9. Stockholders’ Equity

The following table summarizes, by statement of operations line item, stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

 

2000 and 2017 Equity Incentive Plans

In June 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (“2000 Plan”). The 2000 Plan provides for a total maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued of 1,849,000 shares. In June 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted the Capstone Turbine Corporation 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) which was approved by the stockholders at the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders on August 31, 2017 (the “2017 Annual Meeting”). The 2017 Plan provides for awards of up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock. The 2017 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee designated by the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The Compensation Committee’s authority includes determining the number of incentive awards and vesting provisions. On June 5, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted an amendment of the 2017 Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by 3,000,000 shares of common stock. The amendment of the 2017 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders on August 30, 2018. As of March 31, 2019, there were 3,085,347 shares available for future grants under the 2017 Plan.

Stock Options

The Company issued stock options under the 2000 Plan and issues stock options under the 2017 Plan to employees, non-employee directors and consultants that vest and become exercisable over a four-year period and expire 10 years after the grant date. The Company uses a Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate the fair value of the options at the grant date, and compensation cost is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. All options are subject to the following vesting provisions: one-fourth vest one year after the issuance date and 1/48th vest on the first day of each full month thereafter, so that all options will be vested on the first day of the 48th month after the grant date. Information relating to stock options for fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, is as follows:

 

Black-Scholes Model Valuation Assumptions

There were no stock options granted during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 or 2018. There was no expense associated with stock options during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.  The Company recorded expense of approximately $16,900 fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. There were no unvested stock option awards as of March 31, 2019.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company issued restricted stock units under the 2000 Plan and issues restricted stock units under the 2017 Plan to employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The restricted stock units are valued based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of issuance, and compensation cost is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, the Company established an accounting policy election to assume zero forfeiture for restricted stock units and account for forfeitures when they occur through the adoption of ASU 2016-09. The restricted stock units vest in equal installments over a period of four years. For restricted stock units with four year vesting, one-fourth vest annually beginning one year after the issuance date. The restricted stock units issued to non-employee directors vest one year after the issuance date. The following table outlines the restricted stock unit activity:

The following table provides additional information on restricted stock units for the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

As of March 31, 2019, there was approximately $1.2 million of total compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock units that is expected to be recognized as expense over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.

Restricted Stock Awards

The Company issued restricted stock awards under the 2000 Plan to employees and non-employee directors. There were no restricted stock awards granted during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the Company issued a total of 3,969 shares of stock, to non-employee directors who elected to take payment of all or any part of the directors’ fees in stock in lieu of cash. The weighted average per share grant date fair value of shares of stock issued during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 was $0.63.  No expense was recorded associated with its restricted stock awards during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. The Company recorded expense of approximately $3,000 associated with its restricted stock awards during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.

For each term of the Board of Directors (beginning on the date of an annual meeting of stockholders and ending on the date immediately preceding the next annual meeting of stockholders), a non-employee director may elect to receive a stock award in lieu of all or any portion of their annual retainer or committee fee cash payment. The shares of stock were valued based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In June 2000, the Company adopted the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP provides for the granting of rights to purchase common stock to regular full and part-time employees or officers of the Company and its subsidiaries. In June 2017, the Board unanimously approved an amendment and restatement to the ESPP which was approved by the stockholders at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders on August 31, 2017. Prior to the current amendment, 70,000 shares of the Company’s common stock had been reserved for issuance. As amended, the ESPP continued by its terms and the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available increased by 500,000 shares which reserved for issuance a total of 570,000 shares of common stock. Under the ESPP, shares of the Company’s common stock are issued upon exercise of the purchase rights. The ESPP will continue by its terms through June 30, 2020, unless terminated sooner. The maximum amount that an employee can contribute during a purchase right period is $25,000 or 15% of the employee’s regular compensation. Under the ESPP, the exercise price of a purchase right is 95% of the fair market value of such shares on the last day of the purchase right period. The fair market value of the stock is its closing price as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day in question. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company issued a total of 1,012 shares and 5,836 shares of stock, respectively, to regular full and part-time employees or officers of the Company who elected to participate in the ESPP. As of March 31, 2019, there were 497,909 shares available for future grant under the ESPP.

Stockholder Rights Plan

On May 6, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), declared a dividend of one right (a “New Right”) for each of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”). The dividend will be paid to the stockholders of record at the close of business on May 16, 2019 (the “Record Date”). Each New Right entitles the registered holder, subject to the terms of the NOL Rights Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Company’s Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) at a price of $5.22 (the “Exercise Price”), subject to certain adjustments. The description and terms of the New Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of May 6, 2019 (the “NOL Rights Agreement”) between the Company and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

The NOL Rights Agreement replaces the Company’s Rights Agreement, dated May 6, 2016, by and between the Company and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., as successor-in-interest to Computershare Inc., as rights agent (the “Original Rights Agreement”). The Original Rights Agreement, and the rights thereunder to purchase fractional shares of Preferred Stock, expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 6, 2019 and the NOL Rights Agreement was entered into immediately thereafter.

The purpose of the NOL Rights Agreement is to diminish the risk that the Company’s ability to use its net operating losses and certain other tax assets (collectively, “Tax Benefits”) to reduce potential future federal income tax obligations would become subject to limitations by reason of the Company’s experiencing an “ownership change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Tax Code”). A company generally experiences such an ownership change if the percentage of its stock owned by its “5-percent shareholders,” as defined in Section 382 of the Tax Code, increases by more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. The NOL Rights Agreement is designed to reduce the likelihood that the Company will experience an ownership change under Section 382 of the Tax Code by (i) discouraging any person or group from becoming a 4.9% shareholder and (ii) discouraging any existing 4.9% shareholder from acquiring additional shares of the Company’s stock.

The New Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day after a public announcement or filing that a person has, or group of affiliated or associated persons have, become an “Acquiring Person,” which is defined as a person or group of affiliated or associated persons who, at any time after the date of the NOL Rights Agreement, have acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, subject to certain exceptions or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day after the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”). Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions, whether or not such interests are considered to be ownership of the underlying Common Stock or are reportable for purposes of Regulation 13D of the Securities Exchange Act, are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of Common Stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the extent actual shares of the Common Stock are directly or indirectly held by counterparties to the derivatives contracts.

With respect to certificates representing shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the New Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for shares of Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof, and not by separate Rights Certificates, as described further below. With respect to book entry shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the New Rights will be evidenced by the balances indicated in the book entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, as described below, the transfer of any shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the New Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the New Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such Right Certificates alone will evidence the New Rights.

The New Rights, which are not exercisable until the Distribution Date, will expire prior to the earliest of (i) May 6, 2022 or such later day as may be established by the Board prior to the expiration of the New Rights, provided that the extension is submitted to the Company’s stockholders for ratification at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company succeeding such extension; (ii) the time at which the New Rights are redeemed pursuant to the NOL Rights Agreement; (iii) the time at which the New Rights are exchanged pursuant to the NOL Rights Agreement; (iv) the time at which the New Rights are terminated upon the occurrence of certain transactions; (v) the close of business on the first day after the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, if approval by the stockholders of the Company of the NOL Rights Agreement has not been obtained on or prior to the close of business on the first day after the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders; (vi) the close of business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Tax Code, if the Board determines that the NOL Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits; and (vii) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits are available to be carried forward, (the earliest of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) is referred to as the “Expiration Date”).

Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a preferential per share quarterly dividend payment equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 per share or (ii) an amount equal to 1,000 times the aggregate quarterly dividend declared per share of Common Stock since the immediately preceding quarterly dividend payment date for the Common Stock (or, with respect to the first quarterly dividend payment on the Common Stock, since the first issuance of the Preferred Stock). Each share of Preferred Stock will entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per one share of Common Stock.

Offerings of Common Stock and Warrants and At-the-Market Offering Program

At-the-Market Offering

Effective August 28, 2015, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC with respect to an at-the-market offering program pursuant to which the Company offered and sold, from time to time at its sole discretion, shares of its common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $30.0 million. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the Company issued 2.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock under this at-the-market offering program and the net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Company’s common stock were approximately $4.0 million after deducting commissions paid of approximately $0.1 million. As of March 31, 2019, 26.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock were cumulatively sold pursuant to the at-the-market offering program and the net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the common stock were approximately $28.6 million after deducting commissions paid of approximately $0.8 million. This at-the-market offering program expired on May 29, 2018.  

On June 7, 2018, the Company entered into a sales agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC with respect to an at-the-market offering program pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time at its sole discretion, shares of its common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $25.0 million. The Company will set the parameters for sales of the shares, including the number to be sold, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number that may be sold in one trading day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the Company issued 7.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock under the at-the-market offering program and the net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Company’s common stock were approximately $6.9 million after deducting commissions paid of approximately $0.2 million. As of March 31, 2019, approximately $17.8 million remained available for issuance with respect to this at-the-market offering program. 

Warrants

On April 13, 2018, a warrant holder exercised its rights to the warrant agreement to exercise on a cashless basis 5,760,000 Series A warrants at an exercise price of $0.60 per share under the warrant agreement. In accordance with terms of the warrant agreement, after taking into account the shares withheld to satisfy the cashless exercise option, the Company issued 3,806,243 shares of common stock.

As of March 31, 2019, there were 2,718,750 Series A warrants outstanding and there are no Series B warrants outstanding. Of the total Series A warrants outstanding, 2,178,750 Series A warrants were issued with an exercise price of $2.55 per share of common stock, and have an expiration date of October 25, 2021, and 540,000 Series A warrants with anti-dilution provisions were issued with an initial exercise price of $1.34 per share of common stock, and have an expiration date of April 22, 2021. As of March 31, 2019, the 540,000 Series A warrants with anti-dilution provisions had an exercise price of $0.57 per share of common stock.

On February 4, 2019, the Company sold to Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (the “Holder”), a Purchase Warrant for Common Shares (the “Warrant”) pursuant to which the Holder may purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Shares”) in an aggregate amount of up 4,046,337 shares (the “Warrant Shares”). The Warrant was sold to the Holder at a purchase price of $150,000, in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act.

The Warrant may be exercised by the Holder at any time after August 4, 2019 at an exercise price equal to $0.8859 and will expire on February 4, 2024. The Warrant contains standard adjustment provisions in the event of additional stock issuances below the exercise price of the warrant, stock splits, combinations, rights offerings and similar transactions. The value of the Warrant was $2.3 million, and has been classified as an equity instrument in additional paid in capital in our consolidated balance sheets.  The value of the Warrant was determined using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model using the following assumptions: