LSB INDUSTRIES, INC. - Quarter Report: 2021 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

OR

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission file number 1-7677

LSB Industries, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) (405) 235-4546

Not applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

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

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).

☒  Yes    ☐  No

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's common stock was 30,037,749 shares as of April 23, 2021.

FORM 10-Q OF LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Information at March 31, 2021 is unaudited)

(Continued on following page)

3

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)

(Information at March 31, 2021 is unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

4

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

5

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

6

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited) 

See accompanying notes.

7

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

For a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies, refer to the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (“2020 Form 10-K”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 25, 2021.

Basis of Consolidation – LSB Industries, Inc. (“LSB”) and its subsidiaries (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are consolidated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.  LSB is a holding company with no significant operations or assets other than cash, cash equivalents, and investments in its subsidiaries.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  

Nature of Business – We are engaged in the manufacture and sale of chemical products.  The chemical products we primarily manufacture, market and sell are ammonia, fertilizer grade AN (“HDAN”) and UAN for agricultural applications, high purity and commercial grade ammonia, high purity AN, sulfuric acids, concentrated, blended and regular nitric acid, mixed nitrating acids, carbon dioxide, and diesel exhaust fluid for industrial applications, and industrial grade AN (“LDAN”) and solutions for the mining industry.  We manufacture and distribute our products in four facilities; three of which we own and are located in El Dorado, Arkansas (the “El Dorado Facility”); Cherokee, Alabama (the “Cherokee Facility”); and Pryor, Oklahoma (the “Pryor Facility”); and one of which we operate on behalf of a global chemical company in Baytown, Texas.  

Sales to customers include farmers, ranchers, fertilizer dealers and distributors primarily in the ranch land and grain production markets in the United States (“U.S.”); industrial users of acids throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada; and explosive manufacturers in the U.S. and parts of Mexico and Canada.

In our opinion, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company as of March 31, 2021 and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 include all adjustments and accruals, consisting of normal, recurring accrual adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods.  These interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year due, in part, to the seasonality of our sales of agricultural products and the timing of performing our major plant maintenance activities.  Our selling seasons for agricultural products are primarily during the spring and fall planting seasons, which typically extend from March through June and from September through November.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.  These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in connection with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2020 Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Income Taxes – Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the statement of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.  We establish valuation allowances if we believe it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of deferred tax assets will not be realized.  Significant judgment is applied in evaluating the need for and the magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets.

In addition, we do not recognize a tax benefit unless we conclude that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the relevant taxing authorities based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position.  If the recognition threshold is met, we recognize a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that, in our judgment, is greater than 50% likely to be realized.

We reduce income tax expense for investment tax credits in the period the credit arises and is earned.

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Contingencies – Certain conditions may exist which may result in a loss, but which will only be resolved when future events occur.  We and our legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment.  If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a loss has been incurred, we would accrue for such contingent losses when such losses can be reasonably estimated.  If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.  Estimates of potential legal fees and other directly related costs associated with contingencies are not accrued but rather are expensed as incurred.  Loss contingency liabilities are included in current and noncurrent accrued and other liabilities and are based on current estimates that may be revised in the near term.  In addition, we recognize contingent gains when such gains are realized or when the contingencies have been resolved (generally at the time a settlement has been reached).

Redeemable Preferred Stocks – Our redeemable preferred stocks that are redeemable outside of our control are classified as temporary/mezzanine equity.  The redeemable preferred stocks were recorded at fair value upon issuance, net of issuance costs or discounts.  In addition, certain embedded features included in the Series E Redeemable Preferred required bifurcation and are classified as derivative liabilities.  The carrying values of the redeemable preferred stocks are being increased by periodic accretions (including the amount for dividends earned but not yet declared or paid) using the interest method so that the carrying amount will equal the redemption value as of October 25, 2023, the earliest possible redemption date by the holder.  The accretion was recorded to retained earnings.  However, this accretion will change if the expected redemption date changes.

Derivatives, Hedges and Financial Instruments – Derivatives are recognized in the balance sheet and are measured at fair value.  Changes in fair value of derivatives are recorded in results of operations unless the normal purchase or sale exceptions apply, or hedge accounting is elected.

The fair value amounts recognized for our derivative contracts executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement may be offset.  We have the choice to offset or not, but that choice must be applied consistently.  A master netting arrangement exists if the reporting entity has multiple contracts with a single counterparty that are subject to a contractual agreement that provides for the net settlement of all contracts through a single payment in a single currency in the event of default on or termination of any one contract.  Offsetting the fair values recognized for the derivative contracts outstanding with a single counterparty results in the net fair value of the transactions being reported as an asset or a liability in the balance sheet.  When applicable, we present the fair values of our derivative contracts under master netting agreements using a gross fair value presentation.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date:

Level 1 - Valuations of contracts classified as Level 1 are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical contracts.

Level 2 - Valuations of contracts classified as Level 2 are based on quoted prices for similar contracts and valuation inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for these contracts.

Level 3 - Valuations of assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we did not have any financial instruments with fair values materially different from their carrying amounts (which excludes issuance costs, if applicable). The fair value of financial instruments is not indicative of the overall fair value of our assets and liabilities since financial instruments do not include all assets, including intangibles, and all liabilities.

Equity Awards – Equity award transactions with employees are measured based on the estimated fair value of the equity awards issued.  For equity awards with service conditions that have a graded vesting period, we recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.  Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.  We may issue new shares of common stock or may use treasury shares associated with the equity awards.

In January 2021, the compensation committee of our Board of Directors approved the grant of 614,999 shares of time-based restricted stock and 219,084 shares of performance-based restricted stock to certain executives under our 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan.  The time-based restricted stock shares will vest at the end of each one-year period at the rate of one-third per year for three years, vesting 100% at the end of three years. The performance-based restricted stock will vest at the end of three years, subject to achievement of certain performance metrics. The unvested restricted shares carry dividend and voting rights contingent upon the vesting and lapsing of restriction.  Sales of these shares are restricted prior to the date of vesting.  Pursuant to the terms of the underlying restricted stock agreements, unvested restricted shares will immediately vest upon the occurrence of a change in control (as defined by agreement), termination without cause or death.

