UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 

FORM 10-K
 


T ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 000-30939


ACTIVE POWER, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 
Delaware
 
74-2961657
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
2128 W. Braker Lane, BK 12, Austin, Texas
 
78758
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(512) 836-6464
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Class
 
Name of Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.001 per share
 
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes T  No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  o  Yes  T  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  T  Yes  o  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  T  Yes  o  No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 



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

Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer T
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) o Yes  T  No

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing sale price of its common stock on the last day of registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, June 30, 2013, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market, was approximately $64.1 million (affiliates being, for these purposes only, directors and executive officers and holders of 10% or more of the registrant’s outstanding shares).

As of February 20, 2014, the registrant had 19,403,706 shares of common stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Certain information required by Part III of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the registrant’s proxy statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

2

Active Power, Inc.

Unless otherwise indicated, “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Active Power” mean Active Power, Inc., including our predecessor Texas corporation and our subsidiary companies. References in this report to “$” or “dollars” are to United States of America currency.

Table of Contents

PART I
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
5
 
 
 
ITEM 1A
16
 
 
 
ITEM 1B.
25
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
25
 
 
 
ITEM 3.
25
 
 
 
ITEM 4.
25
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 5.
26
 
 
 
ITEM 6.
27
 
 
 
ITEM 7.
29
 
 
 
ITEM 7A.
43
 
 
 
ITEM 8.
43
 
 
 
ITEM 9.
43
 
 
 
ITEM 9A.
43
 
 
 
ITEM 9B.
44
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 10.
45
 
 
 
ITEM 11.
46
 
 
 
ITEM 12.
46
 
 
 
ITEM 13.
46
 
 
 
ITEM 14.
46
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 15.
47

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements about historical or current facts, including, without limitation, statements about our business strategy, plans and objectives of management and our future prospects, are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue” and other similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations, make projections of our future results of operations or financial condition, or state other “forward-looking” information. We believe it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations.

The factors listed in the section captioned “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report, as well as any cautionary language in this report, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we described in our forward-looking statements.

PART I.

ITEM 1. Business.

Overview and Strategy

Active Power designs, manufactures, and sells flywheel-based uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) products and modular infrastructure solutions (“MIS”). Our products and solutions are based on our patented flywheel and power electronics technology and are designed to ensure continuity for data centers and other mission critical operations in the event of power disturbances.

Our products and solutions are designed to deliver continuous conditioned (“clean”) power during power disturbances and outages, voltage sags and surges, and provide ride-through power in the event of utility failure, supporting operations until utility power is restored or a longer term alternative power source such as a diesel generator is engaged. We believe our products offer an advantage over those of our competitors in the areas of power density (less floor space), system reliability, and total cost of ownership.

We have sold our flywheel-based UPS products since 1999. As of December 31, 2013, we have shipped more than 4,000 flywheels in UPS systems, delivering more than 900 megawatts of power to customers in more than 50 countries around the world, providing more than 150 million runtime hours of operation.

In addition to selling stand-alone UPS products, we also manufacture and sell MIS products that integrate critical power components into a pre-packaged, purpose built enclosure. These solutions offer similar customer benefits as our UPS systems with regard to power density, reliability, and total cost of ownership. These MIS products may include our UPS products as a component. For example, we design, manufacture, and sell modular power infrastructure products that integrate our UPS products with other related equipment including switchgear and automatic transfer switch; monitoring and controls; analytics software; fire detection; lighting; security; and air conditioning. Our integrated product is sold as a complete power solution for customers which we call CleanSource® PowerHouse™.

We also integrate and build modular power and IT infrastructure solutions to specification based on customer and other third party designs. These solutions are typically enclosures that have a fully built out interior including electrical, cooling, monitoring, and other elements ready for the customer to add its IT racks and servers. They serve as the physical infrastructure for modular data center products which are self-contained, fully functioning data centers once the customer adds its IT equipment. These products can be deployed rapidly and at a lower cost than traditional brick-and-mortar solutions and are optimally suited for hyperscale IT and cloud applications.

To date, we have deployed more than 130 infrastructure modules worldwide which include both CleanSource PowerHouse and our modular IT solutions.

In 2013, 51% of our product revenue came from the sale of UPS products and 49% from the sale of MIS products.

We are headquartered in Austin, Texas, with international offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, and China.

We believe a number of underlying macroeconomic trends place Active Power in a strong position to be one of the leading providers of critical power products and infrastructure solutions. These trends include:

the increasing cost of downtime;

a rapidly expanding need for data center infrastructure due to constant creation and usage of data;

rising costs of energy worldwide driven by volume of energy used; and

an increasing demand for economically green solutions.

We have evolved significantly since we were founded in 1992. Our early focus was on research and development of the core products that continue to enable our business today. The foundational technology of Active Power – the flywheel and power electronics – has yielded more than 100 worldwide patents and a highly differentiated, cost-efficient product platform that we have built into an expanding suite of infrastructure solutions. Over the past several years, we have focused our efforts on building brand and developing markets.
Active Power has developed and implemented a go-to-market strategy to set the direction for our sales and marketing initiatives and plans around the following components:
 
Customer and Target Markets:  Data Center Applications Across Vertical Markets

Distribution:  Partner Enabled Distribution Strategy Transacted Locally

Geography:  Global Markets Served from Four Centers of Operation

Products:  Flywheel UPS and Modular Infrastructure Solutions

Value:  Power Density, Reliability, Total Cost of Ownership

Service:  Installation, Maintenance, Project Management, and Other Professional Services

Customer & Target Markets

According to a 2013 report on the world UPS market by IHS Research, the global UPS market was estimated to be approximately $7.7 billion in 2013. IHS Research projects the market will increase to approximately $7.9 billion in 2014 and will grow to approximately $9.3 billion by 2017 with a projected compound annual growth rate of nearly 3% from 2012 to 2017.

UPS products can be classified into single phase and three phase systems. We compete in the higher power, three phase market and do not offer any systems in the lower power, single phase range. The market for three phase systems is typically segmented by kVA (kilo-Volt-Amps or power level) and by geography. We continue to focus on customers in the 100 kVA and higher segment. In 2013, our total available market in this segment of the UPS market was estimated to be $2.2 billion with a served addressable market of approximately $900 million globally. In 2017, our total available market is forecasted to be approximately $2.9 billion with a served addressable market of approximately $1.2 billion. The 100 kVA and higher segment is one of the fastest growing segments of the UPS market according to IHS Research with a compound annual growth rate projected at more than 6% from 2013 to 2017.

Beyond the UPS market, the modular data center market expands our addressable market. In 2013, our total available market was estimated at nearly $1 billion with a served addressable market of nearly $600 million globally.  The total available market is anticipated to grow to approximately $2.5 billion by 2015 with a served addressable market of approximately $1.5 billion, according to a 2012 report published by 451 Research.

We serve the modular data center market with two types of MIS products. The first is a factory built complete modular power solution that typically contains all the components of a critical power system integrated into a single package and deployed in a purpose built enclosure. The components can include UPS; switchboards and automatic transfer switch; monitoring and controls; analytics software; fire detection; lighting; security; and air conditioning. The second is a customized MIS product built to customer specification and may contain a combination of power, cooling and/or IT infrastructure. We provide design, customization, construction, project management, installation, and service on these solutions.

We believe it is necessary for a company the size of Active Power that competes in a growing and highly competitive data center and power infrastructure market to maintain a strong focus. Therefore, our market strategy is directed at three customer types of data center applications to help target our investment, focus, and efforts:

1. Extreme / Hyperscale Group

Extreme scale customers typically are companies with a vast global presence directly in the heart of or the basis for the IT industry itself. They operate and manage large operations of more than 25,000 nodes in single locations across the world. Deployments are typically in the thousands of server nodes, representing several megawatts of UPS power and corresponding power and cooling infrastructure.

2. Enterprise Group

Enterprise is one of the largest customer groups within the UPS industry and is made up of corporate data centers. Corporate data center customers represent any and all medium to large enterprises operating a data center that services the business needs of the organization, but is not their core business. The data center is there to support the core business and provides business services such as e-mail, storage, web traffic, manufacturing resource planning, customer relationship management, etc.
 
3. Colocation Providers

Colocation providers have a core business that ranges from hosting to more complex managed services for third party clients. The data center is their core business and key purchasing decisions revolve around speed, efficiency, and reliability. The more IT space available to rent out, the more potential revenue dollars that ultimately drives a better return on investment. Colocation providers are therefore extremely focused on footprint, energy efficiency, and modularity.

The following list provides a representative sample of end user customers that use our products and solutions to support and enable their operations. The list includes customers to whom such products and solutions have been sold directly by us or via our Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) partners, manufacturer’s representatives, distributors or strategic IT partners:

Representative Customers
Industry
Tesco
Consumer Goods
Airbus Helicopter
Aerospace
Johns Hopkins University
Education
Stanford University
Education
Hexal
Healthcare
Merck
Healthcare
Parkland Health and Hospital System
Healthcare
National Oilwell Varco
Industrial
Yahoo!
Internet
Novartis
Pharmaceutical
21vianet
Service Provider / Colocation
COMLINK
Service Provider / Colocation
Datum
Service Provider / Colocation
GDS Services
Service Provider / Colocation
Gyron
Service Provider / Colocation
Verizon Terremark
Service Provider / Colocation
ARM
Technology
Hewlett-Packard
Technology
Oracle
Technology
Amsterdam Airport Schipol
Transportation
Southern California Edison
Utility

Distribution: Partner Enabled Distribution Strategy Transacted Locally

We continue to develop client relationships by selling directly and through our network partners. Specifically, we bring products to market through the following distribution methods:

sales made directly by us;

manufacturer’s representatives;

distributors;

OEM partners; and

strategic IT partners

Sales made directly by us. Our direct sales teams are located in North America, Europe, and Asia and are supported by four regional offices in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, and China. Our direct sales teams are focused on securing and establishing local presence and brand awareness, winning large customer orders, and developing the foundation for long-term client relationships in their local markets.

Manufacturer’s Representatives. We have relationships with a group of manufacturer’s representatives primarily in North America. An exclusive representative has been granted rights to sell Active Power products in a specific geographic territory. The representative has agreed to sell a specific volume of our products and not sell any competitive products. In exchange, the representative is compensated at a specified rate that is tied to the profitability of the underlying sales. We also maintain a group of non-exclusive representatives who have each been designated a territory in which to sell our products on a non-exclusive basis for a lower specified commission rate. This channel remains integral to the distribution of our products in North America and increases our geographic sales coverage without the necessity of adding direct sales personnel. Products are marketed and sold under the Active Power brand through this channel.

Distributors. In certain markets, outside of the United States, we have elected to recruit and retain specific distributors to market our products and services into a designated geographic market. The distributor buys products from us and resells them to the end user, often with other products or services. Distributors may also perform service and warranty work for us under contract. This strategy has been successful for us in markets where we choose not to deploy direct sales resources.

OEM Partners. OEM partners remain critical to our overall business strategy. Our primary OEM partner and one of our largest customers is Caterpillar, Inc. (“Caterpillar”). Caterpillar markets Active Power’s UPS products under the Caterpillar brand name “CAT UPS” and as a complement to its electric power product lines of diesel engines and switchgear. Caterpillar is a global market leader in new generator sales and has the largest installed base of existing standby generators in the world. By offering the CAT UPS with a standby generator and switchgear, Caterpillar can transform a standby power system into a continuous power system. We believe this total solution gives Caterpillar and us significant competitive advantages in the power quality market. In 2011, we signed a five-year distribution agreement with Caterpillar, continuing this important relationship that started in 1999. Our sales to Caterpillar represented 16%, 13% and 14% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Strategic IT Partners. We have entered into a number of agreements with leading global organizations in the data center market who have the ability to collaborate with us on new sales opportunities. These relationships help us expand potential opportunities to market our products and services through all of our distribution channels. Our primary IT partner is Hewlett Packard Corporation (“HP”). HP accounted for 36%, 35% and 22% of our total revenue during 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Geography: Global Markets Supported by Four Centers of Operation

We focus our marketing and customer identification efforts globally, supported by four regional operations centers. Located in Austin, Texas; Osterode, Germany; Evesham, United Kingdom; and Beijing, China, our regional operations centers provide local sales and service, applications engineering, containers, integration, and product testing for UPS and MIS products. Sales outside of North America accounted for approximately 38%, 40% and 20% of our total revenues in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. We expect a significant portion of our total revenue will continue to be derived from international sales.

Products: UPS and MIS

UPS

CleanSource® UPS

Our UPS products serve two primary functions. First, during normal operations they are continuously conditioning (“cleaning”) the incoming power from the utility and delivering “conditioned” power to the client’s mission critical load (i.e., IT equipment, etc.). In this mode, the UPS regulates incoming utility power fluctuations in voltage and frequency. Second, if there is any interruption in the utility source, the UPS will provide temporary, or bridging power, until either the utility power is restored or an alternative generating source, such as a diesel generator, begins to provide power. This role of the UPS in the context of a continuous power application is illustrated below:
 

Active Power introduced the world’s first integrated flywheel UPS product in 1999, which integrates UPS power electronics with flywheel energy storage technology. The flywheel stores kinetic energy – energy produced by motion – by constantly spinning a compact rotor in a low friction environment. When short-term backup power is required due to utility power fluctuations or losses, the rotor’s inertia allows it to continue spinning and the resulting kinetic energy is converted to electricity. The UPS draws upon the stored kinetic energy of the spinning flywheel to generate electricity to the load until the utility power returns, or in the event of a longer interruption, the generator comes online as a power source. The flywheel immediately supports the critical load upon loss of utility power. Within seconds of an extended outage occurring, the UPS signals the generator to start via the automatic transfer switch. The generator then carries the load until utility power is restored. The following is an illustration of our typical flywheel-based UPS system:


We market our flywheel-based UPS systems under the brand name CleanSource UPS. CleanSource UPS is a battery-free UPS system that integrates proprietary UPS electronics and our flywheel energy storage system into one compact cabinet lineup. We currently offer CleanSource UPS products in power configurations ranging up to 1.5 MVA with the ability to parallel these products to provide more than eight megawatts of load protection. Combining CleanSource UPS with a generator provides customers with complete short- and long-term protection in the event of a power disturbance.

CleanSource 750/625HD UPS

In November 2012, we introduced our CleanSource 750/625HD UPS (see illustration below) which is available in standalone modules rated at 750 kVA and 625 kVA for 60 and 50 Hertz applications, respectively. This system is scalable and can be paralleled together to provide more than 5 MVA (million volt amps) of protected power. The product’s design allows for the use of auxiliary batteries in the event the customer requires extended, autonomous run time for certain applications. We believe CleanSource 750/625HD provides the power density, reliability, and total cost of ownership benefits that will make it a favorable complement to our existing products for large data center and other mission critical applications. All our UPS products represented 35%, 46%, and 37% of total revenue in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Modular Infrastructure Solutions

CleanSource PowerHouse

For customers looking for a complete, integrated continuous power system, we package our CleanSource UPS along with switchgear and automatic transfer switch; monitoring and controls; analytics software; fire detection; lighting; security; and air conditioning into a fully integrated system. Due to the space efficiencies of our UPS products, we are able to offer all of these components in a pre-packaged containerized solution offering that we market under the brand name CleanSource PowerHouse (see illustration below).
 

CleanSource PowerHouse is packaged in a purpose-built enclosure with size and features depending upon the customer’s power load requirements and local and national regulatory requirements. These systems are specifically designed to handle the demands of data center facilities requiring the highest power integrity available while maximizing uptime, useable floor space, and operational efficiency. Our systems are offered in eight standard modular power configurations that enable sizing for power (and cooling) infrastructure on demand. CleanSource PowerHouse also delivers significant value to customers as the entire system is integrated and tested prior to delivery for a repeatable and simple solution.

In March 2013, we introduced a redesigned CleanSource PowerHouse product line to market that provides lower acquisition cost, faster time to deployment, and improved monitoring, controls, and analytics software versus a conventional data center electrical room.

Modular IT

To better serve our customers and leverage our expertise in integration, containerization, and power distribution, we manufacture containerized infrastructure solutions designed to specification for select business partners. Modular IT infrastructure solutions refer to the components of a containerized data center. In 2010, we began designing and manufacturing IT infrastructure solutions for select business partners on a contract basis. We design to specification which sometimes includes a modular shell and outfitting the interior infrastructure (electrical, cooling, monitoring, etc.). Our clients then add the IT equipment including servers and racks, resulting in a self-contained modular data center that our partners deliver to end users. Modular data centers may be rapidly deployed with other modular data centers as a cost-effective alternative to traditional raised-floor data centers.

MIS products, both CleanSource Powerhouse and Modular IT products, in total represented 48%, 35%, and 35% of total revenue in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Our products are designed to perform well in harsh environments where power quality or reliability are particularly poor, which makes them a good fit for countries with poor power infrastructure; in harsh manufacturing or process environments; or situations where reliability is paramount such as mission critical business applications, particularly data center applications. Therefore, we have traditionally focused our direct sales efforts on these types of customer situations.

The market for our products dictates that many of our products be manufactured and shipped quickly after an order is receivedand we are required to maintain significant inventories of components and systems. Therefore, inventory obsolescence is a risk for us due to engineering changes, shifting customer demand, and/or rapid technological advances including the introduction by us or our competitors of new technology. We strive to mitigate this risk by monitoring inventory levels against product demand and technological changes. Additionally, some of our products have interchangeable parts or have long lives. There can be no assurance we will be successful in these efforts in the future.

Services

We deliver worldwide customer support that offers clients assessment, implementation, and lifecycle support services for all Active Power products. Building a portfolio of services to work with clients through the lifecycle of their power assessment design and implementation process is a key element of our service growth strategy. We offer the following services to our clients:

Infrastructure Needs Assessment. We work locally through our global network of mission critical infrastructure engineers and project managers to assess the power and cooling needs of a client’s facility;

Vetting and Validation. Our teams of experienced application engineers use comprehensive assessments to vet and validate the optimal solution that complements a client’s business continuity plan;

Alignment with Business Objectives. Through continuous communication, our teams help ensure the solution accurately aligns with the original needs assessment and a client’s short-term and projected future business objectives;

System Design. We design client solutions to ensure all components are optimized with a particular focus on reliability, efficiency, and cost effectiveness in determining the correct match and interoperability between components;
 
Deployment. Our experienced group of project managers will work with a client to develop a timely deployment schedule with the least impact on day-to-day business. We ensure expectations are clearly defined through the deployment phase;

Start-Up and Commissioning. Once the system is deployed, our team takes the system through a rigorous commissioning process to help ensure the system is working to specification. Our engineers work closely with the client’s team to make certain they are educated and trained on the successful operation of the system; and

Service, Support and Monitoring. Clients can choose from a variety of comprehensive service and support offerings, tiered to match an organization’s internal capabilities and requirements. We offer four tiers of maintenance programs specifically designed to deliver on both the long-term preventive maintenance requirements for the system and a client’s need for support. The level of support is at the client’s discretion. Ensuring a reliable and efficient operation requires accurate monitoring, which we offer as a hands-off remote monitoring service in our center, locally at the client’s facility, or as a combination of both.

Service revenues represented 17%, 19% and 28% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

UPS and MIS Market Drivers

We believe there are several market dynamics fueling the growth of the UPS and MIS markets and the need for power dense (less floor space is used) reliable, and low cost backup power. These include:

Increase in data usage and storage and in data center density:

Growth of enterprise data, social networking sites, web-based applications, cloud computing, and other similar technologies requires data centers to invest in more IT and physical infrastructure equipment to support growth in use and storage requirements;

Additional IT and infrastructure requires more floor space; and

Enterprises’ need for more power density to accommodate IT equipment more efficiently within a given space.

More awareness of energy efficiency from both corporate social responsibility and financial perspective:

More investment in highly efficient, sustainable technologies to keep electricity costs down and to stay competitive in the marketplace;

Government legislation like the United Kingdom Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Scheme and other cap and trade programs are becoming more prominent to help control carbon emissions; and

Electricity costs are the single highest operating costs for many organizations due to the substantial amount of power needed to support data center facilities.

Modular data centers are becoming more commonplace, not only for specific niche applications like military and high density computing environments:

Colocation sites that house modular data centers are becoming more prevalent due to performance and tangible economic benefits;

Short lead times and rapid deployment capability due to use of factory built and tested systems are expected to increase demand for modular data center products, particularly for those organizations that do not have capital readily available to commit to building a brick and mortar facility; and

A modular design-build approach is a more capital efficient model that enables organizations to deploy IT and infrastructure as business and IT needs evolve, reducing underutilization.

Customers focused on convenience and improving margins:

More mission critical organizations are moving towards innovatively designed, turnkey data center and infrastructure solutions that involve less risk, cost, and complexity and more automation; and

Organizations want the ability to rapidly deploy data center and associated power and cooling infrastructure.

Increase in global energy consumption:

Rapid industrialization of highly populated world regions is increasing global energy demand and placing a premium on reliability of energy supply and sensitivity to loss of power; and

There is an increasing cost to produce and consume electricity due to depletion of finite fossil fuel sources, instability in oil-producing regions, and a preference for green energy sources.

Increasing economic impact of power interruption to users:

The financial cost of power interruption through loss of products, manufacturing down time, and computer processing interruptions; and

Reputational cost of power interruption to businesses.

Competition

We compete in two primary industry product areas: UPS products and MIS products.

UPS Products. Our CleanSource UPS products compete primarily against conventional battery-based UPS systems from vendors such as Emerson/Liebert, Eaton/Powerware, and APC/MGE. We also compete against rotary (battery-free) UPS systems from vendors such as Piller, Eurodiesel, and Hitec. For applications requiring less than one megawatt of critical load, we largely compete against battery-based competitors and for applications greater than one megawatt we tend to compete against rotary systems vendors. We believe there is greater market acceptance of battery-free solutions (such as flywheel and rotary) compared to battery-based solutions in the one-megawatt and higher power range, making this a very strong market for our CleanSource 750HD, a single flywheel-based high density power solution rated at 750 kVA. Several of the leading conventional UPS battery vendors have begun offering flywheel-based energy storage to replace batteries, however Vycon is the principal manufacturer of these flywheel systems.

Our primary basis of competition in UPS systems is product differentiation and our advantages in power density (less floor space is used), reliability, and total cost of ownership.

Modular Infrastructure Solutions. We provide competitive offerings in both the modular power infrastructure and modular IT infrastructure markets. Modular power infrastructure is an important sector of our business that enables us to leverage the strengths and key benefits of our CleanSource UPS product line. CleanSource PowerHouse is the brand name for our prepackaged continuous modular power solution which is delivered in purpose-built enclosures for rapid deployment to support a variety of applications including facility expansion, temporary critical power needs such as event support, disaster recovery, or to support a containerized data center product. We also offer complete continuous power solutions designed for use in traditional data center environments.

There are a variety of competitors with similar capabilities including systems integrators and value added service providers who may procure required system components and assemble custom solutions. We believe that we are one of only a few UPS manufacturers in the world offering pre-packaged standard solutions for quick delivery globally. The power density advantages we enjoy with our UPS products allow us to offer higher continuous power levels within the physical constraints of the containerized space compared to our competitors, which we believe is a barrier to entry for them. Our UPS products’ ability to operate in temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius in non-air -conditioned environments (such as a shell building or open-air facility) also acts as a competitive advantage for us compared to battery-based UPS systems which require sufficient air conditioning to operate properly. We believe our ability to jointly market and leverage the activities of our mutual sales channels increases the revenue potential of CleanSource PowerHouse for Active Power.As with CleanSource PowerHouse, there are a variety of competitors around the globe with similar capabilities to manufacture these systems. We believe our experience with the power and cooling requirements of the infrastructure provides us with a competitive advantage in the design and manufacturing of these products. Further, the joint offering of our CleanSource PowerHouse with our containerized infrastructure solutions provides efficiencies, scale, and advantages in sales, marketing, and engineering we expect customers to find increasingly compelling.

Value Proposition: Power Density, Reliability, Total Cost of Ownerships

In 2013, as part of our go-to-market strategy, we refined our value proposition to be more specific around the tangible operational advantages we believe our products and solutions provide to customers. We believe our offerings deliver an unmatched combination of power density, reliability, and low total cost of ownership.  The core differentiators for our products and solutions are the following:


Superior power density: critical power delivered in about half the space of conventional systems

Frees up more floor space for revenue generating equipment (i.e. IT equipment, etc.)


Proven over 7 times less likely to fail versus conventional systems

Unique patented design delivers predictable, consistent, and continuous operation


Lower operating expenses through superior energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and no required battery changes

Delivers up to 60% in total cost of ownership savings to our customers

Intellectual Property and Assets

We rely upon a combination of patents, trademarks, confidentiality agreements, and other contractual restrictions with employees and third parties to establish and protect our proprietary rights. We have filed dozens of applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, of which 52 have been issued as patents and 39 of those patents being currently active. Additionally, we are attempting to strengthen our patent protection abroad for our technology by continuing to file patent applications and receive patents in Europe and Asia. These efforts have resulted in 55 foreign patents being issued of which 29 are active. Our patents are scheduled to expire between October 2014 and December 2030. We believe our patent strategy is critical for preserving our rights in and to the intellectual property embedded in our CleanSource UPS and CleanSource PowerHouse product lines and in newer technologies. As a manufactured, tangible device that is sold rather than licensed, our products do not qualify for copyright or trade secret protection. To enforce ownership of our technology, we principally rely on the protection obtained through the patents we own and unfair competition laws. We intend to aggressively protect our patents, which would include bringing legal actions if we deem it advisable.

We own the registered trademarks ACTIVE POWER, CLEANSOURCE, and COOLAIR in the United States and abroad. All other trademarks, service marks or trade names referred to in this report are the property of their respective owners.

Research and Development

We believe research and development efforts are essential to successfully deliver innovative products that address the current and emerging customer, particularly as the power management/infrastructure market evolves. Our research and development team works closely with our marketing and sales teams, IT channel partners, and OEMs to define product requirements that address specific market needs. Our research and development expenses were $4.7 million, $5.4 million, and $7.4 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, our research and development and engineering teams consisted of 37 engineers and technicians.

Manufacturing

We manufacture all of our UPS products at our headquarters in Austin, Texas. We are an ISO 9001:2008 quality certified operation which attests to the quality in products and processes used to manufacture and deliver products and services to our clients. We source the majority of our components from contract manufacturers to enhance our ability to scale operations and minimize costs. This approach allows us to respond quickly to customer orders while maintaining high quality standards and optimizing inventory.

Our internal manufacturing process consists of the fabrication of certain critical components within the flywheel energy storage system and the assembly, functional testing, and quality control of our finished products. We also test components, parts, and subassemblies obtained from suppliers for quality control purposes.

We have entered into long-term agreements with some of our key suppliers, but we currently purchase most of our components on a purchase order basis. We use standard parts and components for our products where possible and have developed multiple sources for some of our most critical components including the flywheel rotors. Lead times for ordering materials and components vary significantly and depend on factors such as specific supplier requirements, contract terms, production time required, and current market demand for such components or commodities.

We believe our current workforce, facilities, and inventory levels will be sufficient to handle our near-term projected sales demand. However, over time, we may need to hire additional manufacturing personnel to address sales volume increases.

Local Assembly

A key component of our strategy is to maintain a flexible operating model that allows us to perform local integration, assembly and testing of certain MIS products. We perform this work either at company managed facilities or with local integration partners that have assembly, integration and test resources. We also provide the full complement of integration, assembly and test capabilities at our Austin, Texas facility.

Environmental Regulation

We must comply with many different federal, state, local, and foreign governmental regulations related to the use, storage, discharge, and disposal of certain chemicals and gases used in our manufacturing processes. Our facilities have been designed to comply with these regulations and we believe our activities are conducted in material compliance with such regulations. Any changes in such regulations or in their enforcement could require us to acquire costly equipment or to incur other significant expenses to comply with environmental regulations. Any failure by us to adequately control the storage, use, discharge, and disposal of regulated substances could result in significant future liabilities. Increasing public attention has been focused on the environmental impact of manufacturing operations. While we have not experienced any materially adverse effects on our operations from recently adopted environmental regulations, our business and results of operations could suffer if for any reason we fail to control the storage or use of, or to adequately restrict the discharge or disposal of, hazardous substances under present or future environmental regulations.

Backlog

We generally operate our business without a large backlog of orders from our customers. Normally, our products are shipped and revenue is recognized shortly after the order is received, usually within three to six months from the date of the order. Revenue in any quarter is often dependent on orders booked and shipped throughout that quarter as historically our backlog has not been sufficient to provide all of the next quarter’s revenue. During periods of economic uncertainty, the rate of customer orders can quickly decrease limiting our ability to build a substantial backlog. Therefore, there can be no guarantee that we can successfully build and maintain a meaningful level of backlog.

We are attempting to increase the size of our backlog to promote greater efficiency in production, to facilitate business planning, and to improve revenue visibility. To support these efforts, we are working to drive consistent sales performance through targeted investing in and allocation of resources to our sales organization and distribution channels to build our backlog.

