenue and earnings losses and financial penalties. If the trend for requiring such provisions continues, our PowerLight business would be subject to the same risks as PowerLight prior to the Merger, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

PowerLight prior to the Merger usually acted as the general contractor for its customers in connection with the installations of its solar power systems and was subject to risks associated with cost overruns, delays and other contingencies. We intend to operate the PowerLight business in the same manner, and will be subject to the same risks.

PowerLight prior to the merger acted as the general contractor for its customers in connection with the installation of its solar power systems. All essential costs were estimated at the time of entering into the sales contract for a particular project, and these were reflected in the overall price that it charges its customers for the project. These cost estimates were preliminary and may or may not be covered by contracts between PowerLight or the other project developers, subcontractors, suppliers and other parties to the project. In addition, PowerLight required qualified, licensed subcontractors to install most of its systems. Shortages of such skilled labor could significantly delay a project or otherwise increase PowerLight’s costs. Should miscalculations in planning a project or defective or late execution occur, PowerLight may not have achieved its expected margins or cover its costs. In particular, construction delays, including those caused by inclement weather, failure to timely receive necessary approvals and permits, or delays in obtaining necessary solar panels, inverters or other materials. Because we intend to operate our PowerLight business in the same manner, our PowerLight business could be subject to the same risks, and such risks could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Our PowerLight business could be adversely affected by seasonal trends and construction cycles.

Our PowerLight business is subject to significant industry-specific seasonal fluctuations. Its sales have historically reflected these seasonal trends with the largest percentage of total revenues being realized during the last two calendar quarters. Low seasonal demand normally results in reduced shipments and revenues in the first two calendar quarters. There are various reasons for this seasonality, mostly related to economic incentives and weather patterns. For example, in European countries with feed-in tariffs, the construction of solar power systems is concentrated during the second half of the calendar year, largely due to the annual reduction of the applicable minimum feed-in tariff and the fact that the coldest winter months are January through March. In the United States, customers will sometimes make purchasing decisions towards the end of the year in order to take advantage of tax credits or for other budgetary reasons.

 

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In addition, to the extent the PowerLight business is successful in implementing its strategy to enter the new home development market, it expects the seasonality of its business and financial results to become more pronounced as sales in this market are often tied to construction market demands which tend to follow national trends in construction, including declining sales during cold weather months.

The expansion of our PowerLight business into the residential market may increase its exposure to certain risks, including class action product liability claims.

PowerLight has expanded into the residential market by beginning to sell its systems to large production homebuilders. It currently expects this new growth strategy to initially focus on new home development projects in excess or 50 homes, though it considers projects below this amount. As part of this strategy, PowerLight developed SunTile®, a product that integrates a solar panel into a roof tile. To date PowerLight has focused on large-scale commercial applications and has almost no experience serving the residential market.

Our PowerLight business’ new residential products and services may not gain market acceptance and it may not otherwise be successful in entering the residential market, which would limit its growth and adversely affect our operating results. Furthermore, the residential construction market has peculiar characteristics that may increase its exposure to certain risks it currently faces or expose it to new risks. These risks include increased seasonality, sensitivity to interest rates and other macroeconomic conditions, as well as enhanced legal exposure. In particular, new home developments often result in class action litigation when one or more homes within a development experiences construction problems. Unlike our PowerLight business’ core activities, where it typically acts as general contractor, it will be generally acting as subcontractor to homebuilders overseeing the development projects. In many instances subcontractors may be held liable for work of the homebuilder or other subcontractors. In addition, homebuilders often require onerous indemnification obligations that effectively allocate most of the potential liability from homeowner or class action lawsuits to subcontractors, including our PowerLight business. Insurance policies for its residential work have significant limitations on coverage that may render such policies inapplicable to these lawsuits. If our PowerLight business is not successful in entering the new residential construction market, or if as a result of the litigation and indemnification risks associated with such market, our PowerLight business incurs significant costs, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

If we fail to successfully develop and introduce new products and services, we will not be able to compete effectively, and our ability to generate revenues will suffer.

As we introduce new or enhanced products or integrate PowerLight’s or other new technology into our products, we will face risks relating to such transitions including, among other things, technical challenges, disruption in customers’ ordering patterns, insufficient supplies of new products to meet customers’ demand, possible product and technology defects arising from the integration of new technology and a potentially different sales and support environment relating to any new technology. Our failure to manage the transition to newer products or the integration of newer technology into our products could adversely affect our business’ operating results and financial results.

The solar power markets are characterized by continually changing technology requiring improved features, such as increased efficiency and higher power output and improved aesthetics. This will require us to continuously develop new solar power products and enhancements for existing solar power products to keep pace with evolving industry standards and changing customer requirements. Technologies developed by others may prove more advantageous than ours for the commercialization of solar power products and may render our technology obsolete. Our failure to further refine our technology and develop and introduce new solar power products could cause our products to become uncompetitive or obsolete, which could reduce our market share and cause our sales to decline. SunPower’s research and development expense was $7.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $6.5 million in fiscal year 2005. PowerLight’s net research and development expense after deduction for government funding was $0.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $0.5 million in fiscal year 2005. PowerLight’s total research and development expense before government funding was $1.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $2.1 million in fiscal year 2005. We will need to invest significant financial resources in research and development to maintain our market position, keep pace with technological advances in the solar power industry and effectively compete in the future.

 

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Evaluating our business and future prospects may be difficult due to our limited history in producing and shipping solar cells and solar panels in commercial volumes.

There is limited historical information available about our company upon which you can base your evaluation of our business and prospects. Although we began to develop and commercialize high-efficiency solar cell technology for use in solar concentrators in 1988 and began shipping product from our pilot manufacturing facility in 2003, we shipped our first commercial A-300 solar cells from our Philippines manufacturing facility in late 2004. Relative to the entire solar industry, we have shipped only a limited number of solar cells and solar panels and have recognized limited revenue. Our future success will require us to continue to scale our Philippines facilities significantly beyond their current capacity. In addition, our business model, technology and ability to achieve satisfactory manufacturing yields at higher volumes are unproven at significant scale. As a result, you should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks, expenses and challenges that we will face as an early-stage company seeking to develop and manufacture new products in a rapidly growing market.

Our reliance on government programs to partially fund our research and development programs could impair our ability to commercialize our solar power products and services and increase our research and development expenses.

We intend to continue our policy of selectively pursuing contract research, product development and market development programs funded by various agencies of the federal and state governments to complement and enhance our own resources. Funding from government grants is recorded as an offset to our research and development expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, funding from government grants offset approximately 9.7% of SunPower’s, and a majority of PowerLight’s, research and development expenses.

These government agencies may not continue their commitment to programs relevant to our development projects. Moreover, we may not be able to compete successfully to obtain funding through these or other programs. A reduction or discontinuance of these programs or of our participation in these programs would materially increase our research and development expenses, which would adversely affect our profitability and could impair our ability to develop our solar power products and services. In addition, contracts involving government agencies may be terminated or modified at the convenience of the agency. Many of our PowerLight business’ government contracts also contain royalty provisions that require it to pay certain amounts based on specified formulas. Government contracts are subject to audit and governmental agencies may dispute its royalty calculations. Any such dispute could result in fines, increased royalty payments, cancellation of the agreement or other penalties, which could have material adverse affect on our business and results of operations.

Our PowerLight business’ government-sponsored research contracts require that it provide regular written technical updates on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, and, at the conclusion of the research contract, a final report on the results of its technical research. Because these reports are generally available to the public, third parties may obtain some aspects of its sensitive confidential information. Moreover, the failure to provide accurate or complete reports may provide the government with rights to any intellectual property arising from the related research.

Funding from government contracts also may limit when and how we can deploy our products and services developed under those contracts. In addition, technology and intellectual property that we develop with government funding provides the government with “march-in” rights. March-in rights refer to the right of the government or a government agency to require us to grant a license to the developed technology or products to a responsible applicant or, if it refuses, the government may grant the license itself. The government can exercise its march-in rights if it determines that action is necessary because we fail to achieve practical application of the technology or because action is necessary to alleviate health or safety needs, to meet requirements of federal regulations or to give the United States industry preference.

Since we cannot test our solar panels for the duration of our standard 25-year warranty period, we may be subject to unexpected warranty expense.

Our current standard product warranty for our solar panels includes a 10-year warranty period for defects in material and workmanship and a 25-year warranty period for declines in power performance as well as a one-year

 

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warranty on the functionality of our solar cells. We believe our warranty periods are consistent with industry practice. Due to the long warranty period and our proprietary technology, we bear the risk of extensive warranty claims long after we have shipped product and recognized revenue. We have sold solar cells only since late 2004. Any increase in the defect rate of our products would cause us to increase the amount of warranty reserves and have a corresponding negative impact on our results. Although we conduct accelerated testing of our solar cells and have several years of experience with our all back contact cell architecture, our solar panels have not and cannot be tested in an environment simulating the 25-year warranty period. In the second quarter of 2006, we increased our estimated warranty provision rate, which increased our warranty reserve by approximately $1.0 million. This change in estimate was based on results of recent testing that simulates adverse environmental conditions and potential failure rates our solar panels could experience during their 25-year warranty period. As a result of the foregoing, we may be subject to unexpected warranty expense, which in turn would harm our financial results.

Because the markets in which we compete are highly competitive and many of our competitors have greater resources than us, we may not be able to compete successfully and we may lose or be unable to gain market share.

We compete with a large number of competitors in the solar power market, including BP Solar International Inc., Evergreen Solar, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Q-Cells AG, Sanyo Corporation, Sharp Corporation, SolarWorld AG and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. In addition, universities, research institutions and other companies are developing alternative technologies such as thin films and concentrators, which may compete with our technology. We expect to face increased competition in the future. Further, many of our competitors are developing and are currently producing products based on new solar power technologies that may ultimately have costs similar to, or lower than, our projected costs.

Our PowerLight business’ solar power products and services compete against other power generation sources including conventional fossil fuels supplied by utilities, other alternative energy sources such as wind, biomass, CSP and emerging distributed generation technologies such as micro-turbines, sterling engines and fuel cells. In the large-scale on-grid solar power systems market, we will face direct competition from a number of companies that manufacture, distribute, or install solar power systems. Many of these companies sell PowerLight’s products as well as their own or those of other manufacturers. Our PowerLight business’ primary competitors in the United States include Arizona Public Service Company, BP Solar International, Inc., a subsidiary of BP p.l.c., Conergy Inc., Dome-Tech Group, Eastwood Energy, EI Solutions, Inc., GE Energy, a subsidiary of General Electric Corporation, Global Solar Energy, Inc., a subsidiary of Solon, Power-Fab, Schott Solar, Inc., Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc., SPG Solar, Inc., Sun Edison LLC, SunTechnics Installation & Services, Inc., Thompson Technology Industries, Inc. and WorldWater & Power Corporation. Our PowerLight business’ primary competitors in Europe include BP Solar, Conergy (through its subsidiaries AET Alternitive Energie Technik GmbH, SunTechnics Solartechnik GmbH and voltwerk AG), PV-Systemtechnik Gbr, SAG Solarstrom AG, Solon AG and Taufer Solar GmbH. Additionally, our PowerLight business will occasionally compete with distributed generation equipment suppliers such as Caterpillar, Inc. and Cummins Inc. Other existing and potential competitors in the solar power market include universities and research institutions. We also expect that future competition will include new entrants to the solar power market offering new technological solutions. As we enter new markets and pursues additional applications for our PowerLight business’ products and services, we expect to face increased competition, which may result in price reductions, reduced margins or loss of market share.

Competition is intense, and many of our competitors have significantly greater access to financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, management and other resources than we do. Many also have greater name recognition, a more established distribution network and a larger installed base of customers. In addition, many of our competitors have well-established relationships with our current and potential suppliers, resellers and their customers and have extensive knowledge of our target markets. As a result, these competitors may be able to devote greater resources to the research, development, promotion and sale of their products and respond more quickly to evolving industry standards and changing customer requirements than we will be able to. Consolidation or strategic alliances among such competitors may strengthen these advantages and may provide them greater access to customers or new technologies. We may also face competition from some of PowerLight’s resellers, who may develop products internally that compete with our PowerLight business’ product and service offerings, or who may enter into strategic relationships with or acquire other existing solar power system providers. To the extent that government funding for research and development grants, customer tax rebates and other programs that promote the

 

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use of solar and other renewable forms of energy are limited, we will compete for such funds, both directly and indirectly, with other renewable energy providers and their customers.

If we cannot compete successfully in the solar power industry, our operating results and financial condition will be adversely affected. Furthermore, we expect competition in our PowerLight business’ markets to increase, which could result in lower prices or reduced demand for our PowerLight business’ services and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

The demand for products requiring significant initial capital expenditures such as our solar power products is affected by general economic conditions.

The United States and international economies have recently experienced a period of slow economic growth. A sustained economic recovery is uncertain. In particular, terrorist acts and similar events, continued turmoil in the Middle East or war in general could contribute to a slowdown of the market demand for products that require significant initial capital expenditures, including demand for solar cells and solar power systems and new residential and commercial buildings. In addition, increases in interest rates may increase financing costs to customers, which in turn may decrease demand for our solar power products. If the economic recovery slows down as a result of the recent economic, political and social turmoil, or if there are further terrorist attacks in the United States or elsewhere, we may experience decreases in the demand for our solar power products, which may harm our operating results.

Increases in interest rates may decrease the return on investment for certain customers or investors in projects of our PowerLight business, which could decrease demand for its products and services and which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

PowerLight’s business has benefited from historically low interest rates in recent years, as these rates have made it more attractive for its customers to use debt financing to purchase its solar power systems. Interest rates have been rising and may continue to rise, which will likely increase the cost of financing these systems and may reduce an operating company’s profits and investors’ expected returns on investment. Rising interest rates may also make certain alternative investments more attractive to investors, and therefore lead to a decline in demand for our PowerLight business’ solar power systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We depend on a third-party subcontractor in China to assemble a majority of our solar cells into solar panels and any failure to obtain sufficient assembly and test capacity could significantly delay our ability to ship our solar panels and damage our customer relationships.

Historically, we have relied on Jiawei, a third-party subcontractor in China, to assemble a majority of our solar cells into solar panels and perform panel testing and to manage test, packaging, warehousing and shipping of our solar panels. We do not have a long-term agreement with Jiawei and we typically obtain services from them based on short-term purchase orders that are generally aligned with timing specified by our customers’ purchase orders and our sales forecasts. If the operations of Jiawei were disrupted or their financial stability impaired, or if they should choose not to

 

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devote capacity to our solar panels in a timely manner, our business would suffer as we may be unable to produce finished solar panels on a timely basis. In addition, we supply inventory to Jiawei and we bear the risk of loss, theft or damage to our inventory while it is held in their facilities.

As a result of outsourcing this final step in our production, we face several significant risks, including:

 

    lack of assembly and testing capacity and higher prices;

 

    limited control over delivery schedules, quality assurance and control, manufacturing yields and production costs; and

 

    delays resulting from an inability to move production to an alternate provider.

The ability of our subcontractor to perform assembly and test is limited by their available capacity. We do not have a guaranteed level of production capacity with our subcontractor, and it is difficult to accurately forecast our capacity needs because of the shifting mix between sales of solar cells and solar panels and the timing of expanding our manufacturing capacity. Other customers of Jiawei that are larger and better financed than we are, or that have long-term agreements in place, may induce Jiawei to reallocate capacity to them. Any reallocation could impair our ability to secure the supply of solar panels that we need for our customers. In addition, interruptions to the panel manufacturing processes caused by a natural or man-made disaster could result in partial or complete disruption in supply until we are able to shift manufacturing to another facility. It may not be possible to obtain sufficient capacity or comparable production costs at another facility. Migrating our design methodology to a new third-party subcontractor or to a captive panel assembly facility could involve increased costs, resources and development time. Utilizing additional third party subcontractors could expose us to further risk of losing control over our intellectual property and the quality of our solar panels. Any reduction in the supply of solar panels could impair our revenue by significantly delaying our ability to ship products and potentially damage our relationships with existing customers.

 

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One of PowerLight’s key products, PowerTracker®, was acquired through an assignment and acquisition of the patents associated with the product from a third party individual, and if we are unable to continue to use this product, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition would be materially harmed.

In September 2002, PowerLight entered into a Technology Assignment and Services Agreement and other ancillary agreements with Jefferson Shingleton and MaxTracker Services, LLC, a New York limited liability company controlled by Mr. Shingleton. These agreements form the basis for its intellectual property rights in its PowerTracker products. Under such agreements, as later amended, Mr. Shingleton assigned to PowerLight his MaxTracker, MaxRack, MaxRack Ballast and MaxClip products and all related intellectual property rights. Mr. Shingleton is obligated to provide consulting services to PowerLight related to such technology until December 31, 2012 and is required to assign to PowerLight any enhancements he makes to the technology while providing such consulting services. Mr. Shingleton retains a first security interest in the patents and patent applications assigned until the earlier of the expiration of the patents, full payment by PowerLight to Mr. Shingleton of all of the royalty obligations under the Technology Assignment and Services Agreement, or the termination of the Technology Assignment and Services Agreement. In the event of PowerLight’s default under the Technology Assignment and Services Agreement, MaxTracker Services and Mr. Shingleton may terminate the agreements and the related assignments and cause the intellectual rights assigned to it to be returned to Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services, including patents related to PowerTracker®. In addition, upon such termination, PowerLight must grant Mr. Shingleton a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license to use, sell, and otherwise exploit throughout the world any intellectual property MaxTracker Services or Mr. Shingleton developed during the provision of consulting services

 

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to PowerLight. Events of default by PowerLight which could enable Mr. Shingleton or Max Tracker Services to terminate the agreements and the related assignments and cause the intellectual rights assigned to it to be returned to Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services include the following:

 

    if PowerLight files a petition in bankruptcy or equivalent order or petition under the laws of any jurisdiction;

 

    if a petition in bankruptcy or equivalent order or petition under the laws of any jurisdiction is filed against it which is not dismissed within 60 days of such filing;

 

    if PowerLight’s assets are assigned for the benefit of creditors;

 

    if PowerLight voluntarily or involuntarily dissolves (except in connection with the Merger, for which PowerLight received a waiver of this condition);

 

    if PowerLight fails to pay any amount due under the agreements when due and does not remedy such failure to pay within 10 days of written notice of such failure to pay; or

 

    if PowerLight defaults in the performance of any of its material obligations under the agreements when required (other than payment of amounts due under the agreements), and such failure is not remedied within 30 days of written notice to it of such default from Mr. Shingleton or MaxTracker Services. However, if such a default can reasonably be cured after the 30-day period, and PowerLight commences cure of such default within 30-day period and diligently prosecutes that cure to completion, such default does not trigger a termination right unless and until PowerLight ceases commercially reasonable efforts to cure such default.

If PowerLight is unable to continue to use and sell PowerTracker® as a result of the termination of the agreements and the related assignment or any other reason, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition would be materially harmed.

We are dependent on our intellectual property, and we may face intellectual property infringement claims that could be time-consuming and costly to defend and could result in the loss of significant rights.

From time to time, we, our customers or third-parties with whom we work may receive letters, including letters from various industry participants, alleging infringement of their patents. Although we are not currently aware of any parties pursuing or intending to pursue infringement claims against us, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to such claims in the future. Also, because patent applications in the United States and many other jurisdictions are kept confidential for 18 months before they are published, we may be unaware of pending patent applications that relate to our products. Our third-party suppliers may also become subject to infringement claims, which in turn could negatively impact our business. We ceased use of certain licensed technology for which we have not paid royalties since the second quarter of 2004 because our current products do not use the licensed technology. However, the licensor could challenge these actions and litigate against us. Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming and could divert management’s attention from our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition. If there is a successful claim of infringement against us, our customers or our third-party intellectual property providers, we may be required to pay substantial damages to the party claiming infringement, stop selling products or using technology that contains the allegedly infringing intellectual property, or enter into royalty or license agreements that may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Parties making infringement claims may also be able to bring an action before the International Trade Commission that could result in an order stopping the importation into the United States of our solar cells. Any of these judgments could materially damage the our business. We may have to develop non-infringing technology, and our failure in doing so or in obtaining licenses to the proprietary rights on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

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We may file claims against other parties for infringing our intellectual property that may be very costly and may not be resolved in our favor.

We cannot guarantee that infringement of our intellectual property by other parties does not exist now or that it will not occur in the future. To protect our intellectual property rights and to maintain our competitive advantage, we may file suits against parties who we believe infringe our intellectual property. Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time consuming and could divert management’s attention from our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition, and our enforcement efforts may not be successful. In certain situations, we may have to bring such suit in foreign jurisdictions, in which case we are subject to additional risk as to the result of the proceedings and the amount of damage that we can recover. Certain foreign jurisdictions may not provide protection to intellectual property comparable to that in the United States Our engagement in intellectual property enforcement actions may negatively impact our financial results.

We may not be able to prevent others from using the SunPower name or similar mark in connection with their solar power products which could adversely affect the market recognition of our name and our revenue.

“SunPower” is our registered trademark in the United States for use with solar cells and solar panels. We are seeking similar registration of the “SunPower” trademark in foreign countries but we may not be successful in some of these jurisdictions. For example, we have received initial rejection of our application to register the “SunPower” trademark in Canada and Japan based on prior registration by other people. In the foreign jurisdictions where we are unable to obtain this registration or have not tried, others may be able to sell their products using the SunPower trademark which could lead to customer confusion. In addition, if there are jurisdictions where someone else has already established trademark rights in the SunPower name, we may face trademark disputes and may have to market our products with other trademarks, which also could hurt our marketing efforts. We may encounter trademark disputes with companies using marks which are confusingly similar to SunPower which if not resolved favorably could cause our branding efforts to suffer. In addition, we may have difficulty in establishing strong brand recognition with consumers if others use similar marks for similar products.

PowerLight holds registered trademarks for PowerLight®, PowerGuard®, PowerTracker® and SunTile® in the United States, registered trademarks for PowerLight® and PowerGuard® in Europe, and pending trademark applications for PowerTilt in the United States. It has not registered, and may not be able to register, these trademarks elsewhere.

We rely primarily upon copyright and trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to protect our proprietary rights, and, if these rights are not sufficiently protected, our ability to compete and generate revenue could suffer.

We seek to protect our proprietary manufacturing processes, documentation and other written materials primarily under trade secret and copyright laws. We also typically require employees and consultants with access to our proprietary information to execute confidentiality agreements. The steps taken by us to protect our proprietary information may not be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our technology. In addition, our proprietary rights may not be adequately protected because:

 

    people may not be deterred from misappropriating our technologies despite the existence of laws or contracts prohibiting it;

 

    policing unauthorized use of our intellectual property may be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and we may be unable to determine the extent of any unauthorized use; and

 

    the laws of other countries in which we market our solar cells, such as some countries in the Asia/Pacific region, may offer little or no protection for our proprietary technologies.

Reverse engineering, unauthorized copying or other misappropriation of our proprietary technologies could enable third parties to benefit from our technologies without paying us for doing so. Any inability to adequately protect our proprietary rights could harm our ability to compete, to generate revenue and to grow our business.

 

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We may not obtain sufficient patent protection on the technology embodied in the solar cells we currently manufacture and market, which could harm our competitive position and increase our expenses.

Although we rely primarily on trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to protect the technology in the solar cells we currently manufacture and market, our success and ability to compete in the future may also depend to a significant degree upon obtaining patent protection for our proprietary technology. As of September 30, 2006, in the United States, SunPower owned seven issued patents and jointly owned another three patents, and had 18 U.S. and 10 foreign patent applications pending. These patent applications cover aspects of the technology in the solar cells we currently manufacture and market. Patents that we currently own or license-in do not cover the solar cells that we presently manufacture and market. As of September 30, 2006, including the United States and foreign countries, PowerLight had a total 61 issued patents and 44 pending patent applications. PowerLight intends to continue to seek patent protection for those aspects of its technology, designs, and methodologies and processes that it believes provide significant competitive advantages. PowerLight’s material patents primarily relate to PowerGuard®, PowerTilt and PowerTracker®.

Our patent applications may not result in issued patents, and even if they result in issued patents, the patents may not have claims of the scope we seek. In addition, any issued patents may be challenged, invalidated or declared unenforceable. The term of any issued patents would be 20 years from their filing date and if our applications are pending for a long time period, we may have a correspondingly shorter term for any patent that may issue. Our present and future patents may provide only limited protection for our technology and may not be sufficient to provide competitive advantages to us. For example, competitors could be successful in challenging any issued patents or, alternatively, could develop similar or more advantageous technologies on their own or design around our patents. Also, patent protection in certain foreign countries may not be available or may be limited in scope and any patents obtained may not be as readily enforceable as in the United States, making it difficult for us to effectively protect our intellectual property from misuse or infringement by other companies in these countries. Our inability to obtain and enforce our intellectual property rights in some countries may harm our business. In addition, given the costs of obtaining patent protection, we may choose not to protect certain innovations that later turn out to be important.

If the effective term of our patents is decreased due to changes in patent laws or if we need to refile some of our patent applications, the value of our patent portfolio and the revenue we derive from products protected by the patents may be decreased.

The value of our patents depends in part on their duration. A shorter period of patent protection means less value of a patent. For example, the United States patent laws were amended in 1995 to change the term of patent protection from 17 years after the date of the patent’s issuance to 20 years after the earliest effective filing date of the application for a patent, unless the application was pending on June 8, 1995, in which case the term of a patent’s protection expires either 17 years after its issuance or 20 years after its filing, whichever is later. Because the time required from the filing of patent application to issuance of a patent is often longer than three years, a 20-year patent term from the filing date may result in substantially shorter patent protection. Also, we may need to refile some of our patent applications and, in these situations, the patent term will be measured from the date of the earliest priority application to which benefit is claimed in such a patent application. This would also shorten our period of patent exclusivity. A shortened period of patent exclusivity may negatively impact our revenue protected by our patents.

Our intellectual property indemnification practices may adversely impact our business.

We are required by contract to indemnify some of our customers and our third-party intellectual property providers for certain costs and damages of patent infringement in circumstances where our solar cells are a factor creating the customer’s or these third-party providers’ infringement liability. This practice may subject us to significant indemnification claims by our customers and our third-party providers. We cannot assure you that indemnification claims will not be made or that these claims will not harm our business, operating results or financial condition.

 

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The success of our business depends on the continuing contributions of our key personnel.

We rely heavily on the services of our key executive officers, including Thomas H. Werner, our Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel T. Hernandez, our Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Richard Swanson, our President and Chief Technology Officer, PM Pai, our Chief Operating Officer and Thomas Dinwoodie, PowerLight’s Chief Executive Officer. The loss of services of any principal member of our management team, particularly Thomas H. Werner, Emmanuel T. Hernandez, Dr. Richard Swanson, PM Pai and Thomas Dinwoodie could adversely impact our operations. In addition, our technical personnel represent a significant asset and serve as the source of our technological and product innovations. We believe our future success will depend upon our ability to retain these key employees and our ability to attract and retain other skilled managerial, engineering and sales and marketing personnel. However, we cannot guarantee that any employee will remain employed at the Company for any definite period of time since all of our employees, including Messrs. Werner, Hernandez, Swanson, Pai and Dinwoodie serve at-will and may terminate their employment at any time for any reason.

Our headquarters, research and development and manufacturing facilities, the facilities of our subcontractor upon which we rely to assemble and test our solar panels and facilities of our suppliers of silicon ingots, are located in regions that are subject to earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Our headquarters, including research and development operations, our manufacturing facility and the subcontractor upon which we rely to assemble and test our solar panels are located in countries that are subject to earthquakes and other natural disasters. Our headquarters and research and development operations are located in the United States, our manufacturing facility is located in the Philippines, and our subcontractor for assembly and test of solar panels is located in China. Since we do not have redundant facilities, any earthquake, tsunami or other natural disaster in these countries could materially disrupt our production capabilities and could result in our experiencing a significant delay in delivery, or substantial shortage, of our solar cells.

Compliance with environmental regulations can be expensive, and noncompliance with these regulations may result in adverse publicity and potentially significant monetary damages and fines.

We are required to comply with all foreign, U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding pollution control and protection of the environment. In addition, under some statutes and regulations, a government agency, or other parties, may seek recovery and response costs from operators of property where releases of hazardous substances have occurred or are ongoing, even if the operator was not responsible for such release or otherwise at fault. We use, generate and discharge toxic, volatile and otherwise hazardous chemicals and wastes in our research and development and manufacturing activities. Any failure by us to control the use of, or to restrict adequately the discharge of, hazardous substances could subject us to potentially significant monetary damages and fines or suspensions in our business operations. In addition, if more stringent laws and regulations are adopted in the future, the costs of compliance with these new laws and regulations could be substantial. To date such laws and regulations have not had a significant impact on SunPower’s or our PowerLight business’ operations, and we believe that we have all necessary permits to conduct their respective operations as they are presently conducted. If we fail to comply with present or future environmental laws and regulations, however, we may be required to pay substantial fines, suspend production or cease operations. Under SunPower’s separation agreement with Cypress, SunPower will indemnify Cypress from any environmental liabilities associated with SunPower’s operations and facilities in San Jose, California and the Philippines.

We maintain self-insurance for certain indemnities we have made to our officers and directors.

Our certificate of incorporation, by-laws and indemnification agreements require us to indemnify our officers and directors for certain liabilities that may arise in the course of their service to us. We self-insure with respect to potential indemnifiable claims. Although we have insured our officers and directors against certain potential third-party claims for which we are legally or financially unable to indemnify them, we intend to self-insure with respect to potential third-party claims which give rise to direct liability to such third-party or an

 

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indemnification duty on our part. If we were required to pay a significant amount on account of these liabilities for which we self-insure, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be seriously harmed.

Changes to financial accounting standards may affect our results of operations and cause it to change our business practices.

We prepare our financial statements to conform with U.S. GAAP. These accounting principles are subject to interpretation by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the SEC and various bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate accounting policies. A change in those policies can have a significant effect on our reported results and may affect our reporting of transactions completed before a change is announced. Changes to those rules or the questioning of current practices may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conducts our business. For example, accounting policies affecting many aspects of our business, including rules relating to employee stock option grants, have recently been revised. The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, and other agencies have made changes to U.S. GAAP, that required U.S. companies, starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, to record a charge to earnings for employee stock option grants and other equity incentives. We may have significant and ongoing accounting charges resulting from option grant and other equity awards that could reduce our net income or increase

 

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our net loss. In addition, since SunPower and PowerLight historically used equity-related compensation as a component of their total employee compensation program, the accounting change could make the use of equity-related compensation less attractive to us and therefore make it more difficult to attract and retain employees.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.

Beginning in connection with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require us to evaluate and report on our internal controls over financial reporting and have our independent registered public accounting firm annually attest to our evaluation, as well as issue its own opinion on our internal control over financial reporting. Because we have not been subject to these requirements before, we and our independent accountants have not reviewed our internal controls for purposes of Section 404 in the past, and are now in the process of doing so for the first time. Although Cypress completed its Section 404 compliance for its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, the review of our internal controls as part of this process was limited in scope and you should not conclude from this Cypress process that our internal controls were adequate to the extent required of an independent public company at that time. We have in the past discovered, and may in the future discover, areas of our internal controls that need improvement. We are preparing for compliance with Section 404 by strengthening, assessing and testing our system of internal controls to provide the basis for our report. However, the continuous process of strengthening our internal controls and complying with Section 404 is expensive and time consuming, and requires significant management attention. We cannot be certain that these measures will ensure that we will maintain adequate control over our financial processes and reporting, or that we or our independent registered public accounting firm will be able to provide the attestation and opinion required in connection with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. If we or our independent registered public accounting firm discover a material weakness, the disclosure of that fact, even if quickly remedied, could reduce the market’s confidence in our financial statements and harm our stock price. In addition, future non-compliance with Section 404 could subject us to a variety of administrative sanctions, including the suspension or delisting of our common stock from The NASDAQ Global Market and the inability of registered broker-dealers to make a market in our common stock, which would further reduce our stock price.

Our efforts to establish an effective, unified system of internal control over financial reporting could present challenges.

PowerLight has not been required to prepare a report on the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting because it was not subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In August 2006, PowerLight’s audit committee received a letter from its independent auditors identifying certain material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting relating to its audits for 2005, 2004 and 2003. In addition, PowerLight had to restate its 2004 and 2003 financial statements to correct previously reported amounts primarily related to its contract revenue, contract costs, accrued warranty, California state sales tax accrual and inventory items. If material weaknesses in the PowerLight business’ internal controls over financial reporting persist or if new deficiencies are identified, we may be unable to accurately and timely report our financial results.

We have been responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures as defined in the Exchange Act Rules. We will be required to report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for the first time in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, although our report on our internal controls over financial reporting will not include an assessment of PowerLight’s internal controls until our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (the first fiscal year to end after the date of the Merger), unanticipated factors may hinder the effectiveness or delay the integration of SunPower’s and PowerLight’s control

 

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systems. We cannot predict whether we will be able to establish an effective, unified system of internal controls over financial reporting.

We face competition in the market for our imaging detectors and infrared detectors, and if we fail to compete effectively, we will lose or fail to gain market share.

We compete with companies such as Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. and UDT Sensors, Inc. in the market for high performance imaging detectors. In addition we compete with companies such as Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Rohm Co., Ltd. and Agilent Technologies, Inc. in the market for infrared detectors. We may face competition in the future from other manufacturers of high performance imaging detectors, infrared detectors or alternative devices. The use of alternative devices, including low power, high data rate wireless protocols, may replace existing detectors and limit our market opportunity. Our current and future competitors may have longer operating histories, greater name recognition and greater financial, sales and marketing, technical and other resources than us or may develop technologies superior to those incorporated in our imaging detectors and infrared detectors. If we fail to compete successfully, we may be unable to expand our customer base for our imaging detectors and our business would suffer.

Because of the lengthy sales cycles for our imaging detectors and the relatively fixed nature of a significant portion of our expenses, we may incur substantial expenses before we earn associated revenue and may not ultimately achieve our forecasted sales for our imaging detectors.

Our sales cycles from design to manufacture of our imaging detectors can typically take 12 to 18 months. Sales cycles for our imaging detectors are lengthy for a number of reasons, including:

 

    our customers usually complete an in-depth technical evaluation of our imaging detectors before they place a purchase order;

 

    the commercial adoption of our imaging detectors is typically limited during the initial release of their products to evaluate performance and consumer demand;

 

    failure to deliver a product in a timely manner can seriously delay or cancel introduction; and

 

    the development and commercial introduction of products incorporating complex technology frequently are delayed or canceled.

As a result of our lengthy sales cycles, we may incur substantial expenses before we earn associated revenue because a significant portion of our operating expenses is relatively fixed and based on expected revenue. If customer cancellations or product changes occur, this could result in the loss of anticipated sales without allowing us sufficient time to reduce our operating expenses.

Risks Related to Our Relationship with Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

As long as Cypress controls us, the ability of our other stockholders to influence matters requiring stockholder approval will be limited.

As of September 30, 2006, Cypress owned all 52,033,287 shares of outstanding SunPower class B common stock, representing approximately 75% of the total outstanding shares of SunPower common stock, or approximately 70% of such shares on a fully diluted basis after taking into account outstanding options, and 96% of the voting power of SunPower’s outstanding capital stock. After giving effect to the Merger, Cypress’s holdings represent approximately 70.6% of the total outstanding shares of SunPower common stock, or approximately 64.5% of such shares on a fully diluted basis after taking into account outstanding options, and 95.0% of the voting power of SunPower’s outstanding capital stock. The holders of class A common stock and class B common stock have substantially similar rights, preferences and privileges except with respect to voting and conversion rights and other protective provisions. Holders of class B common stock are entitled to eight votes per share of class B common stock, and the holders of class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share of class A common stock. If Cypress transfers shares of class B common stock to any party other than a successor in interest or a subsidiary of Cypress prior to a tax-free distribution to its stockholders, those shares would automatically convert into shares of class A common stock. Other than through such transfers or voluntary conversions by Cypress of shares of class B common stock into shares of class A common stock, only at such time, if at all, that Cypress, its successors in interest (not including its stockholders following a dissolution) and its subsidiaries collectively own less than 40% of the shares of all classes of our common stock then outstanding will all shares of class B common stock automatically convert into shares of our class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. Until such time, by virtue of the voting power afforded the shares of class B common stock, Cypress will be able to effectively elect all of the members of our board of directors.

In addition, until such time as Cypress, its successors in interest and its subsidiaries collectively own less than 40% of the shares of all classes of our common stock then outstanding and Cypress is no longer consolidating us for accounting purposes, Cypress will have the ability to take

 

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stockholder action without the vote of any other stockholder and, by virtue of the voting power afforded the shares of class B common stock, investors will not be able to affect the outcome of any stockholder vote during this period. As a result, Cypress will have the ability to control all matters affecting us, including:

 

    the composition of our board of directors and, through the board of directors, any determination with respect to the Combined Company’s business plans and policies, including the appointment and removal of officers;

 

    any determinations with respect to mergers and other business combinations;

 

    our acquisition or disposition of assets;

 

    our financing activities;

 

    changes to the agreements providing for our separation from Cypress;

 

    the allocation of business opportunities that may be suitable for us;

 

    the payment of dividends on the class A common stock; and

 

    the number of shares available for issuance under our stock plans.

Cypress’s voting control may discourage transactions involving a change of control of SunPower, including transactions in which holders of class A common stock might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the then current market price. Except for a limited time in connection with the Merger, Cypress is not prohibited from selling a controlling interest in us to a third party and may do so without approval of holders of class A common stock and without providing for a purchase of class A common stock. Accordingly, shares of class A common stock may be worth less than they would be if Cypress did not maintain voting control over us.

Our ability to continue to manufacture our imaging detectors and our solar cells in our current facilities with our current and planned manufacturing capacities, and therefore to maintain and increase revenue and achieve profitability, depends to a large extent upon the continued success of our relationship with Cypress.

Our imaging detectors are manufactured for us by Cypress and are processed and tested in our San Jose, California facility. We do not have a long-term fixed-price agreement with Cypress for the manufacturing of our imaging detectors, but instead operate on a purchase order basis. The processes for manufacturing our imaging detectors are highly complex, specialized and proprietary. If Cypress is unable to continue manufacturing our imaging detectors for us, our manufacturing output would be interrupted and delayed, and we would incur increased expenses in establishing relationships with alternative manufacturers at market prices. We may not be able to find alternative manufacturers on terms acceptable to us, and we may be unable to establish our own operations in a timely or cost-effective manner, if at all.

We manufacture our solar cells in our Philippines manufacturing facility which we lease from Cypress. We are in the process of expanding existing facilities for solar and panel assembly. If we are unable to expand in our current facility or are required to move our manufacturing facility, we would incur significant expenses as well as lost sales. Furthermore, we may not be able to locate a facility that meets our needs on terms acceptable to us. Any of these circumstances would increase our expenses and decrease our total revenue and could prevent us from sustaining profitability.

Our historical financial information as a business segment of Cypress prior to our initial public offering may not be representative of our results as an independent public company.

The historical financial information we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus does not necessarily reflect what our financial position, results of operations or cash flows would have been had we been an

 

43


independent entity during the historical periods presented prior to our initial public offering. The historical costs and expenses reflected in our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements include an allocation for certain corporate functions historically provided by Cypress prior to our initial public offering, including centralized legal, tax, treasury, information technology, employee benefits and other Cypress corporate services and infrastructure costs. These expense allocations were based on what we and Cypress considered reasonable reflections of the utilization of services provided or the benefit received by us. The historical financial information prior to our initial public offering is not necessarily indicative of what our results of operations, financial position, cash flows or costs and expenses will be in the future. We have not made adjustments to such historical financial information to reflect many significant changes that occurred or may yet occur in our cost structure, funding and operations as a result of our separation from Cypress, including changes in our employee base, changes in our tax structure, potential increased costs associated with reduced economies of scale and increased costs associated with being a publicly traded, stand-alone company.

Our ability to operate our business effectively may suffer if we are unable to cost-effectively establish our own administrative and other support functions in order to operate as a stand-alone company after the expiration of our services agreements with Cypress.

As a subsidiary of Cypress, we have relied on administrative and other resources of Cypress to operate our business. In connection with our initial public offering, we entered into various service agreements to retain the ability for specified periods to use these Cypress resources. These agreements will expire upon the earlier or November 2009 or a change of control of our Company. We need to create our own administrative and other support systems or contract with third parties to replace Cypress’ systems. In addition, we recently established disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting as part of our becoming a separate public company in November 2005. These services may not be provided at the same level as when we were a wholly owned subsidiary of Cypress, and we may not be able to obtain the same benefits that we received prior to the separation. These services may not be sufficient to meet our needs, and after our agreements with Cypress expire, we may not be able to replace these services at all or obtain these services at prices and on terms as favorable as we currently have with Cypress. Any failure or significant downtime in our own administrative systems or in Cypress’ administrative systems during the transitional period could result in unexpected costs, impact our results and/or prevent us from paying our suppliers or employees and performing other administrative services on a timely basis.

We may experience increased costs resulting from a decrease in our purchasing power and we may have difficulty obtaining new customers due to our relatively small size after our separation from Cypress.

Historically, we were able to take advantage of Cypress’ size and purchasing power in procuring goods, technology and services, including insurance, employee benefit support and audit services. We are a smaller company than Cypress, and we cannot assure you that we will have access to financial and other resources comparable to those available to us prior to our separation from Cypress. These risks would be come more pronounced if Cypress were to cease to own a majority of our stock. As an independent company, we may be unable to obtain goods, technology and services at prices or on terms as favorable as those available to us prior to our separation from Cypress, which could increase our costs and reduce our profitability. In addition, as a smaller, separate, stand-alone company, we may encounter more customer concerns about our viability as a separate entity, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our future success depends on our ability to maintain our current relationships with existing customers, and we may have difficulty attracting new customers.

Our agreements with Cypress require us to indemnify Cypress for certain tax liabilities. These indemnification obligations may limit our ability to obtain additional financing or participate in future acquisitions for up to two years.

We have entered into a tax sharing agreement with Cypress, under which we and Cypress agree to indemnify one another for certain taxes and similar obligations that the other party could incur under certain circumstances. In general, we will be responsible for taxes relating to our business. Furthermore, we may be held jointly and severally liable for taxes determined on a consolidated basis even though Cypress is required to

 

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indemnify us for its taxes pursuant to the tax sharing agreement. After the date we cease to be a member of Cypress’ consolidated group for federal income tax purposes or state income tax purposes, as and to the extent that we become entitled to utilize on our separate tax returns portions of those credit or loss carryforwards existing as of such date, we will distribute to Cypress the tax effect (estimated to be 34% for federal income tax purposes) of the amount of such tax loss carryforwards so utilized and the amount of any credit carryforwards so utilized. We will distribute these amounts to Cypress in cash or in our shares, at our option. Upon completion of our follow-on public offering of class A common stock in June 2006, we were no longer considered to be a member of Cypress’ consolidated group for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, we will be subject to the obligations payable to Cypress for any federal income tax credit or loss carryforwards utilized in its federal tax returns. As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately $36.5 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards and approximately $4.8 million of California net operating loss carryforwards, meaning that such potential future payments to Cypress, which would be made over a period of several years, would therefore aggregate approximately $15.0 million.

If Cypress distributes our class B common stock to Cypress stockholders in a transaction intended to qualify as a tax-free distribution under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the Code, Cypress intends to obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that such distribution qualifies under Section 355 of the Code. Despite such an opinion, however, the distribution may nonetheless be taxable to Cypress under Section 355(e) of the Code if 50% or more of our voting power or economic value is acquired as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution of our stock. The tax sharing agreement includes our obligation to indemnify Cypress for any liability incurred as a result of issuances or dispositions of our stock after the distribution, other than liability attributable solely to certain dispositions of our stock by Cypress, that cause Cypress’ distribution of shares of our stock to its stockholders to be taxable to Cypress under Section 355(e) of the Code. Under current law, following a distribution by Cypress and for up to two years thereafter, our obligation to indemnify Cypress will be triggered only if we issue stock or otherwise participate in one or more transactions other than the distribution in which 50% or more of our voting power or economic value is acquired in financing or acquisition transactions that are part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution. If such an indemnification obligation is triggered, the extent of our liability to Cypress will generally equal the product of (a) Cypress’ top marginal federal and state income tax rate for the year of the distribution, and (b) the difference between the fair market value of our class B common stock distributed to Cypress stockholders and Cypress’ tax basis in such stock as determined on the date of the distribution. Our ability to use our equity to obtain additional financing or to engage in acquisition transactions for a period of time after a distribution will be restricted if we can only sell or issue a limited amount of our stock before triggering our obligation to indemnify Cypress for taxes it incurs under Section 355(e) of the Code.

For example, under the current tax rules, if Cypress were to make a complete distribution of its class B common stock and our total outstanding capital stock at the time of such distribution was 69,000,000 shares, unless we qualified for one of several safe harbor exemptions available under the Treasury Regulations, in order to avoid our indemnification obligation to Cypress, we could not, for up two years from the date of Cypress’ distribution, issue 69,000,000 or more shares of class A common stock, nor could we participate in one or more transactions (excluding the distribution itself) in which 34,500,000 or more shares of our then existing class A common stock were to be acquired in connection with a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution. In addition, these limits could be lower depending on certain actions that we or Cypress might take before or after a distribution. If we were to participate in such a transaction, assuming Cypress distributed 52,000,000 shares, Cypress’ top marginal income tax rate is 40% for federal and state income tax purposes, the fair market value of our class B common stock is $32.00 per share and Cypress’ tax basis in such stock is $5.00 per share on the date of their distribution, then our liability under our indemnification obligation to Cypress would be approximately $562.0 million.

Third parties may seek to hold us responsible for liabilities of Cypress.

Third parties may seek to hold us responsible for Cypress’ liabilities. Under our separation agreements with Cypress, Cypress will indemnify us for claims and losses relating to liabilities related to Cypress’ business and not related to our business. However, if those liabilities are significant and we are ultimately held liable for them, we cannot assure you that we will be able to recover the full amount of our losses from Cypress.

 

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Our inability to resolve any disputes that arise between us and Cypress with respect to our past and ongoing relationships may result in a significant reduction of our revenue.

Disputes may arise between Cypress and us in a number of areas relating to our past and ongoing relationships, including:

 

    labor, tax, employee benefit, indemnification and other matters arising from our separation from Cypress;

 

    the cost of wafers for our imaging detectors;

 

    employee retention and recruiting;

 

    business combinations involving us;

 

    pricing for transitional services;

 

    sales or distributions by Cypress of all or any portion of its ownership interest in us;

 

    the nature, quality and pricing of services Cypress has agreed to provide us; and

 

    business opportunities that may be attractive to both Cypress and us.

We may not be able to resolve any potential conflicts, and even if we do, the resolution may be less favorable than if we were dealing with an unaffiliated party.

The agreements we entered into with Cypress may be amended upon agreement between the parties. While we are controlled by Cypress, we may not have the leverage to negotiate amendments to these agreements if required on terms as favorable to us as those we would negotiate with an unaffiliated third party.

Some of our directors and executive officers may have conflicts of interest because of their ownership of Cypress common stock, options to acquire Cypress common stock and positions with Cypress.

Some of our directors and executive officers own Cypress common stock and options to purchase Cypress common stock. In addition, some of our directors are executive officers and/or directors of Cypress. Ownership of Cypress common stock and options to purchase Cypress common stock by our directors and officers and the presence of executive officers or directors of Cypress on our board of directors could create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving both us and Cypress. For example, corporate opportunities may arise that concern both of our businesses, such as the potential acquisition of a particular business or technology that is complementary to both of our businesses. In these situations, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that directors and officers who are also directors or officers of Cypress have no duty to communicate or present such corporate opportunity to us unless it is specifically applicable to the solar energy business and not applicable to or reasonably related to any business conducted by Cypress, have the right to deal with such corporate opportunity in their sole discretion and shall not be liable to us or our stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that such director or officer pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself or for Cypress. In addition, we have not established at this time any procedural mechanisms to address actual or perceived conflicts of interest of these directors and officers and expect that our board of directors, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, will determine how to address any actual or perceived conflicts of interest on a case-by-case basis. If any corporate opportunity arises and if our directors and officers do not pursue it on our behalf pursuant to the provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we may not become aware of, and may potentially lose, a significant business opportunity.

 

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Because Cypress is not obligated to distribute to its stockholders or otherwise dispose of our common stock that it owns, we will continue to be subject to the risks described above relating to Cypress’ control of us if Cypress does not complete such a transaction.

Cypress is not obligated to distribute to its stockholders or otherwise dispose of the shares of our class B common stock that it beneficially owns, although it might elect to do so in the future. Cypress announced on October 6, 2006 and reiterated on October 19, 2006 that it was exploring ways in which to allow its stockholders to fully realize the value its investment in us. Moreover, completion of any such transaction could be contingent upon, among other things, the receipt of a favorable tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and/or a favorable opinion of Cypress’ tax advisor as to the tax-free nature of such a transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Unless and until such a distribution occurs or Cypress otherwise disposes of shares so that it, its successors in interest and its subsidiaries collectively own less than 40% of the shares of all classes of our common stock then outstanding, we will continue to face the risks described above relating to Cypress’ control of us and potential conflicts of interest between Cypress and us. We may be unable to realize potential benefits that could result from such a distribution by Cypress, such as greater strategic focus, greater access to capital markets, better incentives for employees and more accountable management, although we cannot guarantee that we would realize any of these potential benefits if such a distribution did occur. In addition, speculation by the press, investment community, our customers, our competitors or others regarding whether Cypress intends to complete such a distribution or otherwise dispose of its controlling interest in us could harm our business or lead to volatility in our stock price.

So long as Cypress continues to hold a controlling interest in us or is otherwise a significant stockholder, the liquidity and market price of our class A common stock may be adversely impacted. In addition, there can be no assurance that Cypress will distribute or otherwise dispose of any of its shares of our class B common stock.

Cypress’ ability to replace our board of directors may make it difficult for us to recruit independent directors.

Cypress may at any time replace our entire board of directors. Furthermore, some actions of our board of directors require the approval of 75% of our directors except to the extent this condition is waived by Cypress. As a result, unless and until Cypress, its successors in interest and its subsidiaries collectively own less than 40% of the shares of all classes of our common stock then outstanding and Cypress is no longer consolidating us for accounting purposes, Cypress could exercise significant control over our board of directors. As such, individuals who might otherwise accept a board position at SunPower may decline to serve, and Cypress may be able to control important decisions made by our Board of Directors.

Risks Related to Our Class A Common Stock

Our stock price is volatile, and a liquid trading market for our class A common stock may not be sustained.

Our class A common stock has a limited trading history in a public market. The trading price of our class A common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations due to the factors discussed in this risk factors section and elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition, the stock market in general and The NASDAQ Global Market and technology companies in particular have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These trading prices and valuations, including our own market valuation and those of companies in our industry generally, may not be sustainable. These broad market and industry factors may decrease the market price of our class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

Substantial future sales or other dispositions of our class A common stock or other securities could cause our stock price to fall.

Sales of our class A common stock in the public market or sales of any of our other securities, or the perception that such sales could occur, could cause the market price of our class A common stock to decline. As of January 19, 2007, SunPower had 21,797,457 shares of class A common stock outstanding, and Cypress owned the 52,033,287 outstanding shares of SunPower’s class B common stock, representing approximately 70.6% of the total outstanding shares of SunPower’s common stock. Cypress may convert these shares into class A common stock at any time. Cypress has no contractual obligation to retain its shares of class A common stock. Subject to applicable United States federal and state securities laws, Cypress may sell or distribute to its stockholders any or all of the shares of class A common stock that it owns, which may or may not include the sale of a controlling interest in us.

We filed a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering 6,332,549 shares of SunPower class A common stock issuable under outstanding options under SunPower’s 1988 Incentive Stock Plan, under SunPower’s 1996 Stock Plan and under non-plan options granted to employees and consultants and 356,839 shares reserved for future issuance as of September 30, 2006 under SunPower’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. We also expect to file a registration statement relating to the resale of up to 4,106,884 shares of class A common stock held by holders of former PowerLight shares. These shares will, upon the effectiveness of that registration statement, be available for sale in the open market, although approximately 2.3 million of such shares are expected to be, upon the effectiveness of that registration statement, held in escrow as security for indemnification obligations or are subject to other restrictions on transfer, all of which restrictions will lapse from time to time beginning after the effective date of the registration statement. Sales of shares held by PowerLight’s affiliates (now affiliates of SunPower) will be subject to customary sales restrictions. In addition, we expect to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering 1,601,939 shares of SunPower class A common stock issuable pursuant to options, some of which are subject to vesting, assumed pursuant to the Merger.

