FUEL TECH, INC. - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
x
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the
quarterly period ended September 30, 2007
or
o
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the
transition period from ______ to ______
Commission
file number: 001-33059
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)
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
As
of October 10, 2007 there were outstanding 22,400,602 shares of Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the registrant.
FUEL
TECH, INC.
Form
10-Q
for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007
INDEX
Page
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements (Unaudited)
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December
31,
2006
|
1
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine-Month Periods
Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
|
2
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine-Month Periods
Ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006
|
3
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
4
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
12
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
14
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
14
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
15
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
15
|
Item
3.
|
Defaults
upon Senior Securities
|
15
|
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
15
|
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
15
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
15
|
16
|
PART I. |
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
Item 1. |
Financial
Statements
|
FUEL
TECH, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in
thousands, except share and per-share data)
September 30,
2007
|
December
31,
2006 |
||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Note
B)
|
||||||
Assets
|
|||||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
33,506
|
$
|
24,405
|
|||
Short-term
investments
|
-
|
8,000
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of
$150
|
16,330
|
16,724
|
|||||
Inventories
|
343
|
203
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
4,043
|
4,972
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
1,256
|
1,916
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
55,478
|
56,220
|
|||||
Equipment,
net of accumulated depreciation of $10,588 and $8,845,
respectively
|
4,889
|
4,051
|
|||||
Goodwill
|
2,119
|
2,119
|
|||||
Other
intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,289 and
$1,205,
respectively
|
1,092
|
1,156
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
2,261
|
885
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
2,473
|
1,229
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
68,312
|
$
|
65,660
|
|||
Liabilities
and Shareholders’ Equity
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Short-term
debt
|
$
|
1,330
|
$
|
-
|
|||
Accounts
payable
|
4,921
|
7,632
|
|||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
4,015
|
9,873
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
10,266
|
17,505
|
|||||
Other
liabilities
|
1,274
|
500
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
11,540
|
18,005
|
|||||
Shareholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 22,400,602 and
22,086,728 shares issued, respectively
|
223
|
221
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
110,259
|
103,122
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(54,124
|
)
|
(56,044
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
142
|
79
|
|||||
Nil
coupon perpetual loan notes
|
272
|
277
|
|||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
56,772
|
47,655
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$
|
68,312
|
$
|
65,660
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
FUEL
TECH, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands, except share and per-share data)
Three Months Ended
September 30
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
15,246
|
$
|
20,173
|
$
|
47,718
|
$
|
57,053
|
|||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
|||||||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
8,018
|
10,042
|
26,058
|
29,210
|
|||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
5,656
|
6,106
|
18,125
|
17,569
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
541
|
617
|
1,652
|
1,467
|
|||||||||
14,215
|
16,765
|
45,835
|
48,246
|
||||||||||
Operating
income
|
1,031
|
3,408
|
1,883
|
8,807
|
|||||||||
Interest
income
|
417
|
268
|
1,253
|
665
|
|||||||||
Other
income (expense)
|
50
|
(14
|
)
|
(21
|
)
|
(33
|
)
|
||||||
Income
before taxes
|
1,498
|
3,662
|
3,115
|
9,439
|
|||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
(571
|
)
|
(1,602
|
)
|
(1,114
|
)
|
(4,071
|
)
|
|||||
Net
income
|
$
|
927
|
$
|
2,060
|
$
|
2,001
|
$
|
5,368
|
|||||
Net
income per Common Share:
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.04
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.25
|
|||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.04
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.08
|
$
|
0.22
|
|||||
Weighted-average
number of Common Shares outstanding:
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
22,390,000
|
21,721,000
|
22,239,000
|
21,348,000
|
|||||||||
Diluted
|
24,769,000
|
24,123,000
|
24,718,000
|
24,045,000
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
FUEL
TECH, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Operating
activities
|
|||||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
$
|
(1,127
|
)
|
$
|
3,426
|
||
Investing
activities
|
|||||||
Sales
(purchases) of short-term investments
|
8,000
|
(4,000
|
)
|
||||
Purchases
of equipment and patents
|
(2,617
|
)
|
(1,699
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
5,383
|
(5,699
|
)
|
||||
Financing
activities
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from short-term borrowings
|
1,330
|
-
|
|||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options
|
870
|
3,058
|
|||||
Issuance
of deferred shares of stock
|
1,130
|
-
|
|||||
Income
tax benefit from exercise of stock options
|
1,451
|
4,465
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
4,781
|
7,523
|
|||||
Effect
of exchange rate fluctuations on cash
|
64
|
84
|
|||||
Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
9,101
|
5,334
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
24,405
|
10,375
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
33,506
|
$
|
15,709
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
FUEL
TECH, INC.
