FUEL TECH, INC. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

FUEL TECH, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)(in thousands, except share and per share data)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per-share data)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)(in thousands of dollars or shares, as appropriate)

The following summarizes the changes in total stockholders' equity for the three months ended March 31, 2022:

The following summarizes the changes in total stockholders' equity for the three months ended March 31, 2023:

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2023

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per-share data)

1.     General

Organization

Fuel Tech, Inc. and subsidiaries ("Fuel Tech", the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") develops and provides proprietary technologies for air pollution control, process optimization, water treatment, and advanced engineering services. These technologies enable customers to operate in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner.

The Company’s nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technologies reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from boilers, furnaces, and other stationary combustion sources. To reduce NOx emissions, our technologies utilize advanced combustion modification techniques and post-combustion NOx control approaches including non-catalytic, catalytic, and combined systems. The Company also provides solutions for the mitigation of particulate matter, including particulate control with electrostatic precipitator products and services, and using flue gas conditioning systems which modify the ash properties of particulate for improved collection efficiency. The Company’s FUEL CHEM® technology improves the efficiency, reliability, fuel flexibility, boiler heat rate, and environmental status of combustion units by controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion, and opacity.  Water treatment technologies include DGI™ Dissolved Gas Infusion Systems which utilize a patented saturator vessel and a patent-pending channel injector to deliver supersaturated oxygen-water solutions and potentially other gas-liquid combinations to target process applications or environmental issues within the municipal and industrial water sectors. The infusion process has a variety of applications in the water and wastewater sector, including aquaculture, agriculture/horticulture, pulp & paper, tanneries, landfill leachate, irrigation, treatment of natural waters, wastewater odor management as well as supplying oxygen or other gases for biochemical reactions and pH adjustment.

Many of Fuel Tech’s products and services rely heavily on the Company’s computational fluid dynamics modeling capabilities, which are enhanced by internally developed, high-end visualization software.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for the fair statement of Fuel Tech's financial position, cash flows, and results of operations for the periods presented. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2023. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in Fuel Tech’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Geopolitical Events

The effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic have presented significant risks to the Company that have had direct and indirect impacts on our results of operations. Although the impact of the pandemic is difficult to isolate and quantify, the Company has experienced, and may continue to experience, supply chain issues, travel restrictions, and reductions in demand for certain of our products due to the delay or abandonment of ongoing or anticipated projects due to our customers’, suppliers’ and other third parties’ financial distress or concern regarding the volatility of global markets.

Geopolitical events and global economic sanctions resulting from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine may impact new or existing projects and the prices and availability of raw materials, energy and other materials. These events may also impact energy and regulatory policy nationally or regionally for the impacted regions. In addition, we have experienced and are experiencing varying levels of inflation resulting in part from increased shipping and transportation costs, raw material costs, and labor costs.

Management cannot predict the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events on the Company’s sales and marketing channels and supply chain, and as a result, the ultimate extent of the effects on the Company are highly uncertain and will depend on future developments. Such effects could exist for an extended period of time. The Company continues to monitor the potential impacts on the business. 

2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

Restricted cash as of March 31, 2022 represent funds that are restricted to satisfy any amount borrowed against the Company's Cash Collateral Security agreement with BMO Harris Bank N.A (Cash Collateral Security agreement). In June 2022, the Company replaced the former Cash Collateral Security agreement with an Investment Collateral Security agreement with BMO Harris Bank N.A (Investment Collateral Security agreement) where existing standby letters of credit are collateralized by amounts held in the Company's investment funds (see Note 10). 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents reported within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

Investments

In 2022, the Board of Directors approved a plan to invest up to $20,000 of excess capital in debt securities, or held in money market funds until such investments can be made, with BMO Harris Bank N.A (BMO Harris). A portion of the funds invested are restricted as collateral under the Investment Collateral Security agreement (see Note 10). At March 31, 2023, the amount of funds collateralized under the Investment Collateral Security agreement is $1,921 relating to existing standby letters of credit that is comprised of $1,352 with varying maturity dates and expire no later than March 31, 2024 and $569 with the latest maturity date no later than  November 30, 2025.

We consider all highly liquid debt investments with original maturities from the date of purchase of three months or less as cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include investments in money market funds. Carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the maturities of three months or less.