If Cypress elects to convert its shares of class B common stock into shares of class A common stock, an additional 52,033,287 shares of class A common stock will be available for sale, subject to customary sales restrictions. In addition, except for a limited time in connection with the Merger, Cypress has the right to cause us to register the sale of its shares of class A common stock under the Securities Act. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares, other than shares purchased by our affiliates, becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act.

If Cypress distributes to its stockholders shares of class A common stock that it owns, substantially all of these shares would be eligible for immediate resale in the public market. We are unable to predict whether significant amounts of class A common stock would be sold in the open market in anticipation of, or after, any such distribution. We also are unable to predict whether a sufficient number of buyers for shares of our class A common stock would be in the market at that time.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our class A common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us, our business or our market. We have only been a public company since our initial public offering

 

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in November 2005, and accordingly our stock is covered by fewer securities analysts than that of more mature public companies. If one or more of the analysts who cover us change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

The difference in the voting rights of our class A and our class B common stock may harm the value and liquidity of our class A common stock.

The rights of the holders of class A and class B common stock are substantially similar, except with respect to voting, conversion and other protective provisions. The holders of class B common stock are entitled to eight votes per share and the holders of our class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. The difference in the voting rights of our class A and class B common stock both before and after any distribution of our class B common stock by Cypress to its stockholders could harm the value of the class A common stock to the extent that any investor or potential future purchaser of our common stock ascribes value to the right of the holders of our class B common stock to eight votes per share. The existence of two classes of common stock could result in less liquidity for either class of common stock than if there were only one class of our common stock.

Delaware law and our corporate charter and bylaws contain anti-takeover provisions that could delay or discourage takeover attempts that stockholders may consider favorable.

Provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. These provisions include the following:

 

    the right of the board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors;

 

    the prohibition of cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow less than a majority of stockholders to elect director candidates;

 

    the requirement for advance notice for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting;

 

    the ability of the board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, up to 10,042,490 shares of preferred stock with terms set by the board of directors, which rights could be senior to those of common stock; and

 

    in the event that Cypress, its successors in interest and its subsidiaries no longer collectively own shares of our common stock equal to at least 40% of the shares of all classes of our common stock then outstanding and Cypress is no longer consolidating us for accounting purposes:

 

    our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors, with the classes to be as nearly equal in number as possible;

 

    no action can be taken by stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with our bylaws, and stockholders may not act by written consent;

 

    stockholders may not call special meetings of the stockholders; and

 

    our board of directors will be able to alter our bylaws without obtaining stockholder approval.

Until such time as Cypress, its successor in interest and its subsidiaries collectively own less than 40% of the shares of all classes of our common stock then outstanding and Cypress is no longer consolidating us for accounting purposes, and unless Cypress waives this requirement, the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the then-

 

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authorized number of members of our board of directors will be required to: (a) adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws or certificate of incorporation; (b) appoint or remove our chief executive officer; (c) designate, appoint or allow for the nomination or recommendation for election by our stockholders of an individual to our board of directors; (d) change the size of our board of directors to be other than five members; (e) form a committee of our board of directors or establish or change a charter, committee responsibilities or committee membership of any committee of our board of directors; (f) adopt any stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” or other similar arrangement; or (g) approve any transactions that would involve a merger, consolidation, restructuring, sale of substantially all of our assets or any of our subsidiaries or otherwise result in any person or entity obtaining control of us or any of our subsidiaries. Cypress may at any time in its sole discretion waive this requirement to obtain such a supermajority vote of our board of directors.

In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. These provisions may prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with us. These provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws and under Delaware law could discourage potential takeover attempts and could reduce the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of our common stock in the future and result in the market price being lower than they would without these provisions.

We incur substantial compliance costs as a public company.

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and The NASDAQ Global Market, have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. We expect these new rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs in 2007 and beyond, and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly. We also expect these new rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance in the future and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers.

 

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

Certain information as of January 1, 2007 regarding each of our executive officers is set forth below:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Thomas H. Werner

   45    Chief Executive Officer

Peter Aschenbrenner

   50    Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Emmanuel T. Hernandez

   50    Chief Financial Officer

PM Pai

   57    Chief Operating Officer

Richard Swanson

   60    President and Chief Technical Officer

In connection with the completion of the Merger, the Board appointed Mr. Dinwoodie as Chief Executive Officer of the PowerLight business, Mr. Wenger as Executive Vice President, Sales of the Company and Mr. Ledesma as General Counsel of the Company and appointed Peter Aschenbrenner as Vice President, Marketing of the Company. In light of the change in Mr. Aschenbrenner’s responsibilities, the Board determined that he would no longer be an executive officer of SunPower. The Board determined that the roles and responsibilities of each of the other three officers warranted designation as an executive officer.

Therefore, certain information as of January 11, 2007, regarding each of our executive officers is set forth below:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Thomas H. Werner

   45    Chief Executive Officer

Thomas L. Dinwoodie

   51    Chief Executive Officer, PowerLight

Emmanuel T. Hernandez

   50    Chief Financial Officer

Bruce R. Ledesma

   37    General Counsel

PM Pai

   57    Chief Operating Officer

Richard Swanson

   60    President and Chief Technical Officer

Howard J. Wenger

   47    Vice President, Global Business Units

Thomas H. Werner has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since June 2003. Prior to joining SunPower Corporation, Mr. Werner served as chief executive officer of Silicon Light Machines, Inc., an optical solutions subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Werner was vice president and general manager of the Business Connectivity Group of 3Com Corp., a network solutions company. Mr. Werner currently serves as a board member of Exar Corp., Three-Five Systems, Inc. and Silicon Light Machines.

Peter Aschenbrenner has served as our Vice President of Sales and Marketing since June 2003. Mr. Aschenbrenner has 25 years of solar industry experience, including management positions at AstroPower, Inc., Siemens Solar, PV Electric GmbH, and ARCO Solar. In connection with the closing of the Merger with PowerLight on January 11, 2007, the Board appointed Mr. Wenger as Executive Vice President, Sales of the Company and appointed Peter Aschenbrenner as Vice President, Marketing of the Company. In light of the change in Mr. Aschenbrenner’s responsibilities, the Board determined that he would no longer be an executive officer of SunPower. From April 1994 through March 2003, Mr. Aschenbrenner served as senior vice President of Global Operations at AstroPower, Inc., a solar product manufacturing company that filed for bankruptcy in February 2004 and was acquired by the General Electric Corporation. By letter dated December 12, 2006, the SEC enforcement staff notified Peter Aschenbrenner (in what is commonly referred to as a “Wells Notice”) that it intended to recommend that the SEC take legal action against him. The Wells Notice alleges that Mr. Aschenbrenner played a role in AstroPower, Inc.’s allegedly improper recognition of revenue and that Mr. Aschenbrenner committed insider trading. Under the SEC’s rules Mr. Aschenbrenner is permitted to make a submission to the staff in which he seeks to persuade the SEC that no such action should be commenced. Mr. Aschenbrenner reports that he has obtained an extension of time to file his response, and that it is now due on February 8, 2007. The transactions at issue in the Wells Notice predate Mr. Aschenbrenner’s tenure with the Company, and the SEC’s inquiry is not directed at, and does not concern, the Company or any other member of the Board or management.

 

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Thomas L. Dinwoodie founded PowerLight and serves as Chief Executive Officer, PowerLight, a position he held, along with Chief Technical Officer and Chairman of the Board, since its incorporation in 1995. Mr. Dinwoodie currently directs overall operations of PowerLight. Prior to founding PowerLight, Mr. Dinwoodie was active for nearly two decades in energy technology, policy and new product development. He has authored many papers, and invented numerous patented PV and related products. Mr. Dinwoodie has a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.A. in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley.

Emmanuel T. Hernandez was named executive officer in 2005. Mr. Hernandez joined SunPower Corporation as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2005. Prior to joining SunPower Corporation, Mr. Hernandez served more than eleven years as the Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at our parent company, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. Mr. Hernandez currently serves as a member of the board of directors of ON Semiconductor and Integration Associates.

PM Pai was named executive officer in 2005. Mr. Pai joined SunPower Corporation in March 2005 and serves as our Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining SunPower, Mr. Pai served for four years as the President of Moser Baer India Ltd., a recordable optical media company, from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Pai served as an Executive Director of Xerox India from 1984 to 2001.

Bruce R. Ledesma serves as our General Counsel and previously served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PowerLight. Mr. Ledesma joined PowerLight in April 2005 and was responsible for the leadership and oversight of all legal and regulatory compliance matters globally. As a member of the executive team, he also co-managed PowerLight’s business strategies, operations and corporate policies. Prior to joining PowerLight, Mr. Ledesma served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Barra, Inc., a publicly traded financial risk management company, from 2002 to 2004. Prior to becoming General Counsel, from 2000 to 2002, he ran the Barra Ventures unit in a business capacity and led the company’s efforts in strategic partnerships, alliances, and all merger and acquisition activities, and was the associate general counsel from 1998 to 2000. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Ledesma practiced as a corporate and securities attorney for the global law firm Latham & Watkins LLP, where he represented private and public companies involved in domestic and international transactions, as well as public and private debt and equity securities offerings. Mr. Ledesma holds a B.A. in economics from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Dr. Swanson co-founded SunPower Corporation in 1985. He has served as executive officer since 2003 by virtue of his position as President and Chief Technology Officer since 2003. Prior to his current position, Dr. Swanson served as Chief Executive Officer and President from 1991 to 2003 and our Vice President and Director of Technology from 1990 to 1991. From 1976 to 1991, Dr. Swanson served as a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University.

Howard J. Wenger serves as our Vice President, Global Business Units, and previously served as Executive Vice President and a Director of PowerLight, where he shared corporate operating responsibility, overseeing its Global Business Units, and its corporate marketing and regulatory affairs departments. Mr. Wenger has over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields. From April 1998 to May 2003 he was Vice President, North American Business of AstroPower Inc. AstroPower filed for bankruptcy in February 2004 and was acquired by the General Electric Corporation. During 1989-1998 Mr. Wenger co-founded and managed Pacific Energy Group a leading solar power consulting firm and worked for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”) in both research and strategic planning. During his career, Mr. Wenger has authored many papers, and developed software programs and tools addressing various aspects of the energy business. Mr. Wenger has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Geography, both from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.S. in Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of SunPower’s Common Stock as of January 23, 2007 by:

 

    each of our directors;

 

    our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer and each of the three other most highly compensated individuals who served as our executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2006 (the “Named Executive Officers”);

 

    the three individuals who became executive officers of our Company upon the closing of the PowerLight acquisition (together with the Named Executive Officers, the “Executive Officers Group.”)

 

    the Executive Officer Group and all individuals who served as directors as of January 23, 2007 as a group; and

 

    each person (including any “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our class A common stock.

Applicable beneficial ownership is based on 21,691,258 shares of class A common stock and 52,033,287 shares of class B common stock outstanding as of January 23, 2007.

 

     Shares Beneficially Owned (1)
     Class A
Common Stock
   Class B
Common Stock
  

% Total

Voting

Power(2)

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Shares    %    Shares    %   

Directors

              

W. Steve Albrecht(3)

   7,902    *    0    *    *

Betsy S. Atkins(4)

   4,201    *    0    *    *

T.J. Rodgers(5)

   10,000    *    52,033,287    100    95.0

Thomas H. Werner(6)

   652,340    2.9    0    *    *

Pat Wood III(7)

   12,902    *    0    *    *

Named Executive Officers

              

Peter Aschenbrenner(8)

   140,521    *    0    *    *

Thomas L. Dinnwoodie(9)

   2,291,285    10.6    0    *    *

Emmanuel T. Hernandez(10)

   396,622    1.8    0    *    *

Bruce R. Ledesma(11)

   61,739    *    0    *    *

P.M. Pai(12)

   131,335    *    0    *    *

Richard Swanson(13)

   100,564    *    0    *    *

Howard J. Wenger(14)

   179,042    *    0    *    *

Executive Officer Group and Directors (12 persons)(15)

   3,988,453    17.1    52,033,287    100    96.0

5% Common Stockholders

              

Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

   0    *    52,033,287    100    95.0

Merrill Lynch & Co.(16)

   1,287,045    5.9    0    *    *

BCG, Inc.; BAMCO; BCM, BSC; and Ronald Baron(17)

   1,951,008    9.0    0    *    *

BlackRock, Inc., BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Investment Management LLC, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Ltd, BlackRock Investment Management UK Ltd(18)

   2,285,645    10.5    0    *    *

Janus Capital Management LLC, Janus Overseas Fund(19)

   1,794,660    8.3    0    *    *

* Less than 1%.

 

(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares underlying options held by that person that will be exercisable within 60 days of January 1, 2007, are deemed to be outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

(2) Percentage total voting power represents voting power with respect to all shares of SunPower’s Common Stock, voting as a single class. Each holder of class B common stock is entitled to eight votes per share of class B common stock and each holder of class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share of class A common stock on all matters to be submitted to stockholders for vote. The class A and class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, except as otherwise may be required by law. The class B common stock is convertible at any time by the holder into shares of class A common stock on a one for one basis.

 

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(3) Includes 1,000 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Albrecht and options to purchase an aggregate of 5,902 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007. Also includes 1,000 shares of restricted stock.

 

(4) Includes 500 shares of class A common stock held directly by Ms. Atkins and options to purchase an aggregate of 2,701 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007. Also includes 1,000 shares of restricted stock.

 

(5) Includes 5,000 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Rodgers and 5,000 shares of restricted stock. Also includes 52,033,287 shares of class B common stock held by Cypress. Mr. Rogers is the chief executive officer of Cypress.

 

(6) Includes 10,000 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Werner and options to purchase an aggregate of 642,340 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007.

 

(7) Includes 1,000 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Wood and options to purchase an aggregate of 10,902 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007. Also includes 1,000 shares of restricted stock.

 

(8) Includes 42,000 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Aschenbrenner and options to purchase an aggregate of 98,521 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007.

 

(9) Includes 2,291,285 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Dinwoodie, half of which are subject to an equity restriction agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the shares are subject to certain transfer and repurchase restrictions. The restrictions lapse on one quarter of the shares semi-annually during the two-year restriction period, so long as Mr. Dinwoodie remains employed by SunPower.

 

(10) Represents options held by Mr. Hernandez to purchase an aggregate of 396,622 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007.

 

(11) Includes no shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Ledesma and options to purchase an aggregate of 61,739 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007, half of which are subject to an equity restriction agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the shares are subject to certain transfer and repurchase restrictions. The restrictions lapse on one quarter of the shares semi-annually during the two-year restriction period, so long as Mr. Ledesma remains employed by SunPower.

 

(12) Represents options held by Mr. Pai to purchase an aggregate of 131,335 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007.

 

(13) Includes 15,000 shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Swanson and options to purchase an aggregate of 85,564 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007.

 

(14) Includes no shares of class A common stock held directly by Mr. Wenger and options to purchase an aggregate of 179,042 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007, half of which are subject to an equity restriction agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the shares are subject to certain transfer and repurchase restrictions. The restrictions lapse on one quarter of the shares semi-annually during the two-year restriction period, so long as Mr. Wenger remains employed by SunPower.

 

(15) Includes 2,373,785 shares of class A common stock held directly by the Executive Officer Group and directors and options to purchase an aggregate of 1,614,668 shares of class A common stock exercisable within 60 days of January 23, 2007. Also includes 52,033,287 shares of class B common stock held by Cypress, of which Mr. Rogers is the chief executive officer.

 

(16) The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on July 10, 2006 by Merrill Lynch & Co. which indicated that Merrill Lynch has beneficial ownership of 1,287,045 shares of class A common stock, with shared dispositive and voting power with respect to said shares.

 

(17) The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on or about February 14, 2006 by Baron Capital Group Inc. (“BCG”), BAMCO, Inc. (“BAMCO”), Baron Capital Management (“BCM”), Baron Small Cap Fund (“BSC”), and Ronald Baron which indicated the following: BCG and Ronald Baron have beneficial ownership of 1,951,800 shares of class A common stock, with shared dispositive power with respect to said shares and shared voting power with respect to 1,803,400 shares; BAMCO has beneficial ownership of 1,891,208 shares of class A common stock with shared dispositive power with respect to said shares and shared voting power with respect to 1,748,900 shares; BSC has beneficial ownership of 1,000,000 shares of class A common stock with shared dispositive and voting power with respect to said shares; BCM has beneficial ownership of 59,800 shares of class A common stock with shared dispositive voting power with respect to said shares and shared voting power with respect to 54,500 shares.

 

(18) The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on or about February 13, 2006 by BlackRock Inc. which indicated that all parties have beneficial ownership of 2,285,645 shares of class A common stock, with shared dispositive and voting powers with respect to said shares.

 

(19) The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on or about January 10, 2007 by Janus Management LLC (“Janus Management”) and Janus Overseas Fund (“Janus Overseas”) which indicated the following: Janus Management has beneficial ownership of 1,794,660 shares of class A common stock, with sole dispositive and voting powers with respect to said shares; Janus Overseas has beneficial ownership of 940,690 shares of class A common stock, with sole dispositive and voting powers with respect to said shares.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we have also agreed to issue to certain employees of the PowerLight business shares of restricted class A common stock. As part of this issuance, each of Messrs. Wenger and Ledesma will receive 74,579 and 41,433, shares, respectively, of restricted class A common stock. These shares of restricted class A common stock vest over a four-year period at the rate of 25% per year from the day after the date on which the Merger was completed.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

General

We compensate our executives through a mix of base salary, cash bonus awards and performance-based equity compensation. Our compensation program is designed to attract and retain the best possible executive talent, to tie annual and long-term cash and equity incentive compensation to the achievement of measurable corporate, business unit and individual performance objectives, and to align compensation incentives available to our executives with the goal of creating stockholder value. To achieve these objectives, we have designed and implemented incentive compensation to primarily reward our executives for positive financial performance. To this end, we tie a substantial portion of our executives’ overall compensation to measurable quarterly corporate milestones and individual Key Initiatives, or KIs. The KIs are personal accomplishment goals for the executives that are specific to their areas of responsibility and relate to the corporate milestones. In addition, we provide our executives a variety of other benefits that we also make available generally to all salaried employees.

Establishing Compensation Opportunities

Overall, our aim is to offer our executives total compensation opportunities that represent a median compensatory level among a peer group of competitive companies. Accordingly, we seek to review the compensation that we offer against that offered by peer group companies on an annual basis. We have retained AON Corporation, a compensation consulting firm, to help us identify and maintain a peer group of competitive companies to which we may refer when establishing executive compensation.

Due to the relative youth of the solar industry, however, in 2006, AON provided us with information regarding compensation programs for only chief executive officers at certain energy companies. The companies identified are Active Power, Inc.; American Superconductor Corp.; Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc.; Emcore Corporation; Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.; Evergreen Solar, Inc.; FuelCell Energy, Inc.; Plug Power Inc.; Power Integrations, Inc.; Power-One, Inc.; Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.; and Valence Technology, Inc. These particular companies were chosen because we believe they are the companies that most closely match our core business.

In addition to the information supplied by AON regarding compensation for chief executive officers of peer group companies, we also looked to the salary structure used by our majority stockholder, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, for guidance regarding setting compensation for our executives other than our chief executive officer. The salary structure used by Cypress was based on Radford salary survey data for technology companies in our geographic region. The comparable Cypress salary data for our President and Chief Technical Officer and Chief Operating Officer ranged from $153,000 to $307,000. The comparable Cypress salary data for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer ranged from $183,000 to $367,000. For 2007 and beyond, we anticipate that AON will provide us with compensation information for all executive officers from solar industry companies.

In 2006, AON also assisted us in identifying and establishing median total compensation opportunities and with general oversight of our compensation program. This general oversight included helping us evaluate our compensation practices and assisting us with developing and implementing our executive compensation program and philosophy.

Allocation Among Compensation Components

 

     Base Salary     Cash Bonus
Awards
    Equity
Compensation
 

Thomas H. Werner, Chief Executive Officer

   61 %   39 %   0 %

Emmanuel T. Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer

   64 %   36 %   0 %

Dr. Richard Swanson, President and Chief Technical Officer

   74 %   26 %   0 %

Peter Aschenbrenner, Vice President, Marketing and Sales

   62 %   38 %   0 %

P.M. Pai, Chief Operating Officer

   74 %   26 %   0 %

 

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As discussed further below, due to our initial public offering in November 2005, we affirmatively decided in 2006 to not grant equity awards to our executives as part of their 2006 compensation, which has resulted in base salary representing a majority percentage of total compensation for each executive.

Compensation Components

We provide the following compensation components to our executives:

Base Salary. We establish base salaries for our executives based on the scope of their responsibilities, and take into account competitive market compensation paid by companies in our competitive peer group for similar positions. Generally, we believe that executive base salaries should be targeted near the median of the range of salaries for executives in similar positions and with similar responsibilities at comparable companies in line with our compensation philosophy in order to best attract, retain and equitably reward our executives.

We review base salaries annually, and adjust base salaries from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience. Our Compensation Committee approves the employee salary for our Chief Executive Officer, and for each officer below the Chief Executive Officer level based on the Chief Executive Officer’s input. In 2006, we implemented a merit increase program and increased our executives’ base salaries by a range of 2.3% to 12%, and by 4.5% on average. We utilized the benchmark data provided by AON when determining to increase our Chief Executive Officer’s 2006 salary by $34,250. We referred to the Cypress data when establishing a 2006 salary range for our other executives at $205,000 to $310,000, compared to a range of $200,000 to $299,520 for 2005. For 2007, we anticipate our base salary increases for executives will be under 10%.

Based on information presented to us by AON regarding market ranges for salaries at peer group companies and the Cypress data, we believe we have generally established our executives’ base salaries at approximately the median of market ranges. As a result, we believe that we compensate our executives equitably when compared to competitive or similar companies.

Cash Bonus Awards. We utilize cash bonus awards to align executive compensation with business objectives and performance. Our cash bonus is administered through our Key Employee Bonus Program, or KEBP, which has a quarterly component and an annual component. Our Compensation Committee approves the employee bonus program incentive level for our Chief Executive Officer, and for each officer below the Chief Executive Officer level based on the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations.

For 2006, the bonus incentive targets for the executive officers ranged from 50% to 80% of base salary. For 2007, the target bonus awards (as a percentage of annual base salary) will be as follows: Chief Executive Officer, 80%; Chief Financial Officer, 80%; Chief Operating Officer, 50%; President/Chief Technical Officer, 50%; and Vice President, Marketing & Sales, 80%. These target percentages included both short-and-long term incentive award opportunities, and are established so that our officers’ annual bonus opportunities are set near the median competitive levels of comparable companies. We expect to retain these targets for 2007.

KEBP payments are based on attainment of revenue and profit goals, attainment of company milestones and the individual participant’s accomplishment of KIs. 50% to 40% of each KEBP bonus is based on achieving annual sales and profit targets and 50% to 60% based on achieving quarterly goals. The impact of these factors is explained in more detail below.

Our quarterly bonus KEBP award is formula-driven, and triggered when we achieve our Profit Before Tax, or PBT, objective for the quarter. The amount of quarterly bonus earned is first factored by the level of achievement of company milestones, which are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the quarter. Company milestone achievement of greater than 80% results in a bonus factor of 100%. Company milestone achievement of greater than 50% but less than 80% results in a bonus factor of 50%, but company milestone bonuses paid to KEBP participants, including our named executive officers, is finally determined by the individual’s personal KI achievement. For example, if an executive is a 50% KEBP participant, and the PBT objective is achieved for the quarter, and 85% of the company milestones were achieved, and the individual achieved 75% of his individual KIs, then the executive’s quarterly KEBP award is 4.7% of base salary, calculated as: 50% of base pay as KEBP level times 50% for the quarterly component of KEBP times a 100% bonus factor for company milestones of 85% times 75% individual KIs divided by 4 for the quarterly component of KEBP target is

 

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triggered, and pre-determined company milestones and Individual KIs are met. The actual bonus is determined by our company performance and each executive officer’s level of achievement. At the beginning of each quarter, the company milestones for the succeeding quarter are determined and approved by the Compensation Committee.

The annual KEBP bonus award is also formula-driven and is assessed at the end of the fiscal year based on our attainment of sales and PBT targets for the year. Our sales and PBT targets are established at the beginning of our fiscal year and approved by our Board of Directors. For example: If an executive is a 50% KEBP participant, and we achieve our sales and profit targets for the year, then the executive will receive a KEBP award of 25% of base pay, calculated as: 50% KEBP level times 50% representing the annual component of KEBP. Historically, the annual KEBP bonuses have not been earned due to our not meeting our sales performance target. However, we met this target for 2006. Annual KEBP bonus awards are to be paid in two installments in July 2007 and January 2008. Our executives must be employed by us on the scheduled payment date in order to receive their annual KEBP bonus. If an executive is terminated prior to the scheduled payment date, his or her bonus will be forfeited. Projected bonuses are reflected in the Estimated 2006 KEBP Annual Bonus table below.

Performance-Based Equity Awards. We believe that long-term company performance is best achieved through an ownership culture that encourages long-term performance by our executive officers through the use of stock-based awards. Our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan permits the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance shares, and other stock-based awards.

Due to our initial public offering in November 2005, we decided in 2006 to not grant equity awards to our executives as part of their 2006 compensation. However, we currently intend in 2007 and in subsequent years to provide our executives with restricted stock awards as a form of performance-based equity compensation, which restricted stock we expect to vest based on the attainment of certain corporate goals over a four-year schedule. We also currently expect that such grants will be based on both the degree to which the executives achieved their KIs during the prior fiscal year, and judgment applied by our Compensation Committee regarding other qualitative factors. At this time, we have not determined how the amount of equity awards in 2007 and beyond will be established, or the timing as to when we will make such equity awards. However, because we did not issue equity awards in 2006, we anticipate that equity awards in subsequent years will represent a greater percentage of total compensation for our executives.

