Complete Solaria Inc

Our Mission

Our mission is to deliver energy-efficient solutions to homeowners and small to medium-sized businesses that allow them to lower their energy bills while reducing their carbon footprint. Complete Solaria, Inc., or Complete Solaria, has created a unique, end-to-end offering that delivers a best-in-class customer experience with a robust technology platform, financing solutions, and high-performance solar modules.

Business Overview

Complete Solaria was formed in November 2022 through the merger of Complete Solar Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Complete Solar”),and The Solaria Corporation, a Delaware corporation (such entity, “Solaria,” and such transaction, the “Business Combination”). Complete Solaria created a technology platform to offer clean energy products to homeowners by enabling a national network of sales partners and build partners. Our sales partners generate solar installation contracts with homeowners on our behalf. To facilitate this process, we provide the software tools, sales support and brand identity to our sales partners, making them competitive with national providers. This turnkey solution makes it easy for anyone to sell solar. We fulfill our customer contracts by engaging with local construction specialists. We manage the customer experience and complete all pre-construction activities prior to delivering build-ready projects including hardware, engineering plans, and building permits to our builder partners. We manage and coordinate this process through our proprietary HelioTrackTM software system.

Complete Solaria provides residential solar system designs, proposals, and CAD drawing sets to existing sales partners and other residential solar companies, regardless of whether they participate as or builder partners. In doing so, Complete Solaria seeks to power the entire solar power industry.

In October 2023, we sold solar panel assets of The Solaria Corporation, including intellectual property and customer contracts to Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (“Maxeon”), pursuant to the terms of an asset purchase agreement (the “Disposal Agreement”). Under the terms of the Disposal Agreement, Maxeon agreed to acquire certain assets and employees of Complete Solaria for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $11.0 million consisting of 1,100,000 shares of Maxeon ordinary shares.

Revenue Model

Our current products fall into two general categories: Solar System Sales and Software Enhanced Services.

Technology Innovation

Since its inception, Complete Solaria has continued to invest in a platform of services and tools to enable large-scale operations for sales and builder partners. The platform incorporates processes and software solutions that simplify and streamline design, proposals, and project management throughout the lifecycle of a residential solar project. The platform empowers new market entrants and smaller industry participants with its plug-and-play capabilities. The ecosystem Complete Solaria has built provides broad reach, and we believe it positions Complete Solaria for sustained and rapid growth through a capital-efficient business model. The network of our partners continues to expand today.

Differentiation and Operating Results

Delivering a differentiated customer experience is core to Complete Solaria’s strategy. It emphasizes a customized solution, including a design specific to each customer’s home and pricing configurations that typically drive both customer savings and value. Developing a trusted brand and providing a customized solar service offering resonates with customers accustomed to a traditional residential power market that is often overpriced and lacking in customer choice.

Financing Solutions

Complete Solaria assists its end customers with financing solutions through third-party lease providers, power purchase agreement providers and third-party loan providers.

Customers may lease a Complete Solaria solar system. The lease provider will purchase the solar system and the property owner will rent the solar system in exchange for the electricity the system produces.

Through a power purchase agreement, a third-party developer installs, owns, and operates a solar system on a customer’s property. The customer then purchases the system’s electric output for a predetermined period. A power purchase agreement allows the customer to receive stable and often low-cost electricity with no upfront cost while also enabling the owner of the system to take advantage of tax credits and receive income from the sale of electricity.

Lastly, third-party loan providers offer Complete Solaria’s end customers a loan to purchase solar systems, and then the customers will pay off the loan over a period of time.

Our Strategy

Complete Solaria’s strategy focuses on providing its sales partners with the software tools, sales support, and ability to compete effectively with national providers. This turnkey solution makes it easy for anyone to sell solar.

Solar System Sales are full systems sold to homeowners and small to medium-sized commercial businesses through Complete Solaria’s sales partner channels. Complete Solaria and its builder partners fulfill and install the systems.

Software and Services

Software and services sales include access to Complete Solaria’s HelioQuoteTM sales proposal and system design software; proposal writing services that support field sales agents; and design, engineering, and permitting services that improve subscale solar companies’ operational effectiveness and cost efficiency. See*“Increase revenue and margin by bundling software enhanced services with solar module sales*” above.

In support of Complete Solaria’s strategy to increase revenue and expand margin opportunities in its two core products, Complete Solaria also considers the following activities to be key elements of its strategy:

Our Strengths

The following strengths position Complete Solaria to drive the mass adoption of residential solar in a manner that maximizes the value of its growing customer base over the long term:

Technology Suite

HelioSuite is an innovative, end-to-end software platform designed to manage every aspect of a residential solar project. HelioSuite was originally designed to support our internal sales and build partners to ensure a seamless customer experience. In 2021, Complete Solaria commercialized the software solutions through Helio Proposal Services provide proposal services for residential solar sales companies outside of Complete Solar’s existing network of sales partners. Features of the Technology Suite include the following capabilities, some of which are planned for roll-out in the future:

Customer Service and Operations

Complete Solaria has made significant investments to create a platform of services and tools that addresses customer origination, system design and installation, and general customer support. Before a sales representative conducts a consultation, homeowners are pre-qualified based on a preliminary evaluation which considers a homeowner’s credit, home ownership, electricity usage and suitability of the roof based on age, condition, shading and pitch. Once a homeowner is pre-qualified, all necessary data is collected and a proposal is generated for the homeowner. If a homeowner is interested in moving forward, a customer contract is automatically generated for electronic execution. This contract then undergoes a final review and verification of credit before it is countersigned.

Once an agreement is fully executed, a service tech performs a site audit at the home to inspect the roof and measure shading. This audit follows a final system design plan and an application for any required building permits. The plans are reviewed to ensure they conform to the executed contract or to process a change order if required. A second production estimate is generated at this time and if the expected energy production exceeds or falls below the original estimate by certain thresholds, the homeowner agreement is modified accordingly. To reduce installation costs and operational risk, there are defined design and installation quality standards designed to ensure that homeowners receive a quality product, regardless of who installs the system.

After the solar panels are installed, the customer care team follows up with the homeowner with a survey on their experience. If a system requires maintenance, Complete Solaria or a partner or dedicated service-only contractor will visit the customer’s home and perform any necessary repairs or maintenance at no additional cost to the customer.

Software Enhanced Services

Complete Solaria’s partners are third-party Sales organizations that use the design and proposal services for their residential solar projects. Complete Solaria staffs a sales support desk six days a week to provide live customer support for sales representatives who need a design or proposal for a potential homeowner sale. These customer support teams rapidly produce proposals, answer questions, and offer other forms of support for sales personnel.

Suppliers

The main components of a residential solar energy system are the solar modules, inverters, and racking systems. Complete Solaria generally purchases these components for build partners from select distributors, which are then shipped to build partners for installation. There is a running list of approved suppliers in the event any of the sources for modules, inverters or other components become unavailable. If Complete Solaria fails to develop, maintain, and expand relationships with these or other suppliers, the ability to meet anticipated demand for solar energy systems may be adversely affected, or at higher costs or delayed. If one or more of the suppliers ceases or reduces production due to its financial condition, acquisition by a competitor or otherwise, it may be difficult to identify alternate suppliers quickly or to qualify alternative products on commercially reasonable terms, and the ability to satisfy this demand may be adversely affected.

Complete Solaria screens all suppliers and components based on expected cost, reliability, warranty coverage, ease of installation, etc. The declining cost of solar modules and the raw materials necessary to manufacture them have been a key driver in the prices charged for electricity and homeowner adoption of solar energy. If solar module and raw material prices do not continue to decline at the same rate as they have over the past several years, the resulting prices could slow growth and cause financial results to suffer. If Complete Solaria is required to pay higher prices for supplies, accept less favorable terms, or purchase solar modules or other system components from alternative, higher-priced sources, financial results may be adversely affected.

Complete Solaria’s build partners are responsible for and source the other products related to solar energy systems, such as fasteners, wiring and electrical fittings. From time-to-time, Complete Solaria procures these other products related to solar energy systems for its own installation business. Complete Solaria manages inventory through local warehouses and as segregated inventory at build partners.

The main components of a residential solar module are the solar cells. Complete Solaria’s solar modules are generally manufactured by third-party select manufacturers and are purchased from distributors.

Complete Solaria screens all suppliers and components based on expected cost, reliability, warranty coverage, ease of installation, and other factors. It typically enters into master contract arrangements with major suppliers that define the general terms and conditions of purchases, including warranties, product specifications, indemnities, delivery and other customary terms.

Competition

Complete Solaria’s primary competitors are the traditional utilities that supply electricity to potential customers. It competes with these traditional utilities primarily based on price (cents per kilowatt hour), predictability of future prices (by providing pre-determined annual price escalations) and the ease by which homeowners can switch to electricity generated by solar energy systems. Based on these factors, Complete Solaria competes favorably with traditional utilities.

