FUEL TECH, INC. - Annual Report: 2006 (Form 10-K)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Form
10-K
(Mark
One)
x
|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
|
For
the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2006
OR
o
|
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED] |
For
the transition period from _________________ to
_______________
Commission
File No. 000-33059
Fuel
Tech, Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
20-5657551
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation of organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc.
512
Kingsland Drive
Batavia,
IL 60510-2299
630-845-4500
(Address
and telephone number of principal executive offices)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common
Stock $0.01 par value per share
|
The
NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc
|
(Title
of Class)
|
(Name
of Exchange on Which
Registered)
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes
o
No
x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes
o
No
x
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best
of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this
Form 10-K. o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days.
Yes
x
No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in rule 12b-2 under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
Large
Accelerated Filer o Accelerated
Filer x Non-accelerated
Filer o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act).
Yes o
No
x
The
aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant based on the average bid and asked prices of June 30, 2006 was
$200,262,000. The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant based on the average bid and asked prices
of
February 16, 2007 was $477,460,000.
Indicate
number of shares outstanding of each of the registered classes of Common Stock
at February 16, 2007: 22,086,728 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par
value.
Documents
incorporated by reference:
Certain
portions of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held in 2007 are incorporated by reference in Parts II, III, and IV
hereof.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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PART
I
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Item
1.
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Business
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1
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors of the Business
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6
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|
Item
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments
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7
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|
Item
2.
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Properties
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7
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|
Item
3.
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Legal
Proceedings
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7
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Item
4.
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Submission
of Matters to Vote of Security Holders
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7
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PART
II
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|||
Item
5.
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Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchase of Equity Securities
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8
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Item
6.
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Selected
Financial Data
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10
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Item
7.
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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11
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Item
7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
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18
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Item
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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18
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Item
9.
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants and Financial
Disclosure
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44
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Item
9A.
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Controls
and Procedures
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44
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|
Item
9B.
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Other
Information
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44
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PART
III
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|||
Item
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
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45
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Item
11.
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Executive
Compensation
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46
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Item
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
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46
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Item
13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
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46
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Item
14.
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Principal
Accounting Fees and Services
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46
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PART
IV
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|||
Item
15.
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Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
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47
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Signatures
and Certifications
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50
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ii
TABLE
OF DEFINED TERMS
Term
|
Definition
|
|
ABC
|
American
Bailey Corporation
|
|
CAAA
|
Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990
|
|
CDT
|
Clean
Diesel Technologies, Inc.
|
|
CFD
|
Computational
Fluid Dynamics
|
|
Common
Shares
|
Shares
of the Common Stock of Fuel Tech
|
|
Common
Stock
|
Common
Stock of Fuel Tech
|
|
EPA
|
Environmental
Protection Agency
|
|
EPRI
|
Electric
Power Research Institute
|
|
FUEL
CHEM®
|
A
trademark used to describe Fuel Tech’s fuel and flue gas treatment
processes, including its TIFI™ Targeted In-Furnace Injection™ technology
to control slagging, fouling, corrosion and a variety of sulfur
trioxide-related issues
|
|
Fuel
Tech
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. and its subsidiaries
|
|
Investors
|
The
purchasers of Fuel Tech securities pursuant to a Securities Purchase
Agreement as of March 23, 1998
|
|
Loan
Notes
|
Nil
Coupon Non-redeemable Convertible Unsecured Loan Notes of Fuel
Tech
|
|
NOx
|
Oxides
of nitrogen
|
|
NOxOUT
CASCADE®
|
A
trademark used to describe Fuel Tech’s combination of NOxOUT and
SCR
|
|
NOxOUT®
Process
|
A
trademark used to describe Fuel Tech’s SNCR process for the reduction of
NOx
|
|
NOxOUT-SCR®
|
A
trademark used to describe Fuel Tech’s direct injection of urea as a
catalyst reagent
|
|
NOxOUT
ULTRA®
|
A
trademark used to describe Fuel Tech’s process for generating ammonia for
use as SCR reagent
|
|
Rich
Reagent Injection Technology (RRI)
|
An
SNCR-type process that broadens the NOx reduction capability of the
NOxOUT
Process at a cost similar to NOxOUT. RRI can also be applied on a
stand-alone basis.
|
|
SCR
|
Selective
Catalytic Reduction
|
|
SIP
Call
|
State
Implementation Plan Regulation
|
|
SNCR
|
Selective
Non-Catalytic Reduction
|
|
TCI™
Targeted Corrosion Inhibition™
|
A
FUEL CHEM program designed for high-temperature slag and corrosion
control, principally in waste-to-energy boilers
|
|
TIFI™
Targeted In-Furnace Injection™
|
A
proprietary technology that enables the precise injection of a chemical
reagent into a boiler or furnace as part of a FUEL CHEM
program.
|
iii
iv
PART
I
Forward
Looking Statements
Statements
in this Form 10-K that are not historical facts, so-called "forward-looking
statements," are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those
detailed in Fuel Tech's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
See
"Risk Factors of the Business" in Item 1A.
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Fuel
Tech
Fuel
Tech, Inc. (“Fuel Tech”) is a fully integrated company that uses a suite of
advanced technologies to provide boiler optimization, efficiency improvement
and
air pollution reduction and control solutions to utility and industrial
customers worldwide. Originally incorporated in 1987 under the laws of the
Netherlands Antilles as Fuel-Tech N.V., Fuel Tech became domesticated in the
United States on September 30, 2006, and continues as a Delaware corporation
with its corporate headquarters at 512 Kingsland Drive, Batavia, Illinois,
60510-2299. Fuel Tech maintains an Internet web site at www.ftek.com.
Fuel
Tech's special focus is the worldwide marketing of its nitrogen oxide (“NOx”)
reduction and FUEL CHEM®
processes. The NOx reduction technology segment, which includes the
NOxOUT®,
NOxOUT
CASCADE®,
NOxOUT
ULTRA®
and
NOxOUT-SCR®
processes, reduces NOx emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators,
furnaces and other stationary combustion sources. The FUEL CHEM technology
segment improves the efficiency, reliability and environmental status of
combustion units by controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, acid
plume and loss on ignition, as well as the formation of sulfur trioxide,
ammonium bisulfate, particulate matter (PM2.5),
carbon
dioxide and NOx through the addition of chemicals into the fuel or via TIFI™
Targeted In-Furnace Injection™ programs. Fuel Tech has other technologies, both
commercial and in the development stage, which are related to the NOxOUT and
FUEL CHEM processes or are similar in their technological base. Fuel Tech's
business is materially dependent on the continued existence and enforcement
of
worldwide air quality regulations.
American
Bailey Corporation
Ralph
E.
Bailey, Executive Chairman and Director of Fuel Tech, and Douglas G. Bailey,
Deputy Chairman of Fuel Tech, are shareholders of American Bailey Corporation
(“ABC”). Please refer to Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements in this
document. Additionally, see the more detailed information relating to this
subject under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in
Fuel Tech’s Proxy Statement, to be distributed in connection with Fuel Tech’s
2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which information is incorporated by
reference.
NOx
Reduction
Regulations
and Markets
The
U.S.
air pollution control market is the primary driver in Fuel Tech’s NOx reduction
technology segment. This market is dependent on air pollution
regulations and their continued enforcement. These regulations are based on
the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (the “CAAA”), which require
reductions in NOx emissions on varying timetables with respect to various
sources of emissions. Under the SIP (State Implementation Plan) Call, a
regulation promulgated under the Amendments (discussed further below), over
1,000 utility and large industrial boilers in 19 states were required to achieve
NOx reduction targets by May 31, 2004.
In
1994,
governors of 11 Northeastern states, known collectively as the Ozone Transport
Region, signed a Memorandum of Understanding requiring utilities to reduce
their
NOx emissions by 55% to 65% from 1990 levels by May 1999. In 1998, the
Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced more stringent regulations.
The Ozone Transport SIP Call regulation, designed to mitigate the effects of
wind-aided ozone transported from the Midwestern and Southeastern U.S. into
the
Northeastern non-attainment areas, required, following the litigation described
below, 19 states to make even deeper aggregate reductions of 85% from 1990
levels by May 31, 2004. Over 1,000 utility and large industrial boilers are
affected by these mandates. Additionally, most other states with non-attainment
areas are also required to meet ambient air quality standards for ozone by
2007.
Although
the SIP Call was the subject of litigation, an appellate court of the D.C.
Circuit upheld the validity of this regulation. This court’s ruling was later
affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In
February 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, upheld EPA’s
authority to revise the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone to
0.080
parts per million averaged through an eight-hour period from the current 0.120
parts per million for a one-hour period. This more stringent standard provided
clarity and impetus for air pollution control efforts well beyond the then
current ozone attainment requirement of 2007. In keeping with this trend, the
Supreme Court, only days later, denied industry’s attempt to stay the SIP Call,
effectively exhausting all means of appeal.
1
On
December 23, 2003, the EPA proposed a new regulation affecting the SIP Call
states by specifying more expansive NOx reduction. This rule, under the name
“Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR),” was issued by the EPA on March 10, 2005.
Under CAIR, additional annual NOx reduction requirements were extended to most
SIP-affected units in 28 eastern states, commencing in 2009. The Company expects
an additional 300 utility boilers to be affected by this rule, which allows
a
cap and trade format similar to the SIP Call. In an action related to CAIR,
on
June 15, 2005, the EPA issued the “Clean Air Visibility Rule (CAVR),” which is a
nationwide initiative to improve federally preserved areas through reduction
of
NOx and other pollutants. CAVR expands the NOx reduction market to western
states unaffected by CAIR or the SIP Call. Compliance begins in 2013 and the
Company believes that CAVR will affect an additional 50 utility boilers and
a
large number of industrial units in multiple industries.
Outside
the United
States,
Fuel Tech sells NOx control systems in Europe. Under European Union Directives,
certain waste incinerators and cement plants must be in compliance with
specified NOx reduction targets by 2008, while certain power plants must be
in
compliance by 2010.
Another
foreign NOx control market representing attractive opportunities for Fuel Tech
is the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Government's 11th Five-Year
Economic Plan has set pollution control and energy efficiency and savings as
the
top two priorities. Fuel Tech has viable technologies to help achieve both
objectives. While the PRC has taken an initial small step to reduce NOx
emissions (by installing low NOx burners) on new electric utility units,
on-going research and demonstration projects will generate cost performance
data
for use in tightening the standards in the near future. The PRC's dominant
reliance on coal as an energy resource will not change in the foreseeable
future. Clean air has been and will continue to be a pressing issue, especially
with the PRC’s booming economy (8%-12% annual GDP increase), expected growth in
power production (4%-5% average annual increase through 2020), and an
increasingly expanded role in international events and organizations. The PRC
is
the host of the upcoming 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai
World Expo. Fuel Tech has gained an enviable market position in NOx control
due
to the national demonstration projects utilizing NOxOUT CASCADE technology
at
Jiangsu Kanshan (two new 600 megawatt units), NOxOUT SNCR technology at Jiangyin
Ligang (four new 600 megawatt units), and NOxOUT ULTRA technology on two
retrofit projects in Beijing. These projects are expected to showcase a wide
spectrum of Fuel Tech capabilities for NOx emission control and help gain
penetration within the market for new power units now as well as within the
larger market for retrofit units later.
Products
Fuel
Tech’s NOx reduction technologies are installed worldwide on over 400 combustion
units, including utility, industrial and municipal solid waste applications.
Products include customized NOx control systems and patented urea-to-ammonia
conversion technology, which can provide safe reagent for use in Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems.
Fuel
Tech's NOxOUT process is a Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (“SNCR”) process
that uses non-hazardous urea as the reagent rather than ammonia. The NOxOUT
process on its own is capable of reducing NOx by up to 40% for utilities and
by
potentially significantly greater amounts for industrial units in many types
of
plants with capital costs ranging from $5 - $20/kw for utility boilers and
with
total annualized operating costs ranging from $1,000 - $2,000/ton of NOx
removed.
Fuel
Tech’s NOxOUT CASCADE process uses catalyst as an addition to the NOxOUT process
to achieve performance similar to SCR. Based on demonstrations, capital costs
for NOxOUT CASCADE systems, at $30 - $60/kw, are significantly less than that
of
SCRs, which can range as high as $300/kw, while operating costs are competitive
with those experienced by SCR systems.
Fuel
Tech’s NOxOUT-SCR process utilizes urea as a catalyst reagent to achieve NOx
reductions of up to 85% from smaller stationary combustion sources with capital
and operating costs competitive with equivalently sized, standard SCR
systems.
Fuel
Tech’s NOxOUT ULTRA system is designed to convert urea to ammonia safely and
economically for use as a reagent in the SCR process for NOx reduction. In
this
fashion, Fuel Tech intends to participate in the SCR segment of the U.S. SIP
Call and CAIR driven markets. Recent local hurdles in the ammonia permitting
process have raised concerns regarding the safety of ammonia storage in
quantities sufficient to supply SCR. In addition, as new power plants are
constructed in the PRC during the next several years with SCR systems, Fuel
Tech’s NOxOUT ULTRA process is believed to be a leading candidate for the safe
delivery of ammonia, particularly near densely populated cities, major
waterways, harbors or islands, or where the transport of anhydrous ammonia
is a
safety concern.
Fuel
Tech
has sublicensed the Rich Reagent Injection Technology from Reaction Engineering
International, which has a direct license from the Electric Power Research
Institute. The technology has been proven in full-scale field studies on
cyclone-fired units to reduce NOx by 25%-40%. The technology is a generic SNCR
process, whose applicability is outside the temperature range of the NOxOUT
process. The technology is seen as an add-on to Fuel Tech’s NOxOUT systems, thus
potentially broadening the NOx reduction of the combined system to almost 55%
with minimal additional capital requirement.
Sales
of
the NOx reduction technologies were $46.4 million, $32.6 million and $14.6
million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
2
NOx
Reduction Competition
Competition
with Fuel Tech's NOx reduction products can be expected from combustion
modifications, SCR and ammonia SNCR, as well as from other licensed market
participants. In addition, Fuel Tech experiences competition in the
urea-to-ammonia conversion market.
Combustion
modifications, including low NOx burners, can be fitted to most types of boilers
with cost and effectiveness varying with specific boilers. Combustion
modifications may effect 20-50% NOx reduction economically with capital costs
ranging from $5 - $40/kw and levelized total costs ranging from $300 -
$1,500/ton of NOx removed. The modifications are designed to reduce the
formation of NOx and are typically the first NOx reduction efforts employed.
Such companies as Alstom, Foster Wheeler Corporation, The Babcock & Wilcox
Company and Babcock Power, Inc. are active competitors in the low-NOx burner
business.