As of January 9, 2007, our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan had approximately 147,286 shares reserved for grants of equity-based awards (an additional 200,481 shares will be reserved pursuant to the Merger Agreement). In addition to granting equity-based awards to our executives as part of a long-term incentive plan, we also intend to utilize these shares for awards to non-officer employees, including new hires, and in recognition of individual achievements and contributions to corporate or business unit performance or in circumstances where we face a critical retention need. We do not maintain any equity or other security ownership guidelines or requirements for our executives. Additionally, we do not have a formal or informal policy regarding adjustment or recovery of awards or payments if the relevant performance goals or measures upon which they are based are restated or otherwise adjusted so that awards or payments are reduced. We anticipate establishing a more-detailed equity award program, including policies and practices regarding the timing of awards and Compensation Committee approval, if and when we grant equity awards to executives.

Termination of Employment Payments

Regarding performance-based equity awards, unless otherwise provided by our plan administrator in the award agreement, upon termination of a participant’s employment or service, the participant will forfeit any outstanding awards except that a participant will have 90 days following termination of employment or service to exercise any then vested options or stock appreciation rights (one year if termination of employment or service is a result of the participant’s disability or death). Additionally, two of our executives, Mr. Werner and Mr. Hernandez, are entitled to receive certain payments from us or our affiliates in the event of certain change of control or termination events.

Businesses in our industry face a number of risks, including the risk of being acquired in the future. We believe that entering into change of control and severance arrangements with certain of our executives has helped us attract and retain the best-possible executive talent. The terms of the change of control and severance arrangements were negotiated as part of the hiring process for Mr. Werner and Mr. Hernandez. Without these provisions, these

 

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executives may not have chosen to accept employment with us or remain employed by us. For a further description of the payments that Mr. Werner and Mr. Hernandez, two of our Named Executive Officers, are entitled to receive in the event of certain change of control or termination events, please see “Executive Compensation—Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below.

Section 162(m) Treatment Regarding Performance-Based Equity Awards

Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a public company is generally denied deductions for compensation paid to the chief executive officer and the next four most highly compensated executive officers to the extent the compensation for any such individual exceeds one million dollars for the taxable year. Our Compensation Committee intends to preserve the deductibility of compensation payable to our executives, although deductibility will be only one among a number of factors considered in determining appropriate levels or modes of compensation.

Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Article VIII of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article 6 of our Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification of our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides for the indemnification of officers, directors and other corporate agents in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We have entered into agreements with our directors and officers that will require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers to the fullest extent allowed. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation earned during 2006 by our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers, who we refer to collectively as our Named Executive Officers.

 

Name and Principal Position

                    (a)

  

Year

(b)

  

Salary(1)

($)

(c)

  

Bonus

($)

(d)

  

Stock
Awards

($)

(e)

  

Option
Awards(2)

($)

(f)

  

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation(3)

($)

(g)

  

All Other
Compensation

($)

(i)

  

Total

($)

(j)

Thomas H. Werner, Chief Executive Officer

   2006    $ 315,096    $ 0    $ 0    $ 385,549    $ 198,724    $ 0    $ 899,369

Emmanuel T. Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer

   2006      307,582      0      0      622,859      175,502      0      1,105,943

Dr. Richard Swanson, President/Chief Technical Officer

   2006      203,846      0      0      155,717      71,580      0      431,143

Peter Aschenbrenner, Vice President, Marketing & Sales

   2006      211,365      0      0      132,426      127,438      0      471,229

P.M. Pai, Chief Operating Officer

   2006      220,000      0      0      211,649      76,652      0      508,301

(1) Salary represents actual salary earned and paid for in 2006 and reflects applicable mid-year salary increases. Salary includes base salary and payment in respect of accrued vacation and holidays.

 

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(2) There were no stock awards or option awards to our named executive officers in 2006. These amounts are the amounts of compensation cost recognized in 2006 for financial reporting purposes related to awards in prior fiscal years, excluding the effect of certain forfeiture assumptions. See Note 9 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended October 1, 2006 for details as to the assumptions used to determine the fair value of the option awards. See also our discussion of stock-based compensation under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies.”

 

(3) Includes KEBP quarterly bonus actually paid from first through third quarter 2006 and estimated actual fourth quarter 2006 KEBP quarterly bonus payout, which amounts were less than target, as follows: Mr. Werner, $61,772; Mr. Hernandez, $44,062; Dr. Swanson, $28,120; Mr. Aschenbrenner, $36,278; and Mr. Pai, $30,012. Also includes KEBP annual bonus that is to be paid in July 2007 and January 2008, which amount exceeded target, as follows: Mr. Werner, $136,952; Mr. Hernandez, $131,440; Dr. Swanson, $43,460; Mr. Aschenbrenner, $91,160; and Mr. Pai, $46,640. Please see the 2006 KEBP Bonus Awards tables below for a breakdown of these amounts.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

During 2006, none of our named executive officers received any grants of plan-based equity awards, but received grants of KEBP bonus awards. The following table sets forth information regarding the KEBP bonus awards granted to each Named Executive Officer during 2006:

 

Name

(a)

   Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
 
  

Threshold

($)
(c)

   

Target(1)

($)
(d)

   Maximum
($)
(e)
 

Thomas H. Werner

                (2)   $ 258,400                 (2)

Emmanuel T. Hernandez

            (2)     248,000             (2)

Dr. Richard Swanson

            (2)     102,500             (2)

Peter Aschenbrenner

            (2)     172,000             (2)

P.M. Pai

            (2)     110,000             (2)

(1) Target amounts under the 2006 KEBP are based on the assumption that we achieve 100% of our targets, and represent the following percentage of annual base salary: Mr. Werner, 80%; Mr. Hernandez, 80%; Dr. Swanson, 50%; Mr. Aschenbrenner, 80%; and Mr. Pai, 50%

 

(2) Bonus awards under the 2006 KEBP, which are based on the achievement of various company milestones and individual KIs, as well as profit before tax and sales targets, are determined as the result of formulae contained in the 2006 KEBP. Achievement of certain company milestones can have an unlimited impact on KEBP bonus payment, or can reduce the KEBP bonus payment to 0 when applied to the formulae. As a result, threshold payouts and maximum payouts are not readily ascertainable for each Named Executive Officer.

The material terms of our KEBP bonus awards are described above in our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” under the subheading “Cash Bonus Awards.” Our Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of “outside directors” as defined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, may elect in the future to adopt plans or programs providing for additional benefits if the Compensation Committee determines that doing so is in our best interests.

 

58


2006 KEBP Bonus Awards. The following tables set forth additional information about the bonus information disclosed above in the Summary Compensation Table:

Estimated 2006 KEBP Quarterly Based Awards (Annualized)

 

     2006 KEBP Target vs.
Actual Bonus

Name

   Target(1)    Actual(2)

Thomas H. Werner

   $ 129,200    $ 61,772

Emmanuel Hernandez

     124,000      44,062

Dr. Richard Swanson

     61,500      28,120

Peter Aschenbrenner

     86,000      36,278

P.M. Pai

     66,000      30,012

(1) Under the 2006 KEBP, quarterly target amounts represent 50% of the total target amount provided for in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table above for Mr. Werner, Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Aschenbrenner, and 60% of the total target amount provided for in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table above for Dr. Swanson and Mr. Pai.

 

(2) Actual Bonus includes estimated fourth quarter 2006 KEBP payout.

Estimated 2006 KEBP Annual Bonus Payout

 

     2006 Annual Bonus Payout(1)

Name

   July 2007(2)    January 2008(2)    Total

Thomas H. Werner

   $ 68,476    $ 68,476    $ 136,952

Emmanuel T. Hernandez

     65,720      65,720      131,440

Dr. Richard Swanson

     21,730      21,730      43,460

Peter Aschenbrenner

     45,580      45,580      91,160

P.M. Pai

     23,320      23,320      46,640

(1) Under the 2006 KEBP, the following annual target amounts represent 50% of the total target amount provided for in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table above for Mr. Werner ($129,200), Mr. Hernandez ($124,000) and Mr. Aschenbrenner ($86,000), and 40% of the total target amount provided for in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table above for Dr. Swanson ($41,000) and Mr. Pai ($44,000).

 

(2) Under the 2006 KEBP, 2006 payouts exceed the annual target amounts. The executive must be employed by us at the scheduled payment date to receive the annual bonus. If the executive is terminated prior to the payment date for the annual bonus, the annual bonus will be forfeited.

Please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Allocating Among Compensation Components” above for a description of the proportion of total compensation represented by salary and bonus.

Employment Agreements. For a description of the employment agreements that we have with certain of our executives, please see “Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below.

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End Table

The following table sets forth information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2006:

 

     Option Awards(1)

Name

(a)

  

Number of

Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)

Exercisable

(b)

  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)

Unexercisable

(c)

  

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

(e)

  

Option
Expiration
Date

(f)

Thomas H. Werner

   185,006    179,994    $ 0.50    6/9/2013
   320,155    320,145      3.30    6/17/2014
   87,501    162,499      3.30    3/17/2015

Emmanuel T. Hernandez

   338,747    462,991      3.30    4/25/2015

Dr. Richard Swanson

   70,904    219,896      3.30    6/17/2014

Peter Aschenbrenner

   13,751    21,249      0.50    6/9/2013
   70,003    183,997      3.30    6/17/2014

P.M. Pai

   120,002    220,998      3.30    3/17/2015

 

59



(1) All of the option grants were made under our 1996 Stock Plan. Except for the options issued to Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Pai, each of these options has a ten-year term, vests over a five-year period of employment, with a one-year initial cliff vesting period and monthly vesting thereafter, and has an exercise price equal to the market value on grant date. Mr. Hernandez’s option has a ten-year term, vests monthly over a three-year period of employment without a cliff vesting period, and has an exercise price equal to the market value on grant date. Mr. Pai’s option consisted of 50,000 shares that vested when he was hired, 35,000 shares that vested after a one-year initial cliff vesting period, and 340,000 shares that vest over a five-year period, with a one-year initial cliff vesting period and monthly vesting thereafter, each with an exercise price equal to the market value on grant date. Please also see the discussion under “Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

The following table sets forth the number of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of options by our Named Executive Officers during 2006 and the aggregate dollar amount realized by our Named Executive Officers upon exercise of the option:

 

     Option Awards

Name

(a)

  

Number of

Shares Acquired

on Exercise (#)

(b)

  

Value Realized

on Exercise(1) ($)

(c)

Thomas H. Werner

   160,000    $ 4,915,052

Emmanuel T. Hernandez

   240,000      7,154,219

Dr. Richard Swanson

   149,000      4,166,165

Peter Aschenbrenner

   154,000      4,025,512

P.M. Pai

   84,000      2,527,400

(1) The aggregate dollar value realized upon the exercise of an option represents the difference between the market price of the underlying shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option, multiplied by the number of shares exercised.

Pension Benefits

None of our Named Executive Officers participate in or have account balances in qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans sponsored by us. We do not offer such qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans to our executives because we believe that such defined benefit plans are atypical for similar companies in both our industry and geographic region. Our Compensation Committee, which will be comprised solely of “outside directors” as defined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, may elect to adopt qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans if the Compensation Committee determines that doing so is in our best interests.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

None of our Named Executive Officers participate in or have account balances in non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans maintained by us. To date, we have not had a significant reason to offer such non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans. The Compensation Committee, which will be comprised solely of “outside directors” as defined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, may elect to provide our officers and other employees with non-qualified defined contribution or deferred compensation benefits if the Compensation Committee determines that doing so is in our best interests.

 

60


Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Regarding performance-based equity awards, unless otherwise provided by our plan administrator in the award agreement, upon termination of a participant’s employment or service, the participant will forfeit any outstanding awards except that a participant will have 90 days following termination of employment or service to exercise any then vested options or stock appreciation rights (one year if termination of employment or service is a result of the participant’s disability or death). Additionally, two of our executives, Mr. Werner and Mr. Hernandez, are entitled to receive certain payments from us or our affiliates in the event of certain change of control or termination events.

Thomas H. Werner. On May 22, 2003, Mr. Werner entered into an offer letter by which he agreed to serve as our Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the offer letter, Mr. Werner was entitled to receive an annual salary of $275,000 and bonus in an amount up to 80% of his base salary. Mr. Werner’s annual salary for 2006 was $323,000. In connection with the offer letter, Mr. Werner was granted an option to purchase 600,000 shares of our class A common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share and options to purchase 890,300 shares of our class A common stock at an exercise price of $3.30 per share, subject to anti-dilution provisions. Mr. Werner is employed by us “at-will,” which means that either he or we may terminate his employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. The offer letter also contains an agreement to enter into a confidentiality agreement with us.

Under the terms of the offer letter, upon a change of control, we agreed to negotiate in good faith with Mr. Werner on an accelerated vesting clause for his stock options, which clause could be invoked by Mr. Werner if he was not retained in an equivalent position after the change of control. We estimate the value of such accelerated stock options at $22,947,532, based on the information contained in the “Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End Table” above and our closing stock price of $37.17 per share on December 29, 2006, and assuming the change of control occurred on December 29, 2006. Additionally, we agreed to pay Mr. Werner an amount equivalent to one year of his base salary and provide him with one year of benefits if Mr. Werner is terminated by us without cause. These benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance benefits. Based on the fact that Mr. Werner did not elect to be covered under our benefit programs for 2006, but was automatically enrolled in a life insurance benefit entitling his beneficiaries to payment equal to one times his annual salary, we estimate the value of such agreement at $323,000. Please see disclosure under the “Summary Compensation Table” and “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table” above for more information on Mr. Werner’s current base salary and currently outstanding options.

Thomas L. Dinwoodie. Mr. Dinwoodie is a party to an amended and restated employment agreement, effective as of January 11, 2007. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Dinwoodie is entitled to receive a base salary of $243,338 per year, subject to annual review by the Board, and is entitled to receive an annual bonus of approximately 50% of his base salary in accordance with the Company’s Key Employee Bonus Plan.

Mr. Dinwoodie’s employment agreement expires on November 1, 2008 and renews automatically, unless terminated, for three-year periods thereafter. In the event the Company terminates Mr. Dinwoodie’s employment agreement without cause (as defined in his employment agreement), or Mr. Dinwoodie resigns for good reason (as defined in his employment agreement), Mr. Dinwoodie will be entitled to receive benefits for two years, 24 months’ salary, any earned but unpaid bonus from the year prior to his termination or resignation and his pro rata target bonus for the current year.

In the event the Company terminates Mr. Dinwoodie’s employment agreement for cause, or Mr. Dinwoodie resigns without good reason, all further vesting of Mr. Dinwoodie’s outstanding equity awards will terminate, compensation payments (except as to amounts already earned) will cease and Mr. Dinwoodie will be entitled to receive benefits only through the date of his termination or resignation.

In the event Mr. Dinwoodie’s employment agreement is terminated by reason of death or disability, Mr. Dinwoodie or his estate will be entitled to receive any earned but unpaid bonus from the year prior to his death or disability, his pro rata target bonus for the current year and benefits in accordance with the then-applicable PowerLight plans, and all of Mr. Dinwoodie’s outstanding equity awards will terminate. In addition, all provisions regarding forfeiture, restrictions on transfer and repurchase rights pursuant to the Equity Restriction Agreement (defined below) between Mr. Dinwoodie and the Company will lapse.

 

61


Emmanuel T. Hernandez. On April 1, 2005, Mr. Hernandez entered into an offer letter by which he agreed to serve as our Chief Financial Officer. Under the terms of the offer letter, Mr. Hernandez was entitled to receive an annual salary of $299,520 and bonus in an amount up to 80% of his base salary. Mr. Hernandez’s annual salary for 2006 was $310,000. In connection with the offer letter, Mr. Hernandez was granted an option to purchase 1,041,738 shares of our class A common stock at an exercise price of $3.30 per share, subject to anti-dilution provisions. The offer letter also contains an agreement to enter into a confidentiality agreement with us, and limits our ability to make certain changes that result in Mr. Hernandez’s constructive termination.

Under the terms of the offer letter, upon a change of control in which Cypress repurchases our minority interests, Mr. Hernandez’s options will fully vest. We estimate the value of such stock option vesting at $15,681,505, based on the information contained in the “Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End Table” above and our closing stock price of $37.17 per share on December 29, 2006, and assuming the change of control occurred on December 29, 2006. However, upon a change of control in which our management team conducts a leveraged buy-out and seeks financing from Cypress, Mr. Hernandez’s options will not accelerate. Please see disclosure under the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table” above for more information on Mr. Hernandez’s currently outstanding options.

Bruce R. Ledesma. Mr. Ledesma is a party to an amended and restated employment agreement, effective as of January 11, 2007. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Ledesma is entitled to receive a base salary of $225,000 per year, subject to annual review by the Board, and is entitled to receive an annual bonus of approximately 50% of his base salary in accordance with the Company’s Key Employee Bonus Plan.

Mr. Ledesma’s employment agreement terminates on November 1, 2008 and renews automatically, unless terminated, for three-year periods thereafter. In the event the Company terminates Mr. Ledesma’s employment agreement without cause (as defined in his employment agreement), or Mr. Ledesma resigns for good reason (as defined in his employment agreement), Mr. Ledesma will be entitled to receive, depending on his number of full years of continuous employment by the PowerLight business at the time of termination of his employment or his resignation, benefits for between six and 12 months six to 12 months’ salary, any earned but unpaid bonus from the previous year and his pro rata target bonus for the current year.

In the event the Company terminates Mr. Ledesma’s employment agreement for cause, or Mr. Ledesma resigns without good reason, all further vesting of Mr. Ledesma’s outstanding equity awards will terminate, compensation payments (except as to amounts already earned) will cease and Mr. Ledesma will be entitled to receive benefits only through the date of his termination or resignation.

In the event Mr. Ledesma’s employment agreement is terminated by reason of death or disability, Mr. Ledesma or his estate will be entitled to receive any earned but unpaid bonus from the year prior to his death or disability, his pro rata target bonus for the current year and benefits in accordance with the then-applicable PowerLight plans, and all of Mr. Ledesma’s outstanding equity awards will terminate. In addition, all provisions regarding forfeiture, restrictions on transfer and repurchase rights pursuant to the Equity Restriction Agreement between Mr. Ledesma and the Company will lapse.

P.M. Pai. On January 14, 2005, P.M. Pai entered into an offer letter by which he agreed to serve as our Chief Operating Officer. Under the terms of the offer letter, Mr. Pai was entitled to receive an annual salary of $220,000 and bonus in an amount up to 50% of his base salary. Mr. Pai’s annual salary for 2006 was also $220,000. In connection with the offer letter, Mr. Pai was granted an option to purchase 425,000 shares of our class A common stock.

Howard J. Wenger. Mr. Wenger is a party to an amended and restated employment agreement, effective as of January 11, 2007. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Wenger is entitled to receive a base salary of $232,523 per year, subject to annual review by the Board, and is entitled to receive an annual bonus of approximately 50% of his base salary in accordance with the Company’s Key Employee Bonus Plan.

 

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Mr. Wenger’s employment agreement terminates on November 1, 2008 and renews automatically, unless terminated, for three-year periods thereafter. In the event the Company terminates Mr. Wenger’s employment agreement without cause (as defined in his employment agreement), or Mr. Wenger resigns for good reason (as defined in his employment agreement), Mr. Wenger will be entitled to receive, depending on his number of full years of continuous employment by the PowerLight business at the time of the termination of his employment or his resignation, benefits for between six and 12 months, six to 12 months’ salary, any earned but unpaid bonus from the year prior to his termination or resignation and his pro rata target bonus for the current year.

In the event the Company terminates Mr. Wenger’s employment agreement for cause, or Mr. Wenger resigns without good reason, all further vesting of Mr. Wenger’s outstanding equity awards will terminate, compensation payments (except as to amounts already earned) will cease and Mr. Wenger will be entitled to receive benefits only through the date of his termination or resignation.

In the event Mr. Wenger’s employment agreement is terminated by reason of death or disability, Mr. Wenger or his estate will be entitled to receive any earned but unpaid bonus from the year prior to his death or disability, his pro rata target bonus for the current year and benefits in accordance with the then-applicable PowerLight plans, and all of Mr. Wenger’s outstanding equity awards will terminate. In addition, all provisions regarding forfeiture, restrictions on transfer and repurchase rights pursuant to the Equity Restriction Agreement between Mr. Wenger and the Company will lapse.

In addition to the foregoing discussion concerning Messrs. Dinwoodie, Ledesma and Wenger, if, during the period beginning three months before and ending 18 months following a Change of Control (as defined in the respective employment agreement of each of Messrs. Dinwoodie, Wenger and Ledesma), such individual’s employment is terminated other than for Cause or he resigns for Good Reason, all of such individual’s unvested stock options or restricted stock granted from and after the date of the Merger will become fully vested.

Pursuant to his employment agreement, each of Messrs. Dinwoodie, Wenger and Ledesma also agreed to certain non-solicitation provisions, which apply for up to one (1) year following the termination of his employment.

In addition to their respective employment agreements, each of Messrs. Dinwoodie, Wenger and Ledesma, as well as certain other members of PowerLight’s management team, entered into equity restriction agreements (the “Equity Restriction Agreements”) with SunPower pursuant to which they each agreed that half of the aggregate amount of the SunPower class A common stock received by them at the closing of the Merger and the SunPower class A common stock to be received by them upon the exercise of vested stock options held by them at the closing of the Merger would be subject to certain transfer and repurchase restrictions. Specifically, these individuals agreed to give SunPower the right to repurchase the shares of SunPower class A common stock subject to the restrictions for two years following the date of the closing of the Merger. If Mr. Dinwoodie, Mr. Wenger or Mr. Ledesma is terminated for cause or resigns other than for good reason (each as defined in their respective Equity Restriction Agreement) during the restriction period, SunPower has the right to repurchase any or all of such person’s respective shares still subject to the restrictions for $0.01 per share. Provided that Mr. Dinwoodie, Mr. Wenger and Mr. Ledesma remain employed by the Company or by PowerLight, the restrictions and repurchase right lapse on one quarter of the shares semi-annually. The restrictions and repurchase right lapse immediately upon termination by reason of death or disability or upon resignation for good reason or termination other than for cause.

 

63


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation we paid to our non-employee directors in 2006:

 

Name

(a)

  

Fees Earned
or Paid in

Cash(1)

($)

(b)

  

Stock

Awards(2)

($)

(c)

  

Option

Awards(3)

($)

(d)

  

All Other

Compensation

($)

(g)

  

Total

($)

(h)

W. Steve Albrecht

   $ 47,500    $ 6,876    $ 115,362    $ 0    $ 169,783

Patrick Wood

     61,469      6,876      116,227      0      184,572

Betsy S. Atkins

     79,552      6,876      142,698      0      229,126

Thurman J. Rodgers

     0      34,408      0      0      34,408

(1) The amounts listed under “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” include, in addition to the normal retainer of $25,000, normal board fee of $10,000, and normal committee chair fee of $12,500 (which represents an annualized fee of $10,000 for the first half of 2006, and an annualized fee of $15,000 for the second half of 2006), payments for service by Mr. Wood and Ms. Atkins on a special committee of the board of $13,969 and $32,052, respectively.

 

(2) These amounts are the amounts of compensation cost recognized in 2006 for financial reporting purposes related to stock awards in 2006 and prior years, excluding the effect of certain forfeiture assumptions. See Note 9 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended October 1, 2006 for details as to the assumptions used to determine the fair value of the stock awards. See also our discussion of stock-based compensation under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies.” The non-employee directors had stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2006 for the following number of shares: Mr. Albrecht, 2,000; Mr. Wood, 2,000; Ms. Atkins, 2,000; and Mr. Rodgers, 10,000. Each non-employee director other than Mr. Rodgers received a grant of 2,000 shares of restricted stock on June 27, 2006, of which 1,000 shares were immediately vested. Mr. Rodgers received a grant of 10,000 shares of restricted stock on June 27, 2006, of which 5,000 shares were immediately vested. The entire grant date fair value (including amounts reported for 2006) of the stock award issued to the non-employee directors in 2006 was as follows: Mr. Albrecht, $53,720; Mr. Wood, $53,720; Ms. Atkins, $53,720; and Mr. Rodgers, $268,600.

 

(3) These amounts are the amounts of compensation cost recognized in 2006 for financial reporting purposes related to option awards in 2006 and prior years, excluding the effect of certain forfeiture assumptions. See Note 9 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended October 1, 2006 for details as to the assumptions used to determine the fair value of the option awards. See also our discussion of stock-based compensation under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies.” The non-employee directors had option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2006 for the following number of shares: Mr. Albrecht, 37,000; Mr. Wood, 42,000; Ms. Atkins, 34,299; and Mr. Rodgers, 0. Each non-employee director other than Mr. Rodgers received a option grant for 6,000 shares of stock, with an exercise price of $39.35, on May 4, 2006. The option vests monthly over a period of one year. The entire grant date fair value (including amounts reported for 2006) of the option award issued to the non-employee directors in 2006 was as follows: Mr. Albrecht, $187,620; Mr. Wood, $187,620; Ms. Atkins, $187,620; and Mr. Rodgers, $0.

Mr. Rogers, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Cypress, does not receive any cash compensation for his service on our Board. Otherwise, our independent directors receive an annual retainer of $25,000. In addition, non-employee directors receive annual compensation of $15,000 as committee chairpersons. Each committee member other than a committee chairperson will receive additional annual compensation of $10,000. We also reimburse non-employee directors for expenses incurred in attending meetings.

 

64


Our cash compensation program for non-employee directors described above will continue for 2007. In addition to the cash compensation, non-employee directors will automatically receive shares under our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. An outside director who first joins our board of directors will be granted an initial option to purchase 30,000 shares of our class A common stock on the date of his or her election to our board. The initial option vests and becomes exercisable over five years, with the first 20% of the shares subject to the initial option vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remainder vesting monthly thereafter. Immediately after each of our regularly scheduled annual meetings of stockholders, each director will be automatically granted a non-statutory option to purchase 6,000 shares of our class A common stock, provided the director has served on our board for at least six months. The options will vest monthly in equal parts over a five-year period after the date of grant. The options granted to outside directors will have a per share exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant, and will become fully vested if we are subject to a change of control.

