Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are made under the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause our results to differ materially from historical results, or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words “can,” “may,” “scheduled, ”planned,” ”expects,” “believes,” “strategy,” ”opportunity,” ”anticipates,” and similar words. These statements may include, among others, plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding proposed new products, services, or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. The information contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q is as of the date of this report. Except as otherwise expressly referenced herein, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements. 

Overview

Our proprietary and patented Power Oxidation technology creates greater industrial efficiencies by converting low-quality waste gases generated from industrial processes into usable on-site energy, therefore decreasing both operating costs and significantly reducing environmentally harmful gaseous emissions. We design, develop, license, manufacture and market our Power Oxidizers, which, when bundled with an electricity generating turbine in the 250 kilowatt, or kW, and 2 megawatt, or MW, sizes, are called Powerstations. We currently partner and are pursuing partnerships with large established manufacturers to integrate our Power Oxidizer with their gas turbines, with the goal to open substantial new opportunities for our partners to market these modified gas turbines to industries for which traditional power generation technologies were not technically feasible previously. We currently manufacture our Powerstations in the 250 kW size and manufacture just the Power Oxidizer for the 2MWsize. Beginning later in 2016, contingent upon the successful completion of certain field testing, our 2MW partner, Dresser-Rand a.s., a subsidiary of Dresser-Rand Group Inc., a Siemens company, or Dresser-Rand, will manufacture the 2MW Power Oxidizers under a manufacturing license and will pay us a non-refundable license fee for each unit manufactured.

Historically, basic industries such as Petroleum, Plastics, Steel and Paper have consumed electricity in their manufacturing processes and created heat for their manufacturing processes through the burning of fossil fuels in a combustion chamber. Nearly all such combustion chambers use high quality premium fuels and burn those fuels at high temperatures, while low-quality waste gases were typically destroyed or vented into the atmosphere. Worldwide, these industrial processes collectively contribute approximately 32% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Our technology utilizes these waste gases by modifying turbines with our gradual oxidation vessel. Inside this vessel, pressure and temperature are applied over time to destroy contaminants and return a substantially low emission source of energy in the form of heat. This heat then powers a turbine, spinning a generator and creating electricity. This technology can potentially unlock a new, global source of clean power generation (electricity, steam and/or heat energy) while reducing harmful emissions. Our goal is to enable industrial process facilities to generate clean energy from their existing waste gases, thereby reducing the amount of energy they purchase from their regional utilities, and simultaneously reducing the cost of compliance with local, state, and federal air quality regulations by avoiding the chemicals, catalysts and complex permitting required by existing pollution abatement systems.

Our Products and Value Proposition

We have developed a 250 kW Power Oxidizer that we integrate with a 250 kW gas turbine to produce 250 kW “Powerstations,” respectively. We have two Powerstations currently in operation at a landfill site in the Netherlands and at the Irvine campus of the University of California, Irvine, or UCI, and one additional Powerstation currently in the production phase expected to be installed at a landfill in southern California. We have built a Power Oxidizer of a significantly larger size, capable of generating sufficient heat and airflow to power a KG2 turbine produced by Dresser-Rand. Together, the Power Oxidizer and KG2 turbine comprise a 2MW Powerstation. The initial unit was constructed in the first quarter of 2016, and is currently being used in field tests that are expected to be completed in 2016, at a third party location in Southern California. We have sold two 2MW Power Oxidizers to Dresser-Rand, each of which were delivered to the customer site in October 2016 and are scheduled to be combined with KG2 turbines and installed at Pacific Ethanol’s facility in Northern California in 2016. We believe this scaled-up version of our Power Oxidizer, combined with the KG2 turbine, will result in a Powerstation product that is better aligned with the scale of emissions (and energy requirements) observed at the industrial facilities that we believe stand to benefit most from this technology. As with the 250kW Powerstation, the larger Powerstations are designed to provide an alternative to typical combustion-based power generation and enable industries to utilize their own waste gases to generate power.

We also expect to integrate our Power Oxidizer technology into additional sized gas turbines as well as other applications that can use the heat generated by our Power Oxidizers to power other industrial applications. We believe other industrial grade waste gas-to-heat opportunities, powered by an ultra-low pollution Power Oxidizer, include: (i) the generation of steam from coupling a Power Oxidizer with a traditional steam boiler, (ii) use in industrial grade dryers for kilns or industrial drying customer requirements, and (iii) use in industrial chiller units for customers requiring cold air or water in their processes.

We believe our Power Oxidizers provide a significantly lower fuel cost per kilowatt hour since they can operate using both premium, refined natural gas as well as a wide variety of lower quality, low hydrocarbon gases, traditionally considered to be “waste” gases, as well as certain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, such as paint solvents. These gases and compounds are typically seen as a waste by-product of industrial processes and which often represent a source of pollution which in turn often requires expensive waste abatement equipment and significant recurring operating costs. Our Power Oxidizers can utilize many of these waste gases and VOC compounds as fuels for our Powerstations, which we intend to serve as a fuel cost reduction for our industrial customers.

We also believe our Power Oxidizers provide a superior air pollution waste abatement solution for industrial customers. A typical industrial customer historically requires electricity, steam and generates industrial gases as a by-product of their facility operations. Prior to our Powerstation solution, these customers would purchase energy or produce energy with a traditional gas turbine. Traditional gas turbines use a combustion chamber to ignite the natural gas and result in air pollution such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. The gas turbine and by-product gases generally require pollution control equipment and recurring costs in order to comply with existing pollution standards, which vary by geography with different regulations. Since both the natural gas fuel and the industrial by-product gases oxidize in our Power Oxidizers over a much longer time than combustion heat sources, the Power Oxidizer eliminates both the gas fuels and by-products to levels below significantly all of the existing and proposed air quality emission standards in most areas of the world.

Reverse Stock Split

Our senior secured promissory notes, issued on April 23, 2015 and May 7, 2015, respectively, or the Senior Notes (see discussion below under “Financing Activities”), had three covenants, one of which was the requirement to enter into a reverse stock split in order to increase our share price above $5.00 per share in anticipation of an underwritten public offering. Our board of directors approved a reverse stock split of our authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock, as well as our authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, at a ratio of 1-for-50, or our Reverse Stock Split. On July 8, 2015, the Reverse Stock Split became effective and the total number of shares of common stock held by each stockholder of the Company converted automatically into the number of shares of common stock equal to: (i) the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock held by each such stockholder immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split divided by (ii) 50. We issued one whole share of the post-Reverse Stock Split common stock to any stockholder who otherwise would have received a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, determined at the beneficial owner level by share certificate. As a result, no fractional shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and no cash or other consideration was paid in connection with any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the Reverse Stock Split.

Also on the effective date, all of our options, warrants and other convertible securities outstanding immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split were adjusted by dividing the number of shares of common stock into which the options, warrants and other convertible securities are exercisable or convertible by 50 and multiplying the exercise or conversion price thereof by 50, all in accordance with the terms of the plans, agreements or arrangements governing such options, warrants and other convertible securities and subject to rounding to the nearest whole share. Such proportional adjustments were also made to the number of shares and restricted stock units issued and issuable under our equity compensation plans. The consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report give retroactive effect to the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented.

