-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Aa2L7zfH1A/P++TNRNek+YOXze1SLdjdSgBiqZJAdA+RA+XMy9ByFYVOzhkb66TA 9p3cVRrtNfVcWx3E/ZmaqQ== 0000950123-10-067346.txt : 20101108 0000950123-10-067346.hdr.sgml : 20101108 20100722171551 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-10-067346 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: CORRESP PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100722 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000949428 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS [2810] IRS NUMBER: 061393453 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: CORRESP BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10 MIDDLE STREET STREET 2: SUITE 1100 CITY: BRIDGEPORT STATE: CT ZIP: 06604 BUSINESS PHONE: 2034165290 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10 MIDDLE STREET STREET 2: SUITE 1100 CITY: BRIDGEPORT STATE: CT ZIP: 06604 CORRESP 1 filename1.htm corresp
(CLEAN DIESEL LOGO)
July 22, 2010
Submitted Via Edgar
Ms. Pamela Long
Assistant Director
Division of Corporation Finance
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
     Re:   Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-4
Filed May 14, 2010
File No. 333-166865
Dear Ms. Long:
     We have reviewed the June 10, 2010 letter from the Staff (the “Staff”) of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) concerning the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (“Clean Diesel”) filed with the SEC on May 14, 2010 (the “Initial S-4”) with respect to the proposed business combination with Catalytic Solutions, Inc. (“CSI”).
     We have set forth below the text of each of the Staff’s comments set forth in its comment letter, followed by Clean Diesel’s response. In addition to responding to the Staff’s comments, we have updated the Initial S-4 generally. Simultaneously with this letter, Clean Diesel is also filing Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the SEC to reflect Clean Diesel’s responses to such comments. We also enclose for the Staff’s convenience a marked copy of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Amended S-4”).
Form S-4
General
SEC Comment:
  1.   We note your disclosure that Clean Diesel anticipates that before the completion of the distribution of the securities covered by this registration statement, all outstanding shares of Clean Diesel common stock will be combined by a reverse stock split into a lesser number of shares of Clean Diesel common stock in the ratio of 3 to 1. Please revise your financial statements and your disclosures throughout the filing to give retroactive effect to the expected stock split. Doing this in the next amendment will save us substantial review time in future amendments. If your auditors believe that only a “draft” report can be presented, due to a pending future event such as the stock split, they must include in the filing a signed and dated preface to their “draft” report stating the reason for the “draft” report and that they expect to be in a position to issue the report in the form presented prior to effectiveness. The signed, dated, and unrestricted auditor’s report must be included in the filing prior to effectiveness. See Rule 2-02 of Regulation S-X.

 


 

Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that the primary purpose of the proposed reverse stock split is to enable Clean Diesel to satisfy the NASDAQ’s $4.00 per share minimum bid price requirement in order to permit shares of Clean Diesel common stock, including shares to be issued in the proposed Merger, to continue to be listed on the NASDAQ. The one-for-three reverse stock split described in the Initial S-4 no longer appears to provide relative assurances that Clean Diesel common stock would trade at or above that minimum requirement as of the time of the merger. Accordingly, Clean Diesel now proposes that its stockholders approve a range of reverse stock split ratios rather than the fixed one-for-three ratio described in the Initial S-4, with the exact ratio within such range to be established by the Board of Directors of Clean Diesel immediately prior to the effective time of the merger. Clean Diesel believes that arbitrarily selecting a single hypothetical reverse stock split ratio and revising its financial statements and the disclosures throughout the Amended S-4 to give retroactive effect to a hypothetical reverse stock split ratio would be confusing to stockholders because the actual ratio that is approved could be significantly different. Accordingly, we have retained financial statements and disclosure based on historical results, but we have made modifications throughout the Amended S-4 to note that a reverse stock split is being proposed and indicting the impact thereof on particular statistics or data. See joint letter to stockholders, Clean Diesel’s Notice of Annual Meeting, pages (ii)-(iv), and pages 198-200.
SEC Comment:
  2.   You disclose that Clean Diesel and CSI have agreed to a merger agreement which will be accounted for as a reverse merger whereby CSI would be considered the accounting acquirer. Please confirm that your accounting will be consistent with the following bullet points:
    Prior to the date of the reverse acquisition the historical financial statements are required to be those of CSI (the accounting acquirer) and should only include the historical results and operations of CSI;
 
    Your capital structure should be retained by the surviving entity. This is done by recasting the equity statement of CSI, the accounting acquirer. Historical stockholder’s equity of CSI, prior to the merger date, is retroactively restated for the equivalent number of shares received in the merger. To do this, you should divide the number of shares issued by Clean Diesel to CSI by the number of shares outstanding at CSI immediately prior to the transaction. You then take that ratio and multiply it by the number of shares issued or redeemed in each capital transaction shown in CSI’s historical financial statements preceding the date of the transaction. This will naturally also require adjustments to the common stock and APIC columns to appropriately reflect any difference in par value. The number of shares outstanding in your financial statements just prior to the recapitalization transaction is shown as being effectively issued in the transaction on the transaction date; and
 
    Subsequent to the date of the reverse acquisition the historical financial statements are required to be those of CSI (the accounting acquirer) and Clean Diesel (the accounting acquiree) on a consolidated basis.
Response:
     We confirm that our accounting will be consistent with the foregoing bullet points.

2


 

SEC Comment:
  3.   Please clarify for us supplementally and throughout your document, including in response to the more specific comments we have issued below, who will receive the merger consideration to be issued by Clean Diesel and in what proportions. To the extent that you intend for any financial advisors or purchasers in CSI’s private note offerings to receive shares of Clean Diesel that are registered in this transaction, please explain what consideration you have given to the integration of public and private offerings. Specifically, please note that it is our position that offerings made privately cannot be completed publicly. As a part of your analysis, please tell us:
    What understanding you have, directly or indirectly with Innovator Capital, Allen & Co., or any other financial advisor regarding its receipt of shares or warrants issued as merger consideration. Clarify whether it is your intention that these shares or warrants (and shares underlying such warrants) are to be covered by this registration statement.
 
    What is the status of CSI’s private note offering currently and at the time that the registration statement was first filed. We also note disclosure that CSI had discussion with potential investors in the proposed interim capital raise as early as April 30, 2010, and that the terms of the notes offered provide for those investors to receive merger consideration. Please also clarify whether it is your intention that these shares are to be covered by this registration statement.
 