NOTES
TO
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September
30, 2007
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands, except share and per-share data)
Note A: |
Nature
of Business
|
Fuel
Tech, Inc. (“Fuel Tech”) is a technology company that provides advanced
engineering solutions for the optimization of combustion systems in utility
and
industrial applications. Fuel Tech, Inc., originally incorporated in 1987 under
the laws of the Netherlands Antilles as Fuel-Tech N.V., 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.
Note B: |
Basis
of Presentation
|
The
accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10
of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary
for a
fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods covered have
been
included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 are
not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending
December 31, 2007.
The
balance sheet at December 31, 2006 has been derived from the audited financial
statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements.
For
further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and
footnotes thereto included in Fuel Tech, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2006.
Effective
September 30, 2006, Fuel Tech, Inc. 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 Fuel-Tech 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 Fuel-Tech 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 Fuel-Tech 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 U.S. subsidiaries were
merged with and into Fuel Tech, Inc. on December 31, 2006.
4
Note C: |
Earnings
per Share Data
|
Basic
earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of stock options and warrants
and of the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes. Diluted
earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of stock options and warrants
and of the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes. The
following table sets forth the weighted-average shares used in calculating
the
earnings per share for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30,
2007
and 2006:
Three Months Ended
September 30
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Basic
weighted-average shares
|
22,390,000
|
21,721,000
|
22,239,000
|
21,348,000
|
|||||||||
Conversion
of unsecured loan notes
|
45,000
|
46,000
|
45,000
|
46,000
|
|||||||||
Unexercised
options and warrants
|
2,334,000
|
2,356,000
|
2,434,000
|
2,651,000
|
|||||||||
Diluted
weighted-average shares
|
24,769,000
|
24,123,000
|
24,718,000
|
24,045,000
|
Note D: |
Total
Comprehensive Income
|
Total
comprehensive income for Fuel Tech is comprised of net income and the impact
of
foreign currency translation as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
927
|
$
|
2,060
|
$
|
2,001
|
$
|
5,368
|
|||||
Foreign
currency translation
|
48
|
10
|
63
|
84
|
|||||||||
$
|
975
|
$
|
2,070
|
$
|
2,064
|
$
|
5,452
|
5
Note E: |
Stock-Based
Compensation
|
Fuel
Tech
has a stock-based employee compensation plan, referred to as the Fuel Tech,
Inc.
Incentive Plan (Incentive 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 Incentive 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 Incentive Plan is 12.5%
of
outstanding shares calculated on a diluted basis. At September 30, 2007, Fuel
Tech has 855,000 stock options available for issuance under the Incentive
Plan.
Prior
to
January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech accounted for the stock options granted under the
Incentive 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 Incentive 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 in the nine months ended September 30, 2007
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.
As
a
result of adopting Statement 123(R) on January 1, 2006, Fuel Tech recorded
stock-based compensation expense of $1,015 ($661 after tax) for the quarter
ended September 30, 2007. Fuel Tech recorded $287 ($213 after tax) in
stock-based compensation expense for the comparable period in 2006.
For
the
nine months ended September 30, 2007, Fuel Tech recorded stock-based
compensation expense of $3,685 ($2,378 after tax) while for the comparable
period in 2006, Fuel Tech recorded $1,353 ($956 after tax) in stock-based
compensation expense.