Once
NOx
is formed then the SCR is an effective and proven method of control for the
removal of up to 90% of NOx. SCR has a high capital cost ranging from $150
-
$300/kw on retrofit coal applications. Such companies as Alstom, The Babcock
& Wilcox Company, Cormetech, Inc., Ceram Environmental, Inc., Foster Wheeler
Corporation, Peerless Manufacturing Company, and the Siemens Westinghouse Power
Corporation are active SCR system providers, or providers of the catalyst
itself.
The
use
of ammonia as the reagent for the SNCR process was developed by the ExxonMobil
Corporation. Fuel Tech understands that the ExxonMobil patents on this process
have expired. This process can reduce NOx by 30% - 70% on incinerators, but
has
limited applicability in the utility industry. Ammonia system capital costs
range from $15 - $20/kw, with annualized operating costs ranging from $1,000
-
$3,000/ton of NOx removed. These systems require the use of stored ammonia,
a
hazardous substance.
Other
NOx
reduction competitors include Combustion Components Associates, which is a
licensed implementer of NOxOUT SNCR systems, and Reaction Engineering
International, which sublicenses Rich Reagent Injection Technology to Fuel
Tech.
In
addition to or in lieu of using the foregoing processes, certain customers
will
elect to close or derate plants, purchase electricity from third-party sources,
switch from higher to lower NOx emitting fuels or purchase NOx emission
allowances.
Lastly,
with respect to urea-to-ammonia conversion technologies, a competitive approach
to Fuel Tech’s controlled urea decomposition system is available from Wahlco,
Inc., which manufactures a system that hydrolyzes urea under high temperature
and pressure.
3
FUEL
CHEM
Product
and Markets
The
FUEL
CHEM technology segment revolves around the unique application of specialty
chemicals to improve the efficiency, reliability and environmental status of
plants operating in the electric utility, industrial, pulp and paper, and
waste-to-energy markets. FUEL CHEM programs are currently in place on over
50
combustion units, treating a wide variety of solid and liquid fuels, including
coal, heavy oil, biomass and municipal waste.
Central
to the FUEL CHEM approach is the introduction of chemical reagents, such as
magnesium hydroxide, to combustion units via in-body fuel application
(pre-combustion) or via direct injection (post-combustion) utilizing Fuel Tech’s
proprietary TIFI technology. By attacking performance-hindering problems, such
as slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, acid plume and loss on ignition (LOI),
as well as the formation of sulfur trioxide (SO3),
ammonium bisulfate (ABS), particulate matter (PM2.5),
carbon
dioxide (CO2)
and
NOx, the Company’s programs offer numerous operational, financial and
environmental benefits to owners of boilers, furnaces and other combustion
units.
The
key
market dynamic for this product line is the continued use of coal as the
principal fuel source for global electricity production. Coal accounts for
approximately 50% of all U.S. electricity generation, with U.S. government
projections forecasting an increase to approximately 57% by 2030. Coal’s share
of global electricity generation is forecast to remain at approximately 41%
through 2030. Major coal consumers include the United States, the PRC and India.
The
principal markets for this product line are electric power plants burning coals
with slag- forming constituents. The slag-forming constituents are sodium,
iron
and high sulfur content. Sodium is typically found in the Powder River Basin
coals of Wyoming and Montana. Iron is typically found in coals produced in
the
Illinois Basin (IB) region. High sulfur content is typical of IB coals and
certain Appalachian coals. High sulfur content can give rise to unacceptable
levels of SO3 formation in plants with SCR systems and flue gas desulphurization
units (scrubbers).
The
combination of slagging coals and SO3-related
issues, such as “blue plume” formation, air pre-heater fouling and corrosion,
SCR fouling and the proclivity to suppress certain mercury removal processes,
represents attractive market potential for Fuel Tech.
Internationally,
market opportunities exist in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region,
particularly the PRC and India, where high-slagging coals are fueling a large
and growing fleet of power plants. In addition, TIFI initiatives aimed at energy
efficiency improvements often result in reduced CO2
emissions,
which can potentially be monetized under provisions of the Kyoto Protocol.
A
potentially large fuel treatment market exists in Mexico, where high-sulfur,
low-grade fuel oil containing vanadium and nickel is the primary source for
electricity production. The presence of these metallic constituents promotes
slag build-up, and the fuel properties may result in acid gas and particulate
emissions in local combustion units. Fuel Tech has successfully treated such
units with its TIFI technology.
Sales
of
the FUEL CHEM products were $28.7 million, $20.3 million and $16.2 million
for
the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Competition
Competition
for Fuel Tech's FUEL CHEM product line includes chemicals sold by specialty
chemical and combustion engineering companies, such as GE Infrastructure,
Ashland Inc. and Environmental Energy Services, Inc. No substantive competition
currently exists for Fuel Tech's TIFI technology, which is designed primarily
for slag control and SO3
abatement, but there can be no assurance that such lack of substantive
competition will continue.
PLANT
OPTIMIZATION SERVICES
Fuel
Tech
uses its advanced engineering capabilities to support the sale of its NOx
reduction and FUEL CHEM systems, particularly through the use of computational
fluid dynamics (“CFD”) tools. These CFD tools assist in the prediction of the
behavior of gas flows, thereby enhancing the design, marketing and sale of
Fuel
Tech’s NOx reduction systems and FUEL CHEM product applications. To further aid
the accuracy and expediency with which process solutions could be designed
and
delivered to a customer, Fuel Tech internally developed a virtual reality-based
visualization software for
exploring model results and discovering complex process behaviors. Fuel Tech
intends to capitalize on its unique capabilities via offering plant optimization
services to its customer base, either in conjunction with the NOx reduction
and
FUEL CHEM systems or on a stand alone basis.
4
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
See
Item
2 "Description of Property" for information on Fuel Tech's intellectual property
and proprietary position, which are material to its business.
EMPLOYEES
Fuel
Tech
has 137 employees, 129 in North America and 8 in Europe. Fuel Tech enjoys good
relations with its employees and is not a party to any labor management
agreements.
5
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS OF THE BUSINESS
Investors
in Fuel Tech should be mindful of the following risk factors relative to Fuel
Tech's business.
(i) Lack
of
Diversification
Fuel
Tech
has two broad technology segments which provide advanced engineering solutions
to meet the pollution control, efficiency improvement, and operational
optimization needs of energy-related facilities worldwide. They are as
follows:
· |
The
NOx reduction technology segment, which includes the NOxOUT, NOxOUT
CASCADE, NOxOUT ULTRA and NOxOUT-SCR processes for the reduction
of NOx
emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators, furnaces and other
stationary combustion sources, and
|
· |
The
fuel treatment chemicals technology segment, which uses chemical
processes, including TIFI Targeted In-Furnace Injection technology,
to
control slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, acid plume and loss
on
ignition, as well as the formation of sulfur trioxide, ammonium bisulfate,
particulate matter (PM2.5),
carbon dioxide and NOx in furnaces and boilers.
|
An
adverse development in Fuel Tech's advanced engineering solution business as
a
result of competition, technological change, government regulation, or any
other
factor could have a significantly greater impact than if Fuel Tech maintained
more diverse operations.
(ii) Competition
Competition in
the
NOx control market will come from processes utilizing low-NOx burners, over-fire
air, flue gas recirculation, ammonia SNCR, SCR and, with respect to particular
uses of urea not infringing Fuel Tech's patents, urea (see Item 2 "Description
of Property"). Competition will also come from business practices such as the
purchase rather than the generation of electricity, fuel switching, closure
or
derating of units, and sale or trade of pollution credits. Utilization by
customers of such processes or business practices or combinations thereof may
adversely affect Fuel Tech's pricing and participation in the NOx control market
if customers elect to comply with regulations by methods other than Fuel Tech's
NOxOUT or NOxOUT CASCADE Processes. See above text under the captions
"Products"
and
“NOx
Reduction Competition.”
Competition in
the
FUEL CHEM markets includes chemicals sold by specialty chemical and combustion
engineering companies, such as GE Infrastructure, Ashland Inc. and Environmental
Energy Services, Inc. As noted previously, no substantive competition currently
exists for Fuel Tech's TIFI technology, which is designed primarily for slag
control and SO3
abatement. However, there can be no assurance that such lack of substantive
competition will continue.
(iii) Dependence
on Regulations and Enforcement
Fuel
Tech's business is significantly impacted by the regulatory environment
surrounding the markets in which it serves. Fuel Tech’s business will be
adversely impacted to the extent that regulations are repealed or amended to
significantly reduce the level of required NOx reduction, or to the extent
that
regulatory authorities minimize enforcement. See also the text above under
the
caption “Regulations
and Markets.”
(iv)
Protection of Patents and Proprietary Rights
Fuel
Tech
holds licenses to or owns a number of patents and also has patents pending.
There can be no assurance that pending patent applications will be granted
or
that outstanding patents will not be challenged or circumvented by competitors.
Certain critical technology relating to Fuel Tech's products is protected by
trademark and trade secret laws and by confidentiality and licensing agreements.
There can be no assurance that such protection will prove adequate or that
Fuel
Tech will have adequate remedies for disclosure of its trade secrets or
violations of its intellectual property rights. See Item 2 “Description of
Property.”
6
ITEM
1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES
Fuel
Tech’s products are generally protected by U.S. and non-U.S. patents. Fuel Tech
owns 88 granted patents worldwide and has seven patent applications pending
in
the United States and 20 pending in non-U.S. jurisdictions. These patents cover
some 36 inventions, 23 associated with the NOx reduction business; eight
associated with the FUEL CHEM business; and five associated with
non-commercialized technologies. These inventions represent significant
enhancements of the application and performance of the technologies. Further,
Fuel Tech believes that the protection provided by the numerous claims in the
above referenced patents or patent applications is substantial, and affords
Fuel
Tech a significant competitive advantage in its business. Accordingly, any
significant reduction in the protection afforded by these patents or any
significant development in competing technologies could have a material adverse
effect on Fuel Tech’s business.
Apart
from its intellectual property, the property of Fuel Tech is not
material.
Fuel
Tech
and its subsidiaries operate from leased office facilities in Batavia, Illinois;
Stamford, Connecticut; and Gallarate, Italy. Fuel Tech does not segregate any
of
its leased facilities by operating business segment. The terms of the two
material agreements are as follows:
· |
The
Batavia, Illinois building lease term, for approximately 18,000 square
feet, runs from June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2009. Fuel Tech has the option
to
extend the lease term for two successive terms of five years each
at
market rates to be agreed upon between Fuel Tech and the lessor.
|
· |
The
Stamford, Connecticut building lease term, for approximately 7,000
square
feet, runs from February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2010. Fuel Tech has
the
option to extend the lease term for one successive term of five years
at a
market rate to be agreed upon between Fuel Tech and the
lessor.
|
Please
refer to Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for a further
discussion of these arrangements.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Fuel
Tech
has no pending litigation material to its business.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
During
the fourth quarter of 2006, no matters were submitted to a vote of security
holders.
7
PART
II
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market
Fuel
Tech's Common Shares have been traded since September 1993 on The NASDAQ Stock
Market, Inc.
Prices
The
table
below sets forth the high and low sales prices during each calendar quarter
since January 2005.
2006
|
High
|
Low
|
|||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$
|
27.44
|
$
|
14.40
|
|||
Third
Quarter
|
16.45
|
10.07
|
|||||
Second
Quarter
|
18.80
|
11.15
|
|||||
First
Quarter
|
16.75
|
8.11
|
|||||
2005
|
|||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$
|
10.12
|
$
|
7.24
|
|||
Third
Quarter
|
10.13
|
5.75
|
|||||
Second
Quarter
|
7.20
|
5.10
|
|||||
First
Quarter
|
6.85
|
4.60
|
Dividends
Fuel
Tech
has not to date paid dividends on its Common Shares and is not expected to
do so
in the foreseeable future.
Holders
Based
on
information from Fuel Tech’s Transfer Agent, as of February 16, 2006, there were
305 registered holders of Fuel Tech’s Common Shares. Management believes that,
on such date, there were approximately 15,924 beneficial holders of Fuel Tech’s
Common Shares.
Transfer
Agent
The
Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Shares is Mellon Investor Services,
LLC, 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table provides information for all equity compensation plans as of
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, under which the securities of Fuel Tech
were authorized for issuance:
Plan
Category
|
Number
of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans excluding securities listed in column
(a)
|
|||||||
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
||||||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
|
2,414,200
|
$
|
13.02
|
866,000
|
(1)
|
Includes
Common Shares of Fuel Tech authorized for awards under Fuel Tech’s
Incentive Plan, as amended through June 3,
2004.
|
8
Performance
Graph
The
following line graph compares (i) Fuel Tech’s total return to shareholders per
share of Common Stock for the five years ended December 31, 2006 to that of
(ii)
the NASDAQ Composite index, and (iii) the WilderHill Clean Energy Index for
the
period December 31, 2001 through December 31, 2006.
9
ITEM
6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Selected
financial data are presented below as of the end of and for each of the fiscal
years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2006. The selected financial
data should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.”
For
the years ended December 31
|
||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT of OPERATIONS DATA
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
2002
|
|||||||||||
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars, except for share data)
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
75,115
|
$
|
52,928
|
$
|
30,832
|
$
|
35,736
|
$
|
32,627
|
||||||
Selling,
general and administrative and other costs and expenses
|
25,953
|
18,655
|
14,130
|
12,978
|
11,777
|
|||||||||||
Operating
income
|
10,733
|
7,155
|
136
|
969
|
2,618
|
|||||||||||
Net
income
|
6,826
|
7,588
|
1,572
|
1,120
|
3,057
|
|||||||||||
Basic
income per Common Share
|
$
|
0.32
|
$
|
0.38
|
$
|
0.08
|
$
|
0.06
|
$
|
0.16
|
||||||
Diluted
income per Common Share
|
$
|
0.28
|
$
|
0.33
|
$
|
0.07
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.14
|
||||||
Weighted-average
basic shares outstanding
|
21,491,000
|
20,043,000
|
19,517,000
|
19,637,000
|
19,350,000
|
|||||||||||
Weighted-average
diluted shares outstanding
|
24,187,000
|
23,066,000
|
22,155,000
|
22,412,000
|
22,437,000
|
December
31
|
||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET DATA
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
2002
|
|||||||||||
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars, except for share data)
|
||||||||||||||||
Working
capital
|
$
|
38,715
|
$
|
19,590
|
$
|
11,292
|
$
|
10,973
|
$
|
13,930
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
65,660
|
44,075
|
23,828
|
21,598
|
25,869
|
|||||||||||
Long-term
obligations
|
500
|
448
|
505
|
299
|
2,059
|
|||||||||||
Total
liabilities
|
18,005
|
14,939
|
4,873
|
4,287
|
9,064
|
|||||||||||
Shareholders'
equity
|
47,655
|
29,136
|
18,955
|
17,311
|
16,805
|
|||||||||||
Net
tangible book value per share
|
$
|
1.83
|
$
|
1.12
|
$
|
0.70
|
$
|
0.61
|
$
|
0.64
|
Notes:
(1) Shareholders’
equity includes $277,000 principal amount of nil coupon non-redeemable perpetual
loan notes. See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.