    Whether any officers, directors, shareholders or affiliates of either CSI or Clean Diesel are expected to purchase any of the securities offered by them in the capital raising transactions.
     Note that we may have further comments upon review of your response.
Response:
     In connection with the merger, CSI’s financial advisor, Allen & Company LLC, will receive 1,000,000 shares (pre-split) of Clean Diesel common stock and warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares (pre-split) of Clean Diesel common stock. Neither these shares nor these warrants (nor the shares underlying the warrants) are covered by this registration statement.
     Innovator Capital is advising Clean Diesel with respect to the merger. Innovator Capital will receive a fee of approximately $761,000, in cash, or at Clean Diesel’s option, up to 512,612 shares (pre-split) of Clean Diesel common stock and $73,333 in cash, in respect of the merger fee. Clean Diesel, at its option, may pay this fee entirely in cash. The shares of Clean Diesel common stock, if any, issued to Innovator Capital as part of the merger fee are not covered by this registration statement.
     The status of CSI’s offering of secured convertible notes is disclosed on pages 2 and 143, and elsewhere in the Amended S-4. CSI agreed to sell an aggregate $4,000,000 of secured convertible notes at par to a limited group of accredited investors, all of whom had a pre-existing relationship with CSI or its AIM advisor. The issuance of the first tranche of $2,000,000, which consists of four equal installments, was not subject to any conditions related to the merger or other shareholder approvals. As disclosed in the Amended S-4, the issuance of these four equal installments of $500,000 in the first tranche of secured convertible notes occurred on June 2, 2010, June 8, 2010, June 28, 2010 and July 12, 2010. The issuance of the second tranche of $2,000,000, because it is conditioned upon CSI shareholder approval of the merger and changes to CSI’s articles of incorporation, will occur subsequent to the special meeting of CSI shareholders but prior to the effective time of the merger. A total of approximately 149,857,178 shares of Class B common stock of CSI is potentially issuable upon conversion of the $4,000,000 of secured convertible notes. Under the terms of the definitive agreements for the convertible note offering and the merger agreement, the secured convertible notes will convert into shares of CSI Class B common stock prior to the closing of the merger and thereafter be exchanged for shares of Clean Diesel common stock upon the closing of the merger. The CSI Class B common stock will not receive the warrants to purchase additional shares of Clean Diesel common stock being issued as merger consideration to CSI’s Class A shareholders.
     The offer and sale of the shares of Clean Diesel common stock that would be issued in exchange for CSI Class B common stock relating to the first tranche of CSI secured convertible notes are intended to be covered by the registration statement. However, in light of the Staff’s comments, Footnote 2 to the calculation of registration fee table has been revised to make clear that the registration statement no longer is intended to include the Clean Diesel shares that would be issued in exchange for CSI Class B common stock relating to the second tranche of the CSI secured convertible notes.
     We are cognizant of the Staff’s position that an offering made privately cannot be completed publicly. However, as stated above, the investment in the first tranche of secured convertible notes has already occurred and is not subject to any condition or adjustment due to the merger. In the event the merger is not consummated, the investors will continue to hold a debt position in CSI. Stated differently, the secured convertible noteholders in the first tranche currently are and will continue to be exposed to investment risk in CSI regardless of the proposed merger or any other merger to which CSI may be a party Having the registration statement cover the CDTI common stock issued in exchange for CSI Class B common stock relating to the first tranche of CSI secured convertible notes would treat these existing CSI securityholders similarly with other existing CSI securityholders.
     With respect to the matter of integration raised in the second sentence of the Staff’s comment, Clean Diesel and CSI believe that, consistent with existing Commission positions, CSI’s offering to secured convertible noteholders should not be integrated with Clean Diesel’s registered offering of common stock in the merger for the following reasons.
A.   The secured convertible note offering was completed prior to the filing of the registration statement.
     At the time Clean Diesel filed the registration statement on May 14, 2010, CSI and its AIM advisor already had identified the investors in the secured convertible note offering. Although CSI and the investors did not sign definitive documents related to the sale of the secured convertible notes until approximately 2 weeks after the Initial S-4 was filed, Clean Diesel and CSI believe that the private offering was substantially complete at the time Clean Diesel filed the Initial S-4. The parties had reached agreement on the aggregate size of the investment ($4,000,000), the basic terms of the convertible notes (interest rate, secured interest subordinate to CSI’s bank creditor, Fifth Third, penalty rate if CSI shareholders did not approve the conversion) and that such notes would be issued in two tranches (the first in four equal installments prior to the CSI special meeting with the second tranche issued immediately prior to the merger), all as described in the Initial S-4. Due to factors unrelated to the secured convertible note offering (particularly a desire to complete the merger as soon as possible), Clean Diesel opted to file the registration statement promptly rather than deferring until CSI signed the definitive documents related to the secured convertible note offering.
     Clean Diesel and CSI acknowledge that the investors were aware of the potential merger prior to the filing of the registration statement and that, due to the conversion terms in the merger, the investment in the private offering of CSI secured convertible notes is not unrelated to the subsequent issuance by Clean Diesel of common stock in the public offering. Clean Diesel and CSI submit, however, that the investment decision by the investors was unrelated to the filing of the Initial S-4.
B.   Even if the Staff does not consider the secured convertible note offering to have been completed prior to filing of the registration statement, the offering of Clean Diesel shares is consistent with Commission positions.
     Clean Diesel and CSI believe that the secured convertible note offering should not be integrated with the registered merger offering based on the policy position set forth by the Commission in its 2007 release proposing revisions of limited offering exemptions in Regulation D (Release No. 33-8828 (August 3, 2007)). In that Release, the Commission articulated that while the filing of a registration statement could serve as a general solicitation, such filing does not eliminate a company’s ability to conduct a concurrent private offering whether commenced before or after the filing of the registration statement. The Release states that the “analysis should not focus exclusively on the nature of the investors, such as whether they are ‘qualified institutional buyers’ as defined in Securities Act Rule 144A or institutional accredited investors, or the number of such investors participating in the offering; instead, companies and their counsel should analyze whether the offering is exempt under Section 4(2) on its own, including whether securities were offered and sold to the private placement investors through the means of a general solicitation in the form of the registration statement.” The Release concludes that “...if the prospective private placement investor became interested in the concurrent private placement through some means other than the registration statement that did not involve a general solicitation and otherwise was consistent with Section 4(2), such as through a substantive, pre-existing relationship with the company... then the prior filing of the registration statement generally would not impact the potential availability of the Section 4(2) exemption for that private placement and the private placement could be conducted while the registration statement for the public offering was on file with the Commission.”
     The private offering of the secured convertible notes by CSI has been made in accordance with an exemption from registration under Section 4(2). Clean Diesel and CSI believe that the validity of the exemption is not altered due to the filing of the registration statement. Here, six of the investors in the secured convertible notes, representing approximately 90% of the aggregate capital investment, are existing shareholders of CSI while the remaining investor has a preexisting relationship with CSI’s AIM advisor. Further, as stated above, CSI and its AIM advisor had identified each of the investors in the secured convertible note offering prior to the time that Clean Diesel filed the registration statement. While the CSI investors were aware of the potential merger with Clean Diesel, the decision to invest was not made in reliance upon the registration statement and was not due to any general solicitation related to the merger. Because the secured convertible note offering occurred by means of a valid private offering exemption, the fact that Clean Diesel subsequently commenced a registered public merger offering should not serve to cause the two offerings to be integrated.
C.   The secured convertible note satisfies the “five factor” integration test.
     Clean Diesel and CSI additionally believe that the offering of secured convertible notes, coupled with the possibility that the investors ultimately will receive Clean Diesel common stock, should not be integrated with Clean Diesel’s registered offering of common stock in the merger due to the application of the “five factor” integration test set forth in the Commission’s Release No. 33-4522 (November 6, 1962).
  (1)   Whether the different offerings are part of a single plan of financing. The private offering of secured convertible notes involves a capital raise for CSI as a stand alone company and potentially as a combined company with Clean Diesel. The public offering of merger shares does not involve a financing transaction.
 
  (2)   Whether the offerings involve the issuance of the same class of security. The private and public offerings involve securities of different issuers. Only if the merger occurs will the offerings receive the same class of security, Clean Diesel’s common stock. Under the terms of merger, however, the CSI convertible note holders will receive only Clean Diesel common stock while CSI shareholders will receive both Clean Diesel common stock and warrants.
 
  (3)   Whether the offerings are made at or about the same time. The private and public offerings have been and are being made about the same time.
 
  (4)   Whether the same type of consideration is to be received. The consideration for the securities received in CSI’s secured convertible note private offering is cash. The consideration for the securities received in Clean Diesel’s public merger offering is securities of CSI.
 
  (5)   Whether the offerings are made for the same general purpose. The purpose of the secured note offering is to infuse capital into CSI as a stand alone company and potentially as a combined company with Clean Diesel. The purpose of merger offering is to combine the business and operations of Clean Diesel and CSI.
Clean Diesel and CSI believe that the fourth and fifth factors should receive overweighting in the analysis here. While the CSI and Clean Diesel offerings may be related, the consideration and purpose are sufficiently distinct to weight against integration. It is not unusual for companies to undertake a financing transaction concurrent with a merger transaction. For the reasons articulated above, Clean Diesel and CSI believe the private and public offerings here should not be integrated.
     In response to the third bullet point of the Staff’s comment, six of the investors in CSI’s capital raise, representing approximately 90% of the aggregate capital investment, are existing shareholders of CSI while the remaining investor has a preexisting relationship with CSI’s AIM advisor. One of the members of CSI’s Board of Directors, Mr. Alexander (“Hap”) Ellis, III, is a partner of Rockport Capital LLP. Rockport Capital LLP subscribed for a portion of the secured convertible notes as part of CSI’s capital raise (See pages 143,158 and 184-185). Derek Gray, one of Clean Diesel’s directors, and two of Clean Diesel’s current stockholders have committed to purchase securities in Clean Diesel’s Regulation S offering (See page 185). None of the securities issued in Clean Diesel’s Regulation S offering are covered by this registration statement.
SEC Comment:
  4.   Please tell us supplementally the status of Clean Diesel’s private stock offering currently and at the time the registration statement was filed.
Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that on May 11, 2010, prior to the time its Board of Directors approved the merger agreement, Clean Diesel received executed commitment letters for the purchase of shares in an offering offshore under Regulation S. Those commitment letters, which contemplate a closing on the purchase of shares at the time the proposed merger between Clean Diesel’s wholly-owned subsidiary and CSI is consummated, remain in effect.
SEC Comment:
  5.   As you are registering shares on a post-split basis, and the merger will take place on a post-split basis, you should amend the cover page and disclosures throughout your prospectus regarding the number of shares and warrants to be issued in the merger to consistently present all information, unless otherwise specified, on a post-split basis rather than a pre-split basis.
Response:
     We have revised our cover page to present the number of shares and warrants to be issued in the merger on a pre-split basis. As discussed in the response to Comment No. 1, above, we have decided to

