FutureFuel Corp. - Quarter Report: 2009 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
√
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009
|
OR
|
|
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the transition period from
_____________
|
Commission
file number: 0-52577
FUTUREFUEL
CORP.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
|
20-3340900
|
|
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization)
|
(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
|
8235
Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400
St.
Louis, Missouri 63105
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
(314)
854-8520
(Registrant’s
Telephone Number)
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 √ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No √
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common
stock, as of May 11, 2009: 28,190,300
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerate filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer
|
Accelerated
filer √
|
Non-accelerated
filer
|
Smaller
reporting company
|
1
PART
I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial Statements.
The
following sets forth our unaudited consolidated balance sheet as at
March 31, 2009 and our audited consolidated balance sheet as at
December 31, 2008, and the unaudited consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive income and statements of cash flow for the three-month periods
ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008.
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
As
at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008
(Dollars
in thousands)
(Unaudited)
March 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$ | 57,274 | $ | 27,455 | ||||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances of $4
|
18,919 | 20,048 | ||||||
Inventory
|
30,836 | 27,585 | ||||||
Income taxes
receivable
|
- | 792 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses
|
1,211 | 1,294 | ||||||
Marketable debt and auction rate
securities
|
13,238 | 46,411 | ||||||
Other current
assets
|
1,164 | 4,751 | ||||||
Total current
assets
|
122,642 | 128,336 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment,
net
|
114,008 | 106,320 | ||||||
Intangible assets
|
293 | 321 | ||||||
Other assets
|
2,897 | 3,149 | ||||||
Total noncurrent
assets
|
117,198 | 109,790 | ||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 239,840 | $ | 238,126 | ||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity
|
||||||||
Accounts payable
|
$ | 11,260 | $ | 13,332 | ||||
Accounts payable - related
parties
|
- | 422 | ||||||
Income taxes
payable
|
484 | - | ||||||
Current deferred income tax
liability
|
4,278 | 4,151 | ||||||
Short term contingent
consideration
|
1,889 | 1,936 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities
|
2,898 | 2,251 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities - related parties
|
20 | 20 | ||||||
Total current
liabilities
|
20,829 | 22,112 | ||||||
Deferred revenue
|
9,859 | 9,994 | ||||||
Other noncurrent
liabilities
|
1,330 | 1,243 | ||||||
Noncurrent deferred income tax
liability
|
23,379 | 23,140 | ||||||
Total noncurrent
liabilities
|
34,568 | 34,377 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
55,397 | 56,489 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||||||
Preferred
stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and
outstanding
|
- | - | ||||||
Common
stock, $0.0001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 28,190,300 issued
and outstanding
|
3 | 3 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive
income
|
- | 15 | ||||||
Additional paid in
capital
|
167,524 | 167,524 | ||||||
Retained earnings
|
16,916 | 14,095 | ||||||
Total stockholders’
equity
|
184,443 | 181,637 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 239,840 | $ | 238,126 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
2
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For
the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
||||||||
2009 | 2008 | |||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 38,845 | $ | 43,220 | ||||
Revenues
– related parties
|
892 | - | ||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
30,472 | 31,212 | ||||||
Cost
of goods sold – related parties
|
1,903 | 736 | ||||||
Distribution
|
1,007 | 690 | ||||||
Gross
profit
|
6,355 | 10,582 | ||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
||||||||
Compensation
expense
|
494 | 438 | ||||||
Other expense
|
494 | 303 | ||||||
Related party
expense
|
64 | 38 | ||||||
Research
and development expenses
|
1,011 | 956 | ||||||
2,063 | 1,735 | |||||||
Income
from operations
|
4,292 | 8,847 | ||||||
Interest
income
|
222 | 768 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
(8 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||
Loss
on foreign currency
|
(3 | ) | (130 | ) | ||||
Other
income
|
3 | 6 | ||||||
214 | 639 | |||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
4,506 | 9,486 | ||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
1,685 | 3,326 | ||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 2,821 | $ | 6,160 | ||||
Earnings
per common share
|
||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.23 | ||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.23 | ||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
||||||||
Basic
|
28,190,300 | 26,700,000 | ||||||
Diluted
|
28,196,985 | 26,700,000 | ||||||
Comprehensive
Income
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 2,821 | $ | 6,160 | ||||
Other
comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $(9) in 2009 and $32 in
2008
|
(15 | ) | 53 | |||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$ | 2,806 | $ | 6,213 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
3
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
For
the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars
in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Cash
flows provided by operating activities
|
||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 2,821 | $ | 6,160 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
1,769 | 1,295 | ||||||
Provision
for deferred income taxes
|
366 | 488 | ||||||
Change
in fair value of derivative instruments
|
97 | (676 | ) | |||||
Accretion
on the discount of marketable debt securities
|
- | (83 | ) | |||||
Losses
on disposals of fixed assets
|
- | 1 | ||||||
Noncash
interest expense
|
6 | 5 | ||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
1,128 | (3,446 | ) | |||||
Inventory
|
(3,251 | ) | (4,363 | ) | ||||
Income taxes
receivable
|
792 | - | ||||||
Prepaid expenses
|
83 | 130 | ||||||
Accrued interest on marketable
debt securities
|
2 | 34 | ||||||
Other assets
|
253 | 362 | ||||||
Accounts payable
|
(2,066 | ) | 2,656 | |||||
Accounts payable – related
parties
|
(428 | ) | (71 | ) | ||||
Income taxes
payable
|
484 | 1,330 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities
|
647 | (450 | ) | |||||
Deferred revenue
|
(135 | ) | 1,882 | |||||
Other
noncurrent liabilities
|
80 | 56 | ||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
2,648 | 5,310 | ||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||
Restricted cash
|
- | (48 | ) | |||||
Collateralization of derivative
instruments
|
3,398 | (22 | ) | |||||
Purchase of marketable
securities
|
- | (31,882 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from the sale of
marketable securities
|
15,973 | 10,000 | ||||||
Sale of auction rate securities,
net
|
1,750 | - | ||||||
Proceeds from the sale of
commercial paper
|
15,424 | - | ||||||
Acquisition of a
granary
|
(1,252 | ) | - | |||||
Contingent purchase price
payment
|
(47 | ) | (28 | ) | ||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(8,075 | ) | (3,676 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
27,171 | (25,656 | ) | |||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
- | - | ||||||
Net
change in cash and cash equivalents
|
29,819 | (20,346 | ) | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
27,455 | 54,655 | ||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ | 57,274 | $ | 34,309 | ||||
Cash
paid for interest
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Cash
paid for taxes
|
$ | 25 | $ | 1,450 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
4
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
1) Nature
of operations and basis of presentation
FutureFuel
Corp.