Our investments in debt securities consist of United States (US) Treasury securities, including Notes, Bonds, and Bills, and US Government Agency securities, which are designated as held-to-maturity (HTM) and stated at amortized cost. The Company has the positive intent and ability to hold these investments to maturity and does not expect to sell any debt securities before maturity to settle an obligation under the Investment Collateral Security agreement. The maturities of our HTM investments range from three to thirty-six months. HTM debt investments with original maturities of approximately three months or less from the date of purchase are classified within cash and cash equivalents. HTM debt investments with original maturities at the date of purchase greater than approximately three months and remaining maturities of less than one year are classified as short-term investments. HTM debt investments with remaining maturities beyond one year are classified as long-term investments. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount, are included on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in Interest income under the effective yield method. Accrued interest is included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

Our investments in debt securities consist of United States (US) Treasury securities, including Notes, Bonds, and Bills, and US Government Agency securities. Due to the creditworthiness of the entities issuing these securities, there is no impairment recorded related to the unrealized losses.

The following table provides the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of our HTM debt securities:

The following table provides the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities by maturities at March 31, 2023:

Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of equipment constructed for resale and spare parts and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the weighted-average cost method. At  March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, inventory included equipment constructed for resale of $207 and $207, respectively, and spare parts, net of reserves of $302 and $185, respectively. Usage is recorded in cost of sales in the period that parts were issued to a project, used to service equipment, or sold to customers. Equipment constructed for resale that is in process is recorded in Other assets. In process equipment for inventory recorded as Other assets was $634 and $634 as of  March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Inventories are periodically evaluated to identify obsolete or otherwise impaired parts and are written off when management determines usage is not probable. The Company estimates the balance of excess and obsolete inventory by analyzing inventory by age using last used and original purchase date and existing sales pipeline for which the inventory could be used. 

Allowance for Credit Losses

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and in November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842). This guidance requires the measurement of all expected losses based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. For trade receivables and other financial instruments, we will be required to use a forward-looking expected loss model rather than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses which reflects losses that are probable. The Company adopted these ASUs on January 1, 2023 using the prospective method. Application of the amendments did not require a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date and did not have a material impact on our financial statements. Beginning on January 1, 2023, Fuel Tech will use the caption Allowance for Credit Losses and our expected credit loss model to calculate the allowance.

For the general risk categories, the company uses historical losses over a fixed period, excluding certain write-off activity that were not considered credit loss events, to determine the historical credit loss. Historical loss rates are then adjusted to consider current economic conditions, and past, current, and future events and circumstances when determining expected credit losses. Investments in financial assets issued by US Government and Government Agency are considered as having zero expected credit losses and are excluded from the allowance for credit loss calculation.

The following table provides the roll forward of the allowance for credit loss:

3.     Revenue

Disaggregated Revenue by Product Technology

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by product technology:

Disaggregated Revenue by Geography

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by geography, based on the location of the end-user:

Timing of Revenue Recognition

The following table presents the timing of our revenue recognition:

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances and deposits (contract liabilities) on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In our Air Pollution Control (APC) technology segment, amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms. Generally, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets. For the FUEL CHEM technology segment, deliveries made in the current period but billed in subsequent periods are also considered unbilled receivables (contract assets). These assets are reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. At March 31, 2023,  December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, contract assets for APC technology projects were approximately $3,444, $3,082, and $1,277, respectively. There were no contract assets for the FUEL CHEM technology segment as of  March 31, 2023,  December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021.  

However, the Company will periodically bill in advance of costs incurred before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract liabilities. These liabilities are reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. Contract liabilities were $427, $372, and $390 at March 31, 2023,  December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively, and are included in other accrued liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, were not materially impacted by any other items other than amounts billed and revenue recognized as described previously. Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period was $359 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and $230 for three months ended March 31, 2022, which represented primarily revenue from progress towards completion of our APC technology contracts.

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had no construction contracts in progress that were identified as a loss contract. 

Remaining Performance Obligations

Remaining performance obligations represents the transaction price of APC technology booked orders for which work has not been performed. As of March 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was $7,588. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately $7,277 of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months with the remaining recognized thereafter. 