9

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition and Performance Obligations

We determine revenue recognition through the following steps:

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account.  A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied.  Generally, satisfaction occurs when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customer or as services are rendered or completed in exchange for consideration in an amount for which we expect to be entitled.  Generally, control is transferred when the preparation for shipment of the product to a customer has been completed.  Most of our contracts contain a single performance obligation with the promise to transfer a specific product.  

Most of our revenue is recognized from performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, however, we have a performance obligation to perform certain services that are satisfied over a period of time.  Revenue is recognized from this type of performance obligation as services are rendered and are based on the amount for which we have a right to invoice, which reflects the amount of expected consideration that corresponds directly with the value of the services performed.  

Transaction Price Constraints and Variable Consideration

For most of our contracts with customers, the transaction price from the inception of a contract is constrained to a short period of time (generally one month) as these contracts contain terms with variable consideration related to both price and quantity.  These contract prices are often based on commodity indexes (such as NYMEX natural gas index) published monthly and the contract quantities are typically based on estimated ranges.  The quantities become fixed and determinable over a period of time as each sale order is received from the customer.  

The nature of our contracts also gives rise to other types of variable consideration, including volume discounts and rebates, make-whole provisions, other pricing concessions, and short-fall charges.  We estimate these amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers, which result in a transaction price adjustment reducing revenue (net sales) with the offset increasing contract or refund liabilities. These estimates are based on historical experience, anticipated performance and our best judgment at the time.  We reassess these estimates on a quarterly basis.

The aforementioned constraints over transaction prices in conjunction with the variable consideration included in our material contracts prevent a practical assignment of a specific dollar amount to performance obligations at the beginning and end of the period.  Therefore, we have applied the variable consideration allocation exception.

Future revenues to be earned from the satisfaction of performance obligations will be recognized when control transfers as goods are loaded and weighed or services are performed over the remaining duration of our contracts.   

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2019-12 – In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which affects general principles within Topic 740, Income Taxes.  The amendments of ASU 2019-12 are meant to simplify and reduce the cost of accounting for income taxes.  The ASU removes certain exceptions to the general framework and also seeks to simplify and/or clarify accounting for income taxes by adding certain requirements that would simplify GAAP for financial statement preparers.  On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2019-12, which did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

10

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2020-06 - In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). This ASU addresses the complexity associated with applying GAAP to certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The ASU includes amendments to the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivative scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments which include beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features by removing certain separation models. Additionally, the ASU requires entities to use the “if-converted” method when calculating diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments. This ASU will be effective for us on January 1, 2024; however, early adoption is permitted beginning January 1, 2021. We are evaluating the timing and the effect of our pending adoption of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures at this time.

ASU 2020-04 – In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates such as LIBOR that are expected to be discontinued.  This ASU provides exceptions and optional expedients for applying GAAP to contract modifications, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or other reference rates to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform.  They do not apply to modifications made or hedges entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022, unless the hedging relationships existed as of that date and optional expedients for them were elected and retained through the end of the hedging relationship.  This ASU became effective upon issuance.  We continue to evaluate the effect of this ASU and plan to utilize this relief for our debt agreements that include LIBOR rates.

11

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

2. Loss Per Common Share

The following weighted-average shares of securities were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per common share as their effect would have been antidilutive:

3. Current and Noncurrent Accrued and Other Liabilities

12

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

4. Long-Term Debt

Our long-term debt consists of the following: 

(A) Our revolving credit facility, as amended (the “Working Capital Revolver Loan”), provides for advances up to $65 million (the “Maximum Revolver Amount”), based on specific percentages of eligible accounts receivable and inventories and up to $10 million of letters of credit, the outstanding amount of which reduces the available for borrowing under the Working Capital Revolver Loan.  At March 31, 2021, our available borrowings under our Working Capital Revolver Loan were approximately $41.8 million, based on our eligible collateral, less outstanding letters of credit and loan balance.  The maturity date of the Working Capital Revolver Loan is on the earlier of (i) the date that is 90 days prior to the earliest stated maturity date of the Senior Secured Notes (unless refinanced or repaid) and (ii) February 26, 2024.  Subject to certain conditions and subject to lender approval, the Maximum Revolver Amount may increase up to an additional $10 million, less the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the unforgiven portion (as defined in the agreement) of the PPP loan discussed below within footnote (C). The Working Capital Revolver Loan also provides for a springing financial covenant (the “Financial Covenant”), which requires that, if the borrowing availability is less than 10.0% of the total revolver commitments, then the borrowers must maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00. The Financial Covenant, if triggered, is tested monthly.  

(B) On April 25, 2018, LSB completed the issuance and sale of $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”), pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of April 25, 2018.  The Notes were issued at a price equal to 99.509% of their face value.  

On June 21, 2019, LSB completed the issuance and sale of $35 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “New Notes”).  The New Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture (the Notes together with the New Notes, the “Senior Secured Notes”).  The New Notes were issued at a price equal to 102.125% of their face value, plus accrued interest from May 1, 2019 to June 21, 2019.

The Senior Secured Notes mature on May 1, 2023.  Interest is to be paid semiannually in arrears on May 1^st and November 1^st.