Reincorporation

Effective as of September 3, 2015, we changed our state of incorporation from the State of Nevada to the State of Delaware, or the Reincorporation, pursuant to a plan of conversion dated September 2, 2015, following approval by our stockholders of the Reincorporation at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on August 28, 2015. In connection with the Reincorporation, we filed articles of conversion with the State of Nevada and a certificate of conversion with the State of Delaware. Upon effectiveness of the Reincorporation, the rights of our stockholders became governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the certificate of incorporation filed in Delaware and newly adopted bylaws. As a Delaware corporation following the Reincorporation, which we refer to as Ener-Core Delaware, we are deemed to be the same continuing entity as the Nevada corporation prior to the Reincorporation, which we refer to as Ener-Core Nevada. As such, Ener-Core Delaware continues to possess all of the rights, privileges and powers of Ener-Core Nevada, all of the properties of Ener-Core Nevada and all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of Ener-Core Nevada, including all contractual obligations, and continues with the same name, business, assets, liabilities, headquarters, officers and directors as immediately prior to the Reincorporation. Upon effectiveness of the Reincorporation, all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ener-Core Nevada automatically converted into issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ener-Core Delaware without any action on the part of our stockholders.

Dresser-Rand 2 MW Integration

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we allocated a significant portion of our resources, including nearly all of our engineering staff and additional consultants, to the completion of our initial 2MW Power Oxidizer, which we subsequently integrated with the Dresser-Rand KG2-3GEF turbine to create a 2MW Powerstation that is currently undergoing final field testing.

On November 14, 2014, we entered into a Commercial License Agreement (as amended, the “CLA”) with Dresser-Rand, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Ener-Core Power, Inc. (“ECP”), which grants Dresser-Rand the right to market and sell the Dresser-Rand KG2-3GEF 2 MW gas turbine coupled with our Power Oxidizer, or a Combined System. The CLA grants Dresser-Rand exclusive rights to commercialize the Ener-Core Power Oxidizer, within ranges of 1–4 MW of power capacity, bundled with the Dresser-Rand KG2 gas-turbine product line. As part of the CLA, Dresser-Rand agreed to pay a $1.6 million initial license fee, under the condition that we were able to successfully scale up the technology from the current size of 250 kW to a size of 2 MW. Dresser-Rand also agreed to achieve annual sales thresholds agreed to by both companies in order to retain the exclusivity of the commercial license. Upon payment of the initial license fee in full, Dresser-Rand will have an exclusive license to sell the Ener-Core Power Oxidizer within ranges of 1–4 MW of power capacity, bundled with a gas-turbine to generate electricity.

The CLA calls for a series of technical milestones. The first technical milestone involved the completion of a “Sub-Scale Acceptance Test,” or SSAT, which we successfully completed in July 2015. The second technical milestone will be the “Full-Scale Acceptance Test,” or FSAT, that includes a multitude of tests using a full, working Combined System. During the second half of 2015 and continuing into the first quarter of 2016, we constructed the Combined System, which was substantially complete as of September 30, 2016. We commissioned the Combined System in the second quarter of 2016 and began the FSAT procedures. Both the SSAT and FSAT are required prior to the delivery of the first commercial 1.75 MW Combined System units.

The CLA also requires the satisfaction of certain binding conditions, all fully satisfied in 2015, in order for Dresser-Rand to be obligated to perform its covenants under the CLA, which covenants include the payment of license fees into escrow, the acceptance of binding purchase orders from its customers for KG2/PO units, the issuance of binding purchase orders to us for Power Oxidizer units and the performance of additional engineering services required for the FSAT. In March 2015, the CLA was amended to revise the second binding condition. The revised binding condition eliminates the need for a bond but requires the $400,000 quarterly cash payments due from Dresser-Rand to be paid into a cash escrow account. Funds may be released from the cash escrow as follows: (i) to Dresser-Rand for up to $500,000 to reimburse Dresser-Rand for certain engineering costs; (ii) to Dresser-Rand in the event of termination of the CLA as a result of a failed acceptance test; or (iii) to us upon the satisfaction of the FSAT. In September 2016, we and Dresser-Rand mutually agreed to waive the FSAT requirement for escrow cash release and, subsequently, Dresser-Rand released to us the $1.1 million in net license fees from the escrow account and, in October 2016, the escrow account was closed. In October 2016, we shipped the first two KG2/PO Power Oxidizer units to the Pacific Ethanol location in Stockton, California for further implementation with the Dresser-Rand KG2 turbines.

Dresser-Rand Commercial and Manufacturing Agreement

On June 29, 2016, we entered into a Commercial and Manufacturing License Agreement, or the CMLA, with Dresser-Rand, through ECP, intended to supersede and replace the CLA. Upon successful completion of the FSAT, and prior to December 31, 2016, the CLA will terminate and the CMLA will provide the terms of the commercial relationship between us and Dresser-Rand. Once the FSAT is completed, the effective date of the CMLA will be deemed November 14, 2014. In the event we are unable to successfully complete the FSAT, the CLA will continue to govern our commercial relationship with Dresser-Rand. As of September 30, 2016 a number of the FSAT test conditions have not been met and we anticipate further testing will take place in 2016.

Under the new CMLA, Dresser-Rand will have a worldwide license to manufacture, market, commercialize and sell the Power Oxidizer as part of the Combined System within the 1 MW to 4 MW range of power capacity, or the License. Initially, the License will be exclusive, even as to us, and will remain exclusive for so long as Dresser-Rand sells a minimum of number of units of the Combined System in each calendar year beginning in 2017, or the Sales Threshold, subject to certain conditions and exceptions. If Dresser-Rand does not meet the Sales Threshold in any calendar year and the Sales Threshold is not otherwise waived, Dresser-Rand may maintain exclusivity of the License by making a true-up payment to us for each unit that is in deficit of the Sales Threshold, or a True-Up Payment; provided, however , that Dresser-Rand may not maintain an exclusive License by making a True-Up Payment for more than two consecutive calendar year periods. In the event Dresser-Rand does not meet the Sales Threshold, does not qualify for a waiver and elects not to make the True-Up Payment, the License will convert to a nonexclusive License.

Upon a sale by Dresser-Rand of a Combined System unit to a customer, the CMLA requires Dresser-Rand to make a license fee payment to us equal to a percentage of the sales price of the Combined System purchased, in accordance with a predetermined fee schedule that is anticipated to result in a payment of between $370,000 and $600,000 per Combined System unit sold, or the License Fee. Payment terms to us from Dresser-Rand will be 50% of each License Fee within 30 days of order and 50% upon the earlier of the Combined System commissioning or twelve months after the order date.

Dresser-Rand may also request that we undertake design and development work on modifications to the Combined Systems, each referred to as a Bespoke Development. We and Dresser-Rand will negotiate any fees resulting from any such Bespoke Development on a case-by-case basis. Further, any obligation by us to undertake such Bespoke Development will be conditioned upon the execution of mutually agreed-upon documentation.