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The following report has been submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2007 annual meeting, which is incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The foregoing report was submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board and shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A promulgated by the Commission or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy S. Atkins, Chairwoman

W. Steve Albrecht

Pat Wood III

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of our Compensation Committee was at any time during fiscal 2006 one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.

 

65


Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

The required financial statements of PowerLight Corporation are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and are incorporated herein by this reference.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Statements.

The required pro forma financial information is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by this reference.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, independent auditors.
99.1    Consolidated financial statements of PowerLight Corporation as of September 30, 2006 and 2005 and December 31, 2005 and 2004, for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005.
99.2    Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, as of September 30, 2006.


SIGNATURES

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

 

SUNPOWER CORPORATION
By:  

/S/    EMMANUEL T. HERNANDEZ

Name:   Emmanuel T. Hernandez
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Date: January 24, 2007


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, independent auditors.
99.1    Consolidated financial statements of PowerLight Corporation as of September 30, 2006 and 2005 and December 31, 2005 and 2004, for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005.
99.2    Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, as of September 30, 2006.
Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, independent auditors

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-130340) pertaining to the SunPower Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 1996 Stock Plan, 1988 Incentive Stock Plan and Options Granted to Certain Employees and Consultants of SunPower Corporation, of our report dated July 31, 2006, except for Note 24, as to which the date is August 31, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of PowerLight Corporation included in SunPower Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 25, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Francisco, California

January 23, 2007

Consolidated financial statements of PowerLight Corporation

Exhibit 99.1

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF POWERLIGHT CORPORATION

 

     Page

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

   F-2

Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Preferred Stock with Redemption Rights and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-7

Consolidated Financial Statements for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   F-31

Consolidated Statements of Income

   F-32

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-33

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-34

 

F-1


Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, preferred stock with redemption rights and shareholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. 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 in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also 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 our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Francisco, California

July 31, 2006

Except for Note 24,

as to which the date is

August 31, 2006

 

F-2


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     December 31  
     2005     2004  
           As Restated  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,928,096     $ 2,453,127  

Cash in restricted accounts

     923,182       2,514,217  

Receivables

     44,601,179       16,495,714  

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress

     1,850,406       1,425,154  

Inventory

     13,461,589       8,150,280  

Prepaid expenses

     2,706,818       147,696  

Deferred costs

     7,213,783       —    

Income taxes receivable

     1,153,205       620,923  

Deferred income taxes

     3,135,567       1,421,031  
                

Total current assets

     81,973,825       33,228,142  

Long-term assets:

    

Property and equipment, net

     1,196,085       1,198,520  

Patents, net

     2,374,163       1,190,634  

Security deposits

     98,240       34,312  

Deferred income taxes

     280,787       216,906  

Other assets

     1,000,809       —    
                

Total long-term assets

     4,950,084       2,640,372  
                

Total assets

   $ 86,923,909     $ 35,868,514  
                

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

    

Current liabilities:

    

Note payable—bank

   $ 2,527,382     $ —    

Accounts and subcontractors payable

     29,865,293       5,766,690  

Trade payables secured by incentive rebates

     —         5,657,283  

Accrued expenses

     11,575,840       3,764,993  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     20,789,783       7,793,241  

Forward exchange contracts liability

     10,393       453,906  

Current maturities of obligations under capital leases

     109,838       86,737  

Current maturities of obligations to purchase renewable energy certificates

     1,380,000       280,000  

Current maturities of obligation for purchase of patents

     92,000       92,000  
                

Total current liabilities

     66,350,529       23,894,850  

Long-term liabilities:

    

Note payable to stockholder

   $ —       $ 2,000,000  

Obligations under capital leases, net of current maturities

     227,888       199,211  

Obligations to purchase renewable energy certificates, net of current maturities

     1,612,101       1,166,150  

Obligation for purchase of patents, net of current maturities

     138,000       138,000  

Accrued warranty, net of current portion

     3,628,392       1,960,091  
                

Total long-term liabilities

     5,606,381       5,463,452  
                

Total liabilities

     71,956,910       29,358,302  

Preferred stock with redemption rights:

    

Convertible Series B; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 1,516,303 shares; 1,516,303 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004

     —         8,782,913  

Convertible Series C; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 3,750,000 shares; 2,280,548 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005; liquidation preference of $13,110,761

     13,110,761       —    

Stockholders’ equity (deficit)

    

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; authorized 15,000,000 shares

    

Convertible Series A; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 810,810 shares; 810,810 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005 and 2004; liquidation preference of $61,000

     61,000       61,000  

Convertible Series B; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 1,516,303 shares; 1,516,303 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005; liquidation preference of $5,410,000

     9,256,561       —    

Common stock: $0.0001 par value per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 11,123,116 and 10,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005 and 2004

     1,112       1,000  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,737,577       1,327,433  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     17,926       100,598  

Accumulated deficit

     (9,217,938 )     (3,762,732 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

     1,856,238       (2,272,701 )
                

Total liabilities, preferred stock with redemption rights and stockholders’ equity

   $ 86,923,909     $ 35,868,514  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

F-3


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2005     2004     2003  
           As Restated     As Restated  

Contract revenue

   $ 107,816,241     $ 87,583,604     $ 50,900,756  

Direct costs

     96,064,409       74,425,673       42,845,388  
                        

Gross profit from contracting

     11,751,832       13,157,931       8,055,368  

Operating expenses:

      

Selling and marketing

     5,773,111       4,521,687       3,646,341  

General and administrative

     10,023,972       5,174,617       3,976,604  

Research and development

     526,305       1,114,477       66,236  
                        

Total operating expenses

     16,323,388       10,810,781       7,689,181  
                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (4,571,556 )     2,347,150       366,187  

Interest expense

     (302,136 )     (347,055 )     (414,014 )

Other expense

     (159,667 )     (532,143 )     (88,466 )
                        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (5,033,359 )     1,467,952       (136,293 )

Benefit for income taxes

     (1,080,590 )     (987,847 )     (93,291 )
                        

Net (loss) income

     (3,952,769 )     2,455,799       (43,002 )

Less: Deemed dividends on preferred stock

     (1,386,000 )     (1,285,658 )     (1,001,886 )
                        

Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders

   $ (5,338,769 )   $ 1,170,141     $ (1,044,888 )
                        

See accompanying notes.

 

F-4


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Preferred Stock With Redemption Rights and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

                Shareholders’ Equity  
    Preferred Stock With
Redemption Rights
    Preferred Stock   Common Stock    

Additional

Paid-in
Capital

   

Accumulated
Other

Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

   

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated
(Deficit)

   

Total
Stockholders’

Equity
(Deficit)

   

Comprehensive
Income

 
    Shares     Dollars     Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars            

Balance, December 31, 2002

  1,516,303     $ 6,296,035     810,810   $ 61,000   10,000,000   $ 1,000     $ 1,180,980     $ (4,053 )   $ (3,555,162 )   $ (2,316,235 )  

Deemed dividend on preferred stock

  —         1,001,887     —       —     —       —         —         —         (1,001,887 )     (1,001,887 )  

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock amortization of discount

  —         166,411     —       —     —             (166,411 )     (166,411 )  

Translation adjustment

  —         —       —       —     —       —         —         3,612       —         3,612     $ 3,612  

Issuance of warrant in exchange for services

  —         —       —       —     —       —         16,396       —         —         16,396    

Exercise of stock options

  —         —       —       —     —       17,500       12,673       —         —         30,173    

Repurchase of common stock

  —         —       —       —     —       (17,500 )     (26,127 )     —         —         (43,627 )  

Net loss

  —         —       —       —     —       —         —         —         (43,002 )     (43,002 )     (43,002 )
                           

Comprehensive loss

                      $ (39,390 )
                                                                           

Balance, December 31, 2003

  1,516,303       7,464,333     810,810     61,000   10,000,000     1,000       1,183,922       (441 )     (4,766,462 )     (3,520,981 )  
                                                                     

Deemed dividend on preferred stock

  —         1,152,169     —       —     —       —         —         —         (1,152,169 )     (1,152,169 )  

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock amortization of discount

  —         166,411     —       —     —       —         —         —         (166,411 )     (166,411 )  

Issuance of common stock warrant to Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shareholders

  —         (133,489 )   —       —     —       —         133,489       —         —         133,489    

Deemed dividend to Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shareholders

  —         133,489     —       —     —       —         —         —         (133,489 )     (133,489 )  

Translation adjustment

  —         —       —       —     —       —         —         101,039       —         101,039     $ 101,039  

Issuance of warrant in exchange for services

  —         —       —       —     —       —         10,022       —         —         10,022       —    

Net income

  —         —       —       —     —       —         —         —         2,455,799       2,455,799       2,455,799  
                           

Comprehensive income (loss)

                      $ 2,556,838  
                                                                           

Balance, December 31, 2004

  1,516,303       8,782,913     810,810     61,000   10,000,000     1,000       1,327,433       100,598       (3,762,732 )     (2,272,701 )  
                                                                     

Issuance of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs

  2,280,548       12,081,972     —       —     —       —         —         —         (423,262 )     (423,262 )  

Deemed dividend on Series B Convertible Preferred Stock through April 26, 2005

  —         423,262     —       —     —       —         —         —         —         —      

Reclass due to Series B Convertible Preferred Stock modification

  (1,516,303 )     (9,206,175 )   1,516,303     9,206,175   —       —         —         —         —         9,206,175    

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock amortization of discount

  —         —       —       50,386   —       —         —         —         (50,386 )     —      

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock amortization of discount

  —         66,052     —       —     —       —         —         —         (66,052 )     (66,052 )  

Deemed dividend on Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

  —         962,737     —       —     —       —         —         —         (962,737 )     (962,737 )  

Employee stock option exercises

  —         —       —       —     1,123,116     112       59,047       —         —         59,159    

Tax benefit associated with stock option exercises

  —         —       —       —     —       —         226,097       —         —         226,097    

Translation adjustment

  —         —       —       —     —       —         —         (82,672 )     —         (82,672 )   $ (82,672 )

Compensation to shareholder for personal guarantee

  —         —       —       —     —       —         125,000       —         —         125,000    

Net loss

  —         —           —         —         —         —         (3,952,769 )     (3,952,769 )     (3,952,769 )
                           

Comprehensive loss

                      $ (4,035,441 )
                                                                           

Balance, December 31, 2005

  2,280,548     $ 13,110,761     2,327,113   $ 9,317,561   11,123,116   $ 1,112     $ 1,737,577     $ 17,926     $ (9,217,938 )   $ 1,856,238    
                                                                     

See accompanying notes.

 

F-5


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2005     2004     2003  
           As Restated     As Restated  

Cash flows from operating activities

      

Net (loss) income

   $ (3,952,769 )   $ 2,455,799     $ (43,002 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     1,109,986       720,483       569,278  

Tax benefit associated with stock option exercises

     226,096       —         —    

Issuance of stock options/warrants for services

     125,000       10,022       16,396  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (82,672 )     101,039       3,612  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Receivables

     (28,105,465 )     1,572,010       (3,971,011 )

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress

     (425,252 )     1,443,257       118,208  

Prepaid expenses and deposits

     (3,623,859 )     (2,110 )     (65,147 )

Inventory

     (5,311,309 )     (4,974,681 )     7,705,937  

Accounts and subcontractors payable

     29,074,684       1,433,714       (3,995,181 )

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     12,996,542       4,114,888       858,723  

Deferred costs

     (7,213,783 )     —         —    

Income taxes payable

     (532,282 )     (650,981 )     30,058  

Deferred income taxes

     (1,778,417 )     (1,471,966 )     (133,349 )
      

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (7,493,500 )     4,751,474       1,094,522  

Cash flows from investing activities

      

Increase in restricted cash

     1,591,035       (2,514,217 )     —    

Purchase of property and equipment

     (866,535 )     (505,143 )     (372,579 )

Capitalized patent costs

     (1,424,545 )     (425,130 )     (190,492 )
                        

Net cash used by investing activities

     (700,045 )     (3,444,490 )     (563,071 )

Cash flows from financing activities

      

Net proceeds (repayments) under line of credit

     2,527,382       (1,862,623 )     (100,000 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     59,160       —         (13,454 )

Proceeds from sale of preferred stock, net of issue costs (net of $2,000,000 from conversion of note payable)

     10,081,972       —         —    

Proceeds from issuance of note payable

     —         2,000,000       —    
                        

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

     12,668,514       137,377       (113,454 )
                        

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     4,474,969       1,444,361       417,997  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     2,453,127       1,008,766       590,769  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 6,928,096     $ 2,453,127     $ 1,008,766  
                        

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid during the year for:

      

Income taxes

   $ 1,025,937     $ 1,135,363     $ 60,000  

Interest

     266,226       272,972       379,383  

See accompanying notes.

 

F-6


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Company’s Activities

PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) was incorporated in California on January 25, 1995 to design, manufacture and install grid-connected commercial solar electric products and systems. The work is performed primarily under fixed-price contracts throughout the U.S. and in Germany. The Company also engages in research and development of solar electric products, part of which is funded by government agencies.

The following items comprise the significant accounting policies of the Company. These policies reflect industry practices and conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Principles of Consolidation and Restatement

The consolidated financial statements include the subsidiary accounts of the Company: PowerLight Systems AG, PowerLight GmbH, and PowerLight BV. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company has adjusted certain amounts in these 2004 and 2003 financial statements compared to previously reported amounts to correct balances primarily related to its contract revenue, contract costs, accrued warranty, California state sales tax accrual, and inventory items.

The effects of the restatement in 2004 and 2003 are as follows:

 

     2004     2003  
     As Previously
Reported
    As Reported     As Previously
Reported
    As Reported  

Contract revenues

   $ 91,556,676     $ 87,583,604     $ 54,938,133     $ 50,900,756  

Direct costs

     76,211,732       74,425,673       43,905,543       42,845,388  
                                

Gross profit from contracting

     15,344,944       13,157,931       11,032,590       8,055,368  

Operating expenses

     10,409,032       10,810,781       8,376,874       7,689,181  
                                

(Loss) income from operations

     4,935,912       2,347,150       2,655,716       366,187  

Interest and other expenses

     (1,334,743 )     (879,198 )     (415,029 )     (502,480 )
                                

(Loss) income before income taxes

     3,601,169       1,467,952       2,240,687       (136,293 )

Provision for income taxes

     (806,712 )     (987,847 )     (570,776 )     (93,291 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ 2,794,457     $ 2,455,799     $ 1,669,911     $ (43,002 )
                                

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities including accrued warranty, royalty and commission, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

F-7


Financial Statement Classification

In accordance with normal practice in the construction industry, the Company includes in current assets and liabilities amounts realizable and payable over a period in excess of one year. Consistent with this practice, asset and liability accounts relating to construction contracts, including related deferred income taxes, are classified as current. The terms of contracts entered into by the Company vary but are typically less than one year.

Revenue and Cost Recognition

Construction Contracts

The Company recognizes revenues from fixed price contracts under AICPA Statement of Position (“SOP”) 81-1, Accounting for Performance of Construction–Type and Certain Production–Type Contracts, using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. Under this method, revenue is recognized as work is performed based on the percentage that incurred costs bear to estimated total forecasted costs utilizing the most recent estimates of forecasted costs.

Due to inherent uncertainties in estimating cost, job costs estimates are reviewed and/or updated by management working with its Projects Department each month.

Incurred costs include all direct material, labor, subcontract costs, and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, and repairs.

Job material costs are included in incurred costs when the job materials have been installed. Where contracts stipulate that title to job materials transfers to the customer before installation has been performed, revenue is deferred and recognized upon installation, in accordance with the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. Job materials are considered installed materials when they are permanently attached or fitted to the solar power system as required by the job’s engineering design. The Projects Department determines the completed percentage of installed job materials at the end of each month; generally this information is also reviewed with the customer’s on-site representative. The completed percentage of installed job materials is then used for each job to calculate the month-end job material costs incurred.

Direct labor, subcontractor, and other costs are charged to contract costs as incurred.

Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts, if any, are recognized in the period in which the loss first becomes probable and reasonably estimable.

Contracts may include profit incentives such as milestone bonuses. These profit incentives are included in the contract value when their realization is reasonably assured.

Some of the Company’s fixed price contracts are for projects at multiple locations under a single contract. It is the Company’s policy to segment contracts with a single customer that include installations at multiple locations. In most of these contract agreements, the stated contract price is allocated to the different project locations. The basis for allocating the price is often the relative system rated capacity, expressed in kilowatts.

The asset, “Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress,” represents revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed, including earned unbilled incentive rebates. The liability, “Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress,” represents billings, including earned unbilled incentive rebates, in excess of revenues recognized.

Value-Added Reseller Contracts

The Company recognizes revenues for equipment and engineering service sales to value-added resellers (VARs) when title to the equipment transfers to the customer, usually on the date the equipment is shipped, and cash collections are reasonably assured. Revenues under such agreements are included in contract revenue in the consolidated statements of income and were $17,942,456, $2,726,128, and $2,537,007 in the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

F-8


Service Agreements

The Company recognizes revenues for service agreements related to construction contracts equally over the service agreement term. Service agreement revenue is at fair value, and annual service agreement fees are usually pre-paid by customers. Revenue from service agreements are not significant for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

New Jersey Renewable Energy Credits

Solar renewable energy certificates (“SREC”) are intangible assets, measured in megawatt-hours, that encompass the environmental benefit associated with producing solar energy. The Company purchases SRECs from solar installation owners in New Jersey, and primarily sells SRECs to entities who must either retire a certain volume of SRECs each year or face much higher alternative compliance payments.

The Company recognizes revenues for New Jersey renewable energy credit (“REC”) sales when the RECs are delivered to the customers under the contract terms and cash collections are reasonably assured.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and money market accounts.

Contract Receivables

Contract receivables are recorded when invoices are issued and are presented in the balance sheet net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Contract receivables are written off when they are determined to be uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on the Company’s historical losses, the existing economic conditions in the construction industry, and the financial stability of its customers. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, the allowance for doubtful accounts amounted to $114,998 and $0, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives which are between 3 and 15 years. Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Equipment under capital lease is capitalized at the present value of the future minimum lease payments. Leasehold improvements and assets acquired pursuant to capital leases are amortized on the straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the related asset.

When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from their respective accounts and any resulting gains or losses are recorded in other income (expense) in the period realized. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures which substantially increase an asset’s useful life are capitalized.

Costs incurred in the development of software for internal use are capitalized according to SOP 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, which requires that certain costs for the development of internal use software be capitalized, including the costs of coding software configuration, upgrades and enhancements. Product development costs include cost incurred to develop, enhance and manage the Company’s Web site and data acquisition system software. Capitalized software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years.

 

F-9


Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. An asset is considered impaired if its carrying amount exceeds the future net cash flow the asset is expected to generate. If such asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair market value.

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined primarily on the average cost method.

Patents

The Company capitalizes external costs of patents and patent applications related to products and processes of significant importance to its business and amortizes these costs on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 15 years. Such costs are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such patents may not be recoverable.

Research and Development

Research and development costs related to both future and present products are charged to operating expense as incurred and are reported net of any reimbursements received from governmental agency research and development contracts because such contracts are considered collaborative arrangements.

The Company engages in research and development of solar electric products, which is primarily funded by government agencies. These contracts typically are structured so that after general and administrative expenses are applied in accordance with government accounting regulations, no net profit is realized. In addition, these contracts usually contain royalty agreements which provide for royalties based on sales of products developed through the contract funding. The Company has various research and development contracts (in progress and completed) with state agencies in California and New York whereby the Company is obligated to pay royalties.

The following table presents the Company’s approximate research and development expenses by funding category:

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2005     2004     2003  

Government funding

   $ (1,531,007 )   $ (895,535 )   $ (2,306,489 )

Costs incurred on government contracts

     1,745,984       934,853       1,269,292  

Internal costs

     311,328       1,075,159       1,103,433  
                        

Total

   $ 526,305     $ 1,114,477     $ 66,236  
                        

Warranty Reserves

The Company generally provides warranties for its products for a period of five years from the date of delivery based upon the terms of the customer’s contract. Estimated warranty obligations are recorded at the time of sale. The Company accrues for warranty related costs using estimated amounts for each project based on historical costs incurred and expectations of future expenses.

 

F-10


Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for common stock options granted to employees using the intrinsic value method and, thus, recognizes no compensation expense for options granted with exercise prices equal to or greater than the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Options granted to nonemployees are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and Emerging Issues Task Force Issue (“EITF”) No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

As permitted under SFAS No. 123, the Company has elected to continue to follow the intrinsic value method in accounting for its stock-based employee compensation arrangement as defined by Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations including SFAS No. 44, Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion 25.

Stock compensation expense for options granted to non-employees has been determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and EITF No. 96-18 as the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured. The fair value of options granted to nonemployees is periodically remeasured as the underlying options vest.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company will adopt SFAS No. 123(R) (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment and will begin to account for its stock-based employee compensation using fair-value-based accounting (see Recent Accounting Pronouncements below).

Advertising Expenses

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total advertising expenses incurred were $120,418, $115,652, and $33,261 in fiscal years 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach for income taxes.

Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes. Deferred taxes are recognized for differences between the bases of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes. These differences relate primarily to the differences between the bases of long-term contracts, depreciable assets, warranty reserves, and other accrued expenses. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for operating losses and tax credits that are available to offset future taxable income and income taxes, if realization is more likely than not.

For long-term contracts entered into after December 31, 2002, the Company is required under Section 460 of the Internal Revenue Code to report income on the percentage-of-completion method. The Company’s regular tax method is the completed contract method of accounting. That reporting method is currently suspended for the Company under the provisions of Section 460, but may be available in future years.

The Company may also be subject to the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). AMT is calculated based on the percentage-of-completion method at lower tax rates than the regular tax. The excess of AMT over regular tax is added to the regular tax. This excess is carried over to future years as a credit against regular tax until it is fully utilized. The credit cannot reduce the regular tax below AMT in any year.

 

F-11


Derivatives and Hedges

The Company addresses certain financial exposures through a program of risk management that includes the use of derivative financial instruments. Generally, the Company enters into hedging relationships such that changes in the fair values or cash flows of the items being hedged are expected to be offset by corresponding changes in the value of the derivatives. The Company accounts for derivative instruments under the provisions of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, which requires that all derivative instruments be reported on the balance sheet at fair value and establishes criteria for designation and evaluating effectiveness of hedging relationships.

The Company documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are highly effective as, and that are designated and qualify as, foreign currency cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) until the associated hedged transaction impacts earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivates that are ineffective are recorded as interest income and other (expense), net in the period of change.

The Company’s forward exchange contracts have maturities of less than one year. The counterparties to these contracts are major financial institutions. Exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by any of the counterparties is limited to only the recognized, but not realized, gains attributable to the contracts. Management believes that the risk of loss is remote and in any event would not be material. Costs associated with entering into such contracts have not been material to the Company’s financial results. The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company had a forward exchange contract liability of $10,393 and $453,906, respectively, representing the estimated amount that would be due to the financial institution to settle outstanding forward exchange contracts at December 31, 2005 and 2004. The net loss recognized during 2004, which represents the ineffective portion of the forward exchange contract hedge, was $453,000 and is included in other income (expense) in the accompanying 2004 statement of income.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, primarily cash, receivables, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short maturities. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the note payable to stockholder because of its unique terms, and the obligation to purchase renewable energy certificates because of their unique nature.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are the result of the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the primary (functional) currency in which the Company conducts its business. Gains and losses on those foreign currency transactions are included in determining net income for the period in which exchange rates change. Accordingly, at the date such transactions are recognized, each asset, liability, revenue, expense, gain, or loss arising from the transaction is measured and recorded in the functional currency of the Company by use of the exchange rate in effect at that date, and, at each balance-sheet date, recorded balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are adjusted to reflect the current exchange rate.

The aggregate foreign currency transaction loss included in net income (loss) for 2005, 2004, and 2003 were $293,997, $79,381, and $0, respectively.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables.

 

F-12


The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed U.S. federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

As is customary in the industry, the Company grants credit to its customers, substantially all of whom are commercial enterprises and governmental agencies. Management believes that its contract acceptance, billing, and collection policies are adequate to minimize the potential credit risk.

Concentration of Significant Vendors

As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, approximately 78% and 80%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts payable were derived from three vendors.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(R). SFAS No. 123(R) focuses primarily on transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for employee services and generally establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains goods or services in share-based payment transactions. Generally, SFAS No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statement of operations based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative upon adopting SFAS No. 123(R). SFAS No. 123(R) must be adopted by the Company no later than January 1, 2006. The Company intends to use the prospective transition method for implementing SFAS 123(R). The adoption of SFAS 123(R) will increase compensation and benefits expense beginning in the first quarter of 2006. However, the specific amount of this increase cannot be predicted at this time because it will depend on the level of share-based payments granted in the future.

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, that requires an entity to recognize a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred if the liability can be reasonably estimated. FIN 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. FIN 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. The Company has determined that this standard will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a Replacement of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and SFAS No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of a change in accounting principle. It applies both to voluntary changes and to changes required by an accounting pronouncement if the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. APB Opinion No. 20 previously required that most voluntary changes in accounting principles be recognized by recording the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company will determine the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements when an accounting change or error correction occurs.

2. Cash in Restricted Accounts

Cash in restricted accounts represents collateral for letters of credit issued by a commercial bank in favor of two of the Company’s suppliers and one customer. The funds will be released upon payment to the suppliers and the successful completion of the customer contracts.

 

F-13


3. Deferred Costs

Initial Public Offering

As of December 31, 2005, the Company was proceeding toward an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock and had incurred approximately $1,084,884 in IPO transaction-related costs which it deferred as prepaid expenses. If the Company does not proceed to an IPO, these costs will be expensed at such time.

Other

As of December 31, 2005, the Company had $6,128,899 of uninstalled materials on contracts for which title had transferred to the customer. Because these materials cannot be recognized as contract costs, they are included as deferred assets until installation.

4. Receivables

Receivables at December 31, 2005 and 2004 consists of the following:

 

     2005    2004

Current contracts

   $ 24,584,366    $ 8,148,000

Retention—contracts

     2,373,970      837,709

Unbilled incentive rebates

     13,046,203      6,116,831

VAT refund receivable

     3,752,802      910,085

Other

     843,838      483,089
             
   $ 44,601,179    $ 16,495,714
             

Retention

Retention in contracts are portions of the total billed amount withheld by customers until certain completion milestones on the contract are achieved. Such amounts and milestones are per the terms of the individual contracts with customers.