Accounts Receivable

The components of accounts receivable are as follows:

4.     Restructuring Activities

On January 18, 2019, the Company announced a planned suspension of its APC business operation in China. This action was part of Fuel Tech’s ongoing operational improvement initiatives designed to prioritize resource allocation, reduce costs, and drive profitability for the Company on a global basis. The transition associated with the suspension of the APC business which has taken place through March 31, 2023 includes staff rationalization and reduction, supplier and partner engagement, and the monetization of certain assets. The remaining transition activities include the execution of the activities to satisfy the requirements for the remaining APC projects in China (with a backlog totaling approximately $5) and those related to subsidiary closure.

The following table presents our revenues and net loss for 2023 and 2022 in China as follows:

Total assets primarily consist of cash and other receivables. Total liabilities consist of accounts payable and certain accrued liabilities.

The following table presents net assets in China as follows:

5.     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component were as follows:

6.     Treasury Stock

Common stock held in treasury totaled 976,006 with a cost of $2,251 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. These shares were withheld from employees to settle personal tax withholding obligations that arose as a result of restricted stock units that vested in the periods presented.

7.     Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), warrants, and the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes. Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes, RSUs, warrants, and unexercised in-the-money stock options, except in periods of net loss where the effect of these instruments is anti-dilutive. Out-of-money stock options and warrants are excluded from diluted earnings per share because they are unlikely to be exercised and would be anti-dilutive if they were exercised. For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, basic earnings per share is equal to diluted earnings per share because all outstanding stock awards, warrants, and convertible loan notes are considered anti-dilutive during periods of net loss. 

The following table sets forth the weighted-average shares used in calculating the earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, Fuel Tech had weighted-average outstanding equity awards of 315,400 and 346,500, respectively, and warrants of 2,850,000 in both periods, which were antidilutive for the purpose of the calculation of diluted earnings per share. For the three month ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, Fuel Tech had 266,000 and 56,000, respectively, incremental equity awards that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as the inclusion of such would have been anti-dilutive due to a net loss in the period. These equity awards could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in future years.

8.     Stock-Based Compensation

Under our stock-based employee compensation plan, referred to as the Fuel Tech, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incentive Plan), awards may be granted to participants in the form of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Awards, Bonuses or other forms of share-based or non-share-based awards or combinations thereof. Participants in the Incentive Plan may be our directors, officers, employees, consultants, or advisors (except consultants or advisors in capital-raising transactions) as the directors determine are key to the success of our business. There are a maximum of 5,600,676 shares that may be issued or reserved for awards to participants under the Incentive Plan. As of March 31, 2023, Fuel Tech had 1,799,250 shares available for share-based awards under the Incentive Plan.

We did not record any excess tax benefits within income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. Given the Company has a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets, there were no excess tax benefits to record for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. In addition, we account for forfeitures of awards based on an estimate of the number of awards expected to be forfeited and adjusting the estimate when it is no longer probable that the employee will fulfill the service condition.

Stock-based compensation is included in selling, general, and administrative costs in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The components of stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

Stock Options

Stock options granted to employees under the Incentive Plans 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 for employee option awards based on the grant date fair value of the award, less expected annual forfeitures, and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the four-year service period of the award. Stock options granted to members of our board of directors vest immediately. Stock compensation for these awards is based on the grant date fair value of the award and is recognized in expense immediately.

Fuel Tech uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of employee stock options. 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.

Stock option activity for Fuel Tech’s Incentive Plans for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was as follows:

As of March 31, 2023, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the Incentive Plans.
 

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs granted to employees vest over time based on continued service (typically vesting over a period between two to four years), and RSUs granted to directors vest after a one year vesting period based on continued service. Such time-vested RSUs are valued at the date of grant using the intrinsic value method based on the closing price of the Common Shares on the grant date. Compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. 

At  March 31, 2023, there is $774 of unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Incentive Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over the remaining requisite service period of 2.27 years.

A summary of restricted stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 is as follows:

Deferred Directors Fees

In addition to the Incentive Plans, Fuel Tech has a Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (Deferred Plan). Under the terms of the Deferred Plan, Directors can elect to defer Directors’ fees for shares of Fuel Tech Common Stock that are issuable at a future date as defined in the agreement. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, Fuel Tech accounts for these awards as equity awards as opposed to liability awards. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, Fuel Tech recorded no stock-based compensation expense under the Deferred Plan.