3


 

provide for a variable split ratio, rather than the fixed ratio. As such, although we are including illustrative examples of the effects of the reverse stock split in the Amended S-4 (see pages (ii)-(iv), and pages 198-200), we do not believe that revising the Amended S-4 throughout at a hypothetical fixed ratio will provide meaningful or useful information to Clean Diesel’s stockholders.
SEC Comment:
  6.   Please ensure that you supply all information currently omitted from the prospectus prior to requesting acceleration.
Response:
     We have noted the Staff’s comment.
SEC Comment:
  7.   Please note that we may have comments on the legal opinion and other exhibits once they are filed. Please understand that we will need adequate time to review these materials before effectiveness.
Response:
     We have noted the Staff’s comment.
SEC Comment:
  8.   Please revise to include a preliminary proxy card as an exhibit to the registration statement.
Response:
     We have included a preliminary proxy card as Exhibit 99.5 to the Amended S-4.
SEC Comment:
  9.   Please provide us with board books distributed to a special committee or the board by Ardour Capital Investments, LLC, Marshall & Stevens, Inc. and Houlihan & Smith.
Response:
     We are providing the board books provided by Ardour Capital Investments, LLC, Marshall & Stevens, Inc. and Houlihan and Smith to the Staff supplementally.
SEC Comment:
  10.   It appears that Clean Diesel stockholders are requested to vote on several material matters including an increase in authorized capital, the reverse stock split, and the merger transaction itself that are being presented as a single proposition, according to disclosure on page viii. We believe that these matters should be separately presented on the proxy card pursuant to Rule 14a-4(a)(3). Further, disclosure about each of these proposals should be presented separately in the proxy statement under appropriate headings. Please see Rule 14a-5(a). It is acceptable to condition any one or more of the proposals upon approval of the others, but investors should have the ability to vote separately on them. Note that to the extent proposals are conditioned

4


 

      upon one another, your disclosure should make this clear. Please see our staff guidance on this subject at www.sec.gov/interps/telephone/phonesupplement5.htm.
Response:
     We are separating the proposals as requested, we have revised the disclosure as requested. See Clean Diesel’s Notice of Annual Meeting and pages 195-201.
Calculation of Registration Fee Table
SEC Comment:
  11.   Please tell us supplementally how you arrived at 28,472,538 shares of Clean Diesel to be issued in the merger. We understand from your footnote that this is intended to be a post-split number of shares. However, if shares currently owned are intended to constitute 37% of the shares of the combined company, as suggested in the table on page iii, and if Clean Diesel will have 3,163,614 post-reverse-split shares outstanding after the financings, as suggested on page v, it is unclear why Clean Diesel would issue 28 million shares in the merger. Even if this is a pre-split number of shares, it is not clear why this number of shares would be issued in the merger. Further, these amounts do not appear to be consistent with note 1 to your unaudited pro forma financial statements, which says that Clean Diesel will issue 12,320,982 shares of common stock in the merge. Please reconcile.
Response:
     We have revised the fee table to reflect the current status of the transaction.
     As reflected in the Amended S-4, each of Clean Diesel and CSI met their cash positions as of June 30, 2010, and accordingly, the merger consideration ratio is now fixed. As such, Clean Diesel will issue (or reserve for issuance) approximately 14,204,847 shares (pre-split) of its common stock such that immediately after the effective time of the merger, CSI security holders and CSI’s financial advisor will collectively hold (or have the right to acquire) approximately 60% of Clean Diesel’s outstanding shares of common stock (without giving effect to the Clean Diesel warrants to be issued in the merger). In addition, as reflected in the Amended S-4 and in the response to Comment No. 1 above, Clean Diesel is now seeking stockholder approval for a range of reverse stock split ratios. In addition, as noted in the response to Comment No. 3, a number of shares to be issued by Clean Diesel are not being registered in this offering.
     We note supplementally for the Staff that the number of shares to be issued in the merger was originally calculated based on the potential maximum number of shares Clean Diesel would have been obligated to issue in the merger and a fixed three-for-one reverse stock split ratio. The maximum number of shares was based on the potential maximum adjustment for each companies’ cash position that could have been required under the terms of the Merger Agreement. As such, the base number of shares of Clean Diesel used for this calculation was 9,490,846, representing the 8,213,988 shares currently outstanding, plus 650,197 shares issuable by Clean Diesel in its Regulation S offering, plus 96,774 shares underlying warrants to be issued to Innovator Capital Ltd as compensation for its services in respect of the Regulation S offering, plus 529,887 shares to be issued to Innovator Capital Ltd as compensation for its services in respect of the merger (assuming Clean Diesel elects to pay this fee entirely in stock and assuming the maximum transaction value represented by the merger). Please note that some of the these numbers have changed as noted elsewhere in the Amended S-4. We then multiplied 9,490,846 by 9 to arrive at a total maximum number of shares issuable in the merger of 85,417,613 shares (pre-split). Note that this number of shares is set forth in the lower left portion of the table on page 60 of the Initial S-4

5


 

prospectus. If the reverse stock split occurred at the originally contemplated three-to-one ratio, the number of shares to be registered would have been 28,472,538 (or 85,417,613 divided by three).
     We have reconciled the figure used in note 1 to the unaudited pro forma financial statements to the 14,204,847 shares (pre-split) reflected in the footnote to the fee table.
SEC Comment:
  12.   In note (2) to the fee table, we note that you state that there are 263,101,684 shares of CSI to be exchanged in the merger. In the parenthetical that follows this statement, please specify what number of shares of CSI are already outstanding, the number subject to outstanding options and warrants and the number that you assume will be issued to the convertible note holders.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure to reflect the current status of the transaction. See note (2) to the fee table.
Letter to stockholders/prospectus cover page
SEC Comment:
  13.   As the joint letter to stockholders also serves as a prospectus cover page, please remove information that is repetitive or not required by Item 501 of Regulation S-K or otherwise key to an investment decision. For example, you state that stockholders are being asked to vote in favor of the merger transaction between Clean Diesel and CSI, and then repeat this information in the two paragraphs about each company’s stockholder meeting. While the cover page should make clear that the stockholders are voting on the merger transaction and that Clean Diesel’s stockholders are also voting on an increase in authorized shares and reverse stock split, you should avoid unnecessarily repeating this information.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See the joint letter to stockholders.
SEC Comment:
  14.   Please clarify the maximum number of shares that would be issued to existing CSI holders, the purchaser of new CSI convertible notes, and the CSI financial advisor, to the extent that such shares are being registered on this registration statement. If any shares registered on this registration statement and offered by this prospectus are to be issued to any other party, please make that clear on the cover page as well.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See note (2) to fee table, joint letter to stockholders and pages 76-79.
SEC Comment:
  15.   We believe that the proportional ownership of the combined company by existing Clean Diesel and CSI shareholders may be key to an investment decision. Please make clear that following the merger, existing Clean Diesel stockholders will own approximately 37% of the combined