As long as the exclusive License remains in effect, we will provide certain ongoing sales and marketing support services, at no additional cost to Dresser-Rand, subject to certain restrictions. Any additional sales and marketing services agreed upon by us and Dresser-Rand will be compensated at an hourly rate to be upwardly adjusted annually.

If we and Dresser-Rand so elect, we will manufacture a certain number of Power Oxidizers as part of a certain number of Combined System projects during a transition period, or the Transition Phase, beginning after execution of the CMLA and prior to the period in which Dresser-Rand manufactures its first three Power Oxidizers as part of at least two individual Combined System projects, or the Initial Manufacturing Phase, as mutually agreed by the parties. So long as the License remains exclusive during the Transition Phase, if any, and the Initial Manufacturing Phase, we will provide a mutually agreed upon number of hours of engineering support services. After the conclusion of the Initial Manufacturing Phase, we will, for so long as the License remains exclusive, continue providing up to an agreed upon number of hours of such support services on an annual basis at no additional cost to Dresser-Rand, subject to certain conditions. Any additional engineering support services agreed upon by us and Dresser-Rand will be compensated at an hourly rate, to be upwardly adjusted annually. During the Transition Phase, we must also develop the spare parts list pertaining to the scope of supply to allow Dresser-Rand to offer service agreements for the Combined System.

We must maintain our existing backstop security, or the Backstop Security, under the CLA in favor of Dresser-Rand in support of all products manufactured, supplied or otherwise provided by us during the period beginning on the execution date of the CMLA, or the Execution Date, and continuing through the expiration of the warranty period for the Combined System units sold to customers as of the Execution Date; however, if we and Dresser-Rand mutually agree to engage in a Transition Phase, then such Backstop Security must be extended to support all products manufactured, supplied or otherwise provided by us during such Transition Phase.

Dresser-Rand must also: (i) develop the controls strategy for the Dresser-Rand gas turbine control system and integrate it with the Power Oxidizer control system; (ii) with support from us, manufacture and commercialize the Combined System following the Transition Phase; (iii) with support from us, develop and prioritize sales opportunities for the Combined System; (iv) assume the sales lead role with respect to each customer; and (v) take commercial lead in developing sales to customers. In addition, Dresser-Rand will be primarily responsible for overall warranty and other commercial conditions to Combined System customers, as well as sole project and service provider and interface with customers. Dresser-Rand will also be responsible for warranty, service and after-sales technical assistance for all portions of Combined Systems that comprise Dresser-Rand products. We, however, will be responsible for warranty and service for all products manufactured or otherwise provided by us prior to or during the Transition Phase.

The CMLA prohibits us from, without the prior written consent of Dresser-Rand, permitting the creation of any encumbrance, lien or pledge of its intellectual property which would result in any modification to, revocation of, impairment of or other adverse effect on Dresser-Rand’s rights with respect to the exclusive License. In addition, all intellectual property rights that are owned by either us or Dresser-Rand as of the Execution Date will remain the sole property of such party, subject to the licenses described in the CMLA. The CMLA also contains provisions that govern the treatment of process and technology developments and any joint inventions that (i) relate to the subject matter of the CMLA and (ii) occur after the Execution Date and during the term thereof.

The CMLA also contains certain restrictions on publicity and obligates Dresser-Rand to use its commercially reasonable efforts to include our name and logo and otherwise promote our brand and Power Oxidizers in a mutually agreed-upon manner. We and Dresser-Rand have also mutually agreed to withhold disclosure of certain commercial and technologically sensitive terms of the CMLA including technical specifications, License Fee percentages, and the Sales Threshold minimum annual quantities to maintain exclusivity.

Commercial Sales Efforts

We are entering the combined heat and power, or CHP, market that is highly competitive and historically conservative in its acceptance of new technologies. To date, we have sold and delivered one 250kW commercial PowerStation unit to the Netherlands and have sold one additional 250kW PowerStation unit to a landfill site in Southern California scheduled for delivery in 2017. We have also sold two initial 2MW Power Oxidizers to Dresser-Rand for installation at their end user customer, Pacific Ethanol, expected for delivery in the second half of 2016. These three systems, combined with the Dresser-Rand license fees of $1.6 million, represent our $4.6 million order backlog as of August 11, 2016. To date, we have billed $4.2 million and collected $4.1 million of our existing backlog. 

In May 2016, we received a conditional purchase order for four 250kW Powerstations expected to be installed on a landfill site in Southern California and scheduled for delivery in late 2017. This order is valued at approximately $4.0 million and is subject to additional pre-sales engineering and permitting requirements.

Dresser-Rand Initial Commercial Activity

In January 2015, Pacific Ethanol announced the first sale of the new KG2-3GEF/PO unit, which placed a two unit order with Dresser-Rand. Pursuant to the terms of the CLA, we began working on the initial phase of these two systems immediately after the announcement of the order received by Dresser-Rand from Pacific Ethanol. After receipt of formal acceptance of the successful completion of the SSAT, in August 2015, we received a binding purchase order from Dresser-Rand for two 1.75MW Power Oxidizer units for a total purchase price of $2.1 million. We received the entire $2.1 million purchase price in the fourth quarter of 2015 after we satisfied the Dresser-Rand performance security requirement in November 2015. In September 2016, we secured the release of the license fees payable from Dresser-Rand, which had previously been placed in an escrow account and which were contingent upon satisfaction of the FSAT. We received $1.1 million in cash, representing the $1.6 million license fee net of $500,000 paid to Dresser-Rand for engineering services. We have not recognized the license fees as revenues as of September 30, 2016, since the required testing has not been completed.

Other Commercial Efforts

In May 2015, we received an award for our second commercial EC250 Powerstation as part of a California Energy Commission award of $1.5 million to the University of California, Irvine’s Advanced Power & Energy Program. We received a formal purchase order of approximately $900,000 in the third quarter of 2015 and through September 30, 2016 we have billed and collected $815,000. We anticipate that delivery and commission of this Powerstation will occur in 2017. 

Our commercial sales and marketing focus during 2016 is to work with the domestic and international sales and marketing teams from Dresser-Rand to facilitate additional KG2 unit sales in order to drive Power Oxidizer sales. While we expect to close multiple KG2 opportunities in 2016, some of our potential orders for KG2 units require the successful completion of the FSAT, which we expect to occur in the third quarter of 2016. In parallel, our existing internal sales team has continued to advance commercial opportunities and enter new industrial markets with our EC250 product. We have also expanded our understanding of our greater, integrated Powerstation solution and are working towards value-added partnership relationships with key providers of products which can use our ultra-low emissions heat. We also intend to sell the Combined System, a full working KG2 unit described above, upon completion of the FSAT procedures. Several parties have expressed interest and we view the possible sale of the Combined System as a potential cash recovery later in 2016.