13

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

4. Long-Term Debt (continued)

(C) In April 2020, LSB entered into a federally guaranteed loan agreement (“PPP loan”) for $10 million with a lender pursuant to a new loan program through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) as the result of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and amended by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020.  We applied ASC 470, Debt, to account for the PPP loan. We have used all or substantially all of the proceeds from the PPP loan for payroll, rent, utilities, and other specified costs that qualify for loan forgiveness.  Under the current terms of the PPP loan, loan forgiveness applications are due within 10 months after the end of the loan forgiveness covered period, which period began on the date the PPP loan was disbursed and ends either eight weeks or 24 weeks after disbursement of the loan.  In April 2021, we submitted the PPP loan forgiveness application to the lender.  Once the SBA notifies the lender the amount of the loan which has been approved for forgiveness, the lender will determine the date that the equal monthly principal and interest payments will begin for the remaining loan balance, if any.  Currently, the loan matures in April 2022, which term may be extended to April 2025 if mutually agreed to by the parties.  As for the potential loan forgiveness, once the PPP loan is, wholly or partially, forgiven and a legal release is received, the liability would be reduced by the amount forgiven and a gain on extinguishment would be recorded.

(D) El Dorado Chemical Company (“EDC”), one of our subsidiaries, is party to a secured financing arrangement with an affiliate of LSB Funding L.L.C. (“LSB Funding”).  Principal and interest are payable in 48 equal monthly installments with a final balloon payment of approximately $3 million due in June 2023.

(E) EDC is party to a secured loan agreement with an affiliate of LSB Funding. Principal and interest are payable in 60 equal monthly installments through March 2025.

(F) In August 2020, El Dorado Ammonia L.L.C. (“EDA”), one of our subsidiaries, entered into a $30 million secured financing arrangement with an affiliate of LSB Funding. Beginning in September 2020, principal and interest are payable in 60 equal monthly installments with a final balloon payment of approximately $5 million due in August 2025. This financing arrangement is secured by an ammonia storage tank and is guaranteed by LSB.

5. Commitments and Contingencies

Settlements and Outstanding Natural Gas Purchase Commitments – During several days in February 2021, the Pryor Facility was taken out of service after extreme cold weather caused a surge in natural gas prices in the region, along with the curtailment of gas distribution by the operator of the pipeline that supplies natural gas to the facility. Also, as a result of unprecedented cold weather conditions, the primary natural gas supplier to our El Dorado Facility asserted a claim of force majeure and materially restricted the supply of gas to the facility. In order to mitigate a portion of the commodity price risk associated with natural gas, we periodically enter into natural gas forward contracts and volume purchase commitments that locked in the cost of certain volumes of natural gas. Prior to this weather event, we had both types of arrangements.  During the first quarter of 2021, as a result of the extreme conditions previously described, we settled all of our natural gas forward contracts and certain volume purchase commitments and recognized a realized gain of approximately $6.8 million, which includes the realized gain discussed under “Natural Gas Contracts” in Note 6 and is classified as a reduction to cost of sales.

At March 31, 2021, certain of our natural gas contracts qualify as normal purchases under GAAP and thus are not mark-to-market, which contracts included volume purchase commitments with fixed costs of approximately 9.0 million MMBtus of natural gas.  These contracts extend through December 2021 at a weighted-average cost of $2.69 per MMBtu ($24.1 million) and a weighted-average market value of $2.55 per MMBtu ($22.9 million).

Legal Matters - Following is a summary of certain legal matters involving the Company:

A. Environmental Matters

Our facilities and operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws and to other laws regarding health and safety matters (collectively, the “Environmental and Health Laws”), many of which provide for certain performance obligations, substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations.  Certain Environmental and Health Laws impose strict liability as well as joint and several liability for costs required to remediate and restore sites where hazardous substances, hydrocarbons or solid wastes have been stored or released.  We may be required to remediate contaminated properties currently or formerly owned or operated by us or facilities of third parties that received waste generated by our operations regardless of whether such contamination resulted from the conduct of others or from consequences of our own actions that were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time those actions were taken.  

In addition, claims for damages to persons or property, including natural resources, may result from the environmental, health and safety effects of our operations.

14

LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

5.  Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

There can be no assurance that we will not incur material costs or liabilities in complying with such laws or in paying fines or penalties for violation of such laws.  Our insurance may not cover all environmental risks and costs or may not provide sufficient coverage if an environmental claim is made against us.  The Environmental and Health Laws and related enforcement policies have in the past resulted, and could in the future result, in significant compliance expenses, cleanup costs (for our sites or third-party sites where our wastes were disposed of), penalties or other liabilities relating to the handling, manufacture, use, emission, discharge or disposal of hazardous or toxic materials at or from our facilities or the use or disposal of certain of its chemical products.  Further, a number of our facilities are dependent on environmental permits to operate, the loss or modification of which could have a material adverse effect on their operations and our financial condition.

Historically, significant capital expenditures have been incurred by our subsidiaries in order to comply with the Environmental and Health Laws, and significant capital expenditures are expected to be incurred in the future.  We will also be obligated to manage certain discharge water outlets and monitor groundwater contaminants at our facilities should we discontinue the operations of a facility.

As of March 31, 2021, our accrued liabilities for environmental matters totaled $468,000 relating primarily to the matters discussed below.  Estimates of the most likely costs for our environmental matters are generally based on preliminary or completed assessment studies, preliminary results of studies or our experience with other similar matters.  It is reasonably possible that a change in the estimate of our liability could occur in the near term.   

1. Discharge Water Matters

Each of our manufacturing facilities generates process wastewater, which may include cooling tower and boiler water quality control streams, contact storm water and miscellaneous spills and leaks from process equipment.  The process water discharge, storm-water runoff and miscellaneous spills and leaks are governed by various permits generally issued by the respective state environmental agencies as authorized and overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These permits limit the type and amount of effluents that can be discharged and control the method of such discharge.  

In 2017, PCC filed a Permit Renewal Application for its Non-Hazardous Injection Well Permit at the Pryor Facility.  Although the Injection Well Permit expired in 2018, PCC continues to operate the injection well pending the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (“ODEQ”) action on the Permit Renewal Application.  PCC and ODEQ are engaged in ongoing discussions related to the renewal of the injection well to address the wastewater stream.