9.      Warrants

The following table summarizes information about warrants outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2023:

10.     Debt Financing

On June 30, 2022, the Company entered into an Investment Collateral Security agreement to use for the sole purpose of issuing standby letters of credit that replaces the former Cash Collateral agreement with BMO Harris. The Investment Collateral Security agreement requires us to pledge our investments as collateral for 150% of the aggregate face amount of outstanding standby letters of credit. The Company pays 250 basis points on the face values of outstanding letters of credit. There are no financial covenants set forth in the Investment Collateral Security agreement. At March 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit totaling approximately $1,281 under the Investment Collateral Security agreement. At March 31, 2023, the investments held as collateral totaled $1,921. Fuel Tech is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank for any payments made by the bank under these instruments.

11.     Business Segment and Geographic Financial Data

Business Segment Financial Data

We segregate our financial results into two reportable segments representing two broad technology segments as follows:

The “Other” classification includes those profit and loss items not allocated to either reportable segment. There are no inter-segment sales that require elimination.

We evaluate performance and allocate 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 (Note 1 in our annual report on Form 10-K). We do not review assets by reportable segment, but rather, in aggregate for the Company as a whole.

Information about reporting segment net sales and gross margin from operations are provided below:

Geographic Segment Financial Data

Information concerning our operations by geographic area is provided below. Revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the end-user. Assets are those directly associated with operations of the geographic area.

12.     Accrued Liabilities

The components of other accrued liabilities are as follows:

13.     Commitments and Contingencies

Fuel Tech is subject to various claims and contingencies related to, among other things, workers compensation, general liability (including product liability), and lawsuits. The Company records liabilities where a contingent loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a probable loss is a range, the Company records the most probable estimate of the loss or the minimum amount when no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. The Company discloses a contingent liability even if the liability is not probable or the amount is not estimable, or both, if there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss may have been incurred.

From time to time we are involved in litigation with respect to matters arising from the ordinary conduct of our business. In the opinion of management, based upon presently available information, either adequate provision for anticipated costs have been accrued or the ultimate anticipated costs will not materially affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We do not believe we have any pending loss contingencies that are probable or reasonably possible of having a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fuel Tech issues a standard product warranty with the sale of its products to customers. Our recognition of warranty liability is based primarily on analyses of warranty claims experienced in the preceding years as the nature of our historical product sales for which we offer a warranty are substantially unchanged. This approach provides an aggregate warranty accrual that is historically aligned with actual warranty claims experienced.

There was no change in the warranty liability balance included in the other accrued liabilities line of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The warranty liability balance was $159 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

14.     Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate is approximately 0.0% and 0.0% for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company's effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal tax rate of 21% for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 primarily due to a full valuation allowance recorded on our United States, China and Italy deferred tax assets since we cannot anticipate when or if we will have sufficient taxable income to utilize the deferred tax assets in the future. Further, our effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal tax rate due to state taxes, differences between U.S. and foreign tax rates, foreign losses incurred with no related tax benefit, non-deductible commissions, and non-deductible meals and entertainment expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

Fuel Tech had no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

FUEL TECH, INC.

Item 2.          Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     

Overview

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company continued to experience a challenging operational environment resulting from the ongoing substitution of gas-fired and renewable energy plants for coal-fired installations and the ongoing impacts of geopolitical events and the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. We continue to invest in development of new technologies to expand our product offerings into the water and waste-water treatment market. Our capital resources are sufficient for our immediate and longer-term needs, and we continue to enjoy the services and support of a dedicated workforce. We expect that our cost control efforts will maintain our existing levels of operating expenditures and the diminishing effects of the pandemic should lead to an improved market outlook.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Geopolitical Events

The effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic have presented significant risks to the Company. Although the impact of the pandemic is difficult to quantify, the Company has experienced, and may continue to experience, supply chain issues, travel restrictions, and reductions in demand for certain of our products due to the delay or abandonment of ongoing or anticipated projects due to our customers’, suppliers’ and other third parties’ financial distress or concern regarding the volatility of global markets. Geopolitical events and global economic sanctions resulting from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine may impact new or existing projects and the prices and availability of raw materials, energy and other materials. These events may also impact energy and regulatory policy nationally or regionally for the impacted regions. In addition, we have experienced and are experiencing varying levels of inflation resulting in part from increased shipping and transportation costs, raw material costs, and labor costs. Management cannot predict the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events on the Company’s sales and marketing channels and supply chain, and as a result, the ultimate extent of the effects on the Company is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments. Such effects could exist for an extended period of time. The Company continues to monitor the potential impacts on the business. 

