Raser Technologies: All Talk, No Profits

Despite another quarter of red ink, Martin Petersen, Chief Financial Officer of Raser Technologies, Inc (RZ), which is looking to develop geothermal assets as an alternative energy source, said the Company "made tremendous progress in achieving [our] goals during the year, setting the stage for a productive and exciting 2008."

President Patrick Schwartz, crowed, too, about "significant relationships and agreements [that we] completed this past year," including a signed license agreement with Wilson Auto Electric Ltd. Of Canada, in which Wilson will have the right to incorporate Raser’s Symetron™ technology into truck and automotive alternators.

Whenever the 10Q Detective starts to feel despondent about the plight of the markets, we turn to Raser press releases—any one of them—for a good chortle.

The 10Q Detective has followed the alleged progress of the Company for more than two years now. Like we said back in December 2005, Raser [remains] a stock-promoter's dream--hyped PR with no content.

As a result of six-years of ongoing operating losses, Raser has an accumulated deficit of approximately $51.2 million on cumulative revenues (from inception) of approximately $0.8 million, as of December 31, 2007.

Despite repeated stumbles in finding revenue pathways to profitability, management shoulders on.

You made me promises, promises
You knew you'd never keep
Promises, promises
Why do I believe ~ English synth-pop band Naked Eyes (“Promises,Promises” Youtube video)

When we last looked in on the Company, management was promulgating how its Symetron platform would revolutionize the efficiency of electric motors, offering the "tremendous promise in delivering improvements in power and efficiency in many industrial motor applications."

New Business Strategy

A funny story apropos of energy politics (increased dependence on foreign energy sources and West Texas crude topping $110 a barrel), management is now reinventing itself as a renewable energy stock play with a new priority: Geothermal Development & Monetization.

Without promotion something terrible happens... Nothing! ~ Circus Entertainer P.T. Barnum (1810 – 1891)

Public Relations is running at full capacity, touting the benefits of Razer’s proprietary heat transfer technology in improving energy efficiencies of geothermal power plants.

Raser is acquiring one of the largest portfolios of geothermal assets in the country, with interests (and leases) in more than 200,000 acres of land in six western states identified as having potential to provide sufficient geothermal energy to operate geothermal power plants.

Development of Geothermal Power Plants

From the potential resources acquired, management is looking to identify properties that it believes can be developed rapidly and efficiently, and will initiate efforts to develop power plants on such properties.

Raser announced in April 2007 that it would initiate the development of approximately 100 MW per year over the following three years and then ramp up to 150 MW per year for each year thereafter.

The 10Q Detective notes, however, that critical to the successful development of each of the power plant projects is adequate financing—an ongoing concern for the Company (in addition to necessary cash needed to cover upfront lease bonuses and annual delay rentals for the leases until a geothermal power plant is placed in service).

Outlook

When it comes to small capitalization companies, the 10Q Detective embraces the maxim: success runs inverse to the total of press releases.

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't. ~ Author Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)

No major electronic manufacturers or car makers have signed with Raser, leading us to question the visibility of the technology and/or management’s ability to exploit the potential commercial viability of its Symetron technologies. Ergo, we are doubtful that Named Executive Officers will be any more successful in executing on revenue and income opportunities in the Geothermal Energy segment.

To date, Raser has not received ANY power purchase agreements for its estimated geothermal reserves, so no forward revenue stream can be relied upon to cover requisite expenses.

The $300,000 in revenue for FY 2007 was generated from one government contractor.

Do the math…the Company’s ability to continue 'as a going concern' is dependent on future financing deals—with more dilution to follow.

Consistent with our limited operating history, we have generated limited revenues from operations. We anticipate that material revenue will not be generated from our Power Systems segment until the geothermal power plants we intend to develop are constructed and placed in service. To date, our primary source of revenue has been from research and development subcontracts administered through contractors for certain government agencies. Form 10-K, filed March 11, 2008.

Investment Risks & and Considerations

As of December 31, 2007, Raser had cash on hand of $5.9 million. These funds will not last too long.

Management loves to spend monies: cash used in operations and for capex were approximately $6.7 million and $9.9 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The Company also has contractual obligations (operating leases and purchases) due in the aggregate of $34.2 million, with about $26.4 million owed in less than one year!