Employees

As of December 31, 2013, we had 234 total employees in the following areas:

37 in research and development;

119 in manufacturing, sourcing, and service;

49 in sales and marketing; and

29 in administration, information technology, human resources, and finance.

None of our employees are represented by a labor union. We have not experienced any work stoppages and consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Seasonality

Our business has experienced seasonal customer buying patterns for a number of years. In recent years, both the UPS and MIS markets have experienced relatively weaker demand in the first calendar quarter of the year and a sequential decrease in revenue from the fourth quarter. We believe this pattern, which we attribute to annual capital budgeting procedures, will continue. We also have historically seen a decline in demand for our products in Europe in the summer months compared to other regions because of reduced corporate buying patterns during the vacation season.

Where You Can Find Other Information

Active Power is a Delaware corporation originally founded in 1992 as a Texas corporation. We file annual, quarterly, current, and other reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”). You may read and copy any materials the company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy, and other information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including Active Power, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.

We maintain a website at www.activepower.com. We make available free of charge through this site our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. This information can be found in the Investor Relations section of our website. The website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described below before making a decision to invest in our common stock or in evaluating Active Power and our business. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently view as immaterial, may also impair our business or operations. The actual occurrence of any of the following risks could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

This Form 10-K also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our results could materially differ from those anticipated these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described below and elsewhere. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to our Business

We have a history of significant operating losses.

We have incurred annual operating losses each year since our inception in 1992. Although we achieved operating profitability on a quarterly basis, in the second quarter of 2012, we have not been able to sustain this and achieve quarterly or annual operating profitability since then. As of December 31, 2013, we had an accumulated deficit of $271.2 million. To date, we have funded our operations principally through the public and private sales of our stock, from borrowings under our credit facility, from product and service revenue and from development funding. We will need to generate significant additional revenue while maintaining our current margins to achieve annual profitability, and we cannot assure you that we will ever realize such revenue levels or achieve profitability on a consistent basis.

Our increased emphasis on larger and more complex system solutions and customer concentration may adversely affect our ability to accurately predict the timing of revenues and to meet short-term expectations of operating results.

Our increased emphasis on larger and more complex system solutions has increased the effort and time required by us to complete sales to customers. Further, a larger portion of our quarterly revenue is derived from relatively few large transactions with relatively few customers. For example, in 2012 and 2013, our three largest customers contributed 60% and 45% of our revenue, respectively. Any delay in completing these large sales transactions or any reduction in the number of customers or large transactions, may result in significant adverse fluctuations in our quarterly revenue. Further, we use anticipated revenues to establish our operating budgets and a large portion of our expenses, particularly rent and salaries are fixed in the short term. As a result, any shortfall or delay in revenue could result in increased losses and would likely cause our operating results to be below public expectations. The occurrence of any of these events would likely materially adversely affect our results of operations and likely cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

Our business may be affected by general economic conditions and uncertainty that may cause customers to defer or cancel sales commitments previously made to us.

Any future economic uncertainty in the United States or certain international markets may lead to an economic recession or lower capital spending and credit availability in some or all of the markets in which we operate. A recession or even the risk of a potential recession or uneven economic growth conditions may be sufficient reason for customers to delay, defer or cancel purchase decisions, including decisions previously made. This risk is magnified for capital goods purchases such as the UPS and MIS products that we supply. Although we believe that our competitive advantage and our efforts to broaden the number of different markets in which we sell may help mitigate the economic risk associated with any one country or market vertical, any customer delays or cancellation in sales orders could materially adversely affect our level of revenues and operating results. Should our financial results not meet the expectations of public market analysts or investors, the market price of our stock would most likely decline.

Our financial results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

Our product revenue, operating expenses and quarterly operating results have varied in the past and may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the future due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control. As a result, you should not rely on our operating results during any particular quarter as an indication of our future performance in any quarterly period or fiscal year. The factors which may affect our business include, among others:

timing of orders from our customers and the possibility that customers may change their order requirements with little or no notice to us;

rate of adoption of our flywheel-based energy storage system as an alternative to lead-acid batteries and our continuous power and infrastructure solutions;

ongoing need for short-term power outage protection in traditional UPS systems;

deferral of customer orders in anticipation of new products from us or other providers of power quality systems;

lack of order backlog;

limited visibility into customer spending plans;

timing of deferred revenue components associated with large orders;

ability to manage capital requirements associated with large orders;

timing and execution of our new product introductions;

new product releases, licensing or pricing decisions by our competitors;

commodity and raw material component prices;

ability to adjust our cost structure in response to reductions in income;

loss of a significant customer or distributor;

impact of changes to our product distribution strategy and pricing policies;

failure to achieve our anticipated revenue growth rate;

impact of changes to our product distribution strategy and pricing policies of our distributors;

changes in product mix;

changes in the mix of domestic and international sales;

rate of market growth for our products; and

acceptance of our latest generation UPS product in the marketplace.

The market for power quality products is evolving and it is difficult to predict its potential size or future growth rate. Most of the organizations that may purchase our products have invested substantial resources in their existing power systems and, as a result, have been reluctant or slow to adopt a new technology, particularly during a period of reduced capital expenditures. Moreover, our current products are alternatives to existing UPS and battery-based systems and may never be accepted by our customers or may be made obsolete by other advances in power quality technologies.

Significant portions of our expenses are not variable in the short term and cannot be quickly reduced to respond to decreases in revenue. Therefore, if our revenue is below our expectations, our operating results are likely to be adversely and disproportionately affected. In addition, we may change our prices, modify our distribution strategy and policies, accelerate our investment in research and development, sales or marketing efforts in response to competitive pressures or to pursue new market opportunities. Any one of these activities may further limit our ability to adjust spending in response to revenue fluctuations. We use forecasted revenue to establish our expense budget. Because most of our expenses are fixed in the short term or incurred in advance of anticipated revenue, any shortfall in revenue may result in significant losses.

A significant increase in sales of our MIS products may materially increase the amount of working capital required to fund our operations.

Because of the significant up-front investment required, and the longer period between order and delivery relative to our UPS products, a significant increase in sales of our MIS products may materially increase the amount of working capital required to fund our operations. The amount of time between the receipt of payment from our customers and our expenditures for raw materials, manufacturing and shipment of products (the cash cycle) for sales of our standard UPS product can be as short as 45 days, and is typically 60 days. However, the cash cycle for MIS sales can be as much as 210 days, depending on customer payment terms. We intend to mitigate the financial impact of this longer cash cycle by negotiating customer deposits and periodic payments where possible from our customers. This is not always commercially feasible, and in order to increase our MIS sales, we may be required to make larger investments in inventory and receivables to fund these sales opportunities. During 2012, we obtained a bank line of credit with borrowing capabilities to help us finance the growth of our MIS business. However, if we experience a substantial increase in the size or number of MIS orders, we may need to obtain additional sources of working capital, debt or equity financing to fund this business. If we are unsuccessful at obtaining additional sources of working capital, we may be required to curtail our level of MIS sales or we may lose potential customers, either of which may cause our financial results not to meet the expectations of public market analysts or investors and adversely impact our results of operations.

We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from international markets and plan to continue to expand such efforts, which subjects us to additional business risks including increased logistical and financial complexity, managing internal controls and processes, political instability and currency fluctuations.

The percentage of our total revenue derived from customers located outside of North America was 38%, 40% and 20% in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Our international operations are subject to a number of risks, including:

foreign laws and business practices that favor local competition;

dependence on local channel partners;

compliance with multiple, conflicting and changing government laws and regulations;

longer cash cycles;

difficulties in managing and staffing foreign operations;

foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and the associated effects on product demand and timing of payment;

political and economic stability, particularly in the Middle East and Africa;

greater difficulty in the contracting and shipping process and in accounts receivable collection including longer collection periods;

ability to fund working capital requirements;

greater difficulty in hiring qualified technical sales and application engineers; and

difficulties with financial reporting in foreign countries.

To date, the majority of our sales to international customers and purchases of components from international suppliers have been denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros and British Pounds. All of our UPS products are manufactured in the U.S. and then sold to our foreign subsidiaries and customers, normally in U.S. dollars. We generally benefit from the decline in value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies, which makes our UPS products more price competitive in foreign markets. However, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could make our UPS products more expensive for our international customers to purchase, thus rendering our products less competitive. We also source the non-UPS components for our modular power infrastructure products locally where possible and pay for these components in local currencies as a way to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in foreign currencies and lessen the impact of any unfavorable fluctuations with the U.S. dollar. Because the UPS product is a small part of the total cost of a modular power infrastructure solution, this strategy should help control the effect of currency fluctuations on the pricing of our modular power infrastructure solutions. To the extent our business expands internationally, many of our subsidiaries would be selling products outside of their country of incorporation, and often in foreign currencies. To the extent we record sales in other than our local currency, this can result in translation gains and losses. Currently, we do not engage in hedging activities for our international operations to offset this currency risk. However, we may engage in hedging activities in the future.

We are subject to risks relating to product concentration and lack of revenue diversification.

We derive a substantial portion of our revenue from a limited number of products, particularly our CleanSource 250-900 kVA UPS product family. These UPS products are also an integral component of many of our other products such as CleanSource PowerHouse and our IT infrastructure solutions. We expect these products to continue to account for a large percentage of our revenues in the near term. Continued market acceptance of these products is therefore critical to our future success. Our future success will also depend on our ability to reduce our dependence on these few products by developing and introducing new products and product or feature enhancements in a timely manner. Specifically, our ability to capture significant market share depends on our ability to develop and market extensions to our existing product lines at higher and lower power range offerings and as containerized solutions. We are currently investing significant amounts in our UPS and MIS products to broaden our product portfolio. Even if we are able to develop and commercially introduce new products and enhancements, they may not achieve market acceptance and the revenue generated from these new products and enhancements may not offset the costs, which would substantially impair our revenue, profitability and overall financial prospects. Successful product development and market acceptance of our existing and future products depend on a number of factors, including:

changing requirements of customers;

accurate prediction of market and technical requirements;

timely completion and introduction of new designs;

quality, price and performance of our products;

availability, quality, price and performance of competing products and technologies;

our customer service and support capabilities and responsiveness;

successful development of our relationships with existing and potential customers; and

changes in technology, industry standards or end-user preferences.

We must expand our distribution channels and manage our existing and new product distribution relationships to grow our business.

The future growth of our business will depend on our ability to expand our existing relationships with distributors; to identify and develop additional channels for the distribution and sale of our products; and to manage these relationships. As part of our growth strategy, we may expand our relationships with distributors and develop relationships with new distributors. We will also look to identify and develop new relationships with additional parties that could serve as outlets for our products, or provide additional opportunities for our existing sales channels, such as the relationships we have developed with IT hardware manufacturers such as HP. Our inability to execute this strategy successfully and to integrate and manage our existing OEM channel partners and our new distributors and manufacturer’s representatives would likely impede our future growth.

We currently operate without a substantial backlog.

We generally operate our business without a large backlog of orders from our customers. Normally, our products are shipped and revenue is recognized shortly after the order is received, usually within three to six months from the date of the order. Because historically our backlog has not been sufficient to provide all of the next quarter’s revenue, revenue in any quarter is often dependent on orders booked and shipped throughout that quarter. We are attempting to increase the size of our backlog to promote greater efficiency in production, to facilitate business planning, and to improve revenue visibility. During periods of economic uncertainty, the rate of customer orders can quickly decrease, limiting our ability to build a substantial backlog. Therefore, there can be no guarantee we can successfully build and maintain a meaningful level of backlog.

We must continue to hire and retain skilled personnel.

We believe our future success will depend upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled managerial, engineering,  sales and product marketing personnel. There is a limited supply of skilled employees in the power quality marketplace. Our small size relative to our competitors and lack of brand equity, particularly in foreign markets, makes it very difficult for us to attract personnel in foreign markets. Our failure to attract and retain the highly trained technical personnel who are essential to our product development, marketing, sales, service and support teams may limit the rate at which we can develop new products or generate revenue, particularly in foreign markets. If we are unable to attract the new personnel we desire, retain personnel we currently employ, or if we are unable to replace departing employees quickly, our operations and new product development may suffer.

We are significantly dependent on our relationships with Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard. If these relationships are unsuccessful, for whatever reason, our business and financial prospects would likely suffer.

Caterpillar, together with its dealer network, is our primary OEM customer and the single largest customer for our flywheel-based UPS products. Caterpillar accounted for 16%, 13% and 14% of our revenue in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. HP is our largest IT channel partner and accounted for 36%, 35% and 22% of our revenue in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. A number of factors could cause these customers to cancel or defer orders, including interruptions to their operations due to a downturn in their industries, delays or changes in their product offerings or securing other sources for the products we manufacture, or developing such products internally. If our relationships with Caterpillar or HP are not successful or suffer a material adverse change, such as a material reduction in the level of orders or their failure to pay us on a timely basis, our business and operating results would suffer unless we are able to replace these revenues from another source or sources in a timely manner.

We have underutilized manufacturing capacity and have no experience manufacturing our products in large quantities.

In 2001, we leased and equipped a 127,000 square foot facility used for manufacturing and testing of our three-phase product line, including our UPS and energy storage products. To be financially successful and to fully utilize the capacity of our facility and allocate its associated overhead, we must achieve significantly higher sales volumes. We must accomplish this while also preserving the quality levels we achieved when manufacturing these products in more limited quantities. To date, we have not been successful at increasing our sales volume to a level that fully utilizes the capacity of the facility and we may never increase our sales volume to necessary levels. If we do not reach these necessary sales volume levels, or if we cannot sell our products at our suggested prices, our ability to reach profitability on a quarterly or annual basis would be adversely impacted.

Achieving the necessary production levels to absorb the capacity of our manufacturing facility efficiently presents a number of technological and engineering challenges for us. We have not previously manufactured our products in high volume. We do not know whether or when we will be able to develop efficient, low-cost manufacturing capability and processes that will enable us to meet the quality, price, engineering, design and product standards or production volumes required to manufacture large quantities of our products successfully. Even if we are successful in developing our manufacturing capability and processes, we do not know whether we will do so in time to meet our product commercialization objectives or to satisfy the requirements of our customers.

We must build quality products to ensure acceptance of our products.

The market perception of our products and related acceptance of such products is highly dependent upon the quality and reliability of the products we build. Any quality problems attributable to our UPS or MIS product lines may substantially impair our revenue and operating results. Moreover, quality problems for our product lines could cause us to delay or cease shipments of products or have to recall or field upgrade products, thus adversely affecting our ability to meet revenue or cost targets. In addition, while we seek to limit our liability as a result of product failure or defects through warranty and other limitations, if one of our products fails, a customer could suffer a significant loss and seek to hold us responsible for that loss and our reputation with other current or potential customers would likely suffer.

Seasonality may contribute to fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

Historically our business has experienced seasonal customer buying patterns. In recent years, the UPS industry and our business have generally experienced relatively weaker demand in the first calendar quarter of the year, including a sequential decrease in revenue compared to the fourth quarter.  We believe this pattern, which we attribute to annual capital budgeting procedures, may possibly continue. In addition, we anticipate demand for our products in Europe and Africa may decline in the summer months, compared to other regions, because of reduced corporate buying patterns during the vacation season.

We depend on sole and limited source suppliers and outsource selected component manufacturing.

We purchase several component parts from sole source and limited source suppliers. As a result of our current production volumes, we lack significant leverage with these and other suppliers especially when compared to some of our larger competitors. If our suppliers receive excess demand for their products, we may receive a low priority for order fulfillment as large volume customers may receive priority that may result in delays in our acquiring components. If we are delayed in acquiring components for our products, the manufacture and shipment of our products could be delayed. We are, however, continuing to enter into long-term agreements with our sole suppliers and other key suppliers, when available, using a rolling sales volume forecast in an attempt to stabilize component availability. Lead times for ordering materials and components vary significantly and depend on factors such as specific supplier requirements, contract terms, the extensive production time required and current market demand for such components. Some of these delays may be substantial. As a result, we purchase several critical, long lead time or single sourced components in large quantities to help protect our ability to deliver finished products. If we overestimate our component requirements, we may have excess inventory, which will increase our costs. If we underestimate our component requirements, we will have inadequate inventory, which will delay our manufacturing and render us unable to deliver products to customers on scheduled delivery dates. If we are unable to obtain a component from a supplier or if the price of a component has increased substantially, we may be required to manufacture the component internally, which will also result in delays or we may be required to absorb price increases. Manufacturing delays could negatively impact our ability to sell our products and could damage our customer relationships.

To assure the availability of our products to our customers, we outsource the manufacturing of selected components prior to the receipt of purchase orders from customers based on their forecasts of their product needs and internal product sales revenue forecasts. However, these forecasts do not represent binding purchase commitments from our customers. We do not recognize revenue for such products until we receive an order from the customer and the product is shipped to the customer. As a result, we incur inventory and manufacturing costs in advance of anticipated revenue. As demand for our products may not materialize, this product delivery method subjects us to increased risks of high inventory carrying costs, obsolescence and excess, and may increase our operating costs. In addition, we may from time to time make design changes to our products, which could lead to obsolescence of inventory.

Our manufacturing operations are concentrated in a small number of nearby facilities.

All of our UPS systems are manufactured in our Austin, Texas facility and our manufacturing, research and development and administrative activities are concentrated in a small number of facilities nearby. If, for any reason, including as a result of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other similar event, any of these facilities should be damaged or destroyed or become inoperable or inaccessible, our ability to conduct our business could be adversely affected or interrupted entirely.

We face significant competition from other companies.

The markets for power quality and power reliability systems are intensely competitive. There are many companies engaged in all areas of traditional and alternative UPS and backup systems in the U.S. and abroad, including, among others, major electric and specialized electronics firms, as well as universities, research institutions and foreign government-sponsored companies. There are many companies that are developing flywheel-based energy storage systems and flywheel-based power quality systems. We may face future competition from companies that are developing other types of emerging power technologies, such as high-speed composite flywheels, ultra capacitors and superconducting magnetic energy storage.

Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial, technical, service, marketing and other resources, broader name and brand recognition and a larger installed base of customers. As a result, these competitors may have greater credibility with our existing and potential customers and greater service infrastructure than we do. They also may be able to adopt more aggressive pricing policies and devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products than we can, which would allow them to respond more quickly than us to new or emerging technologies or changes in customer requirements. In addition, some of our current and potential competitors have established supplier or joint development relationships with our current or potential customers. These competitors may be able to leverage their existing relationships to discourage these customers from purchasing products from us or to persuade them to replace our products with their products. Increased competition could decrease our prices, reduce our sales, lower our margins, or decrease our market share. These and other competitive pressures could prevent us from competing successfully against current or future competitors and could materially harm our business.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights.

Our success depends upon our ability to protect our proprietary technology, and we expect future technological advancements made by us will be critical to achieve and sustain market acceptance of our products. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. We also enter into confidentiality or license agreements with our employees, consultants and business partners and control access to and distribution of our software, documentation and other proprietary information. Despite these efforts, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology. Monitoring unauthorized use of our products is difficult, and we cannot be certain the steps we have taken will prevent unauthorized use of our technology, particularly in foreign countries where applicable laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the U.S. In addition, the measures we undertake may not be sufficient to protect our proprietary technology adequately and may not preclude competitors from independently developing products with functionality or features similar to those of our products.

We may be subject to claims by others that we infringe on their proprietary technology.

In recent years, there has been significant litigation in the U.S. involving patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights. We may become involved in litigation in the future to protect our intellectual property or defend allegations of infringement asserted by others. Legal proceedings could subject us to significant liability for damages or invalidate our intellectual property rights. Any litigation, regardless of its merits or its outcome, would likely be time consuming and expensive to resolve and would divert management’s time and attention. Any potential intellectual property litigation also could force us to take specific actions, including:

cease selling our products that use the challenged intellectual property;

obtain from the owner of the infringed intellectual property right a license to sell or use the relevant technology or trademark, which license may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all;

redesign those products that use infringing intellectual property; or

cease to use an infringing trademark.

Our involvement in any such litigation may cause us to incur unexpected litigation costs, require modifications to or limit our ability to sell our products, and adversely impact our business and reputation.

Our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations.

Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are required to provide a report by management on our internal control over financial reporting, including management’s assessment of the effectiveness of such control. Internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud. Therefore, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, including any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or if we experience difficulties in their implementation, our business and operating results could be harmed, we could fail to meet our reporting obligations, and there could be a material adverse effect on our stock price.

A material weakness or other control deficiency could result in errors in our reported results and could have a material adverse effect on our operations, investor confidence in our business and the trading price of our stock.
 
A material weakness is a control deficiency or combination of control deficiencies, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.  In 2013, our management identified a material weakness resulting from control deficiencies related to our credit approval process whereby we did not confirm information from an employee of ours in China regarding the facts surrounding Qiyuan, a distributor with which we entered into a distribution agreement.  In response to such material weakness, management implemented additional credit approval process procedures including actions to further verify the financial condition and ownership structure of all new customers.  The material weakness was remediated as of December 31, 2013.  Any further material weakness or unsuccessful remediation could adversely impact investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial statements. As a result, our ability to obtain any additional financing could be materially and adversely affected, which in turn could materially and adversely affect our business, our financial condition and the market value of our stock. In addition, perceptions of us among customers, lenders, investors, securities analysts and others could also be adversely affected.  We can give no assurances the measures we have taken to date, or any future measures we may take, will prevent or remediate any additional material weaknesses in the future.

Our pending legal matters have increased our costs and could result in fines and penalties.
 
We are involved in ongoing legal matters as described in the section below titled “Legal Proceedings”.  These matters may harm our business and liquidity in the future. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur substantial expenses for legal and accounting services related to such matters. These matters have also required significant time and attention from our management.  At this point, we are unable to predict the duration, scope or results of the pending SEC investigation.  In connection with our pending legal matters, including any further litigation that may be pursued, we may incur defense costs that may exceed our insurance coverage. We may also incur costs if the insurers of our directors and officers and our liability insurers deny coverage for the costs and expenses related to any litigation.  Our pending legal matters are in the early stages and we cannot predict their outcomes.  Adverse outcomes or other developments during the course of such matters may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity as well as investors’ perception of our business.

The transition to a new Chief Executive Officer and new Chief Financial Officer may limit our ability to effectively execute on our business plan.

Effective October 14, 2013, Mark A. Ascolese joined us as our Chief Executive Officer and President. The presence of a new Chief Executive Officer may impact our relationships with customers, vendors, and employees, resulting in loss of business, loss of vendor relationships, and the loss of key employees or declines in the productivity of existing employees.  Any or all of these risks could adversely affect our business and operating results.

Effective December 4, 2013, James Powers became our Chief Financial Officer. The transition of the Chief Financial Officer position may cause disruptions in our finance and accounting functions, or may limit the ability of our management team to effectively execute on our business plan. If we are unable to transition efficiently and effectively, our business and operating results may be adversely affected.

Cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations, result in loss of critical and confidential information, and adversely impact our reputation and results of operation.

Global cybersecurity threats can range from uncoordinated individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology (IT) systems to sophisticated and targeted measures known as advanced persistent threats. While we employ comprehensive measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats (including access controls, data encryption, vulnerability assessments, continuous monitoring of our IT networks and systems and maintenance of backup and protective systems), cybersecurity incidents, depending on their nature and scope, could potentially result in the misappropriation, destruction, corruption or unavailability of critical data and confidential or proprietary information (our own or that of third parties) and the disruption of business operations. The potential consequences of a material cybersecurity incident include reputational damage; litigation with third parties; diminution in the value of our investment in research; development and engineering; and increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs; which in turn could adversely affect our competitiveness and results of operations.
 
Risks Related to our Common Stock

We have anti-takeover provisions that could discourage, delay or prevent our acquisition.

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition that a stockholder may consider favorable. We also are subject to the anti-takeover laws of the State of Delaware, which may further discourage, delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us. In addition, our agreement with Caterpillar for the distribution of UPS products provides that Caterpillar may terminate the agreement in the event we are acquired or undergo a change in control. The possible loss of a significant customer could be a significant deterrent to possible acquirers and may substantially limit the number of possible acquirers. All of these factors may decrease the likelihood we would be acquired, which may depress the market price of our common stock.

The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and is likely to be volatile in the future.

Historically, the market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly. In 2013, the sales price of our common stock ranged from $2.80 to $4.98 per share. In addition to the other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of this Form 10-K, the market price of our common stock can be expected to fluctuate significantly in response to numerous other factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;

changes in financial estimates by securities analysts, any financial guidance we may provide, or our failure to perform in line with such estimates or guidance;

changes in market valuations of other technology companies, particularly those that sell products used in power quality systems;

announcements by us or our competitors of significant sales, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

introduction of technologies or product enhancements that reduce the need for flywheel energy storage or modular infrastructure products;

the loss of one or more key OEM customers or channel partners;

an inability to expand our distribution channels successfully;

departures of key personnel;

our ability to obtain additional equity capital or borrowings under our credit agreement;

the outcome of our pending litigation and SEC investigation; and

changing external capital market conditions.

If the market for technology stocks or the stock market in general experiences loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, operating results or financial condition. The trading price of our common stock might also decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry or the stock market generally even if these events do not directly affect us. Each of these factors, among others, could cause our stock price to decline. We have pending securities class action litigation and, regardless of its merits or outcome, it could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources.

Securities or industry analysts may not publish research or may publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business.

The trading market for our common stock will continue to depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If we do not continue to maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. Although there are three analysts that provided research coverage on us during 2013, there can be no guarantee these research analysts will continue to provide coverage of us. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

We expect to need additional capital in the future, and it may not be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.

We have historically relied on outside financing and cash flow from operations to fund our operating losses, operations, capital expenditures and expansion. We expect to require additional capital from equity or debt financing in the future to fund our operations or respond to competitive pressures or strategic opportunities. We may not be able to secure timely additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. The terms of any additional financing may place limits on our financial and operating flexibility. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution in their percentage ownership of our company, and any new securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. If we obtain additional debt financing, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness, and the terms of the debt securities issued could impose significant restrictions on our operations. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, if and when we require it, our ability to grow or support our business and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited. We do not know whether we will be able to secure additional funding, or funding on terms acceptable to us, to continue our operations as planned. If financing is not available, we may be required to reduce, delay or eliminate certain activities or to license or sell to others some of our proprietary technology.

Because we do not expect to pay dividends on our common stock, stockholders will benefit from an investment in our common stock only if it appreciates in value.
 
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and have no present intention to pay any dividends in the future. Any future determination about the payment of dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our earnings, if any, our capital requirements, our operating and financial conditions and on such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant. As a result, the success of an investment in our common stock will depend upon any future appreciation in its value. There is no guarantee our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which stockholders have purchased their shares.
 
Future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise funds in future stock offerings.
 
Future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, including resale prospectuses and shares available for resale under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or the perception such sales could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and could make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

ITEM 2. Properties.

Our corporate headquarters facility is a 127,000 square foot building we lease in Austin, Texas. We lease this building pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in December 2016. Our manufacturing, administrative, information systems, sales and service groups currently utilize this facility.

Our engineering facility of approximately 12,150 square feet is also located in Austin, Texas and is leased pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in March 2016.

In addition to these properties, we lease facilities totaling 12,979 square feet in the United Kingdom, Germany and China for sales and service activities.

Our current manufacturing and test facilities located at our corporate headquarters can support a UPS business volume significantly in excess of our current revenues primarily with the addition of direct labor only and no need for additional significant capital investment. We believe our existing facilities are adequate to meet our current needs and plans.

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.

SEC Inquiry

By letter dated September 30, 2013, the SEC Division of Enforcement has notified us that it is conducting an investigation regarding us, including matters relating to our public statements regarding Digital China Information Services Company Limited (“Digital China”) and our distribution relationships in China. We have been and intend to cooperate fully with the SEC.

Audit Committee Internal Investigation

The audit committee of our Board of Directors, with the assistance of independent counsel, conducted an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding our agreements and transactions with Qiyuan, including the statements made regarding Qiyuan’s affiliation with Digital China. The investigation was completed in February 2014.

Stockholder Litigation

On September 10, 2013, a purported class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas against us and certain of our current and former executives. The case is captioned Don Lee v. Active Power, Inc., et. al., Civil Action No. 1:3-cv-00797. The complaint alleges that on April 30, 2013, we announced during a conference call that we had entered into a strategic distribution partnership with Digital China. However, on September 5, 2013, after the close of trading, we disclosed that our partnership was with Qiyuan Network System Limited, which is neither an affiliate nor a subsidiary of Digital China. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and seeks unspecified damages on behalf of all stockholders.

On September 13, 2013 and October 14, 2013, two separate stockholders filed complaints in the District Court of Travis County, Texas purporting to bring derivative actions on behalf of us against certain of our current and former officers and directors. The first derivative action is captioned Okumura v. Almgren, et. al., Cause No. D-1-GN-13-003230 and the second derivative action is captioned David B. Shaev IRA v. Milner, et. al., Cause No. D-1-GN-13-003557. The allegations of each derivative complaint mirror those of the class action complaint, and they assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and/or abuse of control and seek damages on behalf of us. Defendants have entered into an agreement with each of the plaintiffs to stay both of the derivative actions pending the outcome of the motion to dismiss in the securities class action.