(2) Net
tangible book value per share assumes full conversion of Fuel Tech’s nil coupon
non-redeemable perpetual loan notes into shares of Fuel Tech’s Common
Shares.
(3) Net
tangible book value per share is defined as shareholders’ equity less intangible
assets, divided by weighted average shares outstanding.
10
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Background
Fuel
Tech, Inc. (“Fuel Tech”) has two broad technology segments that provide advanced
engineering solutions to meet the pollution control, efficiency improvement,
and
operational optimization needs of energy-related facilities worldwide. They
are
as follows:
Nitrogen
Oxide (“NOx”) Reduction Technologies
The
nitrogen oxide (“NOx”) reduction technology segment includes the NOxOUT, NOxOUT
CASCADE, NOxOUT ULTRA and NOxOUT-SCR processes for the reduction of NOx
emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators, furnaces and other stationary
combustion sources. Fuel Tech distributes its products through its direct sales
force, licensees and agents.
Fuel
Treatment Chemicals
The
fuel
treatment chemicals technology segment uses chemical processes, including TIFI
Targeted In-Furnace Injection technology, to control slagging, fouling,
corrosion, opacity, acid plume and loss on ignition, as well as the formation
of
sulfur trioxide, ammonium bisulfate, particulate matter (PM2.5),
carbon
dioxide and NOx in furnaces and boilers. Fuel Tech sells its fuel treatment
chemicals through its direct sales force and agents to industrial and utility
power-generation facilities.
The
key
market dynamic for both technology segments is the continued use of coal as
the
principal fuel source for global electricity production. Coal accounts for
approximately 50% of all U.S. electricity generation, with U.S. government
projections calling for an increase to approximately 57% by 2030. Coal’s share
of global electricity generation is forecast to remain at approximately 41%
through 2030. Major coal consumers include the United States, the PRC and India.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require
Fuel Tech to make estimates and assumptions. Fuel Tech believes that of its
accounting policies (see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements) the
following involves a higher degree of judgment and complexity and are deemed
critical. Fuel Tech discusses its critical accounting policies with the Audit
Committee.
Revenue
Recognition
Fuel
Tech
uses the percentage of completion method of accounting for certain long-term
equipment construction and license contracts that are sold within the nitrogen
oxide reduction business segment. Under the percentage of completion method,
sales and gross profit are recognized as work is performed based on the
relationship between actual construction costs incurred and total estimated
costs at completion. Since the financial reporting of these contracts depends
on
estimates that are assessed continually during the term of the contract,
recognized sales and profit are subject to revisions as the contract progresses
to completion. Revisions in profit estimates are reflected in the period in
which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
Fuel
Tech’s construction contracts are typically six to twelve months in length. A
typical contract will have three or four critical milestones that serve as
the
basis for Fuel Tech to invoice the customer. At a minimum, the milestones will
include the generation of engineering drawings, the shipment of equipment and
the completion of a system performance test.
As
part
of most of its contractual project agreements, Fuel Tech will agree to
customer-specific acceptance criteria that relate to the operational performance
of the system that is being sold to the customer. These criteria are determined
based on mathematical modeling that is performed by Fuel Tech personnel, which
is based on operational inputs that are provided by the customer. The customer
will warrant that these operational inputs are accurate as they are specified
in
the binding contractual agreement. Further, the customer is solely responsible
for the accuracy of the operating condition information; all performance
guarantees and equipment warranties granted by Fuel Tech are void if the
operating condition information is inaccurate or is not met.
Fuel
Tech
has installed over 400 units with the technology and has never failed to meet
a
performance guarantee when the customer has provided the required operating
conditions for the project. As part of the project implementation process,
Fuel
Tech will perform system start-up and optimization services that effectively
serve as a test of actual project performance. Fuel Tech believes that this
test, combined with the accuracy of the modeling that is performed, enables
revenue to be recognized prior to the receipt of formal customer acceptance.
11
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
Fuel
Tech, in order to control and monitor the credit risk associated with its
customer base, reviews the credit worthiness of customers on a recurring basis.
Factors influencing the level of scrutiny include the level of business the
customer has with Fuel Tech, the customer’s payment history and the customer’s
financial stability. Representatives of Fuel Tech’s management team review all
past due accounts on a weekly basis to assess collectibility. At the end of
each
reporting period, the allowance for doubtful accounts balance is reviewed
relative to management’s collectibility assessment and is adjusted if deemed
necessary. Fuel Tech’s historical credit loss has been
insignificant.
Assessment
of potential impairments of goodwill and intangible
assets
Effective
January 1, 2002, Fuel Tech adopted FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board)
Statement No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Under the guidance of
this statement, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer
amortized, but rather, are required to be reviewed annually or more frequently
if indicators arise, for impairment. The evaluation of impairment involves
comparing the current fair value of the business to the carrying value. Fuel
Tech uses a discounted cash flow model (DCF) to determine the current fair
value
of its two reporting units. A number of significant assumptions and estimates
are involved in the application of the DCF model to forecast operating cash
flows, including markets and market share, sales volumes and prices, costs
to
produce and working capital changes. Management considers historical experience
and all available information at the time the fair values of its reporting
units
are estimated. However, actual fair values that could be realized in an actual
transaction may differ from those used to evaluate the impairment of
goodwill.
Fuel
Tech
reviews other intangible assets, which include a customer list, a covenant
not
to compete and patent assets, for impairment on a recurring basis or when events
or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not
be
recoverable. In the event the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash
flows
resulting from the use of the asset is less than the carrying amount of the
asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over
its fair value is recorded. Management considers historical experience and
all
available information at the time the estimates of future cash flows are made,
however, the actual cash values that could be realized may differ from those
that are estimated.
Valuation
allowance for deferred income taxes
Deferred
tax assets represent deductible temporary differences and net operating loss
and
tax credit carryforwards. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more
likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be
realized.
At
the
end of each reporting period, Fuel Tech reviews the realizability of the
deferred tax assets. As part of this review, Fuel Tech will consider if there
are taxable temporary differences that could generate taxable income in the
future, if there is the ability to carryback the net operating losses or
credits, if there is a projection of future taxable income, and if there are
any
tax planning strategies which can be readily implemented.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Fuel
Tech
recognizes compensation expense for employee equity awards in which the expense
(net of tax) is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of the
award. Fuel Tech utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate
the
fair value of awards. Determining the fair value of stock options using the
Black-Scholes model requires judgment, including estimates for (1) risk-free
interest rate - an estimate based on the yield of zero-coupon treasury
securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; (2)
expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of Fuel
Tech’s Common Stock for a period equal to the expected life of the option; and
(3) expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience
including the effect of employee terminations. If any of these assumptions
differ significantly from actual, stock-based compensation expense could be
impacted.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Standards
In
September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when
Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” (SAB 108). SAB
108 was issued to provide interpretive guidance on how the effects of the
carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in
quantifying a current year misstatement. The provisions of SAB 108 were
effective for Fuel Tech for its December 31, 2006 year-end. The adoption of
SAB
108 had no impact on Fuel Tech’s consolidated financial statements.
On
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based
Payment”, (SFAS 123(R)), which requires the company to recognize compensation
expense for stock-based compensation based on the grant date fair value. SFAS
123(R) revises SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and
supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations (APB 25). Fuel Tech elected
the modified prospective application method for adoption, therefore prior period
financial statements have not been restated. As a result of the implementation
of 123(R), Fuel Tech recognized additional compensation expense of $1,805,000
($1,268,000 after-tax) related to stock options. See the notes to the
consolidated financial statements for additional information.
12
New
Accounting Pronouncements
In
July
2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation
No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109,” (FIN 48), FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for
how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial
statements uncertain tax positions that it has taken or expects to take on
a tax
return. On January 17, 2007, the FASB affirmed its previous decision to make
FIN
48 effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Accordingly,
FIN 48 is effective for Fuel Tech on January 1, 2007. Management has determined
that the adoption of FIN 48 will not have a material impact on Fuel Tech’s
consolidated financial statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” (SFAS
157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures
about
fair value measurements. The provisions of this standard apply to other
accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. SFAS
157 becomes effective for Fuel Tech on January 1, 2008. Upon adoption, the
provisions of SFAS 157 are to be applied prospectively with limited exceptions.
The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material impact on Fuel
Tech’s consolidated financial statements.
13
2006
versus 2005
Net
sales
for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $75,115,000 and $52,928,000,
respectively. The year over year increase of $22,187,000, or 42%, reflects
an
increase of $13,804,000 from the nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technology
segment and an increase of $8,389,000 from the fuel treatment chemical
technology segment.
Revenues
for the NOx reduction technology segment were $46,454,000 in 2006, an increase
of $13,804,000, or 42%, over 2005. This segment continues to experience a high
level of order activity as utilities and industrial facilities that are impacted
by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Call regulation and other recently introduced regulatory mandates continue
to
utilize Fuel Tech’s technology as an important element of their ongoing
regulatory compliance strategy.
Revenues
for the Fuel Treatment Chemical business segment were $28,661,000 in 2006,
an
increase of $8,389,000, or 41%, over 2005. This segment’s growth is indicative
of the continued market acceptance of Fuel Tech’s patented TIFI™ Targeted
In-Furnace Injection™ technology, particularly on coal-fired units, which
represent the largest market opportunity for the technology, both domestically
and abroad. Fuel Tech’s oil-fired business was negatively impacted by the high
price of oil during 2006.
Fuel
Tech’s TIFI technology alleviates the slagging and fouling issues associated
with burning coals that are high in low-melting-point ash constituents, such
as
sodium and iron. Powder River Basin (PRB) coal, which accounts for approximately
42% of the coal burned in the United States today to generate electricity,
and
Illinois Basin coal, are two examples of coal sources that have high levels
of
low-melting-point ash constituents. There are coal seams across the country
that
provide utility units with slagging and fouling issues. Additionally,
demonstrations have recently been performed on utility units that burn higher
sulfur coals. High sulfur coals represent an additional market opportunity
for
Fuel Tech, particularly as environmental regulations require coal-fired utility
units to install sulfur reduction technologies. When high-sulfur coal is used
on
a unit that has a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, sulfur trioxide
(SO3)
and
acid plume issues are created, which are a key concern in many utility and
industrial operations today. Fuel Tech’s TIFI Targeted In-Furnace Injection
technology provides a solution for these issues.
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of net sales for the years ended December 31, 2006 and
2005 was 51%. The cost of sales percentage for 2006 for the NOx reduction
segment increased to 57% from 51% in 2005. The increase is attributable to
the
mix of project business. For the fuel treatment chemical segment, the cost
of
sales percentage decreased to 42% in 2006 from 50% in 2005. The decrease is
due
to the timing of revenue recognition on cost-share demonstrations and to
leveraging fixed costs on higher revenue-generating coal-fired utility units.
Selling,
general and administrative expenses for
the
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were
$23,901,000
and $17,414,000, respectively. The
$6,487,000 year over year increase over 2005 is attributable to the
following:
· |
Fuel
Tech recorded $1,805,000 in stock compensation expense in accordance
with
Statement 123(R), as discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial
statements.
|
· |
Fuel
Tech realized an increase in revenue-related expenses in the amount
of
$1,500,000 as both technology segments had significantly improved
revenue
growth versus the comparable prior-year
period.
|
· |
Fuel
Tech recorded an increase in human resource-related expenses of
approximately $1,800,000 as staffing levels were increased in several
areas in response to overall business
growth.
|
· |
Finally,
Fuel Tech realized incremental expenses related to audit, tax, consulting
and recruiting fees, all in support of achieving business growth.
Of
specific note are the costs that were incurred to domesticate Fuel
Tech.
|
Research
and development expenses were $2,052,000 and $1,241,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Fuel Tech has established a more
focused approach in the pursuit of commercial applications for its technologies
outside of its traditional markets, and in the development and analysis of
new
technologies that could represent incremental market opportunities.
Interest
income increase by almost $800,000 year over year, driven
by
higher average cash and short-term investment balances, and market interest
rates versus those experienced in the prior year.
The
increase in other income is due largely to foreign exchange gains
related to balances denominated in foreign currencies.
On
a
year-to-date basis, Fuel Tech recorded tax expense of $4,942,000. This amount
primarily represents non-cash deferred tax expense related to taxable income
recognized in 2006.
Fuel
Tech’s income tax benefit of $419,000 for 2005 predominantly represented the
recording of the reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance
representing the anticipated utilization of net operating loss and research
and
development tax credit carryforwards. Based on a review of both historical
and
projected taxable income, Fuel Tech concluded in 2005 that it was more likely
than not that the net operating losses and the research and development tax
credits would be utiized in subsequent periods and the valuation allowance
was
no longer required.
14
2005
versus 2004
Net
sales
for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were $52,928,000 and $30,832,000,
respectively. The year on year increase of $22,096,000, or 72%, reflected gains
from both the Nitrogen Oxide reduction (NOx) and Fuel Treatment Chemical
business segments.
Revenues
for the NOx product line were $32,650,000 in 2005, an increase of 124% over
2004. This business segment, which began to show increased strength in the
second half of 2004, experienced a surge in order activity. Utilities and
industrial facilities that are impacted by the Environmental Protection Agency’s
(EPA) State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call regulation, which became effective
on
May 31, 2004, continued to prove that Fuel Tech’s technology is a viable tool in
their ongoing regulatory compliance planning. Fuel Tech’s strategy in addressing
this market has involved the development of alliance agreements with critical
customers looking to finalize their compliance plans.
Revenues
for the Fuel Treatment Chemical business segment were $20,272,000 in 2005,
an
increase of 25% over 2004. This segment’s growth, although indicative of the
continued market acceptance of Fuel Tech’s patented TIFI Targeted In-Furnace
Injection technology, would have been enhanced had revenues not been hampered
by
the following circumstances during 2005:
· |
Demonstration
programs - there were several demonstration programs during 2005,
five of
which did not yield commercial revenues at December 31, 2005. One
was a
no-cost demonstration at a critical coal-fired utility and one was
a
demonstration at a large coal-fired utility offered at 50% of commercial
value. These two successful demonstrations had the impact of reducing
revenue by approximately $500,000 and this revenue is non-recoverable.