Unbilled Earned Rebates

The majority of all of the Company’s projects in the U.S. are eligible for incentive rebates under government programs administered by various state utilities. The incentive rebate is generally structured as part of the Company’s contract with its customer. The incentive rebate is not billable until the project is complete. Because of the high degree of certainty regarding realization of these rebates, the Company recognizes as a receivable a portion of the incentive rebate representing the sales value of performance under the contract. Accordingly, contract billings and receivables include earned but unbilled incentive rebates measured on a percentage-of-completion basis.

VAT Refunds Receivables

Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds receivable are amounts that the Company has previously paid to and expects to receive from governments of foreign countries in which the Company does business.

 

F-14


5. Costs and Estimated Gross Profit on Contracts in Progress

Costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in process consists of the following:

 

     2005     2004  

Costs incurred to date on contracts in progress

   $ 166,458,551     $ 80,317,070  

Estimated gross profit to date

     28,054,624       14,506,479  
                

Contract revenue earned to date

     194,513,175       94,823,549  

Less: Billings to date, including earned incentive rebates

     (213,452,552 )     (101,191,636 )
                
   $ (18,939,377 )   $ (6,368,087 )
                

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress and billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress consists of the following at December 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

     2005     2004  

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress

   $ 1,850,406     $ 1,425,154  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     (20,789,783 )     (7,793,241 )
                
   $ (18,939,377 )   $ (6,368,087 ))
                

6. Inventory

Inventory at December 31, 2005 and 2004 consists of the following:

 

     2005    2004

Raw materials

   $ 253,869    $ 97,896

Finished goods

     13,207,720      8,052,384
             
   $ 13,461,589    $ 8,150,280
             

Finished goods include $3,425,239 and $0 of goods-in-transit as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

7. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment at December 31, 2005 and 2004 consists of the following:

 

     2005     2004  

Office, computer equipment, and software

   $ 2,166,961     $ 1,589,839  

Factory fixtures and equipment

     502,736       514,600  

Automobiles

     131,200       47,041  

Leasehold improvements

     465,063       392,230  
                

Total property and equipment

     3,265,960       2,543,710  

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (2,069,875 )     (1,345,190 )
                
   $ 1,196,085     $ 1,198,520  
                

Depreciation expense was $868,970, $649,677, and $509,380 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

F-15


Property and equipment at December 31, 2005 and 2004 includes assets of $482,780 and $482,780, respectively, acquired under capital lease agreements. Accumulated amortization relating to property and equipment under capital leases totaled $252,369 and $170,263 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

8. Patents

The Company purchased two patents for $1,150,000 and $230,000 in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Patent costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of 15 years. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 was $241,016 and $70,806, respectively, and is included in research and development expenses.

Patent costs and related accumulated amortization at December 31, 2005 and 2004 consists of the following:

 

     2005     2004  

Patent costs

   $ 2,836,980     $ 1,412,435  

Less: Accumulated amortization

     (462,817 )     (221,801 )
                

Patents—net

   $ 2,374,163     $ 1,190,634  
                

Expected future amortization expense for patents for each of the next five years and thereafter is as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31

    

2006

   $ 249,562

2007

     249,562

2008

     233,377

2009

     188,229

2010

     188,229

Thereafter

     1,265,204
      

Total

   $ 2,374,163
      

In addition, the Company has patents pending in the U.S. and foreign countries. The Company has $1 million per claim up to an aggregate of $3 million in patent protection insurance for defense of its patent positions and has nondisclosure agreements signed with major solar producers, suppliers, contractors, and consultants around the world.

9. Line of Credit

At December 31, 2004, the Company had a $5 million commercial letter of credit facility and a $5.5 million revolving line of credit with a commercial bank bearing interest at 2.25% above the bank’s LIBOR rate or 0.25% above the prime rate. As of December 31, 2004, the LIBOR rate was 3.10% and the prime rate was 5.25%. The lines of credit were secured by all of the assets of the Company and were guaranteed by the Company’s principal stockholder (aggregate guaranties limited to $7 million). The credit agreements contained certain covenants with respect to maintaining specified ratios and minimum net worth. This credit facility expired on May 31, 2005. There were no outstanding borrowings under the lines of credit at December 31, 2004.

As of December 31, 2005, Company has a $12 million revolving line of credit with a commercial bank bearing interest at the prime rate plus 0.25% with an expiration date of May 31, 2006. The Company’s borrowing availability for this credit facility is the lesser of (i) $12 million, or (ii) 75% of eligible accounts receivable plus 50% of eligible inventory less the sum of all issued commercial letters of credit. Issued commercial letters of credit cannot exceed $7 million. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving line of credit are $2,527,382 at December 31, 2005. The line of credit is secured by all of the assets of the Company. The revolving line of credit agreement contains certain covenants with respect to maintaining specified ratios and minimum net worth. The Company was out of compliance with certain of these covenants as of December 31, 2005 and the bank waived all breaches of the agreement on February 21, 2006.

 

F-16


The Company had outstanding letters of credit issued under the lines of credit in the amount of $2,588,432 at December 31, 2005.

10. Trade Payables Secured by Incentive Rebates

During 2005 and 2004, the Company entered into various agreements with solar panel suppliers (the “Suppliers”) whereby the Company assigns government rebate receivables to the Suppliers as settlement against the purchase price.

Under the terms of the agreements, the Suppliers receive the payments from the government rebate agency, deduct outstanding amounts owed to them by the Company and remit the remaining balance to the Company. During 2005, Suppliers remitted the entire rebate to the Company because the Company had paid all Supplier invoices on the due dates. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, $0 and $5,657,283, respectively, was assigned to the Suppliers as settlement against the purchase price.

11. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses at December 31, 2005 and 2004 consist of the following:

 

     2005    2004

Inventory

   $ 3,425,239    $ —  

Commissions

     1,025,155      654,058

Employee compensation and related expenses

     541,328      672,334

Interest

     104,503      116,307

Royalties

     1,318,932      853,608

Sales and use tax

     336,725      600,181

VAT payable

     1,654,859      —  

Warranty accrual

     4,398,391      2,554,317

Other

     2,399,100      274,279
             
     15,204,232      5,725,084

Less: Long-term portion of warranty accrual

     3,628,392      1,960,091
             
   $ 11,575,840    $ 3,764,993
             

12. Income Tax Expense

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between financial reporting and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

 

F-17


Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 consists of the following:

 

     2005     2004     2003  

Current:

      

Federal

   $ 666,009     $ 314,418     $ 6,851  

State

     31,818       169,701       33,216  
                        
     697,827       484,119       40,067  

Deferred:

      

Federal

     (1,556,963 )     (1,242,201 )     (103,745 )

State

     (221,454 )     (229,765 )     (29,593 )
                        
     (1,778,417 )     (1,471,966 )     (133,338 )
                        
   $ (1,080,590 )   $ (987,847 )   $ (93,271 )
                        

The tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities at 2005, 2004, and 2003 consist of the following:

 

     2005     2004     2003  

Deferred tax assets:

      

Accrued expenses

   $ 3,523,887     $ 2,106,777     $ 1,293,937  

Depreciation and amortization

     149,248       135,311       94,809  

Others

     28,089       15,401       15,056  
                        

Deferred tax assets

     3,701,224       2,257,489       1,403,802  

Deferred tax liabilities:

      

Deferred gross profit on construction contracts in progress

     —         (189,203 )     (1,225,308 )

Deferred state taxes

     (165,937 )     (90,643 )     (12,523 )

Unrealized foreign currency gains

     (118,933 )     (339,706 )     —    
                        

Deferred tax liabilities

     (284,870 )     (619,552 )     (1,237,831 )
                        

Net deferred tax assets

   $ 3,416,354     $ 1,637,937     $ 165,971  
                        

Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 is reconciled from the expected tax based on the U.S. federal statutory rate applied to pre-tax earnings as follows:

 

     2005     2004     2003  

Federal tax at statutory rate of 34%

   $ (1,711,342 )   $ 499,104     $ (46,340 )

Apportioned state income taxes, net of federal benefit

     (124,440 )     (39,642 )     2,387  

Foreign income taxes

     506,379       —         (6,299 )

Extraterritorial income exclusion

     —         (419,252 )     —    

Valuation allowance adjustment

     —         (1,064,389 )     (62,850 )

Others—net

     248,813       36,332       19,811  
                        
   $ (1,080,590 )   $ (987,847 )   $ (93,291 )
                        

The net change in the total valuation allowance is as follows:

 

     2005    2004     2003  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ —      $ 1,064,389     $ 1,127,239  

Net change in valuation allowance

     173,467      (1,064,389 )     (62,850 )
                       

Balance, end of year

   $ 173,467    $ —       $ 1,064,389  
                       

 

F-18


At December 31 2003, the Company had a U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $2.7 million. At December 31 2003, the Company had a state net operating loss carryforward of approximately $2 million. The U.S. federal and state loss carryforwards were used in 2003 and 2004 to reduce taxable income. At December 31 2005, the Company had an international net operating loss carryforward of approximately $1.4 million available to reduce future taxable income.

13. Note Payable to Stockholder

On December 7, 2004, the Company issued a $2 million convertible unsecured promissory note to a stockholder. The note was convertible into either shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock when issued. The note provided for interest at an annual rate of 6%. Interest was accrued until conversion to 375,461 shares of Series C Preferred Stock during the month of April 2005. This note agreement was subordinated to any and all obligations owed by the Company to the commercial bank (see Note 9).

The Company considered EITF No. 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios, and determined that the instrument had no beneficial conversion feature at the time of issuance. As the instrument was converted under its original terms, the basis in the debt carried over to the stock issued in the exchange.

14. Obligation to Purchase California Renewable Energy Certificates

In 2005 and 2004, the Company entered into seven REC purchase contracts in the state of California with seven customers. RECs are intangible assets measured in kilowatt- or megawatt-hours of electricity and encompass the environmental benefit associated with producing clean, nonpolluting energy. California RECs are bought and sold on the voluntary market. There is a general lack of liquidity in the voluntary REC market, and the Company has therefore only sold a small portion of the California RECs it has acquired to date. As such, the Company accrues the amount of such obligation as a reduction in system installation revenue in accordance with EITF No. 01-9, Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Product). The application of the present value measurement (valuation) technique to these obligations, which are assumed in connection with sales of goods and services, has not been applied in accordance with an exception provided in APB Opinion No. 21, Interest on Receivables and Payables.

The obligations to purchase California renewable energy certificates are as follows:

 

2006

   $ 1,393,500

2007

     537,500

2008

     384,500

2009 and thereafter

     676,602
      

Total payments

   $ 2,992,102
      

15. Obligation for Purchase of Patents

In 2004, the Company acquired certain patents from a third party. The contract requires the Company to make five equal annual installment payments on or before October 1 of each year beginning in 2004. No payments have been made to the third party as of December 31, 2005 because the third party has not notified the Company in writing that all liens for the patent have been cleared, as required by the agreement.

Principal maturities of the obligation for the purchase of patents for the three years ending December 31, 2008 are as follows:

 

2006

   $ 92,000

2007

     69,000

2008

     69,000
      

Total principal payments

   $ 230,000
      

 

F-19


16. Accrued Warranty

The Company generally provides a warranty on its products for a period of five years. The Company estimates a warranty cost for each project and this amount is accrued. Warranty related costs are charged against the warranty accrual when incurred. The accrued warranty balance was $4,398,391, $2,554,317, and $1,267,883 at December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively. It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future warranty-related expenses under these or similar contracts due to the conditional nature of the Company’s obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular contract. Historically, warranty costs under these contracts have been within management’s expectations.

The movements in accrued warranty is as follows:

 

     2005     2004     2003  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 2,554,317     $ 1,267,833     $ 665,422  

Additions to the warranty reserve

     3,066,054       1,722,119       1,080,029  

Charges incurred

     (1,221,980 )     (435,685 )     (477,568 )
                        

Balance, end of year

   $ 4,398,391     $ 2,554,317     $ 1,267,883  
                        

17. Preferred Stock

Authorized Shares

The Company has authorized a total of 15 million shares of convertible preferred stock of which 810,810 shares are designated as Series A Preferred Stock, 1,516,303 are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, and 3,750,000 are designated as Series C Preferred Stock. The holders of convertible preferred stock have various rights and preference as follows:

Voting

The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters with each such share entitled to cast that number of votes as is equal to the number of shares of common stock into which such share could be converted. Except where class voting is required by law and except for the special voting rights described below, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, and common stock vote together and not as separate classes.

Dividends

Preferred Stock

No dividends or other distributions can be made with respect to the common stock during any fiscal year until all accrued and payable dividends on each then-outstanding series of preferred stock have been declared and paid or set apart during that fiscal year.

Series A, B, and C Preferred Stock

After dividends on any then-outstanding preferred stock have been declared and paid or set apart, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, and the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, dividends at the annual rate of 5% of the original issuance price for such shares on each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, are not cumulative.

 

F-20


Other Dividends

After dividends on any then outstanding preferred stock and any then-outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or set apart during that fiscal year, if the Board of Directors elects to declare additional dividends in that fiscal year, such shall be declared in equal amounts per share on all shares of preferred stock and common stock (based on the number of shares of common stock into which the preferred stock is convertible on the date of the dividend).

Declared Dividends

The Company has not declared or paid any dividends to date.

Liquidation Preference

Preferred Stock

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, and before any payment shall be made in respect of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, or the common stock, the holders of each share of preferred stock are entitled to be paid such per-share liquidation amount as may be specified with respect to such preferred stock, plus all declared and unpaid dividends.

Series C Preferred Stock

After payment to the holders of the preferred stock, the holders of each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid, before any payment shall be made in respect of common stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, or the Series B Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the sum of:

(a) $5.3268 per share plus all declared and unpaid dividends, if any; and

(b) for each share of Series C Preferred Stock, a special dividend in an amount equal to the interest that would have accrued on the amount paid to the Company for that share from the date that such share was issued at an interest rate equal to 15% per annum, compounded annually.

If, upon any such liquidation, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment in full to all holders of Series C Preferred Stock of the liquidation preference, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

Series A and B Preferred Stock

After payment to the holders of the preferred stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, the holders of each share of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid, before any payment shall be made in respect of common stock, an amount equal to $0.07523 per share and $3.567889 per share, respectively, plus all declared and unpaid dividends with respect to such shares. If, upon any such liquidation, the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to make payment in full to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock of the liquidation preference, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

Common Stock

After the payment or distribution to the holders of preferred stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, and the Series A Preferred Stock, and the Series B Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts, the holders of common stock shall be entitled to receive ratably all the remaining assets of the Company.

 

F-21


Acquisitions and Asset Transfers

An acquisition or an asset transfer shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company.

Redemption Option for Series C Preferred Stock and Related Accounting

In the event that prior to April 26, 2008, neither of the following shall have occurred: the effective date of the registration statement pertaining to an IPO or; a change of control with respect to the Company, then each investor shall have an option for one year thereafter to require that the Company redeem the Series C Preferred Stock of the Company then owned by such investor, and all shares of common stock or such lesser number of such shares as may be specified by such investor then owned by such investor which was acquired by conversion of shares of Series C Preferred Stock.

The redemption price for such shares is the aggregate amount paid by such investor to the Company for such shares plus an amount equal to the amount that would have accrued on the amount paid beginning with the date of acquisition at a rate equal to 15% per annum, compounded annually.

As a result of the redemption option, which is beyond the control of the issuer, the liquidation amount of the Series C Preferred Stock is presented outside of permanent equity in accordance with Accounting Series Release 268, Redeemable Preferred Stock.

In addition, as a result of this classification, the special dividend referred to above under a liquidation preference is deducted from net income (loss) to arrive at net income (loss) available to common shareholders and added to Series C Preferred Stock.

Conversion

Optional Conversion

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock as determined by multiplying the conversion rate applicable to such share in effect at the date of conversion by the number of shares of preferred stock being converted.

Automatic Conversion on Qualified Public Offering

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of common stock immediately upon the closing of an underwritten public offering of common stock of the Company which:

(a) will result in the listing of the Company’s common stock for trading on a national securities exchange, the NASDAQ National Market System, or the Frankfurt Stock Exchange;

(b) will result in gross proceeds in excess of $25 million; and

(c) will be at an initial price per share not less than the sum of: (a) $5.3268, and (b) the interest that would accrue on $5.3268 at 15% per annum, compounding annually, commencing on the date on which shares of Series C Preferred Stock are issued by the Company.

 

F-22


Automatic Conversion on Majority Action

Series A Preferred Stock

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of common stock immediately upon the affirmative election to convert made by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

Series B Preferred Stock

Each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of common stock immediately upon the affirmative election to convert made by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

Series C Preferred Stock

Each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of common stock immediately upon the affirmative election to convert made by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock.

Special Voting Rights

In addition to any other rights provided by law, so long as at least 2 million shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, the Company shall not, without first obtaining consent of the holders of not less than a majority of such outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (voting as a single class), take any of the following actions:

 

  (i) any merger (other than a merger with or into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company);

 

  (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

  (iii) any transaction, or series of related transactions, in which the Company will have issued shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company after giving effect to such transaction or transactions;

 

  (iv) amend or repeal any provision of, or addition of any provision to, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws if such action would alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of, or restrictions provided for the benefit of, the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock in any materially adverse manner (other than the sale and issuance of shares of preferred stock);

 

  (v) increase the authorized number of shares of common stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, or Series C Preferred Stock;

 

  (vi) declare or pay any dividend;

 

  (vii) any total or partial dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company or any transaction in the nature of thereof; or

 

  (viii) prior to April 26, 2006, any issuance of shares of preferred stock.

 

F-23


Warrants

Pursuant to an amendment to the Shareholder Rights Agreement on December 7, 2004, the Company issued to its Series B Preferred Stockholders a five-year common stock purchase warrant giving the Series B Preferred Stockholders the right to purchase up to 310,439 shares of common stock for $0.7057 per share. The warrant was issued in exchange for cancellation of certain Series B Preferred Stock redemption rights. The value of the warrant was computed using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at $133,489, and has been accounted for as a deemed dividend to the Series B preferred stockholders and an increase in paid-in capital to reflect the value of the modification.

In 2005, in connection with the issuance of Series C Preferred Stock, the Company issued to its Series C preferred stockholders warrants to purchase an aggregate of 342,082 shares of Series C Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $5.3268 per share. These warrants have a five-year term and expire in 2010. The value of the preferred stock and the value of the warrant on additional preferred stock have not been accounted for separately as the warrant is clearly and closely associated with the preferred stock.

18. Common Stock and Stock Option Plan

Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. The holders of common stock are also entitled to receive dividends whenever funds are legally available and when declared by the Board of Directors, subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes of stock outstanding.

Authorized but common shares reserved for issuance consist of the following as of December 31, 2005:

 

Preferred Stock

   4,607,661

Warrants

   652,521

Stock options

   5,637,362
    

Total common shares reserved for issuance

   10,897,544
    

In 2000, the Company adopted a stock plan (the “Plan”) under which 3,243,240 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance to employees, directors, and consultants. The number of shares available for issuance under the Plan was increased to 4,243,240 on April 26, 2005, and subsequently increased to 7,243,240 shares on October 24, 2005. Under the Plan, the Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, or stock purchase rights. The exercise price of incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options shall be no less than 100% and 85%, respectively, of the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The term of the options is ten years. Exercisability of options granted and vesting schedules are determined based on the discretion of the Board of Directors.

During 2000, the Company granted 2,802,690 options to purchase common stock outside of the Plan to a key employee and to members of the Board of Directors. The exercise price was $0.015 per share, with a ten-year option term. The weighted average fair value on the date of grant was $0.023 per share. At December 31, 2005, there were 2,266,324 options outstanding and exercisable under these option grants. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, there were 2,802,690 shares outstanding and exercisable under these option grants. The weighted average life was 4.81 years, 5.81 years, and 6.81 years at December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

F-24


Stock option activity under the Plan including the option grants to employees and nonemployees outside of the plan is as follows:

 

     Options
Available
for Grant
    Number of
Options
Outstanding
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Balance at December 31, 2002

   1,015,240     5,030,690     $ 0.1011

Granted

   (75,500 )   75,500       0.7057

Exercised

     (50,000 )     0.3500

Cancelled

   43,000     (43,000 )     0.3467
              

Balance at December 31, 2003

   982,740     5,013,190       0.1056

Granted

   (895,500 )   895,500       0.7057

Exercised

      

Cancelled

   128,500     (128,500 )     0.2138
              

Balance at December 31, 2004

   215,740     5,780,190       0.1962

Options added to pool of shares available for grant

   4,000,000      

Granted

   (1,232,838 )   1,232,838       1.0199

Exercised

   —       (1,123,116 )     0.0598

Cancelled

   252,550     (252,550 )     0.4986
              

Balance at December 31, 2005

   3,235,452     5,637,362    
              

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding December 31, 2005:

 

Options Outstanding at December 31, 2005

   Options Exercisable at
December 31, 2005

Range of

Exercise Prices

   Number
Outstanding
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Number
Exercisable
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
$     0.0150   $ 0.0150    2,266,324    4.81    $ 0.0150    2,266,324    $ 0.0150
       0.1000     0.3500    1,182,500    5.11      0.1964    1,090,600      0.1835
       0.7057     0.7057    1,165,700    8.71      0.7057    518,500      0.7057
       1.0400     1.0400    1,012,000    9.71      1.0400    3,600      1.0400
       5.2260     5.2260    10,838    4.20      5.2260    10,838      5.2260
                    
     5,637,362          3,889,862   
                    

The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2005, 2004, and 2003 were $0.18, $0.11 and $0.09, respectively. For 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company valued the options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following assumptions were used:

 

     Year Ended December 31
     2005   2004   2003

Expected dividend yield

   —  %   — %   — %

Weighted average risk-free interest rate

   4.05%   3.44%   2.67%

Fair value of underlying stock

   $0.71 to $1.06   $0.71   $0.71

Expected life

   5 years   5 years   5 years

Expected volatility

   —     —     —  

Had the Company determined compensation cost based on the fair value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, pro forma net income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 would not have differed materially from the amounts reported.

 

F-25


The following table illustrates the effect on net income (loss) and net income (loss) per common share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2005     2004     2003  

Net income (loss), as reported

   $ (3,952,769 )   $ 2,455,799     $ (43,002 )

Add: Stock based employee compensation cost included in the determination of net loss as reported

     —         —         556  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (29,958 )     (16,087 )     (8,677 )
                        

Pro forma net (loss) income

   $ (3,982,727 )   $ 2,439,712     $ (51,123 )
                        

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no restrictions and are fully transferable and negotiable in a free-trading market. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model does not consider the employment, transfer, or vesting restrictions that are inherent in the Company’s employee options. Use of an option valuation model, as required by SFAS No. 123, includes highly subjective assumptions based on long-term predictions, including the expected stock price volatility and average life of each option grant. The Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of freely traded options, and changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the Company’s estimate of the fair value of those options.

19. Stock-Based Compensation to Non-Employees

Stock-based compensation cost related to stock options granted to consultants is measured as the stock options are earned. The options were valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. During 2005, 2004 and 2003, $12,468, $16,542 and $13,505, respectively, was expensed in connection with these awards.

20. Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees

The Company entered into two separate long-term photovoltaic module supply agreements with two vendors during the fourth quarter of 2005 to purchase a total of 158.5 megawatts of photovoltaic modules at fixed prices at a cost of approximately $500 million during the period from 2006 through 2009. The agreement for 99.5 megawatts has liquidated damages up to a maximum of $10 million for the Company or the vendor in the event that either party does not deliver or receive the photovoltaic modules per the agreement terms. The agreement for 59 megawatts has liquidated damages up to a maximum of $1 million for the Company or the vendor in the event that either party does not deliver or receive the photovoltaic modules per the agreement terms; either party can terminate this agreement during or after December 2006 with a cancellation payment of $1 million. In 2005, the Company made a payment of $1 million to one of the vendors as an advance payment for delivery of photovoltaic modules. Per the contract, this payment is included in the long-term assets.

Another major supplier of photovoltaic modules notified the Company of a product defect that may affect approximately 44,000 out of the 80,785 photovoltaic modules installed by the Company during the period 2002 through 2005. The photovoltaic module defect will likely reduce the amount of electricity produced by the panels in certain climates, after five or more years in service. Because of the warranty between the supplier and the Company, the supplier has verbally agreed to replace the approximately 44,000 defective photovoltaic modules and to reimburse the Company for costs incurred, plus a markup for labor, to remove the defective panels and install the replacement modules. The Company’s estimated costs to replace all of the defective photovoltaic modules is estimated to be $10 million over a three-to-four year period. The supplier’s estimated cost for the replacement of 44,000 panels is estimated at $30 million dollars. As of December 31, 2005, the supplier provided the Company 1,149 replacement modules at no cost and the Company installed all of these replacement modules as of December 31, 2005. The Company has not accrued any costs for the replacement of these defective photovoltaic modules as of December 31, 2005 because it expects the supplier to perform under the warranty. If the supplier does not perform as expected, the Company will be exposed to those costs it would incur under its warranty with its customers. These costs would be significant.

 

F-26


The Company entered into an agreement with a customer and the customer’s lender under which the Company agreed to resell the photovoltaic system if the customer defaulted under a financing arrangement (in the form of a capital lease) with a third party. If the Company were unable to sell the equipment within a six-month period, then the Company was obligated to purchase the equipment for the lesser of $975,000, or 60% of the outstanding balance of the remaining principal payments due under the financing agreement. The Company was obligated for this amount for a period of three years from the date of final completion of the project, which was May 1, 2003. The maximum repurchase obligation at December 31, 2005 was $544,372. The Company’s obligation expired on May 1, 2006 without the occurrence of a liability.

The Company entered into agreements with certain customers under which the Company guarantees performance of the photovoltaic systems it has contracted to install. The agreements guarantee a minimum level of annual energy savings from the systems, expressed in kilowatt hours. If the photovoltaic system fails to perform in accordance with the guarantees, the Company may be subject to liquidated damages. The Company is obligated under these agreements for periods ranging from five to ten years from the date of final completion of the projects. These photovoltaic systems have all performed above the agreement requirements and the Company has not incurred any liquidated damages as of December 31, 2005.