We have directors’ and officers’ and corporate liability insurance to cover risks associated with the stockholder litigation and have notified our insurers of the complaints described above. Due to the early stage of each litigation, however, it is not possible to estimate the amount or range of possible loss that might result from adverse judgments or settlements of the actions.

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.
PART II.

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “ACPW.” The following table lists the high and low per share sales prices for our common stock as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market for the periods indicated:

 
 
High
   
Low
 
2013
 
   
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
3.43
   
$
2.80
 
Third Quarter
 
$
4.38
   
$
2.82
 
Second Quarter
 
$
4.84
   
$
3.97
 
First Quarter
 
$
4.98
   
$
3.33
 
 
               
2012
               
Fourth Quarter
 
$
4.10
   
$
2.90
 
Third Quarter
 
$
4.50
   
$
3.80
 
Second Quarter
 
$
4.85
   
$
3.55
 
First Quarter
 
$
5.25
   
$
3.25
 

As of February 20, 2014, there were 19,403,706 shares of our common stock outstanding held by 153 stockholders of record.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any earnings for use in our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Future dividends, if any, will be determined by our board of directors.

We did not repurchase any of our securities during 2013.

Please refer to "Item 12 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" in this Form 10-K for the information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K with respect to securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2013.

Sale of Unregistered Securities

None.

Stock Performance Graph

The graph depicted below shows a comparison of cumulative total stockholder returns for an investment in our common stock, The NASDAQ Stock Market (US) Composite Index, and a peer group of power technology companies having similar market capitalizations.


(1) The Power Index peer group consists of an equal weighting of the following companies, all traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market: Active Power, Inc. (ACPW), Capstone Turbine, Inc. (CPST), FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL), Maxwell Technologies (MXWL), and PowerSecure (POWR).

(2) The graph covers the period from December 31, 2008, the last trading day before the beginning of our six preceding fiscal years, through December 30, 2013, the last trading day of our most recently completed fiscal year.

(3) The graph assumes that $100 was invested in our common stock on December 31, 2008 at the adjusted closing price on that date of $1.60 per share, in The NASDAQ Stock Market Composite Index and the peer group Power Index, and that all dividends, if any, were reinvested. No cash dividends have been declared or paid on our common stock.

(4) Stockholder returns over the indicated period should not be considered indicative of future stockholder returns.

ITEM 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data.

The following tables include selected consolidated financial data for each of our last five fiscal years. The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 and consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2013 and 2012 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, have been derived from audited consolidated financial statements not appearing in this document. This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 and with the other financial data set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our historical results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results of operations to be expected for future periods.

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data
 
   
   
   
   
 
In thousands except per share data
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Total revenue
 
$
61,699
   
$
76,315
   
$
75,482
   
$
64,955
   
$
40,311
 
Total cost of goods sold
 
$
42,303
   
$
51,601
   
$
57,581
   
$
46,953
   
$
31,081
 
Gross profit
 
$
19,396
   
$
24,714
   
$
17,901
   
$
18,020
   
$
9,230
 
Total operating expenses
 
$
27,013
   
$
26,440
   
$
24,781
   
$
21,824
   
$
20,193
 
Operating loss
 
$
(7,617
)
 
$
(1,726
)
 
$
(6,880
)
 
$
(3,804
)
 
$
(10,963
)
Net loss
 
$
(8,351
)
 
$
(1,922
)
 
$
(7,094
)
 
$
(3,925
)
 
$
(11,033
)
Basic and diluted net loss per share
 
$
(0.43
)
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.11
)
 
$
(0.25
)
 
$
(0.86
)
 
                                       
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
                                       
In thousands
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
   
2013
     
2012
     
2011
     
2010
     
2009
 
Cash and investments
 
$
12,261
   
$
13,524
   
$
10,746
   
$
15,550
   
$
7,489
 
Working capital
 
$
17,696
   
$
23,945
   
$
13,753
   
$
19,082
   
$
11,681
 
Total assets
 
$
37,907
   
$
45,799
   
$
35,027
   
$
39,518
   
$
29,344
 
Long-term obligations
 
$
741
   
$
713
   
$
726
   
$
579
   
$
468
 
Total stockholders' equity
 
$
20,306
   
$
25,999
   
$
16,292
   
$
20,822
   
$
14,492
 

ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This report contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations with respect to future results of operations that may be embodied in oral and written forward-looking statements, including any forward looking statements that may be included in this report, are subject to risks and uncertainties that must be considered when evaluating the likelihood of our realization of such expectations. Our actual results could differ materially. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will” and similar phrases as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, please see the risk factors section above for a discussion of items that may affect our future results.

Executive Level Overview

Active Power is headquartered in Austin, Texas, where we design, manufacture, and sell our flywheel-based uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) products and modular infrastructure solutions (“MIS”), which are designed to ensure continuity for data centers and other mission critical operations in the event of power disturbances.

Our products and solutions are designed to deliver continuous, conditioned (“clean”) power during power disturbances and outages, voltage sags and surges, and provide ride-through power in the event of utility failure, supporting operations until utility power is restored or a longer term alternative power source, such as a diesel generator is started. We believe our products offer an advantage over those of our competitors in the areas of power density (less space used), energy efficiency, system reliability, and total cost of ownership.

Our flywheel-based UPS products store kinetic energy by constantly spinning a compact steel wheel (“flywheel”) driven from utility power in a low friction environment. When the utility power used to spin the flywheel fluctuates or is interrupted, the flywheel’s inertia causes it to continue spinning. The resulting kinetic energy of the spinning flywheel generates electricity known as “bridging power” for short periods, until either utility power is restored or a longer term alternative power source, such as a diesel generator, takes over to generate longer-term power in the case of an extended electrical outage. The high energy efficiency our products provide reduces operating costs and provides customers a lower total cost of ownership. We offer our flywheel products with load capabilities up to 8,400kVA. Our flywheel-based UPS systems are marketed under the brand name CleanSource. As of December 31, 2013, we had shipped more than 4,000 flywheels in UPS system installations, delivering more than 900 megawatts of power to customers in more than 50 countries around the world, providing nearly 150 million runtime hours of operation. UPS product revenue may include ancillary components delivered as part of a total UPS solution. In late 2012, we introduced our next generation CleanSource 750/625HD UPS product, which we began shipping in late 2013.

We also sell modular infrastructure solutions, which may incorporate our UPS products with other equipment including switchboards and a diesel generator to provide complete short- and long-term protection in the event of a power disturbance. This solution is marketed under the brand name CleanSource PowerHouse. CleanSource PowerHouse can be deployed in an International Shipping Organization (“ISO”) or purpose built container depending upon location. These systems are specifically designed to handle the demands of the most technically advanced facilities requiring the highest power integrity available while maximizing up-time, useable floor space and operational efficiency. Designed to offer a highly flexible architecture to respond to a customer’s constantly changing environment, our CleanSource PowerHouse systems are offered in eight standard configurations, enabling sizing for infrastructure on demand. These systems are highly differentiated as they offer flexibility in placement, space savings, rapid deployment, high energy efficiency, and just-in-time use of capital deployment. They also deliver significant value to customers as the entire system is integrated and tested prior to delivery for a repeatable simple solution. We also sell modular power infrastructure solutions to customers in a non-containerized format, typically deploying such solutions inside buildings.

In 2010 we began to manufacture MIS products that leverage our expertise in containerized solutions and power distribution. These solutions are built in close cooperation with our strategic partners in the technology industry and are designed to specification. These solutions serve as the infrastructure for modular data center products and are in themselves self-contained fully-functional data centers. Modular data centers may be rapidly deployed with other modular infrastructure such as power and cooling to deliver a cost-effective alternative to traditional raised-floor data centers. Active Power designs and delivers the exterior shell and a fully outfitted interior – including electrical, cooling, monitoring, and other elements – ready for the IT channel partner to add its IT racks and servers. After the IT channel partner adds its IT equipment to our modular IT infrastructure solution, the IT channel partner has a functional data center ready for deployment at its end-user site.

Finally, we offer services in the form of installation, maintenance, project management, and other professional services. Services are often sold in conjunction with the products above, and are becoming a larger part of our overall revenue.

Our headquarters is located in Austin, Texas, with international offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and China.

In 2013, 51% of our product revenue came from the sale of UPS systems and 49% from the sale of MIS products. Our total revenue in 2013 decreased by $14.6 million, or 19%, from 2012, primarily driven by a decrease in UPS sales, which were down $12.7 million, or 36%, over 2012. Sales of our MIS products decreased by approximately $5.1 million, or 19%, compared to 2012 as we saw a decrease in demand from our IT channel partners in the U.S. Service revenue increased 23% in 2013 compared to 2012.

We sell our products to a wide array of commercial and industrial customers across a variety of vertical markets, including data centers, manufacturing, technology, broadcast and communications, financial, utilities, healthcare, government and airports. However, our primary focus is on data center applications within these vertical markets. We have expanded our global sales channels and direct sales force, selling in major geographic regions of the world, but particularly in North America, Europe and Asia. We sell our products through the following distribution methods:

Sales made directly by Active Power;

Manufacturer’s representatives;

Distributors;

OEM partners; and

Strategic IT partners.

We believe a number of underlying macroeconomic trends place us in a strong position to be one of the leading providers of critical power protection and infrastructure solutions. These trends include:

· the increasing cost of downtime;

· a rapidly expanding need for data center infrastructure due to constant creation and usage of data;

· rising costs of energy worldwide driven by volume of energy used; and

· an increasing demand for economically green solutions.

We have evolved significantly since the company was founded in 1992. Our early focus was on research and development of the core products that continue to enable our business today. Over the past several years, we have focused our efforts on brand, markets, and channels of distribution. The technological foundation of Active Power has yielded more than 100 worldwide patents and a highly differentiated, cost-efficient product platform that we have evolved into an expanding suite of infrastructure solutions.

We have developed and implemented a go-to-market strategy to set the direction for our sales and marketing initiatives and plans around the following components:

· Customer: Data center applications across vertical markets

· Distribution: Partner enabled distribution strategy transacted locally

· Geography: Global Markets served from four centers of operation

· Products: Flywheel UPS and MIS

· Value: power density, reliability, total cost of ownership

· Service: Installation maintenance, project management and other professional services

Our revenue derived from the Americas region was $48.6 million, $48.2 million and $50.4 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, representing 64%, 63% and 82%, respectively, of our total revenues. Our revenue derived from customers located in EMEA was $19.1 million, $21.9 million and $6.9 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, representing 25%, 29% and 11%, respectively, of our total revenues. Our revenue derived from customers located in Asia was $7.8 million, $6.2 million and $4.4 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, representing 11%, 8% and 7%, respectively, of our total revenues. Our decrease in revenues in EMEA during 2013 primarily resulted from not having a repeat large order similar to the large single order we shipped in mid-2012. This order was also the reason for the increase in revenue in EMEA in 2012 compared to 2011. Our increase in revenues in the Americas in 2013 was derived from increased sales across all our product lines. The decrease in revenues in Asia was driven by non-repeated business from a small number of large customer orders. Revenue outside the North America for 2011, 2012 and 2013 was $28.4 million, $30.6 million, and $12.6 million, respectively.

We believe our total revenue will grow in 2014 from both our products and services. With the introduction of the CleanSource 750/625 HD UPS products, we expect to increase our competitiveness to better serve the UPS markets. We also believe the global growth in data center demand and from cloud-based computing and storage requirements will lead to higher sales of our UPS products. We are specifically targeting those customers with large IT and power needs who have the ability to make frequent and large UPS purchases as their global operations expand.

Our gross margins fluctuate on a quarterly basis depending on changes in the product and geographic mix of our revenues and were as high as 34% during the second quarter of 2013 and as low as 30% in the fourth quarter of 2013. On an annual basis, our gross profit margin decreased to 31% in 2013 from 32% in 2012. Gross margin was 24% in 2011. The decrease in gross profit margin in 2013 from 2012 was driven primarily by the fact that 2012 contained less under-absorption of manufacturing facility costs.

Our operating losses were $6.9 million, $1.7 million and $7.6 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Our operating results include non-cash stock based compensation expenses of $1.7 million, $1.4 million and $1.7 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. The increase in operating losses from 2012 to 2013 was due to the decline in gross revenue, coupled with a slight decline in gross margin, and a higher level of operating costs which included several unexpected items. Our operating costs increased by 2% or $0.6 million in 2013 compared to 2012, primarily due to increased engineering costs associated with the development of our latest UPS product which we began shipping in late 2013, and general and administrative expenses associated with executive transition costs and legal fee expenses, offset by lower sales and marketing costs.

The larger sales price of our CleanSource PowerHouse and modular IT infrastructure orders can cause large quarterly fluctuations in our inventory, receivables and payables balances, depending on the number of such orders in progress at any point in time. This can cause material fluctuations in the level of working capital we require. If the number of such orders increases rapidly or any of these orders have payment terms that are less favorable, we will need access to more working capital to fund the growth of our business and to fulfill these orders. We extended our bank revolving line of credit in 2012 to provide a source of funding, to help fund our growth and manage our working capital requirements.

We have a history of operating losses and have not yet reached operating profitability on an annual basis. We believe the success of our flywheel UPS products, our MIS products, and our service offerings combined with our focus on direct sales to customers and a lower overall operating cost base, will help us to further increase our revenues and reduce our level of operating losses. We will need to continue to focus on our operating costs and the management of cash and working capital in 2014 to maintain sufficient funds for our operating activities. Our total cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2013 were $12.8 million, compared to $13.5 million at December 31, 2012. We believe our cash and cash equivalents and our sources of available liquidity will be sufficient to fund our current operations. In late February 2014, we raised additional funds through an underwritten public offering to provide additional funds for our future anticipated working capital needs. See Footnote 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements of this Form 10-K for more information.

Our sales cycle is such that we generally have some visibility in advance for future orders. However, a sudden change in business volume or product mix, positive or negative, from any of our business or channel partners or in our direct business can significantly impact our expected revenues and impact our ability to quickly respond to opportunities. The continued slow global economic growth has reduced our confidence in the ability to predict future revenues, and even with improving economic conditions, there is still uncertainty and risk in our forecasting. Our limited window of sales visibility does provide us with some opportunity to adjust expenditures or take other measures to reduce our cash consumption if we can see and anticipate a shortfall in revenue. This window may also give us time to identify additional sources of funding if we anticipate an increase in our working capital requirements due to increased revenues or changes in our revenue mix. A significant increase in sales, especially in our MIS business, would likely increase our working capital requirements due to the longer production time and cash cycle of sales of these products.

Should additional funding be required or desirable, we expect to raise the required funds through borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of convertible debt or equity securities, the ownership of our stockholders could be significantly diluted. If we obtain additional debt financing, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness, and the terms of the debt securities issued could impose significant restrictions on our operations. We do not know whether we will be able to secure additional funding, or funding on terms acceptable to us, to continue our operations as planned. If financing is not available, we may be required to reduce, delay or eliminate certain activities or to license or sell to others some of our proprietary technology.

Results of Operations

Product Revenue

Product revenue primarily consists of sales of our UPS products and our MIS products. Our power quality products are comprised of our CleanSource UPS product lines and our MIS products consist of our modular power infrastructure solutions, including CleanSource PowerHouse (which are comprised of our UPS systems and some combination of third party ancillary equipment, such as diesel generators and switchgear) and our modular IT infrastructure solutions that provide a combination of power distribution, cooling capabilities, security systems, fire suppression and monitoring capabilities for our business partners.

The following table summarizes for the periods indicated, a year-over-year comparison of our product revenue (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
 
2013
 
$
44,158
   
$
(17,873
)
   
-29
%
2012
 
$
62,031
   
$
(619
)
   
-1
%
2011
 
$
62,650
   
$
7,003
     
13
%

Our product revenue represented 72%, 81% and 83% of total revenue for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our product revenue was derived from the following sources (in thousands):

 
 
2013
   
Change from Prior Year
   
2012
   
Change from Prior Year
   
2011
 
Product Revenue:
 
   
   
   
   
 
UPS product revenue
 
$
22,620
   
$
(12,746
)
 
$
35,366
   
$
8,972
   
$
26,394
 
Modular Infrastructure Solutions
   
21,538
     
(5,127
)
   
26,665
     
(9,591
)
   
36,256
 
Total product revenue
 
$
44,158
   
$
(17,873
)
 
$
62,031
   
$
(619
)
 
$
62,650
 

Our MIS products tend to have larger selling prices and derive sales from a smaller number of customers compared to sales of our UPS products. This smaller number of customers with greater gross revenue can contribute to large quarterly fluctuations in MIS revenue due to the timing of orders and shipments in any particular period.

Comparison of 2013 to 2012

The decrease in our product revenue in 2013 compared to 2012 came lower sales across all product lines, but primarily UPS products. We believe the success of our business resides in a higher mix of sales of our core UPS products and we anticipate the our latest generation product will provide us the opportunity to increase revenues in our core products over the coming years.

Product sales from our OEM channels, which were primarily from the sale of UPS systems, represented 16% of our product revenue for 2013 compared to 15% in 2012. Sales of our UPS products are a much smaller part of our OEM partners’ total business and subject to more volatility in quarterly sales, particularly during difficult economic periods as the OEM partners focus on their core business. Product revenue from our OEM channels decreased 23% in 2013 relative to 2012, after decreasing 10% in 2012 compared to 2011. These declines reflect decreased performance from our OEM partners, primarily in the U.S. market. We have supported our OEM partners’ efforts to sell total solutions to their customers that include generators and switchgear that they manufacture along with our UPS products as a total solution. If our OEM partners are successful with this strategy, we believe it will help drive an increase in our UPS product revenue. Caterpillar remains one of our largest customers and our largest OEM customer. Sales to Caterpillar represented 14% of our total revenue in 2013 compared to 13% in 2012.

Product sales from our IT channel partners represented 25% of product revenues for 2013 compared to 37% in 2012. This reduction reflects decreased demand of our MIS products during 2013 from our IT channel partners, primarily by HP. The level of orders may continue to fluctuate depending on our partner’s success and need for infrastructure solutions.

Product revenue in the Americas was $36.4 million, or 82% of our total product revenue for 2013, compared to $37.8, or 61%, for 2012. Our revenue in the Americas decreased in 2013 compared to 2012, primarily as a result of lower UPS product revenue and the decrease in sales from our OEM channels.

We sell products directly to customers in Asia and Europe and we also have a network of international distributors in other territories. In these markets, customers are more likely to purchase a total power solution such as PowerHouse from us rather than a stand-alone UPS system. This usually results in a longer selling cycle making quarterly results from these regions more inconsistent and dependent upon a smaller number of larger value transactions. Thus, the amount of revenue from our international markets can fluctuate significantly on a quarterly and annual basis. Our sales in EMEA decreased by 79% in 2013 to $4.0 million related primarily to a single large order in 2012 that did not repeat in 2013. Revenue in Switzerland was $9.3 million, or 12%, in 2012. We did not have any revenues greater than 10% concentrated in a single country outside of the United States in 2013 or 2011.

Our sales in Asia decreased by 30% in 2013 to $3.8 million, which was primarily due to reduced sales in China. As a result of the events that transpired in 2013 with our distributor in China, we have done a reorganization of our sales team in that region. We still see this region as having opportunity for long term growth potential as China represents one of the largest UPS markets in the world and has the potential to become a substantial market for our products. Over time we anticipate increasing sales of our UPS and MIS products in the Asia region.

We have historically experienced a lag between adding sales and service capabilities and generating meaningful revenue from a new territory. We continue to invest in sales, service and marketing capabilities in each of these regions and building brand awareness for our company and products globally.

Sales of our branded products through our direct and manufacturer’s representatives represented 58%, 48% and 45% of our product revenue for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As direct sales typically have higher profit margins than sales through our OEM and IT channels, we will continue to focus on building our direct sales channel to increase revenue, improve profit margins and decrease our dependency upon any particular channel partner. We believe sales of our Active Power branded products in markets that were not covered by our OEMs will continue to increase over time and will continue to become a larger percentage of our total revenue.

Comparison of 2012 to 2011

The decrease of our product revenue in 2012 compared to 2011 came from lower sales of our MIS products, primarily as a result of decreased large customer project orders from our IT channel partners. We were able to partially offset this by an increase in the international sales of our UPS products which included a large amount of ancillary equipment.

Product sales from our OEM channels, which were primarily from the sale of UPS systems, represented 15% of our product revenue for 2012 compared to 17% in 2011. In 2012, we saw fewer transactions but larger value transactions from our OEM channel. Product revenue from our OEM channels decreased 10% in 2012 relative to 2011, after decreasing 6% in 2011 compared to 2010. These declines reflect decreased performance from our OEM partners, specifically in the U.S. market. Sales to Caterpillar represented 13% of our total revenue in 2012 compared to 16% in 2011.

Product sales from our IT channel partners represented 37% of product revenues for 2012 compared to 39% in 2011. This reduction reflects decreased demand of our MIS products during 2012 from our IT channel partners, primarily HP.

North America sales were 57% of our product revenue for 2012, compared to 62% for 2011. Our North America sales decreased by 8% in 2012 compared to 2011, primarily as a result of lower MIS product revenue and the decrease in sales from our OEM channels.

Our sales in EMEA increased by 21% in 2012 to $18.8 million from 2011 as we continued to expand our sales force and operations, particularly in Germany and the UK where we have had an increase in UPS sales. Our sales in Asia decreased by 24% in 2012 to $5.4 million, which was primarily due to changing our focus from Japan, after closing our regional office there, to sales in the Asia region.

Sales of our branded products through our direct and manufacturer’s representative channels represented 48%, 45%, and 53% of our product revenue for 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

Service and other revenue

Service and other revenue primarily relates to revenue generated from both traditional (after-market) service work and from customer-specific system engineering. This includes revenue from design, installation, startup, repairs or reconfigurations of our products and the sale of spare or replacement parts to our OEM and end-user customers. It also includes revenue associated with the costs of travel of our service personnel and revenues or fees received upon contract deferment or cancellation. Revenue from extended maintenance contracts with our customers is also included in this revenue category. The following table summarizes for the periods indicated a year-over-year comparison of our service and other revenue (in thousands):
 
Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
 
2013
 
$
17,541
   
$
3,257
     
23
%
2012
 
$
14,284
   
$
1,452
     
11
%
2011
 
$
12,832
   
$
3,524
     
38
%
 
Service and other revenue increased by 23% for 2013, compared to 2012. This increase comes from primarily increased sales in spare parts, start-up services, and project management.  For our MIS customers we provide a full power solution, including site preparation, installation of an entire power solution and provision of all products required to provide a turnkey product to the end user often including maintenance services. In situations where we make sales through our OEM channel, it is typical for the OEM to provide these types of services to their end-user customers directly, so these revenue sources do not exist for our OEM sales.

Service and other revenue increased by 11% for 2012, compared to 2011. This increase is primarily due to higher levels of service and contract work from direct product sales and from professional fees associated with MIS sales. We also had increased service revenues from maintenance contracts and repair related activities as our increasing installed base of UPS customers provides greater opportunities to generate such revenues.

Cost of product revenue

Cost of product revenue includes the cost of component parts of our products; ancillary equipment that is sourced from external suppliers; personnel; equipment and other costs associated with our assembly and test operations; costs from having underutilized facilities; depreciation of our manufacturing property and equipment; shipping costs; warranty costs; and the costs of manufacturing support functions such as logistics and quality assurance. The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, a year-over-year comparison of our cost of product revenue (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
 
2013
 
$
32,825
   
$
(9,685
)
   
-23
%
2012
 
$
42,510
   
$
(5,154
)
   
-11
%
2011
 
$
47,664
   
$
7,619
     
19
%

The cost of product revenue decreased by 23% in 2013, while our product revenues decreased by 29%. This reflects primarily a significant increase in unabsorbed manufacturing costs in 2013. Cost of product revenue also included $0.3 million and $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The cost of product revenue as a percentage of total product revenue was 74% and 69% in 2013 and 2012, respectively. During 2013 and 2012, we operated a manufacturing facility that has a manufacturing and testing capacity significantly greater than required by our current product revenue levels.

Our manufacturing facility is comprised of a large portion of our fixed costs. We incurred approximately $6.9 million and $5.8 million, in 2013 and 2012, respectively, in fixed costs for our manufacturing facility. Our manufacturing capacity is in excess of our current business requirements. We expense the excess costs of the underutilization of this facility as part of our cost of product revenues.

The cost of product revenue decreased by 11% in 2012 compared to 2011, while our product revenues decreased by 1%. This reflects improved pricing on our UPS products, a change in product mix towards higher UPS sales, and a focused effort to increase efficiencies by reducing levels of unabsorbed overhead costs. Cost of product revenue also included $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense in both 2012 and 2011. The cost of product revenue as a percentage of total product revenue was 69% in 2012, compared to 76% for 2011.

Cost of service and other revenue

Cost of service and other revenue includes the cost of component parts we use in service or sell as spare parts and labor and overhead costs of our service organization. This includes travel and related costs incurred in fulfilling service obligations to our customers and the costs of third party contractors used in completion of some of our professional services. The following table summarizes for the periods indicated a year-over-year comparison of our cost of service and other revenue (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
 
2013
 
$
9,478
   
$
387
     
4
%
2012
 
$
9,091
   
$
(826
)
   
-8
%
2011
 
$
9,917
   
$
3,027
     
44
%

The cost of service and other revenue increased by 4% in 2013 while our service and other revenues increased by 23%. As a percentage of service and other revenues, our costs were 54% of revenue in 2013, compared to 64% in 2012. This decrease in the cost of service and other revenue reflects higher utilization of service personnel and improved margins for MIS systems installations. The utilization of our service personnel will be affected by the number of modular infrastructure solution products implemented in a particular period.  Our costs as a percentage of revenue would be expected to increase in periods where we have a low number of installation projects. We continued to expand our service team to broaden the geographic regions where we have service capability as our total business grows. A large portion of the costs involved in operating our service organization are fixed in nature and we incur approximately $0.6 million to $1.0 million in unabsorbed overhead each quarter in 2013. We continue to work on reducing our service overhead through better utilization of our service employees and cost control measures. We believe we can grow our service capabilities substantially by adding direct technical labor only as required, without adding significant additional fixed costs.

The cost of service and other revenue decreased by 8% in 2012 while our service and other revenues increased by 11%. As a percentage of service and other revenues, our costs were 64% of revenue in 2012, compared to 77% in 2011. This decrease in the cost of service and other revenue reflects higher utilization of service personnel and improved revenues on professional service work we perform for MIS systems installations. A large portion of the costs involved in operating our service organization are fixed in nature and we incurred approximately $0.4 million to $0.5 million in unabsorbed overhead each quarter in 2012.

Gross profit

The following table summarizes for the periods indicated a year-over-year comparison of our gross profit in total (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
   
Gross Margin
 
2013
 
$
19,396
   
$
(5,318
)
   
-22
%
   
31
%
2012
 
$
24,714
   
$
6,813
     
38
%
   
32
%
2011
 
$
17,901
   
$
(119
)
   
-1
%
   
24
%

The following table shows gross margin by component, product or service, year over year.

Year
 
Product
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Service and Other
   
Change from Prior Year
 
2013
   
26
%
   
-16
%
   
46
%
   
28
%
2012
   
31
%
   
29
%
   
36
%
   
57
%
2011
   
24
%
   
-14
%
   
23
%
   
-12
%

The decrease in gross profit margin in 2013 compared to 2012 is related to a few higher margin orders in 2012 that did not repeat in 2013. Generally, we realize lower margins on our MIS products than sales of our UPS products because they include a higher proportion of third party ancillary equipment that we are not able to resell at margins comparable to our internally manufactured UPS products. A change in sales mix driven by an increase in revenues from these higher margin products as a percentage of total revenues will result in a higher gross profit for our business. Our margins were also negatively impacted by higher unabsorbed overhead costs compared to 2012 from our manufacturing operations due to lower UPS product revenue.

The increase in gross profit margin in 2012 compared to 2011 reflects the impact of a change in product mix, weighted towards sales of our UPS products and services as a percentage of our total revenue. Our margins were also positively impacted by lower unabsorbed overhead costs in 2012 compared to 2011 from our manufacturing operations due to higher UPS product revenue.