The
awards granted under the Incentive 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 nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 was $14.20 per
share using the following assumptions:
6
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
0.00
|
%
|
|||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.49
|
%
|
4.84
|
%
|
|||
Expected
volatility
|
57.2
|
%
|
63.5
|
%
|
|||
Expected
life of option
|
5.2
years
|
5.3
years
|
Stock
option activity for Fuel Tech’s Incentive Plan for the nine months ended
September 30, 2007 was as follows:
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
on January 1, 2007
|
2,414,200
|
$
|
13.02
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
279,500
|
26.15
|
|||||||||||
Exercised
|
(179,875
|
)
|
4.83
|
$
|
4,209
|
||||||||
Expired
or forfeited
|
(62,000
|
)
|
19.81
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
on September 30, 2007
|
2,451,825
|
$
|
14.94
|
7.9
years
|
$
|
36,634
|
|||||||
Exercisable
on September 30, 2007
|
642,825
|
$
|
7.36
|
5.8
years
|
$
|
4,729
|
|||||||
Weighted-average
fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September
30,
2007
|
$
|
14.20
|
The
weighted-average exercise price per nonvested stock award at grant date was
$26.12 per share for the nonvested stock awards granted in 2007. Nonvested
stock
award activity for all plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was
as
follows:
Nonvested Stock
Outstanding
|
||||
Outstanding
on January 1, 2007
|
1,702,750
|
|||
Granted
|
279,500
|
|||
Released
|
(111,250
|
)
|
||
Expired
or forfeited
|
(62,000
|
)
|
||
Outstanding
on September 30, 2007
|
1,809,000
|
As
of
September 30, 2007, there was $11.9 million of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under
the Incentive Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a period of
four
years.
In
addition to the Incentive Plan, Fuel Tech has a Deferred Compensation Plan
for
Directors (Deferred Plan). This Deferred Plan, as originally approved, provided
for deferral of directors’ fees in the form of either cash with interest or as
“phantom stock” units, in either case, however, to be paid out only as cash and
not as stock at the elected time of payout. In the second quarter of 2007,
Fuel
Tech obtained stockholder approval for an amendment to the Deferred Plan to
provide that instead of phantom stock units paid out only in cash, the deferred
stock unit compensation may be paid out in shares of Fuel Tech Common Stock.
Under the guidance of Statement 123(R), this plan modification required that
Fuel Tech account for awards under the plan for the receipt of Fuel Tech Common
Stock, as equity awards as opposed to liability awards. In the third quarter
of
2007, Fuel Tech recorded a credit of $20 to additional paid-in capital
representing the fair value of the stock awards granted. The stock-based
compensation related to the granted awards was not material.
7
Note F: |
Debt
|
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 September 30, 2007, there were no outstanding borrowings on this
facility.
Beijing
Fuel Tech Environmental Technologies Company, Ltd (Beijing Fuel Tech), a newly
formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuel Tech, entered into a revolving credit
facility agreement during the third quarter for RMB 35 million (approximately
$4.7 million USD) which expires on July 31, 2009. The facility is unsecured
and
bears interest at a rate of 90% of the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) Base Rate.
Beijing Fuel Tech can use this facility for cash advances and bank guarantees.
As of September 30, 2007, Beijing Fuel Tech has borrowings outstanding in the
amount $1,330.
Note G: |
Business
Segment and Geographic
Disclosures
|
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 chemical technology segment, which uses chemical processes for
the control of slagging, fouling, and corrosion and for plume abatement 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.
8
Reporting
segment net sales and gross margin are provided below.
Three months ended
September 30, 2007
|
|
Nitrogen Oxide
Reduction
|
|
Fuel Treatment
Chemical
|
|
Other
|
|
Total
|
|
||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
6,868
|
$
|
8,378
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
15,246
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
3,906
|
4,105
|
7
|
8,018
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
2,962
|
4,273
|
(7
|
)
|
7,228
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
5,656
|
5,656
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
541
|
541
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
2,962
|
$
|
4,273
|
$
|
(6,204
|
)
|
$
|
1,031
|
Three months ended
September 30, 2006
|
|
Nitrogen Oxide
Reduction
|
|
Fuel Treatment
Chemical
|
|
Other
|
|
Total
|
|
||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
11,197
|
$
|
8,976
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
20,173
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
6,270
|
3,730
|
42
|
10,042
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
4,927
|
5,246
|
(42
|
)
|
10,131
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
6,106
|
6,106
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
617
|
617
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
4,927
|
$
|
5,246
|
$
|
(6,765
|
)
|
$
|
3,408
|
Nine months ended
September 30, 2007
|
|
Nitrogen Oxide
Reduction
|
|
Fuel Treatment
Chemical
|
|
Other
|
|
Total
|
|||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
23,125
|
$
|
24,593
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
47,718
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
13,678
|
12,304
|
76
|
26,058
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
9,447
|
12,289
|
(76
|
)
|
21,660
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
18,125
|
18,125
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
1,652
|
1,652
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
9,447
|
$
|
12,289
|
$
|
(19,853
|
)
|
$
|
1,883
|
Nine months ended
September 30, 2006
|
|
Nitrogen Oxide
Reduction
|
|
Fuel Treatment
Chemical
|
|
Other
|
|
Total
|
|
||||
Net
sales from external customers
|
$
|
36,717
|
$
|
20,336
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
57,053
|
|||||
Cost
of sales
|
20,418
|
8,658
|
134
|
29,210
|
|||||||||
Gross
margin
|
16,299
|
11,678
|
(134
|
)
|
27,843
|
||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
-
|
-
|
17,569
|
17,569
|
|||||||||
Research
and development
|
-
|
-
|
1,467
|
1,467
|
|||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
$
|
16,299
|
$
|
11,678
|
$
|
(19,170
|
)
|
$
|
8,807
|
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.