The Company leases office space, automobiles, office and computer equipment, and factory equipment under noncancelable operating and capital leases with various expiration dates through May 2010. Automobiles, office and computer equipment, and factory equipment operating lease commitments through 2010 were $106,712 and capital lease commitments through 2009 were $384,977 at December 31, 2005. The office space leases include scheduled rent increases. The scheduled rent increases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the leases. Rent expense under the operating leases was $575,407, $395,580 and $386,185 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Future minimum lease payments under the capital leases and noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2005 consists of the following:

 

     Operating
Leases
   Capital
Leases
 

Year Ending December 31,

     

2006

   $ 40,884    $ 169,443  

2007

     29,236      121,060  

2008

     22,510      82,927  

2009

     13,680      11,547  

2010

     402      —    
               

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 106,712      384,977  
         

Less: amount representing interest

        (47,252 )
           

Present value of minimum lease payments under capital lease

        337,725  

Less: current portion

        (109,838 )
           

Capital lease obligations, net of current portion

      $ 227,887  
           

The Company underwent a sales tax audit with the California State Board of Equalization (“SBE”) in 2004. The SBE has taken the position that the Company’s lump sum contracts involve the installation of fixtures rather than materials. This position was contrary to the Company’s treatment. The estimated liability for the sales tax audit period (July 2000 to September 2003) is approximately $513,000. The Company estimates that the liability for the period of October 2003 through December 2005 would be approximately $1.3 million. The Company will appeal any assessment by the SBE on this issue. The Company has engaged a consultant to develop proposed language for a statutory amendment clarifying taxation of solar panels and related materials for California sales and use tax purposes. The Company accrued $1,300,830 and $832,128 for this matter at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and are included as part of accounts and subcontractors payable in the balance sheets.

 

F-27


The Company had a one-year exemption from German income taxation for its Bavaria projects which were all completed during the month of December 2004. The Company obtained final acceptance from the customer for these projects on June 13, 2005 and does not believe these projects were subject to German income tax on the project profits. The Company has not accrued any German income tax that may result as of December 31, 2005.

21. Retirement Plan

The Company has a 401(k) retirement plan covering substantially all full-time employees who are 21 years of age and have 1,000 hours of service. Under the 401(k) retirement plan, employees may defer a portion of their salary and the Company may make matching or discretionary contributions. The Company made a 20% matching contribution in the amount of $127,437, $91,067, and $59,152 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

22. Related-Party Transactions

Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers, and Stockholders Holding More Than 5% of Our Outstanding Common Stock

Transactions with Remaco Merger AG

Pascal Boeni, one of the Company’s Directors, is Managing Partner of Remaco Merger AG (“Remaco”), an international corporate finance consulting firm. From time to time, Remaco has provided corporate finance advisory services to the Company in regard to private placements and other financings. In July 2001, the Company signed a letter agreement with Remaco whereby Remaco agreed to provide consulting services to the Company with regards to corporate finance opportunities in Europe other than an initial public offering. Under this agreement, the Company is obligated to pay Remaco a commission ranging from 3% to 5% of the total value of any concluded transaction, with a minimum payment of 75,000 Swiss francs, or approximately $60,000 in U.S. dollars, based on a stated exchange rate. In May 2002, the Company signed a separate letter agreement with Remaco whereby Remaco agreed to provide corporate finance advisory services to the Company in regard to a private placement. Under this agreement, the Company is obligated to pay Remaco a commission of 3% of the transaction value, with a minimum payment of $50,000. In 2005, the Company agreed to pay Remaco a finder’s fee of 4% on the gross proceeds of any investment in Series C Preferred Stock originated by Remaco, 2% of which was payable upon closing of such an investment, and 2% of which was payable upon a liquidation event, including an initial public offering or sale of the Company. The Company paid such fee in the amount of $66,000 at closing in connection with the Series C Preferred Stock investment by PNE Invest Ltd. The remaining contingent fee of 2% will be paid and recognized upon the occurrence of a liquidation event, if any.

Compensation Related to Certain Personal Guaranties

Each individual who, at the Company’s request, provides his or her personal guaranty of our indebtedness (whether to banks, to bonding companies, or otherwise), is entitled to receive, upon request, compensation for such personal guaranty in an amount equal to the product of: (a) 0.25%, and (b) the principal amount so guarantied. Such compensation due an individual for any calendar year, less all applicable withholding and payroll taxes, shall be due and payable upon demand by such individual made at any time during the course of such calendar year.

Thomas L. Dinwoodie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, provided a personal guaranty for the Company’s revolving credit facility that expired in May 2006 and is thus entitled to receive, upon request, compensation in the amount of $125,000 during each of the 2005 and 2006 calendar years. Mr. Dinwoodie was removed as personal guarantor during revisions to the credit facility effected on June 21, 2005. Mr. Dinwoodie has waived his right to this compensation. The Company has accounted for the benefit as a charge to interest expense and an increase in paid-in-capital in the amount of $125,000 for 2005.

 

F-28


23. Subsequent Events

Contract

During the month of February 2006, the Company entered into a €56.6 million fixed price contract to design and build a large solar power plant at a single site in Southern Europe. The project’s estimated completion is during the month of January 2007. The Company has also entered into an agreement with a leading local renewable energy company that secured permitting and land rights for this project, which can result in additional project revenues for the Company up to a maximum of €2.0 million. There are several contingent events such as funding from a government agency and meeting all of the required contract milestones before the Company earns these additional revenues.

Supply Agreement

On May 18, 2006, the Company entered into a long-term supply agreement to procure solar cells during the five-year period from 2006 to 2011 with an estimated total purchase price between $165 million and $180 million dollars. The Company will use the solar cells to manufacture solar panels needed to complete future contracts in North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company has entered into this agreement as a firm commitment on a take or pay basis. If the Company does not take delivery of its monthly order commitments, the Company will owe late delivery penalties beginning at the rate of 1% up to a maximum of 10% of the gross purchase price of the solar cells not taken and the manufacturer will then be able to reduce the Company’s future minimum commitments. If the manufacturer does not deliver the monthly order commitments to the Company, the manufacturer will owe late delivery penalties to the Company beginning at the rate of 1% up to a maximum of 10% of the gross purchase price of the solar cells not delivered and the Company will then be able to reduce future minimum commitments.

Line of Credit

In March 2006, the Company negotiated a $15 million revolving line of credit with a commercial bank bearing interest at the prime rate plus 0.5% with an expiration date of January 2, 2007. The Company’s borrowing availability for this credit facility is the lesser of: (i) $15 million; or (ii) 75% of eligible accounts receivable plus 50% of eligible inventory less the sum of all issued commercial letters of credit. Issued commercial letters of credit cannot exceed $9 million. The line of credit is secured by all of the assets of the Company. The revolving line of credit agreement contains certain covenants with respect to maintaining specified ratios and minimum net worth.

The Company’s revolving line of credit with the commercial bank was increased on June 19, 2006 to $25 million , bearing interest at the prime rate plus 1.75%. The Company’s borrowing availability for this credit facility is the lesser of (i) $25 million or (ii) the sum of 75% of eligible accounts receivable, 50% of eligible inventory, 50% of eligible earned rebates, and 100% of pledged cash collateral. The Company is in default under several covenants on the credit facility (which had an outstanding balance at December 31, 2005 of $2,527,000). As of August 31, 2006, the outstanding balance of the revolving line of credit was $12,262,618. Management is in discussions with the lender, and expects to resolve this matter with the lender, or otherwise, without significantly impacting the Company’s liquidity position.

24. Events Subsequent to July 31, 2006

Supply Agreement

On August 31, 2006, the Company entered into a long-term solar-cell supply agreement to procure solar cells during the five-year period from 2007 to 2011 with an estimated total purchase price between €94 million and €130 million. The Company will use the solar cells to manufacture solar panels needed to complete future contracts in North America, Europe, and Asia. In connection with this agreement, the Company is required to make advance payment deposits of €1 million and €2.5 million in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The Company has entered into this agreement as a firm commitment on a take or pay basis.

 

F-29


Product Warranty Arrangement

On August 30, 2006, an agreement was signed by the Company with a major supplier in which the verbal agreement to replace the defective solar panels and reimburse the Company for costs incurred, was formalized (see Note 20).

25. Events Subsequent to August 31, 2006 (Unaudited)

On November 15, 2006, the Company signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by SunPower Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. The total consideration for the acquisition consists of cash and stock upfront plus a retention carve-out vesting over 2 to 4 years. The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free merger for the Company’s shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by PowerLight’s shareholders and regulators. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2007. The terms of the merger included a solar panel supply agreement.

 

F-30


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

     September 30
2006
    December 31
2005(1)
 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 20,611,637     $ 6,928,096  

Cash in restricted accounts

     —         923,182  

Receivables

     46,972,207       44,601,179  

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress

     5,317,877       1,850,406  

Inventory

     22,887,515       13,461,589  

Prepaid expenses

     2,626,547       2,706,818  

Deferred costs

     38,752,485       7,213,783  

Income taxes receivable

     1,174,089       1,153,205  

Deferred income taxes

     3,349,825       3,135,567  
                

Total current assets

     141,692,182       81,973,825  

Long-term assets:

    

Property and equipment, net

     1,822,779       1,196,085  

Patents, net

     2,312,275       2,374,163  

Deferred income taxes

     249,983       280,787  

Other assets

     8,218,685       1,099,049  
                

Total long-term assets

     12,603,722       4,950,084  
                

Total assets

   $ 154,295,904     $ 86,923,909  
                

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity deficit

    

Current liabilities:

    

Notes payable

   $ 17,095,331     $ 2,527,382  

Accounts and subcontractors payable

     38,534,196       29,875,686  

Trade payables secured by incentive rebates

     7,053,042       —    

Accrued expenses

     11,160,469       11,575,840  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     56,376,613       20,789,783  

Current maturities of obligations under capital leases

     53,950       109,838  

Current maturities of obligations to purchase renewable energy certificates

     686,500       1,380,000  

Current maturities of obligation for purchase of patents

     92,000       92,000  

Other

     634,375       —    
                

Total current liabilities

     131,686,476       66,350,529  

Long-term liabilities:

    

Obligations under capital leases, net of current maturities

     55,524       227,888  

Obligations to purchase renewable energy certificates, net of current maturities

     1,334,122       1,612,101  

Obligation for purchase of patents, net of current maturities

     138,000       138,000  

Accrued warranty, net of current portion

     3,101,730       3,628,392  

Other

     141,261       —    
                

Total long-term liabilities

     4,770,637       5,606,381  
                

Total liabilities

     136,457,113       71,956,910  

Preferred stock with redemption rights:

    

Convertible Series C; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 3,750,000 shares; 2,280,548 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005; liquidation preference of $14,585,723

     14,585,723       13,110,761  

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; authorized 15,000,000 shares

    

Convertible Series A; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 810,810 shares; 810,810 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005; liquidation preference of $61,000

     61,000       61,000  

Convertible Series B; $0.0001 par value per share; designated 1,516,303 shares; 1,516,303 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005; liquidation preference of $5,410,000

     9,256,561       9,256,561  

Common stock: $0.0001 par value per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 11,437,216 and 11,123,116 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

     1,143       1,112  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,367,699       1,737,577  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     131,058       17,926  

Accumulated deficit

     (8,564,393 )     (9,217,938 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     3,253,068       1,856,238  
                

Total liabilities, preferred stock with redemption rights and stockholders’ equity

   $ 154,295,904     $ 86,923,909  
                

(1) Amounts are derived from the Company’s December 31, 2005 audited consolidated financial statements

See accompanying notes.

 

F-31


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2006     2005  

Contract revenue

   $ 140,093,957     $ 66,723,321  

Direct costs

     120,623,445       60,784,711  
                

Gross profit from contracting

     19,470,512       5,938,610  

Operating expenses:

    

Selling and marketing

     5,342,642       3,920,296  

General and administrative

     9,802,576       6,834,319  

Research and development

     527,963       375,608  
                

Total operating expenses

     15,673,181       11,130,223  
                

Income (loss) from operations

     3,797,331       (5,191,613 )

Interest expense

     (741,183 )     (169,065 )

Other income (expense)

     (315,951 )     283,124  
                

Income (loss) before income taxes

     2,740,197       (5,077,554 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     613,497       (1,090,074 )
                

Net income (loss)

     2,126,700       (3,987,480 )

Less: Deemed dividends on Preferred Stock

     (1,474,962 )     (930,448 )
                

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

   $ 651,738     $ (4,917,928 )
                

See accompanying notes.

 

F-32


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,126,700     $ (3,987,480 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     684,452       764,362  

Stock compensation expense

     330,119       —    

Increase in equity for services rendered

     125,000       125,000  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     114,939       (18,088 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Receivables

     (2,371,028 )     (11,463,163 )

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress

     (3,467,471 )     (4,562,830 )

Prepaid expenses and deposits

     80,271       (1,189,577 )

Inventory

     (9,425,926 )     (1,639,279 )

Accounts and subcontractors payable

     14,345,424       13,682,434  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     35,586,830       6,104,300  

Income taxes payable

     (20,884 )     (800,072 )

Deferred and other assets

     (38,658,338 )     (1,143,952 )

Deferred income taxes

     (183,454 )     (1,287,863 )
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (733,366 )     (5,416,208 )

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Increase in restricted cash

     923,182       (300,133 )

Purchase of property and equipment

     (1,120,681 )     (685,929 )

Capitalized patent costs

     (128,577 )     (1,332,706 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (326,076 )     (2,318,768 )

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Net proceeds under line of credit

     4,567,949       420,588  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     140,872       —    

Proceeds from sale of preferred stock, net of issue costs (net of $2,000,000 from conversion of note payable)

     —         10,081,972  

Proceeds from issuance of note payable

     10,000,000       —    

Tax benefit associated with stock option exercises

     34,162       —    
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     14,742,983       10,502,560  

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     13,683,541       2,767,584  

Cash and cash equivalents, January 1

     6,928,096       2,453,127  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, September 30

   $ 20,611,637     $ 5,220,711  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

F-33


PowerLight Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation and Certain Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation for Interim Financial Reporting

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position of PowerLight Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2006 and the statements of income and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, have been omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited December 31, 2005 consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included therein. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the subsidiary accounts of the Company: PowerLight Systems AG, PowerLight GmbH, PowerLight Energias Renovaveis Unipessoal Limitada and PowerLight Systems Spain, S.L. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities including accrued warranty, royalty and commission, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, and Related Implementation Issues (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a Company’s financial statements in accordance with FASB 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective as of the beginning of fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of implementing this new standard.

In July 2006, the FASB issued EITF Issue No. 06-3, How Taxes Collected from Customers Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should be Presented in the Income Statement (that is, Gross versus Net Presentation). The adoption of EITF No. 06-3 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company’s accounting policy is to present the above mentioned taxes on a net basis, excluded from revenues.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value instruments. This statement does not require any new fair value measurements; rather, it applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. The provisions of this statement are to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which this statement is initially applied, with any transition adjustment recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007; therefore, the Company anticipates adopting this standard as of January 1, 2008. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

2. Deferred Costs and Prepaid Expenses

Initial Public Offering

As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company was proceeding toward an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its common stock and had incurred approximately $1,410,184 and $1,084,884, respectively, in IPO transaction-related external costs which it deferred as prepaid expenses. As a result of the agreement to be acquired by SunPower Corporation (“SunPower”) signed on November 15, 2006 as discussed in Note 10, the IPO is no longer planned. Accordingly, these costs will be written off in the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

F-34


Other

As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had $37,799,686 and $6,128,899, respectively, of uninstalled materials on contracts for which title had transferred to the customer. Because these materials cannot be recognized as contract costs, they are included as deferred assets until installation.

3. Inventory Components

Inventory consists of the following:

 

     September 30,
2006
   December 31,
2005

Inventory

     

Raw materials

   $ 1,832,475    $ 253,869

Finished goods

     21,055,040      13,207,720
             
   $ 22,887,515    $ 13,461,589
             

4. Costs and Estimated Gross Profit on Contracts in Progress

Costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in process consist of the following:

 

     September 30,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

Costs incurred to date on contracts in progress

   $ 229,178,729     $ 166,458,551  

Estimated gross profit to date

     36,767,241       28,054,624  
                

Contract revenue earned to date

     265,945,970       194,513,175  

Less: Billings to date, including earned incentive rebates

     (317,004,706 )     (213,452,552 )
                
   $ (51,058,736 )   $ (18,939,377 )
                

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress and billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress consist of the following:

 

     September 30,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

Costs and estimated gross profit in excess of billings on contracts in progress

   $ 5,317,877     $ 1,850,406  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     (56,376,613 )     (20,789,783 )
                
   $ (51,058,736 )   $ (18,939,377 )
                

5. Income Tax Expense

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between financial reporting and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

Income tax expense (benefit) for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 is reconciled from the expected tax based on the federal statutory rate applied to pre-tax earnings as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2006     2005  

Federal tax at statutory rate of 34%

   $ 931,667     ($ 1,726,368 )

Apportioned state income taxes, net of federal benefit

     124,065       (125,533 )

Foreign income taxes

     (235,000 )     205,899  

Valuation allowance adjustment

     (186,000 )     0  

Other

     (21,235 )     555,928  
                

Total

   $ 613,497     ($ 1,090,074 )
                

 

F-35


At December 31, 2005, the Company had an international net operating loss carryforward of approximately $1.4 million. The entire international net operating loss carryforward was used to reduce taxable income at September 30, 2006.

6. Line of Credit

As of December 31, 2005, the Company had a $12 million revolving line of credit with a commercial bank bearing interest at the prime rate plus 0.25% with an expiration date of May 31, 2006. The Company’s borrowing availability for this credit facility was the lesser of (i) $12 million, or (ii) 75% of eligible accounts receivable plus 50% of eligible inventory less the sum of all issued commercial letters of credit. Issued commercial letters of credit could not exceed $7 million. The line of credit was secured by all of the assets of the Company and contained certain covenants with respect to maintaining specified ratios and minimum net worth. The Company was out of compliance with certain of these covenants as of December 31, 2005 and the bank waived all breaches of the agreement on February 21, 2006. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving line of credit were $2,527,382 at December 31, 2005. The Company had outstanding letters of credit issued under the line of credit in the amount of $2,588,432 at December 31, 2005.

In March and June 2006, the Company renegotiated its line of credit. As of September 30, 2006, the Company had a $25 million revolving line of credit with the commercial bank bearing interest at the prime rate plus 1.75% with an expiration date of January 2, 2007. The Company’s borrowing availability for this credit facility is the lesser of (i) $25 million or (ii) the sum of 75% of eligible accounts receivable, 50% of eligible inventory, 50% of eligible earned rebates, and 100% of pledged cash collateral less the sum of outstanding balances of all issued commercial and standby letters of credit. Issued commercial letters of credit cannot exceed $9 million. The line of credit is secured by all of the assets of the Company. The revolving line of credit agreement contains certain covenants with respect to maintaining specified ratios and minimum net worth. The Company is in default under several covenants on the credit facility, which were waived or amended by an Amendment and Waiver Letter (“Letter”) dated November 30, 2006. The credit facility was also extended to April 30, 2007 by this Letter. As of September 30, 2006, the outstanding balance of the revolving line of credit was $7,062,426. The Company also had outstanding letters of credit issued under the line of credit in the amount of $4,550,190 at September 30, 2006.

On November 15, 2006, the Company agreed to be acquired by SunPower as discussed in Note 10. The merger and change of control are events of default under the loan agreement, and therefore, all principal and interest would be due and payable upon merger. SunPower has indicated that they intend to pay off the balance of the loan and all accrued interest, and make suitable arrangements for the outstanding letters of credit.

7. Note Payable to SunPower

On June 27, 2006, the Company issued a $10 million convertible unsecured promissory note to SunPower. The note bears interest on the unpaid principal amount at a variable rate adjusted quarterly and equal to the greater of 6.0% or the applicable federal rate for short-term loans, compounded on an annual basis. The note matures and is due and payable, together with accrued but unpaid interest, on the earliest of (i) June 30, 2007, or (ii) the receipt of cash proceeds from the issuance of capital stock by the Company, subject to certain conditions. In the event the Company consummates an equity financing prior to maturity, SunPower may, at its sole election, convert all or any portion of the principal and accrued but unpaid interest to a sufficient number of shares of the Company’s capital stock issued in such financing, when the fair market value of such shares is equal to the principal and unpaid interest using a price per share equal to the price per share paid by the other third party investors. SunPower has signed a subordination agreement with PowerLight’s bank, and therefore, this note is subordinated to the obligations under the bank’s line of credit.

On November 15, 2006, the Company agreed to be acquired by SunPower as discussed further in Note 10.

8. Stock Options and Share-Based Compensation Expense

The Company has a stock plan (the “2000 Plan”) under which 7,243,240 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for issuance to employees, directors, and consultants. At September 30, 2006, 2,960,090 shares remain available for grant. Under the 2000 Plan, the Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, or stock purchase rights. The exercise price of incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options shall be no less than 100% and 85%, respectively, of the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the grant date, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. The options generally vest over five years and expire ten years from the grant date. Exercisability of options granted and vesting schedules are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

During 2000, the Company granted 2,802,690 options to purchase common stock outside of the 2000 Plan to a key employee and to members of the Board of Directors. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, there were 2,266,324 options outstanding and exercisable at $0.02 per share. The options expire ten years from the grant date.

 

F-36


A summary of all option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is presented below:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(Years)
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

Options outstanding at December 31, 2005

   5,637,362     $ 0.39      

Granted

   667,500     $ 6.33      

Exercised

   (314,100 )   $ 0.45      

Forfeited

   (377,000 )   $ 1.00      

Expired

   (15,138 )   $ 3.94      
              

Options outstanding at September 30, 2006

   5,598,624     $ 1.04    6.0    $ 53,499,157
              

Options vested and expected to vest after September 30, 2006

   5,461,833     $ 0.98    6.0    $ 52,541,943

Options exercisable at September 30, 2006

   3,835,924     $ 0.18    4.7    $ 39,977,374

The intrinsic value represents the difference between the Company’s stock price as determined by the Company based on the work of an independent valuation specialist at September 30, 2006 of $10.60 and the option exercise price of the shares multiplied by the number of options outstanding.

The total intrinsic value of options at the date of exercise was $216,428 for options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The tax benefit realized from stock option exercises during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $88,645 and none, respectively.

The options outstanding as of September 30, 2006 have been segregated into ranges for additional disclosure as follows:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of Exercise Prices

   Number
of Shares
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  

Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life

(Years)

   Number
of Shares
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$ 0.02 to $ 0.02

   2,266,324    $ 0.02    4.1    2,266,324    $ 0.02

$ 0.10 to $ 0.71

   1,989,400    $ 0.44    6.1    1,402,000    $ 0.34

$ 1.04 to $ 1.06

   750,400    $ 1.04    9.0    167,600    $ 1.04

$ 7.00 to $ 7.00

   592,500    $ 7.00    9.7    —      $ —  
                  

$ 0.02 to $ 7.00

   5,598,624    $ 1.04    6.0    3,835,924    $ 0.18
                  

Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) and Share-Based Compensation Expense

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, (“SFAS 123(R)”), which requires the Company to measure the stock-based compensation costs of share-based compensation arrangements based on the grant-date fair value, and recognize the costs in the financial statements over the employee requisite service period. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the fair values of these awards, which have graded vesting, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of each of these awards, net of estimated forfeitures.

The Company used the prospective transition method and, therefore, stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes all stock-based compensation awards granted or modified on or after January 1, 2006 based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). The financial statements for prior periods are not restated.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula. The Company’s expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and was calculated as the average of the option vesting and contractual terms, based on the simplified method provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107. During 2006, the Company’s expected volatility is based on the average weekly historical volatility over the expected term of its awards of various comparable companies, adjusted for mean-reversion. The Company has historically not paid dividends on common stock and has no foreseeable plans to issue dividends. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with an equivalent term.

 

F-37


The fair value of the Company’s stock options granted for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was estimated using the following weighted average assumptions:

 

Dividend yield

     None  

Expected volatility

     65 %

Risk-free interest rate

     5.1 %

Expected term

     6.5 years  

Weighted average fair value at grant date

   $ 6.96  

At September 30, 2006, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to employee options was $3,808,801, net of estimated forfeitures. The remaining unamortized cost will be amortized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years.

The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense by expense category for employee options for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:

 

Selling and marketing

   $ 139,991

General and administrative

     151,067

Cost of goods sold

     18,317

Research and development

     197
      

Total share-based compensation expense

   $ 309,573
      

No stock-based compensation costs have been capitalized to date.

Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company presented all tax benefits for deductions resulting from the exercise of stock options and disqualifying dispositions as operating cash flows on its consolidated statement of cash flows. SFAS 123(R) requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation expense to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow. This requirement will reduce net operating cash flows and increase net financing cash flows in periods after adoption. Total cash flow will remain unchanged from what would have been reported under prior accounting rules.

Fiscal 2005 SFAS 123 Pro-forma Disclosures

Prior to the fiscal 2006 adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company accounted for employee options on the intrinsic value approach as defined under Accounting Principles Board No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB No. 25”). In addition, for disclosure purposes, a pro-forma estimate of employee option expense was based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”), as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure, and related interpretations. For SFAS 123 disclosure purposes, the Company valued the employee options using the Black-Scholes valuation model with the minimum value approach, which assumes a zero volatility rate. The minimum value of the Company’s stock options granted for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was estimated using the following weighted average assumptions:

 

Dividend yield

     None  

Expected volatility

     0 %

Risk-free interest rate

     4.1 %

Expected term

     5.0 years  

Weighted average minimum value at grant date

   $ 0.18  

The following table illustrates the effect on net loss after tax for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as if the Company had applied the minimum value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based compensation for employee options:

 

Net income, as reported

   $ 2,126,699

Add: Compensation expense reported in net loss, net of tax effects

     —  

Deduct: Fair value method expense, net of related tax

     19,198
      

Pro-forma net income

   $ 2,107,501
      

Share-Based Payments to Non-Employees

Share-based payments for options granted to consultants are measured as the stock options are earned. The options were valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, $20,546 and $88,278, respectively, was expensed in connection with these awards. At September 30, 2006, the total unrecognized stock-based cost related to consultants’ options granted under the 2000 Plan was $10,560, net of estimated forfeitures. The remaining unamortized cost will be amortized over a weighted average period of 3.8 years.