Research and development

Research and development expense primarily consists of compensation and related costs for employees engaged in research, development and engineering activities, third party consulting and development activities, and an allocated portion of our occupancy and other costs. The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, a year-over-year comparison of our research and development expense (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
   
Percent of Total Revenue
 
2013
 
$
7,430
   
$
1,990
     
37
%
   
12
%
2012
 
$
5,440
   
$
701
     
15
%
   
7
%
2011
 
$
4,739
   
$
1,327
     
39
%
   
6
%

Overall our research and development expenses were approximately $2.0 million, or 37%, higher in 2013 compared to 2012. This was primarily related to the final testing and release of our latest generation UPS product. We believe this product will offer greater power modularity and space efficiencies compared to our existing UPS products, especially as we target the higher power market segment. We increased headcount to support the development of this new product and new modular infrastructure products we believe will contribute to future growth for us. It is anticipated that our new UPS product line will allow improved profit margins and provide a larger addressable market for our UPS systems business. Our research and development efforts in 2012 and 2013 were largely focused on new configurations of our existing flywheel technology and refinements and enhancements to the standardization of our modular infrastructure solution products. Research and development expenses included approximately $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense in both 2013 and 2012.
Overall, our research and development expenses were approximately $0.7 million, or 15%, higher in 2012 compared to 2011.  Our research and development efforts in 2011 and 2012 were largely focused on new configurations of our existing flywheel technology, and refinements and enhancements to the standardization of our modular infrastructure solution products. Research and development expenses included approximately $0.2 million of stock-based compensation expense in 2011.

Selling and marketing

Selling and marketing expense primarily consists of compensation, including variable sales compensation; related costs for sales and marketing personnel; travel; selling and marketing expenses; compensation paid to resellers and agents; an allocated portion of our occupancy and other costs; and the cost of our foreign sales operations. The following table summarizes for the periods indicated a year-over-year comparison of our selling and marketing expense (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
   
Percent of Total Revenue
 
2013
 
$
12,032
   
$
(2,107
)
   
-15
%
   
20
%
2012
 
$
14,139
   
$
327
     
2
%
   
19
%
2011
 
$
13,812
   
$
719
     
5
%
   
18
%

Selling and marketing costs were approximately $2.1 million, or 15%, lower in 2013 compared to 2012. The decrease from 2012 is primarily related to a reduction in headcount and lower commissions expense. Selling and marketing expenses include approximately $0.6 million and $0.5 million of stock-based compensation expense in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Selling and marketing expenses also includes $0.3 million in severance for terminated executives.

Selling and marketing costs were approximately $0.3 million, or 2%, higher in 2012 compared to 2011. The increase from 2011 is primarily related to an increase in compensation. Selling and marketing expenses also include approximately $0.5 million of stock-based compensation expense in 2011.

General and administrative

General and administrative expense is primarily comprised of compensation and related costs for board, executive and administrative personnel, and professional fees. The following table summarizes for the periods indicated a year-over-year comparison of our general and administrative expense (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
   
Percent of Total Revenue
 
2013
 
$
7,551
   
$
690
     
10
%
   
12
%
2012
 
$
6,861
   
$
631
     
10
%
   
9
%
2011
 
$
6,230
   
$
911
     
17
%
   
8
%

General and administrative expenses for 2013 increased approximately $0.7 million, or 10%, compared to 2012. This increase primarily reflects unexpected costs associated with $0.4 million in relocation and temporary living costs for executives and an increase in professional fees of $0.4 million associated with our investigations and pending lawsuits. General and administrative expenses also included approximately $0.5 million in stock-based compensation expense in both 2013 and 2012.

General and administrative expenses for 2012 increased approximately $0.6 million, or 10%, compared to 2011. This increase primarily reflects costs associated with a $0.2 million impairment charge associated with tooling and demonstration equipment, a one-time restructuring charge of $0.2 million associated with our reduction in force in the third quarter of 2012, and increased professional fees of $0.2 million associated with a settled lawsuit and special shareholder meeting. General and administrative expenses also included approximately $0.8 million in stock-based compensation expense in 2011.

Interest expense, net

The following table summarizes the yearly changes in our net interest expense (in thousands):
 
Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
 
2013
 
$
370
   
$
43
     
13
%
2012
 
$
327
   
$
102
     
45
%
2011
 
$
225
   
$
103
     
84
%

Interest expense in 2013 was relatively flat compared to 2012. We negotiated a $12.5 million revolving credit facility with our bank in August 2010, amended in 2012, that incurs a minimum monthly interest. Our average cash and cash equivalents balance during 2013 increased by $1.0 million, or 8%, compared to the average balance over 2012.

The increase in net interest expense in 2012 primarily reflects drawdowns on our line of credit early in 2012. Our average cash and investments balance during 2012 decreased by $0.9 million, or 7%, compared to the average balance over 2011.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense) in the years ended 2013, 2012 and 2011 mostly reflects foreign exchange gains (losses) on bank accounts held in foreign currencies by our subsidiary companies and the foreign exchange impact of the settlement of intercompany balances.

Income tax expense

Due to operating losses, we have not recorded any income tax expenses, other than minimum or statutory costs. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, our accumulated net operating loss carry-forward was $218.0 million and $208.0 million, respectively, and our research and development credit carry-forwards were $3.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively. We anticipate these loss carry-forward amounts may offset future taxable income that we may achieve and thus reduce future tax liabilities. However, because of uncertainty regarding our ability to use these carry-forwards and the potential limitations due to ownership changes, we have established a valuation allowance for the full amount of our net deferred tax assets.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We consider an accounting policy to be critical if:

the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain or require the use of judgment at the time we make that estimate; and

changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, or use of different estimates that we could have reasonably used instead in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Management has reviewed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. In addition, there are other items within our financial statements that require estimation, but are not deemed critical as defined above. Changes in these and other items could still have a material impact upon our financial statements.

Revenue recognition

We generally recognize revenue when four criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (iii) the sales price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue-generating transactions generally fall into one of the following categories of revenue recognition:

We recognize product revenue at the time of shipment for substantially all products sold directly to customers and through distributors because title and risk of loss pass on delivery to the common carrier. Our customers and distributors do not have the right to return products. If title and risk of loss pass at some other point in time, we recognize such revenue for our customers when the product is delivered to the customer and title and risk of loss has passed. We may enter into bill-and-hold arrangements and when this occurs delivery may not be present, but other criteria are reviewed to determine proper timing of revenue recognition.

We recognize installation and service and maintenance revenue at the time the service is performed.

We recognize revenue associated with extended maintenance agreements (“EMAs”) over the life of the contracts using the straight-line method, which approximates the expected timing in which applicable services are performed. Amounts collected in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as a current liability in the deferred revenue line of the consolidated balance sheet or long-term liability based on the time from the balance sheet date to the future date of revenue recognition.

We recognize revenue on certain rental programs over the life of the rental agreement using the straight-line method. Amounts collected in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as a current or long-term liability based on the time from the balance sheet date to the future date of revenue recognition.

Shipping costs reimbursed by the customer are included in revenue.

Multiple element arrangements (“MEAs”) are arrangements to sell products to customers frequently include multiple deliverables. Our most significant MEAs include the sale of one or more of our CleanSource UPS or CleanSource PowerHouse products, combined with one or more of the following products: design services, project management, commissioning and installation services, spare parts or consumables, and extended maintenance agreements (“EMAs”). Delivery of the various products or performance of services within the arrangement may or may not coincide. Certain services related to design and consulting may occur prior to delivery of the product. Commissioning and installation typically take place within 6 months of product delivery, depending upon customer requirements. EMAs, consumables, and repair, maintenance or consulting services generally are delivered over a period of one to five years. In certain arrangements revenue recognized is limited to the amount invoiced or received that is not contingent on the delivery of future products and services.

When arrangements outside the scope of software revenue recognition guidance include multiple elements, we allocate revenue to each element based on the relative selling price and recognize revenue for each element when the elements have standalone value (separate unit of accounting) and the four criteria for revenue recognition have been met. We establish the selling price of each element based on Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (“VSOE”) if available, Third Party Evidence (“TPE”) if VSOE is not available, or Best Estimate of Selling Price if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. We generally determine selling price based on amounts charged separately for the delivered and undelivered elements to similar customers in standalone sales of the specific elements. When arrangements include an EMA, we recognize revenue related to the EMA at the stated contractual price on a straight-line basis over the life of the agreement.

We allocate our MEAs primarily among revenues for internally manufactured products, externally manufactured ancillary products, and service revenues. We use VSOE to allocate our internally manufactured products, estimated based on a historical analysis of our sales for these products outside of an MEA. We use TPE to allocate externally manufactured ancillary equipment, as these items are generally a pass through from a third party vendor to our end customers. Finally, we use best estimate of selling prices to allocate revenues to the services elements, as some of these services are not sold individually. We estimate the selling price based on a historical analysis of all service revenues sold individually outside of an MEA.

Any taxes imposed by governmental authorities on our revenue-producing transactions with customers are shown in our consolidated statement of operations on a net-basis; that is excluded from our reported revenues.

Inventories

Inventories are priced at the lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out method) or market. We estimate inventory reserves on a quarterly basis and record reserves for obsolescence or slow-moving inventory based on assumptions about future demand and marketability of products, the impact of new product introductions, inventory turns and specific identification of items, such as product discontinuance, damaged goods or engineering/material changes.

Warranty liability

Estimated warranty liability costs are accrued for each of our products at the time of sale. Our estimates are principally based on assumptions regarding the lifetime warranty costs of each product, including where little or no claims experience may exist. Due to the uncertainty and potential volatility of these estimates, changes in our assumptions could have a material effect on our reported operating results. Our estimate of warranty liability is reevaluated on a quarterly basis. Experience has shown that initial data for a new product can be very volatile due to factors such as product and component failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs in correcting product failures; therefore our process relies upon long-term historical averages until actual data is available. As actual experience becomes available, it is used to modify the historical averages to ensure that the forecast is within the range of likely outcomes. The resulting balances are then compared to current spending rates to help ensure that the accruals are adequate to meet expected future obligations.

Stock-based compensation

We account for stock-based compensation using a fair-value based recognition method. Stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as an expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, expected option life and forfeiture rates. We develop our estimates based on historical data and market information that can change significantly over time. A small change in estimates used can have a relatively large impact on the estimated valuation.

We use the Black-Scholes option valuation model to value employee stock awards. We estimate stock price volatility based upon our historical volatility. Estimated option life and forfeiture rate assumptions are derived from historical data. For stock-based compensation awards with graded vesting, we recognize compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity at December 31, 2013 are our cash and cash equivalents on hand, our bank credit facilities and projected cash flows from operating activities. If we meet our cash flow projections in our current business plan, we expect that we will have adequate capital resources to continue operating our business for at least the next 12 months. Our business plan and our assumptions around the adequacy of our liquidity are based on estimates regarding expected revenues and future costs. However, there are scenarios in which our revenues may not meet our projections, our costs may exceed our estimates or our working capital needs may be greater than anticipated. Further, our estimates may change and future events or developments may also affect our estimates. Any of these factors may change our expectation of cash usage in 2014 and beyond or significantly affect our level of liquidity.

In August 2010, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) which increased the total line of credit available to $12.5 million subject to certain borrowing bases. This facility expanded our ability to borrow funds from U.S. receivables to include qualifying receivables from our UK operations as well, increased our ability to use inventory as collateral, and also added an ability to borrow against purchase orders. These additional bases of borrowing were designed to allow us to use the credit facility to fund inventory purchases in the event we received large or multiple sales orders that would require a major investment in inventory and work in progress such as our MIS products, to help fund our business and to manage our working capital requirements.

This loan facility provides for a secured revolving line of credit in an aggregate amount of up to eighty percent (80%) of the facility amount of $15.625 million, or $12.5 million, subject to certain borrowing bases. In the event we have maintained unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of at least $6.25 million with SVB for at least 30 consecutive days, which is referred to as being in a “Streamline Period”, the borrowing base formula is based on eligible accounts receivable, eligible purchase orders and eligible inventory, subject to a sublimit of $5.0 million for U.K. accounts receivable, $3.5 million for inventory and $1.5 million for purchase orders. When we are not in a Streamline Period, our borrowings are limited based on accounts receivable and purchase orders that SVB has specifically agreed to finance and a borrowing base for eligible inventory. We may also request that SVB issue letters of credit on our behalf, of up to $1.5 million, as a portion of our total loan facility.

On August 5, 2010, we borrowed approximately $2.5 million in revolving loans, all of which was used to refinance all indebtedness owing from us to SVB under our previous credit facility. The credit facility increased the total credit available from our previous loan facility with SVB, which was $5.0 million, and enables us to borrow against eligible inventory, foreign receivables and customer purchase orders in addition to eligible accounts receivable.

In August 2012, we entered into the Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement with SVB (the “Amendment”) which amends the Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2010, by and between us and SVB. Pursuant to the Amendment, the maturity date of the loan facility was extended by two years, to August 5, 2014, unless earlier terminated by us, subject to any then applicable early termination fee. The Amendment further provides for, among other things, (i) adding a $1.5 million sublimit under the borrowing base formula for 91-120 day aged accounts receivable, (ii) removing eligible purchase orders from the borrowing base formula, and (iii) removing sublimits providing for the issuance of letters of credit and cash management services. Additionally, pursuant to the Amendment, the definition of “Streamline Period” was amended such that the Company will be deemed to be in a Streamline Period in the event that it has a liquidity ratio of greater than or equal to 1.75:1.00 at all times for at least 60 consecutive days; provided that a Streamline Period will automatically be in effect if we achieve such liquidity ratio as a result of the sale of our equity securities.

Further, the Amendment provides for, among other things, (i) amending the finance charge on each eligible account financed by SVB to a per annum rate equal to SVB’s prime rate, subject to a minimum prime rate of four percent (4.00%), plus (a) one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) when we are in a Streamline Period or (b) one and three-quarters percent (1.75%) for eligible accounts (other than eligible 91-120 day aged accounts) and two percent (2.00%) for eligible 91 to 120 day aged accounts when we are not in a Streamline Period, and (ii) reducing the interest rate upon which each inventory advance accrues interest such that each advance based upon inventory accrues interest at a per annum rate equal to SVB’s prime rate, subject to a minimum prime rate of four percent (4.00%), plus (a) one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) when we are in a Streamline Period or (b) three and one half percent (3.50%) when we are not in a Streamline Period.

Finance charges and interest are payable monthly, and all principal and interest is due on the maturity date of August 5, 2014. However, when we are not in a Streamline Period, we must repay advances based on receivables when we receive the receivable that has been financed, and we must repay advances based on purchase orders within 120 days of the date of the purchase order, together with all finance charges on such advances.

The revolving loans made to us under this loan facility are secured by a lien on substantially all of our assets. In addition, on August 5, 2010, Active Power Solutions Limited, a wholly-owned United Kingdom subsidiary of Active Power, entered into a Guarantee and Debenture with SVB (the “Guarantee and Debenture”), pursuant to which Active Power Solutions Limited guarantied all of the obligations of Active Power under the Loan Agreement and secured its obligations under the Guarantee and Debenture with a security interest on substantially all of its assets.

The Loan Agreement includes customary affirmative covenants for a credit facility of this size and type, including delivery of financial statements, compliance with laws, maintenance of insurance, and protection of intellectual property rights. Further, the Loan Agreement contains customary negative covenants for a credit facility of this size and type, including covenants that limit or restrict our ability, among other things, to dispose of assets, change our business, change our CEO or CFO without replacing such person within 120 days, have a change in control, make acquisitions, be acquired, incur indebtedness, grant liens, make investments, make distributions, repurchase stock, and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Loan Agreement also requires us to maintain a minimum liquidity ratio of 1.25:1. The liquidity ratio is defined as the ratio of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities plus eligible accounts receivable to all indebtedness owed by us to SVB. We are currently in compliance with all loan covenants under the Loan Agreement.

The Loan Agreement contains customary events of default that include, among other things, non-payment defaults, covenant defaults, material adverse change defaults, insolvency defaults, material judgment defaults and inaccuracy of representations and warranty defaults. The occurrence of an event of default could result in the acceleration of obligations under the Loan Agreement, in which case we must repay all loans and related charges, fees and amounts then due and payable, and our subsidiary may be required to pay any such amounts under the Guarantee and Debenture. At the election of SVB, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, finance charges or interest rates, as applicable, will increase an additional five percentage points (5.00%) per annum above the rate that is otherwise applicable thereto upon the occurrence of such event of default, and the collateral handling fees will increase by one-half percent (0.50%).

During 2012, we borrowed amounts under this credit facility based on our short term liquidity requirements. Based on the borrowing base formula, we had an additional $3.9 million available for use at December 31, 2013 under this credit facility.

A substantial increase in sales of our CleanSource PowerHouse or our modular IT infrastructure solutions products or a substantial increase in UPS sales may materially impact the amount of liquidity required to fund our operations. The amount of time between the receipt of payment from our customers and our expenditures for raw materials, manufacturing and shipment of products (the cash cycle) for sales of our CleanSource UPS product can be as short as 45 days, and is typically 60 days. However, the cash cycle on a MIS sale can be as much as 210 days, depending upon customer payment terms. We intend to mitigate the financial impact of this longer cash cycle by requiring customer deposits and periodic payments where possible from our customers. This is not always commercially feasible, and in order to increase our MIS sales, we may be required to make larger investments in inventory and receivables. These larger investments may require us to obtain additional sources of working capital, debt or equity financing in order to fund this business.

Should additional funding be required or desirable, we would expect to raise the required funds through borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of convertible debt or equity securities, the ownership of our existing stockholders could be significantly diluted. If we obtain additional debt financing, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness, and the terms of the debt securities issued could impose significant restrictions on our operations. We do not know whether we will be able to secure additional funding, or funding on terms acceptable to us, to continue our operations as planned. If financing is not available, we may be required to reduce, delay or eliminate certain activities or to license or sell to others some of our proprietary technology.

Significant uses of cash

Operating Activities

The following table summarizes the yearly changes in cash used in operating activities (in thousands):

Year
 
Annual Amount
   
Change from Prior Year
   
Percent Change
 
2013
 
$
(1,307
)
 
$
4,683
     
78
%
2012
 
$
(5,990
)
 
$
660
     
10
%
2011
 
$
(6,650
)
 
$
(6,582
)
   
-9679
%

Cash used in operating activities was $1.3 million in 2013 compared to $6.0 million in 2012. Cash used in operating activities was primarily related to our net loss of $8.4 million partially offset by changes in our net accounts receivable and deferred revenue. Changes in our net working capital, resulted in cash provided of $4.2 million in 2013, compared to cash used of $6.9 million in 2012. Cash used in operating activities in 2012 primarily related to changes in current assets and current liabilities, specifically accounts receivable.

As our business activity changes, we have had to finance a larger level of inventory and receivables to support our business, particularly with our MIS products which have a much longer construction time than our UPS business. Our decrease in receivables resulted in cash provided of $9.0 million 2013, while the increase in inventories used cash of $1.8 million in 2013 and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses resulted in cash used of $0.4 million. These changes reflect the frequent changes in our working capital that can result in very large fluctuation in inventory, payables and receivables, even weekly, based on the large size of some of our orders. Our change in inventory also includes a non-cash change of $0.9 million in 2013 related to items purchased as inventory for our latest generation UPS product, but later capitalized to property and equipment as test units.

Our top five customers represented 57% of our total revenue during 2013. In addition, as of December 31, 2013, our five largest receivables were 52% of our total receivables. As a result of this customer concentration, our failure to collect receivables from any of these customers in a timely manner could have a significant adverse effect on our liquidity. This risk may potentially increase as we sell more PowerHouse products due to their higher average selling price. We do continue to request deposits and periodic payments from large customers where commercially possible, particularly for projects with multiple deliverables. However, the amount of such advance payments can fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis, depending on the size and scope of customer orders at any point in time. As a result, we will need to continue to focus on management of cash and working capital in 2014 to manage the level of funds we use in our operating activities.

Cash used in operating activities was $6.0 million in 2012 compared to $6.7 million in 2011. Cash used in operating activities was primarily related to changes in current assets and current liabilities, or our net working capital, specifically accounts receivable. Changes in our net working capital, resulted in cash used of $6.9 million in 2012, compared to $3.0 million in 2011.

Investing Activities

Investing activities primarily consist of purchases of property and equipment. The cash used in investing activities decreased from $1.1 million in 2012 to $0.9 million in 2013 as we invested less in capital improvements in 2013.  Capital expenditures decreased in 2013 from 2012 by approximately $0.3 million. Our capital expenditures in 2013 primarily included investments in equipment to support our manufacturing facility, test units of our latest generation UPS product, leasehold improvements, and software. In 2011, we invested in our sales and marketing programs with CleanSource PowerHouse demonstration units in the United States, China and Germany.

Financing Activities

Funds provided by financing activities during 2013 primarily reflect proceeds from employee stock purchases of $0.7 million.  Funds provided by financing activities during 2012 reflect the sale of approximately 2.9 million shares of our common stock, at a purchase price of $3.40 per share, for proceeds, net of issuances costs, of approximately $9.6 million. Proceeds from employee stock purchases were $0.6 million in 2012. Funds provided by financing activities in 2011 primarily reflect the draw on our revolving line of credit of $3.0 million and proceeds from employee stock purchases.

Contractual Obligations

In our day-to-day operations, we incur commitments to make future payments for goods and services. These arise from entering into operating leases and as we make commitments to vendors to provide us materials and services. The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations and commitments at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
 
 
 
Payment due by period
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
Less than 1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than 5 years
 
Operating lease obligations
 
$
3,674
   
$
1,228
   
$
2,261
   
$
185
   
$
-
 
Purchase obligations
 
$
3,246
   
$
3,246
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Other obligations
 
$
100
   
$
25
   
$
50
   
$
25
   
$
-
 
 
Our principal lease commitments consist of our leases for our corporate headquarters, engineering and administration facilities, and our global sales offices.

Future uses of cash

We believe that our cash and investments, projected cash flows from operations and sources of available liquidity will be sufficient to fund our operations for the next twelve months. However, a sudden change in business volume, positive or negative, from any of our business or channel partners, or in our direct business, or any customer-driven events such as order or delivery deferral, could significantly impact our expected revenues and cash needs. The continuing global economic instability has increased the already present challenge of predicting future revenues. We do have some opportunity to adjust expenditures or take other measures to reduce our cash consumption if we see and anticipate a shortfall in revenue, or give us time to identify additional sources of funding if we anticipate an increase in our working capital requirements due to increased revenues or changes in our revenue mix. A significant increase in sales, especially in our MIS business, would likely increase our working capital requirements, due to the longer production time and cash cycle of sales of these products.

We do not expect our level of capital investments to significantly fluctuate in 2014 compared to 2013.

Other factors that may affect liquidity

Our cash requirements will depend on many factors, including any sales growth, the market acceptance of our products, the gross profit we are able to generate with our sales, the timing and level of development funding, the rate of expansion of our sales and marketing activities, the rate of expansion of our manufacturing processes, and the timing and extent of research and development projects. Although we are not a party to any agreement or letter of intent with respect to a potential acquisition or merger, we may enter into acquisitions or strategic arrangements in the future to help support our growth, which could also require us to seek additional equity or debt financing. Should additional funding be required or desirable, we may need to raise the required funds through borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of convertible debt or equity securities, the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders could be significantly diluted. If we obtain additional debt financing, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness, and the terms of the debt securities issued could impose significant restrictions on our operations. We do not know whether we will be able to secure additional funding, or funding on terms acceptable to us, to continue our operations as planned. If financing is not available, we may be required to reduce, delay or eliminate certain activities or to license or sell to others some of our proprietary technology. 

On February 26, 2014, we entered into an underwriting agreement to sell 3,651,250 shares of our common stock at $3.15 per share in a public offering (including shares subject to the underwriter’s over-allotment option). The aggregate net proceeds to us were approximately $10.5 million, after deducting $1.0 million in offering related expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions. The transaction closed on March 3, 2014.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (AOCI). ASU 2013-02 requires a roll forward of changes in AOCI by component and information about significant reclassifications from AOCI to Net earnings to be presented in one location, either on the face of the financial statements or in the notes. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 and subsequent interim periods. The requirements of ASU 2013-02 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. The only reclassification from AOCI to net earnings in 2013 was in relation to the settlement of translation on a liquidated subsidiary which was less than $0.1 million and was reflected in other income (expense), net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity.” ASU 2013-05 clarifies the application of GAAP to the release of cumulative translation adjustments related to changes of ownership in or within foreign entities, including step acquisitions. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013 and subsequent interim periods. We do not anticipate this pronouncement to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carry-forward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carry-forward Exists.” ASU 2013-11 clarifies guidance and eliminates diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward exists at the reporting date. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013 and subsequent interim periods. We are currently assessing the impact, if any, on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

We invest our cash in a variety of financial instruments, including bank time deposits, and taxable variable rate and fixed rate obligations of corporations, municipalities, and local, state and national government entities and agencies. These investments are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Our interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly since the majority of our investments are in short-term instruments. We believe that our investment policy is conservative, both in terms of the average maturity of investments that we hold and in terms of the credit quality of our investments. Because of the nature of the majority of our investments, we do not believe a 1% decline in interest rates would have a material effect on our interest income or on the fair value of our investments.

Our international sales were historically made in U.S. dollars. As we have increased sales in foreign markets and opened operations in multiple foreign countries, we have executed more transactions that are denominated in other currencies, primarily Euro and British pounds. Those sales and expenses in currencies other than U.S. dollars can result in translation gains and losses which have not been significant to date. Currently, we do not engage in hedging activities for our international operations other than an increasing amount of sales and support expenses being incurred in foreign currencies as a natural hedge. However, recent volatility in currencies, particularly with the pound and Euro, is increasing the amount of potential translation gains and losses and we may engage in hedging activities in the future to mitigate the risks caused by such currency volatility.

Our international business is subject to the typical risks of any international business, including, but not limited to, the risks described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” Accordingly, our future results could be materially harmed by the actual occurrence of any of these or other risks.

ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Selected Quarterly Financial Data.

The Financial Statements and Selected Quarterly Financial Data required by this item are included in Part IV, Item 15(a)(1) and are presented beginning on Page 71.

ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.
 
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) required by paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15, have concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process, designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our Board, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting, and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by COSO. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Based on our assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, our internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, audited our consolidated financial statements, and independently assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Grant Thornton LLP has issued their report, which is included in Part IV of this Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Other than as described below, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect materially, our internal control over financial reporting.

In 2013, management identified a material weakness resulting from control deficiencies related to our credit approval process whereby we did not confirm information from an employee of ours in China regarding the facts surrounding Qiyuan, a distributor with whom we entered into a distribution agreement.  In response to such material weakness, management implemented additional credit approval process procedures including actions to further verify the financial condition and ownership structure of all new customers. As a result, as of December 31, 2013, the material weakness has been remediated.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Forward looking statements regarding the effectiveness of internal controls during future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of change in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.

ITEM 9B. Other Information.

None.
PART III.

ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

The following table sets forth certain biographical information concerning our current executive officers:

Name
 
Age
 
Position(s)
Mark A. Ascolese
 
63
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
James A. Powers
 
52
 
Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Jason P. Rubin
 
44
 
Vice President of Operations
Randall J. Adleman
 
56
 
Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing

Mark A. Ascolese became our President and Chief Executive Officer on October 14, 2013, and brings extensive experience serving a variety of mission critical markets including the data center market. Since 2006, Mr. Ascolese first served as CEO and is currently Chairman of the Board of Power Analytics, an electrical infrastructure enterprise software firm based in San Diego, California. Prior to Power Analytics, he served for more than 20 years in various leadership roles at Powerware Corporation, a global provider of power quality and backup power management products, which is now a part of Eaton Corp. Powerware was acquired by Eaton Corp. in 2004. Mr. Ascolese was retained by Eaton following the acquisition to oversee the integration of the company and lead all global sales and marketing efforts, helping establish the supplier as a leader in the UPS space. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Ascolese served as senior vice president of Business Development at Active Power. His career also includes 12 years at General Electric serving in a variety of management roles in the company’s service organization. Mr. Ascolese earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Commerce from the University of Louisville.

James A. Powers has been our Chief Financial Officer since December 4, 2013. As Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance, he oversees all of our accounting, finance, treasury, and investor relations activities, as well as our IT organization. Mr. Powers brings more than 30 years of finance, accounting, and operations experience to Active Power. He most recently served as senior vice president of Finance of the U.S. Windows and Doors division of PlyGem Industries. From 2006 to 2013, Mr. Powers served in various capacities, however most recently was vice president and global controller at Xerium Technologies, a publicly traded global manufacturer and supplier of specifically engineered consumable products used primarily in the production of paper. In this role he led all corporate controllership functions including SEC reporting, board reporting and analysis, and external audit management. Prior to Xerium, Mr. Powers held a number of executive finance roles including vice president of Internal Audit at Invensys PLC, a global industrial automation, controls, and transportation business. He was tasked to step into this leadership role following the completion of two divestitures including Invensys’ Powerware and Lambda Power divisions where he served as vice president of Finance. He began his career as a senior auditor at Ernst and Young LLP, formerly Arthur Young. Mr. Powers is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from the State of University of New York at Albany.

Jason P. Rubin joined Active Power in March 2000 as a materials manager and held various positions in our manufacturing group before being promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing in October 2005 and Vice President of Operations in December 2013. Mr. Rubin is responsible for the manufacture and testing of all Active Power products as well as managing all material and logistic requirements to support production and our customer service activities. Mr. Rubin has over 20 years of manufacturing experience in multiple industries and immediately prior to joining Active Power was involved in managing operations and manufacturing systems for Windsport, Inc., a fabricated textile manufacturer. Mr. Rubin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.