6


 

      company, existing CSI shareholders will own approximately 16% of the combined company, and purchasers of new CSI convertible subordinated notes will own approximately 40% of the combined company, all subject to adjustment as more fully described in the prospectus. Please also clarify who will receive the warrants and in what proportion. We may have additional comments upon review of your revised disclosures.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See joint letter to stockholders, pages 2-3, and 76-81.
Questions and Answers About the Merger, page ii
SEC Comment:
  16.   Please avoid repeating information in your Q&A and Summary sections. If you use a Q&A, it should have a purpose that is distinct from the summary, such as answering questions about the meetings. Summary discussion of the terms of the merger, the merger consideration and adjustments thereto may then be provided in the Summary section.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages (ii)-(x).
SEC Comment:
  17.   In an appropriate Q&A, please state whether the new shareholders of Clean Diesel and CSI who purchase securities in the private capital raising transactions prior to the merger will be entitled to vote at the meetings.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages (vi) and (vii).
Q. How many shares of common stock of the combined company . . . , page v
SEC Comment:
  18.   Please revise to show your calculations in determining the 2.27 shares of Clean Diesel common stock (post-reverse split) and the warrant to purchase 1.408 shares of Clean Diesel common stock.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure to reflect the current status of the transaction and to clarify the calculations. See pages (iii)-(iv).
Q. What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger to CSI shareholders and warrant holders?, page vii

7


 

SEC Comment:
  19.   We note your statements regarding tax consequences “if’ the merger qualifies as a reorganization under Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code. Please revise these statements here, under “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” on page 65, and throughout your document where they appear to provide a more definitive statement as to qualification of the merger as a reorganization.
Response:
      Pursuant to Comment 75, CSI is in the process of obtaining a tax opinion. Upon receipt of such an opinion, we will revise the document to provide more definitive statements, as requested, reflecting the conclusions stated in the tax opinion.
SEC Comment:
  20.   We note your statement that whether the Merger meets the continuity of interest and control tests depends in large part on the “value of the Clean Diesel common stock issued to CSI shareholders as compared to the value of all consideration issued to CSI shareholders.” Please clarify the meaning of this statement.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure to delete this statement. See pages 11-12.
Summary, page 1
SEC Comment:
  21.   Please ensure that your summary covers each of the matters to be voted upon by Clean Diesel stockholders, and that each is described under its own discrete subheading. In this regard, please amend your summary and your prospectus to ensure that you separately discuss:
    the increase in authorized shares and the reason for it and;
 
    the reverse stock split and the reason for it.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 13-14.
SEC Comment:
  22.   Please discuss your treatment of fractional shares issuable as a result of:
    the reverse stock split, and
 
    the merger
      under an appropriate caption. Please also clarify how the value of fractional shares issuable in either circumstance will be calculated and disclose the source of funds necessary to cash out fractional shares. In addition, please reconcile disclosures that you have made regarding cash payment for fractional shares issuable in the stock split with disclosure on page 134, which states that you will issue a whole share of Clean Diesel common stock in respect of fractional shares.

8


 

Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 3-4 and 199.
SEC Comment:
  23.   Throughout your Summary, please ensure that you cite correct page numbers for the discussions that follow in the prospectus. Currently, many of these cross references appear to be in error.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested.
The Merger, page 1
SEC Comment:
  24.   This section discusses a number of important aspects of the merger, including the companies’ intention for the merger consideration to result in CSI’s shareholders owning 60% of the combined company (assuming that each company has completed its respective financings), the issuance of shares and warrants to the holders of CSI common stock, CSI Class B common stock, the issuance of shares to CSI’s financial advisor, the need to raise additional capital and the adjustments to the merger consideration in respect of each company’s cash position. To help guide readers through this complex information, please consider organizing it under additional descriptive subheadings.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 1-3.
Clean Diesel’s Reasons for the Merger, page 3
SEC Comment:
  25.   We note that Clean Diesel and CSI have net losses. Please explain in the Summary and The Merger sections, why Clean Diesel is pursuing a merger with a company that has a history of losses.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 5 and 54.
SEC Comment:
  26.   Please explain the meaning of the ninth bullet point. In addition, we note that this disclosure does not appear among the reasons for the merger articulated on page 46.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 4-5 and 53-54. We note supplementally for the Staff that we have reordered the reasons here and beginning at page 52 to conform the ordering (i.e., the 9th point in the Summary was the 12th bullet point in the articulation beginning at page 52).

9


 

Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Board of Directors of Clean Diesel, page 6
SEC Comment:
  27.   Please tell us, with a view toward disclosure, what services Innovator Capital performed in connection with the shares to be issued to it, the value of which is reflected in note 2 to the pro forma financial statements.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 8.
Opinion of Financial Advisor to the Board of Directors of CSI, page 6
SEC Comment:
  28.   We note the fees paid to Marshall & Stevens on page 7. Please clarify whether Marshall & Stevens has provided any “services beyond those contemplated,” and if so, please disclose the amount of the fees paid.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 8. We note supplementally for the Staff that no additional fee disclosure is required.
Merger Consideration, page 7
SEC Comment:
  29.   Please provide more definitive disclosure, based on stated assumptions, as to the allocation of the merger consideration. For example, you should:
    Clarify what classes of common stock of CSI will be exchanged for newly issued shares of Clean Diesel in the merger. We note that you refer to shares “to be designated Class A” and elsewhere in the document, you refer to “Class B” shares. If true, please clarify that the Class A shares are those currently outstanding and the Class B shares are shares underlying the CSI convertible notes.
 
    Disclose the terms upon which the convertible notes will be converted into Class B common stock.
 
    Explain how you will determine what portion of the merger consideration will be allocated to holders of CSI Class A common and Class B common shares, whether the exchange ratio will be the same for each class of CSI common stock.
 
    Provide clear examples of the amount of consideration, including an exchange ratio per share, that CSI Class A and Class B common shareholders will receive assuming that:
    Both parties’ financing transactions are fully completed
 
    CSI’s are completed, but not Clean Diesel’s
 
    Clean Diesel’s are completed, but not CSI’s

10


 

    Neither party’s transactions are completed.
    These disclosures should be clearly presented so that investors will understand how these amounts are calculated.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested and to reflect the current status of the transaction. See pages 8-9, 76-80.
SEC Comment:
  30.   Please clarify the formula, exercise price and other terms upon which the warrants offered in the merger to any party, including the holders of any class of CSI common stock, and any financial adviser or other party, will be exercisable for Clean Diesel common stock.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 80-81.
SEC Comment:
  31.   We note that Clean Diesel will assume warrants to purchase shares of CSI common stock that are outstanding and not terminated or exercised immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger. Please tell us whether this registration statement covers the shares underlying these warrants, and if not, what consideration you have given to registering those shares. Please also state the number of Clean Diesel shares that would be issuable upon exercise of the warrants assuming that one are terminated or exercised prior to the effective time of the merger.
Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that the Amended S-4 covers the Clean Diesel shares (and Clean Diesel warrants, and shares underlying those Clean Diesel warrants) underlying the CSI warrants to be assumed by Clean Diesel in the merger. CSI is expected to have outstanding only two warrants to purchase shares of its common stock at the effective time of the merger, which will be assumed by Clean Diesel and become the right to acquire shares of Clean Diesel common stock and warrants to acquire Clean Diesel common stock (e.g., what they would have received in the merger had they exercised immediately prior to the merger). One warrant to acquire 1,250,000 shares of CSI common stock is “in the money,” and one to acquire 3,117,115 shares of CSI common stock is “out of the money.” Thus, out of the 12,247,137 Clean Diesel shares proposed to be registered, an aggregate 386,410 shares are for shares (and warrant shares) underlying CSI’s warrants to be assumed in the merger as follows: (a) 62,012 shares are for CSI’s “in the money” warrant, (b) 154,640 shares are for CSI’s “out of the money warrant,” (c) 48,590 shares are for shares underlying Clean Diesel warrants for CSI’s “in the money” warrant, and (d) 121,168 shares are for shares underlying Clean Diesel warrants for CSI’s “out of the money” warrant. Of the aggregate 2,881,540 Clean Diesel warrants proposed to be registered, 169,758 are for warrants underlying CSI’s warrants to be assumed in the merger as follows: 48,590 warrants are for CSI’s “in the money” warrant, 121,168 warrants are for CSI’s “out of the money warrant.”