Revenue, Order-to-Cash Cycle and Customer Order Cash Flows

Our order-to-cash cycle is lengthy and requires multiple steps to complete. As such, we utilize and evaluate certain metrics such as bookings, backlog, and billed backlog. The initial commercial phase involves our sales team identifying a suitable project and evaluating each site to determine whether our value proposition fits the potential customer’s needs. We evaluate potential industrial sites based on the amount, density and quality of the waste gas produced, the impacts of air quality penalties and required pollution abatement, and the expected cost savings or sales value of on-site power production. We also evaluate with the potential customer whether there are other financial considerations that could further strengthen the economic payback to the potential customer (which could include revenue increases that may result from pollution abatement benefits or emission credits or tax avoidance). As part of this evaluation, we work with potential customers to produce financial models, which seek to capture and quantify all of the various benefits of the potential project to determine the overall economic payback to the potential customer. If the potential customer determines to proceed after this evaluation, we enter into an agreement with the customer, which typically includes purchase order arrangements.

Customer orders, which are defined as firm commitments to purchase with fixed and determinable prices and contracted delivery terms, are considered bookings and are included as backlog. From the date of booking until the projected shipping date, we follow the standard practices that are typically followed by other power equipment producers, which include payment terms that involve customer advance payments designed to mirror our cash inventory outlays for sourcing parts and materials necessary to assemble the power plants to achieve a neutral customer order cash flow until delivery. All customer advance payments are recorded as billings, are reported as billed backlog and are represented on our balance sheet as deferred revenue or customer advances. As the Power Oxidizer plant assets are built, the costs are capitalized as inventory.

Powerstations are shipped to the customer locations and assembled on site. We supervise the assembly and commissioning of the Powerstations, which can take several months to complete. Once commissioning of the fully installed Powerstation(s) is/(are) concluded and title passes to the customer, we issue the final billings and recognize revenues and costs of revenues by decrementing deferred revenues and inventory respectively.

We also charge customers for commissioning services, post-sale support, and post-warranty service and maintenance on our Power Oxidizer units. We provide a standard warranty, which typically ends between nine months and one year after commissioning.

Operating expense reduction

Beginning in the first quarter of 2016, we evaluated our cash spending, including the costs incurred with our withdrawn underwritten public offering. Beginning in the second quarter of 2016 and continuing into the third quarter of 2016, we identified and implemented cost reductions, primarily the reduction of employee and consulting headcount and professional services, and we expect to implement additional cost reductions later in 2016, including a further reduction of service provider cash spending and a reduction in our fixed overhead costs. Excluding our debt service and excluding non-recurring costs related to the underwritten offering and testing of the FSAT, our quarterly cash spending for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately $1,100,000, a reduction of approximately $400,000 from the first fiscal quarter of 2016.

Financing Activities

Underwritten offering withdrawal

On April 5, 2016, we formally requested that the Securities and Exchange Commission withdraw our registration statement, originally filed in July 2015. The underwritten public offering and a simultaneous listing on a national exchange was originally a requirement under our Senior Notes. After negotiating the March Amendments (defined below), our board of directors determined, with the consultation of our professional advisors, that market conditions in early 2016 were not conducive to a marketed underwritten public offering. We continue to consider a future underwritten public offering as a financing alternative if market conditions improve and to the extent we experience additional commercial success.

March 2016 Debt Amendments

On March 31, 2016, we executed amendments to the Senior Notes and related Securities Purchase Agreements, or, collectively, the March Amendments, each with certain investors holding the requisite number of conversion shares and warrant shares underlying the Senior Notes and warrants issued in April 2015 and May 2015 pursuant to the referenced Securities Purchase Agreements, or the April and May Warrants. The March Amendments (i) removed the requirement that we consummate a “Qualified Public Offering”; (ii) extended the deadline for us to commence trading on a Qualified Eligible Market (as defined in the March Amendments) to no later than April 14, 2016; provided that if we consummated a private offering of its securities resulting in gross proceeds to us of at least $3,000,000 after June 30, 2016 and prior to or on April 14, 2016, or a Qualified Private Offering, such deadline would be automatically extended to October 15, 2016; (iii) provided for the issuance of warrants to purchase up to 500,000 shares of our common stock, each with an exercise price of $5.00 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth within the warrants, or the March Warrants; and (iv) added an additional covenant on behalf of us that, on or prior to April 14, 2016, we would cause our net monthly cash flow directly associated with the CLA, taken together with our monthly capital expenditure spending associated with the CLA, and excluding expenditures associated with the FSAT requirements defined in the CLA, to be neutral or positive, to be accomplished by re-negotiation or termination of such CLA. On April 11, 2016, we consummated a $3 million private offering and thereby satisfied condition (ii) above. On March 31, 2016, we issued warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of our common stock, as described in Note 11 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, or the March Warrants, and remained in compliance with the net monthly cash flow covenant listed in (iv) above during all relevant times. On June 29, 2016, we signed the CMLA, which will replace the CLA upon the successful completion of the technical tests associated with the KG2. Additionally, upon execution of the September Amendments (as defined below), the monthly cash flow covenant listed in (iv) above was removed.

The March Amendments amended the terms of the Senior Notes to extend the conversion feature until the term of the Senior Notes and to provide for the issuance of additional warrants. Additionally, in February 2016, pursuant to the terms of the December 2015 amendments to the Senior Notes, we issued warrants to purchase up to 50,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.50 per share, or the February Warrants, and subsequently adjusted the exercise price to $5.00 per share with the issuance of the March Warrants. We accounted for the February Warrants and the March Warrants as derivative liabilities and recorded an additional $148,000 of debt discount upon the issuance of the February Warrants and $1,497,000 of debt discount upon the issuance of the March Warrants.  The December 31, 2015 debt discount and the additional discount recorded in February 2016 and March 2016 is amortized over the expected remaining life of the debt.

Stock Purchase Agreement

On April 11, 2016, we entered into a stock purchase agreement, pursuant to which we issued to an accredited investor an aggregate of 696,056 shares of our common stock in exchange for gross proceeds of approximately $3.0 million, or the April 2016 Private Placement. The closing of the April 2016 Private Placement satisfied the Qualified Private Offering requirement described in the March Amendments described in Note 11 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report under “March 2016 Amendment to Senior Notes”.

August Warrant Amendments

On August 24, 2016 the Company executed amendments to the April and May Warrants, additional warrants issued in December 2015 in connection with the execution of the December 2015 amendments to the Senior Notes and related Securities Purchase Agreements, the warrants issued in December 2015 in connection with our December 2015 equity offering, the additional warrants issued in February 2016 and the March Warrants. The amendments reduced the exercise price of such warrants to $4.00 per share and removed all remaining net cash settlement provisions, as applicable, in each warrant. For the warrants accounted for as derivative liabilities, the Company marked the warrants to market immediately prior to the change in the strike price to a value of $1,719,000. The removal of the warrant agreement provisions that required derivative accounting resulted in a reclassification of $1,719,000 from derivative liabilities to Paid-in Capital. The reduction in exercise price to $4.00 resulted in an additional discount to the Senior Notes of $206,000 which will be amortized to interest expense over the expected remaining life of the Senior Notes.