Complete Solaria competes for homeowner customers with other solar sales and installation companies and with solar companies with business models that are similar to Complete Solaria’s. Complete Solaria’s main competitors can be grouped broadly into (a) national, vertically integrated companies with established brands and proprietary consumer financing products; (b) small, local solar contractors who operate with relatively low-fixed overhead expenses but who may lack systems, tools, and sophisticated product offerings; and (c) sales aggregators who engage with third-party sales companies to generate installation contracts. Complete Solaria competes favorably with these companies, with (a) better customer experience and better Sales Partner experience than the national vertically integrated companies; (b) better pricing and broader customer offerings than smaller local solar contractors; and (c) a better build partner experience than sales aggregators.

Complete Solaria also faces competition from purely finance-driven organizations that acquire homeowner customers and then subcontract out the installation of solar energy systems, installation businesses that seek financing from external parties, large construction companies and utilities and sophisticated electrical and roofing companies. At the same time, the open platform provides opportunities for these competitors to become partners, and the open platform offers these new market participants a cost-effective way to enter the market and compelling process, technology and supply chain services over the long term.

Intellectual Property

Complete Solaria seeks to protect its intellectual property rights by relying on federal, state and common law rights in the U.S. and other countries, as well as contractual restrictions. It generally enters into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with employees and contractors, and confidentiality agreements with other third parties, in order to limit access to, and disclosure and use of, confidential information and proprietary technology. In addition to these contractual arrangements, Complete Solaria also relies on a combination of trademarks, trade dress, domain names, copyrights, and trade secrets to help protect the brand and other intellectual property.

Government Regulations and Incentives

Governments have used different public policy mechanisms to accelerate the adoption and use of solar power. Examples of customer-focused financial mechanisms include capital cost rebates, performance-based incentives, feed-in tariffs, tax credits, renewable portfolio standards, net metering, and carbon regulations. Some of these government mandates and economic incentives are scheduled to be reduced or to expire or could be eliminated. Capital cost rebates provide funds to customers based on the cost and size of a customer’s solar power system. Performance-based incentives provide funding to a customer based on the energy produced by their solar power system. Feed-in tariffs pay customers for solar power system generation based on energy produced at a rate generally guaranteed for a period of time. Tax credits reduce a customer’s taxes at the time the taxes are due. Renewable portfolio standards mandate that a certain percentage of electricity delivered to customers comes from eligible renewable energy resources. Net metering allows customers to deliver to the electric grid any excess electricity produced by their on-site solar power systems and to be credited for that excess electricity at or near the full retail price of electricity. Carbon regulations, including cap-and-trade and carbon pricing programs, increase the cost of fossil fuels, which release climate-altering carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions during combustion.

In addition to the mechanisms described above, there are various incentives for homeowners and businesses to adopt solar power in The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Moreover, in Europe, the European Commission has mandated that its member states adopt integrated national climate and energy plans to increase their renewable energy targets to be achieved by 2030, which could benefit the deployment of solar. However, the U.S. and European Union, among others, have imposed tariffs or are evaluating the imposition of tariffs on solar panels, solar cells, polysilicon, and other components. These and any other tariffs or similar taxes or duties may offset the incentives described above and increase the price of Complete Solaria’s solar products.

Employees and Human Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2023, Complete Solaria had over 134 employees. Complete Solaria also engages independent contractors and consultants. No employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. There have not been any work stoppages.

Complete Solaria’s human capital resources objectives include identifying, recruiting, retaining, training, and integrating its existing and new employees. The principal purposes of Complete Solaria’s equity incentive plans are to attract, retain and motivate personnel through the granting of equity-based awards, increasing stockholder value and the success of Complete Solaria by motivating such individuals to perform to the best of their abilities and achieve Complete Solaria’s objectives.

Facilities

Complete Solaria’s corporate headquarters and executive offices are located in Fremont, California and it also maintains an office in Lehi, Utah.

Complete Solaria leases all the facilities and owns no real property. Complete Solaria believes that current facilities are adequate to meet ongoing needs. If additional space is required, Complete Solaria believes that it will be able to obtain additional facilities on commercially reasonable terms.

U.S. Corporate Information

We were originally known as Freedom Acquisition I Corp (“FACT”). We are engaged in solar system sales and associated commerce. On July 18, 2023, Complete Solaria, FACT, and certain other entities consummated the transactions contemplated under that certain amended and restated Business Combination Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2023, following the approval at the special meeting of the stockholders of FACT held July 11, 2023. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, we changed our name from Freedom Acquisition I Corp. to Complete Solaria, Inc.

Our principal executive offices are located at 45700 Northport Loop E, Fremont, CA 94538, and our telephone number is (510) 270-2507.

Access to Company Information

We file or furnish periodic reports and amendments thereto, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In addition, the SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. Complete Solar’s internet address is https://www.completesolaria.com. Through our internet website, we make available, free of charge, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports have been filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information on our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.