 

F-38


9. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

The Company entered into two separate long-term photovoltaic panel supply agreements with two vendors on September 27, 2005 and November 3, 2005 to purchase up to a total of 158.5 megawatts (of which 35 megawatts was optional to the Company, subject to certain limitations) of photovoltaic panels at fixed prices at a cost of approximately $500 million during the period from 2006 through 2009. The agreement for 99.5 megawatts has liquidated damages up to a maximum of $10 million for the Company or the vendor in the event that either party fulfill its quantity commitments per the agreement terms. The agreement for 59 megawatts (including the 35 megawatt option) had mutually imposed liquidated damages of $200 per kilowatt of quarterly or annual quantity shortfalls (subject to certain limitations), but allowed either party to terminate the agreement on six months’ notice with a cancellation payment of $1 million. The agreement for 59 megawatts was amended in June 2006 to revise the contract term to run through 2008, to reduce the total quantity commitment to 27.5 megawatts at a total cost of approximately $98 million, and to increase the early termination fee to $5 million for either party. As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company has made payments totaling $5 million and $1 million, respectively, to one of the vendors as advance payments for delivery of PV panels. Per the contract, these advance payments are included in long-term assets on the balance sheet.

Another major supplier of photovoltaic panels notified the Company of a product defect that may affect approximately 37,000 out of the 105,000 photovoltaic panels installed by the Company during the period 2002 through September 2006. The photovoltaic panel defect will likely reduce the amount of electricity produced by the panels in certain climates, after five or more years in service. On August 31, 2006 the supplier executed an agreement with the Company to replace the approximately 37,000 defective photovoltaic panels and to reimburse the Company for costs incurred, plus a markup for labor and associated balance of materials, to remove the defective panels and install the replacement panels. The Company will manage the replacement program and handle all de-installation and re-installation work, which is expected to commence in 2008. The Company’s estimated costs to replace all of the defective photovoltaic panels is estimated to be $10 million over a three-to-four year period. The supplier’s estimated cost for the replacement of 37,000 panels is estimated at $30 million dollars. As of September 30, 2006, the supplier provided the Company approximately 2,500 replacement panels under its original warranty terms at no cost and the Company installed all of these replacement panels as of September 30, 2006. The Company has not accrued any costs for the replacement of these defective photovoltaic panels as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 because it expects the supplier to perform under the terms of this agreement. If the supplier does not perform as expected, the Company will be exposed to those costs it would incur under its warranty with its customers. These costs would be significant.

The Company entered into agreements with certain customers under which the Company guarantees performance of the photovoltaic systems it has contracted to install. The agreements guarantee a minimum level of annual energy savings from the systems, expressed in kilowatt hours. If the photovoltaic system fails to perform in accordance with the guarantees, the Company may be subject to liquidated damages. The Company is obligated under these agreements for periods ranging from five to ten years from the date of final completion of the projects. These photovoltaic systems have all performed above the agreement requirements and the Company has not incurred any liquidated damages related to performance guarantees as of September 30, 2006.

On May 18, 2006, the Company entered into a long-term solar cell supply agreement to procure 60-70 megawatts of solar cells during the five-year period from 2006 to 2011 with an estimated total purchase price between $165 million and $180 million dollars. The Company will use the solar cells to manufacture photovoltaic panels needed to complete future contracts in North America, Europe, and Asia. The parties entered into this agreement as a firm commitment to meet specified annual quantities on a full take or pay basis. If the Company does not take delivery of its monthly order commitments, the Company will owe late delivery penalties beginning at the rate of 1% up to a maximum of 10% of the gross purchase price of the solar cells not taken and the manufacturer will then be able to reduce its annual minimum commitment for that year. If the manufacturer does not deliver the monthly order commitments to the Company, the manufacturer will owe late delivery penalties to the Company beginning at the rate of 1% up to a maximum of 10% of the gross purchase price of the solar cells not delivered and the Company will then be able to reduce its annual minimum commitment for that year. Payment of these penalties for failure to meet monthly quantity obligations does not eliminate the penalized party’s obligation to fulfill its annual firm commitment on a full take or pay basis. No penalties have been incurred by either party as of September 30, 2006.

On August 31, 2006, the Company entered into a long-term solar-cell supply agreement to procure 50-70 megawatts of solar cells during the five-year period from 2007 to 2011 with an estimated total purchase price between €94 million and €130 million. The Company will use the solar cells to manufacture photovoltaic panels needed to complete future contracts in North America, Europe, and/or Asia. Under terms of the agreement, the Company is required to make advance payment deposits of €1 million and €2.5 million on January 15, 2007 and 2008, respectively. The Company has entered into this agreement as a firm commitment on a take or pay basis.

The Company leases office space, automobiles, office and computer equipment, and factory equipment under noncancelable operating and capital leases with various expiration dates through June 2011. Automobiles, office and computer equipment, and factory equipment operating lease commitments through 2010 were $75,246 and capital lease commitments through 2009 were $109,474 at September 30, 2006. The office space leases include scheduled rent increases. The scheduled rent increases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the leases. Rent expense under the operating leases was $525,406 and $435,073 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

F-39


Future minimum lease payments under the capital leases and noncancelable operating leases as of September 30, 2006 consists of the following:

 

     Operating Leases    Capital Leases  

Year Ending December 31,

     

2006 (remaining three months)

   $ 9,418    $ 16,538  

2007

     29,236      50,158  

2008

     22,510      36,756  

2009

     13,680      11,547  

2010

     402      —    
               

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 75,246      114,999  
         

Less: amount representing interest

        (5,525 )
           

Present value of minimum lease payments under capital lease

        109,474  

Less: current portion

        (53,950 )
           

Capital lease obligations, net of current portion

      $ 55,524  
           

The Company underwent a sales tax audit with the California State Board of Equalization (“SBE”) in 2004. The SBE has taken the position that the Company’s lump sum contracts involve the installation of fixtures rather than materials. This position was contrary to the Company’s initial treatment. The estimated liability for the sales tax audit period (July 2000 to September 2003) is approximately $513,000. The Company estimates that the liability for the period of October 2003 through December 2005 would be approximately $1.3 million. The Company will appeal any assessment by the SBE on this issue. The Company has engaged a consultant to develop proposed language for a statutory amendment clarifying taxation of photovoltaic solar panels and related materials for California sales and use tax purposes. The Company accrued $1,156,750 and $1,300,830 for this matter using the SBE methodology at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively, which are included as part of accounts and subcontractors payable in the balance sheets. Additionally the Company has paid $381,723 to the SBE related to this audit. The actual amount of the obligation would be reduced to the extent the appeal is successful; any such reduction in the obligation will be recorded when the appeal process is completed.

10. Related-Party Transactions

Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers, and Stockholders Holding More Than 5% of the Company’s Outstanding Common Stock

Transactions with Remaco Merger AG

Pascal Boeni, one of the Company’s Directors, is Managing Partner of Remaco Merger AG (“Remaco”), an international corporate finance consulting firm. From time to time, Remaco has provided corporate finance advisory services to the Company in regard to private placements and other financings. In 2005, the Company agreed to pay Remaco a finder’s fee of 4% on the gross proceeds of any investment in Series C Preferred Stock originated by Remaco, 2% of which was payable upon closing of such an investment, and 2% of which was payable upon a liquidation event, including an initial public offering or sale of the Company. The Company paid such fee in the amount of $66,000 at closing in connection with the Series C Preferred Stock investment by PNE Invest Ltd. The remaining contingent fee of 2% will be paid and recognized upon the occurrence of a liquidation event, if any.

Compensation Related to Certain Personal Guaranties

Each individual who, at the Company’s request, provides his or her personal guaranty of our indebtedness (whether to banks, to bonding companies, or otherwise), is entitled to receive, upon request, compensation for such personal guaranty in an amount equal to the product of: (a) 0.25%, and (b) the principal amount so guarantied. Such compensation due an individual for any calendar year, less all applicable withholding and payroll taxes, shall be due and payable upon demand by such individual made at any time during the course of such calendar year.

Thomas L. Dinwoodie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, provided a personal guaranty for the Company’s revolving credit facility that expired in May 2006 and is thus entitled to receive, upon request, compensation in the amount of $125,000 during each of the 2005 and 2006 calendar years. Mr. Dinwoodie was removed as personal guarantor during revisions to the credit facility effected on June 21, 2005. Mr. Dinwoodie has waived his right to this compensation. The Company has accounted for the benefit as a charge to interest expense and an increase in paid-in-capital in the amount of $125,000 and $125,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

F-40


Purchase of Software and Services from AutoDesk, Inc.

In April through July 2006, the Company entered into agreements to purchase project design and management software and related services totaling approximately $346,000 from AutoDesk, Inc. Carl Bass, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and Audit Committee, is President, Chief Executive Officer, director and a significant shareholder of AutoDesk, Inc.

11. Subsequent Events

On November 15, 2006, the Company signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by SunPower Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. The total consideration for the acquisition consists of cash and stock upfront plus a retention carve-out vesting over 2 to 4 years. The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free merger for the Company’s shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by PowerLight’s shareholders and regulators. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2007. The terms of the merger included a solar panel supply agreement.

On December 7, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with a vendor to purchase photovoltaic panel manufacturing services during 2007 and 2008 at an aggregate cost range of €12 million to €18 million. Under terms of the agreement, the Company will provide the vendor with the required solar cells and the vendor will manufacture the panels according to mutually agreed to specifications. The supply agreement expires on December 31, 2008, but may be cancelled by either party with six months notice.

 

F-41

Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial info., as of Sept. 30, 2006

Exhibit 99.2

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Introduction to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

On January 10, 2007 the (“Effective Date”), SunPower Corporation (“SunPower” or the “Company”) completed the previously announced merger transaction (the “Merger”) involving the Company, Pluto Acquisition Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”) and PowerLight Corporation, a California corporation (“PowerLight”). As a result of the Merger, PowerLight has become a wholly owned subsidiary of SunPower.

Upon the completion of the Merger, all of the outstanding shares of PowerLight, and a portion of each vested option to purchase shares of PowerLight, were cancelled, and all of the outstanding options to purchase shares of PowerLight (other than the portion of each vested option that was cancelled) were assumed, by SunPower, in exchange for aggregate consideration of (i) approximately $120.7 million in cash plus (ii) a total of 5,708,723 shares of SunPower’s class A common stock, inclusive of (a) 1,601,839 shares of SunPower class A common stock which may be issued upon the exercise of assumed vested and unvested PowerLight stock options, which options vest on the same schedule as the assumed PowerLight stock options, and (b) 1,675,881 shares of SunPower class A common stock issued to employees of the PowerLight business in the Merger, which shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions and a repurchase option by the Company, both of which lapse over a two-year period under the terms of certain equity restriction agreements. The Company is also obligated under the terms of the Merger Agreement to issue an additional 200,841 shares of restricted SunPower class A common stock (such shares, the “Bonus Pool”) to certain employees of the PowerLight business, which shares will be subject to certain transfer restrictions which will lapse over 4 years.

SunPower’s fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending the Sunday closest to December 31, with quarters of 13 or 14 weeks ending the Sunday closest to March 31, June 30 and September 30 of each year. PowerLight’s fiscal year ends on December 31 of each year. For presentation purposes only, the accompanying unaudited condensed combined financial statements and related notes refer to the calendar year end and month end of each respective period. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet is based on the historical condensed consolidated balance sheets of each of SunPower and PowerLight as of September 30, 2006, and has been prepared to reflect the Merger as if it had been consummated on September 30, 2006. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations give effect to the Merger as if it had been completed on January 1, 2005. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 combines SunPower’s and PowerLight’s respective historical consolidated statements of operations for their 2005 fiscal year. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 combines SunPower’s and PowerLight’s respective historical consolidated statements of operations for the nine months then ended.

The Merger is being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 141, Business Combinations. Under the purchase method of accounting, the total purchase price, calculated as described in Note 1 to these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, is allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets of PowerLight based on their fair values. Management has made a preliminary allocation of the estimated purchase price to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on various estimates. A final determination of these estimated fair values will be based on the actual net tangible and intangible assets of PowerLight that existed as of the Effective Date.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are based on the estimates and assumptions which are preliminary and have been made solely for purposes of developing such pro forma information. They do not include liabilities that may result from integration activities which are not presently estimable. Management is in the process of making these assessments, and estimates of these costs are not currently known. However, liabilities ultimately may be recorded for severance costs, costs of vacating some facilities or other costs associated with exiting activities of PowerLight that would affect the pro forma financial statements. In addition, the pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not include any potential operating efficiencies or cost savings from expected synergies of combining the companies. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are not necessarily an indication of the results that would have been achieved had the

 

1


Merger been consummated as of the dates indicated or that may be achieved in the future. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are based upon the historical consolidated financial statements of each of SunPower and PowerLight and should be read in conjunction with:

 

    the accompanying notes to these unaudited pro forma condensed combined condensed financial statements;

 

    the separate historical financial statements of SunPower as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 included in SunPower’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, which have been filed with the SEC;

 

    the separate historical financial statements of SunPower as of and for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 included in SunPower’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which have been filed with the SEC; and

 

    the separate historical financial statements of PowerLight as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, and for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, which have been filed as an exhibit to this current report on Form 8-K/A.

All intercompany balances and profits or losses from intercompany transactions between SunPower and PowerLight have been eliminated in these pro forma condensed combined financial statements. These unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of each of SunPower and PowerLight on file with the SEC or being filed herewith, as well as with the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in the current report on Form 8-K/A of which these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and related notes are being filed as an exhibit.

 

2


PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Historical   

Pro Forma

Adjustments

    Notes    

Pro Forma

Combined

     SunPower    PowerLight       
Assets             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 253,735      20,612    (120,694 )   (a )   $ 153,653

Short-term investments

     19,897      —      —           19,897

Accounts receivable, net

     47,067      46,972    (7,413 )   (b )     86,626

Inventories

     26,069      22,888    —           48,957

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     22,472      9,118    (3,800 )   (d )  
         (10,000 )   (e )     17,790
            

Deferred costs

     —        38,752    (1,400 )   (f )     37,352

Deferred income taxes

     —        3,350    —           3,350
                        

Total current assets

     369,240      141,692          367,625

Property, plant and equipment, net

     163,455      1,823    —           165,278

Goodwill

     2,883      —      182,036     (j )     184,919

Intangible assets, net

     15,213      2,312    (2,312 )   (h )  
         86,714     (i )     101,927

Other long-term assets

     271      8,469    (1,200 )   (d )     7,540

Advances to suppliers, net of current portion

     13,308      —      —           13,308
                        

Total assets

   $ 564,370    $ 154,296        $ 840,597
                        
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity             

Accounts payable

   $ 31,048      45,587    (7,413 )   (b )   $ 69,222

Accounts payable to Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

     3,904      —      —           3,904

Note payable to SunPower

     —        10,000    (10,000 )   (e )     —  

Note payable to bank

     —        7,095    —           7,095

Accrued liabilities and other

     11,154      12,627    3,000     (k )     26,781

Current portion of customer advances

     11,643      —      (5,000 )   (d )     6,643

Billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on contracts in progress

     —        56,377    (3,602 )   (o )     52,775
                        

Total current liabilities

     57,749      131,686          166,420

Deferred tax liability

     1,140      —      34,686     (g )     35,826

Customer advances, net of current portion

     28,854      —      —           28,854

Other long term liabilities

     —        4,771    —           4,771
                        

Total liabilities

     87,743      136,457          235,871

Preferred stock with redemption rights

     —        14,586    (14,586 )   (l )     —  

Stockholders’ equity

     476,627      3,253    (3,253 )   (m )  
         132,546     (n )  
         (4,447 )   (c )     604,726
                        

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 564,370    $ 154,296        $ 840,597
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

3


PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2005  
     SunPower     PowerLight    

Pro Forma

Adjustments

    Notes    

Pro Forma

Combined

 

Revenues

   $ 78,736     $ 107,816     $ (2,360 )   (q )   $ 184,192  

Cost of revenues

     74,353       96,064       (1,687 )   (r )  
         6,626     (t )  
         20,901     (u )     194,257  
                            

Gross margin

     4,383       11,752           (10,065 )

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development

     6,488       526       —           7,014  

Selling, general and administrative

     10,880       15,797       5,053     (u )  
         32,146     (t )  
         (241 )   (p )     63,635  
                            

Total operating expenses

     17,368       16,323       —           70,649  
                            

Operating loss

     (12,985 )     (4,571 )         (80,716 )

Interest and other expense, net

     (2,808 )     (462 )     (662 )   (v )     (3,932 )
                            

Loss before income tax provision

     (15,793 )     (5,033 )         (84,646 )

Income tax provision (benefit)

     50       (1,080 )     —           (1,030 )
                            

Net loss

   $ (15,843 )   $ (3,953 )       $ (83,616 )
                            

Basic and diluted net loss per share

   $ (0.68 )         $ (3.18 )

Shares used in calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share

     23,306         2,961     (w )     26,267  

Shares used to compute pro forma combined basic and diluted net loss per share is the sum of the number of historical SunPower shares outstanding plus the number of SunPower shares issued or to be issued in exchange for outstanding PowerLight shares in the Merger. The number of SunPower shares issued in exchange for the outstanding PowerLight shares was 5,708,911. Dilutive potential common shares outstanding such as restricted stock of 1,145,643 and options to purchase 1,602,027 shares of class A common stock have been excluded as it has an antidilutive effect on earnings per share.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

4


PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006  
     

Historical

SunPower

  

Historical

PowerLight

   

Pro Forma

Adjustments

    Notes    

Pro Forma

Combined

 

Revenues

   $ 162,001    $ 140,094     $ (24,003 )   (q )   $ 278,092  

Cost of revenues

     129,678      120,623       (17,162 )   (r )  
          (39 )   (s )  
          3,268     (t )  
          8,060     (u )     244,428  
                           

Gross margin

     32,323      19,471           33,664  

Operating expenses:

           

Research and development

     7,120      528       —           7,648  

Selling, general and administrative

     15,572      15,145       (291 )   (s )  
          3,790     (u )  
          24,386     (t )  

Stock-based compensation

     —        —         (188 )   (p )     58,414  
                           

Total operating expenses

     22,692      15,673           66,062  
                           

Operating income (loss)

     9,631      3,798       —           (32,348 )

Interest and other income (expense), net

     6,851      (1,057 )     (7,125 )   (v )     (1,331 )
                           

Income (loss) before income tax provision

     16,482      2,741           (33,729 )

Income tax provision

     1,275      613       —           1,888  
                           

Net income (loss)

   $ 15,207    $ 2,128         $ (35,617 )
                           

Net income (loss) per share:

           

— Basic

   $ 0.24          $ (0.53 )

— Diluted

   $ 0.22          $ (0.53 )

Shares used in calculation of net income (loss) per share:

           

— Basic

     64,704        2,961     (w )     67,665  

— Diluted

     70,080            67,665  

Shares used to compute pro forma combined basic and diluted net loss per share is the sum of the number of historical SunPower shares outstanding plus the number of SunPower shares issued or to be issued in exchange for outstanding PowerLight shares in the Merger. The number of SunPower shares issued in exchange for the outstanding PowerLight shares was 5,708,911 [include the Bonus Pool? – 200,841] Dilutive potential common shares outstanding such as restricted stock of 1,145,643 and options to purchase 1,602,027 shares of class A common stock have been excluded as it has an antidilutive effect on earnings per share have been included only if they have a dilutive effect on earnings per share.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

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Notes To Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation

Under the terms of the agreement governing the Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), at the Effective Date, each PowerLight stock option that was outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Date assumed by SunPower and was converted into an option to purchase shares of SunPower class A common stock, except that approximately 40% of the vested portion of each option was canceled in exchange for cash. SunPower issued options to purchase approximately 1.6 million shares of SunPower class A common stock in exchange for all of PowerLight’s outstanding stock options (other than the portion of each vested option that was cancelled in exchange for cash). The fair value of the outstanding options was determined using a Black-Scholes valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions: volatility of 90%; risk-free interest rate of 4.6%, average expected life of 6.5 years and dividend yield of zero. SunPower class A common stock issued as consideration in the Merger was valued at the average closing market price of such common stock for the two days preceding and after announcement of the Merger.

The total estimated purchase price of the Merger is as follows (in millions):

 

     Shares    Fair Value

Purchase Consideration:

     

Common stock

   2,961    $ 111,266

Stock options assumed

   618      21,280

Estimated direct transaction costs

   —        3,000

Cash

   —        120,694
           

Total purchase consideration

   3,579      256,240

Future Stock Compensation:

     

Restricted stock

   1,146    $ 43,046

Stock options

   984      35,126
           

Total future stock compensation

   2,130      78,172
           

Total, estimated purchase price

   5,709    $ 334,412
           

Preliminary Estimated Purchase Price Allocation

Under the purchase method of accounting, the total purchase price as shown in the table above was allocated to PowerLight’s net tangible and intangible assets based on their estimated fair values as of the Effective Date. The purchase price has been allocated based on estimates that are described in the introduction to these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements. The allocation of the purchase price and the estimated useful lives and first year amortization associated with certain assets is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Amount    

First Year

Amortization

  

Estimated Useful

Life

Net tangible assets

   $ 17,729     $ —      N/A

Identifiable intangible assets:

       

Patents

     29,980       7,495    4 years

Customer relationships

     30,320       5,053    6 years

Tradenames

     16,260       3,252    5 years

Backlog

     10,154       10,154    1 year

In-process research and development

     4,447       —      N/A

Unearned stock compensation

     78,172       —      N/A

Deferred tax liability

     (34,686 )     —      N/A

Goodwill

     182,036       —      N/A
                 

Total purchase price

   $ 334,412     $ 30,401   
                 

$17.7 million has been allocated to net tangible assets acquired and approximately $91.1 million has been allocated to amortizable intangible assets acquired. The amortization related to the amortizable intangible assets is reflected as pro forma adjustments to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations.

Identifiable intangible assets. Patents represent PowerLight’s patents and trade secrets developed through years of experience in design and development of its products. SunPower expects to amortize the fair value of patents on a straight-line basis over four years. Customer relationships represent PowerLight’s customer relationships that are expected to result in future business for SunPower. SunPower expects to amortize the fair value of these assets on a straight-line basis over six years.

 

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Tradenames relate to the PowerLight trade name and other product names, which SunPower expects to amortize on a straight-line basis over five years.

Backlog represents the fair value of expected profits on customer orders or contracts booked by PowerLight.

PowerLight’s in-process research and development primarily represents partially developed roof integrated system and fixed-tilt system designs that have not yet reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future uses.

Approximately $182.1 million has been allocated to goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the underlying net tangible and intangible assets. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill will not be amortized but instead will be tested for impairment at least annually (more frequently if certain indicators are present). In the event that management determines that the value of goodwill has become impaired, SunPower will incur an accounting charge for the amount of the impairment during the fiscal quarter in which the determination is made.

2. Pro Forma Adjustments

Pro forma adjustments are necessary to reflect the purchase price, to reflect amounts related to PowerLight’s net tangible and intangible assets at an amount equal to the estimate of their fair values, to reflect the amortization expense related to the estimated amortizable intangible assets and stock-based compensation, to reflect changes in depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the estimated fair value adjustments to net tangible assets and to reflect the income tax effect related to the pro forma adjustments. All intercompany balances and profits or losses from intercompany transactions between SunPower and PowerLight have been eliminated in these pro forma condensed combined financial statements. The pro forma combined provision for income taxes does not necessarily reflect the amounts that would have resulted had SunPower and PowerLight filed consolidated income tax returns during the periods presented.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not include liabilities that may result from integration activities which are not presently estimable. Management is in the process of making these assessments, and estimates of these costs are not currently known. However, liabilities ultimately may be recorded for severance costs for PowerLight employees, costs of vacating some facilities of PowerLight, or other costs associated with exiting activities of PowerLight that would affect the pro forma financial statements. Any such liabilities would be recorded as an adjustment to the purchase price and an increase in goodwill.

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are as follows:

 

  (a) To reflect the cash consideration paid by SunPower in connection with the Merger;

 

  (b) To eliminate intercompany trade accounts receivable and payable between PowerLight and SunPower;

 

  (c) To record acquired in-process research and development SunPower recorded this adjustment because the feasibility of certain required technology had not been established and no alternative future use existed. The write-off was non-recurring and a direct result of the acquisition of PowerLight;

 

  (d) To eliminate advance payments from PowerLight to SunPower;

 

  (e) To eliminate PowerLight’s note payable to SunPower;

 

  (f) To eliminate PowerLight’s deferred costs related to its then-planned initial public offering;

 

  (g) To record the estimated deferred tax liability associated with PowerLight’s intangible assets acquired in the Merger that are not tax deductible;

 

  (h) To eliminate PowerLight’s historical intangible assets;

 

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  (i) To record the fair value of PowerLight’s identifiable intangible assets acquired in the Merger (see allocation of the purchase price above);

 

  (j) To record the PowerLight goodwill acquired in the Merger (see allocation of the purchase price above);

 

  (k) To accrue SunPower’s direct costs of the Merger;

 

  (l) To eliminate PowerLight’s historical redeemable preferred stock;

 

  (m) To eliminate PowerLight’s historical stockholders’ equity;

 

  (n) To record the fair value of the SunPower shares issued in the Merger;

 

  (o) To adjust billings in excess of costs and estimated gross profit on PowerLight’s contracts in progress to the fair value of the legal performance obligations thereunder;

 

  (p) To eliminate PowerLight’s historical amortization expense on intangible assets;

 

  (q) To eliminate intercompany revenue on sales from SunPower to PowerLight;

 

  (r) To eliminate intercompany cost of revenue on sales from SunPower to PowerLight;

 

  (s) To eliminate PowerLight’s historical amortization of stock-based compensation;

 

  (t) To record stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options and restricted stock held by PowerLight employees which were assumed or exchanged, respectively, and shares issued under the bonus plan by SunPower in the Merger;

 

  (u) To record amortization of the PowerLight intangible assets acquired in the Merger;

 

  (v) To reflect a reduction of interest income as a result of the cash used in the Merger. The Company used available cash to fund the Merger; and

 

  (w) Number of SunPower shares issued in connection with the Merger.

 

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