As of December 31, 2007, Raser is obligated to pay purchase and service fees to one vendor of approximately $25.1 million in 2008—eighty times actual sales delivered in FY 2007. We believe that the unnamed vendor is UTC Power (NYSE:UTX) and the purchase agreements are for the delivery of PureCycle modular units for the first three geothermal power plants that Raser intends to develop.

Raser’s independent registered public accounting firm’s report on the Company’s 2007 financial statements questions Raser’s ability to continue as a going concern, due to the lack of sufficient capital and management’s [continued] inability to operate at cash breakeven.

Each geothermal power plant build-out leaves a dilutive footprint, too. To date, Raser has financed operations principally through the sale of equity and equity related securities.

Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally
I'm so tired I can't sleep

A financing agreement with Merrill Lynch in January 2008, which provides for the funding of up to 100 MW of power plant construction, was structured to provide the brokerage with the ability to receive warrants to purchase up to 3.7 million shares of Raser’s common stock (ancillary to $38.4 million in the form of 15-year fully amortizing notes for the construction of the Company's first 10.5 MW geothermal power plant in Nye County, Nevada).

I'm a liar and a thief
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty

Raser is like a heroin addict looking for his next fix.

I'm on warm milk and laxatives
Cherry-flavored antacids ~ Kirk Cobain, Nirvana (“Pennyroyal Tea”)

Most recently, in 2007, the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately $18.9 million, pursuant to private placements, warrant exercises, and stock issuances for geothermal land leases totaling about 4.6 million shares. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had 55.92 million shares issued and outstanding.

What is management doing to preserve cash? Effective March 9, 2007, the Company reduced the number of credit cards available under its corporate credit card program (with about $75,000 in annual savings).

In addition, the Company is issuing shares of its common stock as compensation for services rendered by certain vendors. On May 24, 2007, Raser issued 15,000 shares, valued on the date of issuance at $110, 250, to Cummins and Barnard as compensation for engineering services provided to assist with the development of geothermal power plants.

Investment Analysis

Beyond 'proof of concept,' and absent visible revenue streams—actual commercialization of Symetron technology and/or production of geothermal energy—the 10Q Detective does not believe the risk/reward ratio favors speculative purchase of Raser shares. AVOID

Author David J. Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.

Comments

[ronrohkal:]

Companies & enteties that have signed up with Raser:

US Military: just received a major milestone payment
Hyundai: have you heard of this co?

FEV Engine Technology

Tecstar
SUV with an unnamed major automobile manufacturer
Wilson Autoelectric
About Wilson Auto Electric
Wilson Auto Electric Limited is the largest independent North American manufacturer and re-manufacturer of alternators, starters and electrical component parts for the automotive, agricultural, industrial, heavy duty truck, and marine aftermarkets. For more information on Wilson, please visit www.wilsonautoelectric....

What's your agenda? Your post comes across as so smug with it's smart alec quotes.

2008 Mar 14 08:43 AM

[peytopolo:]

Obviously an article by an extremely biased and ignorant writer. The assumptions made in this article regarding the financing are outragous.

We may get more details on the financing package today.

2008 Mar 14 10:13 AM

[David Fessler:]

What an ingnoramus. You are so clueless as to the real situation with this company, it's comical. I don't know where your strengths lie, but it isn't in analyzing the merits of a business and making forward projections. Stick to something you know how to do, whatever that is. And leave the silly, trite comments for some other site. They don't belong here.

2008 Mar 19 10:25 AM

[strabo:]

Hmmm you might want to take a look at the Power Purchase Agreement they signed today with the city of Anaheim. Also if you go to the company's website and read the resumes of the executive team you might think differently. IMHO this company is for real. You should look at more than just their 10-k.

2008 Mar 19 10:57 AM

[User 130657:]

REALLY MAN WHAT'S YOUR AGENDA?

2008 Jun 09 03:47 PM

[bob gee:]

ronro, peytopo, favido, strabo...hmmm, there's definitely a pattern here, could it be raso?

2008 Jul 19 06:29 PM

[pbeach:]

FWIW: here's a nice balance to this sensationally negative, blatantly biased article:

Raser Technologies: A Short Squeeze in the Making
by: Alexandra Minsky posted on: June 16, 2008 |

seekingalpha.com/artic...

2008 Aug 11 03:31 PM

[Tekton:]

Looks like a scare job to buy up a bunch of low, low priced stock...
Maybe it worked when it got down to about 30 cents a share. This week it's about .74 on news that the Utah Geothermal plant opened up.

2008 Nov 02 10:28 AM