The
other three demonstrations were structured on a cost-share basis
and all
were on coal-fired units. Under cost-share arrangements, during the
demonstration period, Fuel Tech will invoice the customer at a specified
percentage of the commercial price. At the end of the demonstration,
if
Fuel Tech meets the criteria for success that were established for
the
program, Fuel Tech will invoice the customer for the remaining percentage
of the commercial price. These latter three demonstrations reached
their
evaluation date in the first quarter of 2006. If revenue was recognized
at
commercial pricing for these latter demonstrations, an incremental
$600,000 in revenue would have been realized in 2005.
|
· |
Coal
supply chain issues - rail disruptions in the Powder River Basin
during
2005 impacted several utilities’ ability to receive and burn Powder River
Basin coal. The required repair and maintenance work on several rail
lines
impacted coal shipments in several parts of the country well into
2006.
This market dynamic negatively impacted Fuel Tech’s revenue generating
capability in 2005 as more than one critical Western-coal fired utility
unit was forced to reduce capacity for an extended period of time
due to
transportation related shortages of Western coal deliveries. New
sales
initiatives were also negatively influenced by these issues as potential
new customers were forced to delay their evaluation and implementation
of
the Fuel Chem technology.
|
· |
Oil
pricing - the high price of oil resulted in reduced oil-fired electricity
generation in the United States. Fuel Tech’s oil-fired business was
negatively impacted by this market dynamic in
2005.
|
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2005 declined
to 51% from 54% in the prior year. This improvement was primarily attributable
to the nitrogen oxide business, where the percentage decreased to 51% in 2005
from 58% in 2004. The decrease was attributable to the mix of project business.
The cost of sales percentage for the fuel treatment chemical business increased
to 50% in 2005 from 48% in 2004. The increase was due to the impact of the
demonstration programs discussed above.
Selling,
general and administrative expenses were $17,414,000 and $12,775,000 for the
years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Of the $4,639,000 variance
with 2004, almost $2,800,000 was
due
to employee-related costs including the wages and benefits resulting from the
addition of new personnel; recruiting costs; and incentive compensation.
Revenue-related internal and external commission accounted for $1,100,000 of
the
increase. The remainder of the variance was attributable to audit and
audit-related fees for Sarbanes Oxley compliance and legal and consulting fees
derived from Fuel Tech’s strategic desire to engage in business in new
geographies.
Research
and development expenses were $1,241,000 and $1,355,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Fuel Tech continues to pursue
commercial applications for technologies related to its core businesses, with
a
particular focus on its FUEL CHEM technologies.
The
year
over year increase in interest income resulted from higher average cash and
short-term investment balances and increased market interest rates in 2005
versus 2004. The increase in other expenses was due largely to foreign exchange
losses
related
to balances denominated in foreign currencies.
Fuel
Tech’s income tax benefit of $419,000 for 2005 predominantly represented the
recording of the reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance
representing the anticipated utilization of net operating loss and research
and
development tax credit carryforwards. Based on a review of both historical
and
projected taxable income, Fuel Tech concluded that it was more likely than
not
that the net operating losses and the research and development tax credits
would
be utiized in subsequent periods and the valuation allowance was no longer
required.
15
Liquidity
and Sources of Capital
At
December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech had cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investments of $32,405,000 and working capital of $38,715,000 versus $16,375,000
and $19,590,000 at the end of 2005, respectively. Operating activities provided
$8,159,000 of cash during 2006, primarily due to the favorable operating results
of the business segments. Investing activities used cash of $4,017,000 during
2006, as short-term investments were increased by $2,000,000 and $2,017,000
was
utilized to support and enhance the operations of the business, principally
for
equipment related to the fuel treatment chemical technology segment. Fuel Tech
generated cash related to the exercise of stock options in the amount of
$9,770,000. Of this amount, $3,826,000 represents proceeds derived from the
exercise price of options exercised in 2006, while $5,944,000 represents the
excess tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock options in
2006.
Fuel
Tech
has a $25.0 million revolving credit facility expiring July 31, 2009. The
facility is unsecured and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 75 basis
points. Fuel Tech can use this facility for cash advances and standby letters
of
credit.
At
December 31, 2006, the bank had provided standby letters of credit,
predominantly to customers, totaling approximately $1,077,000 in connection
with
contracts in process. Fuel Tech is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank
for
any payments made by the bank under these letters of credit. At December 31,
2006, there were no cash borrowings under the revolving credit facility and
approximately $23,923,000 was available.
There
were no interest payments made during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005
or
2004.
In
the
opinion of management, Fuel Tech’s expected near-term revenue growth will be
driven by the timing of penetration of the coal-fired utility marketplace via
utilization of its TIFI technology, by utility and industrial entities’
adherence to the NOx reduction requirements of the various domestic
environmental regulations, and by the expansion of both business segments in
non-U.S. geographies. Fuel Tech expects its liquidity requirements to be met
by
the operating results generated from these activities.
16
Contractual
Obligations and Commitments
In
its
normal course of business, Fuel Tech enters into agreements that obligate Fuel
Tech to make future payments. The operating lease obligations noted below are
primarily related to supporting the operations of the business.
Payments
due by period in thousands of U.S. dollars
|
||||||||||||||||
Contractual
Cash Obligations
|
Total
|
Less
than 1 year
|
2-3
years
|
4-5
years
|
Thereafter
|
|||||||||||
Operating
Leases
|
$
|
1,388
|
$
|
521
|
$
|
827
|
$
|
40
|
$
|
-
|
Fuel
Tech
has a sublease agreement that obligates the lessee to make future payments
to
Fuel Tech. The sublease obligations noted below are related to a sublease
agreement between Fuel Tech and American Bailey Corporation (ABC). ABC will
reimburse Fuel Tech for its share of lease and lease-related expenses under
Fuel
Tech’s January 29, 2004
lease of its executive offices in Stamford, Connecticut. Please refer to Note
9
to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the relation
between Fuel Tech and ABC.
Rental
payments due to Fuel Tech by period in thousands of U.S.
dollars
|
||||||||||||||||
Contractual
Cash Obligations
|
Total
|
Less
than 1 year
|
2-3
years
|
4-5
years
|
Thereafter
|
|||||||||||
Sublease
|
$
|
250
|
$
|
81
|
$
|
162
|
$
|
7
|
$
|
-
|
Fuel
Tech, in the normal course of business, uses bank performance guarantees and
letters of credit in support of construction contracts with customers as
follows:
· |
in
support of the warranty period defined in the contract, or
|
· |
in
support of the system performance criteria that are defined in the
contract
|
In
addition, Fuel Tech uses letters of credit as security for other obligations
as
needed in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech
has
outstanding bank performance guarantees and letters of credit as noted in the
table below:
Commitment
expiration by period in thousands of U.S. dollars
|
||||||||||||||||
Commercial
Commitments
|
Total
|
Less
than 1 year
|
2-3
years
|
4-5
years
|
Thereafter
|
|||||||||||
Standby
letters of credit and bank guarantees
|
$
|
1,077
|
$
|
1,077
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
Off-Balance-Sheet
Transactions
There
were no off-balance-sheet transactions during
the two year period ended December 31, 2006.
Forward-Looking
Information
From
time
to time, information provided by Fuel Tech, statements made by its employees
or
information included in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(including this Annual Report) may contain statements that are not historical
facts, so-called “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements
are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Fuel Tech’s actual future results may differ
significantly from those stated in any forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, product demand, pricing, market acceptance,
litigation, risk of dependence on significant customers, third-party suppliers
and intellectual property rights, risks in product and technology development
and other risk factors detailed in the text under the caption “Risk Factors of
the Business” in Item 1 “Business” under Part I of this Annual Report and in
Fuel Tech’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
17
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
Fuel
Tech’s earnings and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. Fuel Tech does not enter into foreign currency
forward contracts or into foreign currency option contracts to manage this
risk
due to the immaterial nature of the transactions involved.
Fuel
Tech
is also exposed to changes in interest rates primarily due to its long-term
debt
arrangement (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements). A
hypothetical 100 basis point adverse move in interest rates along the entire
interest rate yield curve would not have a materially adverse effect on interest
expense during the upcoming year ended December 31, 2007.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Fuel
Tech’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule
13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. As required by Rule 13a-15(c) under the
Exchange Act, Fuel Tech’s management carried out an evaluation, with the
participation of Fuel Tech’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting
as of the end of the last fiscal year. The framework on which such evaluation
was based is contained in the report entitled “Internal Control—Integrated
Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (the “COSO Report”).
Fuel
Tech’s system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent
limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because
of
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.
Based
on
its assessment, management has concluded that Fuel Tech maintained effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on
criteria in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” issued
by
the COSO.
Management’s
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
as
of December 31, 2006, has been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included
elsewhere herein.
18
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting
The
Board
of Directors and Shareholders of Fuel Tech, Inc.
We
have
audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Fuel Tech, Inc.
maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2006 based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(the COSO criteria). Fuel Tech, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining
effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment
of
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an
opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial
reporting based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we
plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control
over
financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating
the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing
such
other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A
company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain
to
the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors
of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may
not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In
our
opinion, management’s assessment that Fuel Tech, Inc. maintained effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, is fairly
stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our
opinion, Fuel Tech, Inc. has maintained, in all material respects, effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based
on the
COSO
criteria.
We
also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Fuel Tech,
Inc. as of December 31, 2006 and the related consolidated statements of income,
shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2006 of
Fuel Tech, Inc. and our report dated March 5, 2007 expressed an unqualified
opinion on those financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph
regarding the Company's adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 123(R), Share Based Payment, in 2006.
|
|
/s/
GRANT THORNTON, LLP
|
Chicago,
Illinois
March
5,
2007
19
The
Board
of Directors and Stockholders’
Fuel
Tech, Inc.:
We
have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Fuel Tech, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements
of
income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on
our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that
we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Fuel Tech, Inc. as of
December 31, 2006 and the results of their operations and cash flows for
the
year ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
As
discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January
1, 2006 the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for share-based
payments as a result of adopting the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment.
Our
audit
was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial
statements taken as a whole. The accompanying Schedule II is presented to
comply
with SEC reporting requirements and is not a required part of the basic
financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to the auditing
procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in
our
opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.
We
also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Fuel Tech Inc.’s internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on the criteria
established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report
dated March 5, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment
and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Fuel Tech Inc.’s internal
control over financial reporting.
|
|
/s/ GRANT THORNTON, LLP |
Chicago,
Illinois
March
5,
2007
20
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The
Board
of Directors and Shareholders of Fuel Tech, Inc. (formerly FuelTech
N.V.)
We
have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Fuel Tech, Inc. as of
December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income,
shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period
ended December 31, 2005. Our audits also included the financial statement
schedules listed in the Index at item 15(a) for each of the two years ended
December 31, 2005. These financial statements and schedule are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our
audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we
plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of Fuel Tech, Inc. at
December 31, 2005, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our
opinion, the related financial statement schedule for each of the two years
ended December 31, 2005, when considered in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the
information set forth therein.
|
|
/s/
Ernst & Young LLP
|
Chicago,
Illinois
March
8,
2006
21
Fuel
Tech, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
December
31
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
24,405
|
$
|
10,375
|
|||
Short-term
investments
|
8,000
|
6,000
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $150 and $150,
respectively
|
16,724
|
13,233
|
|||||
Inventories
|
203
|
358
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
4,972
|
3,043
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
1,916
|
1,072
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
56,220
|
34,081
|
|||||
Equipment,
net of accumulated depreciation of $8,845 and $7,900,
respectively
|
4,051
|
4,045
|
|||||
Goodwill
|
2,119
|
2,119
|
|||||
Other
intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,205 and
$1,087,
respectively
|
1,156
|
1,224
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
885
|
1,579
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
1,229
|
1,027
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
65,660
|
$
|
44,075
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
7,632
|
$
|
6,493
|
|||
Accrued
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Employee
and director compensation
|
4,457
|
2,331
|
|||||
Other
accrued liabilities
|
5,416
|
5,667
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
17,505
|
14,491
|
|||||
Other
liabilities
|
500
|
448
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
18,005
|
14,939
|
|||||
Shareholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares
|
|||||||
authorized,
22,086,728 and 20,424,133 shares issued, respectively
|
221
|
204
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
103,122
|
91,559
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(56,044
|
)
|
(62,870
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
79
|
(39
|
)
|
||||
Nil
coupon perpetual loan notes
|
277
|
282
|
|||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
47,655
|
29,136
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$
|
65,660
|
$
|
44,075
|
See
notes
to consolidated financial statements.
22
Fuel
Tech, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Income
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
For
the years ended December 31
|
||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
75,115
|
$
|
52,928
|
$
|
30,832
|
||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
38,429
|
27,118
|
16,566
|
|||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
23,901
|
17,414
|
12,775
|
|||||||
Research
and development
|
2,052
|
1,241
|
1,355
|
|||||||
64,382
|
45,773
|
30,696
|
||||||||
Operating
income
|
10,733
|
7,155
|
136
|
|||||||
Interest
income
|
1,011
|
244
|
65
|
|||||||
Other
income (expense)
|
24
|
(230
|
)
|
(35
|
)
|
|||||
Income
before taxes
|
11,768
|
7,169
|
166
|
|||||||
Income
tax (expense) benefit
|
(4,942
|
)
|
419
|
1,406
|
||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
6,826
|
$
|
7,588
|
$
|
1,572
|
||||
Net
income per Common Share:
|
||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.32
|
$
|
0.38
|
$
|
0.08
|
||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.28
|
$
|
0.33
|
$
|
0.07
|
||||
Weighted-average
number of Common Shares outstanding:
|
||||||||||
Basic
|
21,491,000
|
20,043,000
|
19,517,000
|
|||||||
Diluted
|
24,187,000
|
23,066,000
|
22,155,000
|
See
notes
to consolidated financial statements.