Viceroy
Acquisition Corporation (“Viceroy”) was incorporated under the laws of the state
of Delaware on August 12, 2005 to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition by
way of asset acquisition, merger, capital stock exchange, share purchase or
similar transaction of one or more operating businesses in the oil and gas
industry. On July 12, 2006 Viceroy completed an equity
offering.
On
July 21, 2006, Viceroy entered into an acquisition agreement with Eastman
Chemical Company (“Eastman Chemical”) to purchase all of the issued and
outstanding stock of Eastman SE, Inc. (“Eastman SE”). On
October 27, 2006, a special meeting of the shareholders of Viceroy was held
and the acquisition of Eastman SE was approved by the
shareholders. On October 31, 2006, Viceroy acquired all of the
issued and outstanding shares of Eastman SE from Eastman
Chemical. Immediately subsequent to the acquisition, Viceroy changed
its name to FutureFuel Corp. (“FutureFuel”) and Eastman SE changed its name to
FutureFuel Chemical Company (“FutureFuel Chemical”).
Eastman
SE, Inc.
Eastman
SE was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on September 1,
2005 and subsequent thereto operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastman
Chemical through October 31, 2006. Eastman SE was incorporated
for purposes of effecting a sale of Eastman Chemical’s manufacturing facility in
Batesville, Arkansas (the “Batesville Plant”). Commencing
January 1, 2006, Eastman Chemical began transferring the assets associated
with the business of the Batesville Plant to Eastman SE.
The
Batesville Plant was constructed to produce proprietary photographic chemicals
for Eastman Kodak Company (“Eastman Kodak”). Over the years, Eastman
Kodak shifted the plant’s focus away from the photographic imaging business to
the custom synthesis of fine chemicals and organic chemical intermediates used
in a variety of end markets, including paints and coatings, plastics and
polymers, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, household detergents and
agricultural products.
In 2005,
the Batesville Plant began the implementation of a biobased products
platform. This includes the production of biofuels (biodiesel,
bioethanol and lignin/biomass solid fuels) and biobased specialty chemical
products (biobased solvents, chemicals and intermediates). In
addition to biobased products, the Batesville Plant continues to manufacture
fine chemicals and other organic chemicals.
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by FutureFuel
in accordance and consistent with the accounting policies stated in FutureFuel’s
2008 audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction
with the 2008 audited consolidated financial statements of
FutureFuel. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to
conform with the current year presentation.
In the
opinion of FutureFuel, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair
presentation have been included in the unaudited consolidated financial
statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements are
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States and, of necessity, include some amounts that are based upon
management estimates and judgments. Future actual results could
differ from such current estimates. The unaudited consolidated
financial statements include assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of
FutureFuel and its wholly owned subsidiary, FutureFuel
Chemical. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated
in consolidation.
5
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
2) Inventories
The
carrying values of inventory were as follows as of:
March 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
At
first-in, first-out or average cost (approximates current
cost)
|
||||||||
Finished goods
|
$ | 15,737 | $ | 15,634 | ||||
Work in process
|
1,605 | 1,800 | ||||||
Raw materials and
supplies
|
16,531 | 14,833 | ||||||
33,873 | 32,267 | |||||||
LIFO reserve
|
(3,037 | ) | (4,682 | ) | ||||
Total inventories
|
$ | 30,836 | $ | 27,585 |
3) Derivative
instruments
FutureFuel
is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business
operations. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments
is commodity price risk. Regulated fixed price futures and option
contracts are utilized to manage the price risk associated with future purchases
of feedstock used in FutureFuel’s biodiesel production along with physical
feedstock and finished product inventories attributed to this
process.
FutureFuel
recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair
value in its consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel’s derivative
instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting under the specific guidelines of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended. While
management believes each of these instruments are entered into in order to
effectively manage various risks, none of the derivative instruments are
designated and accounted for as hedges primarily as a result of the extensive
record keeping requirements.
The fair
value of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments is determined based on the closing
prices of the derivative instruments on relevant commodity exchanges at the end
of an accounting period. Changes in fair value of the derivative
instruments are recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost
of good sold, and amounted to a gain of $1,473 for the three months ended
March 31, 2009.
The
volumes and carrying values of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments were as
follows at:
Asset/(Liability)
|
||||||||||||||||
March
31, 2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||||||||||
Quantity
(Contracts) Long/
(Short)
|
Fair
Market
Value
|
Quantity
(Contracts) Long/
(Short)
|
Fair
Market
Value
|
|||||||||||||
Regulated
fixed price future commitments, included in prepaid expenses and other
current assets
|
16 | $ | (676 | ) | - | $ | - | |||||||||
Regulated
options, included in prepaid expenses and other current
assets
|
(500 | ) | $ | (2,587 | ) | (875 | ) | $ | (3,175 | ) |
The
margin account maintained with a broker to collateralize these derivative
instruments carried an account balance of $4,427 and $7,826 at March 31,
2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and is classified as other
current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The carrying values
of the margin account and of the derivative instruments are included, net, in
other current assets.
6
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
4) Marketable
debt securities
As of
December 31, 2008, FutureFuel had made investments in certain U.S. treasury
bills and notes. As of December 31, 2008, these marketable debt
securities had maturities ranging from January 2009 to March
2009. FutureFuel anticipated these securities being sold or maturing
within one year and therefore classified all marketable debt securities as
current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance
sheet. FutureFuel designated these securities as being
available-for-sale. Accordingly, these securities were carried at
fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a
component of stockholders’ equity. At March 31, 2009 no such
securities were held.
The fair
market value of these marketable debt securities, including accrued interest,
totaled $15,999 at December 31, 2008.
Additionally,
FutureFuel has made investments in certain auction rate
securities. As of March 31, 2009, these securities had
maturities ranging from June 2028 to July 2042. FutureFuel classified
these instruments as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balances
sheets as the issuers of these instruments have either exercised their right to
repurchase or a liquid market still exists for these securities, which allows
FutureFuel to exit its positions within a short period of
time. FutureFuel anticipates these securities either being sold or
repurchased within the next year. FutureFuel has designated these
securities as being available-for-sale. Accordingly, these securities
are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes,
reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. No realized gains or
losses have been incurred related to these securities through March 31,
2009.
The fair
market value of these auction rate securities approximated their par value and,
including accrued interest, totaled $13,238 and $14,990 at March 31, 2009
and December 31, 2008, respectively.
At
December 31, 2008, FutureFuel had investments in certain commercial
paper. These investments had maturity dates ranging from January 2009
to March 2009 and have been classified as current assets in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel has designated these
securities as being available for sale. Accordingly, they are
recorded at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes,
reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. At March 31,
2009 no such investments were held.