Three months ended September 30
|
|
Nine months ended September 30
|
|
||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Net
sales:
|
|||||||||||||
United
States
|
$
|
11,907
|
$
|
15,396
|
$
|
37,498
|
$
|
41,595
|
|||||
Foreign
|
3,339
|
4,777
|
10,220
|
15,458
|
|||||||||
$
|
15,246
|
$
|
20,173
|
$
|
47,718
|
$
|
57,053
|
||||||
|
September 30,
2007
|
December 31,
2006
|
|||||||||||
Assets:
|
|||||||||||||
United
States
|
$
|
61,474
|
$
|
62,190
|
|||||||||
Foreign
|
6,838
|
3,470
|
|||||||||||
$
|
68,312
|
$
|
65,660
|
9
Note H: |
Contingencies
|
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 2007 are summarized below:
(in
thousands)
|
2007
|
|||
Aggregate
product warranty liability at beginning of year
|
$
|
472
|
||
Aggregate
accruals related to product warranties
|
120
|
|||
Aggregate
reductions for payments
|
(90
|
)
|
||
Aggregate
product warranty liability at September 30, 2007
|
$
|
502
|
10
Note I: |
Recent
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,
Fuel Tech adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007.
Previously,
Fuel Tech had accounted for tax contingencies in accordance with Statement
of
Financial Accounting Standards 5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
As
required by FIN 48, which clarifies Statement 109, Accounting
for Income Taxes,
Fuel
Tech recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after
determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain
the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the
more-likely-than-not threshold,
the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that
has a greater than 50 % likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement
with the relevant tax authority. At the adoption date, Fuel Tech applied FIN
48
to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remained open. As
a
result of the implementation of FIN 48, Fuel Tech recognized an increase of
approximately $86,000 in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, of which
$81,000 was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of
retained earnings.
The
amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007 was $783,000.
This amount includes $741,000 of unrecognized tax benefits which, if ultimately
recognized, will reduce Fuel Tech’s annual effective tax rate. There have been
no material changes in unrecognized tax benefits since January 1,
2007.
Fuel
Tech
is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states
and foreign jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject
to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require
significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, Fuel Tech is no longer
subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations
by
tax authorities for the years before 2003.
Fuel
Tech
recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits
in income tax expense for all periods presented. Fuel Tech had accrued
approximately $39,000 for the payment of interest and penalties at January
1,
2007. Subsequent changes to accrued interest and penalties have not been
significant.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, “Fair
Value Measurements” (FAS No. 157). FAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS No. 157
applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value
measurements, and accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements.
FAS No. 157 is effective for Fuel Tech beginning January 1, 2008. Fuel Tech
is
currently reviewing the provisions of FAS No. 157, but does not expect the
provisions to have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard No. 159, “The Fair
Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (FAS No. 159). FAS
No. 159 provides the option to report certain financial assets and liabilities
at fair value, with the intent to mitigate volatility in financial reporting
that can occur when related assets and liabilities are recorded on different
bases. This statement is effective for Fuel Tech beginning January 1, 2008.
Fuel
Tech does not expect FAS No. 159 to have a material impact on its consolidated
financial statements.