23
Fuel
Tech, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data)
Common
Stock
|
Additional
Paid-in
|
Accumulated
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
|
Treasury
Stock
|
Nil
Coupon Perpetual Loan
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Deficit
|
Income
(Loss)
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Notes
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at January 1, 2004
|
19,621,503
|
$
|
196
|
$
|
89,698
|
$
|
(72,030
|
)
|
$
|
48
|
118
|
$
|
(1,133
|
)
|
$
|
532
|
$
|
17,311
|
||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
1,572
|
1,572
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation
adjustments
|
38
|
38
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
1,610
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options and warrants
|
25,402
|
34
|
34
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase
of shares for retirement
|
(116,953
|
)
|
(1
|
)
|
(1,132
|
)
|
(118
|
)
|
1,133
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2004
|
19,529,952
|
$
|
195
|
$
|
88,600
|
$
|
(70,458
|
)
|
$
|
86
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
532
|
$
|
18,955
|
|||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
7,588
|
7,588
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation
adjustments
|
(125
|
)
|
(125
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
7,463
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options and warrants
|
855,720
|
9
|
1,221
|
1,230
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of nil coupon perpetual loan notes into Common Shares
|
38,461
|
250
|
(250
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock compensation expense
|
1,488
|
1,488
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
20,424,133
|
$
|
204
|
$
|
91,559
|
$
|
(62,870
|
)
|
$
|
(39
|
)
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
282
|
$
|
29,136
|
||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
6,826
|
6,826
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation
adjustments
|
118
|
118
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
6,944
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options and warrants
|
1,661,826
|
17
|
3,809
|
3,826
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion
of nil coupon perpetual loan notes into Common Shares
|
769
|
5
|
(5
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from stock compensation expense
|
5,944
|
5,944
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
compensation expense
|
1,805
|
1,80544
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
22,086,728
|
$
|
221
|
$
|
103,122
|
$
|
(56,044
|
)
|
$
|
79
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
277
|
$
|
47,655
|
See
notes
to consolidated financial statements.
24
Fuel
Tech, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars)
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
For
the years ended December 31
|
||||||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
6,826
|
$
|
7,588
|
$
|
1,572
|
||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
|
||||||||||
Depreciation
|
1,961
|
1,566
|
1,225
|
|||||||
Amortization
|
118
|
127
|
137
|
|||||||
Provision
for doubtful accounts
|
-
|
26
|
92
|
|||||||
Loss
on equipment disposals/impaired assets
|
-
|
32
|
109
|
|||||||
Deferred
income tax
|
(1,235
|
)
|
(2,978
|
)
|
(1,520
|
)
|
||||
Current
stock compensation expense
|
1,805
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(3,491
|
)
|
(5,901
|
)
|
(1,355
|
)
|
||||
Inventories
|
155
|
(47
|
)
|
-
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses, other current assets
|
||||||||||
and
other noncurrent assets
|
(1,046
|
)
|
(439
|
)
|
(197
|
)
|
||||
Accounts
payable
|
1,139
|
3,788
|
461
|
|||||||
Accrued
liabilities and other
|
||||||||||
noncurrent
liabilities
|
1,927
|
6,278
|
125
|
|||||||
Other
|
-
|
3
|
65
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
8,159
|
10,043
|
714
|
|||||||
INVESTING
ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of equipment
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
|||||||
Purchases
of short-term investments
|
(2,000
|
)
|
(3,500
|
)
|
-
|
|||||
Purchases
of equipment and patents
|
(2,017
|
)
|
(2,792
|
)
|
(2,080
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(4,017
|
)
|
(6,292
|
)
|
(2,067
|
)
|
||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options and warrants
|
3,826
|
1,230
|
34
|
|||||||
Income
tax benefit from exercise of stock options
|
5,944
|
1,488
|
-
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
9,770
|
2,718
|
34
|
|||||||
Effect
of exchange rate fluctuations on cash
|
118
|
(125
|
)
|
38
|
||||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
14,030
|
6,344
|
(1,281
|
)
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
10,375
|
4,031
|
5,312
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$
|
24,405
|
$
|
10,375
|
$
|
4,031
|
See
notes
to consolidated financial statements.
25
Notes
to
Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
ORGANIZATION
AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization
Fuel
Tech, Inc. (“Fuel Tech”) is a company that provides advanced engineering
solutions for the optimization of combustion systems in utility and industrial
applications. Fuel Tech’s primary focus is on the worldwide marketing and sale
of its NOxOUT®
Process
and related technologies as well as its FUEL CHEM®
fuel
treatment chemical product line. The NOxOUT Process reduces nitrogen oxide
(“NOx”) emissions from boilers, furnaces and other stationary combustion
sources. Fuel Tech’s FUEL CHEM program is based on proprietary TIFI™ Targeted
In-Furnace Injection™ technology in the unique application of specialty
chemicals to improve the performance of combustion units. Fuel Tech’s business
is materially dependent on the continued existence and enforcement of air
quality regulations, particularly in the United States. Fuel Tech has expended
significant resources in the research and development of new technologies in
building its proprietary portfolio of air pollution control, fuel treatment
chemicals, computer modeling and advanced visualization technologies.
International
revenues were $17.5 million, $11.2 million and $4.7 million for the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These amounts represented 23%,
21% and 15% of Fuel Tech’s total revenues for the respective periods of time.
Foreign currency changes did not have a material impact on the calculation
of
these percentages.
Basis
of Presentation
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Fuel Tech and its
wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Originally
incorporated in 1987 under the laws of the Netherlands Antilles as FuelTech
N.V., effective September 30, 2006, Fuel Tech changed its place of incorporation
from the Netherlands Antilles to the State of Delaware in a tax-free
reorganization. In the reorganization, each outstanding share of FuelTech N.V.
Common Stock held by our stockholders was converted into one share of Fuel
Tech,
Inc. Common Stock. The shares exchanged were all of Fuel Tech, Inc.’s issued and
outstanding shares immediately after the reorganization. The number of shares
of
Fuel Tech, Inc.’s Common Stock outstanding immediately after the reorganization
was the same as the number of shares of FuelTech N.V. Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the reorganization. In connection with this reorganization,
all option agreements and warrant rights to purchase shares of FuelTech N.V.
Common Stock were converted into option agreements and warrant rights to
purchase shares of Fuel Tech, Inc. Common Stock.
In
addition to the reorganization, Fuel Tech, Inc. adopted a tax-free plan of
merger whereby two of Fuel Tech, Inc.’s wholly owned United States subsidiaries
were merged with and into Fuel Tech, Inc. as of December 31, 2006.
Reclassifications
Certain
amounts included in prior year financial statements have been reclassified
to
conform to the current year presentation. Fuel Tech has reclassified the patent
impairment losses recognized in 2005 and 2004 in the amounts of $30,000 and
$113,000, respectively, in the consolidated statements of income from the line
item “Other (expense) income, net” to the “Research and development” line item.
In addition, Fuel Tech has reclassified $1,049,000 in billings in excess of
costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts as of December 31, 2005
to
conform to current year presentation. Costs and estimated earnings in excess
of
billings on uncompleted contracts are included in accounts receivable on the
consolidated balance sheet, while billings in excess of costs and estimated
earnings on uncompleted contracts are included in other accrued liabilities
on
the consolidated balance sheet.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash
Equivalents and Financial Instruments
Fuel
Tech
includes cash and investments having an original maturity of three months or
less at the time of acquisition in cash and cash equivalents. Short-term
investments consist of highly-liquid, municipal variable rate demand notes,
which are recorded at cost, and have been classified as available for sale
securities. The cost of these securities closely approximates their fair market
value due to their variable interest rates, which typically reset every 28
days.
Generally, securities held have maturities of greater than 10 years and their
classification as short-term results from their liquidity feature. Fuel Tech
has
never incurred realized or unrealized holding gains or losses on these
securities. Income resulting from short-term investments is recorded as interest
income.
At
December 31, 2006, substantially all of Fuel Tech’s cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments are on deposit with three financial
institutions.
26
Foreign
Currency Risk Management
Fuel
Tech's earnings and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. Fuel Tech does not enter into foreign currency
forward contracts or into foreign currency option contracts to manage this
risk
due to the immaterial nature of the transactions involved.
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable includes unbilled receivables, representing costs and estimated
earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts under the percentage
of
completion method. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, unbilled receivables were
approximately $3,615,000 and $2,272,000, respectively. The allowance for
doubtful accounts is established based on Fuel Tech’s historical level of
write-off activity and management’s review of specific accounts at each
reporting date.
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts
Fuel
Tech, in order to control and monitor the credit risk associated with its
customer base, reviews the credit worthiness of customers on a recurring basis.
Factors influencing the level of scrutiny include the level of business the
customer has with Fuel Tech, the customer’s payment history and the customer’s
financial stability. Representatives of Fuel Tech’s management team review all
past due accounts on a weekly basis to assess collectibility. At the end of
each
reporting period, the allowance for doubtful accounts balance is reviewed
relative to management’s collectibility assessment and is adjusted if deemed
necessary.
Goodwill
and Other Intangibles
Effective
January 1, 2002, Fuel Tech adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Statement No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Under the guidance of
this statement, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer
amortized, but rather, are required to be reviewed annually or more frequently
if indicators arise for impairment. The evaluation of impairment involves
comparing the current fair value of the business to the recorded value. Fuel
Tech uses a discounted cash flow model (DCF) to determine the current fair
value
of its reporting units. A number of significant assumptions and estimates are
involved in the application of the DCF model to forecast operating cash flows,
including markets and market share, sales volumes and prices, costs to produce
and working capital changes. Management considers historical experience and
all
available information at the time the fair values of its reporting units are
estimated. However, actual fair values that could be realized in an actual
transaction may differ from those used to evaluate the impairment of
goodwill.
Fuel
Tech
allocates goodwill to reporting units based on the relative excess of fair
value
over carrying value of the reporting units. Fair value is determined as noted
above. The ratio of each reporting unit’s excess of fair value over carrying
value, to the total excess of fair value over carrying value, is used as the
basis for the allocation of the goodwill balance. Fuel Tech’s annual fair value
measurement test revealed no evidence of impairment.
Included
with other intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheet are third-party
costs related to the development of patents. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005,
the net patent asset balance was $172,000 and $144,000, respectively. The
third-party costs capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2006 and
2005
were $50,000 and $38,000, respectively. Third-party costs are comprised of
legal
fees that relate to the review and preparation of patent disclosures and filing
fees incurred to present the patents to the required governing
body.
Fuel
Tech’s intellectual property has been the primary building block for the Air
Pollution Control and Fuel treatment chemical product lines. The patents are
essential to the generation of revenue for Fuel Tech’s businesses and are
essential to protect Fuel Tech from competition in the markets in which it
serves. These costs are being amortized on the straight-line method over a
period of 10 years from the date of patent issuance. Patent maintenance fees
are
charged to operations as incurred. Further, the estimated amortization expense
related to Fuel Tech’s intangible patent assets is expected to approximate
$20,000 per year for the five-year period ending December 31, 2011.
27
Fuel
Tech
reviews other intangible assets, which include a customer list, a covenant
not
to compete and patent assets, for impairment on a recurring basis or when events
or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not
be
recoverable. In the event the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash
flows
resulting from the use of the asset is less than the carrying amount of the
asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over
its fair value is recorded. Management considers historical experience and
all
available information at the time the estimates of future cash flows are made,
however, the actual cash values that could be realized may differ from those
that are estimated. Fuel Tech did not record an impairment loss in 2006, while
the impact of impairment
losses on Fuel Tech was $30,000 and $113,000 for the years ended December 31,
2005, 2004, respectively. Such amounts are recorded in the “Research and
development” line item in the consolidated statements of income.
The
table below shows the amortization period and
other intangible asset cost by intangible asset as of December 31, 2006 and
2005, and the accumulated amortization and net intangible assset value in total
for all other intangible assets.
Description
of Other Intangible
|
Amortization
period
|
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||
2066
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Customer
list
|
15
years
|
$
|
1,198
|
$
|
1,198
|
||||||
Patent
asset
|
10
years
|
1,063
|
1,013
|
||||||||
Covenant
not to compete
|
6
years
|
100
|
100
|
||||||||
Total
cost
|
$
|
2,361
|
$
|
2,311
|
|||||||
Less
accumulated amortization
|
1,205
|
1,087
|
|||||||||
Total
net intangible asset value
|
$
|
1,156
|
$
|
1,224
|
28
Equipment
Equipment
is stated on the basis of cost. Provisions for depreciation are computed by
the
straight-line method, using estimated useful lives. The table below shows the
depreciable life and equipment cost by asset class as of December 31, 2006
and
2005, and the accumulated depreciation and net book value in total for all
classes of assets.
Description
of Equipment
|
Depreciable
life
|
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
2006
Equipment
Cost
|
2005
Equipment
Cost
|
|||||||||
Field
equipment
|
3-4
years
|
$
|
8,365
|
$
|
7,487
|
|||||
Computer
equipment and software
|
2-3
years
|
2,857
|
2,805
|
|||||||
Furniture
and fixtures
|
3-10
years
|
1,652
|
1,631
|
|||||||
Vehicles
|
3
years
|
22
|
22
|
|||||||
Total
cost
|
$
|
12,896
|
$
|
11,945
|
||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
8,845
|
7,900
|
||||||||
Total
net book value
|
$
|
4,051
|
$
|
4,045
|
Revenue
Recognition
Fuel
Tech
uses the percentage of completion method of accounting for certain long-term
equipment construction and license contracts. Under the percentage of completion
method, sales and gross profit are recognized as work is performed based on
the
relationship between actual construction costs incurred and total estimated
costs at completion. Sales and gross profit are adjusted for revisions in
completion estimates and contract values in the period in which the facts giving
rise to the revisions become known. Revenues from the sales of chemical products
are recorded when title transfers, either at the point of shipment or at the
point of destination, depending on the contract with the customer.
Distribution
Costs
Fuel
Tech
classifies shipping and handling costs in cost of sales in the consolidated
statement of income.
Income
Taxes
Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between
the
financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax
rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
At
the
end of each reporting period, for financial statement purposes, Fuel Tech
reviews the realizability of the deferred tax assets. As part of this review,
Fuel Tech will consider if there are taxable temporary differences that could
generate taxable income in the future, if there is the ability to carryback
the
net operating losses or credits, if there is a projection of future taxable
income, and if there are any tax planning strategies that can be readily
implemented.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Fuel
Tech
has one stock-based employee compensation plan, referred to as the 1993
Incentive Plan (1993 Plan), under
which awards
may be granted to participants in the form of Non-Qualified Stock Options,
Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock,
Performance Awards, Bonuses or other forms of share-based or non-share-based
awards or combinations thereof. Participants in the 1993 Plan may be Fuel Tech’s
directors, officers, employees, consultants or advisors (except consultants
or
advisors in capital-raising transactions) as the directors determine are key
to
the success of Fuel Tech’s business. The amount of shares that may be issued or
reserved for awards to participants under a 2004 amendment to the 1993 Plan
is
12.5% of outstanding shares calculated on a diluted basis. At December 31,
2006,
Fuel Tech has 866,000 stock options available for issuance under the 1993
Plan.
Prior
to
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech accounted for the stock options granted under the
1993 Plan under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No.
25, “Accounting
for Stock Issued to Employees” (Opinion 25) and
related Interpretations, as permitted by FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation” (Statement 123). No
stock-based employee compensation cost was recognized in Fuel Tech’s historical
Statements of Income prior to January 1, 2006 as all options granted under
the
1993 Plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying
common stock on the date of grant.