Randall J. Adleman joined Active Power in November 2013 as Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining Active Power, Mr. Adleman served as vice president of Sales and Marketing for Valence Technology, an Austin based global manufacturer of large format energy storage solutions.  He has held various sales and marketing executive leadership roles including serving as senior vice president, Sales and Implementation Services, at Misys, an enterprise software provider, and vice president, Global Sales and Service, at Ingersoll Rand Energy Systems. Mr. Adleman also served as vice president, Secure Power Americas Group, at Invensys’ Powerware division, now part of Eaton Corp. While at Powerware, Adleman led all sales and service efforts for the U.S. commercial, federal, and Latin American businesses. In this role, he managed both direct and multi-tiered indirect channels of distribution including hundreds of manufacturing representatives, distributors, and resellers. Mr. Adleman holds an undergraduate degree from Colgate University and a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

The other information required under Item 10, including information about our directors, disclosure of delinquent Section 16 filings, our Code of Ethics and matters relating to our audit committee and its members will be included under the sections captioned “Election of Directors.” “Section 16(A) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance”, “Corporate Governance” and “Meetings and Committees of the Board,” respectively, in our Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated into this Annual Report by reference.

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.

The information required by this Item will be included under the sections captioned “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Committee Report” and “Certain Transactions” in our Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated into this Annual Report by reference.

ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by this Item will be included under the sections captioned “Ownership of Securities,” “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” in our Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated into this Annual Report by reference.

ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

The information required by this Item will be included under the sections captioned “Certain Transactions” and “Director Independence” in our Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated into this Annual Report by reference.

ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The information required by this Item will be included under the section captioned “Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated into this Annual Report by reference.

PART IV.

ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)

1. Financial Statements.

The following financial statements of Active Power, Inc. were filed as a part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013:

 
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
51
 
 
Financial Statements:
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
53
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
54
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
55
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
56
Notes to Financial Statements
57

2. Schedules.

All schedules have been omitted since the information required by the schedule is not applicable, or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the Financial Statements and notes thereto.

3. Exhibits.

The exhibits listed on the accompanying index to exhibits immediately following the financial statements are filed herewith, or are incorporated by reference as indicated below.

(b) Exhibits
 
Exhibit
Number
 
 
Description
3.1*
 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2012)
 
 
 
3.2*
 
Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Active Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2012)
 
 
 
3.3*
 
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2012)
 
 
 
3.4*
 
Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Bylaws as adopted February 1, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2012)
 
 
 
3.5*
 
Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Bylaws as adopted October 24, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 3.01 to Active Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 29, 2013)
 
 
 
4.1*
 
Specimen certificate for shares of Common Stock (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Active Power’s IPO Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-36946) (the “IPO Registration Statement"))
 
 
 
4.2
 
See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 for provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the registrant defining the rights of holders of common stock
 
 
 
10.1*
 
Form of Indemnity Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.2*†
 
Active Power, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the IPO Registration Statement) †
 
 
 
10.3*†
 
Active Power, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 3, 2012)
 
 
 
10.4*†
 
Form of Standard Stock Option Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Active Power's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 18, 2010)
 
 
 
10.5*†
 
Form of Standard Restricted Stock Agreement Stock Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Active Power's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 18, 2010)
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.6*†
 
Form of Standard Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Active Power's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 18, 2010)
 
 
 
10.7*
 
Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Braker Phase III, Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.8*
 
First Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Braker Phase III, Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.9*
 
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Braker Phase III, Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.10*
 
Third Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Braker Phase III, Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.11*
 
Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.12*
 
Fifth Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the IPO Registration Statement)
 
 
 
10.13*
 
Sixth Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (filed as Exhibit 10.18 to Active Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (the “2000 10-K”))
 
 
 
10.14*
 
Seventh Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the 2000 10-K)
 
 
 
10.15*
 
Lease Agreement by and between Active Power, Inc. and BC12 99, Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the 2000 10-K)
 
 
 
10.16*†
 
Form of Severance Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2010)
 
 
 
10.17*†
 
Offer Letter, effective September 26, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Mark A. Ascolese (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 18, 2013)
 
 
 
10.18*†
 
Severance Benefits Agreement, effective September 26, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Mark A. Ascolese (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 18, 2013)
 
 
 
10.19*†
 
Offer Letter, effective November 4, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Randall J. Adleman (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 18, 2013)
 
 
 
10.20*†
 
Severance Benefits Agreement, effective November 4, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Randall J. Adleman (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 18, 2013)
 
 
 
 
Offer Letter, effective November 14, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and James A. Powers
 
 
 
 
Severance Benefits Agreement, effective November 14, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and James A. Powers
 
 
 
10.23*†
 
Separation and Release Agreement, effective April 22, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Lisa Brown (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2013)
 
 
 
10.24*†
 
Separation Agreement and Release, effective November 7, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Martin T. Olsen (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 18, 2013)
 
 
 
 
Separation and Release Agreement, effective November 20, 2013, between Active Power, Inc. and Steven R. Fife
 
 
 
 
Separation and Release Agreement, effective January 4, 2014, between Active Power, Inc. and J. Noel Foley
 
 
 
10.27*
 
Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, dated as of August 5, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 27, 2010)
 
 
 
10.28*
 
First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 5, 2012, between Active Power, Inc. and Silicon Valley Bank (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 3, 2012)
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
10.29*
 
Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, dated August 15, 2012 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Active Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2012)
 
 
 
10.30*
 
Guarantee and Debenture Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, dated as of August 5, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Active Power's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 27, 2010)
 
10.31*
Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 7, 2012 between Active Power, Inc. and the Purchasers (as defined therein) (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Active Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2012)
 
 
 
10.32*
 
Side Letter Agreement dated March 7, 2012 between Active Power, Inc. and Kinderhook Partners, L.P. (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Active Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2012)
 
10.33*
Resale Registration Rights Agreement dated March 7, 2012 between Active Power, Inc. and Kinderhook Partners, L.P. (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Active Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2012)
 
 
 
10.34*+
 
Purchase Agreement effective as of June 1, 2011 between Active Power, Inc. and Caterpillar, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Active Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2012)
 
 
 
10.35*+
 
Professional Services Master Agreement with Hewlett-Packard Company, dated February 4, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.24 to Active Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2012)
 
 
 
10.36*+
 
Hardware Product Purchase Agreement with Hewlett-Packard Company, dated April 30, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.25 to Active Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2012)
 
14.1*
 
Active Power, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (filed as Exhibit 14.1 to Active Power's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2010)
 
 
 
 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
 
 
 
 
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
 
 
 
24.1
 
Power of Attorney, pursuant to which amendments to this Form 10-K may be filed, is included on the signature page contained in Part IV of this Form 10-K
 
 
 
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101
 
The following financial statements from Active Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, formatted in XBRL: (1) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss, (iii) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

* Incorporated by reference to the indicated filing.
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+ Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment previously granted.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
ACTIVE POWER, INC.
 
 
 
Dated: March 4, 2014
By:
/s/ MARK A. ASCOLESE
 
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby severally constitutes and appoints, Mark A. Ascolese and James A. Powers, and each or any of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with the power of substitution and resubstitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MARK A. ASCOLESE
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
March 4, 2014
Mark A. Ascolese
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JAMES A. POWERS
 
Vice President—Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
 
March 4, 2014
James A. Powers
 
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ AKE ALMGREN
 
Chairman of the Board, Director
 
March 4, 2014
Ake Almgren
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JAN H. LINDELOW
 
Director
 
March 4, 2014
Jan H. Lindelow
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JAMES E. DEVENNY III
 
Director
 
March 4, 2014
James E. deVenny III
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROBERT S. GREENBERG
 
Director
 
March 4, 2014
Robert S. Greenberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ STEPHEN J. CLEARMAN
 
Director
 
March 4, 2014
Stephen J. Clearman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ T. PATRICK KELLY
 
Director
 
March 4, 2014
T. Patrick Kelly
 
 
 
 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Active Power, Inc.

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Active Power, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in  Internal Control—Integrated Framework  issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, and our report dated March 4, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

 
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
Dallas, Texas
 
March 4, 2014
 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Active Power, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Active Power, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Active Power, Inc. as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Active Power, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 4, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion.

 
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
Dallas, Texas
 
March 4, 2014
 

Active Power, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except par value)

 
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
 
 
 
   
 
ASSETS
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
Current assets:
 
   
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
12,261
   
$
13,524
 
Restricted cash
   
520
     
-
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of  $313 and $488 at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively
   
9,075
     
17,862
 
Inventories, net
   
12,020
     
11,079
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
680
     
567
 
Total current assets
 
$
34,556
     
43,032
 
Property and equipment, net
   
3,056
     
2,458
 
Deposits and other
   
295
     
309
 
Total assets
 
$
37,907
   
$
45,799
 
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
 
$
2,993
   
$
4,036
 
Accrued expenses
   
5,583
     
4,948
 
Deferred revenue
   
2,749
     
4,568
 
Revolving line of credit
   
5,535
     
5,535
 
Total current liabilities
 
$
16,860
     
19,087
 
Long-term liabilities
   
741
     
713
 
Stockholders' equity
               
Preferred stock - $0.001 par value; 2,000 shares authorized
   
-
     
-
 
Common stock - $0.001 par value; 30,000 shares authorized; 19,452 and 19,171 issued and 19,388 and 19,125 outstanding at December 31, 2013 and2012, respectively
   
19
     
19
 
Treasury stock
   
(215
)
   
(144
)
Additional paid-in capital
   
290,964
     
288,619
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(271,168
)
   
(262,817
)
Other accumulated comprehensive income
   
706
     
322
 
Total stockholders' equity
   
20,306
     
25,999
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
37,907
   
$
45,799
 

See accompanying notes.
Active Power, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
 
 
   
   
 
Revenues:
 
   
   
 
Product revenue
 
$
44,158
   
$
62,031
   
$
62,650
 
Service and other revenue
   
17,541
     
14,284
     
12,832
 
Total revenue
   
61,699
     
76,315
     
75,482
 
 
                       
Cost of goods sold:
                       
Cost of product revenue
   
32,825
     
42,510
     
47,664
 
Cost of service and other revenue
   
9,478
     
9,091
     
9,917
 
Total cost of goods sold
   
42,303
     
51,601
     
57,581
 
Gross profit
   
19,396
     
24,714
     
17,901
 
 
                       
Operating expenses:
                       
Research and development
   
7,430
     
5,440
     
4,739
 
Selling and marketing
   
12,032
     
14,139
     
13,812
 
General and administrative
   
7,551
     
6,861
     
6,230
 
Total operating expenses
   
27,013
     
26,440
     
24,781
 
Loss from Operations
   
(7,617
)
   
(1,726
)
   
(6,880
)
 
                       
Interest expense, net
   
(370
)
   
(327
)
   
(225
)
Other income (expense), net
   
(364
)
   
131
     
11
 
 
                       
Net Loss
 
$
(8,351
)
 
$
(1,922
)
 
$
(7,094
)
Net Loss per share, basic and diluted
 
$
(0.43
)
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
                       
Shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted
   
19,329
     
18,584
     
16,104
 
 
                       
Comprehensive loss:
                       
Net loss
 
$
(8,351
)
 
$
(1,922
)
 
$
(7,094
)
Translation gain on subsidiaries denominated in foreign currencies
   
384
     
123
     
360
 
Comprehensive loss
 
$
(7,967
)
 
$
(1,799
)
 
$
(6,734
)

See accompanying notes.
Active Power, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
 
Common Stock
   
Treasury Stock
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
Number of Shares
   
Par Value
   
Number of Shares
   
At Cost
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Accumulated Deficit
   
Other Accumulated Comprehen- sive Income (Loss)
   
Total Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Balance at December 31, 2010
   
15,972
   
$
16
     
24
   
$
(103
)
 
$
274,871
   
$
(253,801
)
 
$
(161
)
 
$
20,822
 
Employee stock option exercises
   
144
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
510
     
-
     
-
     
510
 
Shares held in treasury
   
-
     
-
     
4
     
(12
)
           
-
     
-
     
(12
)
Net translation gain on foreign subsidiaries
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
360
     
360
 
Stock-based compensation
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,706
     
-
     
-
     
1,706
 
Net Loss
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(7,094
)
   
-
     
(7,094
)
Balance at December 31, 2011
   
16,116
     
16
     
28
     
(115
)
   
277,087
     
(260,895
)
   
199
   
$
16,292
 
Employee stock option exercises
   
155
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
562
     
-
     
-
     
562
 
Sale of common stock, less issuance costs
   
2,868
     
3
     
-
     
-
     
9,560
     
-
     
-
     
9,563
 
Release of Restricted Stock
   
32
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Shares held in treasury
   
-
     
-
     
5
     
(29
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(29
)
Net translation gain on foreign subsidiaries
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
123
     
123
 
Stock-based compensation
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,410
     
-
     
-
     
1,410
 
Net Loss
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(1,922
)
   
-
     
(1,922
)
Balance at December 31, 2012
   
19,171
   
$
19
     
33
   
$
(144
)
 
$
288,619
   
$
(262,817
)
 
$
322
   
$
25,999
 
Employee stock option exercises
   
200
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
711
     
-
     
-
     
711
 
Release of Restricted Stock
   
81
     
-
                     
4
     
-
     
-
     
4
 
Shares held in treasury
   
-
     
-
     
18
     
(71
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(71
)
Net translation gain on foreign subsidiaries
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
384
     
384
 
Stock-based compensation
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,689
     
-
     
-
     
1,689
 
Issuance costs, shelf registration
                                   
(59
)
           
-
     
(59
)
Net Loss
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(8,351
)
   
-
     
(8,351
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
   
19,452
   
$
19
     
51
   
$
(215
)
 
$
290,964
   
$
(271,168
)
 
$
706
   
$
20,306
 

See accompanying notes.
Active Power, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
 
Operating activities
 
   
   
 
Net Loss
 
$
(8,351
)
 
$
(1,922
)
 
$
(7,094
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
                       
Depreciation expense
   
1,084
     
1,282
     
1,383
 
Change to allowance for doubtful accounts
   
(175
)
   
151
     
9
 
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
   
30
     
(35
)
   
154
 
Impairment on fixed assets
   
69
     
218
     
8
 
Stock-based compensation
   
1,700
     
1,410
     
1,706
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Restricted cash
   
(520
)
   
389
     
(389
)
Accounts receivable
   
8,962
     
(6,850
)
   
3,536
 
Inventories
   
(1,796
)
   
(1,640
)
   
(3,009
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
(99
)
   
(58
)
   
7
 
Accounts payable
   
(1,043
)
   
(721
)
   
(1,265
)
Accrued expenses
   
623
     
(403
)
   
(1,717
)
Deferred revenue
   
(1,819
)
   
2,202
     
(126
)
Long term liabilities
   
28
     
(13
)
   
147
 
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(1,307
)
   
(5,990
)
   
(6,650
)
 
                       
Investing activities
                       
Sales/maturities of marketable securities
   
-
     
-
     
134
 
Purchases of property and equipment
   
(996
)
   
(1,274
)
   
(2,401
)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
   
71
     
212
     
-
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(925
)
   
(1,062
)
   
(2,267
)
 
                       
Financing activities
                       
Proceeds from private placement of common stock
   
-
     
9,750
     
-
 
Issuance costs of private placement
   
-
     
(187
)
   
-
 
Proceeds from draw on revolving line of credit
   
-
     
2,017
     
3,000
 
Payments on revolving line of credit
   
-
     
(2,017
)
   
-
 
Proceeds from employee stock option exercises
   
711
     
562
     
510
 
Issuance costs, shelf registration
   
(59
)
   
-
     
-
 
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards
   
(67
)
   
(29
)
   
(12
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
585
     
10,096
     
3,498
 
 
                       
Translation gain on subsidiaries in foreign currencies
   
384
     
123
     
360
 
 
                       
Change in cash and cash equivalents
   
(1,263
)
   
3,167
     
(5,059
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
13,524
     
10,357
     
15,416
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
12,261
   
$
13,524
   
$
10,357
 
 
                       
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
                       
Interest Paid
 
$
380
   
$
335
   
$
229
 

See accompanying notes
ACTIVE POWER, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2013
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Active Power, Inc. and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as “we”, “us”, “Active Power” or the “Company”) design, manufacture and sell our flywheel-based uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) products and modular infrastructure solutions (“MIS”) which are designed to ensure continuity for data centers and other mission critical operations in the event of power disturbances. Our products and solutions are designed to deliver continuous conditioned (“clean”) power during power disturbances and outages, voltage surges and sags, and provide ride-through power in the event of a utility failure, supporting operations until utility power is restored or a longer term alternative power source, such as a diesel generator, is started. We sell our products globally through our direct sales force, manufacturer’s representatives, Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) channels and IT partners. Our current principal markets are the Americas, Europe Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”), and Asia.

We were founded as a Texas Corporation in 1992 and reincorporated in Delaware in 2000 prior to our initial public offering. Our headquarters are in Austin, Texas with international offices in the UK, Germany and China.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have also been prepared on the assumption that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern. Accordingly assets and liabilities are recorded on the basis that the Company will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company’s history of operating losses and use of cash, in the absence of other factors, may cause uncertainty as to its ability to continue as a going concern. We have reviewed the current and prospective sources of liquidity, significant conditions and events and forecast financial results and concluded that we have adequate resources to continue to operate as a going concern. Our business plan and our assumptions around the adequacy of our liquidity are based on estimates regarding expected revenues and future costs. However, our revenues may not meet our projections or our costs may exceed our estimates. Further, our estimates may change and future events or developments may also affect our estimates. Any of these factors may change our expectation of cash usage in 2014 or significantly affect our level of liquidity, which may require us to seek additional financing or take other measures to reduce our operating costs in order to continue operating. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the Company not being able to continue as a going concern.

All common stock information and related share prices included in these notes to financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the five for one reverse stock split that occurred on December 21, 2012.

As previously disclosed in its September 5, 2013 press release and Form 8-K, the Company announced in error in April 2013 that it had entered into a strategic distribution agreement in China with Digital China Information Service Company Limited (“Digital China”). The actual party to this agreement is Qiyuan Network System Limited (“Qiyuan”). A Company employee in China represented to management that Qiyuan was a subsidiary of Digital China. Management subsequently discovered that the Company employee in China intentionally misrepresented the relationship between Qiyuan and Digital China. Qiyuan has no affiliation with Digital China. Due to this discovery, we restated our first quarter 2013 and second quarter 2013 results on Form 10-Q/A.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in the estimates or assumptions used by management could have a material impact upon reported amounts and our results of operations.

Revenue Recognition

In general, we recognize revenue when four criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (iii) the sales price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. In general, revenue is recognized when revenue-generating transactions generally fall into one of the following categories of revenue recognition:
 
We recognize product revenue at the time of shipment for a significant portion of all products sold directly to customers and through distributors because title and risk of loss pass on delivery to the common carrier. Our customers and distributors do not have the right to return products. If title and risk of loss pass at some other point in time, we recognize such revenue for our customers when the product is delivered to the customer and title and risk of loss has passed. We may enter into bill-and-hold arrangements and when this happens delivery may not be occur, but other criteria are reviewed to determine proper timing of revenue recognition.

We recognize installation, service and maintenance revenue at the time the service is performed.

We recognize revenue associated with extended maintenance agreements (“EMAs”) over the life of the contracts using the straight-line method, which approximates the expected timing in which applicable services are performed. Amounts collected in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as a current liability in the deferred revenue line of the consolidated balance sheet or long-term liability based on the time from the balance sheet date to the future date of revenue recognition.

We recognize revenue on certain rental programs over the life of the rental agreement using the straight-line method. Amounts collected in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as a current or long-term liability based on the time from the balance sheet date to the future date of revenue recognition.

Shipping costs reimbursed by the customer are included in revenue.

When collectability is not reasonably assured, we defer revenue and will recognize revenue on a cost recovery basis as payments are received.

Multiple element arrangements (“MEAs”) are arrangements to sell products to customers frequently include multiple deliverables. Our most significant MEAs include the sale of one or more of our CleanSource UPS or CleanSource PowerHouse products, combined with one or more of the following products: design services, project management, commissioning and installation services, spare parts or consumables, and EMA’s. Delivery of the various products or performance of services within the arrangement may or may not coincide. Certain services related to design and consulting may occur prior to delivery of product and commissioning and installation typically take place within six months of product delivery, depending upon customer requirements. EMAs, consumables, and repair, maintenance or consulting services generally are delivered over a period of one to five years. In certain arrangements revenue recognized is limited to the amount invoiced or received that is not contingent on the delivery of future products and services.

When arrangements include multiple elements, we allocate revenue to each element based on the relative selling price and recognize revenue when the elements have standalone value and the four criteria for revenue recognition have been met. We establish the selling price of each element based on Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (“VSOE”) if available, Third Party Evidence (“TPE”) if VSOE is not available, or best estimate of selling price (“BESP”) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. We generally determine selling price based on amounts charged separately for the delivered and undelivered elements to similar customers in standalone sales of the specific elements. When arrangements include an EMA, we recognize revenue related to the EMA at the stated contractual price on a straight-line basis over the life of the agreement.

We allocate our MEAs primarily among revenues for internally manufactured products, externally manufactured ancillary products, and service revenues. We use VSOE to allocate our internally manufactured products, estimated based on a historical analysis of our sales for these products outside of an MEA. We use TPE to allocate externally manufactured ancillary equipment, as these items are generally a pass through from a third party vendor to our end customers. Finally, we use best estimate of selling prices to allocate revenues to the services elements, as some of these services are not sold individually. We estimate the selling price based on a historical analysis of all service revenues sold individually outside of an MEA.

Any taxes imposed by governmental authorities on our revenue-producing transactions with customers are shown in our consolidated statements of operations on a net-basis; that is, excluded from our reported revenues.

Shipping and Handling Costs

We classify shipping and handling costs related to product sales as cost of revenue, and any payments from customers for shipping and handling are categorized in revenue. We classify shipping and handling costs associated with receiving production inventory as cost of product revenue. Any materials received or shipped which are related to our engineering, sales, marketing and administrative functions are classified as operating expenses.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Investments with a contractual maturity of three months or less when purchased are classified as cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is measured based on an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to satisfy a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, a fair value hierarchy is established, which categorizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

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

Level 2—Significant observable inputs other than quoted prices in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3—One or more significant inputs that are unobservable and supported by little or no market data.

Inputs are referred to as assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The uses of inputs in the valuation process are categorized into a three-level fair value hierarchy.

Our financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and our revolving line of credit. We believe all of these financial instruments are recorded at amounts that approximate their current market values.
 
Our Level 1 assets consist of cash equivalents, which are primarily invested in money-market funds. These assets are classified as Level 1 because they are valued using quoted prices in active markets and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical assets and liabilities.

Our cash and cash equivalents include money-market funds for which the fair value was determined using Level 1 inputs and was $3.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. For cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and our revolving line of credit, the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the relative short maturity of those instruments.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based on factors related to the credit risk of each customer. Historically, credit losses were minimal, primarily because the majority of our revenues were generated from large customers, primarily Caterpillar, Inc. (“Caterpillar”) and Hewlett Packard Corporation (“HP”). We perform credit evaluations of new customers and often require deposits, prepayments or use of bank instruments such as trade letters of credit or documentary collection to mitigate our credit risk. We write off uncollectable trade receivables, and record any recoveries of previous write offs against the allowance. Each reporting period we review our trade receivables for collectability and adjust the reserve adjust bad debt expense accordingly.  Our standard terms are net 30 days, however we may have agreements with certain distributors that allow for more extended terms.

The following table summarizes the annual changes in our allowance for doubtful accounts (in thousands):

Balance at December 31, 2010
 
$
330
 
Change in provision charged to expense
   
9
 
Write-off of uncollectible accounts
   
(2
)
Balance at December 31, 2011
 
$
337
 
Change in provision charged to expense
   
151
 
Write-off of uncollectible accounts
   
-
 
Balance at December 31, 2012
 
$
488
 
Change in provision charged to expense
   
(139
)
Write-off of uncollectible accounts
   
(36
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
313
 

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in-first-out method, and consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands, net of allowances):
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Raw materials
 
$
4,521
   
$
5,424
 
Work in progress
   
2,429
     
2,186
 
Finished goods
   
5,070
     
3,469
 
 
 
$
12,020
   
$
11,079
 

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows (in years):

Equipment
   
2 - 10
 
Demonstration units
   
3 - 5
 
Computers and purchased software
   
2 - 3
 
Furnitures and fixtures
   
2 - 5
 

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the life of the improvement or the remainder of the property lease term, including renewal options. Repairs and maintenance is expensed as incurred.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their net book value may not be recoverable. When such factors and circumstances exist, we compare the projected undiscounted future cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their estimated useful lives against their respective carrying amounts. Impairment, if any, is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets and is recorded in the period in which the determination was made. There was no impairment expense recognized for long-lived assets in 2013, 2012, or 2011.

Patent Application Costs

We have not capitalized patent application fees and related costs because of uncertainties regarding net realizable value of the technology represented by the existing patent applications and ultimate recoverability. All patent costs have been expensed through December 31, 2013.

Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Compensation, severance and benefits
 
$
2,685
   
$
2,351
 
Warranty liability
   
529
     
694
 
Taxes
   
483
     
320
 
Professional fees
   
759
     
502
 
Other
   
1,127
     
1,081
 
 
 
$
5,583
   
$
4,948
 

Warranty Liability

Generally, the warranty period for our power quality products is 12 months from the date of commissioning or 18 months from the date of shipment from Active Power, whichever period is shorter. Occasionally we offer longer warranty periods to certain customers. The warranty period for products sold to our primary OEM customer, Caterpillar, is 12 months from the date of shipment to the end-user, or up to 36 months from shipment from Active Power. This is dependent upon Caterpillar complying with our storage requirements for our products in order to preserve this warranty period beyond the standard 18-month limit. We provide for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized and this accrual is included in accrued expenses and long term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Changes in the Company’s warranty liability are as follows (in thousands):
 
Balance at December 31, 2010
 
$
734
 
Warranty expense
   
742
 
Warranty charges incurred
   
(863
)
Balance at December 31, 2011
 
$
613
 
Warranty expense
   
1,294
 
Warranty charges incurred
   
(1,152
)
Balance at December 31, 2012
 
$
755
 
Warranty expense
   
589
 
Warranty charges incurred
   
(782
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
562
 
Warranty liability included in accrued expenses
 
$
529
 
Long term warranty liability
   
33
 
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
562
 

Long-Term Liabilities

Long term liabilities consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Deferred revenue
 
$
601
   
$
533
 
Technology licensing agreement
   
88
     
100
 
Warranty liability
   
33
     
61
 
Sublease deposits
   
19
     
19
 
 
 
$
741
   
$
713
 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Total stock-based compensation expense relating to our equity plans in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.7 million, $1.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively. Our weighted average forfeiture rate was 18.9%, 17.0% and 15.3% for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Details of our stock-based compensation include the following (in thousands):

 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Stock-based compensation expense by caption:
 
   
   
 
Cost of product revenue
 
$
254
   
$
216
   
$
199
 
Cost of service and other revenue
   
116
     
70
     
79
 
Research and development
   
204
     
153
     
166
 
Selling and marketing
   
587
     
484
     
455
 
General and administrative
   
539
     
486
     
807
 
 
 
$
1,700
   
$
1,409
   
$
1,706
 
Stock-based compensation expense by type of award:
                       
Stock options
 
$
1,488
   
$
1,213
   
$
1,707
 
Restricted stock awards
   
212
     
196
     
(1
)
 
 
$
1,700
   
$
1,409
   
$
1,706
 

We account for our stock-based compensation using Black Scholes option valuation model. Stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair-value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award. We develop our estimates of volatility, expected life, and forfeitures based on historical data and market information that can change significantly over time. We estimate stock price volatility based on implied and historical volatilities. Estimated option life and forfeiture rate assumptions are derived from historical data. The risk-free rates are based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant.

Assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model for our stock plans are presented below:

 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Weighted average expected life in years
 
6.35 years
   
6.83 years
   
6.22 years
 
Weighted average expected volatility
   
76
%
   
77
%
   
76
%
Volatility Range
   
75%-76
%
   
75%-78
%
   
75%-76
%
Risk-free interest rate range
   
1.13%-2.38
%
   
0.63%-1.00
%
   
1.00%-2.25
%

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not such assets will not be realized. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

We recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon the ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter, for which we have recorded a liability, is audited and effectively settled. We review our tax positions quarterly and adjust the balance as new information becomes available. We classify interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as interest expense.

We recognize and measure benefits for uncertain tax positions based upon a number of factors, including changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, correspondence with tax authorities during the course of audits and effective settlement of audit issues. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

Segment Reporting

Active Power’s chief operating decision maker allocates resources and assesses the performance of its power management product development and sales activities as one segment.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject Active Power to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable. Active Power’s cash and cash equivalents and investments are placed with high credit quality financial institutions and issuers. Active Power performs credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition prior to entering into commercial transactions. We generally require letters of credit or prepayments from higher-risk customers as deemed necessary to ensure collection. Our allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on factors related to the credit risk of each customer. Individual receivables are written off after they have been deemed uncollectible. We also purchase several components from sole source or limited source suppliers.

Economic Dependence

We are significantly dependent on our relationships with Hewlett Packard Corporation (“Hewlett Packard”) and Caterpillar. If these relationships are unsuccessful or discontinue, our business and revenue may suffer. The loss of or a significant reduction in orders from Hewlett Packard or Caterpillar, or the failure to provide adequate service and support to the end-users of our products by Hewlett Packard or Caterpillar, could significantly reduce our revenue. Our operating results in the foreseeable future will continue to depend on the sales made by a relatively small number of customers, including Hewlett Packard and Caterpillar.

The following customers accounted for a significant percentage of Active Power’s total revenue during each of the years ended December 31:

 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Caterpillar
   
14
%
   
13
%
   
16
%
Hewlett Packard
   
22
%
   
35
%
   
36
%
European based IT Customer
   
-
     
12
%
   
-
 

No other customer represented more than 10% of our revenues in any of the years reported. Caterpillar represented 23% of our outstanding accounts receivable at December 31, 2013.  Hewlett Packard represented 23% of our outstanding receivables at December 31, 2012. In 2012, we had one additional customer from the EMEA region that represented more than 10% of our revenue.

Advertising Costs

We expense advertising costs as incurred. These expenses were approximately $23,000, $36,000 and $90,000 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Net (Loss) Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands) for the years ended December 31:

 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Net loss
 
$
(8,351
)
 
$
(1,922
)
 
$
(7,094
)
Basic and diluted:
                       
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share
   
19,329
     
18,584
     
16,104
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
 
$
(0.43
)
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.44
)

The calculation of diluted net loss per share excludes 2,407,664, 1,882,584 and 1,943,648 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of employee stock options as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 53,038 and 200,071 non-vested shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, because their inclusion in the calculation would be anti-dilutive.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (AOCI). ASU 2013-02 requires a roll-forward of changes in AOCI by component and information about significant reclassifications from AOCI to Net earnings to be presented in one location, either on the face of the financial statements or in the notes. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 and subsequent interim periods. The requirements of ASU 2013-02 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The only reclassification from AOCI to net earnings in 2013 was in relation to the settlement of translation on a liquidated subsidiary which was less than $0.1 million and was reflected in other income (expense), net, in the consolidated statement of operations.
 
In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity.” ASU 2013-05 clarifies the application of GAAP to the release of cumulative translation adjustments related to changes of ownership in or within foreign entities, including step acquisitions. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013 and subsequent interim periods. We do not anticipate this pronouncement to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carry-forward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” ASU 2013-11 clarifies guidance and eliminates diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward exists at the reporting date. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013 and subsequent interim periods. We are currently assessing the impact, if any, on our consolidated financial statements.

2. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Equipment
 
$
9,168
   
$
10,298
 
Demonstration units
   
1,470
     
1,828
 
Computers and purchased software
   
3,273
     
4,251
 
Furnitures and fixtures
   
380
     
444
 
Leasehold improvements
   
7,216
     
7,662
 
Construction in progress
   
458
     
188
 
 
   
21,965
     
24,671
 
Accumulated depreciation
   
(18,909
)
   
(22,213
)
 
 
$
3,056
   
$
2,458
 

In 2013, we reclassified $0.9 million of inventory into equipment related to test units for our latest generation UPS product.

3. Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, Active Power had 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized and no shares outstanding.

Common Stock

Common stock reserved for future issuance at December 31, 2013 consisted of 3,667,109 shares of common stock reserved under our 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, of which 2,470,083 shares were subject to outstanding options and restricted shares and 1,185,026 shares were available for future grants of awards.  In May 2012, our Board of Directors approved the addition of 1,700,000 shares of our common stock to be issued in accordance with our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, and such addition was subsequently approved by our stockholders. Options are subject to terms and conditions as determined by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.

In March 2012, we sold approximately 2.9 million shares of common stock at a purchase price of $3.40 per share, for proceeds, net of fees and expenses, of approximately $9.6 million, in an offering made under a shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that had been declared effective in December 2009. The proceeds from this offering will be used by us to help fund our working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes.

In February 2010, we sold approximately 2.7 million shares of common stock at a purchase price of $3.75 per share, for proceeds, net of fees and expenses, of approximately $9.0 million, in a firm-commitment underwritten offering made under a shelf registration statement that we had filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that had been declared effective in December 2009. The proceeds from this offering were designed to strengthen our balance sheet and for general corporate purposes.

Stock Option Plan

Since its inception, we have authorized 5,682,296 shares of common stock for issuance under our 2000 and 2010 Stock Incentive Plans, however, we are only issuing new shares of common stock under our 2010 Stock Incentive Plan. We grant options under these plans that vest over periods of up to four years. The term of each option is no more than ten years from the date of grant. The total fair value of option shares vested in the year was $1.4 million, $1.7 million, and $0.9 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Our policy is to issue new shares when we are required to issue shares upon share option exercises.
A summary of common stock option activity is as follows:
 
 
 
Number of Shares
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
   
Weighted-Average Contractual Life (in years)
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2012
   
1,882,584
   
$
6.67
   
 
Granted
   
1,470,200
     
3.86
   
 
Exercised
   
(200,025
)
   
3.56
   
 
Canceled
   
(745,095
)
   
6.57
   
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2013
   
2,407,664
   
$
5.27
     
6.47
 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013
   
1,982,004
   
$
5.62
     
5.99
 
Exercisable at December 31, 2013
   
1,070,423
   
$
6.89
     
4.01
 

The weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $2.60, $2.60 and $6.76, respectively.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised (which is the amount by which the stock price exceeded the exercise price of the options at the date of exercise) during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013 was $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2013, there was $2.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, related to non-vested stock options, that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average vesting period of 3.1 years.

Restricted (non-vested) Shares

In 2013 and 2012, we issued approximately 6,000 and 248,000 restricted shares, respectively, to directors and employees of the Company. The restrictions lapse as the shares vest in equal quarterly installments over a four year period from the date of issuance. We recorded stock compensation expense related to restricted share units of $0.2 million in 2013. A summary of our restricted, or non-vested, shares is as follows:

 
 
Number of Shares
   
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2012
   
200,071
   
$
3.81
 
Granted
   
6,000
     
4.01
 
Vested
   
(82,248
)
   
3.81
 
Canceled
   
(70,785
)
   
3.67
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2013
   
53,038
   
$
4.00
 

As of December 31, 2013, there was $0.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted shares that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average vesting period of 2.1 years. The total fair value of restricted share units vested in 2013 and 2012 was $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively. There were no material grants of restricted share units in 2011.

4. Income Taxes

There has been no provision or benefit for income taxes attributable to continuing operations recorded in the consolidated statement of operations in 2013 or 2012.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had federal net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $217.0 million and research and development credit carry-forwards of approximately $3.7 million. The net operating loss and credit carry-forwards will expire beginning in 2018, if not utilized. Utilization of the net operating losses and credit carry-forwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the “change of ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credit carry-forwards before utilization.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred taxes as of December 31 are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Deferred tax assets:
 
   
 
Current deferred tax assets
 
   
 
Reserves and allowances
 
$
1,177
   
$
1,338
 
Deferred Rent
   
55
         
Deferred revenue
   
328
     
267
 
Valuation allowance for current deferred tax assets
   
(1,558
)
   
(1,604
)
Net current deferred tax assets
 
$
2
   
$
1
 
Noncurrent deferred tax assets
               
Acquired technology
   
695
     
791
 
Capital expenses
   
1,624
     
1,850
 
Stock compensation
   
699
     
706
 
Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards
   
84,356
     
78,191
 
Valuation allowance for noncurrent deferred tax assets
   
(87,263
)
   
(81,433
)
Net noncurrent deferred tax assets
 
$
111
   
$
105
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Current deferred tax liabilities
               
Prepaid expenses
   
(113
)
   
(106
)
Total current deferred tax liabilities
 
$
(113
)
 
$
(106
)
Net current deferred tax aset (liability)
 
$
(111
)
 
$
(105
)
Net noncurrent deferred tax aset (liability)
 
$
111
   
$
105
 
Net deferred taxes
 
$
-
   
$
-
 

The Company has established a valuation allowance equal to the net deferred tax asset due to uncertainties regarding the realization of deferred tax assets based on the Company’s lack of earnings history. The valuation allowance decreased by approximately $5.8 million during 2013. Approximately $6.4 million of the total valuation allowance in 2013 relates to tax benefits for stock option deductions included in the net operating loss carry-forward, which when realized, will be allocated directly to additional paid in capital to the extent the benefits exceed amounts attributable to deferred compensation expense.

The Company’s provision for income taxes differs from the expected tax benefit amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% to income before taxes due to the following:

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Federal statutory rate
   
(34.0
)%
   
(34.0
)%
   
(34.0
)%
State taxes, net of federal benefit
   
(13.5
)
   
7.2
     
1.8
 
R&D credits
   
(5.6
)
   
1.3
     
(1.2
)
 
                       
Stock compensation
   
6.2
     
14.5
     
10.0
 
Effect of foreign operations
   
(20.5
)
   
157.3
     
2.5
 
Expiration of net operating losses
   
-
     
63.2
     
-
 
Permanent items and other
   
(1.9
)
   
6.8
     
0.1
 
Change in valuation allowance
   
69.3
     
(216.3
)
   
21.0
 
 
   
-
%
   
-
%
   
0.2
%
 
The Company recognized no material adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. The reconciliation of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of the year is as follows:

Balance at January 1, 2013
 
$
1,677
 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
   
290
 
Additions for tax positions of prior years
   
23
 
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
1,990
 

Due to the existence of the valuation allowance, future changes in our unrecognized tax benefits will not materially impact the Company’s effective tax rate.
 
The tax years 2009 through 2013 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

5. Commitments

We lease our office and manufacturing and engineering facilities and our foreign sales offices under operating lease agreements. These facilities’ leases are non-cancelable and obligate us to pay taxes and maintenance costs. Our corporate headquarters facility is subject to a lease agreement that expires in December 2016. From 2007 to December 2011, we subleased 31,000 square feet of our corporate headquarters facility pursuant to sublease agreements. Rent expense was offset by $0.3 million in 2011 for cash received pursuant to these sublease agreements. Our engineering facility of approximately 12,000 square feet is leased pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in March 2016. In July 2011, we leased an additional 26,195 square feet in a facility adjacent to our headquarters facility, in order to expand our manufacturing facility. This lease expired and we vacated the space in January 2013. For leases with escalating or de-escalating rent payments, we straight-line the cash flows over the period of the lease and defer the differences between cash flows and expense in the income statement on the balance sheet in either accrued expenses or prepaids and other assets. Net deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 was $0.1 million. There was no deferred rent in 2012 or 2011.

In addition, we lease certain equipment such as copiers and phone systems under non-cancelable leases. Net rent expense was $1.7 million, $1.7 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Future minimum payments under these leases at December 31, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

 
 
Rental payments
 
2014
 
$
1,228
 
2015
   
1,193
 
2016
   
1,068
 
2017
   
113
 
2018
   
72
 
Total future minimum lease payments
 
$
3,674
 

We enter into certain commitments to purchase inventory and other items in the course of normal operations. At December 31, 2013, the total of these commitments was $3.3 million, of which $3.2 million will mature in 2014 and $25,000 will mature in each subsequent year through 2017.

We have entered into Severance Benefits Agreements with our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and with each of our other executive officers. These agreements generally provide that, if within 12 months following a change in control the executive officer’s employment is terminated for reasons other than for cause (as defined in the agreement) or by the executive for good reason, including a significant reduction in the role and/or responsibility of the executive within 12 months of the change in corporate control, then all outstanding stock options or restricted shares held by the executive would vest as of the date of the termination and certain severance payments would be payable. In the case of our CEO and CFO, in the event of termination by the Company for reasons other than for cause or by him for good reason, he would be entitled to a severance payment equal to 12 months of salary and be entitled to receive health benefits for 12 additional months after termination. In the case of our other executive officers, in the event of a termination by the Company for reasons other than for cause or by the officer for good reason, they would be entitled to a severance payment equivalent to six months of salary and be entitled to receive health benefits for six additional months after termination.

6. Employee Benefit Plan

We maintain a 401(k) Plan that covers substantially all full-time employees. Company contributions to the plan are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors and vest ratably over five years of service starting after the first year of employment. We did not contribute to this plan in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

7. Geographic Information

Revenues for the year ended December 31 were as follows (in thousands):

 
 
2013
   
2012
 
Americas
 
$
50,365
   
$
48,190
 
Europe, Middle East and Africa
   
6,941
     
21,917
 
Asia
   
4,393
     
6,208
 
Total
 
$
61,699
   
$
76,315
 

Revenues from foreign countries above represented shipments to customers located in 34 countries during 2013. We often ship to areas that are outside of the jurisdiction in which revenue is recognized. Substantially all of our property, plant and equipment are located in the United States. Net assets of operations in foreign countries (excluding intercompany receivables and payables eliminated in consolidation) were $5.8 million at December 31, 2013 and were mostly located in the UK, Germany and China.

8. Guarantees

In certain geographical regions, particularly Europe, we are sometimes required to issue performance guarantees to our customers as a condition of sale. These guarantees usually provide financial protection to our customers in the event that we fail to fulfill our delivery or warranty obligations. We secure these guarantees with standby letters of credit through our bank. At December 31, 2013 and 2012 we had $0.5 million and $0, respectively, of performance guarantees outstanding to customers that were secured with letters of credit.  The current guarantee is set to expire on April 17, 2014. There is no foreseeable risk that we will not be able to meet the performance obligations. Our restricted cash, as shown on the balance sheet, is related to these guarantees.

9. Revolving Credit Facility

In August 2010, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”). This facility increased the total liquidity available from $6.0 million to $12.5 million subject to certain borrowing bases. This new facility expanded our ability to borrow funds from United States receivables to also include qualifying receivables from our United Kingdom operations, as well, increased our ability to use inventory as collateral, and also added an ability to borrow against purchase orders. These additional bases of borrowing were designed to allow us to use the credit facility to fund inventory purchases in the event we received large or multiple sales orders that would require a major investment in inventory and work in progress, to help fund continued growth in our business, and to manage our working capital requirements.

This loan facility provides for a secured revolving line of credit in an aggregate amount of up to eighty percent (80%) of the facility amount of $15.625 million, or $12.5 million, subject to certain borrowing bases. In the event we have maintained cash and cash equivalents of at least $6.25 million with SVB for at least 30 consecutive days, which is referred to as being in a “Streamline Period”, the borrowing base formula is based on eligible accounts receivable, eligible purchase orders and eligible inventory, subject to a sublimit of $5.0 million for U.K. accounts receivable, $3.5 million for inventory and $1.5 million for purchase orders. When we are not in a Streamline Period, our borrowings are limited based on accounts receivable and purchase orders that SVB has specifically agreed to finance and a borrowing base for eligible inventory. We may also request that SVB issue letters of credit on our behalf, of up to $1.5 million, as a portion of our total loan facility.

On August 5, 2010, we borrowed approximately $2.5 million in revolving loans, all of which was used to refinance all indebtedness owing from us to SVB under our previous credit facility. The new credit facility increased the total credit available from our previous loan facility with SVB, which was $5.0 million, and enables us to borrow against eligible inventory, foreign receivables and customer purchase orders in addition to eligible accounts receivable.

In August 2012, we entered into the Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement with SVB (the “Amendment”) which amends the Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2010, by and between us and SVB. Pursuant to the Amendment, the maturity date of the loan facility was extended by two years, to August 5, 2014, unless earlier terminated by us, subject to any then applicable early termination fee. The Amendment further provides for, among other things, (i) adding a $1.5 million sublimit under the borrowing base formula for 91 to 120 day aged accounts receivable, (ii) removing eligible purchase orders from the borrowing base formula, and (iii) removing sublimits providing for the issuance of letters of credit and cash management services. Additionally, pursuant to the Amendment, the definition of “Streamline Period” was amended such that the Company will be deemed to be in a Streamline Period in the event that it has a liquidity ratio of greater than or equal to 1.75:1.00 at all times for at least 60 consecutive days; provided that a Streamline Period will automatically be in effect if the Company achieves such liquidity ratio as a result of the sale of its equity securities.

Further, the Amendment provides for, among other things, (i) amending the finance charge on each eligible account financed by SVB to a per annum rate equal to SVB’s prime rate, subject to a minimum prime rate of four percent (4.00%), plus (a) one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) when we are in a Streamline Period or (b) one and three-quarters percent (1.75%) for eligible accounts (other than eligible 91 to 120 day aged accounts) and (c) two percent (2.00%) for eligible 91 to 120 day aged accounts when we are not in a Streamline Period, and (ii) reducing the interest rate upon which each inventory advance accrues interest such that each advance based upon inventory accrues interest at a per annum rate equal to SVB’s prime rate, subject to a minimum prime rate of four percent (4.00%), plus (a) one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) when we are in a Streamline Period or (b) three and one half percent (3.50%) when the Company is not in a Streamline Period.

Finance charges and interest are payable monthly, and all principal is due on the maturity date of August 5, 2014. However, when we are not in a Streamline Period, we must repay advances based on receivables when we receive payment on the receivable that has been financed, and we must repay advances based on purchase orders within 120 days of the date of the purchase order, together with all finance charges on such advances.

The revolving loans made to us under this loan facility are secured by a lien on substantially all of our assets. In addition, on August 5, 2010, Active Power Solutions Limited, a wholly-owned United Kingdom subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Guarantee and Debenture with SVB (the “Guarantee and Debenture”), pursuant to which Active Power Solutions Limited guarantied all of the obligations of the Company under the Loan Agreement and secured its obligations under the Guarantee and Debenture with a security interest on substantially all of its assets.

The Loan Agreement includes customary affirmative covenants for a credit facility of this size and type, including delivery of financial statements, compliance with laws, maintenance of insurance, and protection of intellectual property rights. Further, the Loan Agreement contains customary negative covenants for a credit facility of this size and type, including covenants that limit or restrict our ability to, among other things, dispose of assets, change our business, change our CEO or CFO without replacing such person within 120 days, have a change in control, make acquisitions, be acquired, incur indebtedness, grant liens, make investments, make distributions, repurchase stock, and enter into certain transactions with affiliates. The Loan Agreement also requires the Company to maintain a minimum liquidity ratio of 1.25:1. The liquidity ratio is defined as the ratio of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities plus eligible accounts receivable to all indebtedness owed by the Company to SVB. The Company is currently in compliance with all loan covenants under the Loan Agreement.

The Loan Agreement contains customary events of default that include, among other things, non-payment defaults, covenant defaults, material adverse change defaults, insolvency defaults, material judgment defaults and inaccuracy of representations and warranty defaults. The occurrence of an event of default could result in the acceleration of obligations under the Loan Agreement, in which case the Company must repay all loans and related charges, fees and amounts then due and payable, and our subsidiary may be required to pay any such amounts under the Guarantee and Debenture. At the election of SVB, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, finance charges or interest rates, as applicable, will increase an additional five percentage points (5.00%) per annum above the rate that is otherwise applicable thereto upon the occurrence of such event of default, and the collateral handling fees will increase by one-half percent (0.50%).

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, $5.5 million was outstanding on these borrowings, at an interest rate of 5.25%. Based on the borrowing base formula, we had an additional $3.9 million available for use at December 31, 2013 under this credit facility.

 10. Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data (unaudited)

The following tables present selected unaudited consolidated statement of operations information for each of the quarters in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands, except per share data):

 
 
For the Quarter Ended
 
Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
December 31
   
September 30
   
June 30
   
March 31
 
Selected consolidated statement of operations information:
 
   
   
   
 
Total revenue
 
$
13,926
   
$
13,154
   
$
20,195
   
$
14,424
 
Total cost of goods sold
 
$
9,750
   
$
9,210
   
$
13,273
   
$
10,070
 
Gross profit
 
$
4,176
   
$
3,944
   
$
6,922
   
$
4,354
 
Operating expenses
 
$
7,990
   
$
6,909
   
$
6,412
   
$
5,702
 
Operating profit (loss)
 
$
(3,814
)
 
$
(2,965
)
 
$
510
   
$
(1,348
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
(4,127
)
 
$
(3,135
)
 
$
332
   
$
(1,421
)
Basic and diluted new income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.21
)
 
$
(0.16
)
 
$
0.02
   
$
(0.07
)
 
                               
Selected consolidated balance sheet information:
                               
Current assets
 
$
34,556
   
$
39,110
   
$
45,722
   
$
42,019
 
Total assets
 
$
37,907
   
$
42,263
   
$
49,052
   
$
44,748
 
Current liabilities
 
$
16,860
   
$
18,194
   
$
22,758
   
$
19,208
 
Working capital
 
$
17,696
   
$
20,916
   
$
22,964
   
$
22,811
 
Long term obligations
 
$
741
   
$
737
   
$
689
   
$
774
 
Stockholders' equity
 
$
20,306
   
$
23,332
   
$
25,605
   
$
24,766
 

 
 
For the Quarter Ended
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
December 31
   
September 30
   
June 30
   
March 31
 
Selected consolidated statement of operations information:
 
   
   
   
 
Total revenue
 
$
15,247
   
$
19,611
   
$
21,659
   
$
19,798
 
Total cost of goods sold
 
$
9,227
   
$
13,996
   
$
13,887
   
$
14,491
 
Gross profit
 
$
6,020
   
$
5,615
   
$
7,772
   
$
5,307
 
Operating expenses
 
$
6,329
   
$
6,463
   
$
7,269
   
$
6,379
 
Operating profit (loss)
 
$
(309
)
 
$
(848
)
 
$
503
   
$
(1,072
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
(418
)
 
$
(847
)
 
$
490
   
$
(1,147
)
Basic and diluted new income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.04
)
 
$
0.03
   
$
(0.06
)
 
                               
Selected consolidated balance sheet information:
                               
Current assets
 
$
43,032
   
$
42,950
   
$
44,334
   
$
44,352
 
Total assets
 
$
45,799
   
$
46,135
   
$
47,787
   
$
47,892
 
Current liabilities
 
$
19,087
   
$
19,501
   
$
20,812
   
$
21,551
 
Working capital
 
$
23,945
   
$
23,449
   
$
23,522
   
$
22,801
 
Long term obligations
 
$
713
   
$
798
   
$
834
   
$
748
 
Stockholders' equity
 
$
25,999
   
$
18,900
   
$
19,937
   
$
20,519
 

11. Subsequent Events
 
On February 26, 2014, we entered into an underwriting agreement to sell 3,651,250 shares of our common stock at $3.15 per share in a public offering (including shares subject to the underwriter’s over-allotment option). The aggregate net proceeds to us were approximately $10.5 million, after deducting $1.0 million in offering related expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions. The transaction closed on March 3, 2014.
 
70

EXHIBIT 10.21
 
November 4, 2013
 
James Powers
2024 Kinleys Way
Raleigh, NC 27613

 
Re:
Offer of Employment with Active Power, Inc.

Dear James:
 
We are pleased to offer you employment with Active Power, Inc. (“Active Power” or the “Company”), in the position of Chief Financial Officer, reporting directly to Mark Ascolese, our President and CEO. In this position, you will be expected to devote your full business time, attention and energies to the performance of your duties with Active Power. The effective date of your employment will be December 5, 2013, or such other date as you and the Company mutually agree in writing.

The terms of this offer of employment are as follows:
 
1. Base Compensation. The Company will pay you a salary at the rate of $10,769.23 bi-weekly (which if annualized would be about $280,000.00  per  year) payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll policies, including compliance with applicable withholding. The first and last payment by the Company to you will be adjusted, if necessary, to reflect a commencement or termination date other than the first or last working day of a pay period.
 
2. Signing Bonus. The Company will pay you a one-time signing bonus in the amount of $25,000 (the “Signing Bonus”), payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices, including compliance with applicable withholding, such payment to be included in the first applicable pay period following the commencement of your employment with the Company. The Signing Bonus must be repaid to the Company under the following circumstances. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if, on or before the one (1) year anniversary of your date of hire (or, if later, the closing of your relocation and purchase of a home in Austin, Texas), you resign your employment with the Company for any reason other than Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Agreement) or are terminated for Cause (as defined in the Severance Agreement), you will repay the entire amount of your Signing Bonus.
 
3. Stock Option. Subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, you will be granted an option to purchase 175,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The share options vest as follows: 25% shall vest upon completion of one year of service measured from your vesting commencement date, and the balance shall vest quarterly in a series of 12 successive equal installments upon your completion of each additional quarter of service, measured from the one year anniversary of your vesting commencement date. The exercise price of the options and the commencement of vesting will be set on the date that the option is approved by the Compensation Committee. A Notice of Grant of Stock Option will be provided to you following this approval.
 
4. Incentive Compensation: You are eligible to participate in the Executive Bonus Program with an annual target of 60% of your base salary. First year bonuses will be prorated based on hire date.
 
5. Temporary Living Expenses; Relocation Assistance. The Company is also offering you reimbursement for the following relocation expenses for your move from Raleigh, North Carolina to Austin, Texas:  (a) closing costs on your home in Raleigh and (b) the reasonable costs of moving you and your family’s household goods to Austin (up to $25,000), and (c) closing costs on the purchase of a home in Austin; (d) provided in each case that your relocation occurs on or prior to the first anniversary of the commencement of your employment with the Company (“Relocation Expenses”).  The company agrees to cover the cost of up to six months of temporary living (not to exceed $3,000 per month.  In addition, the company will reimburse the costs for coach airefar for you between Austin and Raleigh (or Raleigh to Austin for your spouse) up to two (2) times per month.  You will also be allowed two househunting trips, with your spouse, prior to your start date.   We will only reimburse you for these expenditures once you submit valid receipts to the company and they are approved by the President and  CEO.  If any Relocation Expenses or Temporary Living Expenses are deemed taxable income to you, the Company will tax equalize these items (the “Gross-Up”) no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you remit the tax on the payment for which the Company is providing the Gross-Up to fully offset your taxes attributable to relocation expenses.  It is expected that you will devote the same amount of time in the performance of your duties and responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer as would be expected of a person in the same position whose principal residence is located in Austin, TX.
1

6. Benefits. During the term of your employment, you will be entitled to four weeks of PTO  and benefits covering employees at your level, as such may be in effect from time to time.
 
7. Expense Reimbursement. Expenses incurred on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed in accordance with the Company’s Travel and Entertainment Policy. A copy of this policy will be provided to you upon commencement of employment.
 
8. At-Will Employment. Please note that your employment at Active Power is not for a specified period of time and constitutes “at will” employment. As a result, either you or the Company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice and with or without cause. Nothing contained in this offer letter, or in any other communication, oral or written, between you and Active Power, may modify the at-will employment relationship, which may only be modified by a written agreement signed by you and the Chief Executive Officer of Active Power. The Company requests that you provide at least two (2) weeks’ notice in the event of a resignation.
 
9. Proprietary Information and Nondisclosure Agreement. As a condition of this offer of employment, you will be required to complete, sign and return the Company’s Proprietary Information and Nondisclosure Agreement (“Confidentiality Agreement”). A copy of this agreement is attached for your review.
 
10. Immigration Laws. To satisfy federal immigration laws, you will be required to provide documentary evidence of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States.  Such documentation must be provided within three (3) business days of the effective date of your employment, or your employment relationship with the Company may be terminated.
 
11. General. This offer letter, the Confidentiality Agreement, and any stock option agreement (if approved by the Board of Directors) covering the grant described in paragraph 2, when signed by you, set forth the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any and all prior representations and agreements, whether oral or written. In the event of a conflict between the terms and provisions of this offer letter and the Confidentiality Agreement and the stock option agreement, the terms and provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement and the stock option agreement will control. Any amendment of this offer letter or any waiver of a right under this offer letter must be in writing signed by you and the Chief Executive Officer of Active Power. Texas law will govern this offer letter.
 
This offer is subject to the satisfactory completion of a background check, drug test and employment verification. If the foregoing terms of this offer are agreeable, please indicate your acceptance thereto by signing this offer letter in the space provided below and returning it to me, along with your completed and signed Confidentiality Agreement. You may fax your acceptance and signed Confidentiality Agreement to my attention at (512) 836-4511 or email scanned signed copies to msnell@activepower.com . We will plan your new-hire orientation after we have finalized the initial offer process.

2

We are very excited about your joining the team at Active Power and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
 
/s/ Mark A. Ascolese
Mark A. Ascolese
President & CEO
                                                    
Date:     11   /  14  / 2013

**********************************
I accept Active Power’s offer of employment and have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions contained and referred to in this letter.
 
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:
 
/s/ James A. Powers
James A. Powers
Date:     11   /  5  / 2013
 
 
3


EXHIBIT 10.22

SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT

THIS SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of the 4th day of November, 2013 between Active Power, Inc., (the “Company”), and James Powers, an individual resident of Raleigh, North Carolina (“Employee”).  Employee and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties.”

1.    At-Will Employment Status.  Employee has accepted employment with the Company on an “at will” basis, which means that either the Company or Employee may terminate Employee’s employment with the Company at any time and for any or no reason.
 
2.    Severance Benefits upon Involuntary Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason.  Although Employee’s employment is at-will, if Employee is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below) or resigns with Good Reason (as defined below), then Employee shall be entitled to receive:
 
(a)     if such termination by the Company or resignation by the Employee occurs on or prior to the first to occur of the one (1) year anniversary of the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company or the closing of Employee’s relocation and purchase of a home in Austin, Texas (i) continuing severance pay at a rate equal to 100% of Employee’s base salary, as then in effect (less applicable withholding taxes), for a period of six (6) months from the date of such termination, to be paid periodically in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; and (ii) if Employee elects continuation coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), for Employee, within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA, the Company will reimburse Employee for the COBRA premiums for such coverage (at the coverage levels in effect immediately prior to Employee’s termination) until the earlier of (i) a period of six (6) months from the late date of employment of the Employee with the Company, (ii) until Employee has secured other employment, or (iii) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA.   COBRA reimbursements shall be made by the Company to Employee consistent with the Company’s normal expense reimbursement policy provided that Employee submits documentation to the Company substantiating Employee’s payments for such COBRA coverage.
 
(b)     If such termination by the Company or resignation by the Employee occurs after the first to occur of the one (1) year anniversary of the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company or the closing of Employee’s relocation and purchase of a home in Austin, Texas, (i) continuing severance pay at a rate equal to 100% of Employee’s base salary, as then in effect (less applicable withholding taxes), for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of such termination, to be paid periodically in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; and
 
(c)     all stock options and restricted stock held by Employee in which Employee would have vested if Employee had remained employed with the Company for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of termination shall immediately vest and, if applicable, become exercisable as of the date of termination; and

(d)    if Employee elects continuation coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) for Employee, within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA, the Company will reimburse Employee for the COBRA premiums for such coverage (at the coverage levels in effect immediately prior to Employee’s termination) until the earlier of (i) a period of twelve months from the last date of employment of the Employee with the Company, (ii) until Employee has secured other employment, or (iii) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA.  COBRA reimbursements shall be made by the Company to Employee consistent with the Company’s normal expense reimbursement policy, provided that Employee submits documentation to the Company substantiating Employee’s payments for such COBRA coverage; and
 
(e)    all or a portion of Employee’s bonus under the Company’s management incentive program for the year in which Employee’s termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason occurs, determined as follows: (i) with respect to corporate or individual objectives that are measured over a period of time (such as revenue for a fiscal year), the amount of such bonus with respect to such objective shall be determined based on a comparison of the amount of such objective actually achieved through the date of such termination against a pro rated portion (based on a number of days, weeks or months, as applicable, during the applicable measurement period for which Employee remained a service provider of the Company) of the target objective, and shall be payable on a pro rata basis (based on the number of days during the applicable measurement period for which Employee remained a service provider of the Company), and (ii) with respect to corporate or individual objectives that are measured based on the occurrence of a specific event at a point in time, the full amount of such bonus with respect to such objective shall be payable if such objective is achieved prior to the date of such termination.  All determinations of the amount of the achievement of such objectives and the amounts of such bonuses shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion.
 
3.    Acceleration upon Termination after a Change in Control.  Although Employee’s employment is at-will, in the event that Employee is terminated by the Company without Cause or resigns with Good Reason within twelve months after a Change in Control (as defined below), in addition to the benefits set forth in Sections 2(a), 2(c) and 2(d), but in lieu of the benefits set forth in Section 2(b) above, one hundred percent (100%) of the stock options and restricted stock held by Employee shall immediately vest and, if applicable, become exercisable as of the date of termination.
 
4.    Confidential Information/ Non-Competition Agreement.
 
(a)    Employee is employed hereunder by the Company in a confidential relationship wherein Employee, in the course of his employment with the Company, has and will continue to become familiar with and aware of Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement), including but not limited to confidential information regarding the Company's customers and specific manner of doing business, including the processes, techniques and trade secrets utilized by the Company, and future plans with respect thereto.  In consideration for Employee's promises herein, the Company agrees to provide Employee with such Confidential Information; in return, Employee recognizes and acknowledges that such information must be maintained in confidence, and to further such protection agrees to the restrictive covenants set forth in this Section 4.
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(b)    Employee acknowledges that Employee’s fulfillment of the obligations contained in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, Employee’s obligation neither to use, except for the benefit of the Company, or to disclose the Company’s Confidential Information and Employee’s obligation not to compete contained in this Section 4 is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information and to preserve the Company’s value and goodwill.  Employee further acknowledges the time, geographic and scope limitations of Employee’s obligations under this Section 4 are reasonable, especially in light of the Company’s desire to protect its Confidential Information, and that Employee will not be precluded from gainful employment if Employee is obligated not to compete with the Company during the period and within the Territory as described in this Section 4.
 
(c)    Employee will not, during the period of his employment by or with the Company, and for a period of six (6) months immediately following the termination of his employment with the Company, for any reason whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for himself or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person, company, partnership, corporation, business or entity of whatever nature:
 
(i)    engage, as an officer, director, shareholder, owner, partner, joint venturer, or in a managerial capacity, whether as an employee, independent contractor, consultant or advisor, or as a sales representative, in any business selling any products or services in direct competition with the Company, within 100 miles of (i) the principal executive offices of the Company or (ii) any place where the Company conducts business, provides products or services,  or in which the Company (including the subsidiaries thereof) is in the process of initiating business operations as of the date on which Employee’s employment by the Company hereunder is terminated (the “Territory”);
 
(ii)    call upon any person who is, at that time, within the Territory, an employee of the Company (including the subsidiaries thereof) in a managerial capacity for the purpose or with the intent of enticing such employee away from or out of the employ of the Company (including the subsidiaries thereof);
 
(iii)   call upon any person or entity which is, at that time, or which has been, within one (1) year prior to that time, a customer of the Company (including the subsidiaries thereof') within the Territory for the purpose of soliciting or selling products or services in direct competition with the Company within the Territory;
                 
(iv)    call upon any prospective acquisition candidate, on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any competitor, which candidate was either called upon by the Company (including the subsidiaries thereof) or for which the Company made an acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such entity, provided however, that this section (iv) will not apply if the Company affirmatively declined to proceed with the acquisition; or
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(v)    Disclose customers of the Company (or the subsidiaries thereof) to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or business for any competitive reason.
 
As used in Section 4(c), references to the business, customers, Territory, etc. of the Company refer to the status of the Company prior to any Change in Control (i.e., such breadth of business, customers, Territory, etc. shall not automatically be expanded to include those of a successor to the Company resulting from a Change in Control).  Notwithstanding the above, the foregoing covenant shall not be deemed to prohibit Employee from acquiring as an investment not more than three percent (3%) of the capital stock of a competing business, whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter.
 
(d)    Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the Company as a result of a breach of the foregoing covenant, and because of the immediate and irreparable damage that could be caused to the Company for which it would have no other adequate remedy, Employee agrees that the foregoing covenant may be enforced by the Company in the event of breach by him by injunctions and restraining orders without the necessity of posting any bond therefor.
 
(e)    In the course of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will become exposed to certain of the Company’s confidential information and business relationships, which the above covenants are designed to protect and Employee agrees to keep such confidential information in the strictest confidence.  It is agreed by the parties that the foregoing covenants in this Section 4 impose a reasonable restraint on Employee in light of the activities and business of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) on the date of the execution of this Agreement and the current plans of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries); but it is also the intent of the Company and Employee that such covenants be construed and enforced in accordance with the changing activities, business and locations of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) throughout the term of this covenant, subject to the following paragraph.  For example, if, during Employee’s term of employment, the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) engages in new and different activities, enters a new business or established new locations for its current activities or business in addition to or other than the activities or business of the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) as of the date of this Agreement or the locations currently established therefor, then, to the extent described in Section 4(c), Employee will be precluded from soliciting the customers or employees of such new activities or business or from such new location and from directly competing with such new business within 100 miles of its then-established operating locations through the term of this covenant.
 
It is further agreed by the parties hereto that, in the event that Employee shall cease to be employed by the Company, and shall later enter into a business or pursue other activities not in competition with the Company (including the Company's subsidiaries)  as of Employee’s last date of employment with the Company, or similar activities or business in locations the operation of which, under such circumstances, does not violate clause (i) of this Section 4, and in any event such new business, activities or location are not in violation of this Section 4 or of Employee’s obligations under this Section 4, if any, Employee shall not be chargeable with a violation of this Section 4 if the Company (including the Company’s subsidiaries) shall thereafter enter the same, similar or a competitive (i) business, (ii) course of activities or (iii) location, as applicable.
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(f)    The covenants in this Section 4 are severable and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant shall not affect the provisions of any other covenant.  Moreover, in the event any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or territorial restrictions set forth herein are unreasonable, then it is the intention of the Parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent which the court deems reasonable, and the Agreement shall thereby be reformed to such extent.
 
(g)    All of the covenants in this Section 4 shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision in this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants.
 
(h)    It is specifically agreed that the period of six (6) months following Employee’s employment set forth at the beginning of this Section 4, during which the agreements and covenants of Employee made in this Section 4 shall be effective, shall be computed by excluding from such computation any time during which Employee is in violation of any provision of this Section 4.]
 
5.    Conditions Precedent.  Any severance payments and/or benefits contemplated by Sections 2 and 3 above are conditional on Employee:
 
(a)    Continuing to comply with the terms of this Agreement and the Proprietary Information and Nondisclosure Agreement between Employee and the Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”);
 
(b)    signing and not revoking a separation agreement and release of claims in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Release”) which becomes effective and irrevocable no later than sixty (60) days following the termination date (such deadline, the “Release Deadline”).  If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, Employee will forfeit any rights to severance payments and benefits under this Agreement.  In no event will severance payments or benefits be paid or provided until the Release becomes effective and irrevocable.
 
(i)    In the event the termination occurs at a time during the calendar year where the Release could become effective in the calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s termination occurs (whether or not it actually becomes effective in the following year), then any severance payments and benefits under this Agreement that would be considered Deferred Payments (as defined in below) will be paid on the first payroll date to occur during the calendar year following the calendar year in which such termination occurs, or, if later, (A) the date the Release actually becomes effective, (B) such time as required by the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit as set forth in Section 2 above or (C) such time as required by Section 8 below.
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(ii)    No severance payments and benefits under this Agreement will be paid or provided until the Release becomes effective and irrevocable, and any such severance payments and benefits otherwise payable between Employee’s termination date and the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable will be paid on the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable.  In the event of Employee’s death before all of the severance payments and benefits under this Agreement have been paid, such unpaid amounts will be paid in a lump sum payment promptly following such event to Employee’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the personal representative of Employee’s estate; and
 
(c)     in the event of a resignation for Good Reason, providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the grounds for Good Reason and a reasonable opportunity for the Company to cure the conditions giving rise to such Good Reason, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days following the date of notice from Employee.  If the Company cures the conditions giving rise to such Good Reason within thirty (30) days of the date of such notice, Employee will not be entitled to severance payments and/or benefits contemplated by Sections 2 or 3 above if Employee thereafter resigns from the Company based on such grounds.  Unless otherwise required by law, no severance payments and/or benefits under Sections 2 or 3 will be paid and/or provided until after the expiration of any relevant revocation period.
 
6.    Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement,
 
(a)    Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) Employee’s continued failure to substantially perform the duties and obligations of Employee’s position (for reasons other than death or Disability (as defined below)), which failure, if curable within the discretion of the Company, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company of such failure; (ii) Employee’s failure or refusal to comply with reasonable written policies, standards and regulations established by the Company from time to time which failure, if curable in the discretion of the Company, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such failure from the Company; (iii) any act of personal dishonesty, fraud, embezzlement, misrepresentation, or other unlawful act committed by Employee that results in a substantial gain or personal enrichment of Employee at the expense of the Company; (iv) Employee’s violation of a federal or state law or regulation applicable to the Company’s business, which violation was or is reasonably likely to be materially injurious to the Company; (v) Employee’s violation of, or a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any state; or (vi) the Employee’s material breach of the terms of Section 4 of this Agreement or of the Confidentiality Agreement.
 
(b)    Change in ControlFor purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
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(i)    Change in Ownership of the Company.  A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, except that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board will not be considered a Change in Control; or
 
(ii)    Change in Effective Control of the CompanyIf the Company has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election.  For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or
 
(iii)   Change in Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Company’s Assets.  A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions.  For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
 
For these purposes, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.
 
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
 
(c)    Disability.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the inability of Employee to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.
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(d)    Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without Employee’s written consent: (i) there is a material reduction of the level of Employee’s base compensation (except where there is a general reduction applicable to the management team generally); (ii) there is a material reduction in Employee’s overall responsibilities or authority, or scope of duties, provided, however, that a reduction in responsibilities, authority or duties solely by virtue of the Company being acquired and made part of a larger entity (as, for example, when the Chief Executive Officer of the Company remains as such following a Change of Control but is not made the Chief Executive Officer of the acquiring corporation) will not constitute “Good Reason”; or (iii) a material change in the geographic location at which Employee must perform his services; provided, that in no instance will the relocation of Employee to a facility or a location of fifty (50) miles or less from Employee’s then current office location be deemed material for purposes of this Agreement.  In no instance will a resignation by Employee be deemed to be for Good Reason if it is made more than twenty four (24) months following the initial occurrence of any of the events that otherwise would constitute Good Reason hereunder.
 
(e)    The Board shall make all determinations relating to termination, including without limitation any determination regarding Cause.
 
7.    Tax Treatment.  The Company makes no representations or warranties with respect to the tax consequences of the payment of any sums to Employee under the terms of this Agreement.  Employee agrees and understands that, with the exception of the withholdings from the severance payments, Employee is responsible for payment of any local, state and/or federal taxes on the sums paid hereunder by the Company and any penalties or assessments thereon.  Employee further agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any claims, demands, deficiencies, penalties, assessments, executions, judgments, or recoveries by any government agency against the Company for any amounts claimed due on account of Employee’s failure to pay federal or state taxes or damages sustained by the Company by reason of any such claims, including reasonable attorney fees.
 
8.    Section 409A.
 
(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no severance payments or benefits payable to Employee, if any, pursuant to this Agreement that, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits, is considered deferred compensation under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be payable until Employee has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A (“Section 409A”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  Similarly, no severance payable to Employee, if any, pursuant to this Agreement that otherwise would be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A‑1(b)(9) will be payable until Employee has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.
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(b)    Further, if Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of Employee’s separation from service (other than due to death), any Deferred Payments that otherwise are payable within the first six (6) months following Employee’s separation from service will become payable on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Employee’s separation from service.  All subsequent Deferred Payments, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of Employee’s death following Employee’s separation from service but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of Employee’s separation from service (or any later delay date), then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Employee’s death and all other Deferred Payments will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.  Each payment and benefit payable under the Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.
 
(c)    Any severance payment that satisfies the requirements of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations shall not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of the Agreement.  Any severance payment that qualifies as a payment made as a result of an involuntary separation from service pursuant to Section 1.409A‑1(b)(9)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations that does not exceed the Section 409A Limit shall not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of the Agreement.  For purposes of this subsection (c), “Section 409A Limit” will mean the lesser of two (2) times: (i) Employee’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Employee during Employee’s taxable year preceding Employee’s taxable year of Employee’s separation from service as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any Internal Revenue Service guidance issued with respect thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Employee’s employment is terminated.
 
(d)    The foregoing provisions are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided under the Agreement will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply.  Employee and the Company agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to the Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Employee under Section 409A.
 
9.            Limitation on Payments.  In the event that the severance and other benefits provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to Employee (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then Employee's benefits under this Agreement shall be either
 
(a)            Delivered in full, or
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(b)            delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax,  whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Employee on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  If a reduction in severance and other benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that benefits are delivered to a lesser extent, reduction will occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments, cancellation of equity awards granted within the twelve (12) month period prior to a “change in control” (as determined under Code Section 280G) that are deemed to have been granted contingent upon the change in control (as determined under Code Section 280G), cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards, reduction of employee benefits.
 
Unless the Company and Employee otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section shall be made in writing by the Company's independent public accountants (the “Accountants”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Employee and the Company for all purposes.  For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Section 280G and 4999 of the Code.  The Company and Employee shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section.  The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section.
 
10.     Confidential Information.  Employee shall continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement, and maintain the confidentiality of all of the Company’s confidential and proprietary information.  Such information includes, but is not limited to, all customer lists, equipment, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, or other documents or property belonging to the Company.

11.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from all benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

(b)    Entire Agreement; Binding Effect.  This Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement set forth the entire understanding between the Parties as to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior agreements, commitments, representations, writings and discussions between them, including the Prior Agreement; and neither of the Parties shall be bound by any obligations, conditions, warranties or representations with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein or therein or as duly set forth on or subsequent to the date hereof in a written instrument signed by the proper and fully authorized representative of the party to be bound hereby.  This Agreement is binding on Employee and on the Company and his/her and its successors and assigns (whether by assignment, by operation of law or otherwise).

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(c)    Arbitration. The Parties agree that, unless otherwise agreed to in a writing signed by the Employee and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, any and all disputes arising out of, or relating to, the terms of this Agreement, their interpretation, and any of the matters herein released, shall be subject to binding arbitration in Travis County, Texas before the American Arbitration Association under its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes.  The Parties agree that the prevailing party in any arbitration shall be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the arbitration award.  The Parties agree that the prevailing party in any arbitration shall be awarded its reasonable attorney fees and costs.  The Parties hereby agree to waive their right to have any dispute between them resolved in a court of law by a judge or jury.  This section will not prevent either party from seeking injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) from any court having jurisdiction over the Parties and the subject matter of their dispute relating to Employee’s obligations under this Agreement and the agreements incorporated herein by reference.

(d)    Governing Law; Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the employment laws of Texas and the other laws of the State of Texas as they apply to contracts entered into and wholly to be performed therein by residents thereof.  In addition, each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that any suit, action or other legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement may be brought only in a state or federal court within Texas.

(e)    Severability.  In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision.

(f)    Effect of Headings.  The Section and subsection headings contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(g)    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall constitute but one instrument.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the dates set forth below.
 
Employee
 
Active Power, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ James A. Powers
 
/s/ Mark A. Ascolese
 
 
Signature By:  Mark A. Ascolese
  President and Chief Executive Officer
James A. Powers
 
(Print Name)
 
Dated:  11/5/2013 Dated:   11/14/2013
 
SIGNATURE PAGE TO SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT
ACTIVE POWER, INC.
 


EXHIBIT 10.25
 
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) is made by and between Steven R. Fife (“Employee”) and Active Power, Inc. (the “Company”) (collectively referred to as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Employee and the Company entered into a Severance Benefits Agreement dated October 6, 2012 (the “Severance Agreement”), incorporated herein by this reference;

WHEREAS, Employee and the Company entered into an Employee Proprietary Information and Nondisclosure Agreement dated October 6, 2012 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), incorporated herein by this reference;

WHEREAS, Employee has been granted certain stock options and/or restricted stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s stock plan (the “Stock Plan”), incorporated herein by this reference;

WHEREAS, Employee is employed as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance of the Company and is separating from the Company as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance effective as of December 4, 2013 and as an employee of the Company effective as of December 31, 2013 (the “Separation Date”);

WHEREAS, the Parties agree that Employee’s separation will be considered a “termination without Cause,” as defined in the Severance Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to resolve any and all disputes, claims, complaints, grievances, charges, actions, petitions, and demands that the Employee may have against the Company and any of the Releasees as defined below, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment with or separation from the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

COVENANTS

1.            Consideration.

a.            Payment.  The Company agrees to provide the following to Employee in consideration for Employee entering into this Agreement:


(i) Following the Separation Date, provided that this Agreement is in effect and Employee is in compliance with this Agreement (and any agreements incorporated herein) the Company will provide Employee with the following benefits (the “Separation Benefits”):

a.            Continuation of annualized base salary of $280,000.00, for twelve (12) months following the Separation Date (the “Salary Continuation Period”). All such payments will be less applicable withholding, and will be made in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices and schedule.

b.            Reimbursement of Employee for insurance continuation premiums made by Employee pursuant to COBRA for the shorter of (i) twelve (12) months after the Separation Date, (ii) the date Employee has secured other employment pursuant to which Employee is eligible for health insurance coverage, or (iii) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA, subject to Employee’s providing evidence of payment to the Company within thirty (30) days of Employee making such payments to the applicable insurance carrier.  Reimbursement to be issued by the Company no later than fifteen (15) days following its receipt of Employee's proof of payment.

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c.            All stock options and restricted stock held by Employee in which Employee would have vested if Employee had remained employed with the Company for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of termination shall immediately vest and, if applicable, become exercisable as of the date of termination.  In addition, all stock options held by Employee on the date hereof shall be amended such that such options will remain exercisable for a period of 180 days following the Separation Date.  Employee acknowledges that the foregoing amendment to his stock options will cause the options to be taxed as non-statutory options and not as incentive stock options.

d.            Employee will remain eligible to receive compensation related to the Company’s management incentive plan for 2013 subject to the terms and conditions set forth in section 2(d) of the Severance Agreement.  Employee’s receipt of any amounts pursuant to the Company’s management incentive plan for 2013 will be determined according to the formula set forth in section 2(d) of the Severance Agreement. All determinations of the amount of the achievement of objectives and the amounts of such bonuses, if any, shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion.

e.            The Company will reimburse Employee for actual costs incurred in using the outplacement service, Lee Hecht Harrison, located at 9600 Great Hills Trail, Suite 130, Austin, Texas, up to a  total amount of  $5,000.

(ii) In the event of Employee’s death before all of the Separation Benefits described in Paragraph 1.a.(i)(a) and (i)(b) hereinabove have been paid, such unpaid amounts will be paid in a lump sum payment promptly following such event to Employee’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the personal representative of Employee’s estate.

b.            Payment in Full. Employee further specifically acknowledges and agrees that the consideration provided to him hereunder fully satisfies any obligation that the Company had to pay Employee wages or any other compensation for any of the services that Employee rendered to the Company, and any severance or other benefits pursuant to the Severance Agreement, including but not limited to any bonus entitlement or any severance due to Employee in accordance with his Severance Agreement.

2.            Benefits.  Employee’s health, dental and vision insurance benefits shall cease on December 31, 2013, subject to Employee’s COBRA insurance continuation rights.  Except as otherwise specifically stated in this Agreement, Employee’s participation in all benefits and incidents of employment, including, but not limited to, vesting in stock options as a result of employment, and the accrual of vacation and paid time off, will cease as of the Separation Date.

3.            Payment of Salary and Receipt of All Benefits.  Employee acknowledges and represents that, other than the consideration set forth in this Agreement, the Company has paid or provided all salary, wages, bonuses, accrued vacation/paid time off, leave, housing allowances, relocation costs, interest, severance, outplacement costs, fees, reimbursable expenses, commissions, stock, stock options, vesting, and any and all other benefits and compensation due to Employee through the Effective Date.

4.            Release of Claims.  Employee agrees that the foregoing consideration represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed to Employee by the Company and its current and former officers, directors, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, divisions, and subsidiaries, and predecessor and successor corporations and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”).  Employee, on his own behalf and on behalf of his respective heirs, family members, executors, agents, and assigns, hereby and forever releases the Releasees from, and agrees not to sue concerning, or in any manner to institute, prosecute, or pursue, any claim, complaint, charge, duty, obligation, or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Employee may possess against any of the Releasees arising from any omissions, acts, facts, or damages that have occurred up until and including the Effective Date of this Agreement, including, without limitation:

a.            any and all claims relating to or arising from Employee’s employment relationship with the Company and the decision to terminate that relationship;

b.            any and all claims relating to, or arising from, Employee’s right to purchase, or actual purchase of shares of stock of the Company, including, without limitation, any claims for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty under applicable state corporate law, and securities fraud under any state or federal law;

c.            any and all claims for wrongful discharge of employment; termination in violation of public policy; discrimination; harassment; retaliation; breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both express and implied; promissory estoppel; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; fraud; negligent or intentional misrepresentation; negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage; unfair business practices; defamation; libel; slander; negligence; personal injury; assault; battery; invasion of privacy; false imprisonment; and conversion;

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d.            any and all claims for violation of any federal, state, or municipal statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Equal Pay Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act, except as prohibited by law; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, except as prohibited by law; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act, except as prohibited by law; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Texas Payday Act; Texas Workers’ Compensation Act; and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code (also known as the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act); and any other laws of the states of Texas or any other state, except as prohibited by law;

e.            any and all claims for violation of the federal or any state constitution;
 
f.         any and all claims arising out of any other laws and regulations relating to employment or employment discrimination; and
 
g.            any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs.

Employee agrees that the release set forth in this section shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general release as to the matters released.  This release does not extend to any obligations incurred under this Agreement.  This release does not release claims that cannot be released as a matter of law, including, but not limited to Employee’s right to file a charge with or participate in a charge by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or any other local, state, or federal administrative body or government agency that is authorized to enforce or administer laws related to employment, against the Company (with the understanding that any such filing or participation does not give Employee the right to recover any monetary damages against the Company; Employee’s release of claims herein bars Employee from recovering such monetary relief from the Company).

5.            Acknowledgment of Waiver of Claims under ADEA. Employee acknowledges that he is waiving and releasing any rights he may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ("ADEA"), and that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary.  Employee agrees that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under the ADEA after the Effective Date of this Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which Employee was already entitled.  Employee further acknowledges that he has been advised by this writing that: (a) he should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (b) he has twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement; (c) he has seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement; (d) this Agreement shall not be effective until after the revocation period has expired; and (e) nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Employee from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties, or costs for doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law.  In the event Employee signs this Agreement and returns it to the Company in less than the 21-day period identified above, Employee hereby acknowledges that he has freely and voluntarily chosen to waive the time period allotted for considering this Agreement.

Employee acknowledges and understands that revocation must be accomplished by a written notification to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer that is received no later than seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement.  The Parties agree that any changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, do not restart the running of the 21- day consideration period.

6.            Unknown Claims.  Employee acknowledges that he has been advised to consult with legal counsel and that he is familiar with the principle that a general release does not extend to claims which the releasor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the releasee.  Employee, being aware of said principle, agrees to expressly waive any rights Employee may have to that effect, as well as under any other statute or common law principles of similar effect.

7.            No Pending or Future Lawsuits.  Employee represents that he has no lawsuits, claims, or actions pending in his name, or on behalf of any other person or entity, against the Company or any of the other Releasees. Employee also represents that he does not intend to bring any claims on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity against the Company or any of the other Releasees.

8.            Confidentiality.  Employee agrees to maintain in complete confidence the existence of this Agreement, the contents and terms of this Agreement, and the consideration for this Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Separation Information”).  Except as required by law, Employee may disclose Separation Information only to his immediate family members, the Court in any proceedings to enforce the terms of this Agreement, Employee’s  counsel, and Employee’s accountant and any professional tax advisor to the extent that they need to know the Separation Information in order to provide advice on tax treatment or to prepare tax returns, and must prevent disclosure of any Separation Information to all other third parties.  Employee agrees that he will not publicize, directly or indirectly, any Separation Information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall have no confidentiality obligations under this section 8 regarding any Separation Information that the Company makes public through SEC filings or otherwise.

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9.            Trade Secrets and Confidential Information/Noncompete/Company Property.  Employee reaffirms and agrees to observe and abide by the surviving terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and the Severance Agreement, specifically including the provisions therein regarding returning Company property, non-competition, nondisclosure of the Company’s trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information, and non-solicitation of Company employees.

10.         No CooperationEmployee agrees not to act in any manner that might reasonably cause damage to the business of the Company.  Employee further agrees that he will not knowingly encourage, counsel, or assist any attorneys or their clients in the presentation or prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or complaints by any third party against any of the Releasees, unless under a subpoena or other court order to do so or as related directly to the ADEA waiver in this Agreement. Employee agrees both to immediately notify the Company upon receipt of any such subpoena or court order, and to furnish, within three (3) business days of its receipt, a copy of such subpoena or other court order.  If approached by anyone for counsel or assistance in the presentation or prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or complaints against any of the Releasees, Employee shall state no more than that he cannot provide counsel or assistance.

11.          Cooperation with Company, Communications and Transition of Duties.  Employee agrees to cooperate, at the request of the Company, in the defense and/or prosecution of any charges, claims, investigations (internal or external), administrative proceedings and/or lawsuits relating to matters occurring during or relating to Employee's period of employment about which Employee may have relevant information. Employee agrees to respond to reasonable requests for information from the Company in a timely manner.  The Company agrees to pay Employee for his time in so cooperating at his then applicable consulting rate of pay, not to exceed $300.00 per hour, and to reimburse Employee for any and all reasonable expenses, including travel. The Parties agree to work together in good faith with regard to all communications made to customers, vendors, employees or other individuals or entities regarding Employee's separation from employment. Employee further agrees that any statement made by Employee to customers, vendors, employees or other individuals or entities regarding his separation from employment must be consistent in all respects with the terms of this Agreement.  Employee further agrees to cooperate with the Company with regard to the transition of Employee's job duties and business relationships. Employee agrees to sign and return a resignation letter in the form attached as Exhibit A on the date hereof.  Such resignation letter shall not be deemed in conflict with the parties' agreement hereunder that Employee's separation from employment constitutes a "termination without cause" as that term is defined in the Severance Agreement.