The fair
value of these investments, including accrued interest, totaled $15,422 at
December 31, 2008.
5) Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities, including those associated with related
parties, consisted of the following at:
March 31,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Accrued
employee liabilities
|
$ | 1,600 | $ | 1,248 | ||||
Accrued
property, use and franchise taxes
|
1,263 | 975 | ||||||
Other
|
55 | 48 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 2,918 | $ | 2,271 |
6) Borrowings
In March
2007 FutureFuel Chemical entered into a $50 million credit agreement with a
commercial bank. The loan is a revolving facility the proceeds of
which may be used for working capital, capital expenditures and the general
corporate purposes of FutureFuel Chemical. The facility terminates in
March 2010. Advances are made pursuant to a borrowing base comprised
of 85% of eligible accounts plus 60% of eligible direct inventory plus 50% of
eligible indirect inventory. Advances are secured by a perfected
first priority security interest in accounts receivable and
inventory. The interest rate floats at certain margins over the
London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or base rate based upon the leverage
ratio from time to time as set forth in the following table.
7
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Leverage
Ratio
|
Base
Rate
Margin
|
LIBOR
Margin
|
||
>
3
|
-0.55%
|
1.70%
|
||
≥ 2
< 3
|
-0.70%
|
1.55%
|
||
≥ 1
< 2
|
-0.85%
|
1.40%
|
||
<
1
|
-1.00%
|
1.25%
|
There is
an unused commitment fee of 0.25% per annum. The ratio of EBITDA to
fixed charges may not be less than 3:1. FutureFuel has guaranteed
FutureFuel Chemical’s obligations under this credit agreement.
At
March 31, 2009, no borrowings were outstanding under this credit
facility.
7) Provision
for income taxes
For
the three months ended
March
31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
$ | 1,685 | $ | 3,326 | ||||
Effective
tax rate
|
37.4% | 35.1% |
The
effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
reflect FutureFuel’s expected tax rate on reported operating earnings before
income tax.
FutureFuel’s
unrecognized tax benefits, recorded as an element of other noncurrent
liabilities, totaled $559 at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008,
respectively, the total amount of which, if recognized, would reduce
FutureFuel’s effective tax rate.
FutureFuel
does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the
next 12 months.
FutureFuel
records interest and penalties net as a component of income tax
expense. FutureFuel had accrued a balance of $107 and $96 at
March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, for interest or
tax penalties.
FutureFuel
and its subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical, file tax returns in the U.S. federal
jurisdiction and with various state jurisdictions. FutureFuel was
incorporated in 2005 and is subject to U.S., state and local examinations by tax
authorities from 2005 forward. FutureFuel Chemical is subject to the
effects of tax examinations that may impact the carry-over basis of its assets
and liabilities.
8) Earnings
per share
The
computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share was as
follows:
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Net
income available to common stockholders
|
$ | 2,821 | $ | 6,160 | ||||
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding
|
28,190,300 | 26,700,000 | ||||||
Effect
of warrants
|
- | - | ||||||
Effect
of stock options
|
6,685 | - | ||||||
Weighted
average diluted number of common shares outstanding
|
28,196,985 | 26,700,000 | ||||||
Basic
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.23 | ||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.23 |
Warrants
to purchase 21,317,500 and 22,500,000 shares of FutureFuel’s common stock were
not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share at March 31,
2009 and 2008, respectively, as they were anti-dilutive in both periods
presented. Additionally, options to purchase 105,000
8
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
shares of
FutureFuel’s common stock were not included in the computation of diluted
earnings per share at March 31, 2009. No options were excluded
from the computation of diluted earnings per share at March 31, 2008 as no
options were outstanding at that time.
9) Segment
information
FutureFuel
has determined that is has two reportable segments organized along product lines
– chemicals and biofuels.
Chemicals
FutureFuel’s
chemicals segment manufactures diversified chemical products that are sold
externally to third party customers. This segment comprises two
components: “custom manufacturing” (manufacturing chemicals for specific
customers); and “performance chemicals” (multi-customer specialty
chemicals).
Biofuels
FutureFuel’s
biofuels business segment manufactures and markets
biodiesel. Revenues are generated through the production and sale of
biodiesel to customers through FutureFuel’s distribution network at the
Batesville Plant and through distribution facilities available at leased
oil storage facilities at negotiated prices.
Summary
of long-lived assets and revenues by geographic area
All of
FutureFuel’s long-lived assets are located in the U.S.
Most of
FutureFuel’s sales are transacted with title passing at the time of shipment
from the Batesville Plant, although some sales are transacted based on title
passing at the delivery point. While many of FutureFuel’s chemicals
are utilized to manufacture products that are shipped, further processed and/or
consumed throughout the world, the chemical products, with limited exceptions,
generally leave the United States only after ownership has transferred from
FutureFuel to the customer. Rarely is FutureFuel the exporter of
record, never is FutureFuel the importer of record into foreign countries and
FutureFuel is not always aware of the exact quantities of its products that are
moved into foreign markets by its customers. FutureFuel does track
the addresses of its customers for invoicing purposes and uses this address to
determine whether a particular sale is within or without the United
States. FutureFuel’s revenues attributable to the United States and
foreign countries (based upon the billing addresses of its customers) were as
follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
United
States
|
All
Foreign Countries
|
Total
|
|||||||||
March 31,
2009
|
$ | 35,853 | $ | 3,884 | $ | 39,737 | ||||||
March 31,
2008
|
$ | 36,405 | $ | 6,815 | $ | 43,220 |
For the
three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, revenues from Mexico accounted
for 8% and 11%, respectively, of total revenues. For the three months
ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, revenues from Canada accounted for 0% and
4%, respectively, of total revenues. Other than Mexico and Canada,
revenues from a single foreign country during the three months ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008 did not exceed 1% of total revenues.
9
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Summary
of business by segment
March
31,
2009
|
March
31,
2008
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||
Chemicals
|
$ | 35,860 | $ | 38,716 | ||||
Biofuels
|
3,877 | 4,504 | ||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 39,737 | $ | 43,220 | ||||
Segment
gross margins
|
||||||||
Chemicals
|
$ | 7,375 | $ | 8,440 | ||||
Biofuels
|
(1,020 | ) | 2,142 | |||||
Segment
gross margins
|
6,355 | 10,582 | ||||||
Corporate
expenses
|
(2,063 | ) | (1,735 | ) | ||||
Income
before interest and taxes
|
4,292 | 8,847 | ||||||
Interest
and other income
|
225 | 774 | ||||||
Interest
and other expense
|
(11 | ) | (135 | ) | ||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
(1,685 | ) | (3,326 | ) | ||||
Net
income
|
$ | 2,821 | $ | 6,160 |
Depreciation
is allocated to segment costs of goods sold based on plant usage. The
total assets and capital expenditures of FutureFuel have not been allocated to
individual segments as large portions of these assets are shared to varying
degrees by each segment, causing such an allocation to be of little
value.
