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KIRBY CORP - Quarter Report: 2019 June (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



Form 10-Q



Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number 1-7615



KIRBY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




Nevada
 
74-1884980
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000
Houston, TX
 
77007
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(713) 435-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

No Change
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)



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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “Large Accelerated Filer,” “Accelerated Filer,” “Smaller Reporting Company,” and “Emerging Growth Company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer
 
Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer
 
Smaller Reporting Company
     
Emerging Growth Company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
KEX
New York Stock Exchange LLC

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share, on August 1, 2019 was 59,902,000.




PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.
Financial Statements

KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

 
June 30,
2019
   
December 31,
2018
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
22,521
   
$
7,800
 
Accounts receivable:
               
Trade – less allowance for doubtful accounts
   
450,958
     
417,644
 
Other
   
99,568
     
104,239
 
Inventories – net
   
428,264
     
507,441
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
52,953
     
59,365
 
Total current assets
   
1,054,264
     
1,096,489
 
                 
Property and equipment
   
5,304,058
     
5,011,824
 
Accumulated depreciation
   
(1,507,640
)
   
(1,472,022
)
Property and equipment – net
   
3,796,418
     
3,539,802
 
                 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
   
158,917
     
 
Goodwill
   
953,826
     
953,826
 
Other intangibles, net
   
214,972
     
224,197
 
Other assets
   
54,493
     
57,280
 
Total assets
 
$
6,232,890
   
$
5,871,594
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Bank notes payable
 
$
11
   
$
19
 
Income taxes payable
   
312
     
2,794
 
Accounts payable
   
212,147
     
278,057
 
Accrued liabilities
   
225,232
     
246,789
 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
   
29,422
     
 
Deferred revenues
   
58,909
     
80,123
 
Total current liabilities
   
526,033
     
607,782
 
                 
Long-term debt, net – less current portion
   
1,594,695
     
1,410,169
 
Deferred income taxes
   
570,954
     
542,785
 
Operating lease liabilities
   
136,970
     
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
82,066
     
94,557
 
Total long-term liabilities
   
2,384,685
     
2,047,511
 
                 
Contingencies and commitments
   
     
 
                 
Equity:
               
Kirby stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock, $0.10 par value per share. Authorized 120,000,000 shares, issued 65,472,000 shares
   
6,547
     
6,547
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
829,460
     
823,347
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income – net
   
(26,967
)
   
(33,511
)
Retained earnings
   
2,815,175
     
2,723,592
 
Treasury stock – at cost, 5,570,000 shares at June 30, 2019 and 5,608,000 at December 31, 2018
   
(305,061
)
   
(306,788
)
Total Kirby stockholders’ equity
   
3,319,154
     
3,213,187
 
Noncontrolling interests
   
3,018
     
3,114
 
Total equity
   
3,322,172
     
3,216,301
 
                 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
6,232,890
   
$
5,871,594
 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

1


KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)

 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
   
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Revenues:
                       
Marine transportation
 
$
404,286
   
$
378,163
   
$
772,407
   
$
718,566
 
Distribution and services
   
366,756
     
424,508
     
743,256
     
825,793
 
Total revenues
   
771,042
     
802,671
     
1,515,663
     
1,544,359
 
                                 
Costs and expenses:
                               
Costs of sales and operating expenses
   
563,495
     
588,628
     
1,100,150
     
1,141,945
 
Selling, general and administrative
   
69,150
     
92,588
     
141,946
     
169,384
 
Taxes, other than on income
   
10,579
     
10,552
     
20,577
     
19,087
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
55,093
     
55,492
     
110,316
     
109,710
 
Gain on disposition of assets
   
(3,118
)
   
(442
)
   
(5,275
)
   
(2,340
)
Total costs and expenses
   
695,199
     
746,818
     
1,367,714
     
1,437,786
 
                                 
Operating income
   
75,843
     
55,853
     
147,949
     
106,573
 
Other income
   
2,381
     
1,541
     
1,813
     
3,132
 
Interest expense
   
(15,515
)
   
(12,540
)
   
(28,716
)
   
(22,320
)
                                 
Earnings before taxes on income
   
62,709
     
44,854
     
121,046
     
87,385
 
Provision for taxes on income
   
(15,269
)
   
(16,061
)
   
(29,149
)
   
(25,926
)
                                 
Net earnings
   
47,440
     
28,793
     
91,897
     
61,459
 
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(153
)
   
(191
)
   
(314
)
   
(386
)
                                 
Net earnings attributable to Kirby
 
$
47,287
   
$
28,602
   
$
91,583
   
$
61,073
 
                                 
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
                               
Basic
 
$
0.79
   
$
0.48
   
$
1.53
   
$
1.02
 
Diluted
 
$
0.79
   
$
0.48
   
$
1.53
   
$
1.02
 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

2


KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
                   
Net earnings
 
$
47,440
   
$
28,793
   
$
91,897
   
$
61,459
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
                               
Pension and postretirement benefits
   
6,057
     
(13
)
   
6,468
     
417
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
(53
)
   
(429
)
   
76
     
(9
)
Reclassification to retained earnings of stranded tax effects from tax reform
   
     
     
     
(7,925
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
   
6,004
     
(442
)
   
6,544
     
(7,517
)
                                 
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
   
53,444
     
28,351
     
98,441
     
53,942
 
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(153
)
   
(191
)
   
(314
)
   
(386
)
                                 
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby
 
$
53,291
   
$
28,160
   
$
98,127
   
$
53,556
 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

3


KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
   
($ in thousands)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net earnings
 
$
91,897
   
$
61,459
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
110,316
     
109,710
 
Provision for deferred income taxes
   
26,007
     
23,381
 
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation
   
7,907
     
13,551
 
Amortization of leases
   
(154
)
   
 
Amortization of major maintenance costs
   
10,431
     
10,338
 
Amortization of debt issuance costs
   
719
     
578
 
Other
   
(5,806
)
   
(1,778
)
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
   
(53,120
)
   
(63,484
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
188,197
     
153,755
 
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
   
(127,268
)
   
(152,911
)
Acquisitions of businesses and marine equipment, net of cash acquired
   
(252,840
)
   
(499,227
)
Proceeds from disposition of assets
   
23,364
     
25,208
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(356,744
)
   
(626,930
)
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Payments on bank credit facilities
   
(313,805
)
   
(45,485
)
Borrowings on long-term debt
   
500,000
     
499,295
 
Payments of debt issue costs
   
(2,397
)
   
(4,263
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
1,903
     
12,987
 
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation
   
(2,023
)
   
(4,813
)
Other
   
(410
)
   
(450
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
183,268
     
457,271
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
14,721
     
(15,904
)
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
   
7,800
     
20,102
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
22,521
   
$
4,198
 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid (received) during the period:
               
Interest paid
 
$
29,271
   
$
14,085
 
Income taxes paid (refunded)
 
$
2,392
   
$
(132
)
Operating cash outflow from operating leases
 
$
19,786
   
$
 
Non-cash investing activity:
               
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable
 
$
5,377
   
$
(16,498
)
Cash acquired in acquisition
 
$
   
$
2,313
 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations
 
$
2,537
   
$
 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

4


KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)

 
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-in-
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Treasury Stock
   
Noncontrolling
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Income
   
Earnings
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Interests
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Balance at March 31, 2019
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
827,497
   
$
(32,971
)
 
$
2,767,888
     
(5,599
)
 
$
(306,625
)
 
$
3,072
   
$
3,265,408
 
Stock option exercises
   
     
     
66
     
     
     
9
     
474
     
     
540
 
Issuance of stock for equity awards
   
     
     
(1,110
)
   
     
     
20
     
1,110
     
     
 
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
(20
)
   
     
(20
)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation
   
     
     
3,007
     
     
     
     
     
     
3,007
 
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
   
     
     
     
6,004
     
47,287
     
     
     
153
     
53,444
 
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
(207
)
   
(207
)
Balance at June 30, 2019
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
829,460
   
$
(26,967
)
 
$
2,815,175
     
(5,570
)
 
$
(305,061
)
 
$
3,018
   
$
3,322,172
 

 
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-in-
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Treasury Stock
   
Noncontrolling
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Income
   
Earnings
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Interests
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Balance at March 31, 2018
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
810,381
   
$
(39,480
)
 
$
2,677,611
     
(5,800
)
 
$
(316,564
)
 
$
3,373
   
$
3,141,868
 
Stock option exercises
   
     
     
2,242
     
     
     
196
     
10,501
     
     
12,743
 
Issuance of stock for equity awards
   
     
     
(1,014
)
   
     
     
18
     
1,014
     
     
 
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting
   
     
     
     
     
     
(12
)
   
(1,048
)
   
     
(1,048
)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation
   
     
     
6,000
     
     
     
     
     
     
6,000
 
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
   
     
     
     
(442
)
   
28,602
     
     
     
191
     
28,351
 
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
(223
)
   
(223
)
Balance at June 30, 2018
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
817,609
   
$
(39,922
)
 
$
2,706,213
     
(5,598
)
 
$
(306,097
)
 
$
3,341
   
$
3,187,691
 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
5


KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)

 
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-in-
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Treasury Stock
   
Noncontrolling
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Income
   
Earnings
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Interests
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
823,347
   
$
(33,511
)
 
$
2,723,592
     
(5,608
)
 
$
(306,788
)
 
$
3,114
   
$
3,216,301
 
Stock option exercises
   
     
     
118
     
     
     
34
     
1,838
     
     
1,956
 
Issuance of stock for equity awards
   
     
     
(1,912
)
   
     
     
34
     
1,912
     
     
 
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting
   
     
     
     
     
     
(30
)
   
(2,023
)
   
     
(2,023
)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation
   
     
     
7,907
     
     
     
     
     
     
7,907
 
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
   
     
     
     
6,544
     
91,583
     
     
     
314
     
98,441
 
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
(410
)
   
(410
)
Balance at June 30, 2019
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
829,460
   
$
(26,967
)
 
$
2,815,175
     
(5,570
)
 
$
(305,061
)
 
$
3,018
   
$
3,322,172
 

 
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-in-
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Treasury Stock
   
Noncontrolling
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Income
   
Earnings
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Interests
   
Total
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
802,961
   
$
(32,405
)
 
$
2,646,937
     
(5,783
)
 
$
(313,220
)
 
$
3,403
   
$
3,114,223
 
Adoption of new accounting standards
   
     
     
     
     
(1,797
)
   
     
     
     
(1,797
)
Stock option exercises
   
     
     
2,111
     
     
     
228
     
10,923
     
     
13,034
 
Issuance of stock for equity awards
   
     
     
(1,014
)
   
     
     
18
     
1,014
     
     
 
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting
   
     
     
     
     
     
(61
)
   
(4,814
)
   
     
(4,814
)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation
   
     
     
13,551
     
     
     
     
     
     
13,551
 
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes
   
     
     
     
(7,517
)
   
61,073
     
     
     
386
     
53,942
 
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
(448
)
   
(448
)
Balance at June 30, 2018
   
65,472
   
$
6,547
   
$
817,609
   
$
(39,922
)
 
$
2,706,213
     
(5,598
)
 
$
(306,097
)
 
$
3,341
   
$
3,187,691
 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
6


KIRBY CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

(1)  BASIS FOR PREPARATION OF THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared by Kirby Corporation (the “Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures, including significant accounting policies normally included in annual financial statements, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. It is suggested that these condensed financial statements be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(2)  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADOPTIONS


In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-14, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans” which amends the annual disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing certain requirements, providing clarification on existing requirements and adding new requirements including adding an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact on its disclosures.


In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”) which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 in the goodwill impairment test that required an entity to perform procedures to determine the fair value of its assets and liabilities at the testing date. An entity instead will perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value and record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. ASU 2017-04 will be applied prospectively and is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests conducted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.