September and October 2016 Debt Amendments

Effective as of September 1, 2016, we executed amendments to the Senior Notes and related Securities Purchase Agreements, or the September Amendments, which are binding upon all of the Senior Notes. The September Amendments (i) extend the deadline for us to commence trading on a Qualified Eligible Market (as defined in the September Amendments) to no later than December 31, 2016; (ii) provide that we may, on or prior to September 1, 2016, issue to one or more investors up to an aggregate of $1,500,000 principal amount of one-year term unsecured notes, as described in Note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and related warrants, and approve the forms of agreements to be executed in connection with the issuance of such unsecured notes and warrants; (iii) remove the covenant on behalf of us related to net monthly cash flow directly associated with the CLA; (iv) extend the earliest date on which the holders of the Senior Notes may require us to redeem all or any portion of such Senior Notes until December 31, 2016; and (v) extend the deadline for us to consummate a Further Private Offering (as defined in the Senior Notes) to December 31, 2016. Effective as of October 21, 2016, the Company executed amendments to the Senior Notes to clarify and conform the terms of such Senior Notes to the terms of previous amendments to such Senior Notes and the related Securities Purchase Agreements.

September Junior Notes

On September 1, 2016, we entered into a securities purchase agreement and related note agreements and warrant agreements whereby we issued $1,250,000 in convertible unsecured promissory notes, or the Junior Notes, and detachable five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 124,999 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.00 per share, or the September 2016 Financing. The Company received total gross proceeds of $1,250,000, less transaction expenses of $20,000 consisting of legal costs for net proceeds of $1,230,000.

The Junior Notes bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum and mature on September 1, 2017. The Junior Notes are subordinate to the Senior Notes described in Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. The Junior Notes are convertible at the option of the holder into common stock at an initial exercise price of $4.31and will automatically convert into shares of common stock in the event of a conversion of at least 50% of the then outstanding (i) principal, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest with respect to such principal and (iii) accrued and unpaid late charges, if any, with respect to such principal and interest, under the Senior Notes. Upon the conversion of 50% or more of the Senior Notes at a price per share less than $4.31, the conversion price of the Junior Notes will be reduced to the effective conversion price of the Senior Notes. The Junior Notes also contain a blocker provision that prevents the Company from effecting a conversion in the event that the holder, together with certain affiliated parties, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. At any time after the issuance date of the Junior Notes, the Company may, at its option, redeem all or any portion of the then outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest with respect to such principal, or the Company Optional Redemption Amount, at 100% of such aggregate amount; provided, however, that the Company may not redeem all or any portion of the Company Optional Redemption Amount so long as any of the Senior Notes remain outstanding without the prior written consent of the collateral agent with respect to such Senior Notes and certain investors holding the requisite number of conversion shares and warrant shares underlying the Senior Notes and April and May Warrants.

The securities purchase agreement for the Junior Notes calls for the issuance of additional five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 62,500 shares at an exercise price of $4.00 per share on each of the 61st, 91st, 121st and 151st days after the closing of the September 2016 Financing, or, in each case, an Additional Warrant Date, but only in the event we have not consummated a further financing consisting of the issuance of common stock and warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of at least $3,000,000 prior to such respective Additional Warrant Date. As of November 1, 2016, we had not consummated a further financing and, as a result, issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 62,500 shares of our common stock.

Going Concern

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared using the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, and have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. Since our inception, we have made a substantial investment in research and development to develop the Power Oxidizer, have successfully deployed an EC250 field test unit at the U.S. Army base at Fort Benning, Georgia, and installed and commissioned our first commercial unit in the Netherlands in the second quarter of 2014. In November 2014, we signed the CLA to incorporate our Power Oxidizer into Dresser-Rand’s 1.75MW turbine. In August 2015, the CLA became a mutually binding agreement due to the satisfaction of certain binding conditions contained in the CLA. 

We have sustained recurring net losses and negative cash flows since inception and have not yet established an ongoing source of revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs and allow us to continue as a going concern. Despite capital raises of $2.5 million in December 2015, $3.0 million in April 2016, and $1.25 million in September 2016 we expect to require additional sources of capital to support our growth initiatives. We must secure additional funding to continue as a going concern and execute our business plan.

Management’s plan is to obtain capital sufficient to meet our operating expenses by seeking additional equity and/or debt financing. The cash and cash equivalents balance (excluding restricted cash) on September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was approximately $0.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively. In April 2016, management began taking steps to reduce our operational cash burn through a combination of staff reductions and reductions of outside service providers. We expect to implement additional cost savings through reduced overhead costs later in 2016 as well as reduced non-recurring costs and capital expenditures related to our efforts to develop the 2MW KG2. We expect that the $0.6 million of cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2016, the $3.0 million of equity raised in April 2016, $1.25 million in September 2016 and receipts on customer billings, will continue to fund our working capital needs, general corporate purposes, and related obligations into the fourth quarter of 2016 at our reduced spending levels. However, we expect to require significantly more cash for working capital and as financial security to support our growth initiatives.

We will pursue raising additional equity and/or debt financing to fund our operations and product development.  If future funds are raised through issuance of stock or debt, these securities could have rights, privileges, or preferences senior to those of our common stock and debt covenants that could impose restrictions on our operations. Any equity or convertible debt financing will likely result in additional dilution to our current stockholders.  We cannot make any assurances that any additional financing, including the proposed registered offering, will be completed on a timely basis, on acceptable terms or at all.   Our inability to successfully raise capital in a timely manner will adversely impact our ability to continue as a going concern. If our business fails or we are unable to raise capital on a timely basis, our investors may face a complete loss of their investment.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not give effect to any adjustments that might be necessary if we were unable to meet our obligations or continue operations as a going concern.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include but are not limited to: collectability of receivables; the valuation of certain assets, useful lives, and carrying amounts of property and equipment, equity instruments and share-based compensation; provision for contract losses; valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets; valuation of derivative liabilities; and exposure to warranty and other contingent liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Ener-Core Power, Inc.  All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. All monetary amounts are rounded to the nearest $000, except certain per share amounts.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the 2015 consolidated condensed financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on previously reported net loss.

Segments

We operate in one segment. All of our operations are located domestically.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include but are not limited to: collectability of receivables; the valuation of certain assets, useful lives, and carrying amounts of property and equipment, equity instruments and share-based compensation; provision for contract losses; valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets; valuation of derivative liabilities; and exposure to warranty and other contingent liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Foreign Currency Adjustments

Our functional currency for all operations worldwide is the U.S. dollar. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical rates and monetary assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the end of the year. Income statement accounts are translated at average rates for the year. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we did not hold any foreign currency asset or liability amounts. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are reported as other income in the period they occurred.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We maintain our non-interest bearing transactional cash accounts at financial institutions for which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, provides insurance coverage of up to $250,000. For interest bearing cash accounts, from time to time, balances exceed the amount insured by the FDIC. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts and believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risk related to these deposits. At September 30, 2016, we had $200,000 in deficit of the FDIC limit.

We consider all highly liquid investments available for current use with an initial maturity of three months or less and are not restricted to be cash equivalents. We invest our cash in short-term money market accounts.