Key Operating Factors

Our FUEL CHEM segment experienced an increase in revenues and segment operating profits in the quarter compared to 2022. The FUEL CHEM segment capitalized on due to client demand and delayed operating and maintenance scheduling. 

Our Air Pollution Control (APC) business experienced improvement in the quarter compared to 2022, due to the execution on projects awarded in the prior years. We are also encouraged by the pace and depth of our business development activities, which reflects an increased focus on global emissions protocols across a variety of fuel sources. Our Consolidated APC backlog at March 31, 2023 was $7,588 and our global sales pipeline is in the $50 -75 million range.

Results of Operations

Revenues

Revenues for the three-month periods ending March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $7,287 and $5,535, respectively, representing an increase of $1,752, or 32%, versus the same period last year. 

The APC technology segment generated revenues of $3,559 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, representing an increase of $1,355, or 61%, from the prior year amount of $2,204. This increase in APC revenue was primarily related to the timing of project execution and new APC orders announced during 2022 and continuing through the first three months of 2023. Consolidated APC backlog at March 31, 2023 was $7,588 versus backlog at December 31, 2022 of $8,245. Our current backlog consists of U.S. domestic projects totaling $6,050 and international projects totaling $1,538. 

The FUEL CHEM technology segment generated revenues of $3,728 and $3,331 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, representing an increase of $397, or 12%. The increase in FUEL CHEM revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the same period of the prior year was partially due to increased demand.

Cost of sales and gross margin

Consolidated gross margin percentage for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were 38% and 41%, respectively. Gross margin decreased versus the comparable period due to the change in segment mix and to the decrease in the APC operating segment gross margin. For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 the APC gross margin decreased to 27% from 35%, respectively, primarily due to product and project mix. FUEL CHEM operating segment gross margins increased to 49% from 45%.

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $3,245 and $3,054 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 the increase of $191 is primarily the result of increases in employee compensation and benefit related costs of $254, partially offset by decreases in certain administrative expenses of $40, depreciation expense of $14 and other miscellaneous expenses of $9. For the three-month periods ending March 31, 2023 and 2022, SG&A as a percentage of revenues decreased to 45% from 55%. The decrease versus the comparable period is primarily due to the increase in revenues in the current year.

Research and development

Research and development expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 was $218 and for the same period in 2022 was $220. The expenditures in our research and development expenses are focused on new product development efforts in the pursuit of commercial applications for technologies outside of our traditional markets, and in the development and analysis of new technologies that could represent incremental market opportunities. This includes water treatment technologies and more specifically, our DGI™ Dissolved Gas Infusion Systems, an innovative alternative to current aeration technology. This infusion process has a variety of applications in the water and wastewater industries, including remediation, treatment, biological activity, and wastewater odor management. DGI technology benefits include reduced energy consumption, installation costs, and operating costs, while improving treatment performance.

Interest income

Interest income was $339 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 compared to $1 for the same period in 2022. Interest income increased due to the interest income on the held-to-maturity debt securities and money market funds.

Other expense, net

Other expense, net was $90 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 compared to $10 for the same period in 2022. Other expense, net increased $80 mainly due to transactional foreign exchange gain/loss.

Liquidity and Sources of Capital

We have losses from operations during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 totaling $658. Our cash provided by operations for this same period totaled $1,010. 

Our cash and cash equivalent balance as of March 31, 2023 totaled $15,698, which includes $2,193 of cash equivalents, and our working capital totaled $30,204. We have no outstanding debt other than our outstanding letters of credit, under our Investment Collateral Security agreement with BMO Harris Bank, N.A. (the Investment Collateral Security agreement), which does not have any financial covenants. We expect to continue operating under this arrangement for the foreseeable future. 

Operating activities provided cash of $1,010 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to collection of accounts receivable balances, a decrease in other current assets of $51, and a decrease in accounts payable of $934 due to timing of project related activity, offset by an increase in inventory of $116 for anticipated ancillary project demand and a decrease in accrued liabilities of $518.

Operating activities used cash of $1,746 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable balances of $1,520 and the net loss from continuing operations, partially offset by removals of non-cash items from our net income from continuing operations for depreciation and amortization of $108 and an increase in accounts payable balances of $682.