In
May
2007, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FIN 48-1 (FSP FIN 48-1), which amends
FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FSP
FIN 48-1 provides guidance on how an enterprise should determine whether a
tax
position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously
unrecognized tax benefits. Fuel Tech is currently reviewing the provisions
of
FSP FIN 48-1 and has not reached a conclusion as to whether the provisions
of
this FSP will have a material impact on Fuel Tech’s financial
statements.
11
FUEL
TECH, INC.
Item 2. |
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
Results
of Operations
Net
sales
for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $15,246,000 and
$20,173,000, respectively, while net sales for the nine months ended September
30, 2007 and 2006 were $47,718,000 and $57,053,000, respectively. The 16% nine-
month decline versus the prior year is due to a $13,592,000 reduction in
revenues derived from the nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technology segment,
which was partially offset by a $4,257,000 increase in revenues derived from
the
fuel treatment chemical technology segment.
The
NOx
reduction technology segment generated revenues of $23,125,000 for the nine
months ended September 30, 2007, a reduction of $13,592,000 from the prior
year
due to timing on the receipt of new NOx reduction orders domestically and to
the
winding down of two NOx reduction projects in the People’s Republic of China,
which were signed in 2005 and contributed significantly to revenues in 2006.
While revenues are down from the prior year for the third quarter and nine
months ended September 30, 2007, this segment is positioned well to capitalize
on the next phase of increasingly stringent U.S. air quality standards. With
the
compliance for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) State Implementation
Plan (SIP) Call regulation beginning to wind down, utilities and industrial
facilities across the country are planning for compliance with the Clean Air
Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Visibility Rule (CAVR), which take
effect in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Thousands of utility and industrial
boilers will be impacted by these regulations and Fuel Tech’s technologies will
serve as an important element in enabling utility and industrial boiler unit
owners to attain compliance. Since July 1, 2007, Fuel Tech has announced new
domestic contracts valued at $40 million.
The
fuel
treatment chemical technology segment generated revenues of $24,593,000 for
the
nine months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of $4,257,000, or 21%, over
the prior year. This segment’s growth during the first nine months of 2007 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. Thus far in 2007, Fuel Tech has added nine new
coal-fired units to its customer base.
The
fuel
treatment chemical 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 85 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, Fuel Tech’s programs offer numerous operational, financial and
environmental benefits to owners of boilers, furnaces and other combustion
units.
A
principal market for this product line is the electric utility industry, in
particular, power plants that burn coal with any variety of slag-forming
constituents such as sodium and iron. Sodium is typically found in the Powder
River Basin coals of Wyoming and Montana, while iron is typically found in
coals
produced in the Illinois Basin (IB) region. In addition, higher sulfur content
is typical of IB coals and certain Appalachian coals and these can give rise
to
unacceptable levels of SO3
formation in plants with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems and flue
gas desulfurization 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. In addition, the
documented efficiency gains, and thus CO2
reductions, from our FUEL CHEM programs on client power plants, are likely
to
expand our market potential domestically and internationally as CO2
emission
constraints are implemented.
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of net sales for Fuel Tech for the third quarter ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006 was 53% and 50%, respectively. The cost of sales
percentage for the third quarter for the NOx reduction business increased
slightly to 57% from 56% in the comparable prior-year period, resulting from
the
mix of project business. For the fuel treatment chemical business, the cost
of
sales percentage increased to 49% in the third quarter of 2007 from 42% in
2006.
The increase is due to startup costs related to the incremental units noted
above, without the realization of related revenues as only two of the nine
new units contributed significant revenues during the first nine months of
the
year.
12
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of net sales for Fuel Tech for the nine months ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006 was 55% and 51%, respectively. The cost of sales
percentage for the NOx reduction business increased to 59% from 56% in the
comparable prior-year period, again resulting from the mix of project business.
For the fuel treatment chemical business, the cost of sales percentage increased
to 50% for this period from 43% in 2006. The increase is due to the startup
costs noted previously and to employee-related expenditures made in anticipation
of the growth of the fuel treatment chemical business.