Restricted Cash

Collateral Account

Under a credit card processing agreement with a financial institution that was entered in 2013, we are required to maintain funds on deposit with the financial institution as collateral. The amount of the deposit, which is at the discretion of the financial institution, was $50,000 on September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Dresser-Rand Escrow Account

Under the CLA, prepaid license fee payments of $400,000 per quarter were paid by Dresser-Rand into an escrow account with a financial institution beginning in August 2015. Dresser-Rand withdrew up to $125,000 per quarter from this escrow account for qualified engineering expenses incurred by Dresser-Rand under the terms and conditions of the CLA. Through September 30, 2016, Dresser-Rand funded $1,600,000 and withdrew $500,000. On September 26, 2016 substantially all of the remaining $1,100,000 was released to the Company from the escrow account and, in October 2016, the escrow account was closed. The balance in the escrow account was $5,000 and $150,000 on September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. See also Note 7 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Accounts Receivable

Our accounts receivable are typically from credit worthy customers or, for international customers are supported by guarantees or letters of credit. For those customers to whom we extend credit, we perform periodic evaluations of them and maintain allowances for potential credit losses as deemed necessary. We generally do not require collateral to secure accounts receivable. We have a policy of reserving for uncollectible accounts based on our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable. We periodically review our accounts receivable to determine whether an allowance is necessary based on an analysis of past due accounts and other factors that may indicate that the realization of an account may be in doubt. Account balances deemed to be uncollectible are charged to the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of September 30, 2016, one customer accounted for all of our accounts receivable.

Accounts Payable

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, three and five vendors, respectively, collectively accounted for approximately 45% and 50% of our total accounts payable.

Inventory

Inventory, which consists of raw materials, is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined by the average-cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out method. At each balance sheet date, we evaluate our ending inventory for excess quantities and obsolescence. This evaluation primarily includes an analysis of forecasted demand in relation to the inventory on hand, among consideration of other factors. Based upon the evaluation, provisions are made to reduce excess or obsolete inventories to their estimated net realizable values. Once established, write-downs are considered permanent adjustments to the cost basis of the respective inventories. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we did not have a reserve for slow-moving or obsolete inventory.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, and are being depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging from three to ten years. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed. At the time property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation accounts are relieved of the applicable amounts. Gains or losses from retirements or sales are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Deposits

Deposits primarily consist of amounts incurred or paid in advance of the receipt of fixed assets or are deposits for rent and insurance.

Accrued Warranties

Accrued warranties represent the estimated costs that will be incurred during the warranty period of our products. We make an estimate of expected costs that will be incurred by us during the warranty period and charge that expense to the consolidated statement of operations at the date of sale. We also reevaluate the estimate at each balance sheet date and if the estimate is changed, the effect is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations. We had no warranty accrual at December 31, 2015 or September 30, 2016. We expect that most terms for future warranties of our Powerstations and Power Oxidizers will be one to two years depending on the warranties provided and the products sold. Accrued warranties for expected expenditures within one year are classified as current liabilities and as non-current liabilities for expected expenditures for time periods beyond one year.

Deferred Rent

We record deferred rent expense, included in accrued expenses, which represents the temporary differences between the reporting of rental expense on the financial statements and the actual amounts remitted to the landlord. The deferred rent portion of lease agreements are leasing inducements provided by the landlord. Also, tenant improvement allowances provided are recorded as a deferred rent liability and recognized ratably as a reduction to rent expense over the lease term. As of September 30, 2016, we had $4,000 of deferred rent, recorded in accrued liabilities.

Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets represent intellectual property acquired during the reverse merger. We amortize our intangible assets with finite lives over their estimated useful lives.  

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We account for our long-lived assets in accordance with the accounting standards which require that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the historical carrying value of an asset may no longer be appropriate. We consider the carrying value of assets may not be recoverable based upon its review of the following events or changes in circumstances: the asset’s ability to continue to generate income from operations and positive cash flow in future periods; loss of legal ownership or title to the assets; significant changes in our strategic business objectives and utilization of the asset; or significant negative industry or economic trends. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset are less than its carrying amount. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we do not believe there have been any impairments of our long-lived assets. There can be no assurance, however, that market conditions will not change or demand for our products will continue, which could result in impairment of long-lived assets in the future.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, convertible notes, derivative liabilities, and capital lease liabilities. Fair value estimates discussed herein are based upon certain market assumptions and pertinent information available to management as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The carrying amounts of short-term financial instruments are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to their short-term nature or proximity to market rates for similar items.

We determine the fair value of our financial instruments based on a three-level hierarchy established for fair value measurements under which these assets and liabilities must be grouped, based on significant levels of observable or unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect management’s market assumptions. This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. These two types of inputs have created the following fair-value hierarchy:

If the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, a financial security’s hierarchy level is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We issue derivative financial instruments in conjunction with its debt and equity offerings and to provide additional incentive to investors and placement agents. We use derivative financial instruments in order to obtain the lowest cash cost-source of funds. Derivative liabilities are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value based on the criteria specified in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 815-40 “ Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s own Equity .” The estimated fair value of the derivative liabilities is calculated using either the Black-Scholes-Merton or Monte Carlo simulation model method. 

We issued detachable common stock warrants and secured debt with a conversion feature in April and May 2015 and again in September 2016. We amended our existing debt to add a conversion feature in December 2015. The Company issued additional common stock warrants with price reset provisions in December 2015, February 2016, and March 2016. These embedded derivatives and detachable warrants were evaluated under ASC topic 815-40. We determined that the warrants and embedded conversion feature for the April 2014 issuance, the conversion feature for the 2015 issuances, the conversion feature for the 2016 issuance, and the warrants issued with price reset provisions should be accounted for as derivative liabilities. In August, 2016 all warrants issued that were previously determined to be accounted for as derivative liabilities were amended and we determined that after giving rise to the amendments, that the warrants were no longer required to be accounted for as derivative liabilities. We determined that the detachable warrants associated with the 2015 issuance on the issuance date and the detachable warrants associated with the 2016 issuance on the issuance date should not be accounted for as derivative liabilities. Warrants and the debt conversion features determined to be derivative liabilities were bifurcated from the debt host and are classified as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Warrants not determined to be derivative liabilities were recorded to debt discount and paid-in capital. The Company records the warrants and embedded derivative liabilities at fair value and adjusts the carrying value of the common stock warrants and embedded derivatives to their estimated fair value at each reporting date with the increases or decreases in the fair value of such warrants and derivatives at each reporting date, recorded as a gain or (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations. The 2015 detachable warrants determined not to be derivative liabilities were recorded to debt discount with a corresponding entry to paid-in capital. The warrants amended in 2016 where the accounting was changed to eliminate derivative liability treatment were marked to market immediately prior to the amendment and the fair value was reclassified on the amendment date from derivative liabilities to paid in capital.

Revenue Recognition

We generate revenue from the sale of our clean power energy systems and from consulting services. Revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, product delivery and acceptance have occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonable assured. Amounts billed to clients for shipping and handling are classified as sales of product with related costs incurred included in cost of sales.