In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”) to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 under the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption and will not restate prior periods.  The Company also elected certain practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance which allows the Company to carryforward its historical lease classification and for the non-recognition of short-term leases. Adoption of ASU 2016-02 resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets for operating leases of $168,149,000 and lease liabilities for operating leases of $175,778,000 on the Company’s Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 1, 2019, with no material impact to the Condensed Statements of Earnings or Cash Flows. The Company did not have any financing leases as of January 1, 2019.  See Note 3, Leases for additional information.

(3)  LEASES


The Company currently leases various facilities and equipment under cancelable and noncancelable operating leases.  The accounting for the Company’s leases may require judgments, which include determining whether a contract contains a lease, the allocation between lease and non-lease components, and determining the incremental borrowing rates.  Leases with an initial noncancelable term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and the related lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  The Company has also elected to combine lease and non-lease components on all classes of leased assets, except for leased towing vessels for which the Company estimates approximately 75% of the costs relate to service costs and other non-lease components. Variable lease costs relate primarily to real estate executory costs (i.e. taxes, insurance and maintenance).


7


Future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at June 30, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):


 
Total
 
2019
 
$
18,826
 
2020
   
29,857
 
2021
   
24,685
 
2022
   
21,532
 
2023
   
17,583
 
Thereafter
   
94,907
 
Total lease payments
   
207,390
 
Less: imputed interest
   
(40,998
)
Operating lease liabilities
 
$
166,392
 


As of December 31, 2018, future total rentals on the Company’s noncancellable operating leases were $278,602,000 in the aggregate, which consisted of the following: $97,091,000 in 2019; $30,062,000 in 2020; $21,818,000 in 2021; $20,263,000 in 2022; $17,429,000 in 2023; and $91,939,000 thereafter.


The following table summarizes lease cost for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 (in thousands):


 
Three months ended
June 30, 2019
   
Six months ended
June 30, 2019
 
Operating lease cost
 
$
9,893
   
$
19,971
 
Variable lease cost
   
515
     
1,031
 
Short-term lease cost
   
8,963
     
16,855
 
Sublease income
   
(318
)
   
(558
)
Total lease cost
 
$
19,053
   
$
37,299
 


The following table summarizes other supplemental information about the Company’s operating leases as of June 30, 2019:

Weighted average discount rate
   
4.1
%
Weighted average remaining lease term
 
10 years
 

(4)  REVENUES


The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues by major source for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):


 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Marine transportation segment:
                       
Inland transportation
 
$
310,162
   
$
286,920
   
$
593,247
   
$
539,275
 
Coastal transportation
   
94,124
     
91,243
     
179,160
     
179,291
 
   
$
404,286
   
$
378,163
   
$
772,407
   
$
718,566
 
Distribution and services segment:
                               
Oil and gas
 
$
198,864
   
$
304,859
   
$
421,965
   
$
579,350
 
Commercial and industrial
   
167,892
     
119,649
     
321,291
     
246,443
 
   
$
366,756
   
$
424,508
   
$
743,256
   
$
825,793
 

8


Contract Assets and Liabilities. Contract liabilities represent advance consideration received from customers, and are recognized as revenue over time as the related performance obligation is satisfied. The amount of revenue recognized in the first six months of 2019 that was included in the opening contract liability balance was $73,370,000. The Company has recognized all contract liabilities within the deferred revenues financial statement caption on the balance sheet.  The Company did not have any contract assets at June 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.


The Company applies the practical expedient that allows non-disclosure of information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less.

(5)  ACQUISITIONS


During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company purchased seven inland tank barges from a leasing company for $8,340,000 in cash.  The Company had been leasing the barges prior to the purchases.


On March 14, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of the marine transportation fleet of Cenac Marine Services, LLC (“Cenac”) for $244,500,000 in cash.  Cenac’s fleet consisted of 63 inland 30,000 barrel tank barges with approximately 1,833,000 barrels of capacity, 34 inland towboats and two offshore tugboats.  Cenac transported petrochemicals, refined products and black oil, including crude oil, residual fuels, feedstocks and lubricants on the lower Mississippi River, its tributaries, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for major oil companies and refiners.  The average age of the inland tank barges was approximately five years  and the inland towboats had an average age of approximately seven years.


The Company considers Cenac to be a natural extension of the current marine transportation segment, expanding the capabilities of the Company’s inland based marine transportation business and lowering the average age of its inland tank barge and towboat fleet.


The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at the acquisition date were as follows (in thousands):

Assets:
     
Prepaid expenses
 
$
1,138
 
Property and equipment
   
247,122
 
Other intangibles
   
340
 
Total assets
 
$
248,600
 
         
Other long-term liabilities
   
4,100
 
Net assets acquired
 
$
244,500
 


The Company acquired intangible assets with an amortization period of two years and incurred long-term intangible liabilities related to unfavorable contracts with a weighted average amortization period of approximately 1.3 years.  The fair values have not been finalized and are provisional, pending completion of the tangible and intangible valuation studies.  As additional information becomes known concerning the assets acquired, the Company may make adjustments to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for up to one year following the acquisition date. Acquisition related costs of $392,000, consisting primarily of legal and other professional fees, were expensed as incurred to selling, general and administrative expense in the 2019 first six months.


Pro forma results of the acquisitions made in the 2019 first six months have not been presented as the pro forma revenues and net earnings attributable to Kirby would not be materially different from the Company’s actual results.


9

(6)  INVENTORIES


The following table presents the details of inventories as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):


 
June 30,
2019
   
December 31,
2018
 
             
Finished goods
 
$
333,472
   
$
406,364
 
Work in process
   
94,792
     
101,077
 
   
$
428,264
   
$
507,441
 


(7)  LONG-TERM DEBT


On March 27, 2019, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a group of commercial banks, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent bank, that extends the term of the Company’s existing $850,000,000 revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) to March 27, 2024 and adds a five-year term loan (“Term Loan”) facility in an amount of $500,000,000.  The Credit Agreement provides for a variable interest rate based on the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) or a base rate calculated with reference to the agent bank’s prime rate, among other factors (the “Alternate Base Rate”).  The interest rate varies with the Company’s credit rating and is currently 112.5 basis points over LIBOR or 12.5 basis points over the Alternate Base Rate.  The Term Loan is repayable in quarterly installments commencing June 30, 2020, in increasing percentages of the original principal amount of the loan, with the remaining unpaid balance payable of 65% of the initial amount due on March 27, 2024.  The Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants including an interest coverage ratio and a debt-to-capitalization ratio.  In addition to financial covenants, the Credit Agreement contains covenants that, subject to exceptions, restrict debt incurrence, mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, dividends and investments, liquidations and dissolutions, capital leases, transactions with affiliates and changes in lines of business.  The Credit Agreement specifies certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the outstanding loans may be accelerated, including the failure to pay principal or interest, violation of covenants and default on other indebtedness, among other events.  Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions.  As of June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all Credit Agreement covenants and had outstanding borrowings of $103,577,000 under the Revolving Credit Facility and $500,000,000 under the Term Loan.  The Revolving Credit Facility includes a $25,000,000 commitment which may be used for standby letters of credit.  Outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility were $5,670,000 as of June 30, 2019.


The estimated fair value of total debt outstanding at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $1,637,493,000 and $1,411,628,000, respectively, which differs from the carrying amounts of $1,594,706,000 and $1,410,188,000, respectively, included in the consolidated financial statements. The fair value of debt outstanding was determined using a Level 2 fair value measurement.

(8)  STOCK AWARD PLANS



The Company has share-based compensation plans which are described below. The compensation cost that has been charged against earnings for the Company’s stock award plans and the income tax benefit recognized in the statement of earnings for stock awards for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):


 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Compensation cost
 
$
3,007
   
$
6,000
   
$
7,907
   
$
13,551
 
Income tax benefit
 
$
740
   
$
2,278
   
$
1,909
   
$
4,038
 


The Company has an employee stock award plan for selected officers and other key employees which provides for the issuance of stock options, restricted stock awards and performance awards. On February 19, 2018, the employee stock award plan was amended to also allow for the granting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to selected officers and other key employees. The amendment included a provision for the continued vesting of unvested stock options and RSUs for employees who meet certain years of service and age requirements at the time of their retirement. The vesting change resulted in shorter expense accrual periods on stock options and RSUs granted after February 19, 2018 to employees who are nearing retirement and meet the service and age requirements.

10


The exercise price for each option equals the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Substantially all stock options outstanding under the plan have terms of seven years and vest ratably over three years. No performance awards payable in stock have been awarded under the plan. At June 30, 2019, 1,348,971 shares were available for future grants under the employee plan and no outstanding stock options under the employee plan were issued with stock appreciation rights.


The following is a summary of the stock option activity under the employee plan described above for the six months ended June 30, 2019:


 
Outstanding
Non-
Qualified or
Nonincentive
Stock
Awards
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
   
464,702
   
$
69.85
 
Granted
   
114,429
   
$
74.57
 
Exercised
   
(26,890
)
 
$
64.15
 
Canceled or expired
   
(16,498
)
 
$
72.56
 
Outstanding at June 30, 2019
   
535,743
   
$
71.06
 


The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options under the employee plan at June 30, 2019:

 
 
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise
Prices
 
Number
Outstanding
 
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life in Years
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Number
Exercisable
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
$51.23
 
 
83,329
 
 
 
3.6
 
 
$
51.23
 
 
 
 
83,329
 
 
$
51.23
 
  
$64.65 - $68.50
   
100,757
     
5.0
   
$
67.34
       
45,052
   
$
68.47
   
$70.65 - $75.50
 
 
307,671
 
 
 
4.9
 
 
$
74.32
 
 
 
 
126,553
 
 
$
73.96
 
  
$84.90 - $101.46
 
 
43,986
 
 
 
2.4
 
 
$
94.38
 
 
 
 
37,281
 
 
$
96.08
 
  
$51.23 - $101.46
 
 
535,743
 
 
 
4.5
 
 
$
71.06
 
$4,929,000
 
 
292,215
 
 
$
69.45
 
$3,426,000


The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity under the employee plan described above for the six months ended June 30, 2019:


 
Unvested
Restricted
Stock
Award
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair
Value
Per Share
 
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018
   
214,216
   
$
64.73
 
Vested
   
(62,406
)
 
$
68.30
 
Forfeited
   
(12,205
)
 
$
63.36
 
Nonvested balance at June 30, 2019
   
139,605
   
$
63.26
 

11


The following is a summary of RSU activity under the employee plan described above for the six months ended June 30, 2019:


 
Unvested RSUs
   
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Unit
 
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018
   
141,055
   
$
75.59
 
Granted
   
146,005
   
$
74.44
 
Vested
   
(25,484
)
 
$
75.60
 
Forfeited
   
(4,754
)
 
$
75.31
 
Nonvested balance at June 30, 2019
   
256,822
   
$
74.94
 


The Company has a stock award plan for nonemployee directors of the Company which provides for the issuance of stock options and restricted stock. The director plan provides for automatic grants of restricted stock to nonemployee directors after each annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, the director plan allows for the issuance of stock options or restricted stock in lieu of cash for all or part of the annual director fee at the option of the director. The exercise prices for all options granted under the plan are equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The terms of the options are ten years. The restricted stock issued after each annual meeting of stockholders vests six months after the date of grant. Options granted and restricted stock issued in lieu of cash director fees vest in equal quarterly increments during the year to which they relate. At June 30, 2019, 462,342 shares were available for future grants under the director plan. The director stock award plan is intended as an incentive to attract and retain qualified independent directors.


The following is a summary of the stock option activity under the director plan described above for the six months ended June 30, 2019:


 
Outstanding
Non-Qualified
or Nonincentive
Stock Options
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
   
131,104
   
$
70.14
 
Granted
   
2,652
   
$
84.90
 
Exercised
   
(6,000
)
 
$
29.60
 
Outstanding at June 30, 2019
   
127,756
   
$
72.35
 


The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options under the director plan at June 30, 2019:

 
 
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise
Prices
 
Number
Outstanding
 
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life in Years
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Number
Exercisable
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
$41.24 – $56.45
 
 
31,276
 
 
 
1.4
 
 
$
50.61
 
 
 
 
31,276
 
 
$
50.61
 
  
$61.89 – $62.48
 
 
28,000
 
 
 
3.1
 
 
$
62.27
 
 
 
 
28,000
 
 
$
62.27
 
  
$70.65 – $99.52
 
 
68,480
 
 
 
4.9
 
 
$
86.39
 
 
 
 
66,491
 
 
$
86.44
 
  
$41.24 – $99.52
 
 
127,756
 
 
 
3.6
 
 
$
72.35
 
$1,498,000
 
 
125,767
 
 
$
72.15
 
$ 1,498,000

12


The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity under the director plan described above for the six months ended June 30, 2019:


 
Unvested
Restricted
Stock Award
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
 
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018
   
264
   
$
85.30
 
Granted
   
21,064
   
$
84.90
 
Vested
   
(794
)
 
$
85.03
 
Nonvested balance at June 30, 2019
   
20,534
   
$
84.90
 


The total intrinsic value of all stock options exercised under all of the Company’s plans was $592,000 and $6,623,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from stock option exercises was $143,000 and $1,974,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


The total intrinsic value of all the restricted stock vestings under all of the Company’s plans was $4,269,000 and $11,406,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from restricted stock vestings was $1,031,000 and $3,399,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


The total intrinsic value of all the RSU vestings under the Company’s employee plan was $1,727,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019. The actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from RSU vestings was $417,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.  There were no RSU vestings for the six  months ended June 30, 2018.


 As of June 30, 2019, there was $3,307,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options, $7,312,000 related to nonvested restricted stock awards and $12,060,000 related to nonvested RSUs. The stock options are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.8 years, restricted stock awards over approximately 1.7 years and RSUs over approximately 4.0 years. The total fair value of options vested was $1,883,000 and $3,143,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The fair value of the restricted stock vested was $4,269,000 and $11,406,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The fair value of the RSUs vested was $1,727,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.


The weighted average per share fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $22.77 and $23.53, respectively. The fair value of the stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $2,665,000 and $2,787,000, respectively. The Company currently uses treasury stock shares for restricted stock grants, RSU vestings, and stock option exercises. The fair value of each stock option was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The key input variables used in valuing the options during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:


 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
Dividend yield
 
None
   
None
 
Average risk-free interest rate
   
2.5
%
   
2.7
%
Stock price volatility
   
28
%
   
27
%
Estimated option term
 
5.3 years
   
5.5 years
 


13

(9)  OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME



The Company’s changes in other comprehensive income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):


 
Three months ended June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
   
Gross
Amount
   
Income Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
   
Net
Amount
   
Gross
Amount
   
Income Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
   
Net
Amount
 
Pension and postretirement benefits (a):
                                   
Amortization of net actuarial loss
 
$
(87
)
 
$
21
   
$
(66
)
 
$
591
   
$
(143
)
 
$
448
 
Actuarial gains (losses)
   
8,167
     
(2,044
)
   
6,123
     
(609
)
   
148
     
(461
)
Foreign currency translation
   
(53
)
   
     
(53
)
   
(429
)
   
     
(429
)
Total
 
$
8,027
   
$
(2,023
)
 
$
6,004
   
$
(447
)
 
$
5
   
$
(442
)


 
Six months ended June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
   
Gross
Amount
   
Income Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
   
Net
Amount
   
Gross
Amount
   
Income Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
   
Net
Amount
 
Pension and postretirement benefits (a):
                                   
Amortization of net actuarial loss
 
$
463
   
$
(118
)
 
$
345
   
$
1,159
   
$
(281
)
 
$
878
 
Actuarial gains (losses)
   
8,167
     
(2,044
)
   
6,123
     
(609
)
   
148
     
(461
)
Reclassification to retained earnings of stranded tax effects from tax reform
   
     
     
     
     
(7,925
)
   
(7,925
)
Foreign currency translation
   
76
     
     
76
     
(9
)
   
     
(9
)
Total
 
$
8,706
   
$
(2,162
)
 
$
6,544
   
$
541
   
$
(8,058
)
 
$
(7,517
)

(a)
Actuarial gains/(losses) are amortized into other income (expense). (See Note 13 - Retirement Plans)

(10) SEGMENT DATA


The Company’s operations are aggregated into two reportable business segments as follows:


Marine Transportation — Provides marine transportation principally by United States flag vessels of liquid cargoes throughout the United States inland waterway system, along all three United States coasts, in Alaska and Hawaii and, to a lesser extent, in United States coastal transportation of dry-bulk cargoes. The principal products transported include petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals.


Distribution and Services — Provides after-market services and parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears and related equipment used in oilfield service, marine, power generation, mining, on-highway, and other industrial applications. The Company also rents equipment including generators, fork lifts, pumps and compressors for use in a variety of industrial markets, and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping units, for the oilfield service and oil and gas operator and producer markets.


The Company’s two reportable business segments are managed separately based on fundamental differences in their operations. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on the contributions to operating income of the respective segments, and before income taxes, interest, gains or losses on disposition of assets, other nonoperating income, noncontrolling interests, accounting changes, and nonrecurring items. Intersegment revenues, based on market-based pricing, of the distribution and services segment from the marine transportation segment of $7,446,000 and $14,981,000 for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, and $7,770,000 and $15,920,000 for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, have been eliminated from the tables below.  The related intersegment profit of $744,000 and $1,498,000 for the three months and six months ending June 30, 2019, respectively, and $777,000 and $1,592,000 for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, have also been eliminated from the tables below.



14


The following tables set forth the Company’s revenues and profit or loss by reportable segment for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 and total assets as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):


 
Three months ended June 30,
   
Six months ended June 30
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Revenues:
                       
Marine transportation
 
$
404,286
   
$
378,163
   
$
772,407
   
$
718,566
 
Distribution and services
   
366,756
     
424,508
     
743,256
     
825,793
 
   
$
771,042
   
$
802,671
   
$
1,515,663
   
$
1,544,359
 
Segment profit (loss):
                               
Marine transportation
 
$
53,243
   
$
38,228
   
$
88,667
   
$
54,408
 
Distribution and services
   
23,128
     
40,190
     
60,737
     
77,155
 
Other
   
(13,662
)
   
(33,564
)
   
(28,358
)
   
(44,178
)
   
$
62,709
   
$
44,854
   
$
121,046
   
$
87,385
 


 
June 30,
2019
   
December 31,
2018
 
Total assets:
           
Marine transportation          
 
$
4,550,455
   
$
4,145,294
 
Distribution and services          
   
1,571,861
     
1,653,636
 
Other          
   
110,574
     
72,664
 
   
$
6,232,890
   
$
5,871,594
 


The following table presents the details of “Other” segment loss for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):


 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
General corporate expenses
 
$
(3,646
)
 
$
(23,007
)
 
$
(6,730
)
 
$
(27,330
)
Gain on disposition of assets
   
3,118
     
442
     
5,275
     
2,340
 
Interest expense
   
(15,515
)
   
(12,540
)
   
(28,716
)
   
(22,320
)
Other income
   
2,381
     
1,541
     
1,813
     
3,132
 
   
$
(13,662
)
 
$
(33,564
)
 
$
(28,358
)
 
$
(44,178
)


The following table presents the details of “Other” total assets as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):


 
June 30,
2019
   
December 31,
2018
 
General corporate assets
 
$
108,786
   
$
70,169
 
Investment in affiliates
   
1,788
     
2,495
 
   
$
110,574
   
$
72,664
 


15

(11) TAXES ON INCOME


Earnings before taxes on income and details of the provision for taxes on income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):


 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income:
                       
United States
 
$
62,903
   
$
45,982
   
$
121,655
   
$
89,526
 
Foreign
   
(194
)
   
(1,128
)
   
(609
)
   
(2,141
)
   
$
62,709
   
$
44,854
   
$
121,046
   
$
87,385
 
Provision for taxes on income:
                               
Federal:
                               
Current
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
Deferred
   
13,517
     
14,384
     
26,007
     
22,893
 
State and local:
                               
Current
   
1,686
     
1,599
     
3,145
     
2,406
 
Deferred
   
     
151
     
     
488
 
Foreign - current
   
66
     
(73
)
   
(3
)
   
139
 
   
$
15,269
   
$
16,061
   
$
29,149
   
$
25,926
 

(12) EARNINGS PER SHARE


The following table presents the components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands, except per share amounts):


 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Net earnings attributable to Kirby
 
$
47,287
   
$
28,602
   
$
91,583
   
$
61,073
 
Undistributed earnings allocated to restricted shares
   
(122
)
   
(116
)
   
(241
)
   
(269
)
Income available to Kirby common stockholders – basic
   
47,165
     
28,486
     
91,342
     
60,804
 
Undistributed earnings allocated to restricted shares
   
122
     
116
     
241
     
269
 
Undistributed earnings reallocated to restricted shares
   
(122
)
   
(115
)
   
(240
)
   
(269
)
Income available to Kirby common stockholders – diluted
 
$
47,165
   
$
28,487
   
$
91,343
   
$
60,804
 
                                 
Shares outstanding:
                               
Weighted average common stock issued and outstanding
   
59,894
     
59,790
     
59,882
     
59,735
 
Weighted average unvested restricted stock
   
(154
)
   
(242
)
   
(157
)
   
(263
)
Weighted average common stock outstanding – basic
   
59,740
     
59,548
     
59,725
     
59,472
 
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units
   
167
     
172
     
140
     
137
 
Weighted average common stock outstanding – diluted
   
59,907
     
59,720
     
59,865
     
59,609
 
                                 
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
                               
Basic
 
$
0.79
   
$
0.48
   
$
1.53
   
$
1.02
 
Diluted
 
$
0.79
   
$
0.48
   
$
1.53
   
$
1.02
 


Certain outstanding options to purchase approximately 297,000 and 189,000 shares of common stock were excluded in the computation of diluted earnings per share as of June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as such stock options would have been antidilutive.  Certain outstanding RSUs to convert to 4,000 shares of common stock were also excluded in the computation of diluted earnings per share as of June 30, 2019 as such RSUs would have been antidilutive.


16

(13) RETIREMENT PLANS


The Company sponsors a defined benefit plan for its inland vessel personnel and shore based tankermen. The plan benefits are based on an employee’s years of service and compensation. The plan assets consist primarily of equity and fixed income securities.


On April 12, 2017, the Company amended its pension plan to cease all benefit accruals for periods after May 31, 2017 for certain participants. Participants grandfathered and not impacted were those, as of the close of business on May 31, 2017, who either (a) had completed 15 years of pension service or (b) had attained age 50 and completed 10 years of pension service. Participants non-grandfathered are eligible to receive discretionary 401(k) plan contributions. The Company did not incur any one-time charges related to this amendment but the pension plan’s projected benefit obligation decreased by $33,433,000.


The Company’s pension plan funding strategy is to make annual contributions in amounts equal to or greater than amounts necessary to meet minimum government funding requirements. The plan’s benefit obligations are based on a variety of demographic and economic assumptions, and the pension plan assets’ returns are subject to various risks, including market and interest rate risk, making an accurate prediction of the pension plan contribution difficult. Based on current pension plan assets and market conditions, the Company does not expect to make a contribution to the Company's pension plan during 2019.


On February 14, 2018, with the acquisition of Higman Marine, Inc. and its affiliated companies (“Higman”), the Company assumed Higman’s pension plan for its inland vessel personnel and office staff. On March 27, 2018, the Company amended the Higman pension plan to close it to all new entrants and cease all benefit accruals for periods after May 15, 2018 for all participants. The Company did not incur any one-time charges related to this amendment but the Higman pension plan’s projected benefit obligation decreased by $3,081,000. The Company made contributions of $1,615,000 to the Higman pension plan in the first quarter of 2019 for the 2018 plan year and a contribution of $483,000 in the second quarter of 2019 for the 2019 plan year. The Company expects to make additional contributions of $966,000 to the Higman pension plan during 2019 for the 2019 plan year.


The Company sponsors an unfunded defined benefit health care plan that provides limited postretirement medical benefits to employees who meet minimum age and service requirements, and to eligible dependents. The plan limits cost increases in the Company’s contribution to 4% per year. The plan is contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually. The plan eliminated coverage for future retirees as of December 31, 2011. The Company also has an unfunded defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) that was assumed in an acquisition in 1999. That plan ceased to accrue additional benefits effective January 1, 2000.


The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit plans for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):


 
Pension Benefits
 
   
Pension Plan
   
SERP
 
   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Three months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
                       
Service cost
 
$
1,914
   
$
1,867
   
$
   
$
 
Interest cost
   
4,040
     
3,974
     
13
     
12
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(5,254
)
   
(5,693
)
   
     
 
Amortization of actuarial loss
   
41
     
740
     
7
     
6
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
741
   
$
888
   
$
20
   
$
18
 

17



 
Pension Benefits
 
   
Pension Plan
   
SERP
 
   
Six months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
                       
Service cost
 
$
3,682
   
$
4,094
   
$
   
$
 
Interest cost
   
8,247
     
7,605
     
26
     
24
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(10,478
)
   
(11,016
)
   
     
 
Amortization of actuarial loss
   
719
     
1,445
     
14
     
12
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
2,170
   
$
2,128
   
$
40
   
$
36
 


The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s postretirement benefit plan for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):


 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
   
Postretirement Welfare Plan
 
   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
                       
Service cost
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
Interest cost
   
8
     
6
     
16
     
12
 
Amortization of actuarial gain
   
(135
)
   
(149
)
   
(270
)
   
(298
)
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
(127
)
 
$
(143
)
 
$
(254
)
 
$
(286
)

(14) CONTINGENCIES



On May 10, 2019, two tank barges and a towboat (the M/V Voyager), owned and operated by Kirby Inland Marine, LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, were struck by the LPG tanker, the Genesis River, in the Houston Ship Channel. The bow of the Genesis River penetrated the Kirby 30015T and capsized the MMI 3014. The collision caused the cargo, reformate, to be discharged into the water. The United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) and the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) designated the owner and pilot of the Genesis River as well as the subsidiary of the Company as parties of interest in their investigation as to the cause of the incident. The Company is participating in the investigation.  On June 19, 2019, the Company filed a limitation action in Federal Court seeking limitation of liability and asserting the Genesis River and her owner/manager are at fault for damages including removal costs and claims under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and maritime law.  The Company has various insurance policies covering liabilities including pollution, property, marine and general liability and believes that it has satisfactory insurance coverage for the cost of cleanup and salvage operations as well as other potential liabilities arising from the incident. The Company believes it has accrued adequate reserves for the incident and does not expect the incident to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition.



On October 13, 2016, the tug Nathan E. Stewart and barge DBL 55, an articulated tank barge and tugboat unit (“ATB”) owned and operated by Kirby Offshore Marine, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, ran aground at the entrance to Seaforth Channel on Atholone Island, British Columbia. The grounding resulted in a breach of a portion of the Nathan E. Stewart’s fuel tanks causing a discharge of diesel fuel into the water. The USCG and the NTSB designated the Company as a party of interest in their investigation as to the cause of the incident. The Canadian authorities including Transport Canada and the Canadian Transportation Safety Board investigated the cause of the incident. On October 10, 2018, the Heiltsuk First Nation filed a civil action against a subsidiary of the Company, the master and pilot of the tug, the vessels and the Canadian government seeking unquantified damages as a result of the incident. On the same date, the Canadian government filed charges against the subsidiary and the vessels for violations of the Canadian Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Pilotage Act and the Shipping Act of 2001.  On July 16, 2019, the Company and the Canadian government settled the charges against the subsidiary of the Company. The subsidiary of the Company agreed to pay the Canadian government a fine of approximately $2,900,000 Canadian dollars ($2,200,000 U.S. dollars) for violations of the Canadian Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Pilotage Act and the Shipping Act of 2001.  The Company filed a limitation action in Federal Court seeking limitation of liability relating to the incident as provided under admiralty law. The Company responded to the Heiltsuk First Nation’s civil claim asserting that the Federal Court action is the appropriate forum for claims to be heard. The Company is unable to estimate the potential exposure in either proceeding. The Company has various insurance policies covering liabilities including pollution, property, marine and general liability and believes that it has satisfactory insurance coverage for the cost of cleanup and salvage operations as well as other potential liabilities arising from the incident. The Company believes it has accrued adequate reserves for the incident and does not expect the incident to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition.

18


On March 22, 2014, two tank barges and a towboat (the M/V Miss Susan), owned by Kirby Inland Marine, LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, were involved in a collision with the M/S Summer Wind on the Houston Ship Channel near Texas City, Texas. The lead tank barge was damaged in the collision resulting in a discharge of intermediate fuel oil from one of its cargo tanks. The Company is participating in the natural resource damage assessment and restoration process with federal and state government natural resource trustees. The Company believes it has adequate insurance coverage for pollution, marine and other potential liabilities arising from the incident. The Company believes it has accrued adequate reserves for the incident and does not expect the incident to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition.


In addition, the Company is involved in various legal and other proceedings which are incidental to the conduct of its business, none of which in the opinion of management will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Management believes that it has recorded adequate reserves and believes that it has adequate insurance coverage or has meritorious defenses for these other claims and contingencies.


The Company has issued guaranties or obtained standby letters of credit and performance bonds supporting performance by the Company and its subsidiaries of contractual or contingent legal obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business. The aggregate notional value of these instruments is $18,795,000 at June 30, 2019, including $7,061,000 in letters of credit and $11,734,000 in performance bonds. All of these instruments have an expiration date within two years. The Company does not believe demand for payment under these instruments is likely and expects no material cash outlays to occur regarding these instruments.

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

Statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts, including, but not limited to, any projections contained herein, are forward-looking statements and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” or “continue,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. The actual results of the future events described in such forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q could differ materially from those stated in such forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: adverse economic conditions, industry competition and other competitive factors, adverse weather conditions such as high water, low water, tropical storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, fog and ice, tornados, marine accidents, lock delays, fuel costs, interest rates, construction of new equipment by competitors, government and environmental laws and regulations, and the timing, magnitude and number of acquisitions made by the Company. For a more detailed discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ from those presented in forward-looking statements, see Item 1A-Risk Factors found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such statements.

For purposes of the Management’s Discussion, all net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders are “diluted earnings per share.” The weighted average number of common shares applicable to diluted earnings per share for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

 
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Weighted average number of common stock - diluted
   
59,907
     
59,720
     
59,865
     
59,609
 

The increase in the weighted average number of common shares for the 2019 second quarter and first six months compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months primarily reflects the issuance of restricted stock, RSUs, and stock options.

19

Overview

The Company is the nation’s largest domestic tank barge operator, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along all three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. The Company transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. As of June 30, 2019, the Company operated a fleet of 1,067 inland tank barges with 23.7 million barrels of capacity, and operated an average of 309 inland towboats. The Company’s coastal fleet consisted of 49 tank barges with 4.7 million barrels of capacity and 47 coastal tugboats. The Company also owns and operates four offshore dry-bulk cargo barges, four offshore tugboats and one docking tugboat transporting dry-bulk commodities in United States coastal trade. Through its distribution and services segment, the Company provides after-market service and parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears, and related equipment used in oilfield services, marine, mining, power generation, on-highway, and other industrial applications. The Company also rents equipment including generators, fork lifts, pumps and compressors for use in a variety of industrial markets, and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping units, for the oilfield service and oil and gas operator and producer markets.

For the 2019 second quarter, net earnings attributable to Kirby were $47,287,000, or $0.79 per share, on revenues of $771,042,000, compared with 2018 second quarter net earnings attributable to Kirby of $28,602,000, or $0.48 per share, on revenues of $802,671,000. For the 2019 first six months, net earnings attributable to Kirby were $91,583,000, or $1.53 per share, on revenues of $1,515,663,000, compared with 2018 first six months net earnings attributable to Kirby of $61,073,000, or $1.02 per share, on revenues of $1,544,359,000.  The 2018 second quarter and first six months results included a one-time non-deductible expense of $18,057,000, or $0.30 per share, related to the retirement of Joseph H. Pyne as executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective April 30, 2018. The 2018 first quarter results reflected the acquisition of Higman on February 14, 2018 and included $3,261,000 before taxes, or $0.04 per share, of one-time transaction costs associated with the acquisition, as well as $2,912,000 before taxes, or $0.04 per share, of severance and retirement expenses, primarily related to cost reduction initiatives in the coastal marine transportation market and the integration of Higman.

Marine Transportation

For the 2019 second quarter and first six months, the Company’s marine transportation segment generated 52% and 51%, respectively, of the Company’s revenue. The segment’s customers include many of the major petrochemical and refining companies that operate in the United States. Products transported include intermediate materials used to produce many of the end products used widely by businesses and consumers — plastics, fiber, paints, detergents, oil additives and paper, among others, as well as residual fuel oil, ship bunkers, asphalt, gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, crude oil, natural gas condensate and agricultural chemicals. Consequently, the Company’s marine transportation business is directly affected by the volumes produced by the Company’s petroleum, petrochemical and refining customer base.

The Company’s marine transportation segment’s revenues for both the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 7%, and operating income increased 39% and 63%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months revenues and operating income. The increases were primarily due to the addition of the Higman fleet acquired on February 14, 2018, the acquisition of the Targa Resources Corp (“Targa”) pressure barge fleet on May 10, 2018, the CGBM 100, LLC (“CGBM”) inland tank barges acquired on December 14, 2018, and the Cenac marine transportation fleet acquired on March 14, 2019, as well as improved barge utilization and spot and term contract pricing in the inland and coastal markets. Partially offsetting these increases during 2019 were unusually poor operating conditions due to heavy fog along the Gulf Coast, prolonged periods of ice on the Illinois River, high water on the Mississippi River System, closures of key waterways as a result of lock maintenance projects, extended delays in the Houston Ship Channel, and increased shipyard days on several large capacity coastal vessels during the 2019 first quarter. The 2018 first six months were impacted by the Higman transaction costs, and severance and retirement costs which were each incurred in the 2018 first quarter as discussed above. For the 2019 and 2018 second quarters, the inland tank barge fleet contributed 77% and 76%, respectively, and the coastal fleet contributed 23% and 24%, respectively, of marine transportation revenues.  For the 2019 and 2018 first six months, the inland tank barge fleet contributed 77% and 75%, respectively, and the coastal fleet contributed 23% and 25%, respectively, of marine transportation revenues.

Tank barge utilization levels in the Company’s inland marine transportation markets averaged in the mid-90% range during the 2019 first and second quarters compared with the high 80% to low 90% range during the 2018 second quarter. Strong demand from petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals customers, along with extensive delay days due to poor operating conditions which slowed the transport of customer cargoes, contributed to increased utilization during the 2019 second quarter compared to the 2018 second quarter.

20

Coastal tank barge utilization levels averaged in the mid-80% range during the 2019 second quarter compared with the low-80% range during the 2019 first quarter and the 80% range in the 2018 second quarter. The improvement in utilization in 2019 primarily reflected improved customer demand resulting in higher utilization of spot market capacity. Utilization in the coastal marine fleet continued to be impacted by the oversupply of tank barges in the coastal industry.

During both the 2019 second quarter and first six months and the 2018 second quarter and first six months, approximately 65% of inland revenues were under term contracts and 35% were spot contract revenues.  Inland time charters during the 2019 second quarter and first six months represented 63% and 62%, respectively, of the inland revenues under term contracts compared with 62% and 60%, respectively, in the 2018 second quarter and first six months. Rates on inland term contracts renewed in the 2019 first quarter increased in the 4% to 6% average range compared with term contracts renewed in the first quarter of 2018.  Rates on inland term contracts renewed in the 2019 second quarter increased in the 5% to 8% average range compared with term contracts renewed in the 2018 second quarter. Spot contract rates in the 2019 second quarter increased approximately 15% compared to the 2018 second quarter and increased in the 2% to 5% average range compared to the 2019 first quarter. Effective January 1, 2019, annual escalators for labor and the producer price index on a number of inland multi-year contracts resulted in rate increases on those contracts of approximately 1.7%, excluding fuel.

During the 2019 and 2018 second quarters and first six months, approximately 80% of the coastal revenues were under term contracts and 20% were spot contract revenues. Coastal time charters represented approximately 85% of coastal revenues under term contracts during the 2019 and 2018 second quarters and first six months. Spot and term contract pricing in the coastal market are contingent on various factors including geographic location, vessel capacity, vessel type and product serviced. Spot market rates in the 2019 second quarter improved in the 10% to 15% average range compared to the 2018 second quarter. Term contract pricing in both the 2019 first and second quarters was higher in the 4% to 6% average range compared to the 2018 first and second quarters.

The marine transportation segment operating margin was 13.2% for the 2019 second quarter compared with 10.1% for the 2018 second quarter and 11.5% for the 2019 first six months compared to 7.6% for the 2018 first six months.

Distribution and Services

For the 2019 second quarter and first six months, the distribution and services segment generated 48% and 49%, respectively, of the Company’s revenue, of which 70% and 69%, respectively, was generated from service and parts and 30% and 31%, respectively, from manufacturing. The results of the distribution and services segment are largely influenced by the economic cycles of the oilfield service and oil and gas operator and producer markets, marine, mining, power generation, on-highway and other industrial markets.

Distribution and services revenues for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 14% and 10%, respectively, when compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. Operating income for the distribution and services segment for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 42% and 21%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. The decreases were primarily attributable to reduced activity in the oilfield which resulted in lower customer demand for new and remanufactured pressure pumping equipment and reduced demand for new and overhauled transmissions and related parts and service, partially offset by improved demand in the commercial and industrial market for the power generation sector. For the 2019 second quarter and first six months, the oil and gas market contributed 54% and 57%, respectively of the distribution and services revenues. The commercial and industrial market, which contributed 46% and 43% of the distribution and services revenues for the 2019 second quarter and first six months, respectively, saw increased demand from commercial customers for back-up power systems in the 2019 second quarter and first six months.  Demand for marine diesel engines, parts and service was stable compared to the 2018 second quarter and first six months.

21

The distribution and services segment operating margin for the 2019 second quarter was 6.3% compared with 9.5% for the 2018 second quarter.  For the 2019 first six months, the operating margin was 8.2% compared to 9.3% for the first six months of 2018.

Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures

The Company continued to generate favorable operating cash flow during the 2019 first six months with net cash provided by operating activities of $188,197,000 compared with $153,755,000 for the 2018 first six months, a 22% increase. The improvement was driven by increased revenues and operating income in the marine transportation segment driven by the Higman acquisition in February 2018, the Targa acquisition in May 2018, the CGBM acquisition in December 2018, and the Cenac acquisition in March 2019, as well as improved inland and coastal barge utilization and pricing. The improvement was also due to a net increase in cash flows from the change in operating assets and liabilities of $10,364,000 due to decrease in inventories in the distribution and services segment in the 2019 first six months compared to an increase in the 2018 first six months. The inventory decrease in the 2019 first six months was primarily due to reduced business activity levels in the oil and gas market as compared to higher inventory levels in the 2018 first six months required to support higher business activity levels. In addition, during the 2019 and 2018 first six months, the Company generated cash of $23,364,000 and $25,208,000, respectively, from proceeds from the disposition of assets, and $1,903,000 and $12,987,000, respectively, from proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

For the 2019 first six months, cash generated and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility were used for capital expenditures of $127,268,000, including $16,380,000 for inland towboat construction, $11,370,000 for progress payments on three 5000 horsepower coastal ATB tugboats, $2,211,000 for final costs on a 155,000 barrel coastal ATB under construction purchased from another operator that was delivered to the Company in the 2018 fourth quarter, and $97,307,000 primarily for upgrading existing marine equipment and marine transportation and distribution and services facilities. The Company also used $252,840,000 for acquisitions of businesses and marine equipment.

The Company’s debt-to-capitalization ratio increased to 32.4% at June 30, 2019 from 30.5% at December 31, 2018, primarily due to borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan to purchase the Cenac fleet in the 2019 first quarter, offset by the increase in total equity from net earnings attributable to Kirby for the 2019 first six months of $91,583,000 and the exercise of stock options and the amortization of unearned equity compensation. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had $103,577,000 outstanding under its Revolving Credit Facility, $500,000,000 outstanding under the Term Loan, $500,000,000 of unsecured senior notes (“Senior Notes Series A” and “Senior Notes Series B”) outstanding and $500,000,000 of 4.2% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) outstanding, offset by $8,882,000 in unamortized debt discount and issuance costs.

During the 2019 first six months, the Company acquired 63 inland tank barges from Cenac with a total capacity of approximately 1,833,000 barrels, retired five inland tank barges, brought back into service four inland tank barges, and chartered two inland tank barges, increasing its capacity by approximately 78,000 barrels. The net result was an increase of 64 inland tank barges and approximately 1,911,000 barrels of capacity during the first six months of 2019.

The Company projects that capital expenditures for 2019 will be in the $225,000,000 to $245,000,000 range. The 2019 construction program will consist of progress payments on the construction of 13 inland towboats, eight of which will be placed in service in 2019 and the remaining five in 2020 and 2021, and progress payments on the construction of three 5000 horsepower coastal ATB tugboats to be placed in service in 2019. Based on current commitments, steel prices and projected delivery schedules, the Company’s 2019 progress payments on the new inland towboats will be approximately $20,000,000 to $25,000,000 and 2019 progress payments on the construction of the three 5000 horsepower coastal ATB tugboats will be approximately $20,000,000. Approximately $155,000,000 to $165,000,000 is primarily capital upgrades and improvements to existing marine equipment and facilities. The balance of $30,000,000 to $35,000,000 will be for rental fleet growth, new machinery and equipment, and facilities improvements and information technology projects in the distribution and services segment.


22

Outlook

In the inland marine transportation market, the Company anticipates favorable market dynamics with continued growth in customer demand during 2019, driven by continued growth in U.S. GDP, new petrochemical plants which are expected to come on-line during the year, and new pipelines from the Permian Basin that will bring additional crude oil volumes to the Gulf Coast. These factors, combined with only modest inland barge additions, are expected to result in inland barge utilization rates in the mid-90% range during the year. Together with a full year of contribution from 2018 acquisitions, including Higman, Targa’s pressure barge business and CGBM’s tank barges, as well as the acquisition in March 2019 of Cenac’s marine transportation fleet, inland revenues and operating income are expected to increase during 2019. In the 2019 third quarter, better weather should yield improved operating efficiencies on contracts of affreightment.  However, the recent hurricane and continued high water conditions on the Mississippi River will impact the 2019 third quarter. Overall, inland revenue and operating income in the 2019 third quarter are expected to increase slightly compared to the 2019 second quarter.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimated there were approximately 3,850 inland tank barges in the industry fleet, of which approximately 350 were over 30 years old and approximately 240 of those over 40 years old. The Company estimates that approximately 200 tank barges have been ordered for delivery throughout 2019 and many older tank barges, including an expected 13 by the Company, will be retired, dependent on 2019 market conditions. Historically, 75 to 150 older inland tank barges are retired from service each year industry-wide, with the extent of the retirements dependent on petrochemical and refinery production levels, and crude oil and natural gas condensate movements, both of which can have a direct effect on industry-wide tank barge utilization, as well as term and spot contract rates.

In the coastal marine transportation market, the Company expects revenues and operating income to improve compared to 2018, with coastal tank barge utilization increasing modestly into the low to mid-80% range for 2019. Improving market conditions are expected to be driven by stable to slightly improving customer demand and expected additional industry retirements of aging barges due to ballast water management treatment systems regulations. For the 2019 third quarter, coastal revenues and operating income are expected to be similar to the 2019 second quarter.  In the 2019 fourth quarter, however, seasonal activity declines in the Pacific and shipyard maintenance on several large capacity vessels will have an adverse impact on revenue and operating income.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimated there were approximately 290 tank barges operating in the 195,000 barrel or less coastal industry fleet, the sector of the market in which the Company operates, and approximately 15 of those were over 30 years old. The Company is aware of three announced coastal tank barge and tugboat units in the 195,000 barrel or less category under construction by competitors for delivery in 2019, two of which were delivered in the first six months of the year.

The results of the distribution and services segment are largely influenced by the economic cycles of the land-based oilfield service and oil and gas operator and producer markets, marine, mining, power generation, on-highway and other industrial markets.

Recent oilfield activity declines and crude oil price volatility have created some uncertainty for the Company’s oil and gas market which will likely extend for the duration of 2019. Firm commitments and the pace of orders for new pressure pumping equipment have slowed considerably thus far in 2019. Additionally, maintenance on existing pressure pumping units, transmission overhauls, and parts sales have also declined to minimal levels.  Based on current activity levels, deliveries of new pressure pumping equipment are expected to materially decline for the remainder of 2019, and maintenance activities are expected to remain very low. Transmission overhauls and parts sales are also expected to remain at the reduced levels.  As a result, revenues and operating income for the Company’s oil and gas businesses are expected to decline in the 2019 second half compared to the 2019 first half.

For the distribution and services commercial and industrial market, the Company anticipates revenues and operating income to be higher in 2019 than 2018 with higher anticipated demand for standby power generation and specialty equipment rentals. Activity in the nuclear standby power generation market and the commercial marine markets is expected to be stable in 2019.  In the 2019 third quarter, revenues and operating income are expected to decline compared to the 2019 second quarter with fewer installations of major back-up power systems and reduced vessel repair service levels in marine. These should be partially offset by improved utilization in the rental power generation fleet during the summer storm season along the Gulf Coast.

23

Acquisitions

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company purchased seven inland tank barges from a leasing company for $8,340,000 in cash. The Company had been leasing the barges prior to the purchases. Financing of the equipment acquisition was through borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

On March 14, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of the marine transportation fleet of Cenac for $244,500,000 in cash. Cenac’s fleet consisted of 63 inland 30,000 barrel tank barges with approximately 1,833,000 barrels of capacity, 34 inland towboats and two offshore tugboats. Cenac transported petrochemicals, refined products and black oil, including crude oil, residual fuels, feedstocks and lubricants on the lower Mississippi River, its tributaries, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for major oil companies and refiners. The average age of the inland tank barges was approximately five years and the inland towboats had an average age of approximately seven years. Financing of the acquisition was through borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

Results of Operations

The Company reported 2019 second quarter net earnings attributable to Kirby of $47,287,000, or $0.79 per share, on revenues of $771,042,000, compared with 2018 second quarter net earnings attributable to Kirby of $28,602,000, or $0.48 per share, on revenues of $802,671,000.  Net earnings attributable to Kirby for the 2019 first six months were $91,583,000, or $1.53 per share, on revenues of $1,515,663,000, compared with $61,073,000, or $1.02 per share, on revenues of $1,544,359,000 for the 2018 first six months.  The 2018 second quarter and first six months results included a one-time non-deductible expense of $18,057,000, or $0.30 per share, related to the retirement of Joseph H. Pyne as executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective April 30, 2018. The 2018 first quarter results reflected the acquisition of Higman on February 14, 2018 and included $3,261,000 before taxes, or $0.04 per share, of one-time transaction costs associated with the acquisition, as well as $2,912,000 before taxes, or $0.04 per share, of severance and retirement expenses, primarily related to cost reduction initiatives in the coastal marine transportation market and the integration of Higman.

The following table sets forth the Company’s marine transportation and distribution and services revenues for the 2019 second quarter compared with the second quarter of 2018, the first six months of 2019 compared with the first six months of 2018 and the percentage of each to total revenues for the comparable periods (dollars in thousands):

   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
%
   
2018
   
%
   
2019
   
%
   
2018
   
%
 
Marine transportation
 
$
404,286
     
52
%
 
$
378,163
     
47
%
 
$
772,407
     
51
%
 
$
718,566
     
47
%
Distribution and services
   
366,756
     
48
     
424,508
     
53
     
743,256
     
49
     
825,793
     
53
 
   
$
771,042
     
100
%
 
$
802,671
     
100
%
 
$
1,515,663
     
100
%
 
$
1,544,359
     
100
%

Marine Transportation

The Company, through its marine transportation segment, is a provider of marine transportation services, operating tank barges and towing vessels transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along all three United States coasts and in Alaska and Hawaii. The Company transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. As of June 30, 2019, the Company operated 1,067 inland tank barges, including 26 leased barges, with a total capacity of 23.7 million barrels. This compares with 990 inland tank barges operated as of June 30, 2018, including 32 leased barges, with a total capacity of 21.7 million barrels. The Company operated an average of 309 inland towboats during the 2019 second quarter, of which an average of 78 were chartered, compared with 286 during the 2018 second quarter, of which an average of 74 were chartered. The Company’s coastal tank barge fleet as of June 30, 2019, consisted of 49 tank barges, two of which were leased, with 4.7 million barrels of capacity, and 47 tugboats, five of which were chartered. This compares with 55 coastal tank barges operated as of June 30, 2018, seven of which were leased, with 5.2 million barrels of capacity, and 50 tugboats, four of which were chartered. The Company owns and operates four offshore dry-bulk cargo barge and tugboat units engaged in the offshore transportation of dry-bulk cargoes. The Company also owns shifting operations and fleeting facilities for dry cargo barges and tank barges on the Houston Ship Channel and in Freeport, Texas, a shipyard for building towboats and performing routine maintenance near the Houston Ship Channel, as well as a two-thirds interest in Osprey Line, L.L.C., which transports project cargoes and cargo containers by barge.

24

The following table sets forth the Company’s marine transportation segment’s revenues, costs and expenses, operating income and operating margins for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
%
Change
   
2019
   
2018
   
%
Change
 
Marine transportation revenues
 
$
404,286
   
$
378,163
     
7
%
 
$
772,407
   
$
718,566
     
7
%
                                                 
Costs and expenses:
                                               
Costs of sales and operating expenses
   
267,537
     
257,022
     
4
     
513,727
     
495,807
     
4
 
Selling, general and administrative
   
29,255
     
29,472
     
(1
)
   
62,472
     
65,048
     
(4
)
Taxes, other than on income
   
9,159
     
8,659
     
6
     
17,125
     
15,181
     
13
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
45,092
     
44,782
     
1
     
90,416
     
88,122
     
3
 
     
351,043
     
339,935
     
3
     
683,740
     
664,158
     
3
 
Operating income
 
$
53,243
   
$
38,228
     
39
%
 
$
88,667
   
$
54,408
     
63
%
Operating margins
   
13.2
%
   
10.1
%
           
11.5
%
   
7.6
%
       

Marine Transportation Revenues

The following table shows the marine transportation markets serviced by the Company, the marine transportation revenue distribution for the 2019 second quarter and first six months, products moved and the drivers of the demand for the products the Company transports:

Markets
Serviced
 
2019 Second
Quarter
Revenue
Distribution
 
2019 Six
Months
Revenue
Distribution
 
Products Moved
 
Drivers
Petrochemicals
 
54%
 
55%
 
Benzene, Styrene, Methanol, Acrylonitrile, Xylene, Naphtha, Caustic Soda, Butadiene, Propylene
 
Consumer non-durables – 70%, Consumer durables – 30%
                 
Black Oil
 
24%
 
23%
 
Residual Fuel Oil, Coker Feedstock, Vacuum Gas Oil, Asphalt, Carbon Black Feedstock, Crude Oil, Natural Gas Condensate, Ship Bunkers
 
Fuel for Power Plants and Ships, Feedstock for Refineries, Road Construction
                 
Refined Petroleum Products
 
19%
 
19%
 
Gasoline, No. 2 Oil, Jet Fuel, Heating Oil, Diesel Fuel, Ethanol
 
Vehicle Usage, Air Travel, Weather Conditions, Refinery Utilization
                 
Agricultural Chemicals
 
3%
 
3%
 
Anhydrous Ammonia, Nitrogen – Based Liquid Fertilizer, Industrial Ammonia
 
Corn, Cotton and Wheat Production, Chemical Feedstock Usage

25

Marine transportation revenues for both the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 7% when compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. The increase was primarily due to the addition of the Higman fleet acquired on February 14, 2018, the Targa pressure barges acquired on May 10, 2018, the CGBM inland tank barges acquired on December 14, 2018, and the Cenac marine transportation fleet acquired on March 14, 2019, as well as improved barge utilization and spot and term contract pricing in the inland and coastal markets. Partially offsetting the increase were unusually poor operating conditions due to heavy fog along the Gulf Coast, prolonged periods of ice on the Illinois River, high water on the Mississippi River System, closures of key waterways as a result of lock maintenance projects, extended delays in the Houston Ship Channel, and increased shipyard days on several large capacity coastal vessels during the 2019 first quarter. For the 2019 and 2018 second quarters, the inland tank barge fleet contributed 77% and 76%, respectively, and the coastal fleet contributed 23% and 24%, respectively, of marine transportation revenues. For the 2019 and 2018 first six months, the inland tank barge fleet contributed 77% and 75%, respectively, and the coastal fleet contributed 23% and 25%, respectively, of marine transportation revenues.

Tank barge utilization levels in the Company’s inland marine transportation markets averaged in the mid-90% range during the 2019 first and second quarters compared with the high 80% to low 90% range during the 2018 second quarter. Strong demand from petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals customers, along with extensive delay days due to poor operating conditions which slowed the transport of customer cargoes, contributed to increased utilization during the 2019 second quarter compared to the 2018 second quarter.

Coastal tank barge utilization levels averaged in the mid-80% range during the 2019 second quarter compared with the low 80% range during the 2019 first quarter and the 80% range in the 2018 second quarter. The improvement in utilization in 2019 primarily reflected improved customer demand resulting in higher utilization of spot market capacity. Utilization in the coastal marine fleet continued to be impacted by the oversupply of tank barges in the coastal industry.

The petrochemical market, the Company’s largest market, contributed 54% and 55% of marine transportation revenues for the 2019 second quarter and first six months, respectively, reflecting continued stable volumes from Gulf Coast petrochemical plants for both domestic consumption and to terminals for export destinations plus the addition of the Targa pressure barges in May 2018. Low priced domestic natural gas, a basic feedstock for the United States petrochemical industry, provides the industry with a competitive advantage relative to naphtha-based foreign petrochemical producers. In addition, favorable commodity prices and the addition of new petrochemical industry capacity during 2018 and the 2019 first six months benefited the market.

The black oil market, which contributed 24% and 23% of marine transportation revenues for the 2019 second quarter and first six months, respectively, reflected continued stable demand from steady refinery production levels and the export of refined petroleum products and fuel oils. The Company continued to transport crude oil and natural gas condensate produced from the Eagle Ford and Permian Basin shale formations in Texas, both along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway with inland vessels and in the Gulf of Mexico with coastal equipment. Additionally, the Company transported increased volumes of Utica natural gas condensate downriver from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast and Canadian and Bakken crude downriver from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast.

The refined petroleum products market, which contributed 19% of marine transportation revenues for both the 2019 second quarter and first six months, respectively, reflected stable volumes in the inland market, partially offset by reduced volumes in coastal as a result of one barge retirement and the return of three leased barges which transported refined products.

The agricultural chemical market, which contributed 3% of marine transportation revenues for both the 2019 second quarter and first six months, respectively, saw typical seasonal demand for transportation of both domestically produced and imported products during the first six months.

For the second quarter of 2019, the inland operations incurred 3,331 delay days, 92% more than the 1,735 delay days that occurred during the 2018 second quarter.  For the first six months of 2019, the inland operations incurred 7,944 delay days, 86% more than the 4,263 delay days that occurred during the first six months of 2018. Delay days measure the lost time incurred by a tow (towboat and one or more tank barges) during transit when the tow is stopped due to weather, lock conditions or other navigational factors. The increase in delay days for the 2019 second quarter and first six months compared to the 2018 second quarter and first six months reflected unusually poor operating conditions during the 2019 first six months due to heavy fog along the Gulf Coast, extended periods of ice on the Illinois River, near record high water conditions on the Mississippi River System, closures of key waterways as a result of lock maintenance projects and extended delays in the Houston Ship Channel.

26

During both the 2019 second quarter and first six months and the 2018 second quarter and first six months, approximately 65% of inland revenues were under term contracts and 35% were spot contract revenues.  Inland time charters during the 2019 second quarter and first six months represented 63% and 62%, respectively, of the inland revenues under term contracts compared with 62% and 60%, respectively, in the 2018 second quarter and first six months. Rates on inland term contracts renewed in the 2019 first quarter increased in the 4% to 6% average range compared with term contracts renewed in the first quarter of 2018.  Rates on inland term contracts renewed in the 2019 second quarter increased in the 5% to 8% average range compared with term contracts renewed in the 2018 second quarter. Spot contract rates in the 2019 second quarter increased approximately 15% compared to the 2018 second quarter and increased in the 2% to 5% average range compared to the 2019 first quarter. Effective January 1, 2019, annual escalators for labor and the producer price index on a number of inland multi-year contracts resulted in rate increases on those contracts of approximately 1.7%, excluding fuel.

During the 2019 and 2018 second quarters and first six months, approximately 80% of the coastal revenues were under term contracts and 20% were spot contract revenues. Coastal time charters represented approximately 85% of coastal revenues under term contracts during the 2019 and 2018 second quarters and first six months. Spot and term contract pricing in the coastal market are contingent on various factors including geographic location, vessel capacity, vessel type and product serviced. Spot market rates in the 2019 second quarter improved in the 10% to 15% average range compared to the 2018 second quarter. Term contract pricing in both the 2019 first and second quarters was higher in the 4% to 6% average range compared to the 2018 first and second quarters.

Marine Transportation Costs and Expenses

Costs and expenses for both the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 3% when compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. Costs of sales and operating expenses for both the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 4% compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months, primarily due to the addition of the Higman fleet in February 2018 and the Cenac fleet in March 2019 and higher fuel costs.

The inland marine transportation fleet operated an average of 309 towboats during the 2019 second quarter, of which an average of 78 were chartered, compared with 286 during the 2018 second quarter, of which an average of 74 were chartered. The increase was primarily due to the addition of inland towboats with the Cenac acquisition on March 14, 2019. Generally, as demand, or anticipated demand, increases or decreases, as new tank barges are added to the fleet, or as weather or water conditions dictate, the Company charters in or releases chartered towboats in an effort to balance horsepower needs with current requirements. The Company has historically used chartered towboats for approximately one-fourth of its horsepower requirements.

During both the 2019 and 2018 second quarters, the inland operations consumed 12.6 million gallons of diesel fuel. The average price per gallon of diesel fuel consumed during the 2019 second quarter was $2.24 per gallon compared with $2.10 per gallon for the 2018 second quarter. For the 2019 first six months, the inland operations consumed 24.0 million gallons of diesel fuel compared to 23.9 million gallons consumed during the 2018 first six months. The average price per gallon of diesel fuel consumed during the 2019 first six months was $2.09 compared with $2.07 for the 2018 first six months.  Fuel escalation and de-escalation clauses on term contracts are designed to rebate fuel costs when prices decline and recover additional fuel costs when fuel prices rise; however, there is generally a 30 to 90 day delay before the contracts are adjusted. Spot contracts do not have escalators for fuel.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 1% and 4%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. The decrease was primarily due to transactions costs of $3,261,000, consisting primarily of legal, audit and other professional fees associated with the Higman acquisition and severance charges of $2,591,000 associated with the integration of Higman into the Company and further reduction in headcount in the coastal sector in order to manage costs, both of which were incurred in the 2018 first quarter. The Company also experienced higher costs in the 2019 first six months due to Cenac acquisition related costs of $392,000 and salaries as well as related costs of the acquired personnel of Higman.

Taxes, other than on income, for the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 6% and 13%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months, mainly due to higher property taxes on marine transportation equipment, including the Higman, Targa, CGBM, and Cenac fleets, and higher waterway use taxes due to higher business activity levels, mainly due to the Higman and Cenac acquisitions.

27

Marine Transportation Operating Income and Operating Margins

Marine transportation operating income for the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 39% and 63%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. The operating margin was 13.2% for the 2019 second quarter compared with 10.1% for the 2018 second quarter and 11.5% for the 2019 first six months compared with 7.6% for the 2018 first six months. The operating income increase in the 2019 second quarter, compared to the 2018 second quarter, was primarily due to the acquisitions of Higman, Targa’s pressure barge fleet, CGBM’s inland tank barges, and Cenac’s marine transportation fleet as well as improved barge utilization and spot and term contract pricing in the inland and coastal markets, partially offset by significant weather and navigational challenges in the 2019 first six months.

Distribution and Services

The Company, through its distribution and services segment, sells genuine replacement parts, provides service mechanics to overhaul and repair engines, transmissions, reduction gears and related oilfield services equipment, rebuilds component parts or entire diesel engines, transmissions and reduction gears, and related equipment used in oilfield services, marine, mining, power generation, on-highway and other industrial applications. The Company also rents equipment including generators, fork lifts, pumps and compressors for use in a variety of industrial markets, and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping units, for the oilfield service and oil and gas operator and producer markets.

The following table sets forth the Company’s distribution and services segment’s revenues, costs and expenses, operating income and operating margins for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
%
Change
   
2019
   
2018
   
%
Change
 
Distribution and services revenues
 
$
366,756
   
$
424,508
     
(14
)%
 
$
743,256
   
$
825,793
     
(10
)%
                                                 
Costs and expenses:
                                               
Costs of sales and operating expenses
   
295,958
     
331,606
     
(11
)
   
586,423
     
646,138
     
(9
)
Selling, general and administrative
   
37,195
     
40,963
     
(9
)
   
74,586
     
78,717
     
(5
)
Taxes, other than on income
   
1,411
     
1,872
     
(25
)
   
3,428
     
3,874
     
(12
)
Depreciation and amortization
   
9,064
     
9,877
     
(8
)
   
18,082
     
19,909
     
(9
)
     
343,628
     
384,318
     
(11
)
   
682,519
     
748,638
     
(9
)
Operating income
 
$
23,128
   
$
40,190
     
(42
)%
 
$
60,737
   
$
77,155
     
(21
)%
Operating margins
   
6.3
%
   
9.5
%
           
8.2
%
   
9.3
%
       

28

Distribution and Services Revenues

The following table shows the markets serviced by the Company’s distribution and services segment, the revenue distribution for the 2019 second quarter and first six months, and the customers for each market:

Markets Serviced
 
2019 Second
Quarter
Revenue
Distribution
 
2019 Six
Months
Revenue
Distribution
 
Customers
Oil and Gas
 
54%
 
57%
 
Oilfield Services, Oil and Gas Operators and Producers
             
Commercial and Industrial
 
46%
 
43%
 
Inland River Carriers — Dry and Liquid, Offshore Towing — Dry and Liquid, Offshore Oilfield Services — Drilling Rigs & Supply Boats, Harbor Towing, Dredging, Great Lakes Ore Carriers, Pleasure Crafts, On and Off-Highway Transportation, Power Generation, Standby Power Generation, Pumping Stations, Mining

Distribution and services revenues for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 14% and 10%, respectively, when compared with the second quarter and first six months of 2018. The decreased revenues were primarily attributable to reduced activity in the oilfield which resulted in lower customer demand for new and remanufactured pressure pumping equipment and reduced demand for new and overhauled transmissions and related parts and service, partially offset by improved demand in the commercial and industrial market for the power generation sector. For the 2019 second quarter and first six months, the oil and gas market contributed 54% and 57%, respectively, of the distribution and services revenues. The commercial and industrial market, which contributed 46% and 43%, of the distribution and services revenues for the 2019 second quarter and first six months, respectively, saw increased demand from commercial customers for back-up power systems in the 2019 second quarter and first six months.  Demand for marine diesel engines, parts and service was stable compared to the 2018 second quarter and first six months.

Distribution and Services Costs and Expenses

Costs and expenses for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 11% and 9%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. Costs of sales and operating expenses for the 2019 second quarter and first six months also decreased 11% and 9%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months, reflecting lower demand for new and remanufactured pressure pumping equipment and reduced demand for new and overhauled transmissions and related parts and service in the oil and gas market.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 9% and 5%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. The Company experienced lower costs in the 2019 second quarter and first six months mainly due to lower incentive compensation and professional fees.

Distribution and Services Operating Income and Operating Margins

Operating income for the distribution and services segment for the 2019 second quarter and first six months decreased 42% and 21%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months. The operating margin for the 2019 second quarter was 6.3% compared with 9.5% for the 2018 second quarter and 8.2% for the 2019 first six months compared with 9.3% for the 2018 first six months.  The results primarily reflected decreases in higher margin oil and gas related revenue and increased sales of lower margin power generation equipment.

General Corporate Expenses

General corporate expenses for the 2019 second quarter were $3,646,000 compared with $23,007,000 for the 2018 second quarter, primarily due to a one-time non-deductible expense of $18,057,000 in 2018 related to the retirement of the Company’s executive Chairman, effective April 30, 2018. For the 2019 first six months, general corporate expenses were $6,730,000 compared with $27,330,000 for the 2018 first six months.

29

Gain on Disposition of Assets

The Company reported a net gain on disposition of assets of $3,118,000 for the 2019 second quarter compared to $442,000 for the 2018 second quarter. For the 2019 first six months, the Company reported a net gain on disposition of assets of $5,275,000 compared to $2,340,000 for the 2018 first six months. The net gains were predominantly from the sale or retirement of marine equipment and distribution and services facilities.

Other Income and Expenses

The following table sets forth other income, noncontrolling interests and interest expense for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019 compared with the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Six months ended
June 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
% Change
   
2019
   
2018
   
% Change
 
Other income
 
$
2,381
   
$
1,541
     
55
%
 
$
1,813
   
$
3,132
     
(42
)%
Noncontrolling interests
 
$
(153
)
 
$
(191
)
   
(20
)%
 
$
(314
)
 
$
(386
)
   
(19
)%
Interest expense
 
$
(15,515
)
 
$
(12,540
)
   
24
%
 
$
(28,716
)
 
$
(22,320
)
   
29
%

Other Income

Other income for the 2019 and 2018 second quarters include income of $1,280,000 and $1,104,000, respectively, and the 2019 and 2018 first six months include income of $1,726,000 and $2,216,000, respectively, for all components of net benefit costs except the service cost component related to the Company’s defined benefit plans.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the 2019 second quarter and first six months increased 24% and 29%, respectively, compared with the 2018 second quarter and first six months, primarily due to borrowings to finance the Higman acquisition in February 2018, the acquisition of Targa’s pressure barge fleet in May 2018, the purchase of the 155,000 barrel coastal ATB under construction in June 2018, the acquisition of CGBM’s tank barges in December 2018, and the acquisition of Cenac’s marine transportation fleet in March 2019. During the 2019 and 2018 second quarters, the average debt and average interest rate (excluding capitalized interest) were $1,641,311,000 and 3.8%, and $1,411,603,000 and 3.6%, respectively. For the first six months of 2019 and 2018, the average debt and average interest rate (excluding capitalized interest) were $1,550,342,000 and 3.8%, and $1,339,012,000 and 3.4%, respectively. Interest expense excludes capitalized interest for the 2019 and 2018 second quarters of $182,000 and $311,000, respectively, and for the 2019 and 2018 first six months of $825,000 and $509,000, respectively.

30

Financial Condition, Capital Resources and Liquidity

Balance Sheet

Total assets as of June 30, 2019 were $6,232,890,000 compared with $5,871,594,000 as of December 31, 2018. The following table sets forth the significant components of the balance sheet as of June 30, 2019 compared with December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

   
June 30,
2019
   
December 31,
2018
   
% Change
 
Assets:
                 
Current assets
 
$
1,054,264
   
$
1,096,489
     
(4
)%
Property and equipment, net
   
3,796,418
     
3,539,802
     
7
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
   
158,917
     
     
100
 
Goodwill
   
953,826
     
953,826
     
 
Other intangibles, net
   
214,972
     
224,197
     
(4
)
Other assets
   
54,493
     
57,280
     
(5
)
   
$
6,232,890
   
$
5,871,594
     
6
%
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
                       
Current liabilities
 
$
526,033
   
$
607,782
     
(13
)%
Long-term debt, net – less current portion
   
1,594,695
     
1,410,169
     
13
 
Deferred income taxes
   
570,954
     
542,785
     
5
 
Operating lease liabilities
   
136,970
     
     
100
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
82,066
     
94,557
     
(13
)
Total equity
   
3,322,172
     
3,216,301
     
3
 
   
$
6,232,890
   
$
5,871,594
     
6
%

Current assets as of June 30, 2019 decreased 4% compared with December 31, 2018. Trade accounts receivable increased 8% mainly due to increased activities in the inland marine transportation market and in the distribution and services commercial and industrial market. Inventories, net, decreased 16%, primarily reflecting lower inventory levels due to reduced business activity levels in the oil and gas market.

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, at June 30, 2019 increased 7% compared with December 31, 2018. The increase reflected $121,891,000 of capital expenditures for the first six months of 2019, more fully described under Capital Expenditures Reflected on the Balance Sheet below, the fair value of the property and equipment acquired in the Cenac acquisition of $247,122,000 and the seven inland tank barges purchased in the first six months of 2019 for $8,340,000, less $102,729,000 of depreciation expense and $18,007,000 of property disposals during the 2019 first six months.

Operating lease right-of-use assets increased due to the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019.

Other intangibles, net, as of June 30, 2019 decreased 4% compared with December 31, 2018, primarily due to amortization of intangibles other than goodwill.

Current liabilities as of June 30, 2019 decreased 13% compared with December 31, 2018. Accounts payable decreased 24%, primarily due to reduced business activity levels in the distribution and services oil and gas market. Accrued liabilities decreased 9% primarily from payment during the 2019 first quarter of employee incentive compensation bonuses accrued during 2018. Current portion of operating lease liabilities increased due to the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019. Deferred revenues decreased 26%, primarily reflecting reduced business activity levels in the distribution and services oil and gas market.

Long-term debt, net less current portion, as of June 30, 2019 increased 13% compared with December 31, 2018, primarily reflecting the addition of a five-year Term Loan in an amount of $500,000,000 on March 27, 2019, offset by net payments of $313,797,000 on the amended and restated Revolving Credit Facility. Net debt discount and deferred issuance costs were $8,882,000 and $7,204,000 at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

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Deferred income taxes as of June 30, 2019 increased 5% compared with December 31, 2018, primarily reflecting the 2019 first six months deferred tax provision of $26,007,000.

Operating lease liabilities increased due to the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019.

Other long-term liabilities as of June 30, 2019 decreased 13% compared with December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 and the resulting reclass of unfavorable leases to operating lease right-of-use assets and the reclass of deferred rent liabilities to long-term operating lease liabilities and contributions of $2,098,000 to the Higman pension plan during the 2019 first six months.

Total equity as of June 30, 2019 increased 3% compared with December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily the result of $91,583,000 of net earnings attributable to Kirby for the first six months of 2019, an increase in additional paid-in capital of $6,113,000, primarily due to the employee stock awards.

Long-Term Financing

On March 27, 2019, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a group of commercial banks, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent bank, that extends the term of the Company’s existing $850,000,000 revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) to March 27, 2024 and adds a five-year term loan (“Term Loan”) facility in an amount of $500,000,000. The Credit Agreement provides for a variable interest rate based on the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) or a base rate calculated with reference to the agent bank’s prime rate, among other factors (the “Alternate Base Rate”). The interest rate varies with the Company’s credit rating and is currently 112.5 basis points over LIBOR or 12.5 basis points over the Alternate Base Rate. The Term Loan is repayable in quarterly installments commencing June 30, 2020, in increasing percentages of the original principal amount of the loan, with the remaining unpaid balance payable of 65% of the initial amount due on March 27, 2024. The Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants including an interest coverage ratio and a debt-to-capitalization ratio. In addition to financial covenants, the Credit Agreement contains covenants that, subject to exceptions, restrict debt incurrence, mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, dividends and investments, liquidations and dissolutions, capital leases, transactions with affiliates and changes in lines of business. The Credit Agreement specifies certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the outstanding loans may be accelerated, including the failure to pay principal or interest, violation of covenants and default on other indebtedness, among other events. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. As of June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all Credit Agreement covenants and had outstanding borrowings of $103,577,000 under the Revolving Credit Facility and $500,000,000 under the Term Loan. The Revolving Credit Facility includes a $25,000,000 commitment which may be used for standby letters of credit. Outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility were $5,670,000 as of June 30, 2019.

On February 12, 2018, the Company issued $500,000,000 of the 2028 Notes with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Interest payments of $10,500,000 are due semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year. The 2028 Notes are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’s other unsecured senior indebtedness. The 2028 Notes contain certain covenants on the part of the Company, including covenants relating to liens, sale-leasebacks, asset sales and mergers, among others. The 2028 Notes also specify certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the notes may be accelerated, including failure to pay principal and interest, violation of covenants or default on other indebtedness, among others. As of June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all the 2028 Notes covenants and had $500,000,000 outstanding under the 2028 Notes.

The Company has $500,000,000 of Senior Notes Series A and Senior Notes Series B with a group of institutional investors, consisting of $150,000,000 of 2.72% Senior Notes Series A due February 27, 2020 and $350,000,000 of 3.29% Senior Notes Series B due February 27, 2023. No principal payments are required until maturity. The Senior Notes Series A and Series B contain certain covenants on the part of the Company, including an interest coverage covenant, a debt-to-capitalization covenant and covenants relating to liens, asset sales and mergers, among others. The Senior Notes Series A and Series B also specify certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the notes may be accelerated, including failure to pay principal and interest, violation of covenants or default on other indebtedness, among others. As of June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all Senior Notes Series A and Series B covenants and had $150,000,000 of Senior Notes Series A outstanding and $350,000,000 of Senior Notes Series B outstanding.

32

The Company has a $10,000,000 line of credit (“Credit Line”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) for short-term liquidity needs and letters of credit, with a maturity date of June 30, 2021. The Credit Line allows the Company to borrow at an interest rate agreed to by Bank of America and the Company at the time each borrowing is made or continued. The Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Line as of June 30, 2019. Outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Line were $1,171,000 as of June 30, 2019.

Capital Expenditures Reflected on the Balance Sheet

Capital expenditures for the 2019 first six months were $121,891,000, including $16,380,000 for inland towboat construction, $11,370,000 for progress payments on three 5000 horsepower coastal ATB tugboats, $2,211,000 for final costs on a 155,000 barrel coastal ATB under construction purchased from another operator that was delivered to the Company in the 2018 fourth quarter, and $91,930,000 primarily for upgrading existing marine equipment and marine transportation and distribution and services facilities.

Financing of the construction of the inland towboats, coastal tugboats and the 155,000 barrel coastal ATB, plus upgrades of existing marine equipment and marine transportation and distribution and services facilities was through operating cash flows and available credit under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility.

During the 2019 first six months, the Company acquired 63 inland tank barges from Cenac with a total capacity of approximately 1,833,000 barrels, retired five inland tank barges, brought back into service four inland tank barges, and chartered two inland tank barges, increasing its capacity by approximately 78,000 barrels. The net result was an increase of 64 inland tank barges and approximately 1,911,000 barrels of capacity during the first six months of 2019.

The Company projects that capital expenditures for 2019 will be in the $225,000,000 to $245,000,000 range. The 2019 construction program will consist of progress payments on the construction of 13 inland towboats, eight of which will be placed in service in 2019 and the remaining five in 2020 and 2021, and progress payments on the construction of three 5000 horsepower coastal ATB tugboats to be placed in service in 2019. Based on current commitments, steel prices and projected delivery schedules, the Company’s 2019 progress payments on the new inland towboats will be approximately $20,000,000 to $25,000,000 and 2019 progress payments on the construction of the three 5000 horsepower coastal ATB tugboats will be approximately $20,000,000. Approximately $155,000,000 to $165,000,000 is primarily capital upgrades and improvements to existing marine equipment and facilities. The balance of $30,000,000 to $35,000,000 will be for rental fleet growth, new machinery and equipment, and facilities improvements in the distribution and services segment.

Funding for future capital expenditures is expected to be provided through operating cash flows and available credit under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility.

Treasury Stock Purchases

The Company did not purchase any treasury stock during the 2019 first six months. As of August 1, 2019, the Company had approximately 1,400,000 shares available under its existing repurchase authorization. Historically, treasury stock purchases have been financed through operating cash flows and borrowing under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility. The Company is authorized to purchase its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange and in privately negotiated transactions. When purchasing its common stock, the Company is subject to price, trading volume and other market considerations. Shares purchased may be used for reissuance upon the exercise of stock options or the granting of other forms of incentive compensation, in future acquisitions for stock or for other appropriate corporate purposes.

33

Liquidity

The Company generated net cash provided by operating activities of $188,197,000 in the 2019 first six months compared with $153,755,000 for the 2018 first six months. The increase was driven by increased revenues and operating income in the marine transportation segment driven by the acquisitions of the Higman fleet in February 2018, the Targa fleet in May 2018, the CGBM barges in December 2018, and the Cenac fleet in March 2019, as well as improved inland and coastal barge utilization and pricing. The increase was also due to a net increase in cash flows from the change in operating assets and liabilities of $10,364,000 due to decrease in inventories in the distribution and services segment in the 2019 first six months compared to an increase in the 2018 first six months.

Funds generated from operations are available for acquisitions, capital expenditure projects, common stock repurchases, repayments of borrowings, and for other corporate and operating requirements. In addition to net cash flow provided by operating activities, the Company also had available as of August 1, 2019, $823,145,000 under its Revolving Credit Facility and $8,829,000 available under its Credit Line.

Neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, is obligated on any debt instrument, swap agreement, or any other financial instrument or commercial contract which has a rating trigger, except for the pricing grid on its Credit Agreement.

The Company expects to continue to fund expenditures for acquisitions, capital construction projects, common stock repurchases, repayment of borrowings, and for other operating requirements from a combination of available cash and cash equivalents, funds generated from operating activities and available financing arrangements.

The Revolving Credit Facility’s commitment is in the amount of $850,000,000 and expires March 27, 2024. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had $740,753,000 available under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Senior Notes Series A and Senior Notes Series B mature February 27, 2020 and February 27, 2023, respectively, and require no prepayments. The 2028 Notes mature March 1, 2028 and require no prepayments. The outstanding balance of the Term Loan is subject to quarterly amortization, beginning June 30, 2020, in increasing percentages of the original principal amount of the loan, with the remaining unpaid balance payable of 65% of the initial amount due on March 27, 2024. The Term Loan is prepayable, in whole or in part, without penalty.

There are numerous factors that may negatively impact the Company’s cash flow in 2019. For a list of significant risks and uncertainties that could impact cash flows, see Note 14, Contingencies, in the financial statements, and Item 1A — Risk Factors and Note 15, Contingencies and Commitments, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Amounts available under the Company’s existing financial arrangements are subject to the Company continuing to meet the covenants of the credit facilities as described in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Long-Term Financing.

The Company has issued guaranties or obtained standby letters of credit and performance bonds supporting performance by the Company and its subsidiaries of contractual or contingent legal obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business. The aggregate notional value of these instruments is $18,795,000 at June 30, 2019, including $7,061,000 in letters of credit and $11,734,000 in performance bonds. All of these instruments have an expiration date within two years. The Company does not believe demand for payment under these instruments is likely and expects no material cash outlays to occur in connection with these instruments.

All marine transportation term contracts contain fuel escalation clauses, or the customer pays for the fuel. However, there is generally a 30 to 90 day delay before contracts are adjusted depending on the specific contract. In general, the fuel escalation clauses are effective over the long-term in allowing the Company to recover changes in fuel costs due to fuel price changes. However, the short-term effectiveness of the fuel escalation clauses can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, specific terms of the fuel escalation formulas, fuel price volatility, navigating conditions, tow sizes, trip routing, and the location of loading and discharge ports that may result in the Company over or under recovering its fuel costs. Spot contract rates generally reflect current fuel prices at the time the contract is signed but do not have escalators for fuel.

During the last three years, inflation has had a relatively minor effect on the financial results of the Company. The marine transportation segment has long-term contracts which generally contain cost escalation clauses whereby certain costs, including fuel as noted above, can be passed through to its customers. Spot contract rates include the cost of fuel and are subject to market volatility. The repair portion of the distribution and services segment is based on prevailing current market rates.

34

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to risk from changes in interest rates on certain of its outstanding debt. The outstanding loan balances under the Company’s bank credit facilities bear interest at variable rates based on prevailing short-term interest rates in the United States and Europe. A 10% change in variable interest rates would impact the 2019 interest expense by $507,000 based on balances outstanding at December 31, 2018, and would change the fair value of the Company’s debt by 1%.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and to ensure that such information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), with assistance from other members of management, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2019 and, based on their evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of such date due to the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Remediation Plan. As previously described in Part II, Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company began implementing a remediation plan and removed all inappropriate privileged access rights as of March 31, 2019. The material weakness will not be considered remediated until the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing of the affected Information Technology operating systems, databases and applications, that these controls are operating effectively. The Company expects that the remediation of this material weakness will be completed during 2019.

35

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

The discussion of the legal proceedings related to the M/V Voyager and the legal proceedings related to the tug Nathan E. Stewart and barge DBL 55 in Note (14) of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report are incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

Item 1A.
Risk Factors

The Company continues to be subject to the risk factors previously disclosed in its “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Item 6.
Exhibits

2005 Stock and Incentive Plan
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
     

*
This exhibit is furnished herewith. In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this exhibit is not deemed to be filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is not deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under those sections.
Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.

36

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.

 
KIRBY CORPORATION
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
By:
/s/ WILLIAM G. HARVEY
 
 
William G. Harvey
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
Dated: August 2, 2019
 
 


37