Effective
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech adopted the fair value recognition provisions of
FASB
Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based
Payment” (Statement 123(R)) using
the
modified-prospective transition method. Under that transition method,
compensation cost recognized for the year ended December 31, 2006 includes:
(a)
compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet
vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated
in
accordance with the original provisions of Statement 123, and (b) compensation
cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based
on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of
Statement 123(R). Accordingly, results for prior periods have not been
restated.
29
Basic
and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
Basic
earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of stock options and warrants
and of the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes (see
Note
5). Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of the nil coupon
non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes and of stock options and
warrants. The following table sets forth the weighted-average shares used at
December 31 in calculating earnings per share (in thousands):
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
Basic
weighted-average shares
|
21,491
|
20,043
|
19,517
|
|||||||
Conversion
of unsecured loan notes
|
46
|
59
|
85
|
|||||||
Unexercised
options and warrants
|
2,650
|
2,964
|
2,553
|
|||||||
Diluted
weighted-average shares
|
24,187
|
23,066
|
22,155
|
New
Accounting Pronouncements
In
July
2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation
No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109,” (FIN 48), FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model
for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its
financial statements uncertain tax positions that it has taken or expects to
take on a tax return. On January 17, 2007, the FASB affirmed it previous
decision to make FIN 48 effective for fiscal years beginning after December
15,
2006. Accordingly, FIN 48 is effective for Fuel Tech on January 1, 2007.
Management has determined that the adoption of FIN 48 will not have a material
impact on Fuel Tech’s consolidated financial statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” (SFAS
157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures
about
fair value measurements. The provisions of this standard apply to other
accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. SFAS
157 becomes effective for Fuel Tech on January 1, 2008. Upon adoption, the
provisions of SFAS 157 are to be applied prospectively with limited exceptions.
The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material impact on Fuel
Tech’s consolidated financial statements.
30
2. CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTS IN PROGRESS
The
status of contracts in progress as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, is as
follows:
(in
thousands)
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||
Costs
incurred on uncompleted contracts
|
$
|
18,696
|
$
|
12,020
|
|||
Estimated
earnings
|
13,810
|
11,442
|
|||||
Earned
revenue
|
32,506
|
23,462
|
|||||
Less
billings to date
|
31,524
|
25,179
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
982
|
$
|
(1,717
|
)
|
||
Classified
as follows:
|
|||||||
Costs
and estimated earnings in excess of billings
on uncompleted contracts
|
$
|
3,615
|
$
|
2,272
|
|||
Billings
in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted
contracts
|
(2,633
|
)
|
(3,989
|
)
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
982
|
$
|
(1,717
|
)
|
Costs
and
estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts are included
in accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheet, while billings in
excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are included
in
other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
As
of December 31, 2006 and 2005 Fuel Tech had no
construction contracts in progress that were identified as loss
contracts.
3. TAXATION
The
components of income (loss) before taxes for the years ended December 31 are
as
follows (in thousands):
Origin
of income (loss) before taxes
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||||
United
States
|
$
|
13,279
|
$
|
7,823
|
$
|
1,218
|
||||
Foreign
|
(1,511
|
)
|
(654
|
)
|
(1,052
|
)
|
||||
Income
before taxes
|
$
|
11,768
|
$
|
7,169
|
$
|
166
|
Significant
components of the income tax benefit for the years ended December 31 are as
follows (in thousands):
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
Current:
|
||||||||||
Federal
|
$
|
144
|
$
|
582
|
$
|
20
|
||||
State
|
29
|
455
|
94
|
|||||||
Other
|
60
|
34
|
-
|
|||||||
Total
current
|
$
|
233
|
1,071
|
114
|
||||||
Deferred:
|
||||||||||
Federal
|
4,314
|
2,179
|
1,512
|
|||||||
State
|
180
|
630
|
204
|
|||||||
Change
in valuation allowance
|
215
|
(4,299
|
)
|
(3,236
|
)
|
|||||
Total
deferred
|
4,709
|
(1,490
|
)
|
(1,520
|
)
|
|||||
Income
tax expense (benefit)
|
$
|
4,942
|
$
|
(419
|
)
|
$
|
(1,406
|
)
|
31
A
reconciliation between the provision for income taxes calculated at the U.S.
federal statutory income tax rate and the consolidated income tax benefit in
the
consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31 is as follows
(in thousands):
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
Provision
at the U.S. federal statutory rate
|
$
|
4,119
|
$
|
2,509
|
$
|
58
|
||||
State
taxes, net of federal benefit
|
187
|
369
|
94
|
|||||||
Foreign
losses without tax benefit
|
588
|
263
|
368
|
|||||||
Research
credits
|
(229
|
)
|
(339
|
)
|
-
|
|||||
Other
|
62
|
1,078
|
-
|
|||||||
Valuation
allowance adjustment
|
215
|
(4,299
|
)
|
(1,926
|
)
|
|||||
Income
tax benefit
|
$
|
4,942
|
$
|
(419
|
)
|
$
|
(1,406
|
)
|
The
table
below depicts the data above on a percentage basis:
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
Provision
at the U.S. federal statutory rate
|
35.0
|
%
|
35.0
|
%
|
35.0
|
%
|
||||
State
taxes, net of federal benefit
|
1.6
|
%
|
5.1
|
%
|
56.6
|
%
|
||||
Foreign
losses without tax benefit
|
5.0
|
%
|
3.7
|
%
|
221.7
|
%
|
||||
Research
credits
|
(1.9
|
)%
|
(4.7
|
)%
|
-
|
%
|
||||
Other
|
.5
|
%
|
15.1
|
%
|
-
|
%
|
||||
Valuation
allowance adjustment
|
1.8
|
%
|
(60.0
|
)%
|
(1,160.3
|
)%
|
||||
Income
tax benefit
|
42.0
|
%
|
(5.8
|
)%
|
(847.0
|
)%
|
32
The
deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 are as follows (in
thousands):
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|||||||
Research
and development credit
|
$
|
2,296
|
$
|
1,663
|
|||
Net
operating loss carryforwards
|
2,116
|
2,268
|
|||||
Accrued
liability for compensation
|
537
|
344
|
|||||
Stock
compensation expense
|
526
|
-
|
|||||
Equipment
|
379
|
159
|
|||||
Alternative
minimum tax credit
|
284
|
261
|
|||||
Warranty
reserve
|
180
|
94
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable
|
57
|
57
|
|||||
Deferred
rent liability
|
37
|
42
|
|||||
Vacation
accrual
|
33
|
28
|
|||||
Charitable
contribution
|
14
|
8
|
|||||
Research
and development asset
|
9
|
-
|
|||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
6,468
|
4,924
|
|||||
Valuation
allowances for deferred tax assets
|
(260
|
)
|
(45
|
)
|
|||
Deferred
tax assets net of valuation allowances
|
$
|
6,208
|
$
|
4,879
|
|||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
|||||||
Patents
|
(65
|
)
|
(54
|
)
|
|||
Goodwill
|
(286
|
)
|
(203
|
)
|
|||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(351
|
)
|
(257
|
)
|
|||
Net
deferred tax asset
|
$
|
5,857
|
$
|
4,622
|
|||
Net
deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded as follows within
the
consolidated balance sheets:
|
|||||||
Current
assets
|
$
|
4,972
|
$
|
3,043
|
|||
Long-term
assets
|
885
|
1,579
|
|||||
Net
deferred tax asset
|
$
|
5,857
|
$
|
4,622
|
Fuel
Tech’s income tax benefit of $419,000 for 2005 predominantly represents the
recording of the reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance
representing the anticipated utilization of net operating loss and research
and
development tax credit carryforwards. Based on a review of both historical
and
projected taxable income, Fuel Tech concluded that it was more likely than
not
that the net operating losses and the research and development tax credits
would
be utilized in subsequent periods and the valuation allowance was no longer
required.
For
the
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 Fuel Tech recorded tax benefits from
the
exercise of stock options in the amount of $5,944,000 and $1,488,000
respectively. The amounts were recorded as an increase in additional paid-in
capital on the consolidated balance sheets.
State
and
Federal Tax payments during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004
were $217,000, $326,000, and $76,000, respectively.
33
The
management of Fuel Tech periodically estimates the probable tax obligations
of
the Company using historical experience in tax jurisdictions and informed
judgments. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of
tax
regulations in the jurisdictions in which Fuel Tech transacts business. The
judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome
of tax audits, as well as changes to or further interpretations of regulations.
If such changes take place, there is a risk that the tax rate may increase
or
decrease in any period. Tax accruals for tax liabilities related to potential
changes in judgments and estimates for both federal and state tax issues are
included in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
At
December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech has tax losses in the amount of $6,045,000
available in the United States to offset federal taxable income, and tax losses
in the amount of $1,574,000 available to offset foreign income. The foreign
loss
carryforwards begin to expire in 2008 and at December 31, 2006 a full valuation
allowance is recorded against this amount. The remaining domestic tax loss
carryforwards expire as follows (in thousands):
2007
|
$
|
2,325
|
||
2008
|
1,480
|
|||
2009
|
220
|
|||
2010
|
309
|
|||
2011
|
884
|
|||
2012
|
40
|
|||
2021
|
117
|
|||
2025
|
670
|
|||
$
|
6,045
|
4. COMMON
SHARES
At
December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech had 22,086,728 Common Shares issued, with an
additional 45,556 shares reserved for issuance upon conversion of the nil coupon
non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes (see Note 5) and 2,414,200
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock options, 711,450 of
which are currently exercisable (see Note 6).
5. NIL
COUPON NON-REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE UNSECURED LOAN NOTES
At
December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, Fuel Tech had $277,000, $282,000, and $532,000
principal amount of nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured perpetual
loan notes (the “Loan Notes”) outstanding. The Loan Notes are convertible at any
time into Common Shares at rates of $6.50 or $11.43 per share. The Loan Notes
bear no interest and have no maturity date. They are generally repayable only
in
the event of Fuel Tech’s dissolution and, accordingly, have been classified
within shareholders’ equity in the accompanying balance sheet.
In
2006,
Loan Notes in the principal amount of $5,000 were converted into 769 Common
Shares, while in 2005 Loan Notes in the principal amount of $250,000 were
converted into 38,461 Common Shares. There were no conversions in 2004.
6. STOCK
OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Fuel
Tech
has one stock-based employee compensation plan, referred to as the 1993
Incentive Plan (1993 Plan), under
which awards
may be granted to participants in the form of Non-Qualified Stock Options,
Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock,
Performance Awards, Bonuses or other forms of share-based or non-share-based
awards or combinations thereof. Participants in the 1993 Plan may be Fuel Tech’s
directors, officers, employees, consultants or advisors (except consultants
or
advisors in capital-raising transactions) as the directors determine are key
to
the success of Fuel Tech’s business. The amount of shares that may be issued or
reserved for awards to participants under a 2004 amendment to the 1993 Plan
is
12.5% of outstanding shares calculated on a diluted basis. In
2006,
2005 and 2004, 1,094,000, 557,000, and 408,000 options, respectively, were
granted to employees and directors. At
December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech has 866,000 stock options available for issuance
under the 1993 Plan.
Prior
to
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech accounted for the stock options granted under the
1993 Plan under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No.
25, “Accounting
for Stock Issued to Employees” (Opinion 25) and
related Interpretations, as permitted by FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation” (Statement 123). No
stock-based employee compensation cost was recognized in Fuel Tech’s historical
Statements of Income prior to January 1, 2006 as all options granted under
the
1993 Plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying
common stock on the date of grant.
Effective
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech adopted the fair value recognition provisions of
FASB
Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based
Payment” (Statement 123(R)) using
the
modified-prospective transition method. Under that transition method,
compensation cost recognized for the year December 31,
2006
includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior
to,
but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value
estimated in accordance with the original provisions of Statement 123, and
(b)
compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January
1,
2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the
provisions of Statement 123(R). Accordingly, results for prior periods have
not
been restated.
34
As
a
result of adopting Statement 123(R) on January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech recorded
stock-based compensation expense of $1,805,000 ($1,268,000 after-tax) for the
year ended December 31, 2006.
The
following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share
if
Fuel Tech had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement 123(R)
to options granted under Fuel Tech’s stock option plans in all periods
presented. For purposes of this pro forma disclosure, as noted above, the value
of the options is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model.
For
the year ended (in thousands)
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||
Net
income as reported
|
$
|
7,588
|
$
|
1,572
|
|||
Deduct:
Total
stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based
method
for all awards, net of related tax effects
|
952
|
765
|
|||||
Pro
forma net income
|
$
|
6,636
|
$
|
807
|
|||
Basic
and diluted income per share:
|
|||||||
Basic
- as reported
|
$
|
.38
|
$
|
.08
|
|||
Basic
- pro forma
|
$
|
.33
|
$
|
.04
|
|||
Diluted
- as reported
|
$
|
.33
|
$
|
.07
|
|||
Diluted
- pro forma
|
$
|
.29
|
$
|
.04
|
As
of
December 31, 2006, there was $12.1 million of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under
the 1993 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a period of four
years.
The
awards granted under the 1993 Plan have a 10-year life and they vest as follows:
50% after the second anniversary of the award date, 25% after the third
anniversary, and the final 25% after the fourth anniversary of the award date.
Fuel Tech calculates stock compensation expense based on the grant date fair
value of the award and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the
four-year service period of the award.
Prior
to
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to
estimate the fair value of employee stock options for the required pro forma
disclosure under Statement 123. This model was developed for use in estimating
the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are
fully
transferable. With the adoption of Statement 123(R) as of January 1, 2006,
Fuel
Tech has continued to use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate
the
fair value of stock option grants.
The
principal variable assumptions utilized in valuing options and the methodology
for estimating such model inputs include: (1) risk-free interest rate - an
estimate based on the yield of zero-coupon treasury securities with a maturity
equal to the expected life of the option; (2) expected volatility - an estimate
based on the historical volatility of Fuel Tech’s Common Stock for a period
equal to the expected life of the option; and (3) expected life of the option
-
an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee
terminations.
Based
on
the results of the model, the weighted-average fair value of the stock options
granted during the 12-month period ended December 31, 2006 was $12.53 per share
using the following assumptions:
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
0.00
|
%
|
0.00
|
%
|
||||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.64
|
%
|
4.38
|
%
|
3.60
|
%
|
||||
Expected
volatility
|
60.7
|
%
|
48.0
|
%
|
62.3
|
%
|
||||
Expected
life of option
|
5.2
years
|
4.0
years
|
4.0
years
|
35
The
following table presents a summary of Fuel Tech’s stock option activity and
related information for the years ended December 31:
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||||||||||||||
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning of year
|
2,799,000
|
$
|
4.29
|
2,810,000
|
$
|
3.24
|
2,447,050
|
$
|
3.00
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
1,094,000
|
22.06
|
557,000
|
7.84
|
408,000
|
4.67
|
|||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(1,332,925
|
)
|
2.88
|
(529,250
|
)
|
2.32
|
(19,425
|
)
|
1.74
|
||||||||||
Expired
or forfeited
|
(145,875
|
)
|
5.91
|
(38,750
|
)
|
5.97
|
(25,625
|
)
|
4.82
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
at end of year
|
2,414,200
|
$
|
13.02
|
2,799,000
|
$
|
4.29
|
2,810,000
|
$
|
3.24
|
||||||||||
Exercisable
at end of year
|
711,450
|
$
|
5.22
|
1,687,375
|
$
|
2.87
|
1,806,125
|
$
|
2.65
|
||||||||||
Weighted-average
fair value of
|
|||||||||||||||||||
options
granted during the year
|
$
|
12.53
|
$
|
3.35
|
$
|
2.31
|
The
following table provides additional information regarding Fuel Tech’s stock
option activity for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006.
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Weighted-
Average Remaining Contractual Term
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
on January 1, 2006
|
2,799,000
|
$
|
4.29
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
1,094,000
|
22.06
|
|||||||||||
Exercised
|
(1,332,925
|
)
|
2.88
|
$
|
16,417
|
||||||||
Expired
or forfeited
|
(145,875
|
)
|
5.92
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
on December 31, 2006
|
2,414,200
|
$
|
13.02
|
8.35
years
|
$
|
31,422
|
|||||||
Exercisable
on December 31, 2006
|
711,450
|
$
|
5.22
|
6.24
years
|
$
|
3,714
|
|||||||
Weighted-average
fair value of
|
|||||||||||||
options
granted during 2006
|
$
|
12.53
|
36
The
following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
December 31, 2006:
Options
Outstanding
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Prices
|
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life |
Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price
|
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise
Prices
|
|||||||||||
$2.55
- $5.10
|
709,200
|
6.39
years
|
$
|
3.87
|
485,450
|
$
|
3.64
|
|||||||||
$5.11
- $10.20
|
611,000
|
8.09
years
|
$
|
7.44
|
166,000
|
$
|
5.98
|
|||||||||
$10.21
- $17.84
|
317,500
|
9.31
years
|
$
|
13.66
|
60,000
|
$
|
15.95
|
|||||||||
$17.85
- $25.49
|
776,500
|
9.94
years
|
$
|
25.49
|
||||||||||||
$2.55
- $25.49
|
2,414,200
|
8.35
years
|
$
|
13.02
|
711,450
|
$
|
5.22
|
The
weighted-average exercise price per nonvested stock award at grant date was
$22.41 per share for the nonvested stock awards granted in 2006. Nonvested
stock
award activity for all plans for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006 was
as
follows:
Nonvested
Stock Outstanding
|
Weighted-Average
Fair
Value
|
||||||
Outstanding
on January 1, 2006
|
1,111,625
|
$
|
2.82
|
||||
Granted
|
1,094,000
|
12.53
|
|||||
Released
|
(362,500
|
)
|
3.59
|
||||
Expired
or forfeited
|
(140,375
|
)
|
2.75
|
||||
Outstanding
on December 31, 2006
|
1,702,750
|
$
|
8.90
|
On
November 10, 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 123(R)-3, Transition
Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards,
or
Staff Position 123(R)-3. Fuel Tech has elected to adopt the alternative
transition method provided in Staff Position 123(R)-3 for calculating the tax
effects of stock-based compensation pursuant to Statement 123(R). The
alternative transition method simplifies the calculation of the beginning
balance of the additional paid-in-capital pool, or APIC pool, related to the
tax
effect of employee stock-based compensation. This method also has subsequent
impact on the APIC pool and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows
relating to the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation awards that
are
outstanding upon adoption of Statement 123(R).
In
addition to the above, Fuel Tech has 1,742,000 warrants outstanding to purchase
Common Shares at an exercise price of $1.75. The warrants expire on April 30,
2008.
7. COMMITMENTS
Operating
Leases
Fuel
Tech
leases office space, autos and certain equipment under agreements expiring
on
various dates through 2011. Future minimum lease payments under noncancellable
operating leases that have initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one
year as of December 31, 2006 are as follows (in thousands):
Year
of Payment
|
Amount
|
|||
2007
|
$
|
521
|
||
2008
|
466
|
|||
2009
|
361
|
|||
2010
|
34
|
|||
2011
|
6
|
|||
Thereafter
|
0
|
For
the
years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, rent expense approximated $829,000
$778,000 and $640,000, respectively.
37
Fuel
Tech
has a sublease agreement that obligates the lessee to make future payments.
The
sublease obligations noted below are related to a sublease agreement between
Fuel Tech and American Bailey Corporation (ABC). ABC will reimburse Fuel Tech
for its share of lease and lease-related expenses under Fuel Tech’s January
29, 2004
lease of its executive offices in Stamford, Connecticut. Please refer to Note
9
to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the relation
between Fuel Tech and ABC. The future minimum lease payments under this
noncancellable sublease as of December 31, 2006 are as follows (in
thousands):
Year
of Payment
|
Amount
|
|||
2007
|
$
|
81
|
||
2008
|
81
|
|||
2009
|
81
|
|||
2010
|
7
|
|||
2011
|
-
|
|||
Thereafter
|
-
|
The
terms
of the two primary lease arrangements are as follows:
·
The Batavia, Illinois building lease term
runs from June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2009. Fuel Tech has the option to extend
the
lease term for two successive terms of five years each at market rates to be
agreed upon between Fuel Tech and the lessor.
·
The Stamford, Connecticut building lease
term runs from February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2010. Fuel Tech has the option
to
extend the lease term for one successive term of five years at a market rate
to
be agreed upon between Fuel Tech and the lessor. Fuel Tech was provided with
a
10 month “free rent” period under this lease, and the total minimum lease
payments are being amortized over the lease term. The deferred rent liability
is
$158,000 at December 31, 2006, of which $20,000 and $138,000 are recorded in
current “Other accrued liabilities” and long-term “Other liabilities,”
respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet. Under the sublease noted above,
ABC was also provided with a 10-month “free rent” period, and the total minimum
lease rentals are also being amortized over the lease term. The deferred rent
receivable is $59,000 at December 31, 2006, of which $8,000 and $51,000 are
recorded in current “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and long-term
“Other assets”, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet.
None
of
Fuel Tech’s lease arrangements are adjusted based on an index
feature.
Performance
Guarantees
The
majority of Fuel Tech’s long-term equipment construction contracts contain
language guaranteeing that the performance of the system that is being sold
to
the customer will meet specific criteria. On occasion, bank performance
guarantees and letters of credit are issued to the customer in support of the
construction contracts as follows:
·
|
in
support of the warranty period defined in the contract, or
|
·
|
in
support of the system performance criteria that are defined in the
contract
|
As
of
December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech has outstanding bank performance guarantees and
letters of credit in the amount of $1,077,000 in support of equipment
construction contracts that have not completed their final acceptance test
or
that are still operating under a warranty period. Management of Fuel Tech
believes that these projects will be successfully completed and that there
will
not be a materially adverse impact on Fuel Tech’s operations from these bank
performance guarantees and letters of credit.
38
Product
Warranties
Fuel
Tech
issues a standard product warranty with the sale of its products to customers.
Fuel Tech’s recognition of warranty liability is based, generally, on analyses
of warranty claims experience in the preceding years. Changes in the warranty
liability in 2006, 2005 and 2004 are summarized below:
(in
thousands)
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||||
Aggregate
product warranty liability at beginning of year
|
$
|
247
|
$
|
137
|
$
|
176
|
||||
Aggregate
accruals related to product warranties
|
280
|
160
|
663
|
|||||||
Aggregate
reductions for payments
|
(55
|
)
|
(50
|
)
|
(701
|
)
|
||||
Aggregate
product warranty liability at end of year
|
$
|
472
|
$
|
247
|
$
|
137
|
8. DEBT
FINANCING
Fuel
Tech
has a $25.0 million revolving credit facility expiring July 31, 2009. The
facility is unsecured and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 75 basis
points. Fuel Tech can use this facility for cash advances and standby letters
of
credit. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, there were no outstanding borrowings
on this facility.
At
December 31, 2006, the bank had provided standby letters of credit,
predominantly to customers, totaling approximately $1,077,000 in connection
with
contracts in process. Fuel Tech is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank
for
any payments made by the bank under these letters of credit. At December 31,
2006, there were no cash borrowings under the revolving credit facility and
approximately $23,923,000 was available.
There
were no interest payments made during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005,
or 2004.
9. RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As
of
December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech has a 6% common stock ownership interest in Clean
Diesel Technologies, Inc. (CDT), which is being accounted for using the cost
method. Fuel Tech is precluded from selling its interest in CDT except pursuant
to a registration statement, or in a broker/dealer transaction within the
limitations of Rule 144 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or
in
an exempt private placement within the limitations of Rule 144 of the SEC.
Fuel
Tech’s investment in CDT, whose shares are publicly traded on the OTC Bulletin
Board and the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, had
a
market value of $3.3 million at December 31, 2006 Fuel Tech also owns 25,000
warrants to purchase CDT common stock. The warrants have an exercise price
of
$2.00 and can be exercised on or before November 14, 2010. The value assigned
to
the warrants on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2006 and 2005
is
not significant.
On
August
3, 1995, Fuel Tech signed a Management and Services Agreement with CDT.
According to the agreement, CDT is to reimburse Fuel Tech for management,
services and administrative expenses incurred by Fuel Tech on behalf of CDT.
Additionally, Fuel Tech charges CDT an additional 3% of such costs annually.
For
the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, $71,000, $71,000 and $70,000,
respectively, was charged to CDT as a management fee.
Pursuant
to an assignment agreement of certain technology to CDT, Fuel Tech is due
royalties from CDT of 2.5% of CDT’s annual revenue from sales of CDT’s Platinum
Fuel Catalyst, commencing in 1998. The royalty obligation expires in 2008.
CDT
may terminate the royalty obligation to Fuel Tech by payment of $12 million
commencing in 1998 and declining annually to $1,090,910 in 2008. CDT as assignee
and owner will maintain the technology at its own expense. To date, Fuel Tech
has received approximately $31,000 in royalties.
On
April
30, 1998, Fuel Tech entered into an agreement with ABC for it to provide certain
management and consulting services to Fuel Tech. Persons
now or formerly associated with ABC
currently own 22% of Fuel Tech’s Common Shares and warrants to purchase an
additional 1.7 million shares, which expire on April 30, 2008. No fees were
to
be payable under the agreement for the first 24 months. This agreement was
amended in 1999 to extend its term to April 30, 2002, and provide for the
payment of a management fee of $10,417 per month commencing September 1, 1999,
through May 1, 2000, and $20,833 per month until the termination of the
agreement. The agreement was further amended effective May 1, 2002 to increase
the management fee to $29,167 per month until the termination of the agreement
as of April 30, 2004. Effective January 1, 2004, this agreement was terminated.
39
As
of
January 1, 2004, two former employees of ABC who were Directors of Fuel Tech
became employees of Fuel Tech. Concurrently, in early 2004, a new agreement
was
put in place between Fuel Tech and ABC. Effective January 1, 2004, a
compensation agreement was established whereby ABC will reimburse Fuel Tech
for
certain services that employees of Fuel Tech will provide to ABC. In addition,
ABC is a sublessee under Fuel Tech’s January 29, 2004
lease of its executive offices in Stamford, Connecticut. ABC will reimburse
Fuel
Tech for its share of lease and lease-related expenses under the sublease
agreement. Please refer to Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements
for a
further discussion of this topic. $24,000 is due from ABC at December 31, 2006
related to the compensation and sublease agreements.
10. DEFINED
CONTRIBUTION PLAN
Fuel
Tech
has a retirement savings plan available for all U.S. employees who have met
minimum length-of-service requirements. Fuel Tech’s contributions are determined
based upon amounts contributed by Fuel Tech’s employees with additional
contributions
made at the discretion of Fuel Tech’s Board of Directors. Costs related to this
plan were $612,000, $285,000 and $300,000 in 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
40
11. BUSINESS
SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHIC AND QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
BUSINESS
SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA
Fuel
Tech
segregates its financial results into two reportable segments representing
two
broad technology segments as follows:
·
The NOx reduction technology segment, which
includes the NOxOUT®,
NOxOUT
CASCADE®,
NOxOUT
ULTRA®
and
NOxOUT-SCR®
processes for the reduction of NOx emissions in flue gas from boilers,
incinerators, furnaces and other stationary combustion sources, and
·
The fuel treatment chemicals technology
segment, which uses chemical processes for the control of slagging, fouling,
corrosion, opacity, acid plume, loss on ignition and sulfur trioxide-related
issues in furnaces and boilers through the addition of chemicals into the fuel
using TIFI™ Targeted In-Furnace Injection™ technology.
The
“Other” classification includes those profit and loss items not allocated by
Fuel Tech to each reportable segment. Further, there are no intersegment sales
that require elimination.
Fuel
Tech
evaluates performance and allocates resources based on reviewing gross margin
by
reportable segment. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are
the
same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.
Fuel
Tech does not review assets by reportable segment, but rather, in aggregate
for
Fuel Tech as a whole.
Information
about reporting segment net sales and gross margin are provided
below:
(in
thousands)
For
the year ended
December
31, 2006
|
Nitrogen
Oxide Reduction
|
Fuel
Treatment Chemical
|
Other
|
Total
|
|||||||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
46,454
|
$
|
28,661
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
75,115
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
26,328
|
11,932
|
169
|
38,429
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
20,126
|
16,729
|
(169
|
)
|
36,686
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
23,901
|
23,901
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
2,052
|
2,052
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
20,126
|
$
|
16,729
|
$
|
(26,122
|
)
|
$
|
10,733
|
For
the year ended
December
31, 2005
|
Nitrogen
Oxide Reduction
|
Fuel
Treatment Chemical
|
Other
|
Total
|
|||||||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
32,650
|
$
|
20,272
|
$
|
6
|
$
|
52,928
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
16,744
|
10,096
|
278
|
27,118
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
15,906
|
10,176
|
(272
|
)
|
25,810
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
17,414
|
17,414
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
1,241
|
1,241
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
15,906
|
$
|
10,176
|
$
|
(18,927
|
)
|
$
|
7,155
|
For
the year ended
December
31, 2004
|
Nitrogen
Oxide Reduction
|
Fuel
Treatment Chemical
|
Other
|
Total
|
|||||||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
14,602
|
$
|
16,216
|
$
|
14
|
$
|
30,832
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
8,458
|
7,797
|
311
|
16,566
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
6,144
|
8,419
|
(297
|
)
|
14,266
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
12,775
|
12,775
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
1,355
|
1,355
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
6,144
|
$
|
8,419
|
$
|
(14,427
|
)
|
$
|
136
|
41
GEOGRAPHIC
SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA
Information
concerning Fuel Tech’s operations by geographic area is provided below. Revenues
are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer. Assets
are those directly associated with operations of the geographic
area.
For
the years ended December 31 (in thousands)
|
||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||
Net
sales:
|
||||||||||
United
States
|
$
|
57,628
|
$
|
41,721
|
$
|
26,093
|
||||
Foreign
|
17,487
|
11,207
|
4,739
|
|||||||
$
|
75,115
|
$
|
52,928
|
$
|
30,832
|
December
31
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|||||
Assets:
|
||||||||||
United
States
|
$
|
62,190
|
$
|
39,959
|
$
|
21,641
|
||||
Foreign
|
3,470
|
4,116
|
2,187
|
|||||||
$
|
65,660
|
$
|
44,075
|
$
|
23,828
|
During
2006 and 2005, Fuel Tech realized 24.5% and 13.1%, respectively, of its revenues
from one customer. This customer utilized the product line offered by Fuel
Tech’s Nitrogen Oxide Reduction business segment.
42
QUARTERLY
FINANCIAL DATA
Set
forth
below are the unaudited quarterly financial data for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005.
For
the quarters ended:
|
March
31
|
June
30
|
September
30
|
December
31
|
|||||||||
(in
thousands, except share data)
|
|||||||||||||
2006
(a)
|
|||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
17,121
|
$
|
19,759
|
$
|
20,173
|
$
|
18,062
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
9,056
|
10,112
|
10,042
|
9,219
|
|||||||||
Net
income
|
1,350
|
1,958
|
2,060
|
1,458
|
|||||||||
Net
income per Common Share:
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.07
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.07
|
|||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.06
|
$
|
0.08
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.06
|
|||||
2005
(b)
|
|||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
12,051
|
$
|
11,780
|
$
|
12,821
|
$
|
16,276
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
6,397
|
6,053
|
6,467
|
8,201
|
|||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
753
|
3,172
|
1,048
|
2,615
|
|||||||||
Net
(loss) income per Common Share:
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.04
|
$
|
0.16
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.13
|
|||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.03
|
$
|
0.14
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.11
|
(a)
The
total of the diluted net income amounts per share for the four quarters ending
December 31, 2006 does not sum to the amounts presented on the consolidated
statement of income for the year ending December 31, 2006 due to
rounding.
(b)
Based
on a review of both historical and projected taxable income, at June 30, 2005
Fuel Tech concluded that it was more likely than not that some portion of its
net operating losses would be utilized in subsequent years and that a reduction
in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance needed to be recorded. Fuel Tech
recorded a reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $2,200,000
in the second quarter of 2005 representing the anticipated utilization of net
operating loss carryforwards in subsequent years.
In
the
fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005, Fuel Tech recorded a $2,099,000
reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance primarily due to the
anticipated utilization of net operating loss and research and development
tax
credit carryforwards. Based on a review of both historical and projected taxable
income at the end of December 31, 2005, Fuel Tech concluded that it was more
likely than not that carryforwards would be utilized in subsequent periods
and
that a reduction in the deferred tax valuation allowance was required.
43
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
As
required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”), Fuel Tech’s management carried out an evaluation, with the
participation of Fuel Tech’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of Fuel Tech’s disclosure controls and procedures,
as of the end of the last fiscal quarter.
Based
upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that, as of December 31, 2006, Fuel Tech’s disclosure controls and
procedures were operating effectively to ensure that information required to
be
disclosed by Fuel Tech in the reports that Fuel Tech files or submits under
the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time
periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and our Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Attestation Report are included at Item
8.
Change
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
were no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could
significantly affect these controls during the quarter ended December 31,
2006.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None
44
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information
required by this Item will be set forth under the captions “Election of
Directors,” “Directors and Executive Officers of Fuel Tech,” “Compensation
Committee,” “Audit Committee,” and “Financial Experts” in Fuel Tech’s Proxy
Statement related to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy
Statement”) and is incorporated by reference.
Fuel
Tech
has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code”) that applies to
all employees, officers and directors, including the Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer and Controller. A copy of the Code is available free
of
charge to any person on written or telephone request to Fuel Tech’s Investor
Relations at the address or telephone number set out in Fuel Tech’s Annual
Report to Shareholders. The Code is also available on Fuel Tech’s website at
www.ftek.com.
The
identities of the Fuel Tech directors and other information concerning the
directors and executive officers of Fuel Tech and relating to corporate
governance will be set forth under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Audit
Committee,” “Compensation and Nominating Committee,” “Financial Experts,”
“Corporate Governance” and “General” in Fuel Tech’s Proxy Statement related to
its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated by reference.
The
identities of and the employment history of Fuel Tech executive officers with
Fuel Tech or its affiliates who are not directors are as follows:
Vincent
M. Albanese, 58, has been Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs since
February 28, 2007; previously he had been Senior Vice President, Advanced
Technology and Regulatory Affairs since April 5, 2006; Senior Vice President,
Air Pollution Control, Sales and Marketing since May, 2000; Vice President,
Air
Pollution Control since April, 1998 and Vice President, Sales and Marketing
since 1990.
Ellen
T
Albrecht, 34, has been Vice President and Controller since December 7, 2006;
previously she had been Controller since February 1, 2004; Accounting Manager
since May, 2001; and Senior Accountant since July, 1996.
Vincent
J. Arnone, 43, has been Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer since February 28, 2006; previously he had been Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since December, 2003; and Controller
since
May, 1999.
Stephen
P. Brady, 50, became Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing on April 5,
2006; previously he had been Senior Vice President, Fuel Chem since January,
2002; and Vice President, Fuel Chem since February, 1998.
William
E. Cummings, Jr., 50, became Vice President, Sales on April 5, 2006; previously
he had been Vice President, Air Pollution Control Sales since May, 2000;
Director, Utility Sales since April, 1998; and Director, Eastern Region since
1994.
Kevin
R.
Dougherty, 45, became Vice President, Business Development and Marketing on
April 5, 2006; previously he had been Vice President, Corporate Marketing and
Procurement since December, 2005; Director, Marketing and Sales Administration,
Air Pollution Control since November, 2000; and Manager, Contracts
Administration, Air Pollution Control since 1999.
Timothy
Eibes, 50, has been Vice President, Project Execution since August 21, 2006;
previously he had been employed by Alliant Energy, Inc. since 1987, his last
position being Vice President, Asset Management.
Tracy
Krumme, 39, has been Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate
Communications since December 7, 2006; previously she had been Director,
Investor Relations since September, 2002.
M.
Linda
Lin, 58, became Vice President, China/Pacific Rim on December 7, 2006;
previously she had been Vice President Asia/Pacific since April 5, 2006;
Marketing Manager since 1992; and Research Associate/Research Manager since
1990.
Michael
P. Maley, 49, became Senior Vice President, International Business Development
and Project Execution on April 5, 2006; previously he had been President and
Chief Operating Officer of Alliant Energy Generation from 2001 to 2005; Vice
President of Business Development of Calpine Corporation since 1998; and Vice
President of Project Development of Cogentrix Energy LLC since
1993.
Nolan
R.
Schwartz, 56, became Vice President, Corporate Development on January 1, 2004;
previously he had been a director of Fuel Tech, Inc., a former subsidiary of
Fuel Tech, since 1998; and, prior to that, a principal of American Bailey
Corporation.
Christopher
R. Smyrniotis, 54, became Vice President, Fuel Chem Technologies on April 5,
2006; previously he had been Vice President, Fuel Chem Technology and Market
Development since December, 2005; Director of Marketing and Technology, Fuel
Chem since October, 1998; and Market Development manager since 1993.
45
William
H. Sun, 50, became Vice President, Air Pollution Technologies on April 5, 2006;
previously he had been Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since
December, 2003; Vice President, Engineering and Technology since April , 1998;
and Director of Process Engineering since 1990.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information
required by this Item will be set forth under the caption “Executive
Compensation” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
Information
required by this Item will be set forth under the caption “Principal
Shareholders and Stock Ownership of Management” in the Proxy Statement and is
incorporated by reference.
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS,RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
Information
required by this Item will be set forth under the captions “Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by
reference.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Information
required by this Item will be set forth under the caption “Approval of
Appointment of Auditors” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by
reference.
46
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
(1)
Financial Statements
The
financial statements identified below and required by Part II, Item 8 of this
Form 10-K are set forth above.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Report
of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
Report
of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Report
of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and 2005
Consolidated
Statements of Income for Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and
2004
Consolidated
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005
and 2004
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and
2004
Notes
to
Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Fuel
Tech, Inc. - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Year
|
Balance
at
January
1
|
Charged
to costs and expenses
|
(Deductions)/Other
|
Balance
at
December
31
|
|||||||||
2004
|
$
|
311,000
|
92,000
|
(329,000
|
)
|
$
|
74,000
|
||||||
2005
|
$
|
74,000
|
26,000
|
50,000
|
$
|
150,000
|
|||||||
2006
|
$
|
150,000
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
150,000
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. - Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets:
Year
|
Balance
at
January
1
|
Charged
to costs and expenses
|
(Deductions)/Other
|
Balance
at
December
31
|
|||||||||
2004
|
$
|
7,580,000
|
-
|
(3,236,000
|
)
|
$
|
4,344,000
|
||||||
2005
|
$
|
4,344,000
|
-
|
(4,299,000
|
) |
$
|
45,000
|
||||||
2006
|
$
|
45,000
|
215,000
|
-
|
$
|
260,000
|
All
other
schedules have been omitted because of the absence of the conditions under
which
they are required or because the required information, where material, is shown
in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
47
(3)
Exhibits
^^
|
3.1
|
Certificate
of Incorporation of Fuel Tech, Inc. filed September 30,
2006
|
^^
|
3.2
|
Certificate
of Conversion of Fuel Tech, Inc. filed September 30,
2006
|
^^
|
3.3
|
By-Laws
of Fuel Tech, Inc. adopted September 30, 2006
|
*
|
4.1
|
Instrument
Constituting US $19,200,000 Nil Coupon Non-Redeemable Convertible
Unsecured Loan Notes of Fuel-Tech N.V., dated December 21,
1989
|
*
|
4.2
|
First
Supplemental Instrument Constituting US $3,000,000 Nil Coupon
Non-Redeemable Convertible Unsecured Loan Notes of Fuel-Tech N.V.,
dated
July 10, 1990
|
**
|
4.3
|
Instrument
Constituting US $6,000,000 Nil Coupon Non-Redeemable Convertible
Unsecured
Loan Notes of Fuel-Tech N.V., dated March 12, 1993
|
**
|
4.4
|
Form
of Warrants issued April 30, 1998 evidencing right to purchase 3
million
shares of Fuel-Tech N.V. Common Stock.
|
^^^
|
4.5
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. Incentive Plan as amended through June 3,
2004
|
o
|
4.6
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. Form of Non-Executive Director Stock Option
Agreement.
|
o
|
4.7
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option
Agreement.
|
o
|
4.8
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement.
|
^
|
4.9
|
The
Business Loan Agreement dated as of July 31, 2006 between Wachovia
Bank
N.A. and Fuel Tech, Inc.
|
**
|
10.1
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 1998, between Fuel-Tech
N.V., and
the several Investors signatory thereto, including
exhibits.
|
#&
|
10.2
|
License
Agreement dated November 18, 1998 between The Gas Technology Institute
and
Fuel Tech, Inc. relating to the FLGR Process
|
#&
|
10.3
|
Amendment
No. 1, dated February 28, 2000, to License Agreement of November
18, 1998
between The Gas Technology Institute and Fuel Tech,
Inc.
|
oooo
|
10.4
|
Employment
Agreement as of February 28, 2006 between John (Johnny) F. Norris,
Jr. and
Fuel Tech, Inc.
|
^^^^
|
10.5
|
Form
of Indemnity Agreement between Fuel Tech, Inc. and its Directors
and
Officers
|
oo
|
19.0
|
Those
portions of the Proxy Statement to be distributed to Shareholders
of Fuel
Tech for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Fuel Tech, Inc.
specifically incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on
Form10-K.
|
o
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
o
|
23.2
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
o
|
31.1
|
Certification
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
o
|
31.2
|
Certification
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
o
|
32.0
|
Certification
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
48
The
following are incorporated by reference from the documents
indicated.
Filed
with Registration Statement on Form 20-F, No. 000-21724 on August
26,
1993, as amended
|
|
**
|
Filed
with Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K for the month of March
1998
|
†
|
Filed
with Registrant’s Report on Form 20-F for the year 1997
|
o
|
Filed
herewith
|
oo
|
Filed
with the Registrant’s definitive proxy material for its 2007 Annual
Meeting
|
oooo
|
Filed
with Registrant’s report on Form 10-K for the year 2006
|
#
|
Confidential
information removed and filed separately
|
&
|
Filed
with Registrant’s report on Form 10-K for the year 1999
|
^
|
Filed
with Registrant’s Form 8-K on August 10, 2006
|
^^
|
Filed
with Registrant’s Form 8-K on September 30, 2006
|
Filed
with Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-137735 on October
2nd
2006
|
|
^^^^
|
Filed
with Registrant’s Form 8-K on February 7,
2007
|
49
SIGNATURES
AND CERTIFICATIONS
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
Date: March 6, 2007 | By: | /s/ John F. Norris Jr. |
John F. Norris Jr. |
||
Chief
Executive Officer, President and
Director
|
Date: March 6, 2007 | By: | /s/ Vincent J. Arnone |
Vincent
J. Arnone
|
||
Chief
Financial Officer,
Sr. Vice President and Treasurer
|
50
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has
been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of Fuel Tech, Inc.
and
in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Date:
March 6, 2007
/s/
Ralph E. Bailey
|
Executive
Chairman and Director
|
|
Ralph
E. Bailey
|
||
/s/
Douglas G. Bailey
|
Deputy
Chairman and Director
|
|
Douglas
G. Bailey
|
||
/s/
Thomas J. Shaw
|
Director
|
|
Thomas
J. Shaw
|
||
/s/
Miguel Espinosa
|
Director
|
|
Miguel
Espinosa
|
||
/s/
Samer S. Khanachet
|
Director
|
|
Samer
S. Khanachet
|
||
/s/
John D. Morrow
|
Director
|
|
John
D. Morrow
|
||
/s/
Thomas L. Jones
|
Director
|
|
Thomas
L. Jones
|
||
/s/
Charles W. Grinnell
|
Director,
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
Charles W. Grinnell |
51