11


 

Conditions to Completion of the Merger, page 8
SEC Comment:
  32.   Please briefly summarize the conditions to each party’s obligations to complete the merger in this section of the Summary.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 10.
Interests of Directors, Executive Officers and Affiliates of CSI & Clean Diesel, page 9
SEC Comment:
  33.   We note on page 9 that Innovator Capital will receive a fee for its activities. Please disclose the fees Innovator Capital will receive in connection with this transaction. Please also include this information and Mr. Park’s fees in connection with Innovator Capital in the “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” section.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 11 and 186.
Risk Factors, page 15
Risks Relating to Clean Diesel’s Business, page 21
Risks Relating to CSI’s Business, page 27
SEC Comment:
  34.   Please revise and refrain from using qualifying or limiting statements in the introductory paragraph, such as statements that the risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of general or specific risk factors, references to other risks that you do not currently deem material or of which you are currently unaware. In view of the requirements of Item 503(c) of Regulation S-K, such qualifications and limitations are inappropriate. Your risk factor disclosure should address all of the material risks that you face. If you do not deem risks material, you should not make reference to them.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 15.
The market price of Clean Diesel common stock could decline as a result of the large number of shares that will become eligible for sale after consummation of the Merger, page 14
SEC Comment:
  35.   Please disclose whether there are any lock up agreements or other agreements, indicating that management, directors and financial advisors cannot sell their shares until sometime after the merger.
Response:
     We note that there are no lock up agreements or other agreements, indicating that management, directors and financial advisors cannot sell their shares until sometime after the merger. See pages 16-17.

12


 

Clean Diesel and CSI may be required to effect the Merger even though the combined company will not have cash resources sufficient for its needs, page 15
SEC Comment:
  36.   We note disclosure that the condition to closing that each company has at least $1 million cash position prior to the effective time of the merger may be waived. Please disclose whether Clean Diesel or CSI plans to waive this condition or any other condition to the merger.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested to indicate that neither Clean Diesel nor CSI plans to waive this condition or any other condition to the merger. See page 17.
If the effective time of the-merger is later than June 30, 2010 . . . , page 15
SEC Comment:
  37.   Please elaborate on how the date of the merger (June 30 or later) impacts the adjustments to the merger consideration. We understood that the adjustments to the merger consideration are made based upon the extent to which the parties are able to complete their financings prior to the effective time of the merger.
Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that each of Clean Diesel and CSI met its targeted respective cash position as of June 30, 2010. We have deleted this risk factor as it is no longer applicable. See page 17.
CSI’s current shareholders will own a large percentage of the Clean Diesel common stock after consummation of the Merger . . . , page 16
SEC Comment:
  38.   Based on disclosures in your filing, it appears that CSI’s current shareholders will own only 16% of the combined company’s common stock, and that investors in CSI’s capital raising transaction to be carried out prior to the merger will own 40% of the combined company’s common stock. Please revise the subheading of this risk factor and the disclosure as necessary to accurately reflect which shareholders will be in a position to significantly influence the outcome of corporate actions after the merger.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 18.
The Merger may not qualify as a reorganization . . . , page 19
SEC Comment:
  39.   You must provide investors with a definitive statement of tax consequences. Unless there is significant doubt about the tax consequences due to a lack of legal authority or other extenuating circumstances, it is not appropriate to include the uncertainty of tax treatment as a risk factor. Therefore, please remove this risk factor.

13


 

Response:
      Pursuant to Comment 75, CSI is in the process of obtaining a tax opinion. Upon receipt of such an opinion, we will revise the document to provide more definitive statements, as requested, reflecting the conclusions stated in the tax opinion.
The representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement were made solely for purposes of the contract . . . , page 21
SEC Comment:
  40.   Please remove this risk factor. The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement are disclosure for purposes of the federal securities laws and the parties’ liabilities thereunder. It is not appropriate to suggest to investors that they should not rely on disclosure. You are responsible for providing such additional disclosures as may be necessary to make the statements in the merger agreement not misleading and to avoid any material omissions.
Response:
     We have removed the risk factor. See pages 22-23.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data, page 33
SEC Comment:
  41.   Please present a pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2010 instead of December 31, 2009. See Rule 11-02(c)(1) of Regulation S-X.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 36.
SEC Comment:
  42.   Please also present a pro forma statement of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. See Rule 11-02(c)(2) of Regulation S-X.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 37.
SEC Comment:
  43.   It is not clear how you have complied with Item 3(f) of Part I.A of the Form S-4. Please address the following:
    Please present the historical per share amounts, which should include the book value per share, cash dividends declared per share, and income (loss) per share from continuing operations, for each entity;
 
    Please clearly indicate which amounts represent the equivalent pro forma per share amounts. We remind you that you should present equivalent pro forma book value per share, equivalent pro forma cash dividends per share, and equivalent pro forma income (loss) per share from continuing operations; and

14


 

    Please clearly disclose how you are calculating the equivalent pro forma per share amounts, including the exchange ratios used.
Response:
     We note the Staff’s comment. We respectfully note for the Staff that, as a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the disclosure required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K. Accordingly, we do not believe that Item 3(f) of Part I.A. of Form S-4 is required, as there is no financial data presented pursuant to Item 301 of Regulation S-K.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet, page 34
SEC Comment:
  44.   Please revise the face of the pro forma balance sheet to show the number of shares authorized, issued and outstanding on a historical and pro forma basis. If you do not yet know what the pro forma amounts are, please revise the description of the common stock line item in your next amendment and include blanks for these amounts.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 36.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations, page 35
SEC Comment:
  45.   Please present on the face of your pro forma statement of operations historical and pro forma basic and diluted per share data. See Rule 11-02(b)(7) of Regulation S-X.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 37 and 38.
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data, page 36
Note 4 — Pro Forma Adjustments, page 37
SEC Comment:
  46.   Please further enhance your disclosure to show precisely how you arrived at each adjustment amount in your notes to the pro forma financial information. This note should include a discussion of any significant assumptions and estimates used to arrive at these amounts. For example, you should show the calculation you used to arrive at the adjustment amounts to record additional depreciation and amortization expense by showing a breakdown of the intangible assets and related amounts and corresponding useful lives.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 41-42.

15


 

Note 5 — Pro Forma Loss Per Share, page 38
SEC Comment:
  47.   The paragraph between the two tables on page 60 indicates that Clean Diesel will issue 14,236,269 common shares in the absence of any adjustment. However, that figure does not seem consistent with the number of shares to be issued according to the table on page 38. Please explain the differences between these disclosures or revise accordingly.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 42.
The Merger, page 42
SEC Comment:
  48.   We note your disclosure on page F-4 that you filed no patent applications during 2009. Clean Diesel’s consolidated statements of operations on page F-43 indicates that you had minimal technology licensing fee revenue in 2009 as compared to prior years. Please revise your filing to more clearly explain the specific aspects of the global retrofit market that you intend to focus on, how you intend to use your existing patents to meet the needs of that market and if you intend to file new patent applications as you pursue this new market.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 46.
SEC Comment:
  49.   We note your statement that the engagement of Innovator Capital was approved by a “committee of independent directors” of Clean Diesel, but the activities of the independent committee are not otherwise discussed. Please discuss the formation of this committee, including when it was formed, the purpose for which it was formed, what duties it performed, which of the directors served on this committee, and why they were selected to do so.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 48. We note supplementally for the Staff that the engagement of Innovator Capital was approved by Clean Diesel’s audit committee and not a specially formed “committee of independent directors” and that disclosure regarding Clean Diesel’s audit committee is disclosed elsewhere in the Amended S-4 (see page 169).
SEC Comment:
  50.   Please elaborate on why the independent committee selected Innovator Capital. Please also disclose Innovator Capital’s of providing services to the company and the compensation it has received from the company for past services.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 48.