Provisions for discounts and rebates to customers, estimated returns and allowances, and other adjustments are provided for in the same period the related revenue is recorded. We defer any revenue for which the services have not been performed or are subject to refund until such time that we and our customer jointly determine that the services have been performed or no refund will be required.

Revenues under long-term construction contracts are generally recognized using the completed-contract method of accounting. Long-term construction-type contracts for which reasonably dependable estimates cannot be made or for which inherent hazards make estimates difficult are accounted for under the completed-contract method. Revenues under the completed-contract method are recognized upon substantial completion—that is acceptance by the customer, compliance with performance specifications demonstrated in a factory acceptance test or similar event. Accordingly, during the period of contract performance, billings and costs are accumulated on the balance sheet, but no profit or income is recorded before completion or substantial completion of the work. Anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in full in the period in which losses become probable and estimable. Changes in estimate of profit or loss on contracts are included in earnings on a cumulative basis in the period the estimate is changed. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had a $600,000 provision for contract losses for both periods presented. 

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.  Research and development costs were $1,170,000 and $928,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and were $2,871,000 and $2,636,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

We maintain an equity incentive plan and record expenses attributable to the awards granted under the equity incentive plan. We amortize share-based compensation from the date of grant on a weighted average basis over the requisite service (vesting) period for the entire award.

We account for equity instruments issued to consultants and vendors in exchange for goods and services at fair value. The measurement date for the fair value of the equity instruments issued is determined at the earlier of (i) the date at which a commitment for performance by the consultant or vendor is reached or (ii) the date at which the consultant’s or vendor’s performance is complete. In the case of equity instruments issued to consultants, the fair value of the equity instrument is recognized over the term of the consulting agreement.

In accordance with the accounting standards, an asset acquired in exchange for the issuance of fully vested, non-forfeitable equity instruments should not be presented or classified as an offset to equity on the grantor’s balance sheet once the equity instrument is granted for accounting purposes. Accordingly, we record the fair value of the fully vested, non-forfeitable common stock issued for future consulting services as prepaid expense in our consolidated balance sheets.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under FASB ASC 740 “Income Taxes.” Under the asset and liability method of FASB ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Under FASB ASC 740, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period the enactment occurs. A valuation allowance is provided for certain deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that we will not realize tax assets through future operations.

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares assumed to be outstanding during the period of computation.  Diluted loss per share is computed similar to basic loss per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive.  Options and warrants to purchase approximately 1.6 million and 0.5 million common shares were outstanding at September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, but were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share due to the anti-dilutive effect on net loss per share.

All share and per share amounts in the table below have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-50 reverse split of our issued and outstanding common stock on July 8, 2015, retroactively.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

We have no items of other comprehensive income (loss) in any period presented. Therefore, net loss as presented in our Consolidated Statements of Operations equals comprehensive loss.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”). ASU 2014-09, with additional guidance and clarification from ASU 2016-10, provides a framework for addressing revenue recognition issues and, upon its effective date, replaces almost all existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, in current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. ASU 2016-10 provides additional guidance specific to licensing and royalty revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective beginning with the calendar year ended December 31, 2017. We have not yet assessed the impact ASU 2014-09 will have upon adoption on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. ASU 2014-15 requires that an entity’s management evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern exists when relevant conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Certain disclosures are necessary in the footnotes to the financial statements in the event that conditions or events raise substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter and early application is permitted. We have not yet assessed the impact ASU 2014-15 will have upon adoption.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16—Derivatives and Hedging: Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share is More Akin to Debt or to Equity. ASU 2014-16 clarifies how current GAAP should be interpreted in evaluating the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. ASU 2014-16 became effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. There was no impact to any prior periods presented as a result of adopting ASU 2014-16.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. ASU 2015-11 requires that entities measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years and early application is permitted. We have not yet assessed the impact ASU 2015-11 will have upon adoption.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU 2015-17 requires that entities’ deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We have not yet assessed the impact ASU 2015-17 will have upon adoption.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-2 affects any entity entering into a lease and changes the accounting for operating leases to require companies to record an operating lease liability and a corresponding right-of-use lease asset, with limited exceptions. ASU 2016-2 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is allowed. We have not yet assessed the impact ASU 2016-2 will have upon adoption.

Revenue, Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit/(Loss)

We had no revenues for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015, respectively, and, therefore, we had no cost of goods sold or gross profit or loss.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses costs include officer compensation, salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation expense, consulting fees, legal expenses, intellectual property costs, accounting and auditing fees, investor relations costs, insurance, public company reporting costs and listing fees, and corporate overhead related costs.  Total selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 decreased $228,000, or 19.5%, to $941,000 from $1,169,000 for the same period of the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the cost savings measures we implemented beginning in April 2016, including a decrease in stock compensation of $36,000, a decrease in professional services of approximately $166,000 for lower legal and investor relations expenses, a decrease of $17,000 in overhead, and a decrease of $11,000 for travel expenses.

Total selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased $221,000, or 6.4%, to $3,254,000 from $3,475,000 for the same period of the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the net effect of a decrease of headcount costs and stock compensation expenses of approximately $37,000, a reduction of approximately $62,000 in travel expenses, an expense decrease due to overhead allocated to research and development of $44,000, a reduction of professional services of $16,000 and a reduction of approximately $42,000 in non-recurring charges, including bad debt expense and bank charges.

Research and development

Research and development costs include development expenses for the Power Oxidizer and integration expenses related to our Power Oxidizer products with other partners such as Dresser-Rand and include salaries and benefits, consultant fees, cost of supplies and materials for samples and prototypes, depreciation, as well as outside services costs. Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased $242,000, or 26.0%, to $1,170,000 from $928,000 for the same period of the prior year. The increase is due to the net effect of lower recurring expenses due to lower headcount, an expense reduction due to an allocation of headcount costs to Power Oxidizers carried in fixed assets and inventory, an increase in non-recurring charges due to the FSAT test unit in 2016 and a decrease in non-recurring charges due to the SSAT testing in 2015. See tabular presentation and greater detail below.

Research and development expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased $235,000, or 8.9%, to $2,871,000 from $2,636,000 for the same period of the prior year.  he increase is due to the net effect of lower recurring expenses due to lower headcount, an expense reduction due to an allocation of headcount costs to Power Oxidizers carried in fixed assets and inventory, an increase in non-recurring charges due to the FSAT test unit in 2016 and a decrease in non-recurring charges due to the SSAT testing in 2015. See tabular presentation and greater detail below.

The following tabular presentation sets forth certain changes to research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively:

The decrease in the recurring gross expenses of $97,000 to $669,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and the decrease of $89,000 to $2,370,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is due to lower employee headcount, lower consulting, and lower stock compensation charges compared to the comparable 2015 reporting periods.

The three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 included a reduction of $186,000 related to salaries, benefits, and consulting costs associated with the buildout and completion of the FSAT unit and partial construction of the two Power Oxidizers delivered in October 2016 to Pacific Ethanol. We capitalized $45,000 to fixed assets for the FSAT unit and $141,000 into inventory for the Power Oxidizer units delivered to Pacific Ethanol in October 2016.