Selling,
general and administrative expenses (S,G&A) for the quarter ended September
30, 2007 and 2006 were $5,656,000 and $6,106,000, respectively, while these
expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were
$18,125,000 and $17,569,000, respectively. The
$556,000 increase in S,G&A for the nine months was in part due to the
recording of $3,685,000 in stock compensation expense in accordance with
Statement 123(R), as discussed in Note E above, which was an increase of
$2,332,000 over the prior year. This increase in stock compensation expense
is
attributable to the awarding of stock options to all Fuel Tech employees in
December 2006 and to an increase in the fair value of the options granted,
which
is being driven by an increase in the price of Fuel Tech’s Common Stock.
Partially offsetting the increase in stock compensation expense is a favorable
variance of $1,776,000, which is predominantly attributable to timing on
revenue-related expenses.
Research
and development expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
were
$541,000 and $617,000, respectively, while these expenses for the nine months
ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were
$1,652,000 and $1,467,000, 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.
The
$588,000 increase in interest income for the nine months ended September 30,
2007 is driven
by
higher average cash and short-term investment balances versus those experienced
in the prior year.
For
the
quarter ended ended September 30, 2007, Fuel Tech recorded tax expense of
$571,000. This amount predominantly represents deferred tax expense related
to
taxable income recognized in the third quarter of 2007. For the three months
ended September 30, 2006, Fuel Tech recorded tax expense of
$1,602,000.
For
the
nine months ended September 30, 2007, Fuel Tech recorded tax expense of
$1,114,000. This amount predominantly represents deferred tax expense related
to
taxable income recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2007. For
the
nine months ended September 30, 2006, Fuel Tech recorded tax expense of
$4,071,000.
Liquidity
and Sources of Capital
At
September 30, 2007, Fuel Tech had cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investments of $33,506,000 and working capital of $45,212,000 versus $32,405,000
and $38,715,000 at the end of 2006, respectively. Operating activities used
$1,127,000 of cash during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007,
primarily due to the change in working capital from year end. Investing
activities generated cash of $5,383,000 during the nine months ended September
30, 2007 as the decrease in short-term investments provided cash of $8,000,000.
This amount was offset by $2,617,000 in capital expenditures required 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 $2,321,000. Of this amount,
$870,000 represents proceeds derived from the exercise price of options
exercised in the first nine months of 2007, while $1,451,000 represents the
excess tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock options in the first
nine months of 2007. Fuel Tech generated cash in an amount of $1,130,000
resulting from the issuance of directors’ deferred shares of stock. Finally,
Beijing Fuel Tech borrowed $1,330,000 in funds to meet the short-term working
capital needs of this new legal entity.
Contingencies
and Contractual Obligations
Fuel
Tech
issues a standard product warranty with the sale of its products to customers
as
discussed in Note H. The change in the warranty liability balance for the nine
months ended September 30, 2007 is not material.
13
Forward-Looking
Statements
Statements
in this Form 10-Q 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, and also Item 7, “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in
Fuel Tech’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Item 3. |
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market
Risk
|
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.
Item 4. |
Controls
and Procedures
|
Fuel
Tech
maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls designed
to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in Fuel Tech’s filings under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange
Commission's rules and forms. Fuel Tech’s management, with the participation of
its principal executive and financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness
of Fuel Tech’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period
covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Fuel Tech’s principal executive
and financial officers have concluded, based on such evaluation, that such
disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such
period.
There
was
no change in Fuel Tech’s internal control over financial reporting that was
identified in connection with such evaluation that occurred during the period
covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected,
or
is reasonably likely to materially affect, Fuel Tech’s internal control over
financial reporting.
14
PART
II. OTHER
INFORMATION
Item 1. |
Legal
Proceedings
|
None
Item 1A. |
Risk
Factors
|
None
Item 2. |
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds
|
None
Item 3. |
Defaults
upon Senior Securities
|
None
Item 4. |
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders
|
None
Item 5. |
Other
Information
|
None
Item 6. |
Exhibits
|
a. |
Exhibits
|
Exhibit
31.1 and 31.2 are filed herewith
Exhibit
32 is furnished herewith
15
FUEL
TECH, INC.
Signatures
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:
November 6, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
John F. Norris Jr.
|
John
F. Norris Jr.
|
||
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Date:
November 6, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Vincent J. Arnone
|
Vincent J. Arnone Chief Financial
Officer,
|
||
Sr. Vice President and Treasurer
|
16