Our El Dorado Facility is subject to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) in 2004.  In 2010, the ADEQ issued a draft NPDES permit renewal for the El Dorado Facility, which contained more restrictive discharge limits than the previous 2004 permit.  During 2017, ADEQ issued a final NPDES permit with new dissolved mineral limits; however, EDC filed an appeal, and a Permit Appeal Resolution (“PAR”) was signed in 2018.  EDC is in compliance with the revised permit limits agreed upon in the PAR.

In 2006, the El Dorado Facility entered into a Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) that recognizes the presence of nitrate contamination in the shallow groundwater.  The CAO required EDC to perform semi-annual groundwater monitoring, continue operation of a groundwater recovery system, submit a human health and ecological risk assessment, and submit a remedial action plan.

The risk assessment was submitted in 2007.  In 2015, the ADEQ stated that El Dorado Chemical was meeting the requirements of the CAO and should continue semi-annual monitoring.  Subsequent to the PAR mentioned previously, a new CAO was signed in 2018, which required an Evaluation Report of the data and effectiveness of the groundwater remedy for nitrate contamination.  During 2019, the Evaluation Report was submitted to the ADEQ and the ADEQ approved the report. No liability has been established at March 31, 2021, in connection with this ADEQ matter.

2. Other Environmental Matters

In 2002, certain of our subsidiaries sold substantially all of their operating assets relating to a Kansas chemical facility (the “Hallowell Facility”) but retained ownership of the real property where the facility is located.  Our subsidiary retained the obligation to be responsible for, and perform the activities under, a previously executed consent order to investigate the surface and subsurface contamination at the real property, develop a corrective action strategy based on the investigation, and implement such strategy.  In addition, certain of our subsidiaries agreed to indemnify the buyer of such assets for these environmental matters.

As the successor to a prior owner of the Hallowell Facility, Chevron Environmental Management Company (“Chevron”) has agreed in writing, within certain limitations, to pay and has been paying one-half of the costs of the investigation and interim measures relating to this matter as approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (the “KDHE”), subject to reallocation.

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

5.  Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

During this process, our subsidiary and Chevron retained an environmental consultant that prepared and performed a corrective action study work plan as to the appropriate method to remediate the Hallowell Facility. During 2020, the KDHE selected a remedy of annual monitoring and the implementation of an Environmental Use Control (“EUC”).  This remedy primarily relates to long-term surface and groundwater monitoring to track the natural decline in contamination and is subject to a 5-year re-evaluation with the KDHE.

The final remedy, including the EUC, the finalization of the cost estimates and any required financial assurances remains under discussion with the KDHE, but continues to be delayed due to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Pending the results from our discussions regarding the final remedy, we continue to accrue our allocable portion of costs primarily for the additional testing, monitoring and risk assessments that could be reasonably estimated, which amount is included in our accrued liabilities for environmental matters discussed above.    

The estimated amount is not discounted to its present value.  As more information becomes available, our estimated accrual will be refined, as necessary.

B. Other Pending, Threatened or Settled Litigation

In 2013, an explosion and fire occurred at the West Fertilizer Co. (“West Fertilizer”) located in West, Texas, causing death, bodily injury and substantial property damage.  West Fertilizer is not owned or controlled by us, but West Fertilizer was a customer of EDC, and purchased AN from EDC from time to time.  LSB and EDC received letters from counsel purporting to represent subrogated insurance carriers, personal injury claimants and persons who suffered property damages informing LSB and EDC that their clients are conducting investigations into the cause of the explosion and fire to determine, among other things, whether AN manufactured by EDC and supplied to West Fertilizer was stored at West Fertilizer at the time of the explosion and, if so, whether such AN may have been one of the contributing factors of the explosion.  Initial lawsuits filed named West Fertilizer and another supplier of AN as defendants.

In 2014, EDC and LSB were named as defendants, together with other AN manufacturers and brokers that arranged the transport and delivery of AN to West Fertilizer, in the case styled City of West, Texas vs. CF Industries, Inc., et al., in the District Court of McLennan County, Texas.  The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that LSB and EDC were negligent in the production and marketing of fertilizer products sold to West Fertilizer, resulting in death, personal injury and property damage.  EDC retained a firm specializing in cause and origin investigations with particular experience with fertilizer facilities, to assist EDC in its own investigation.  LSB and EDC placed its liability insurance carrier on notice, and the carrier is handling the defense for LSB and EDC concerning this matter.

Our product liability insurance policies have aggregate limits of general liability totaling $100 million, with a self-insured retention of $250,000, which retention limit has been met relating to the West Fertilizer matter.  In 2015, the trial court dismissed plaintiff’s negligence claims against us, and EDC based on a duty to inspect but allowed the plaintiffs to proceed on claims for design defect and failure to warn.

Subsequently, we and EDC have entered into confidential settlement agreements (with approval of our insurance carriers) with several plaintiffs that had claimed wrongful death and bodily injury and insurance companies asserting subrogation claims for damages from the explosion.  While these settlements resolve the claims of a number of the claimants in this matter, we continue to be party to litigation related to the explosion.  We continue to defend these lawsuits vigorously and we are unable to estimate a possible range of loss at this time if there is an adverse outcome in this matter as to EDC.  As of March 31, 2021, no liability reserve has been established in connection with this matter.

In 2015, we and EDA received formal written notice from Global Industrial, Inc. (“Global”) of its intention to assert mechanic liens for labor, service, or materials furnished under certain subcontract agreements for the improvement of the new ammonia plant (“Ammonia Plant”) at our El Dorado Facility.  Global was a subcontractor of Leidos Constructors, LLC (“Leidos”), the general contractor for EDA for the construction for the Ammonia Plant.  Leidos terminated the services of Global with respect to their work performed at our El Dorado Facility.