16


 

SEC Comment:
  51.   Please discuss Clean Diesel’s engagement of Ardour and CSI’s engagement of Marshall & Stevens to provide fairness opinions in connection with the merger. Your discussion in response to this comment should disclose when each of these advisors was selected and why, given that:
    Clean Diesel was already being advised by Innovator Capital with regard to the merger, and on December 16 had approved the engagement of Houlihan and Smith to complete an enterprise value study of both Clean Diesel and CSI; and
 
    CSI was already being advised by Allen & Company.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 50 and 61.
SEC Comment:
  52.   In this regard, please also clarify whether Innovator Capital, Houlihan and Smith or Allen & Company made any recommendation to either party as to the preferred terms of the transaction or whether the respective boards should approve the transaction.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 52.
SEC Comment:
  53.   We note that on November 5, 2009 Clean Diesel was interested in exploring CSI’s willingness to sell the ECS business alone. Please disclose whether this option was explored further and if not, why it was not pursued.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 48.
SEC Comment:
  54.   Please disclose whether any alternative companies or transactions were considered by either Clean Diesel or CSI. In this regard, we note disclosure on page 47 that Clean Diesel considered risks associated with “several strategic alternatives”. Please ensure you that you discuss any material alternatives that Clean Diesel considered and these risks that were associated with them.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 53.
SEC Comment:
  55.   Please revise to provide more detailed information for the reasons Innovator Capital Limited was chosen to advise the company on merger and acquisition activities and capital raising efforts, including whether other firms were considered.

17


 

Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 48.
SEC Comment:
  56.   We note that on January 15, 2010, Houlihan and Smith provided a valuation study to Clean Diesel. Please include information pursuant to Item 1015(b) of Regulation M-A. Please also elaborate on how Clean Diesel’s board used this information in negotiating the transaction, approving it and recommending it to shareholders. Please also file as an exhibit the consent of Houlihan and Smith to the inclusion of its valuation in the registration statement and to being named in the registration statement.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 48-49, and Exhibit 23.5 to the Amended S-4.
SEC Comment:
  57.   Please elaborate on the “underlying details behind the CSI audited financials” that Messrs. Gray and de Havilland discussed with CSI executives on April 6. Clarify whether these details were communicated to the entire Clean Diesel board.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 50-51. We note supplementally for the Staff that the conference call was an informational call and the information discussed was explanatory in nature. The general items discussed on the call had been the subject of previous board meetings of Clean Diesel and therefore the details of the call were not separately formally communicated to the entire Clean Diesel board.
SEC Comment:
  58.   We note that on April 19, Clean Diesel had a formal board call during which the Board discussed the status of the transaction and also terminated the employment of Ms. Ruple and hiring of a new interim CFO. Please explain whether replacement of the CFO was related to the merger transaction or the Board’s consideration of it.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 51.
SEC Comment:
  59.   We note that on May 10, 2010, the day prior to the meeting at which Clean Diesel’s board approved the merger, John de Havilland resigned from the board. Please tell us, with a view toward disclosure, whether his resignation was because of a disagreement with Clean Diesel on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices, including in connection with the merger transaction or its approval. If so, please describe the circumstances you believe contributed to Mr. de Havilland’s resignation. Also tell us supplementally whether Mr. de Havilland furnished any written correspondence concerning the circumstances surrounding his resignation. Note that any such correspondence should be filed with an amendment to the 8-K

18


 

      reporting his resignation. In this regard, please see all of the requirements of Item 5.02 of Form 8-K and tell us supplementally how you have complied.
Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that Mr. de Havilland resigned from the board with a letter of resignation explaining his decision, which letter did not state any disagreement with Clean Diesel on any matter relating to the Clean Diesel’s operations, policies or practices. As there was no such disagreement, Clean Diesel filed its Form 8-K pursuant to Item 5.02(b) and therefore did not need to file the letter as an exhibit. We are providing the Staff a copy of his resignation letter supplementally. Mr. de Havilland did not state to Clean Diesel that he was resigning because of the prospective merger. Mr. Gray indicated that he had had conversations with Mr. de Havilland prior to his resignation that led him to speculate Mr. de Havilland would not have voted in support of the merger if he had remained on the board. We have not included in the Amended S-4 a statement to this effect because it is speculative.
SEC Comment:
  60.   Please revise to provide additional details regarding material developments at the meetings held between January 21st and May 13th with respect to the amount of consideration, termination fees and other material terms of the merger agreement. Please clearly revise to include a detailed explanation of the significant factors, assumptions, and methodologies used in determining the amount of consideration that was ultimately determined.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 49-52.
SEC Comment:
  61.   Please also discuss Clean Diesel’s decision to increase the authorized shares of the company and engage in the reverse stock split, as completion of the merger appears to be contingent upon approval and execution of these items. Please also discuss what consideration the board gave to the Houlihan and Smith valuations ($14.7 for Clean Diesel and $14.2 for CSI) in determining to give CSI shareholders 60% of the combined company in the merger.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 52.
Clean Diesel’s Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of Clean Diesel’s Board of Directors, page 46
SEC Comment:
  62.   Where the board’s reasons for approving the merger are based upon its belief or expectation as to future performance of the combined company (such as, for example, in the first through fourth bullet points), please elaborate on the bases for these beliefs and expectations.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 53-55.
SEC Comment:
  63.   Please clarify what the board considered with respect to disparity in relative market capitalizations of the companies, and the other items listed in the twelfth bullet point, that caused them to believe that they are not reflective of actual values of the two companies and why this supports the board’s decision to approve the transaction.

19


 

Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 54.
SEC Comment:
  64.   Disclose whether or not the Board considered the valuations performed by Houlihan and Smith in approving the transaction and if so, whether the valuations supported or detracted from the advisability of the merger.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 54.
SEC Comment:
  65.   In the final paragraph of this section, please clarify that the discussion includes all of the material favorable and unfavorable factors the Clean Diesel board considered in approving the merger.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 55.
The CSI Reasons for the Merger, page 49
SEC Comment:
  66.   Where the board’s reasons for approving the merger are based upon its belief or expectation as to future performance of the combined company (such as, for example, in the fourth, fifth, eighth and tenth bullet points), please elaborate on the bases for these beliefs and expectations.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 55-57.
Opinion of the Financial Advisor of Clean Diesel, page 50
SEC Comment:
  67.   Please provide all of the information about Ardour Capital that is required by Item 1015(b) of Regulation M-A, including Ardour’s qualifications, the method of selection of Ardour and material relationships between Ardour, any of its affiliates and Clean Diesel and any of its affiliates.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 57-61.
  68.   In the discussion of the discounted cash flow valuation, please clarify what the discount rate is intended to represent. For example, is it intended to represent the company’s cost of capital?

20


 

Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 59-60.
SEC Comment:
  69.   Please explain why Ardour Capital believed that it was appropriate to use such divergent discount rates for the two companies.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 60.
SEC Comment:
  70.   We note disclosure on page 55 that “None of the analysts involved nor any officer or director of Marshall & Stevens has any financial interest in CSI or Clean Diesel.” Please revise to disclose whether any of Ardour Capital’s analysts, officers or directors has any financial interest in CSI or Clean Diesel.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 58.
Discounted Cash Flow Valuation, page 52
SEC Comment:
  71.   Please revise to explain why only two years projections were provided for CSI. Please also revise to explain the specific factors considered in determining the 70% discount rate for Clean Diesel compared to the 40% discount rate for CSI.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 59.
Discounted Cash Flow Assumptions, page 53
SEC Comment:
  72.   We note per the cash flow statements on page F-7 that CSI had capital expenditures of $629,000 in 2009 and $1.8 million in 2008. Please revise your filing to explain why CSI capital expenditure projections were not available for Ardour Capital’s comparable company analysis.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 61. We note supplementally for the Staff that CSI capital expenditure projections of $500,000 per year for 2010 and 2011 were not available at the time Ardour Capital performed its analysis. Ardour Capital has subsequently indicated verbally to Clean Diesel management, that because CSI’s 2010 and 2011 capital expenditures projections are less than its historical 2009 amounts, their opinion dated May 11, 2010, that the consideration to be paid to the CSI common shareholders in the Merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to Clean Diesel’s common stockholders would not have changed.

21


 

Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Board of Directors of CSI, page 54
SEC Comment:
  73.   Please provide all of the information required by Item 1015(b)(6) of Regulation M-A, including the actual findings derived from each analysis performed by Marshall & Stevens and methods of arriving at such findings.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 61-65.
Interests of Clean Diesel Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger, page 57
SEC Comment:
  74.   We note that Mr. Asmussen’s employment agreement provides for a change of control bonus equal to one year’s base salary in the event of a change in control of the Company approved in advance by the Board. If the Merger will constitute a change of control contemplated by the employment agreement, then please discuss the change of control bonus payable to Mr. Asmussen in this section.
Response:
     On July 15, 2010, Mr. Asmussen entered into an Employment Agreement with Clean Diesel that will become effective upon the effective time of the merger. The merger will not constitute a change of control for purposes of Mr. Asmussen’s current employment agreement. See pages 164-166.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger, page 65
SEC Comment:
  75.   Please file a tax opinion from counsel or a PCAOB registered independent public accounting firm regarding the representation that these transactions are tax free. This information is material to investors and counsel or an accountant must provide this opinion. See Item 601(b)(8) of Regulation S-K.
Response:
      CSI is in the process of obtaining a tax opinion. We will file the opinion as an exhibit by amendment.
SEC Comment:
  76.   We note your disclosure that the summary on beginning on page 65 does not purport to “address all federal income tax consequences”. Disclaimers of this type are inconsistent with the requirement that all material information be provided in your registration statement. Please revise.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 73.

22


 

The Merger Agreement, page 68
SEC Comment:
  77.   The disclaimers regarding information contained in the merger agreement are inappropriate. In particular, statements that the Merger Agreement is not intended to be factual information about any of the parties and should not be relied upon are inappropriate. Please remove or revise the second sentence of the second paragraph, and the third and final sentences of the third paragraph accordingly. Note that we will not object to your statement that the representations and warranties are intended to allocate risks among the parties. In addition, your disclosure should make clear that the information in the merger agreement should be considered together with all of the disclosure in the proxy statement/prospectus. Please also note that you must include any disclosures in your proxy statement/prospectus and the reports you file with the SEC that are necessary to make the statements made in the merger agreement not misleading. Please confirm your understanding.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 76. We note the Staff’s comment and confirm our understanding that we must include any disclosures in our joint proxy statement/information and prospectus and the reports we file with the SEC that are necessary to make the statements made in the merger agreement not misleading.
SEC Comment:
  78.   Please supplementally provide us a list briefly identifying the contents of all omitted schedules or similar supplements to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, filed as Annex A and an agreement to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Staff upon request pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K.
Response:
     We note the Staff’s comment and have provided the Staff supplementally with a list identifying the contents of all omitted schedules or similar supplements to the Agreement and Plan of Merger. We agree to furnish the Staff supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule upon request.
Determination of Shares of Clean Diesel Common Stock, page 69
SEC Comment:
  79.   Portions of this disclosure appear to have been copied directly from the merger agreement and rely heavily on defined terms. Note that this is not consistent with plain English principles. Please revise to describe in clear, plain language what common stockholders and warrant holders will receive on a per share basis in the merger. Please clearly explain the difference between the Class A merger consideration and Class B merger consideration. Please also clearly describe the sensitivity of the consideration to changes in the cash positions of Clean Diesel and CSI. The disclosure is technical and confusing. Please consider providing an illustrative example.

23


 

Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 75-79. We note supplementally for the Staff that we have revised the disclosure throughout the Amended S-4 to reflect the fact that no adjustments for the targeted cash positions will be required.
CSI Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page 96
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, page 97
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Other Than Goodwill, page 99
SEC Comment:
  80.   We note your disclosure on page F-15 that an impairment charge of $4.9 million was recorded during 2008 for some of your property, plant and equipment due to projected cash flows not being able to support the asset base. In light of your continued losses and negative operating cash flows, we believe your disclosures about the impairment of long-lived assets other than goodwill could be enhanced. Please disclose when you last tested your long-lived assets for impairment. To the extent that any of your long-lived assets or asset groups have estimated fair values that are not substantially in excess of the carrying values and to the extent that the asset amounts, in the aggregate or individually, could materially impact your operating results or total stockholder’s equity, please provide the following disclosures:
    The percentage by which fair value exceeds the carrying value as of your most recent impairment test;
 
    A description of the assumptions that drive the estimated fair value;
 
    A discussion of the uncertainty associated with the key assumptions. For example, to the extent that you have included assumptions in your discounted cash flow model that materially deviates from your historical results, please include a discussion of these assumptions; and
 
    A discussion of any potential events and/or circumstances that could have a negative effect to the estimated fair value.
      If you have determined that the estimated fair value substantially exceeds the carrying value for all of your long-lived assets or asset groups, please disclose this determination. Please refer to Item 303 of Regulation S-K and Sections 216 and 501.14 of the SEC’s Codification of Financial Reporting Policies for guidance.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 141-142.
Results of Operations, page 102
SEC Comment:
  81.   When multiple factors contribute to fluctuations in a single financial statement line item, please separately quantify the impact of each factor. You should also ensure that you are explaining the majority of increases or decreases in each line item. For example, it is unclear how significantly your heavy duty diesel systems segment was favorably impacted by the increased spending as a result of the Stimulus Bill. It is also unclear how significantly you expect this funding to impact your results in 2010. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of where improvements could be

24


 

      made to expand your explanations. Please revise your MD&A accordingly to separately quantify the specific reasons for fluctuations between all periods presented wherever possible.
Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that, where possible, we have separately quantified the specific reasons for fluctuations between all periods presented (see, e.g., CSI’s discussion of the effects of the gain from sale of intellectual property on its operating expenses and net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to three months ended March 31, 2009; the discussion of the effects of its decreased obligation to fund its Asian joint venture on other income (expense) for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008; discussion of the effects of a foreign exchange loss on other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to three months ended March 31, 2009). However, a number of factors that have an effect on CSI’s results of operations are not able to be specifically quantified (such as the amount of the increase in the revenues of CSI’s Heavy Duty Diesel Systems division that is attributable to government funding (including the Stimulus Bill) and the amount that is attributable to its expanded distribution network). In order to provide investors a more meaningful understanding of the effects of these non-quantifiable factors on CSI’s results of operations, however, we revised the disclosure to include a new section called “Factors Affecting Future Results” in the Overview section of the MD&A to explain the close relationship between government funding of emissions control projects and the revenues of CSI’s Heavy Duty Diesel Systems division, as well as how government funding will impact future results. See pages 145-146. We have also included an aggregate estimate of the cost savings to be realized by CSI’s Catalyst division restructuring on an annualized basis. See page 145.
Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 105
SEC Comment:
  82.   Please further enhance your disclosures to discuss significant changes in your expected sources and uses of cash from period to period and the impact of these changes on your liquidity and capital resources. We note that CSI’s debt service obligations and projected operating costs for 2010 exceed the cash balance as of December 31, 2009. Your ability to continue as a going concern is contingent upon alternatives to recapitalize, including the sale of CSI stock and/or a sale of CSI’s assets, while negotiating with lenders to modify loan terms in order to delay repayments while alternative capital is secured. Considering these factors, please expand your liquidity discussion to address in more detail the following:
    The cost control measures you have implemented;
 
    The sale of the assets of Applied Utility Systems and sale of intellectual property and potential future asset sales;
 
    The impact that reduced capital expenditures may have on your liquidity and continuing operational effectiveness; and
 
    The impact of the potential remedies that lenders may avail themselves of if you are unable to obtain financing.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 152-154, 144-145, 156-158.

25


 

Management Following the Merger, page 110
SEC Comment:
  83.   Please include biographical sketches for each person who will serve as a director of the company after the merger. See Item 18(a)(7) of Form S-4. We note that you have not provided biographical information for Mr. Gray or Mr. Park in this section.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 159-161.
Directors of the Combined Company, page 110
SEC Comment:
  84.   For those individuals named in the proxy statement/prospectus to become directors after the acquisition, please file the consents required by Rule 438 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, and 99.4 to the Amended S-4.
Agreements with Executive Officers Following the Merger, page 114
SEC Comment:
  85.   Please consider including a tabular presentation of the potential payments upon employment termination and change of control events for each named executive officer so that investors may better understand the information. Please include total columns and dollar amounts in such tables.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure to provide tables summarizing the material terms of the potential payments upon employment termination and change of control events for each named executive officer of the combined company in accordance with Item 402(q)(2) of Regulation S-K. See pages 164-166. We note supplementally for the Staff that as a smaller reporting company, we have elected to provide the scaled disclosure provided in Item 402(q)(2) of Regulation S-K.
Principal Effects of the Reverse Stock Split, page 133
SEC Comment:
  86.   Please revise to include specific information on the stock split, including the present number of shares outstanding, the increased number of shares of authorized common stock, the number of shares outstanding prior to the reverse stock split and the number of shares anticipated to be outstanding after the reverse stock split.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page 199.

26


 

Where You Can Find More Information, page 145
SEC Comment:
  87.   We note that you incorporate your Form 10-K and other reports by reference, and appear to have prepared your registration statement to provide information about Clean Diesel in accordance with Items 10 and 11 or 12 and 13 of the Form. However, please note that you may provide information in accordance with these items only if you meet the aggregate market value requirement of General Instruction I.B.1. of Form S-3. In this regard, please see General Instruction B.1.a. to Form S-4. As you do not appear to meet this public float requirement, please include information about Clean Diesel pursuant to Item 14 of Form S-4, and refrain from incorporating your reports by reference.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 93-122 and F-1 — F-46.
Financial Statements of Catalytic Solutions, Inc.
General
SEC Comment:
  88.   Please include interim financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2010. Please similarly update your financial information throughout the filing. See Rule 8-08 of Regulation S-X.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages F-48 — F-62 and updated disclosures throughout the Amended S-4.
SEC Comment:
  89.   You disclose on page 97 that CSI accrues estimated warranty expenses concurrent with the shipment of product. As such, please enhance your disclosure to present a summary of the warranty liability activity for each period presented. Refer to FASB ASC 460-10-50-8.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages F-55 and F-81.
SEC Comment:
  90.   It is unclear from your disclosures whether you have any financial assets and/or liabilities that you measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009 in accordance with FASB ASC 820-10. If you do have any financial assets and/or liabilities that you measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009, please help us understand how you have met the disclosure requirements set forth in FASB ASC 820-10-50. Please revise or advise.

27


 

Response:
     We note supplementally for the Staff that CSI did not have significant financial assets or liabilities that necessitated measurement at fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 820-10 at either December 31, 2008 or 2009.
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, page F-9
General
SEC Comment:
  91.   Please disclose the types of expenses that you include in the cost of revenues line item and the types of expenses that you include in the sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses line items. Please also disclose whether you include inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and the other costs of your distribution network in the cost of revenues line item. With the exception of warehousing costs, if you currently exclude a portion of these costs from cost of revenues, please disclose:
    in a footnote the line items that these excluded costs are included in and the amounts included in each line item for each period presented; and
 
    in MD&A that your gross margins may not be comparable to those of other entities, since some entities include all of the costs related to their distribution network in cost of revenues and others like you exclude a portion of them from gross margin, including them instead in a line item such as general and administrative expenses.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages 137-138 and pages F-72-F-73.
SEC Comment:
  92.   Please disclose the line item(s) in which you include depreciation and amortization. If you do not allocate a portion of your depreciation and amortization to cost of revenues, please also revise your presentation to comply with SAB Topic 11:B, which would include revising the cost of revenues title and removing the gross profit subtotal throughout the filing.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages F-72-F-73.
Inventories, page F-10
SEC Comment:
  93.   It appears from your disclosures on page 30 that your inventory may include precious metals such as platinum. If true, please revise your accounting policy disclosure or your footnote on page F-14 to quantify the significance of precious metals to your total inventory as of each period presented and to disclose the extent to which your accounting policies for precious metals inventory differs from your accounting policies for other types of inventory.

28


 

Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page F-71.
Note 9 — Commitments and Contingencies, page F-18
SEC Comment:
  94.   Please disclose how you account for (a) step rent provisions and escalation clauses and (b) capital improvement funding and other lease concessions, which may be present in your leases. Lease payments that depend on an existing index or rate, such as the consumer price index or the prime interest rate, should also be included in your minimum lease payments. If, as we assume, they are taken into account in computing your minimum lease payments and the minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term, the note should so state. If our assumption is incorrect, please tell us how your accounting complies with FASB ASC 840.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages F-80.
SEC Comment:
  95.   Please also disclose the gross amount of assets recorded under capital leases, as well as the future minimum lease payments in the aggregate and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years. See FASB ASC 840-30-50.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See page F-80.
Note 18 — Legal Proceedings, page F-24
SEC Comment:
  96.   With respect to each of the legal proceedings that CSI is currently involved in, please confirm there is not a reasonable possibility that a loss exceeding amounts already recognized may have been incurred. If there is a reasonable possibility and the amount of that loss is material, please disclose the estimated additional loss, or range of loss, or state that such an estimate cannot be made as required by FASB ASC 450-20-50-3 and 450-20-50-4.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See pages F-57-F-59 and F-86-F-87.
Exhibits
SEC Comment:
  97.   Please revise to include all of the exhibits pursuant to Item 601 including the articles of incorporation, by-laws and subsidiaries of the registrant. To the extent that you already have these materials on file with the Commission, you may incorporate by reference in accordance with Item 411(d) of Regulation S-K.

29


 

Response:
     We have noted the Staff’s comment and revised the disclosure as requested. See page II-1 and the Exhibit Index.
SEC Comment:
  98.   We note that the consent of Ardour Capital Investments, LLC is not dated. Please revise to include a dated consent.
Response:
     We have revised the disclosure as requested. See Exhibit 23.3.
Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2009
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures, page 66
SEC Comment:
  99.   We note that you neither included an attestation report nor a statement disclosing that an attestation report is not included. It appears that in future filings, you will be required to provide the attestation report. However, if this is not the case, please ensure that you comply with the Item requirement as then in effect, for example, by including disclosure that the attestation report is not required, as applicable, pursuant to the Instruction to Item 308T of Regulation S-K.
Response:
     We note the Staff’s comment and in future filings, we will provide the attestation report, if necessary, as provided for pursuant to the Instruction to Item 308T of Regulation S-K or the Item requirement as then in effect, or we will include disclosure that the attestation report is not required, as applicable, pursuant to the Instruction to Item 308T of Regulation S-K.
SEC Comment:
  100.   In future filings, please file the certifications exactly as set forth in Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K. Specifically, we note that section 4(d) was revised to state “the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2009” instead of “the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report).”
Response:
     We note the Staff’s comment and in future filings, we will file the certifications exactly as set forth in Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K.
     In responding to the Staff’s comments, Clean Diesel acknowledges that if it requests acceleration of the effective date of the pending registration statement, that:
    should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;

30


 

    the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve Clean Diesel from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and
    Clean Diesel may not assert staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
     If you have any questions regarding our responses to the Staff’s comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at (203) 416-5290.
         
    Very truly yours,
 
       
 
  By:   /s/ Charles W. Grinnell
 
       
 
      Charles W. Grinnell
 
      Vice President and Corporate Secretary

31

GRAPHIC 2 y84542cry8454200.gif GRAPHIC begin 644 y84542cry8454200.gif M1TE&.#EAK``S`,0``%V2O9.VT\G:Z?'U^5")N#5WK4*`LGBDR.3L]*[(WKO1 MXZ"_V-;C[FN;PX:MSO___RANJ``````````````````````````````````` M`````````````````````````"'Y!```````+`````"L`#,```7_("2.9&F> M:*JN;.N^<"S/=&W?>*[O?.__P*!P2"P:C\BD&4`#0\*I0\(#09C#'NCMRJE!P2+ M`P%P!0&F(@UP#PD0":VXS"@%B[N3"H4("!!P`"0-D[5P`!-%RIXX#I@2*O+_!!-L@/U"RB9):1@8:N(7.. M>V#2`)UC)OTRO5D+94> M3C'(H1T#)"26U/\6A20U5@+ED3!)`_W1AP!7:#R`AT&,9??9)(M=Q`B&;\"A M`!P+*+!`A'ZAIYL`"PAS`$="W;<%67$]P``!WUDXSP#Z*%#A>QCN-88U,>R3 M'02M`>8`CV4@R"1KI(V`V@`&,#;&9X`L8DV'76E7!C*,P:$;'F/0489X58H0 M%P2I'//*`/;%55Y60)AAWO8AE`-$I3!&0I55RA0"V:;;!D46`4454\B2 MH,R*]MC+QT`%,;2,.F^YUJ_`;,Q3T1A%N4D66PDN\D^8#+,Q3BF2D8#-.".- M`>TB>&6,A3O1M#.".F.,RLU#;9K,ABZE^/(:)9I,)=4Q!2B#L>M]]Y\]^WWWX`'+OC@A!=N^",A```[ ` end
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----