Investing activities used cash of $8,715 and $53 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Investing activities for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 primarily consisted of purchases of debt securities as investments partially offset by maturities of debt securities.

Financing activities used cash of $0 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 compared to $17 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. In 2022, the financing activity was related to the taxes paid on behalf of the equity award participants on the vesting of restricted stock units. 

The effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic have presented significant risks to the Company, not all of which the Company is able to fully evaluate or even foresee at the current time. Although the impact of the pandemic is difficult to quantify, the Company has experienced, and may continue to experience, reductions in demand for certain of our products due to the delay or abandonment of ongoing or anticipated projects due to our customers’, suppliers’ and other third parties’ financial distress or concern regarding the volatility of global markets. Other directly or indirectly COVID-19 related effects, such as supply chain disruptions and travel restrictions, have been impacting operations and financial performance to varying degrees. We continue to monitor our liquidity needs and in response to our recent periods of declines in revenue and net losses have taken measures to reduce expenses and restructure operations which we feel are necessary to ensure we maintain sufficient working capital and liquidity to operate the business and invest in our future. We have evaluated our ongoing business needs and considered the cash requirements of our base business of Air Pollution Control and FUEL CHEM, as well as our efforts to wind-down our APC operations in China. This evaluation included consideration of the following: a) customer and revenue trends in our APC and FUEL CHEM business segments, b) current operating structure and expenditure levels, and c) the costs of winding down our APC operations in China as well as other research and development initiatives. Based on this analysis, management believes that currently we have sufficient cash and working capital to operate our base APC and FUEL CHEM businesses. We believe our current cash position and net cash flows expected to be generated from operations are adequate to fund planned operations of the Company for the next 12 months.

We expect additional capital expenditures in 2023 for maintenance of field equipment, computer and systems, and general office equipment. We expect to fund our capital expenditures with cash from operations or cash on hand.

In 2022, the Board of Directors approved an investment plan that would hold $20,000 in funds at BMO Harris Bank (BMO Harris) to be invested in held-to-maturity debt securities of United States (US) Treasuries, including Notes, Bonds, and Bills, or US Government Agency securities. The funds would be held in money market funds until they are invested in those securities. The investments would be structured to create a maturity “ladder” where the proceeds from maturities are re-invested to maintain a balance of short- and long-term investments based on the expected business needs. Maturities will be between three and thirty-six months. This strategy allows the Company to provide returns on excess cash, while managing liquidity and minimizing exposure to interest rate fluctuations.

On June 30, 2022, the Company entered into the Investment Collateral Security agreement to use for the sole purpose of issuing standby letters of credit, which replaces the Cash Collateral Security agreement with BMO Harris Bank, N.A. (the Former Collateral agreement). The Investment Collateral Security agreement requires us to pledge our investments as collateral for 150% of the aggregate face amount of outstanding standby letters of credit. The Company pays 250 basis points on the face values of outstanding letters of credit. There are no financial covenants set forth in the Investment Collateral Security agreement. At March 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit totaling approximately $1,281 under the Investment Collateral Security agreement. At March 31, 2023, the investments held as collateral totaled $1,921. Fuel Tech is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank for any payments made by the bank under these instruments.

Contingencies and Contractual Obligations

Fuel Tech issues a standard product warranty with the sale of its products to customers as discussed in Note 13. There was no change in the warranty liability balance during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and reflect Fuel Tech’s current expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, cash flows, performance and business prospects, and opportunities, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Fuel Tech has tried to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to Fuel Tech and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Fuel Tech’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 in Item 1A under the caption “Risk Factors,” which could cause Fuel Tech’s actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Fuel Tech undertakes no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances or for any other reason. 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.

Item 3.          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. We do not enter into foreign currency forward contracts nor into foreign currency option contracts to manage this risk due to the immaterial nature of the transactions involved.

Item 4.          Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Fuel Tech maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls designed to ensure (a) that information required to be disclosed in Fuel Tech’s filings under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and (b) that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Fuel Tech’s Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a – 15(e) and 15d -15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report, and they have concluded that these controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings

We are from time to time involved in litigation incidental to our business. We are not currently involved in any litigation in which we believe an adverse outcome would have a material effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, or prospects.

Item 1A.   Risk Factors

The risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 have not materially changed.

Item 2.      Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None

Item 6.     Exhibits

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.