Gross
margin for the biodiesel segment for 2008 was favorably impacted by the receipt
of $2,000 from the State of Arkansas resulting from our biodiesel operating cost
grant application under the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development
Program. This funding was attributable to our biodiesel production
between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 and was calculated as
$0.20 per gallon of biodiesel produced, capped at $2,000. The next
period for funding under this program opened on July 1, 2008 and will close
on June 30, 2009. FutureFuel has applied for maximum funding
under this program for biodiesel production during this period but has not yet
received funding from the State of Arkansas. Based on the
characteristics of the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development Program and the
State funding behind this program, we recognize income in the period funding is
received.
10) Fair
value measurements
FutureFuel
adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements,
effective January 1, 2008. Under SFAS No. 157, fair value
is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an
asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market
participants as of the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also
establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes
the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by
requiring that the most observable inputs be used when
available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use
in valuing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from
sources independent of FutureFuel. Unobservable inputs are inputs
that reflect FutureFuel’s assumptions about the factors market participants
would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based upon the best
information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken
down into three levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices
(unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar
assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar
assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs (other than
quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly
or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the
asset or liability. Categorization within the valuation hierarchy is
based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value
measurement.
10
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
The
following table provides information by level for assets and liabilities that
are measured at fair value, as defined by SFAS No. 157, on a recurring
basis.
Asset/(Liability)
|
||||||||||||||||
Fair
Value at March 31,
|
Fair
Value Measurements Using
Inputs
Considered as
|
|||||||||||||||
Description
|
2009
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
||||||||||||
Available
for sale:
|
||||||||||||||||
Auction
rate securities
|
$ | 13,238 | $ | - | $ | 13,238 | $ | - | ||||||||
Derivative
instruments
|
$ | (3,263 | ) | $ | (3,263 | ) | $ | - | $ | - |
11) Recently
issued accounting standards
In April
2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff
Position (“FSP”) FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of
Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying
Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP FAS 157-4”), to address challenges in
estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or
liability have significantly decreased. This FSP emphasizes that even
if there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for
the asset or liability and regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the
objective of a fair value measurement remains the same. Fair value is
the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a
liability in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or
distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under
current market conditions. This FSP is effective for interim and
annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. FutureFuel
does not believe that FSP FAS 157-4 will have an impact on its consolidated
financial statements upon adoption.
In April
2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments” (“FSP FAS 115-2 and 124-2”). This
FSP amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance in U.S. GAAP for debt
securities to make the guidance more operational and to improve the presentation
and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities
in the financial statements. This FSP does not amend existing
recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments
of equity securities. This FSP is effective for interim and annual
reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. FutureFuel does
not believe that FSP FAS 115-2 and 124-2 will have an impact on its disclosures
upon adoption.
In April
2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and ABP 28-1, “Interim Disclosure about Fair
Value of Financial Instruments” (“FSP FAS 107-1 and ABP 28-1”). This
FSP amends FASB Statement No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial
Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments
for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual
financial statements. This FSP also amends APB Opinion No. 28,
“Interim Financial Reporting,” to require those disclosures in summarized
financial information at interim reporting periods. This FSP is
effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15,
2009. FutureFuel does not believe that FSP FAS 107-1 and ABP 28-1
will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements upon
adoption.
12) Formation
of FFC Grain, LLC and Acquisition of a Granary
On
March 12, 2009 FutureFuel Chemical, through its newly created subsidiary
FFC Grain, LLC, purchased the assets of a granary in Marianna, Arkansas for
$1,252. These assets include approximately 1.5 million bushels of
storage capacity for grains harvested in the region (typically soybeans, rice,
corn and wheat) and associated elevators, legs, scales and administrative
buildings. These assets were in operating use at the time of the
acquisition, though no physical inventory was acquired in the
transaction. FutureFuel Chemical’s strategy in relation to the
acquired assets is to leave them in operating service for the near term, and to
possibly leverage the assets for growth as we seek to diversify our business
over the long term. We do not anticipate the operation of these
assets to have a material impact on our financial condition.
11
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
The
following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations should be read together with our consolidated financial
statements, including the notes thereto, set forth herein. This
discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views
with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual
results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements. See “Forward Looking Information” below for additional
discussion regarding risks associated with forward-looking
statements.
Results
of Operations
In General
FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s historical revenues have been generated through the sale of
specialty chemicals. FutureFuel Chemical Company breaks its chemicals
business into two main product groups: custom manufacturing and performance
chemicals. Major products in the custom manufacturing group include:
(i) nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, a bleach activator manufactured
exclusively for The Procter & Gamble Company for use in a household
detergent; (ii) a proprietary herbicide (and intermediates) manufactured
exclusively for Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation, a major life
sciences company; (iii) two product lines (CPOs and DIPBs) produced under
conversion contracts for Eastman Chemical Company; and (iv) an industrial
intermediate manufactured for a customer for use in the antimicrobial
industry. The major product line in the performance chemicals group
is SSIPA/LiSIPA, a polymer modifier that aids the properties of nylon
manufactured for a broad customer base. There are a number of
additional small volume custom and performance chemical products that FutureFuel
Chemical Company groups into “other products”. In late 2005,
FutureFuel Chemical Company began producing biodiesel. Beginning in
2006, revenues and cost of goods sold for biofuels were treated as a separate
business segment.
Revenues
generated from the bleach activator are based on a supply agreement with the
customer. The supply agreement stipulates selling price per kilogram
based on volume sold, with price moving up as volumes move down, and
vice-versa. The current contract expires in March
2013. FutureFuel Chemical Company pays for raw materials required to
produce the bleach activator. The contract with the customer provides
that the price received by FutureFuel Chemical Company for the bleach activator
is indexed to changes in certain items, enabling FutureFuel Chemical Company to
pass along most inflationary increases in production costs to the
customer.
FutureFuel
Chemical Company has been the exclusive manufacturer for its customer of a
proprietary herbicide and certain intermediates. These products are
beginning to face some generic competition, and no assurances can be given that
FutureFuel Chemical Company will remain the exclusive manufacturer for this
product line. The contracts automatically renew for successive
one-year periods, subject to the right of either party to terminate the contract
not later than 270 days prior to the end of the then current term for the
herbicide and not later than 18 months prior to the then current term for
the intermediates. No assurances can be given that these contracts
will not be terminated. The customer supplies most of the key raw
materials for production of the proprietary herbicide. There is no
pricing mechanism or specific protection against cost changes for raw materials
or conversion costs that FutureFuel Chemical Company is responsible for
purchasing and/or providing.
CPOs are
chemical intermediates that promote adhesion for plastic coatings and DIPBs are
intermediates for production of Eastman Chemical Company products used as
general purpose inhibitors, intermediates or antioxidants. As part of
our acquisition of FutureFuel Chemical Company, FutureFuel Chemical Company
entered into conversion agreements with Eastman Chemical Company that
effectively provide a conversion fee to FutureFuel Chemical Company for CPOs and
DIPBs based on volume manufactured, with a minimum annual fee for both
products. In addition, the conversion agreements provide for revenue
adjustments for the actual price of raw materials purchased by FutureFuel
Chemical Company at standard usages. Eastman Chemical Company
provides key raw materials at no cost. For the key raw materials,
usage over standard is owed Eastman Chemical Company; likewise, any improvement
over standard is owed to FutureFuel Chemical Company at the actual price Eastman
Chemical Company incurred for the key raw material.
In 2008
FutureFuel Chemical Company entered into a contract with a new customer for the
toll manufacture of an industrial intermediate utilized in the antimicrobial
industry. FutureFuel Chemical Company invested approximately
$10 million in capital expenditures to modify and expand its plant to
produce
12
this
industrial intermediate. The customer reimbursed these expenditures,
which reimbursements have been classified as deferred revenue on our balance
sheet and will be earned into income over the expected life of the
product. The contract stipulates a price curve based on volumes
sold. The current contract expires in December 2013. The
contract with the customer has an inflationary pricing provision, whereby
FutureFuel Chemical Company passes along most inflationary changes in production
costs to the customer.
SSIPA/LiSIPA
revenues are generated from a diverse customer base of nylon fiber
manufacturers. Contract sales are indexed to key raw materials for
inflation; otherwise, there is no pricing mechanism or specific protection
against raw material or conversion cost changes.
Other
products include agricultural intermediates and additives, imaging chemicals,
fiber additives and various specialty pharmaceutical intermediates that
FutureFuel Chemical Company has in full commercial production or in
development. These products are currently sold in small quantities to
a large customer base. Pricing for these products is negotiated
directly with the customer (in the case of custom manufacturing) or is
established based upon competitive market conditions (in the case of performance
chemicals). In general, these products have no pricing mechanism or
specific protection against raw material or conversion cost
changes.
The year
ended December 31, 2006 was the first full year that FutureFuel Chemical
Company sold biodiesel. Capacity was initially 3 million gallons
per year, increasing to 24 million gallons per year by the end of 2007
through a dedicated continuous processing line and, to a lesser extent, batch
processing. FutureFuel Chemical Company procures all of its own
feedstock and only sells biodiesel for its own account. In rare
instances, FutureFuel Chemical Company purchases biodiesel from other producers
for resale. FutureFuel Chemical Company has the capability to process
multiple types of vegetable oils and animal fats, it can receive feedstock by
rail or truck, and it has completed the construction of substantial storage
capacity to acquire feedstock at advantaged prices when market conditions
permit. We have recently completed a project to increase FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s production capacity to 59 million gallons of biodiesel
per year through the addition of a new continuous processing line. We
are in the process of bringing this new continuous processing line into
commercial production and have encountered only normal start-up
issues. We expect this new continuous processing line to be fully
operational and to have demonstrated its nameplate capacity by the end of the
second quarter of 2009. We believe we have successfully demonstrated
our ability to keep our existing continuous processing line at or near capacity
for sustained periods of time as well as our ability to both procure and
logistically handle large quantities of feedstock. Uncertainty
related to our future biodiesel production relates to changes in feedstock
prices relative to biodiesel prices and also the $1 per gallon federal blenders
credit, which was extended to the end of 2009.
The
majority of our and FutureFuel Chemical Company’s expenses are cost of goods
sold. Cost of goods sold reflects raw material costs as well as both
fixed and variable conversion costs, conversion costs being those expenses that
are directly or indirectly related to the operation of FutureFuel Chemical
Company’s plant. Significant conversion costs include labor,
benefits, energy, supplies and maintenance and repair. In addition to
raw material and conversion costs, cost of goods sold includes environmental
reserves and costs related to idle capacity. Finally, cost of goods
sold includes hedging gains and losses recognized by us. Cost of
goods sold is allocated to the chemical and biofuels business segments based on
equipment and resource usage for most conversion costs and based on revenues for
most other costs.
Operating
costs include selling, general and administrative and research and development
expenses. These expense categories include expenses that were
directly incurred by us and FutureFuel Chemical Company.
The
discussion of results of operations that follows is based on revenues and
expenses in total and for individual product lines and does not differentiate
related party transactions.
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31,
2008
Revenues: Revenues for the
quarter ended March 31, 2009 were $39,737,000 as compared to revenues for
the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of $43,220,000, a decrease of
8%. Revenues from biofuels decreased 14% and accounted for 10% of
total revenues in both 2009 and 2008. Revenues from chemicals
decreased 7% and accounted for 90% of total revenues in both 2009 and
2008. Within the chemicals segment, revenues for the first quarter of
2009 changed as follows as compared to the first quarter of 2008: revenues from
the bleach activator decreased 25%; revenues from the proprietary herbicide and
13
intermediates
increased 61%; revenues from CPOs decreased 100%; revenues from DIPBs increased
63%; and revenues from other products decreased 39%.
The
decrease in revenue from the bleach activator was primarily attributable to
lower volumes. Sales volumes during the quarter ended March 31,
2009 were down approximately 32% from the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and
were below expectations. Our contract with our customer provides for
increased prices as volumes decline. However, in an effort to better
serve the needs of our customer, we agreed to waive this protection via a
contract amendment that sets the volume-based price at a certain level
equivalent to anticipated average annual production in 2009 and 2010, in
exchange for a volume-based adjustment at the end of 2010.
Revenues
from the bleach activator and the proprietary herbicide and intermediates are
together the most significant components of FutureFuel Chemical Company’s
revenue base, accounting for 69% of revenues in the quarter ended March 31,
2009 as compared to 65% in the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The
future volume of and revenues from the bleach activator depend on both consumer
demand for the product containing the bleach activator and the manufacturing,
sales and marketing priorities of our customer. We are unable to
predict with certainty the revenues we will receive from this product in the
future. We believe our customer for the proprietary herbicide has
been able to maintain its volume in light of generic competition by being more
price competitive, changing its North American distribution system and
developing new applications. In addition, our customer has benefited
from the general increase in planted acreage in the markets it
serves.
Revenues
from CPOs and DIPBs together decreased 29% during the first quarter of
2009, due entirely to no demand for CPOs during the first quarter of
2009. The end market for CPOs is in the automotive industry and
demand for this product has been impacted by both economic conditions affecting
that industry and an inventory build by our customer at the end of
2008. This loss was partially offset by a 61% increase in revenues
from DIPB. Both of these products are late in their life cycle and
both are negatively impacted by the automotive and housing slow
down. As a result, future market conditions for both CPOs and DIPBs
may be challenging.
Decreased
revenues from biodiesel stem entirely from reduced price during the first
quarter of 2009 as compared to the first quarter of 2008; volume sold during the
first quarter of 2009 increased 95% over the volume sold during the first
quarter of 2008. Based on our experience over the last several years,
demand and pricing for biodiesel are typically weakest during the
winter. We were, however, able to leverage several new customer
relationships as well as the increased acceptance of biodiesel in the market to
generate the increase in biodiesel volume sold during the first quarter of
2009. We had ample storage capacity, both onsite and through leased
tanks offsite, to handle all excess production in the first
quarter. Our existing continuous processing line shut down in
the second half of March for planned maintenance and to allow our operations
team to start up the newly completed 35 million gallon per year continuous
line in a controlled environment. We expect to have the new line
operational during the second quarter of 2009. We will utilize the
new line to meet primary demand and will restart the existing 24 million
gallon per year line to the extent feedstock pricing and availability and
customer demand so warrant.
Cost of Goods Sold and
Distribution: Total cost of goods sold and distribution for
the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were $33,382,000 as compared to total cost
of goods sold and distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of
$32,638,000, an increase of 2%.
Cost of
goods sold and distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 for
FutureFuel Chemical Company’s chemicals segment were $28,485,000 as compared to
cost of goods sold and distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of
$30,276,000. On a percentage basis, the decrease in cost of goods
sold and distribution was almost directly in line with revenues.
Cost of
goods sold and distribution for the first quarter of 2009 for FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s biofuels segment were $4,897,000 as compared to cost of goods
sold and distribution for the first quarter of 2008 of
$2,362,000. The most significant element of this increase in cost of
goods sold and distribution was the receipt during the first quarter of 2008 of
$2 million of funding under the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development
Program. Under this program, biodiesel producers in the state of
Arkansas are eligible to receive $0.20 per gallon for every gallon of biodiesel
produced during defined time periods, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 per period,
subject to funding by the State of Arkansas. FutureFuel Chemical
Company applied for and, in the first quarter of 2008 received, the maximum
$2,000,000 funding under this program for biodiesel produced between
January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008. The next eligible
application period opened July 1, 2008 and closes June 30, 2009.
FutureFuel Chemical Company has applied for the $0.20 per gallon credit for
biodiesel
14
produced
during the third and fourth quarters of 2008 and the first quarter of
2009. Due to the uncertainty of funding from this program, we do not
recognize a credit to cost of goods sold and distribution until such time as our
application is approved and funding is received.
Operating
Expenses: Operating expenses increased from $1,735,000 for the
quarter ended March 31, 2008 to $2,063,000 for the quarter ended
March 31, 2009, or 19%. This increase was primarily attributable
to additional labor resources allocated to our sales and marketing team related
to efforts to expand our proprietary chemicals business. In addition,
legal fees and other costs were higher as a result of issues described below
under Other Matters.
Provision for Income
Taxes: The effective tax rates for the three months ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008 reflect our expected tax rate on reported operating
earnings before income taxes. We have determined that we do not
believe that we have a more likely than not probability of realizing a portion
of our deferred tax assets. As such, we have recorded a valuation
allowance of $816,000 at March 31, 2009.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
Revenue
Recognition: For most product sales, revenue is recognized
when product is shipped from our facilities and risk of loss and title have
passed to the customer, which is in accordance with our customer contracts and
the stated shipping terms. Nearly all custom manufactured products
are manufactured under written contracts. Performance chemicals and
biodiesel are sold pursuant to the terms of written purchase
orders. In general, customers do not have any rights of return,
except for quality disputes. However, all of our products are tested
for quality before shipment, and historically returns have been
inconsequential. We do not offer volume discounts, rebates or
warranties.
Revenue
from bill and hold transactions in which a performance obligation exists is
recognized when the total performance obligation has been met. Bill
and hold transactions for three specialty chemical customers in 2008 and 2009
related to revenue that was recognized in accordance with contractual agreements
based on product produced and ready for use. These sales were subject
to written monthly purchase orders with agreement that production was
reasonable. The inventory was custom manufactured and stored at the
customer’s request and could not be sold to another buyer. Credit and
payment terms for bill and hold customers are similar to other specialty
chemical customers. Sales revenue under bill and hold arrangements
were $14,172 and $10,917 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and
2008, respectively.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
consolidated net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, investing
activities and financing activities for the three months ended March 31,
2009 and 2008 are set forth in the following chart.
(Dollars
in thousands)
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
$ | 2,648 | $ | 5,310 | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
$ | 27,171 | $ | (25,656 | ) | |||
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
$ | - | $ | - |
Operating
Activities: Cash provided by operating activities decreased
from $5,310,000 during the first quarter of 2008 to $2,648,000 during the first
quarter of 2009. Cash generated from (used in) the change in accounts
receivable increased from $(3,446,000) in the first quarter of 2008 to
$1,128,000 in 2009. The increase is a result of reduced trade
receivables from a major customer during the first quarter of 2009 as compared
to a small increase in trade receivables during the first quarter of
2008. The increase is also a result of an increase in receivables
from the federal government during the first quarter of 2008 related to
biodiesel blender credits, which itself stems from very low sales of biodiesel
during the last quarter of 2007. Cash used in changes in inventory
decreased from $4,363,000 in the first quarter of 2008 to $3,251,000 in
2009. The decrease is a result of a reduction in the LIFO inventory
reserve during the first quarter of 2009. Cash generated from (used
in) changes in accounts payable decreased from $2,656,000 in the first quarter
of 2008 to $(2,066,000) in 2009. The decrease is primarily
attributable to the change in accounts payables related to raw
materials. Cash generated from (used in)
15
accrued
expenses and other current liabilities increased from $(450,000) in the first
quarter of 2008 to $647,000 in 2009. The increase is the result of
higher service accruals for capital expansion work during the first quarter of
2009 as compared to the first quarter of 2008. Finally, cash
generated from (used in) deferred revenue decreased from $1,882,000 in the first
quarter of 2008 to $(135,000) in 2009. The decrease is the result of
our completion of the capital project to modify and expand our plant to produce
the new industrial intermediate used in the antimicrobial industry.
Investing
Activities: Cash provided by (used in) investing activities
increased from $(25,656,000) in the first quarter of 2008 to $27,171,000 in
2009. This increase is primarily attributable to net cash flows
provided by short term investments. Cash used in the purchase of
marketable securities increased from $(31,882,000) in the first quarter of 2008
to $- in 2009. Cash provided by proceeds from the sale of marketable
securities increased from $10,000,000 in the first quarter of 2008 to
$16,965,000 in 2009. Finally, cash provided by proceeds from the sale
of commercial paper increased from $- in the first quarter of 2008 to
$14,432,000 in 2009. The investing activities which spurred these
changes are further described below under “Capital Management”.
Financing
Activities: There was no cash provided by (used in) financing
activities in either the first quarter of 2008 or 2009.
Credit
Facility
FutureFuel
Chemical Company entered into a $50 million credit agreement with a
commercial bank in March 2007. The loan is a revolving facility the
proceeds of which may be used for working capital, capital expenditures and
general corporate purposes of FutureFuel Chemical Company. The
facility terminates in March 2010. Advances are made pursuant to a
borrowing base. Advances are secured by a perfected first priority
security interest in accounts receivable and inventory. The interest
rate floats at certain margins over LIBOR or base rate based upon certain
leverage ratio from time to time.
There is
an unused commitment fee. The ratio of EBITDA to fixed charges may
not be less than 3:1. We have guaranteed FutureFuel Chemical
Company’s obligations under this credit agreement.
As of
March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, FutureFuel Chemical Company had
no borrowings under this $50 million credit agreement.
We intend
to fund future capital requirements for FutureFuel Chemical Company’s chemical
and biofuels segments from cash flow generated by FutureFuel Chemical Company as
well as from existing cash and borrowings under the credit
facility. We do not believe there will be a need to issue any
securities to fund such capital requirements.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
Our only
off-balance sheet arrangements were: (i) the financial assurance trusts
established for the benefit of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality;
and (ii) hedging transactions. The financial assurance trusts
were established to provide assurances to the Arkansas Department of
Environmental Quality that, in the event the Batesville facility is closed
permanently, any reclamation activities necessitated under applicable
environmental laws would be completed. The amounts held in trust were
included in restricted cash and cash equivalents on our balance
sheet. The closure liabilities are included in other noncurrent
liabilities, but only on a present value basis. These financial
assurance trusts were terminated on August 8, 2008 and were replaced by our
guaranty. This guaranty is not expected to have a material adverse
effect upon our financial condition.
We engage
in two types of hedging transactions. First, we hedge our biodiesel
sales through the purchase and sale of futures contracts and options on futures
contracts of energy commodities. This activity was captured on our
balance sheet at March 31, 2009 and December 31,
2008. Second, we hedge our biodiesel feedstock through the execution
of purchase contracts and supply agreements with certain
vendors. These hedging transactions are recognized in earnings and
were not recorded on our balance sheet at March 31, 2009 or
December 31, 2008 as they do not meet the definition of a derivative
instrument as defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the
U.S. The purchase of biodiesel feedstock generally involves two
components: basis and price. Basis covers any refining or processing
required as well as transportation. Price covers the purchases of the
actual agricultural commodity. Both basis and price fluctuate over
time. A supply agreement with a vendor constitutes a hedge when
FutureFuel Chemical Company has committed to a certain volume of feedstock in a
future period and has fixed the basis for that volume.
16
Capital
Management
As a
result of our initial equity offering and the subsequent positive operating
results of FutureFuel Chemical Company, we have accumulated excess working
capital. We intend to retain all remaining cash to fund
infrastructure and capacity expansion at FutureFuel Chemical Company and to
pursue complimentary acquisitions in the oil and gas and chemical
industries. While in the present state of having excess working
capital, we intend to manage these assets in such a way as to generate
sufficient returns on these funds. Third parties have not placed
significant restrictions on our working capital management
decisions.
In the
first three months of 2009, the management of these funds largely took the form
of investments in auction rate securities, U.S. Treasuries and the holding of
cash in money market or similar bank accounts.
We have
selectively made investments in certain auction rate securities that we believe
offer sufficient yield along with sufficient liquidity. To date, all
the auction rate securities in which we have invested have maintained a
mechanism for liquidity, meaning that the respective auctions have not failed,
the issuers have called the instruments, or a secondary market exists for
liquidation of the securities. We have classified these instruments
as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and carry them
at their estimated fair market value. The fair market value of these
instruments approximated their par value and, including accrued interest,
totaled $13,238,000 at March 31, 2009. Auction rate securities
are typically long term bonds issued by an entity for which there is a series of
auctions over the life of the bond that serve to reset the interest rate on the
bonds to a market rate. These auctions also serve as a mechanism to
provide liquidity to the bond holders; as long as there are sufficient
purchasers of the auction rate securities, the then owners of the auction rate
securities are able to liquidate their investment through a sale to the new
purchasers. In the event of an auction failure, a situation when
there are more sellers than buyers of a particular issue, the current owners of
an auction rate security issue may not be able to liquidate their
investment. As a result of an auction failure, a holder may be forced
to hold the particular security either until maturity or until a willing buyer
is found. Even if a willing buyer is found, however, there is no
guarantee that this willing buyer will purchase the security for its carrying
value, which would result in a loss being realized on the sale. The
liquidity problems currently experienced in the U.S. auction rate securities
markets have generally been focused on closed-end fund and student loan auction
rate securities, asset classes that we have avoided.
We
maintain depository accounts such as checking accounts, money market accounts
and other similar accounts at selected financial institutions.
Other
Matters
We
entered into an agreement with a customer to construct at a fixed price a
processing plant and produce a certain chemical for the customer. We
engaged a third party to act as general contractor on the construction of this
plant for a guaranteed price. That general contractor defaulted on
its obligations under its contract with us and abandoned the
project. As a result, we undertook the general contractor role
ourselves. We also filed suit against our former contractor to recoup
any damages that we may incur as a result of his default. The former
contractor has counterclaimed against us for amounts he asserts are due him
under our contract with him. At this time, we are unable to determine
what effect the general contractor’s counterclaim will have on us or on our
financial condition.
We
entered into an agreement with a biodiesel trade association to pay certain fees
and dues to the association in order to obtain access and registration to the
association’s compiled biodiesel health effects data (“HED”)
required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”)
for biodiesel manufacturers. Manufacturers of biodiesel who pay their
fair share of costs for the HED can have access to and obtain registration with
the USEPA. We brought suit against the trade association for
rescission of the agreement for various reasons including, among other things,
that we have already paid our fair share of costs for the data to the trade
association; and that the fees and dues structure of the trade association are
overly excessive and against public policy. The trade association has
filed suit against us for collection of alleged fees and dues owed by us to
it. At this time, we are unable to determine what effect the trade
association’s suit against us will have on us or on our financial
condition.
17
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
In recent
years, general economic inflation has not had a material adverse impact on
FutureFuel Chemical Company’s costs and, as described elsewhere herein, we have
passed some price increases along to our customers. However, we are
subject to certain market risks as described below.
Market
risk represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates
and prices. Commodity price risk is inherent in the chemical and
biofuels business both with respect to input (electricity, coal, biofuel
feedstock, etc.) and output (manufactured chemicals and biofuels).
We seek
to mitigate our market risks associated with the manufacturing and sale of
chemicals by entering into term sale contracts that include contractual market
price adjustment protections to allow changes in market prices of key raw
materials to be passed on to the customer. Such price protections are
not always obtained, however, so raw material price risk remains a significant
risk.
In order
to manage price risk caused by market fluctuations in biofuel prices, we may
enter into exchange traded commodity futures and options
contracts. We account for these derivative instruments in accordance
with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133 Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended. Under these
standards, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative
instrument depends upon whether it has been designated as an accounting hedging
relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. To
qualify for designation as an accounting hedging relationship, specific criteria
must be met and appropriate documentation maintained. We had no
derivative instruments that qualified under these rules as designated accounting
hedges in 2009 or 2008. Changes in the fair value of our derivative
instruments are recognized at the end of each accounting period and recorded in
the statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold.
Our
immediate recognition of derivative instrument gains and losses can cause net
income to be volatile from quarter to quarter due to the timing of the change in
value of the derivative instruments relative to the sale of biofuel being
sold. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the fair
values of our derivative instruments were a net liability in the amount of
$3,263 and $3,175, respectively.
Our gross
profit will be impacted by the prices we pay for raw materials and conversion
costs (costs incurred in the production of chemicals and biofuels) for which we
do not possess contractual market price adjustment protection. These
items are principally comprised of animal fat and electricity. The
availability and price of all of these items are subject to wide fluctuations
due to unpredictable factors such as weather conditions, overall economic
conditions, farmers’ planting decisions, governmental policies and global supply
and demand.
We
prepared a sensitivity analysis of our exposure to market risk with respect to
key raw materials and conversion costs for which we do not possess contractual
market price adjustment protections, based on average prices in the first
quarter of 2009. We included only those raw materials and conversion
costs for which a hypothetical adverse change in price would result in a 2% or
greater decrease in gross profit. Assuming that the prices of the
associated finished goods could not be increased and assuming no change in
quantities sold, a hypothetical 10% change in the average price of the
commodities listed below would result in the following change in annual gross
profit:
(Volumes
and dollars in thousands)
Item
|
Volume(a)
Requirements
|
Units
|
Hypothetical
Adverse
Change
in
Price
|
Decrease
in
Gross
Profit
|
Percentage
Decrease
in
Gross
Profit
|
|||||
Animal
fat
|
24,203
|
LB
|
10.0%
|
$ 508
|
8.0%
|
|||||
Electricity
|
19
|
MWH
|
10.0%
|
$ 127
|
2.0%
|
__________
(a)
|
Volume
requirements and average price information are based upon volumes used and
prices obtained for the three months ended March 31,
2009. Volume requirements may differ materially from these
quantities in future years as the business of FutureFuel Chemical Company
evolves.
|
18
As of
March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had no borrowings and, as
such, were not exposed to interest rate risk.
Item
4. Controls and Procedures.
Under the
supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our
Principal Financial Officer and other senior management personnel, we evaluated
the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange
Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this
report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our
Principal Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and
procedures as of March 31, 2009 were effective to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit 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.
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last
fiscal quarter that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
19
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings.
Neither
we nor our subsidiary are a party to, nor is any of ours or their property
subject to, any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their businesses.
From time
to time, FutureFuel Chemical Company and its operations may be parties to, or
targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including product
liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property,
commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety and employment
matters, which we expect to be handled and defended in the ordinary course of
business. While we are unable to predict the outcome of any matters
currently pending, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of any such
pending matters will have a material adverse effect on our overall financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, adverse
developments could negatively impact earnings or cash flows in future
periods.
Item
1A. Risk Factors.
See our
Form 10-K, Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2009 for a
description of “Risk Factors” relating to an investment in us. There
are no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in such
filing.
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 Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item
5. Other Information.
None.
Item
6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
|
31(a)
|
Rule
13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of chief executive
officer
|
31(b)
|
Rule
13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of principal financial
officer
|
32
|
Section
1350 Certification of chief executive officer and principal financial
officer
|
Forward
Looking Information
This Form
contains or incorporates by reference “forward-looking
statements”. When used in this document, the words “anticipate,”
“believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” and “intend” and similar expressions,
as they relate to us, FutureFuel Chemical Company or our respective management,
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on current management assumptions and are
subject to uncertainties and inherent risks that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. We caution you therefore that you should not rely on any
of these forward-looking statements as statements of historical fact or as
guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political,
economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions as well as,
but not limited to, the following:
20
·
|
conflicts
of interest of our officers and
directors;
|
·
|
potential
future affiliations of our officers and directors with competing
businesses;
|
·
|
the
control by our founding shareholders of a substantial interest in
us;
|
·
|
the
highly competitive nature of the chemical and alternative fuel
industries;
|
·
|
fluctuations
in energy prices may cause a reduction in the demand or profitability of
the products or services we may ultimately produce or offer or which form
a portion of our business;
|
·
|
changes
in technology may render our products or services
obsolete;
|
·
|
failure
to comply with governmental regulations could result in the imposition of
penalties, fines or restrictions on operations and remedial
liabilities;
|
·
|
the
operations of FutureFuel Chemical Company’s biofuels business may be
harmed if the applicable government were to change current laws and/or
regulations;
|
·
|
our
board may have incorrectly evaluated FutureFuel Chemical Company’s
potential liabilities;
|
·
|
our
board may have FutureFuel Chemical Company engage in hedging transactions
in an attempt to mitigate exposure to price fluctuations in petroleum
product transactions and other portfolio positions which may not
ultimately be successful; and
|
·
|
we
may not continue to have access to capital markets and commercial bank
financing on favorable terms and FutureFuel Chemical Company may lose its
ability to buy on open credit
terms.
|
Although
we believe that the expectations reflected by such forward-looking statements
are reasonable based on information currently available to us, no assurances can
be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. All
forward-looking statements included in this Form and all subsequent oral
forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf
are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary
statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as to their
particular dates.
21
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.
FUTUREFUEL
CORP.
By: /s/ Douglas D.
Hommert
Douglas
D. Hommert, Executive Vice President, Secretary
and
Treasurer
Date: May
11, 2009
22