12.          Non-Disparagement.  Employee agrees to refrain from any disparaging statements about the Company or any of the other Releasees including, without limitation, the business, products, intellectual property, financial standing, future, or employment/compensation/benefit practices of the Company.  The Company agrees to refrain from any disparaging statements about Employee; provided, however, that the Company’s obligations in this regard extend only to its senior executives and directors, and only for so long as such individuals are employed by or are on the Board of Directors of the Company.  The parties agree that statements made in good faith under oath during formal legal proceedings shall not be construed as disparaging statements under this Agreement.

13.         Breach.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that if the Company reasonably believes that Employee has materially breached this Agreement, unless such breach constitutes a legal action by Employee challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of the waiver herein under the ADEA, or of the Employment Agreement, the Company shall notify Employee in writing and provide Employee a five (5) day period to cure such material breach, if curable, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company.  Any material breach of this Agreement by Employee that is not cured shall entitle the Company immediately to recover and/or cease providing the consideration provided to Employee under this Agreement, except as provided by law.

14.          No Admission of Liability.  Employee understands and acknowledges that this Agreement constitutes a compromise and settlement of any and all actual or potential disputed claims by Employee.  No action taken by the Company hereto, either previously or in connection with this Agreement, shall be deemed or construed to be (a) an admission of the truth or falsity of any actual or potential claims or (b) an acknowledgment or admission by the Company of any fault or liability whatsoever to Employee or to any third party.

15.          Costs.  The Parties shall each bear their own costs, attorneys’ fees, and other fees incurred in connection with the preparation of this Agreement.

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16.          ARBITRATIONTHE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THEIR INTERPRETATION, AND ANY OF THE MATTERS HEREIN RELEASED, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS BEFORE JAMS, THE RESOLUTION EXPERTS (“JAMS”), PURSUANT TO ITS EMPLOYMENT ARBITRATION RULES & PROCEDURES (“JAMS RULES”).  THE ARBITRATOR MAY GRANT INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER RELIEF IN SUCH DISPUTES.  THE ARBITRATOR SHALL ADMINISTER AND CONDUCT ANY ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LAW, AND THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL TEXAS LAW TO ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAW PROVISIONS OF ANY JURISDICTION.  TO THE EXTENT THAT THE JAMS RULES CONFLICT WITH TEXAS LAW, TEXAS LAW SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE.  THE DECISION OF THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FINAL, CONCLUSIVE, AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION.  THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE PREVAILING PARTY IN ANY ARBITRATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE THE ARBITRATION AWARD.  THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION SHALL EACH PAY AN EQUAL SHARE OF THE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH ARBITRATION, AND EACH PARTY SHALL SEPARATELY PAY FOR ITS RESPECTIVE COUNSEL FEES AND EXPENSES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL AWARD ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS TO THE PREVAILING PARTY, EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY LAW.  THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THEM RESOLVED IN A COURT OF LAW BY A JUDGE OR JURY.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS SECTION WILL NOT PREVENT EITHER PARTY FROM SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF (OR ANY OTHER PROVISIONAL REMEDY) FROM ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PARTIES AND THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THEIR DISPUTE RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.  SHOULD ANY PART OF THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ARBITRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN.

17.          Tax Consequences.  The Company makes no representations or warranties with respect to the tax consequences of the payments and any other consideration provided to Employee or made on her behalf under the terms of this Agreement.  Employee agrees and understands that he is responsible for payment, if any, of local, state, and/or federal taxes on the payments and any other consideration provided hereunder by the Company and any penalties or assessments thereon.  Employee further agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any claims, demands, deficiencies, penalties, interest, assessments, executions, judgments, or recoveries by any government agency against the Company for any amounts claimed due on account of (a) Employee’s failure to pay or the Company’s failure to withhold, or Employee’s delayed payment of, federal or state taxes, or (b) damages sustained by the Company by reason of any such claims, including attorneys’ fees and costs.

18.          Section 409(A).  If the Company determines that any cash severance benefits, health continuation coverage, or additional benefits provided under this Agreement shall fail to satisfy the distribution requirement of Section 409A(a)(2)(A) or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) as result of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, the payment of such benefit shall be accelerated to the minimum extent necessary so that the benefit is not subject to the provisions of Section 409(a)(1) of the Code.  (It is the intention of the preceding sentence to apply the short-term deferral provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance thereunder, to such payments, and the payment schedule as revised after the application of the preceding sentence shall be referred to as the “Revised Payment Schedule.”)  However, if there is no Revised Payment Schedule that would avoid the application of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, the payment of such benefits shall not be paid pursuant to a Revised Payment Schedule and instead shall be delayed to the minimum extent necessary so that such benefits are not subject to the provisions of section 409A(a)(1) of the Code.  The Company may attach conditions to or adjust the amounts paid pursuant to this paragraph to preserve, as closely as possible, the economic consequences that would have applied in the absence of this paragraph; provided, however, that no such condition or adjustment shall result in the payments being subject to Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code.

19.          Successors and Assigns. Employee understands and acknowledges that this Agreement is personal in its nature and agrees that he shall not assign or transfer her rights under this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding on, each successor of the Company whether by merger, consolidation, transfer of all or substantially all assets, or otherwise, and the heirs and legal representatives of Employee.

20.          Authority.  The Company represents and warrants that the undersigned has the authority to act on behalf of the Company and to bind the Company and all who may claim through it to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Employee represents and warrants that he has the capacity to act on his own behalf and on behalf of all who might claim through him to bind them to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Each Party warrants and represents that there are no liens or claims of lien or assignments in law or equity or otherwise of or against any of the claims or causes of action released herein.

21.          No Representations.  Employee represents that he has had an opportunity to consult with an attorney, and has carefully read and understands the scope and effect of the provisions of this Agreement.  Employee has not relied upon any representations or statements made by the Company that are not specifically set forth in this Agreement.

22.          Severability.  In the event that any provision or any portion of any provision hereof or any surviving agreement made a part hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be illegal, unenforceable, or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision or portion of provision.

23.         Attorneys’ FeesExcept with regard to a legal action challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of the waiver herein under the ADEA, in the event that either Party brings an action to enforce or effect its rights under this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its costs and expenses, including the costs of mediation, arbitration, litigation, court fees, and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such an action.

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24.          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Employee concerning the subject matter of this Agreement and Employee’s employment with and separation from the Company and the events leading thereto and associated therewith, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the subject matter of this Agreement and Employee’s relationship with the Company, with the exception of the surviving portions of the Severance Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Stock Plan.

25.          No Oral Modification.  This Agreement may only be amended in a writing signed by Employee and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

26.          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard for choice-of-law provisions.  Employee consents to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the State of Texas.

27.          Revocation Period and Effective DateEach Party has seven (7) days after that Party signs this Agreement to revoke it.  If the Company revokes this Agreement, it must notify Employee in writing delivered to Employee's home address no later than seven (7) days from the date it signed this Agreement.  Provided both parties have signed and not revoked this Agreement within such seven (7) days after executing this Agreement, this Agreement will become effective on January 1, 2014 (the “Effective Date”).

28.         Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile, and each counterpart and facsimile shall have the same force and effect as an original and shall constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned.

29.          Voluntary Execution of Agreement.  Employee understands and agrees that he executed this Agreement voluntarily, without any duress or undue influence on the part or behalf of the Company or any third party, with the full intent of releasing all of his claims against the Company and any of the other Releasees.  Employee acknowledges that:

 
(a)
he has read this Agreement;

(b) he has been represented in the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of his own choice or has elected not to retain legal counsel;

(c) he understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement and of the releases it contains; and

 
(d)
he is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.

(Signature page follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth below.

 
 
Steven R. Fife, an individual
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: November 20, 2013
 
/s/ Steven R. Fife
 
 
 
Steven R. Fife
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACTIVE POWER, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:  November 19, 2013
By: /s/ Mark A. Ascolese
 
 
Mark A. Ascolese
 
President & CEO
 
 
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EXHIBIT 10.26

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) is made by and between Jeremiah Noel Foley (“Employee”) and Active Power, Inc. (the “Company”) (collectively referred to as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Employee and the Company entered into a Severance Benefits Agreement dated November 15, 2011 (the “Severance Agreement”), incorporated herein by this reference;

WHEREAS, Employee and the Company entered into an Employee Proprietary Information and Nondisclosure Agreement dated November 15, 2011 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), incorporated herein by this reference;

WHEREAS, Employee has been granted certain stock options and/or restricted stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s stock plan (the “Stock Plan”), incorporated herein by this reference;

WHEREAS, Employee is employed as the Vice President of Engineering and is separating from the Company as Vice President of Engineering effective as of January 6, 2014 and as an employee of the Company effective as of January 6, 2014 (the “Separation Date”);

WHEREAS, the Parties agree that Employee’s separation will be considered a “termination without Cause,” as defined in the Severance Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to resolve any and all disputes, claims, complaints, grievances, charges, actions, petitions, and demands that the Employee may have against the Company and any of the Releasees as defined below, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment with or separation from the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

COVENANTS

1.              Consideration.

a.            Payment.  The Company agrees to provide the following to Employee in consideration for Employee entering into this Agreement:


(i) Following the Separation Date, provided that this Agreement is in effect and Employee is in compliance with this Agreement (and any agreements incorporated herein) the Company will provide Employee with the following benefits (the “Separation Benefits”):

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a.            Continuation of annualized base salary of $240,000.00, for six (6) months following the Separation Date (the “Salary Continuation Period”). All such payments will be less applicable withholding, and will be made in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices and schedule.

b.            Reimbursement of Employee for insurance continuation premiums made by Employee pursuant to COBRA for the shorter of (i) six (6) months after the Separation Date, (ii) the date Employee has secured other employment pursuant to which Employee is eligible for health insurance coverage, or (iii) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA, subject to Employee’s providing evidence of payment to the Company within thirty (30) days of Employee making such payments to the applicable insurance carrier.  Reimbursement to be issued by the Company no later than fifteen (15) days following its receipt of Employee's proof of payment.

c.            All stock options and restricted stock held by Employee in which Employee would have vested if Employee had remained employed with the Company for a period of six (6) months following the date of termination shall immediately vest and, if applicable, become exercisable as of the date of termination.  In addition, all stock options held by Employee on the date hereof shall be amended such that such options will remain exercisable for a period of 90 days following the Separation Date.  Employee acknowledges that the foregoing amendment to his stock options will cause the options to be taxed as non-statutory options and not as incentive stock options.

d.            Employee will remain eligible to receive compensation related to the Company’s management incentive plan for 2013 subject to the terms and conditions set forth in section 2(d) of the Severance Agreement.  Employee’s receipt of any amounts pursuant to the Company’s management incentive plan for 2013 will be determined according to the formula set forth in section 2(d) of the Severance Agreement. All determinations of the amount of the achievement of objectives and the amounts of such bonuses, if any, shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion.
 
(ii) In the event of Employee’s death before all of the Separation Benefits described in Paragraph 1.a.(i)(a) and (i)(b) hereinabove have been paid, such unpaid amounts will be paid in a lump sum payment promptly following such event to Employee’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the personal representative of Employee’s estate.

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b.            Payment in Full. Employee further specifically acknowledges and agrees that the consideration provided to him hereunder fully satisfies any obligation that the Company had to pay Employee wages or any other compensation for any of the services that Employee rendered to the Company, and any severance or other benefits pursuant to the Severance Agreement, including but not limited to any bonus entitlement or any severance due to Employee in accordance with his Severance Agreement.
 
1.        Benefits.  Except as otherwise specifically stated in this agreement in Section 1, Employee’s participation in all benefits and incidents of employment, including, but not limited to, the accrual of vacation and paid time off, will cease as of the Separation Date.
 
2.             Payment of Salary and Receipt of All Benefits.  Employee acknowledges and represents that, other than the consideration set forth in this Agreement, the Company has paid or provided all salary, wages, bonuses, accrued vacation/paid time off, leave, housing allowances, relocation costs, interest, severance, outplacement costs, fees, reimbursable expenses, commissions, stock, stock options, vesting, and any and all other benefits and compensation due to Employee through the Effective Date.

3.             Release of Claims.  Employee agrees that the foregoing consideration represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed to Employee by the Company and its current and former officers, directors, employees, agents, investors, attorneys, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, benefit plans, plan administrators, insurers, divisions, and subsidiaries, and predecessor and successor corporations and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”).  Employee, on his own behalf and on behalf of his respective heirs, family members, executors, agents, and assigns, hereby and forever releases the Releasees from, and agrees not to sue concerning, or in any manner to institute, prosecute, or pursue, any claim, complaint, charge, duty, obligation, or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Employee may possess against any of the Releasees arising from any omissions, acts, facts, or damages that have occurred up until and including the Effective Date of this Agreement, including, without limitation:

a.             any and all claims relating to or arising from Employee’s employment relationship with the Company and the decision to terminate that relationship;

b.             any and all claims relating to, or arising from, Employee’s right to purchase, or actual purchase of shares of stock of the Company, including, without limitation, any claims for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty under applicable state corporate law, and securities fraud under any state or federal law;

c.             any and all claims for wrongful discharge of employment; termination in violation of public policy; discrimination; harassment; retaliation; breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both express and implied; promissory estoppel; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; fraud; negligent or intentional misrepresentation; negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage; unfair business practices; defamation; libel; slander; negligence; personal injury; assault; battery; invasion of privacy; false imprisonment; and conversion;

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d.             any and all claims for violation of any federal, state, or municipal statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Equal Pay Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act, except as prohibited by law; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, except as prohibited by law; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act, except as prohibited by law; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Texas Payday Act; Texas Workers’ Compensation Act; and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code (also known as the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act); and any other laws of the states of Texas or any other state, except as prohibited by law;

e.             any and all claims for violation of the federal or any state constitution;

f.              any and all claims arising out of any other laws and regulations relating to employment or employment discrimination; and
 
g.             any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs.

Employee agrees that the release set forth in this section shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general release as to the matters released.  This release does not extend to any obligations incurred under this Agreement.  This release does not release claims that cannot be released as a matter of law, including, but not limited to Employee’s right to file a charge with or participate in a charge by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or any other local, state, or federal administrative body or government agency that is authorized to enforce or administer laws related to employment, against the Company (with the understanding that any such filing or participation does not give Employee the right to recover any monetary damages against the Company; Employee’s release of claims herein bars Employee from recovering such monetary relief from the Company).

4.            Acknowledgment of Waiver of Claims under ADEA. Employee acknowledges that he is waiving and releasing any rights he may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ("ADEA"), and that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary.  Employee agrees that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under the ADEA after the Effective Date of this Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which Employee was already entitled.  Employee further acknowledges that he has been advised by this writing that: (a) he should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (b) he has twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement; (c) he has seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement; (d) this Agreement shall not be effective until after the revocation period has expired; and (e) nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Employee from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties, or costs for doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law.  In the event Employee signs this Agreement and returns it to the Company in less than the 21-day period identified above, Employee hereby acknowledges that he has freely and voluntarily chosen to waive the time period allotted for considering this Agreement.

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Employee acknowledges and understands that revocation must be accomplished by a written notification to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer that is received no later than seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement.  The Parties agree that any changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, do not restart the running of the 21- day consideration period.

5.            Unknown Claims.  Employee acknowledges that he has been advised to consult with legal counsel and that he is familiar with the principle that a general release does not extend to claims which the releasor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the releasee.  Employee, being aware of said principle, agrees to expressly waive any rights Employee may have to that effect, as well as under any other statute or common law principles of similar effect.

6.            No Pending or Future Lawsuits.  Employee represents that he has no lawsuits, claims, or actions pending in his name, or on behalf of any other person or entity, against the Company or any of the other Releasees. Employee also represents that he does not intend to bring any claims on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity against the Company or any of the other Releasees.

7.            Confidentiality.  Employee agrees to maintain in complete confidence the existence of this Agreement, the contents and terms of this Agreement, and the consideration for this Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Separation Information”).  Except as required by law, Employee may disclose Separation Information only to his immediate family members, the Court in any proceedings to enforce the terms of this Agreement, Employee’s  counsel, and Employee’s accountant and any professional tax advisor to the extent that they need to know the Separation Information in order to provide advice on tax treatment or to prepare tax returns, and must prevent disclosure of any Separation Information to all other third parties.  Employee agrees that he will not publicize, directly or indirectly, any Separation Information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall have no confidentiality obligations under this section 8 regarding any Separation Information that the Company makes public through SEC filings or otherwise.

8.            Trade Secrets and Confidential Information/Noncompete/Company Property.  Employee reaffirms and agrees to observe and abide by the surviving terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and the Severance Agreement, specifically including the provisions therein regarding returning Company property, non-competition, nondisclosure of the Company’s trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information, and non-solicitation of Company employees.

9.            No CooperationEmployee agrees not to act in any manner that might reasonably cause damage to the business of the Company.  Employee further agrees that he will not knowingly encourage, counsel, or assist any attorneys or their clients in the presentation or prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or complaints by any third party against any of the Releasees, unless under a subpoena or other court order to do so or as related directly to the ADEA waiver in this Agreement. Employee agrees both to immediately notify the Company upon receipt of any such subpoena or court order, and to furnish, within three (3) business days of its receipt, a copy of such subpoena or other court order.  If approached by anyone for counsel or assistance in the presentation or prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or complaints against any of the Releasees, Employee shall state no more than that he cannot provide counsel or assistance.

Page 5 of 11

10.            Cooperation with Company, Communications and Transition of Duties.  Employee agrees to cooperate, at the request of the Company, in the defense and/or prosecution of any charges, claims, investigations (internal or external), administrative proceedings and/or lawsuits relating to matters occurring during or relating to Employee's period of employment about which Employee may have relevant information. Employee agrees to respond to reasonable requests for information from the Company in a timely manner.  The Company agrees to pay Employee for his time in so cooperating at his then applicable consulting rate of pay, not to exceed $300.00 per hour, and to reimburse Employee for any and all reasonable expenses, including travel. The Parties agree to work together in good faith with regard to all communications made to customers, vendors, employees or other individuals or entities regarding Employee's separation from employment. Employee further agrees that any statement made by Employee to customers, vendors, employees or other individuals or entities regarding his separation from employment must be consistent in all respects with the terms of this Agreement.  Employee further agrees to cooperate with the Company with regard to the transition of Employee's job duties and business relationships. Employee agrees to sign and return a resignation letter in the form attached as Exhibit A on the date hereof.  Such resignation letter shall not be deemed in conflict with the parties' agreement hereunder that Employee's separation from employment constitutes a "termination without cause" as that term is defined in the Severance Agreement.

11.            Non-Disparagement.  Employee agrees to refrain from any disparaging statements about the Company or any of the other Releasees including, without limitation, the business, products, intellectual property, financial standing, future, or employment/compensation/benefit practices of the Company.  The Company agrees to refrain from any disparaging statements about Employee; provided, however, that the Company’s obligations in this regard extend only to its senior executives and directors, and only for so long as such individuals are employed by or are on the Board of Directors of the Company.  The parties agree that statements made in good faith under oath during formal legal proceedings shall not be construed as disparaging statements under this Agreement.

12.            Breach.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that if the Company reasonably believes that Employee has materially breached this Agreement, unless such breach constitutes a legal action by Employee challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of the waiver herein under the ADEA, or of the Employment Agreement, the Company shall notify Employee in writing and provide Employee a five (5) day period to cure such material breach, if curable, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company.  Any material breach of this Agreement by Employee that is not cured shall entitle the Company immediately to recover and/or cease providing the consideration provided to Employee under this Agreement, except as provided by law.

13.            No Admission of Liability.  Employee understands and acknowledges that this Agreement constitutes a compromise and settlement of any and all actual or potential disputed claims by Employee.  No action taken by the Company hereto, either previously or in connection with this Agreement, shall be deemed or construed to be (a) an admission of the truth or falsity of any actual or potential claims or (b) an acknowledgment or admission by the Company of any fault or liability whatsoever to Employee or to any third party.

Page 6 of 11

14.            Costs.  The Parties shall each bear their own costs, attorneys’ fees, and other fees incurred in connection with the preparation of this Agreement.

15.            ARBITRATIONTHE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THEIR INTERPRETATION, AND ANY OF THE MATTERS HEREIN RELEASED, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS BEFORE JAMS, THE RESOLUTION EXPERTS (“JAMS”), PURSUANT TO ITS EMPLOYMENT ARBITRATION RULES & PROCEDURES (“JAMS RULES”).  THE ARBITRATOR MAY GRANT INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER RELIEF IN SUCH DISPUTES.  THE ARBITRATOR SHALL ADMINISTER AND CONDUCT ANY ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LAW, AND THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL TEXAS LAW TO ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAW PROVISIONS OF ANY JURISDICTION.  TO THE EXTENT THAT THE JAMS RULES CONFLICT WITH TEXAS LAW, TEXAS LAW SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE.  THE DECISION OF THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FINAL, CONCLUSIVE, AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION.  THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE PREVAILING PARTY IN ANY ARBITRATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE THE ARBITRATION AWARD.  THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION SHALL EACH PAY AN EQUAL SHARE OF THE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH ARBITRATION, AND EACH PARTY SHALL SEPARATELY PAY FOR ITS RESPECTIVE COUNSEL FEES AND EXPENSES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL AWARD ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS TO THE PREVAILING PARTY, EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY LAW.  THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THEM RESOLVED IN A COURT OF LAW BY A JUDGE OR JURY.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS SECTION WILL NOT PREVENT EITHER PARTY FROM SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF (OR ANY OTHER PROVISIONAL REMEDY) FROM ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PARTIES AND THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THEIR DISPUTE RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.  SHOULD ANY PART OF THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ARBITRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN.

16.            Tax Consequences.  The Company makes no representations or warranties with respect to the tax consequences of the payments and any other consideration provided to Employee or made on her behalf under the terms of this Agreement.  Employee agrees and understands that he is responsible for payment, if any, of local, state, and/or federal taxes on the payments and any other consideration provided hereunder by the Company and any penalties or assessments thereon.  Employee further agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any claims, demands, deficiencies, penalties, interest, assessments, executions, judgments, or recoveries by any government agency against the Company for any amounts claimed due on account of (a) Employee’s failure to pay or the Company’s failure to withhold, or Employee’s delayed payment of, federal or state taxes, or (b) damages sustained by the Company by reason of any such claims, including attorneys’ fees and costs.

Page 7 of 11

17.            Section 409(A).  If the Company determines that any cash severance benefits, health continuation coverage, or additional benefits provided under this Agreement shall fail to satisfy the distribution requirement of Section 409A(a)(2)(A) or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) as result of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, the payment of such benefit shall be accelerated to the minimum extent necessary so that the benefit is not subject to the provisions of Section 409(a)(1) of the Code.  (It is the intention of the preceding sentence to apply the short-term deferral provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance thereunder, to such payments, and the payment schedule as revised after the application of the preceding sentence shall be referred to as the “Revised Payment Schedule.”)  However, if there is no Revised Payment Schedule that would avoid the application of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, the payment of such benefits shall not be paid pursuant to a Revised Payment Schedule and instead shall be delayed to the minimum extent necessary so that such benefits are not subject to the provisions of section 409A(a)(1) of the Code.  The Company may attach conditions to or adjust the amounts paid pursuant to this paragraph to preserve, as closely as possible, the economic consequences that would have applied in the absence of this paragraph; provided, however, that no such condition or adjustment shall result in the payments being subject to Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code.

18.            Successors and Assigns. Employee understands and acknowledges that this Agreement is personal in its nature and agrees that he shall not assign or transfer her rights under this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding on, each successor of the Company whether by merger, consolidation, transfer of all or substantially all assets, or otherwise, and the heirs and legal representatives of Employee.

19.            Authority.  The Company represents and warrants that the undersigned has the authority to act on behalf of the Company and to bind the Company and all who may claim through it to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Employee represents and warrants that he has the capacity to act on his own behalf and on behalf of all who might claim through him to bind them to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Each Party warrants and represents that there are no liens or claims of lien or assignments in law or equity or otherwise of or against any of the claims or causes of action released herein.

20.            No Representations.  Employee represents that he has had an opportunity to consult with an attorney, and has carefully read and understands the scope and effect of the provisions of this Agreement.  Employee has not relied upon any representations or statements made by the Company that are not specifically set forth in this Agreement.

21.            Severability.  In the event that any provision or any portion of any provision hereof or any surviving agreement made a part hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be illegal, unenforceable, or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision or portion of provision.

22.            Attorneys’ FeesExcept with regard to a legal action challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of the waiver herein under the ADEA, in the event that either Party brings an action to enforce or effect its rights under this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its costs and expenses, including the costs of mediation, arbitration, litigation, court fees, and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such an action.

Page 8 of 11

23.            Entire Agreement.  This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Employee concerning the subject matter of this Agreement and Employee’s employment with and separation from the Company and the events leading thereto and associated therewith, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the subject matter of this Agreement and Employee’s relationship with the Company, with the exception of the surviving portions of the Severance Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Stock Plan.

24.            No Oral Modification.  This Agreement may only be amended in a writing signed by Employee and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

25.            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard for choice-of-law provisions.  Employee consents to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the State of Texas.

26.            Revocation Period and Effective DateEach Party has seven (7) days after that Party signs this Agreement to revoke it.  If the Company revokes this Agreement, it must notify Employee in writing delivered to Employee's home address no later than seven (7) days from the date it signed this Agreement.  Provided both parties have signed and not revoked this Agreement within such seven (7) days after executing this Agreement, this Agreement will become effective on January 14, 2014 (the “Effective Date”).

27.            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile, and each counterpart and facsimile shall have the same force and effect as an original and shall constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned.

28.            Voluntary Execution of Agreement.  Employee understands and agrees that he executed this Agreement voluntarily, without any duress or undue influence on the part or behalf of the Company or any third party, with the full intent of releasing all of his claims against the Company and any of the other Releasees.  Employee acknowledges that:

 
(a)
he has read this Agreement;

(b) he has been represented in the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of his own choice or has elected not to retain legal counsel;

(c) he understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement and of the releases it contains; and

 
(d)
he is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.

(Signature page follows)
Page 9 of 11

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth below.
 
 
Jeremiah Noel Foley, an individual
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:  January 3, 2014
/s/ J. Noel Foley
 
 
Jeremiah Noel Foley
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACTIVE POWER, INC.
 
 
Dated:  January 3, 2014 By: /s/ Mark A. Ascolese
 
 
Mark A. Ascolese
 
 
President & CEO
 
Page 10 of 11

January 3, 2014

Mark A. Ascolese
Chief Executive Officer
Active Power, Inc.
2128 W. Braker Lane
Austin, TX 78758

Dear Mark-

This is to confirm that I hereby resign as Vice President Engineering of Active Power, Inc. (the “Company”) effective January 3, 2014 and that I hereby resign as an employee of the Company effective January 3, 2014.

/s/ J. Noel Foley
 
 
Page 11 of 11


EXHIBIT 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

Name of Subsidiary
 
Country of Incorporation
 
 
 
Active Power (Switzerland) AG
 
Switzerland
 
 
 
Active Power Solutions Limited
 
United Kingdom
 
 
 
Active Power (Germany) GmbH
 
Germany
 
 
 
Active Power (Hong Kong) Limited
 
Hong Kong
 
 
 
Active Power (Beijing) Co. Limited
 
China
 
 


EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We have issued our reports dated March 4, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting included in the Annual Report of Active Power, Inc. and subsidiaries on Form 10-K for the year ended December, 31 2013. We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the Registration Statements of Active Power, Inc. on Form S-3 (File No. 333-188242), Form S-8 (File No.-333-43248, File No. 333-56122, File No. 333-104725, File No. 333-115039, File No. 333-123587, File No. 333-132792, File No. 333-144782, File No. 333-150481, File No. 333-157662, File No. 333-165217, File No. 333-167005 and File No. 333-181948) and Form S-3 (File No. 333-181054).
 
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

Dallas, Texas
March 4, 2014
 
 


Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO 17 CFR 240.13a -14
PROMULGATED UNDER
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Mark A. Ascolese, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Active Power, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 4, 2014

/s/ MARK A. ASCOLESE
 
Mark A. Ascolese
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 


Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO 17 CFR 240.13a -14
PROMULGATED UNDER
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, James A. Powers, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Active Power, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

  (a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 4, 2014

/s/ JAMES A. POWERS
 
James A. Powers
Vice President of Finance, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
 
 
 


Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Active Power, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “ Report ”), I, Mark A. Ascolese, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: March 4, 2014

/s/ MARK A. ASCOLESE
 
Mark A. Ascolese
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 


Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Active Power, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “ Report ”), I, James A. Powers, Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: March 4, 2014

/S/ JAMES A. POWERS
 
James A. Powers
Vice President of Finance, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary