| Successfully
Re-Starts Commercial Demonstration Fuel Cell Power Plant With Second Generation
Electrodes
CLEVELAND--HydroGen Corporation
(Nasdaq:HYDG) (the "Company"), a designer and manufacturer of multi-megawatt
air-cooled phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) systems, today announced that
the Company and HydroGen, LLC, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, entered
into a Loan and Security Agreement on August 22, 2008 with Samsung C&T
Corporation and Federated Kaufmann Fund pursuant to which Samsung and Federated
Kaufmann have each agreed to loan $1 million to HydroGen, LLC in two equal
installments. A first tranche of $1 million of the loan was released to
HydroGen, LLC at the closing on August 22. A second tranche of $1 million
will be released to HydroGen, LLC on or before September 30, 2008 based
on the achievement of certain milestones.
The proceeds will be used for
working capital purposes, including continuing operation of the Company's
commercial demonstration power plant at ASHTA Chemicals, Inc. Specifically,
the proceeds will sustain operations through the next three to four months
during which the Company will seek long-term financing in the form of an
equity investment or an acquisition of the Company.
The $2 million bridge loan is
secured by substantially all of the assets of HydroGen, LLC and the Company,
bears interest at the rate of 12% per annum, and becomes due and payable
on December 15, 2008 (which may be extended to no later than February 1,
2009 if the Company is in the process of obtaining shareholder approval
for a transaction that will result in the payoff of the loan). Additionally,
Samsung and Federated Kaufmann have each received a warrant to purchase
up to 400,000 shares of common stock of the Company, exercisable in two
equal amounts with each tranche of the loan.
HydroGen CEO John Freeh commented:
"We are encouraged that Samsung, our strategic partner, and Federated Kaufmann,
a valued shareholder, have teamed to provide the Company with this critical
bridge financing. This financing will enable us to continue with our commercial
demonstration activities at ASHTA Chemicals, retain key staff who will
be required to ensure continuity of our operations, and attempt to complete
a sale or other form of financing of the Company.
"Although we have significantly
reduced our workforce and burn rate, we have continued to make operational
progress. Our ASHTA demonstration plant is now operating with fuel cell
stacks that incorporate our second generation electrodes. These electrodes
are manufactured with materials that are expected to provide longer life
than that of our first generation electrodes. We made this upgrade during
an unplanned shutdown after the demonstration plant was operated outside
of certain pressure and temperature operating conditions required for proper
electrolyte management. Even with our reduced staffing we were able to
overhaul the fuel cell module, upgrade the fuel cell stacks with the new
electrodes, deliver the overhauled module to ASHTA, improve plant operating
procedures, make additional improvements in the balance of plant, and re-start
the plant."
About HydroGen Corporation
HydroGen Corporation, through
its wholly-owned subsidiary, HydroGen, LLC, is a developer of multi-megawatt
fuel cell systems utilizing its proprietary 400 kW phosphoric acid fuel
cell (PAFC) technology. Advancing fuel cell technology originally developed
by Westinghouse Corporation, the Company targets market applications where
hydrogen is currently available and other drivers favoring the adoption
of fuel cells are present. |