The three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 included $687,000 of non-recurring expenses and charges related to the FSAT conducted in the 2016 quarter, including $350,000 of assets capitalized in 2015 as fixed assets but not placed into service until the end of the second quarter of 2016. We determined that the underlying assets recorded in 2015 and certain similar assets recorded in 2016 were not likely to be recovered and therefore considered to be impaired. The three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included non-recurring costs related to the SSAT, which was completed in 2015.

Other Income (Expenses):

Other income (expenses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily of cash and non-cash interest on the Senior Notes, placed in April and May 2015 and the Junior Notes, placed in September 2016, the non-recurring charge for the modification of the Senior Notes, cash and non-cash charges on the backstop security arrangement, and the mark to market adjustment for our derivative liabilities related to the Senior and Junior Notes and the warrants issued in conjunction with our December 2015 private equity placement. Other income (expenses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 consisted of the mark to market adjustment for the December 2014 warrants, which were exchanged for common stock in April 2015, and cash and non-cash interest on the Senior Notes, placed in late April and early May 2015. 

Net Loss

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, our net loss was approximately $1.6 million, primarily from operating expenses of $2.1 million and $0.5 million of other income. Operating expenses include recurring cash basis expenses of $1.1 million, reduced by $0.2 million of recurring cash basis expenses capitalized to fixed assets and inventory, non-recurring expenses relating to the FSAT testing and equipment of $0.7 million, and non-cash expenses of $0.5 million, consisting of stock-based compensation expenses of $0.3 million and depreciation of $0.2 million. The $0.5 million of other income (net) consists of $0.3 million of cash interest expense and $0.8 million of non-cash interest expense, which is offset by a $1.6 million mark to market gain on derivative liabilities.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, our net loss was approximately $7.6 million, primarily from operating expenses of $6.1 million and other expenses (net) of $1.5 million. The operating expenses included $4.1 million of cash based expenses, a reduction of $0.2 million of recurring cash basis expenses capitalized to assets, non-recurring expenses relating to the FSAT testing and equipment charges of $0.7 million and $1.5 million of non-cash expenses including stock-based compensation of $1.0 million and depreciation of $0.5 million. Other expenses (net) consists of $1.0 million of interest on the Senior Notes, Junior Notes and $2.1 million backstop security, $2.2 million of amortization of the discount on the Senior Notes and Junior Notes, which is offset by a $3.1 million mark to market gain on derivative liabilities.  

Earnings per share

Earnings per share, basic and diluted were ($0.42) and ($1.34) for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and were ($2.12) and ($1.34) for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Liquidity

Cash Flows used in Operating Activities

Our cash used in operating activities was approximately $5.4 million and $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 resulted from a net loss of approximately $7.6 million, reduced by net non-cash charges of $2.5 million for stock-based compensation, gains on revaluation of derivative securities, non-cash interest expense due to amortization of debt discount and deferred financing charges, expense related to modification of debt, fixed asset impairment, and depreciation, offset by a change of $0.3 million of working capital, primarily due to a $1.9 million increase in inventory, accounts receivable and prepaid expenses offset by a $1.5 million increase in accounts payable and deferred revenue and a $0.1 million decrease in restricted cash. Cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 of $4.5 million resulted from a net loss of approximately $8.6 million reduced by $3.6 million of non-cash charges for stock based compensation, depreciation, and losses on revaluation of derivative securities and $0.5 million in additional working capital, primarily increases in accounts payable of $0.8 million and an increase of $0.3 million of restricted cash. 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities of $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was attributable to the purchase of parts and equipment to build the FSAT unit for the KG2 product development. Cash used in investing activities of $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was attributable to the purchase of property and equipment consisting primarily of the multi-fuel test facility, which was used to satisfy the initial SSAT for the CLA and early payments made to construct the full KG2 prototype to be used in the KG2 integration for the FSAT. 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 of $4.1 million consisted of a an equity investment of $2.9 million, net of $0.1 million in fees and the placement of $1.2 million, net of expenses of Junior Notes. Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 consisted of $4.7 million of proceeds from the $5.0 million Senior Notes placement, net of $0.3 million in fees, and $0.7 million received from a private equity placement of $0.8 million net of $0.1 million of fees. 

Capital Resources

Our principal capital requirements are to fund our working capital requirements, invest in research and development and capital equipment and fund the continued costs of public company compliance requirements.  We have historically funded our operations through debt and equity financings.  

From our inception, we have incurred losses from operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we have incurred losses from operations and have an accumulated deficit of approximately $38.7 million and a net loss of approximately $7.6 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we used cash in operations of approximately $5.4 million, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

We expect to continue to incur substantial additional operating losses from costs related to the continuation of product and technology development and administrative activities.  Our cash on hand at September 30, 2016 was approximately $0.7 million (including restricted cash of $50,000). 

Our sales cycle can exceed 24 months and, except as noted below, we do not expect to generate sufficient revenue in the next twelve months to cover our operating costs. We anticipate that we will pursue raising additional debt or equity financing to fund new product development and execute on the commercialization of our product plans.  

Until we achieve our product commercialization plans and are able to generate sales to realize the benefits of the strategy and sufficiently increase cash flow from operations, we will require additional capital to meet our working capital requirements, research and development, capital requirements and compliance requirements and will continue to pursue raising additional equity and/or debt financing.

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash and receivables.  As of September 30, 2016, cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) were $0.7 million, or 9.1% of total assets, compared to $2.8 million, or 37.1% of total assets, at December 31, 2015.  The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily attributable to cash used in operating activities of $5.4 million and $0.7 million of spending on fixed assets, primarily on the KG2 unit to be used for the FSAT testing. 

We have not yet achieved profitable operations and have yet to establish an ongoing source of revenue to cover operating costs and meet our ongoing obligations. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, we continued to reduce our cash operating expenses. Excluding one-time charges related to the FSAT unit testing, our September 2016 operational cash requirement decreased to approximately $1.1 million, down from approximately $1.5 million per quarter in the first quarter of 2016. In June 2016, we signed the CMLA with Dresser-Rand. The transition to the CMLA will decrease our cash needs for the next 12 months as compared to our projections for prior quarters due to lower working capital requirements. Since Dresser-Rand will begin manufacturing our Power Oxidizers and pay us a license fee of at least $370,000 per unit, our cash requirements is expected to decrease in future quarters. Our cash spending requirements, excluding debt repayment for the $6.25 million of debt due in 2017, are expected to be $7.0 million, consisting of: 

We expect to reduce our cash spending requirement over the next year by further reducing our operating expenses, reducing our working capital requirement to zero, and eliminating most of our debt service cash spending.

Dresser-Rand license fee payments : Under the CMLA, beginning in the third quarter of 2016, Dresser-Rand is obligated to pay us a minimum of $370,000 per KG2 unit sold, of which 50% is due 30 days after order placement by the end customer to Dresser-Rand and 50% is payable within one year of order placement.

Sale or lease of FSAT KG2 unit : We constructed a functional KG2 production unit as part of the FSAT testing and intend to sell or lease this unit within the next nine months.