LSB and EDA intend to pursue recovery of any damage or loss caused by Global’s work performed through their contract with Leidos at our El Dorado Facility.  In 2016, EDC and LSB were served a summons in a case styled Global Industrial, Inc. d/b/a Global Turnaround vs. Leidos Constructors, LLC et al., in the Circuit court of Union County, Arkansas, wherein Global seeks damages under breach of contract and other claims. At the time of the summons, our accounts payable included invoices totaling approximately $3.5 million related to the claims asserted by Global but such invoices were not approved by Leidos for payment.  We have requested indemnification from Leidos under the terms of our contracts, which they have denied.  As a result, we are seeking reimbursement of legal expenses from Leidos under our contracts.  We also seek damages from Leidos for their wrongdoing during the expansion, including breach of contract, fraud, professional negligence, and gross negligence.

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

5.  Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

During 2018, the court bifurcated the case into: (1) Global’s claims against Leidos and LSB, and (2) the cross-claims between Leidos and LSB.  Part (1) of the case was tried in the court.  In March 2020, the court rendered an interim judgment and issued its final judgment in April 2020.  In summary, the judgment awarded Global (i) approximately $7.4 million (including the $3.5 million discussed above) for labor, service, and materials furnished relating to the Ammonia Plant, (ii) approximately $1.3 million for prejudgment interest, and (iii) a claim of lien on certain property and the foreclosure of the lien to satisfy these obligations.  In addition, post-judgment interest will accrue at the annual rate of 4.25% until paid.  During the first quarter of 2020, this judgment impacted our condensed consolidated statement of operations as follows:

We have filed a notice of intent to appeal, and the Court entered a stay of the judgment pending appeal.

LSB intends to vigorously prosecute its claims against Leidos and vigorously contest the cross-claims in Part (2) of the matter.  Due to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trial date for Part (2) of the matter has been delayed and we are awaiting a new trial date.  

No liability was established at March 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020, in connection with the cross-claims in Part (2) of the matter, except for certain invoices held in accounts payable.

We are also involved in various other claims and legal actions (including matters involving gain contingencies).  It is possible that the actual future development of claims could be different from our estimates but, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe that changes in our estimates will not have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

6.  Derivatives, Hedges and Financial Instruments

For the periods presented, the following significant instruments are accounted for on a fair value basis:

Natural Gas Contracts

Periodically, we entered into certain forward natural gas contracts (“natural gas contracts”), which are accounted for on a mark-to-market basis.  We are utilizing these natural gas contracts as economic hedges for risk management purposes but are not designated as hedging instruments.  At December 31, 2020, our natural gas contracts included 7.3 million MMBtu of natural gas, that extended through December 2021, but these contracts were settled during the first quarter of 2021, primarily due to the weather event discussed in Note 5.  As a result, we had no outstanding natural gas contracts at March 31, 2021. The valuations of the natural gas contracts are classified as Level 2.  At December 31, 2020, the valuation inputs included the contractual weighted-average cost of $2.65 per MMBtu and the weighted-average market value of $2.49 per MMBtu.  

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a gain of $2.7 million (includes a realized gain of $1.5 million) and a loss of $0.7 million (includes a realized loss of $0.2 million), respectively.  The gain is classified as a reduction of cost of sales and the loss is classified as cost of sales.

Embedded Derivative

As discussed in Note 8, certain embedded features (“embedded derivative”) relating to the redemption of the Series E Redeemable Preferred, which includes certain contingent redemption features and the participation rights value have been bifurcated from the Series E Redeemable Preferred and recorded as a liability. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we estimate that the contingent redemption features have fair value since we estimate that it is probable that a portion of the shares of this preferred stock would be redeemed prior to October 25, 2023.  For certain other embedded features, we estimated no fair value based on our assessment that there is a remote probability that these features will be exercised.

The fair value of the embedded derivative was valued using discounted cash flow models and primarily based on the difference in the present value of estimated future cash flows with no redemptions prior to October 25, 2023 compared to certain redemptions deemed probable during the same period and applying the effective dividend rate of the Series E Redeemable Preferred. In addition, at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the fair value of the embedded derivative included the valuation of the participation rights, which was based on the equivalent of 303,646 shares of our common stock at $5.13 and $3.39 per share, respectively.

The valuations of the embedded derivative are classified as Level 3.  This derivative is valued using market information, management’s redemption assumptions, the underlying number of shares as defined in the terms of the Series E Redeemable Preferred, and the market price of our common stock.

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

6.  Derivatives, Hedges and Financial Instruments (continued)

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized an unrealized loss of approximately $0.4 million and an unrealized gain of approximately $0.6 million, respectively, due to the change in fair value of the embedded derivative.  The unrealized gain and loss are included in non-operating other income and expense.

The following details our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

7. Income Taxes

Provision (benefit) for income taxes is as follows:

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

7.  Income Taxes (continued)

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the current provision (benefit) for state income taxes shown above includes regular state income tax, provisions for uncertain state income tax positions, the impact of state tax law changes and other similar adjustments.

Our estimated annual effective tax rate for 2021 includes the impact of permanent tax differences including but not limited to limits on deductible compensation, and valuation allowances.

We considered both positive and negative evidence in our determination of the need for valuation allowances for deferred tax assets.  Information evaluated includes our financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, the availability of deferred tax liabilities and tax carrybacks, as well as an evaluation of currently available information about future years.  Valuation allowances are reflective of our quarterly analysis of the four sources of taxable income, including the calculation of the reversal of existing tax assets and liabilities, the impact of financing activities and our quarterly results.  Based on our analysis, we currently believe that it is more-likely-than-not that a portion of our federal deferred tax assets will not be able to be utilized and we estimate the valuation allowance to be recorded during 2021 to be approximately $3.0 million.  We have also determined it is more-likely-than-not that a portion of our state deferred tax assets will not be able to be utilized. However, we estimate a reduction in the related valuation allowance associated with these state deferred tax assets to be recorded during 2021 will be approximately $0.5 million.

We will continue to evaluate both the positive and negative evidence on a quarterly basis in determining the need for a valuation allowance with respect to our deferred tax assets.  Changes in positive and negative evidence, including differences between estimated and actual results, could result in changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets that could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the realization of deferred tax assets over time.

The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was minimal and the tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.3 million (2% benefit on pre-tax loss).  For both periods, the effective tax rate is less than the statutory tax rate primarily due to the impact of the valuation allowances.  

LSB and certain of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, the 2017-2020 years remain open for all purposes of examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other major tax jurisdictions.  Additionally, the 2013-2016 years remain subject to examination for determining the amount of net operating loss and  other carryforwards.  

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

8. Redeemable Preferred Stocks

Series E and Series F Redeemable Preferred

As of March 31, 2021, the Series E Redeemable Preferred had a 14% annual dividend rate and a participating right in dividends and liquidating distributions equal to 303,646 shares of common stock (participation rights value).  Dividends accrue semi-annually in arrears and are compounded.  Pursuant to the terms of the Series E Redeemable Preferred, the annual dividend rate increased 0.50% in April 2021 and will increase (a) by an additional 0.50% in April 2022 and (b) by an additional 1.0% in April 2023. The Series E Redeemable Preferred contains redemption features and a participation rights value that are being accounted for as derivative instruments and have been bifurcated from the Series E Redeemable Preferred as discussed in Note 6.

As of March 31, 2021, the Series F Redeemable Preferred has voting rights to vote as a single class on all matters which the common stock have the right to vote and is entitled to a number of votes equal to 456,225 shares of our common stock.

Changes in our Series E and Series F Redeemable Preferred are as follows:

9.  Net Sales

Disaggregated Net Sales

As discussed in Note 1, we primarily derive our revenues from the sales of various chemical products.  The following table presents our net sales disaggregated by our principal markets, which disaggregation is consistent with other financial information utilized or provided outside of our condensed consolidated financial statements:

Other Information

Although most of our contracts have an original expected duration of one year or less, for our contracts with a duration greater than one year at contract inception, the average remaining expected duration was approximately 18 months at March 31, 2021.

Liabilities associated with contracts with customers (contract liabilities) primarily relate to deferred revenue and customer deposits associated with cash payments received in advance from customers for volume shortfall charges and product shipments.  We had approximately $2.7 million and $2.5 million of contract liabilities as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, revenues of $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, were recognized and included in the balance at the beginning of the respective period.

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LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

10. Related Party Transactions

As of March 31, 2021, we have three separate outstanding financing arrangements with an affiliate of LSB Funding as discussed in footnotes (D), (E) and (F) of Note 4.  Also, an affiliate of LSB Funding holds $50 million of our Senior Secured Notes discussed in footnote (B) of Note 4.  In addition, LSB Funding holds all outstanding shares of the Series E and Series F Redeemable Preferred discussed in Note 8.

The Golsen Holders and an immediate family member hold all outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred, which accumulated dividends on such shares totaled approximately $1.7 million at March 31, 2021.

11. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following provides additional information relating to cash flow activities:

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

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with a review of the other Items included in this Form 10-Q and our March 31, 2021 condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.  A reference to a “Note” relates to a note in the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.  This MD&A reflects our operating results, unless otherwise noted.  Certain statements contained in this MD&A may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

General

LSB is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells chemical products for the agricultural, mining, and industrial markets.  We own and operate facilities in Cherokee, Alabama, El Dorado, Arkansas and Pryor, Oklahoma, and operate a facility on behalf of a global chemical company in Baytown, Texas.  Our products are sold through distributors and directly to end customers primarily throughout the U.S. and parts of Mexico and Canada.

Key Operating Initiatives for 2021

We believe our future results of operations and financial condition will depend significantly on our ability to successfully implement the following key initiatives:

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We may not successfully implement any or all of these initiatives.  Even if we successfully implement the initiatives, they may not achieve the results that we expect or desire.  

Recent Business Developments

Agricultural Spring Season

Since the latter part of 2020, the corn market continues to experience positive indicators pushing corn prices to an eight-year high.  Chinese demand for corn is strong as China continues to rebuild their swine population following the swine flu, which decimated the swine population several years ago.  This demand for feed is expected to remain robust as China has moved to large institutional hog farms for which the demand for feed is significant.  Secondly, approximately 40% of domestic corn demand comes from ethanol, an additive to gasoline, which has continued to rebound since the second quarter of 2020 as vaccines are rolled out, stay-at-home orders are lifted and demand for gasoline continues to improve.  As corn prices increase, fertilizers generally follow suit as growers seek to apply more fertilizer to increase yields. Furthermore, farm income last year, aided by government subsidies, was at its highest levels since 2014, which further supports fertilizer pricing.   Also, as discussed below, during February 2021, many areas of the U.S. experienced severe cold weather, negatively impacting the availability of natural gas while the demand for natural gas increased from electrical utilities, businesses and residents in certain regions of the country. These factors resulted in a shortage of natural gas, causing prices for the commodity to rise significantly and industrial users to be severely curtailed on their requirements.  Many nitrogen producers were forced or elected to idle their plants.  With the supply of nitrogen products in the U.S. tight prior to the cold weather, we believe that these recent widespread production disruptions, coupled with unplanned outages in the global market, have substantially reduced the available supply of nitrogen to the U.S. market and further increased  the fertilizer pricing outlook in the near term.  Overall, improvements in fertilizer demand and pricing are being somewhat tempered by higher natural gas costs thus far in 2021 as compared to 2020.

See a more detailed discussion below under “Key Industry Factors.”

February Weather Event, Natural Gas Curtailment and Settlement of Natural Gas Contracts

On February 12, 2021, the Pryor Facility was taken out of service due to extreme cold weather that caused a surge in natural gas prices in the region, along with the curtailment of gas distribution by the operator of the pipeline that supplies natural gas to the facility. On February 21, 2021, this facility began a phased restart and the facility’s ammonia plant was in production shortly thereafter.

Also, as a result of unprecedented cold weather conditions, on February 17, 2021, the primary natural gas supplier to our El Dorado Facility asserted a claim of force majeure and materially restricted the supply of gas to the facility.  However, effective February 23, 2021, the force majeure was lifted, and the facility’s ammonia plant was in production shortly thereafter.  

As weather across the middle of the country improved and temperatures warmed, natural gas prices have normalized, and supply volumes have been restored to levels required for full operation of our facilities.

Notably, our Cherokee Facility was not materially impacted by the extreme cold weather and related natural gas price and supply issues and operated at targeted levels throughout February.

In order to mitigate a portion of the commodity price risk associated with natural gas, we periodically enter into natural gas forward contracts and volume purchase commitments that locked in the cost of certain volumes of natural gas. Prior to this weather event, we had both types of arrangements.  During the first quarter of 2021, we settled all of our natural gas forward contracts and certain volume purchase commitments and recognized a realized gain of approximately $6.8 million, which is classified as a reduction to cost of sales. As a result of the settlement of these natural gas contracts, we were able to significantly mitigate the impact from lost production, lost sales and higher costs resulting from the impact of the natural gas shortage caused by the February cold weather event.

Key Industry Factors

Supply and Demand

Agricultural

Sales of our agricultural products were approximately 46% of our total net sales for the first quarter of 2021.  The price at which our agricultural products are ultimately sold depends on numerous factors, including the supply and demand for nitrogen fertilizers which,

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in turn, depends upon world grain demand and production levels, the cost and availability of transportation and storage, weather conditions, competitive pricing and the availability of imports.  Additionally, expansions or upgrades of competitors’ facilities and international and domestic political and economic developments continue to play an important role in the global nitrogen fertilizer industry economics, including the impact from the Phase 1 trade agreement between the U.S. and China.  These factors can affect, in addition to selling prices, the level of inventories in the market which can cause price volatility and affect product margins.

From a farmer’s perspective, the demand for fertilizer is affected by the aggregate crop planting decisions and fertilizer application rate decisions of individual farmers.  Individual farmers make planting decisions based largely on prospective profitability of a harvest, while the specific varieties and amounts of fertilizer they apply depend on factors such as their financial resources, soil conditions, weather patterns and the types of crops planted.

Additionally, changes in corn prices, as well as soybean, cotton and wheat prices, can affect the number of acres of corn planted in a given year, and the number of acres planted will drive the level of nitrogen fertilizer consumption, likely affecting prices.  

The March 2021 USDA annual Prospective Planting report currently indicates farmers intend to plant 91 million acres of corn in 2021, slightly higher than in 2020, and certain industry sources maintain an estimated range of 91 to 93 million corn acres. As it relates to the 2021 Crop as noted in the table below, the USDA estimates the U.S. ending stocks to be approximately 34 million metric tons, a 29.7% decrease from a year ago.  

The following April 2021 estimates are associated with the corn market:

From a demand perspective for 2021, since the USDA has significantly decreased ending corn stocks and only slightly increased the number corn acres to be planted, coupled with increasing export volumes primarily to China, drought conditions for certain areas in South America, favorable 2020 grower income and improving demand for ethanol, current and projected corn prices have elevated to prices not seen in eight years, which has had a positive impact on fertilizer demand and prices for the spring planting season.

Most gasoline has 10% ethanol content.  Ethanol is commonly made from corn and ethanol production is the largest user of U.S. corn, representing roughly 40% of total U.S. corn demand.  

The available U.S. supply of ammonia and other nitrogen products has tightened in 2021 to date, primarily as the result of higher demand for such products, in addition to the idling of many nitrogen plants in February 2021 due to the severe cold weather discussed above under “Recent Business Developments.”

As a result of these factors discussed above, we have experienced a price rally for fertilizers over the last several months, which we expect will continue through the spring planting season.  

Industrial and Mining

Sales of our industrial products were approximately 41% of our total net sales for the first quarter of 2021.  Our industrial products sales volumes are dependent upon general economic conditions primarily in the housing, automotive, and paper industries.  According to the American Chemistry Council, the U.S. economic indicators are improving and pointing towards continued improvement in the markets we serve.  Our sales prices generally vary with the market price of ammonia or natural gas, as applicable, in our pricing arrangements with customers.  

Sales of our mining products were approximately 13% of our total net sales for the first quarter of 2021.  Our mining products are LDAN and AN solution, which are primary used as AN fuel oil and specialty emulsions for usage in the quarry and the construction industries, for metals mining, and to a lesser extent, for coal.  In our mining markets, our sales volumes are typically driven by

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changes in the overall North American consumption levels of mining products that can be impacted by weather.  Metals prices continue to improve in 2021 as producers continue to extract as much as possible. This includes an increase in copper mining, driven primarily by demand for electric vehicles. For 2021, the EIA is projecting a 9% increase in U.S. coal production driven by a forecasted 39% increase in natural gas prices for electricity generators, making coal more competitive in the electric power sector.  We believe our plants are well located to support the more stable quarry and construction industries and the metals mining industries.

Farmer Economics

The demand for fertilizer is affected by the aggregate crop planting decisions and fertilizer application rate decisions of individual farmers.  Individual farmers make planting decisions based largely on prospective profitability of a harvest, while the specific varieties and amounts of fertilizer they apply depend on factors such as their financial resources, soil conditions, weather patterns and the types of crops planted.

Natural Gas Prices

Natural gas is the primary feedstock used to produce nitrogen fertilizers at our manufacturing facilities.  In recent years, U.S. natural gas reserves have increased significantly due to, among other factors, advances in extracting shale gas, which has reduced and stabilized natural gas prices, providing North America with a cost advantage over certain imports.  As a result, our competitive position and that of other North American nitrogen fertilizer producers has been positively affected.

We historically have purchased natural gas either on the spot market, through forward purchase contracts, or a combination of both and have used forward purchase contracts to lock in pricing for a portion of our natural gas requirements.  These forward purchase contracts are generally either fixed-price or index-price, short-term in nature and for a fixed supply quantity.  We are able to purchase natural gas at competitive prices due to our connections to large distribution systems and their proximity to interstate pipeline systems.  The following table shows the volume of natural gas we purchased and the average cost per MMBtu:

Transportation Costs

Costs for transporting nitrogen-based products can be significant relative to their selling price.  For example, ammonia is a hazardous gas at ambient temperatures and must be transported in specialized equipment, which is more expensive than other forms of nitrogen fertilizers.  In recent years, a significant amount of the ammonia consumed annually in the U.S. was imported.  Therefore, nitrogen fertilizers prices in the U.S. are influenced by the cost to transport product from exporting countries, giving domestic producers who transport shorter distances an advantage.  However, we continue to evaluate the recent rising costs of rail and truck freight domestically.  Since the Magellan ammonia pipeline was permanently shut down in 2020, certain Oklahoma and Texas producers that relied on the pipeline to transport their ammonia are relying on other transportation modes, primarily trucks, but also rail and barge transport.  As a result of increases in demand for trucks to transport ammonia, primarily during the spring and fall planting seasons, higher transportation costs have and could  continue to impact our margins, if we were unable to fully pass through these costs to our customers.  As a result, we continue to evaluate supply chain efficiencies to reduce or counter the impact of higher logistics costs.

Key Operational Factors

Facility Reliability

Consistent, reliable and safe operations at our chemical plants are critical to our financial performance and results of operations.  The financial effects of planned downtime at our plants, including Turnarounds (primarily associated with our ammonia plants), is mitigated through a diligent planning process that considers the availability of resources to perform the needed maintenance and other factors.  Unplanned downtime of our plants typically results in lost contribution margin from lost sales of our products, lost fixed cost absorption from lower production of our products and increased costs related to repairs and maintenance.  All Turnarounds result in lost contribution margin from lost sales of our products, lost fixed cost absorption from lower production of our products, and increased costs related to repairs and maintenance, which repair, and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.  

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Our Cherokee Facility is currently on a three-year ammonia plant Turnaround cycle with the next ammonia plant Turnaround planned in the third quarter of 2021.

Our El Dorado and Pryor Facilities are currently on a three-year ammonia plant Turnaround cycle with both currently scheduled for their next ammonia plant Turnarounds in the third quarter of 2022.

Ammonia Production

Ammonia is the basic product used to produce all of our upgraded products.  The ammonia production rates of our plants affect the total cost per ton of each product produced and the overall sales of our products.    

For 2021, we are targeting total ammonia production of approximately 830,000 tons to 850,000 tons despite a 30-day Turnaround at our Cherokee Facility, which will lower ammonia production during the third quarter by approximately 15,000 tons.

We believe that our focus on continuous improvement in reliability as discussed in key operating initiatives will result in year over year improvement in ammonia production for 2021.

Forward Sales Contracts

We use forward sales of our fertilizer products to optimize our asset utilization, planning process and production scheduling.  These sales are made by offering customers the opportunity to purchase product on a forward basis at prices and delivery dates that are agreed upon, with dates typically occurring within 12 months.  We use this program to varying degrees during the year depending on market conditions and our view of changing price environments.  Fixing the selling prices of our products months in advance of their ultimate delivery to customers typically causes our reported selling prices and margins to differ from spot market prices and margins available at the time of shipment.

Consolidated Results of the First Quarter of 2021

Our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2021 were $98.1 million compared to $83.4 million for the same period in 2020.  Our consolidated operating loss was $0.5 million compared to $7.0 million for the same period in 2020.  The items impacting our operating results are discussed in more detail below and under “Results of Operations.”

Items Affecting Comparability of Results of the First Quarter

Selling Prices

For the first quarter of 2021, average agricultural selling prices for our ammonia increased 18% while UAN and HDAN selling prices increased slightly compared to the first quarter of 2020. As discussed above under “Forward Sales Contracts”, our selling prices were below spot market prices since most of these sales were pursuant to forward sales contracts during the first quarter of 2021.  Ammonia prices have improved due to contracted inventory levels in North America driven by higher demand and from numerous plant outages caused primarily by the extreme cold weather event during February.

For the first three months of 2021, average industrial selling prices for most of our products were higher compared to the same period of 2020, primarily driven by the $98 per metric ton increase in the Tampa Ammonia benchmark price, as many of our industrial contracts are indexed to the Tampa Ammonia benchmark price.  As for our mining products, average selling prices for our products increased as mining activity improves in addition to certain of our mining contracts are linked to natural gas indexes and as the cost of natural gas increases, the pricing for these products increases accordingly.

Settlement of Natural Gas Contracts

As discussed above under “Recent Business Developments”, during the first quarter of 2021, we settled all of our natural gas forward contracts and certain volume purchase commitments and recognized a realized gain of approximately $6.8 million, which is classified as a reduction to cost of sales. As a result of the settlement of these natural gas contracts, we were able to significantly mitigate the impact from lost production, lost sales and higher costs resulting from the impact of the natural gas shortage caused by the February cold weather event.

Legal Fees-Leidos

For the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, certain legal fees were approximately $0.9 million and $3.3 million, respectively.  These fees relate to claims we are pursuing against Leidos to recover damages and losses associated with the construction of the ammonia plant at the El Dorado Facility as discussed in footnote B of Note 5.  Due to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial date has been delayed. We are awaiting a new trial date.  

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Results of Operations

The following Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and accompanying notes and the discussions under “Overview” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in this MD&A.

We present the following information about our results of operations.  Net sales to unaffiliated customers are reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and gross profit represents net sales less cost of sales.  Net sales are reported on a gross basis with the cost of freight being recorded in cost of sales.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

The following table contains certain financial information: