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NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2010 February (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark one)

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2010

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                     to                     .

 

Commission File Number:  001-11038

 


 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

41-0857886
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

4201 Woodland Rd

Circle Pines, Minnesota  55014

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(763) 225-6600
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES  x  NO  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant 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 Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  YES  o NO  o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company x

 

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

 

As of April 13, 2010, 4,240,679 shares of common stock of the registrant were outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

February 28, 2010

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Description

 

Page

 

 

 

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 28, 2010 (unaudited) and August 31, 2009

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the Three and Six Months Ended February 28, 2010 and 2009

4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Six Months Ended February 28, 2010 and 2009

5

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

6-13

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

14-25

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

26

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

26

 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

26

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

26

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

26

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

27

 

 

 

Item 4.

Reserved

27

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

27

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

28

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

29

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

30

 


 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections.  For more information, see “Part I. Financial Information — Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations— Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

As used in this report, references to “NTIC,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” unless the context otherwise requires, refer to Northern Technologies International Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries — NTI Facilities, Inc., Northern Technologies Holding Company, LLC and React-NTI, LLC, all of which are consolidated on NTIC’s financial statements.

 

All trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this report are the property of their respective owners.

 



Table of Contents

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2010 (UNAUDITED) AND AUGUST 31, 2009

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

August 31,
2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,334,389

 

$

138,885

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade excluding corporate joint ventures, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $79,000 at February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2009

 

1,971,099

 

1,373,802

 

Trade corporate joint ventures

 

1,218,252

 

662,954

 

Technical and other services, corporate joint ventures

 

1,646,138

 

1,760,602

 

Income taxes

 

269,935

 

173,038

 

Inventories

 

2,482,006

 

2,002,622

 

Prepaid expenses

 

216,168

 

138,086

 

Deferred income taxes

 

218,900

 

218,900

 

Total current assets

 

9,356,887

 

6,468,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

3,487,272

 

3,542,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in corporate joint ventures:

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial chemical

 

14,647,708

 

13,727,097

 

Industrial non-chemical

 

322,344

 

337,025

 

Deferred income taxes

 

1,336,700

 

1,336,700

 

Notes receivable

 

140,000

 

140,000

 

Industrial patents and trademarks, net

 

948,525

 

888,065

 

Other

 

36,007

 

42,975

 

 

 

17,431,284

 

16,471,862

 

 

 

$

30,275,443

 

$

26,482,920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings made on line of credit

 

$

 

$

1,077,000

 

Current portion of note payable (Note 6)

 

1,162,807

 

1,179,973

 

Accounts payable

 

1,191,754

 

630,363

 

Accrued liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Payroll and related benefits

 

595,871

 

261,579

 

Deferred joint venture royalties

 

288,000

 

288,000

 

Other

 

301,040

 

304,202

 

Total current liabilities

 

3,539,472

 

3,741,117

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 4,240,679 and 3,756,596, respectively

 

84,814

 

75,132

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

8,937,843

 

5,631,767

 

Retained earnings

 

16,110,308

 

15,327,962

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

1,603,006

 

1,706,942

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

26,735,971

 

22,741,803

 

 

 

$

30,275,443

 

$

26,482,920

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2010 AND 2009

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

2,876,478

 

$

1,734,170

 

$

5,587,880

 

$

5,005,114

 

Cost of goods sold

 

1,840,647

 

1,155,436

 

3,598,143

 

3,448,403

 

Gross profit

 

1,035,831

 

578,734

 

1,989,737

 

1,556,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling

 

555,270

 

575,796

 

1,116,922

 

1,346,366

 

General and administrative

 

839,235

 

644,524

 

1,759,264

 

1,585,962

 

Lab and technical support

 

32,483

 

31,395

 

67,600

 

37,462

 

Loss on impairment

 

 

554,000

 

 

554,000

 

 

 

1,426,988

 

1,805,715

 

2,943,786

 

3,523,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORTH AMERICAN OPERATING LOSS

 

(391,157

)

(1,226,981

)

(954,049

)

(1,967,079

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES AND HOLDING COMPANIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in income of industrial chemical corporate joint ventures and holding companies

 

677,882

 

23,026

 

1,402,338

 

678,558

 

Equity in income (loss) of industrial non-chemical corporate joint ventures and holding companies

 

13,805

 

(24,054

)

(4,752

)

(20,820

)

Fees for technical support and other services provided to corporate joint ventures

 

1,149,338

 

617,850

 

2,301,268

 

1,938,569

 

Expenses incurred in support of corporate joint ventures and new technologies

 

(1,183,516

)

(1,317,028

)

(2,040,082

)

(2,495,062

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM ALL CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES AND HOLDING COMPANIES

 

657,509

 

(700,206

)

1,658,772

 

101,245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST INCOME

 

3,247

 

874

 

4,743

 

1,319

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

(23,783

)

(42,440

)

(49,770

)

(74,338

)

OTHER INCOME

 

6,825

 

6,824

 

13,650

 

13,650

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

 

(5,772

)

 

3,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

252,641

 

(1,967,691

)

673,346

 

(1,921,805

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME TAX BENEFIT

 

(94,000

)

(454,000

)

(109,000

)

(421,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

346,641

 

$

(1,513,691

)

$

782,346

 

$

(1,500,805

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.08

 

$

(0.41

)

$

0.19

 

$

(0.40

)

Diluted

 

$

0.08

 

$

(0.41

)

$

0.19

 

$

(0.40

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES ASSUMED OUTSTANDING:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

4,240,679

 

3,750,970

 

4,194,887

 

3,743,124

 

Diluted

 

4,286,372

 

3,750,970

 

4,225,907

 

3,743,124

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2010 AND 2009

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

782,346

 

$

(1,500,805

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Expensing of fair value of stock options vested

 

94,210

 

50,000

 

Change in allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

20,000

 

Depreciation expense

 

189,072

 

193,295

 

Amortization expense

 

77,144

 

73,101

 

Loss on asset impairment

 

 

554,000

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

 

46,302

 

Minority interest expense

 

 

(3,398

)

Equity in income from corporate joint ventures:

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial chemical

 

(1,402,338

)

(678,558

)

Industrial non-chemical

 

4,752

 

20,820

 

Change in current assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade excluding corporate joint ventures

 

(479,378

)

775,013

 

Trade corporate joint ventures

 

(555,298

)

(634,208

)

Technical and other services receivables, corporate joint ventures

 

114,464

 

1,179,222

 

Income taxes

 

(96,897

)

(647,926

)

Inventories

 

(479,384

)

263,744

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

(71,114

)

(82,251

)

Income taxes payable

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

561,391

 

(624,317

)

Accrued liabilities

 

(25,257

)

(466,738

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(1,286,287

)

(1,462,704

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends received from corporate joint ventures

 

269,801

 

2,177,687

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(134,175

)

(169,204

)

Additions to industrial patents

 

(137,604

)

(20,194

)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

(1,978

)

1,988,289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Bank overdrafts

 

 

(1,039,757

)

Net borrowings(repayments) made on line of credit

 

(1,077,000

)

513,000

 

Repayment of note payable

 

(17,166

)

(15,043

)

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

 

3,552,000

 

 

Stock options exercised

 

9,225

 

 

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan

 

16,710

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

2,483,769

 

(541,800

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

1,195,504

 

(16,215

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

138,885

 

260,460

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

1,334,389

 

$

244,245

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.         INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all necessary adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, and present fairly the consolidated financial position of Northern Technologies International Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of February 28, 2010 and the results of their operations for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009 and their cash flows for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009 and with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section appearing in this report.  Operating results for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 31, 2010.

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events occurring through April 13, 2010, the date on which this quarterly report on Form 10-Q was issued.

 

2.         INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

August 31,
2009

 

Production materials

 

$

1,095,278

 

$

947,677

 

Finished goods

 

1,386,728

 

1,054,945

 

 

 

$

2,482,006

 

$

2,002,622

 

 

3.         PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

August 31,
2009

 

Land

 

$

310,365

 

$

310,365

 

Buildings and improvements

 

3,083,599

 

3,083,598

 

Machinery and equipment

 

1,720,215

 

1,641,878

 

 

 

5,114,179

 

5,035,841

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

(1,626,907

)

(1,493,672

)

 

 

$

3,487,272

 

$

3,542,169

 

 

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4.         INDUSTRIAL PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS, NET

 

Industrial patents and trademarks consisted of the following:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

August 31,
2009

 

Patents and trademarks

 

$

1,567,956

 

$

1,430,352

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

(619,431

)

(542,287

)

 

 

$

948,525

 

$

888,065

 

 

Patent and trademark costs are amortized over seven years once a patent or trademark is filed and approved.  Amortization expense related to patents and trademarks was $38,669 and $29,721 for the three months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $77,144 and $63,683 for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009, respectively.  Amortization expense is estimated to approximate $160,000 in each of the next five fiscal years.

 

5.             INVESTMENTS IN CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES

 

Composite financial information from the audited and unaudited financial statements of the Company’s joint ventures carried on the equity basis is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

August 31,
2009

 

Current assets

 

$

47,413,069

 

$

43,863,290

 

Total assets

 

53,734,114

 

50,224,882

 

Current liabilities

 

16,237,522

 

17,260,943

 

Noncurrent liabilities

 

4,372,544

 

2,325,943

 

Joint ventures’ equity

 

33,124,048

 

30,637,996

 

Northern Technologies International Corporation’s share of corporate joint ventures’ equity

 

$

14,970,052

 

$

14,064,122

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

Net sales

 

$

39,854,071

 

$

32,476,685

 

Gross profit

 

19,676,755

 

15,006,248

 

Net income

 

2,924,795

 

1,065,614

 

Northern Technologies International Corporation’s share of equity in income of corporate joint ventures

 

$

1,397,586

 

$

657,732

 

 

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign joint ventures are prepared using accounting principles accepted in the joint ventures’ respective countries of domicile.  Amounts related to foreign joint ventures reported in the above tables and the accompanying financial statements have been adjusted to approximate U.S. GAAP in all material respects.  All material profits recorded on sales from the Company to its joint ventures have been eliminated for financial reporting purposes.

 

6.         CORPORATE DEBT

 

The Company has a demand line of credit of $2,300,000 with National City Bank (the “Bank”).  Advances made under the demand line of credit are made at the sole discretion of the Bank and are due and payable on demand.  Outstanding amounts under the demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%. 

 

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As of February 28, 2010, the interest rate was 3.08% and the weighted average rate was 3.36% for the six months ended February 28, 2010.  As of February 28, 2009, the interest rate was 4.23% and the weighted average rate was 5.10% for the six months ended February 28, 2009.  Interest is payable in arrears on the 15th day of each month and on demand. There were no amounts outstanding under the demand line of credit and no amounts were committed under the line of credit to cover letters of credit as of February 28, 2010.  As of February 28, 2009, NTIC had $599,000 borrowings under its $2,300,000 demand line of credit and $600,000 was committed under the demand line of credit to cover a letter of credit.

 

In connection with the purchase of its corporate headquarters, in September 2006, the Company obtained a term loan with a principal amount of $1,275,000 that matures on May 1, 2011, bears interest at a fixed rate of 8.01% and is payable in 59 monthly payments equal to approximately $10,776 (inclusive of principal and interest).  All of the remaining unpaid principal and accrued interest is due and payable on the maturity date, unless the Bank demands payment earlier due to a covenant breach by the Company as discussed in more detail below.  The term loan is secured by a first lien on the Company’s Circle Pines facility pursuant to a Mortgage dated as of May 3, 2006 between Northern Technologies Holding Company LLC and the Bank and is guaranteed by the Company.

 

Under the note governing the term loan (the “Note”), the Company is subject to a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.0:1.0.  At August 31, 2009, November 30, 2009 and February 28, 2010, the Company failed to meet this financial covenant.  Although the Bank subsequently waived the covenant violation as of August 31, 2009, the Company has not sought and has not obtained a waiver of any subsequent covenant violations from the Bank.  As a result, an event of default occurred under the Note and the Bank has the right in its discretion, by giving written notice to the Company, to declare the full amount outstanding under the Note immediately due and payable in full. The Company has no intention to obtain a waiver for the event of default or desire to renegotiate or refinance the term loan.  The Company has not received any notice from the Bank regarding the Bank’s intent to call the loan.  In the event the Bank declares the Note immediately due and payable, the Company intends to pay off the Note in full with the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents. The Company has classified all amounts outstanding under the Note as a current liability on its consolidated balance sheets as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2009.

 

7.         STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

During the six months ended February 28, 2010, the Company did not purchase or retire any shares of its common stock.  The following stock options to purchase shares of common stock were exercised during the six months ended February 28, 2010:

 

Options Exercised

 

Exercise Price

 

1,500

 

$

6.15

 

 

The Company granted stock options under the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan to purchase an aggregate of 128,333 shares of its common stock to various employees during the six months ended February 28, 2010.  The weighted average per share exercise price of the stock options is $7.76, which is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

 

The Company sold an aggregate of 2,583 shares of its common stock to various employees at a purchase price of $6.47 per share under the Northern Technologies International Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan, resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $16,710, during the six months ended February 28, 2010.

 

In September 2009, the Company completed a $3,552,000 registered direct offering in which it sold an aggregate of 480,000 shares of its common stock to institutional investors at a purchase price of $7.40 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $3,195,613, after deducting placement agent fees and expenses and the Company’s offering expenses.

 

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During the six months ended February 28, 2009, the Company did not purchase or retire any shares of its common stock and no stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised or granted.  The Company granted stock bonuses under the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for an aggregate of 21,513 shares of its common stock to various employees during the six months ended February 28, 2009.  The fair value of the shares of the Company’s common stock as of the date of grant of the stock bonuses was $226,961, based on the closing sale price of a share of the Company’s common stock on that date.  The Company did not sell any shares of its common stock to employees under the Northern Technologies International Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the six months ended February 28, 2009.

 

8.         TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

 

The Company’s total comprehensive (loss) income was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

346,641

 

$

(1,513,691

)

$

782,346

 

$

(1,500,805

)

Other comprehensive (loss) income — foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(678,744

)

(208,102

)

(103,936

)

(1,787,060

)

Total comprehensive (loss) income

 

$

(332,103

)

$

(1,721,793

)

$

678,410

 

$

(3,287,865

)

 

9.         NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

 

Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income (loss) per share assumes the exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method, if dilutive.

 

Options to purchase shares of common stock of 64,140 and 149,472 were excluded from the computation of common share equivalents as of February 29, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as stock option exercise prices were greater than market price of a share of common stock.

 

10.       STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

In January 2007, the Company’s stockholders approved the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) and the Northern Technologies International Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”).  The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers both of the plans.

 

The 2007 Plan replaced the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, which was terminated with respect to future grants, but continues to govern grants outstanding under such plan.  The 2007 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock unit awards, performance awards and stock bonuses to eligible recipients to enable the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain qualified individuals through opportunities for equity participation in the Company, and to reward those individuals who contribute to the achievement of the Company’s economic objectives.  Up to a total of 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock has been reserved for issuance under the 2007 Plan, subject to adjustment as provided in the 2007 Plan.  Options granted under the 2007 Plan generally have a term of five years and become exercisable over a three- or four-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant.  Options are granted at per share exercise prices equal to the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  To date, only stock options and stock bonuses have been granted under the 2007 Plan.

 

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The maximum number of shares of common stock of the Company available for issuance under the ESPP is 100,000 shares, subject to adjustment as provided in the ESPP.  The ESPP provides for six-month offering periods beginning on September 1 and March 1 of each year.  The purchase price of the shares is 90% of the lower of the fair market value of common stock at the beginning or end of the offering period.  This discount may not exceed the maximum discount rate permitted for plans of this type under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The ESPP is compensatory for financial reporting purposes.

 

The Company granted options to purchase 128,333 and 30,000 shares of its common stock during the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The fair value of option grants is determined at date of grant, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the assumptions listed below.  Based on these valuations, the Company recognized compensation expense of $94,210 and $50,000 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to the options that vested during such time period.  The stock-based expense recorded reduced after-tax net income per share by $0.02 and $0.01 for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  As of February 28, 2010, the total compensation cost for non-vested options not yet recognized in the Company’s statements of income was $356,624, net of estimated forfeitures.  Additional stock-based compensation expense of $94,210 is expected through the remainder of fiscal year 2010, and expense of $150,820 and $111,594 is expected to be recognized during fiscal 2011 and 2012, respectively.  Future option grants will impact the compensation expense recognized.

 

The Company currently estimates a ten percent forfeiture rate for stock options, but will continue to review this estimate in future periods.

 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions and results for the grants:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

Dividend yield

 

0

%

2.00

%

Expected volatility

 

48.3

%

46.7

%

Expected life of option

 

5 years

 

5 years

 

Average risk-free interest rate

 

2.34

%

2.88

%

 

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009 was $2.99 and $4.78, respectively.

 

11.       GEOGRAPHIC AND SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

Net sales by geographic location as a percentage of total consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

Inside the U.S.A. to unaffiliated customers

 

79.6

%

74.0

%

77.4

%

81.7

%

Outside the U.S.A. to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate joint ventures in which the Company is a shareholder directly and indirectly

 

18.0

%

21.2

 

18.7

 

14.2

 

Unaffiliated customers

 

2.4

%

4.8

 

3.9

 

4.1

 

 

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

Net sales by geographic location are based on the location of the customer.

 

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The following table sets forth the Company’s net sales for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009 by segment:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

ZERUST® sales

 

$

2,785,452

 

$

1,727,845

 

$

5,413,009

 

$

4,512,380

 

Natur-Tec™ sales

 

91,026

 

2,692

 

174,871

 

485,009

 

React-NTI sales

 

 

3,633

 

 

7,725

 

Total North American net sales

 

$

2,876,478

 

$

1,734,170

 

$

5,587,880

 

$

5,005,114

 

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s cost of sales for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009 by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

% of
Product
Sales*

 

February 28,
2009

 

% of
Product
Sales*

 

February 28,
2010

 

% of
Product
Sales*

 

February 28,
2009

 

% of
Product

Sales*

 

Direct cost of sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZERUST® cost of sales

 

$

1,484,292

 

53.3

%

$

918,107

 

53.1

%

$

2,902,261

 

53.6

%

$

2,512,303

 

55.7

%

Natur-Tec™ cost of sales

 

59,929

 

68.0

%

1,977

 

73.4

%

118,947

 

68.0

%

401,165

 

82.7

%

React-NTI cost of sales

 

 

 

1,733

 

47.7

%

 

 

4,120

 

53.3

%

Indirect cost of sales

 

295,966

 

 

233,619

 

 

576,936

 

 

530,815

 

 

Total North American net cost of sales

 

$

1,840,647

 

 

 

$

1,155,436

 

 

 

$

3,598,143

 

 

 

$

3,448, 403

 

 

 

 


* The percent of segment sales is calculated by dividing the direct cost of sales for each individual segment category by the net sales for each segment category.

 

The Company’s management utilizes product net sales and direct and indirect cost of goods sold for each product in reviewing the financial performance of a product type.  Further allocation of Company expenses or assets, aside from amounts presented in the tables above, is not utilized in evaluating product performance, nor does such allocation occur for internal financial reporting.

 

The foregoing geographic and segment information represents only sales by the Company’s North American operations.  Although sales to the Company’s corporate joint ventures are included, sales by the Company’s corporate joint ventures to other parties are not included.

 

12.  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

During the year ended August 31, 2009, the Company was awarded multiple research and development contracts.  The Company accrues proceeds received under the grants and offsets research and development expenses incurred in equal installments over the timelines associated with completion of the grants specific objectives and milestones. At February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2009, the Company deferred amounts received of $204,543 and $145,562, respectively, in other accrued liabilities, as the Company had not yet performed under the obligations of the contracts.

 

The Company expenses all costs related to product research and development as incurred.  The Company incurred $1,565,698 and $1,567,296 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in connection with its research and development activities.  These costs related to product research and development are the net amount after being reduced by reimbursements related to the awarding of the multiple research and development contracts of $286,479 and $0 for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The net fees are accounted for in the “Expenses incurred in support of corporate joint ventures” section of statements of operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

13.       COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

On November 20, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the material terms of an annual bonus plan for the Company’s executive officers and certain employees for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2010, the purpose of which is to align the interests of the Company, its executive officers and stockholders by providing an incentive for the achievement of key corporate and individual performance measures that are critical to the success of the Company and linking a significant portion of each executive officer’s annual compensation to the achievement of such measures.  The following is a brief summary of the material terms approved by the Board:

 

·                  The total amount available under the bonus plan will be up to 25% of the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes and other income (EBITOI);

 

·                  The total amount available under the cash bonus plan will be $0 if EBITOI, as adjusted to take into account amounts to be paid under the bonus plan, fall below 70% of target EBITOI; and

 

·                  The payment of bonuses under the plan will be purely discretionary and will be paid to executive officer participants in both cash and stock, the exact amount and percentages of which will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee.

 

There was a $266,311 management bonus accrued at February 28, 2010.  There was no management bonus accrued as of February 28, 2009.

 

In fiscal 1999, a subsidiary of the Company, NTI Facilities, Inc., acquired a one-third ownership of Omni-Northern Ltd., which owns and operates a rental property located at 23205 Mercantile Road, Beachwood, Ohio.  The property has an approximate value of $2,205,000, based upon the cash-to-mortgage acquisition price of the property paid in fiscal 2000.  The Company has guaranteed up to $329,082 of Omni-Northern Ltd.’s $1,903,571 mortgage obligation with National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio.  The building is fully leased at present.

 

In April 2007, REACT-NTI, LLC (“React LLC”), a company that is 75% owned by the Company, was served with a summons and complaint that was filed by Shamrock Technologies, Inc. (“Shamrock”) in state court in New York.  This case has been removed to the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York.  The lawsuit seeks payment from React LLC of commissions in the approximate amount of $314,500 owed by React LLC under a license agreement between React LLC and Shamrock.  The complaint alleges breach of the license agreement by React LLC and seeks damages in an unspecified amount for such breach as well as damages of approximately $300,000 for the alleged failure of React LLC to purchase from Shamrock certain inventory manufactured for sale to a customer.  Shamrock further claims lost profits with respect to sales made by Shamrock that were manufactured by parties other than React LLC.  React LLC acknowledges that React LLC has not made payment for product in the approximate amount of $300,000 to Shamrock as the invoice for this was only received after Shamrock had already filed its complaint, but denies all of the claims of breach of the license agreement by it and believes that damages caused by Shamrock’s breach of the license agreement and tortious conduct exceed any amounts owing to Shamrock.  React LLC formally responded to the complaint after removal by moving to dismiss or stay because of Shamrock’s failure to comply with alternative dispute resolution procedures contained in the license agreement.  By court order, the matter was stayed so that the parties could attempt mediation.  The parties mediated for one day and were unsuccessful in resolving the matter. The parties proceeded with discovery, exchanging answers to interrogatories and documents, and the parties also obtained documents by subpoena from third parties.  With more complete information, the parties decided to dismiss their respective claims without prejudice and return to mediation.  A mediation session was held on December 4, 2008, and the parties continued to negotiate through the mediator thereafter without any final agreement by either party.  Because the mediation and negotiation process did not result in a final settlement, there can be no permanent assurance at the present time that the matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations at some

 

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Table of Contents

 

point in the future, however, at this point in time the Company has not recorded any loss accruals related to this matter.

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal actions arising in the normal course of business.  Management is of the opinion that any judgment or settlement resulting from any currently pending or threatened actions would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or consolidated results of operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 2.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides material historical and prospective disclosures intended to enable investors and other users to assess NTIC’s financial condition and results of operations.  Statements that are not historical are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “Part I. Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Forward-Looking Statements.” The following discussion of the results of the operations and financial condition of NTIC should be read in conjunction with NTIC’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included under the heading “Part I. Item 1.  Financial Statements.

 

General Overview

 

NTIC develops and markets proprietary environmentally beneficial products and technical services in over 50 countries either directly or via a network of joint ventures and independent distributors.  NTIC’s primary business is corrosion prevention.  From this base, NTIC has expanded into three new business areas that have started recently to generate revenue (1) corrosion prevention technologies specifically designed for the oil and gas industry, which NTIC sells both directly as well as through joint ventures and independent agents; (2) a proprietary portfolio of bio-plastic compounds and finished products marketed under the Natur-Tec® brand, which NTIC sells directly as well as through distributors and independent agents; and (3) technology and machines that converts waste plastic into diesel, gasoline and heavy fractions, which is exclusively licensed and sold in North America and Asia through NTIC’s joint venture Polymer Energy, LLC.

 

NTIC participates, either directly or indirectly through holding companies, in 27 active corporate joint venture arrangements in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Each of these joint ventures generally manufactures and markets finished products in the geographic territory to which it is assigned.  While most of NTIC’s joint ventures currently sell rust and corrosion inhibiting products and custom packaging systems, NTIC also has joint ventures that manufacture, market and sell corrosion prevention technology for the oil and gas industry and the Polymer Energy™ technology and equipment that converts waste plastic into diesel, gasoline, and heavy fractions.  The profits of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures are shared by the respective corporate joint venture owners in accordance with their respective ownership percentages.  NTIC typically owns 50% of its joint venture entities.  NTIC does not control the decisions of its joint venture entities regarding whether to pay dividends or how much to pay in dividends in any given year. NTIC funds its joint venture investments with cash generated from operations.

 

NTIC has been selling its proprietary ZERUST® and EXCOR® brand rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets for over 30 years.  NTIC also offers worldwide on-site technical consulting for rust and corrosion prevention issues.  In North America, NTIC markets its technical services and products principally to industrial users by a direct sales force as well as a network of independent distributors and agents.  NTIC’s technical service consultants work directly with the end users of NTIC’s products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their technical requirements.

 

NTIC has developed proprietary corrosion inhibiting technologies for use in the mitigation of corrosion on capital assets used in the petroleum and process chemical industry and is initially targeting the sale of these new ZERUST® products to the oil and gas industry sector.  During fiscal 2009, NTIC announced the signing of a multi-year contract between NTIC’s Brazilian joint venture (Zerust Prevencao de Corrosao S.A.) and Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) to install and service proprietary corrosion protection technologies on the roofs of an initial set of aboveground oil storage tanks at the Petrobras REDUC refinery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Also during fiscal 2009, NTIC signed multiple joint research and development contracts with Petrobras’s research and development group at the Leopoldo Américo Miguez de Mello Research & Development Center (CENPES) pursuant to which the parties

 

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Table of Contents

 

will undertake a 20-month Petrobras funded effort to explore, understand and resolve bottom plate corrosion issues in aboveground storage tanks.  A second 12-month Petrobras sponsored project has also started aimed at field trials of certain pipeline protection technologies.  NTIC also is pursuing opportunities to market its ZERUST® corrosion prevention technology to other potential customers in the oil and gas industry across several countries through NTIC’s joint venture partners and other strategic partners.  NTIC believes the sale of its ZERUST® products to customers in the oil and gas industry will involve a long sales cycle, likely including a one- to two-year trial period with each customer and a slow integration process thereafter.

 

In addition to ZERUST® products and services, NTIC develops and markets a portfolio of bio-based and/or biodegradable (compostable) polymer resin compounds and finished products under the Natur-Tec® brand.  These products are intended to reduce NTIC’s customers’ carbon footprint and provide environmentally sound disposal options.  Natur-Tec® bio-based and biodegradable plastics are manufactured using NTIC’s patented and/or proprietary technologies and are intended to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics.  The Natur-Tec® bioplastics portfolio includes flexible film, foam, rigid injection molded materials and engineered plastics. Natur-Tec® biodegradable and compostable finished products include shopping and grocery bags, lawn and leaf bags, can liners, pet waste collection bags, cutlery, packaging foam and coated paper products and are engineered to be fully biodegradable in a composting environment.

 

NTIC’s Polymer Energy LLC joint venture markets and sells a system that uses catalytic pyrolysis to convert plastic waste (primarily polyolefins) into hydrocarbons (primarily a mix of diesels, gasoline and heavy fractions) resulting in an economically viable and environmentally responsible alternative to current methods of recycling and disposal of plastic waste.  Each unit can process up to ten tons of plastic waste per day, and the modular design allows for easily scalable capacity.  The crude output is high-grade and can be further processed in a refinery or used as an input for co-generation of electricity.

 

Financial Overview

 

NTIC’s consolidated net sales increased 65.9% and 11.6% during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to the three and six months ended February 28, 2009, respectively.  The increase was primarily as a result of increased sales of ZERUST® and EXCOR® rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products and services.  During the six months ended February 28, 2010, 96.9% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from sales of ZERUST® and EXCOR® rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products and services.  Net sales of ZERUST® products increased 20.0% to $5,413,009 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $4,512,380 during the six months ended February 28, 2009 due to increased demand primarily as a result of the economic recovery of the domestic manufacturing sector. NTIC experienced a significant decrease in sales orders during its second quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to the prior year period due to the then economic recession.  Although NTIC experienced decreased sales from its existing customers during that time period, NTIC does not believe it lost any significant customers.   Due to an economic recovery of the domestic manufacturing sector to some extent, NTIC experienced an increase in sales orders from existing customers during the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and received sales orders from several new customers due in part to its efforts during the past year to expand further out of its traditional core automotive markets.  Additionally, NTIC has focused efforts to develop new product offerings to its existing customer base in an effort to increase sales to existing customers.

 

During the six months ended February 28, 2010, 3.1% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from the sales of its Natur-Tec® products compared to 9.7% during the six months ended February 28, 2009.  Net sales of Natur-Tec® products decreased by 63.9% to $174,871 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $485,009 during the six months ended February 28, 2009.  This decrease was primarily due to several large stocking orders of Natur-Tec® products received during the three months ended November 30, 2009.  Net sales of Natur-Tec® products increased $85,447 during the three months ended February 28, 2010 to $88,139 compared to $2,692 during the three months ended February 28, 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales decreased to 64.4% for the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to 68.9% for the six months ended February 28, 2009 primarily as a result of decreased raw material costs for ZERUST® products and higher sales volumes.

 

Total net sales of all of NTIC’s joint ventures increased 22.7% to $39,854,071 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $32,476,685 during the six months ended February 28, 2009 primarily as a result of increased demand for ZERUST® products due to the global economic recovery.  NTIC recognized an 18.7% increase in fee income for technical and support services as a result of the increase in total net sales of the joint ventures, along with an 18.2% decrease in direct joint venture expense.  NTIC’s equity in income of corporate joint ventures and holding companies increased 112.5% to $1,397,586 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $657,732 during the six months ended February 28, 2009.  NTIC’s total income from its corporate joint ventures and holding companies increased 1,538.4% to $1,658,772 for the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $101,245 for the six months ended February 28, 2009.

 

NTIC has been awarded multiple research and development contracts.  NTIC accrues proceeds received under the grants and offsets research and development expenses incurred in equal installments over the timelines associated with completion of the grants’ specific objectives and milestones.  At February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2009, NTIC deferred amounts received of $286,479 and $145,562 in other accrued liabilities, as NTIC had not yet completed all of the necessary performance under the obligations of the contracts.

 

NTIC expenses all costs related to product research and development as incurred.  NTIC incurred $1,565,698 and $1,567,296 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in connection with its research and development activities.  These costs related to product research and development are the net amount after being reduced by reimbursements related to the awarding of the multiple research and development contracts of $286,479 and $0 for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.   NTIC anticipates that it will spend between $3,000,000 and $3,500,000 in total during fiscal 2010 on research and development activities related to its new technologies.  The net fees are accounted for in the “Expenses incurred in support of corporate joint ventures” section of NTIC’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

Net income was $782,346, or $0.18 per diluted common share, for the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to a loss of $(1,500,805), or a loss of $(0.40) per diluted common share, for the six months ended February 28, 2009.  This return to profitability was primarily the result of the significant increase in sales from NTIC’s North American operations and the significant increase in income from corporate joint ventures.  Additionally, most of the cost control initiatives that NTIC initiated during second quarter of fiscal 2009 remained in place through the first two quarters of fiscal 2010.  However, in January 2010, salary cuts that were made in January 2009 were reinstated and NTIC began hiring employees to fill positions that were previously cut during the economic downturn.  NTIC believes the hiring of such additional personnel was necessary meet anticipated increased demand from new sales efforts being made in both NTIC’s ZERUST oil & gas business and with Natur-Tec business.  In addition, $554,000 of the loss for the six months ended February 28, 2009 was attributable to a loss on impairment relating to NTIC’s React-NTI joint venture.

 

NTIC’s working capital was $5,817,415 at February 28, 2010, including $1,334,389 in cash and cash equivalents.  As of February 28, 2010, NTIC had no borrowings under its $2,300,000 demand line of credit.  NTIC expects to meet its future liquidity requirements during at least the next 12 months by using its existing cash and cash equivalents, forecasted cash flows from future operations, distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees to NTIC from its joint ventures and holding companies and funds available through existing or anticipated financing arrangements.  NTIC also may raise additional financing to help fund its new businesses through the issuance of debt or equity securities.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

Results of Operations

 

NTIC’s results of operations exclude the impact of its activities with its joint ventures and holding companies, other than its former joint venture React-NTIC LLC.  As explained in more detail in Note 1 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements contained in NTIC’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, the results of React-NTIC LLC are included in NTIC’s consolidated results of operations and thus included in the table below.  NTIC does not consolidate the results of its other joint ventures or holding companies.

 

The following table sets forth NTIC’s results of operations for the three months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009.

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

% of
Net Sales

 

February 28,
2009

 

% of
Net Sales

 

$
Change

 

%
Change

 

Net sales

 

$

2,876,478

 

100.0

%

$

1,734,170

 

100.0

%

$

1,142,308

 

65.9

%

Cost of goods sold

 

1,840,647

 

64.0

%

1,155,436

 

66.6

%

685,211

 

59.3

%

Selling expenses

 

555,270

 

19.3

%

575,796

 

33.2

%

(20,526

)

79.0

%

General and administrative expenses

 

839,235

 

29.2

%

644,524

 

37.2

%

194,711

 

0.0

%

Lab and technical support expenses

 

32,483

 

1.1

%

31,395

 

1.8

%

1,088

 

0.0

%

Loss on impairment

 

 

 

554,000

 

32.0

%

(554,000

)

(3.6

)%

 

The following table sets forth NTIC’s results of operations for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009.

 

 

 

Six Months
Ended

February 28,
2010

 

% of
Net Sales

 

Six Months
Ended
February 28,
2009

 

% of
Net Sales

 

$
Change

 

%
Change

 

Net sales

 

$

5,587,880

 

100.0

%

$

5,005,114

 

100.0

%

$

582,766

 

11.6

%

Cost of goods sold

 

3,598,143

 

64.4

%

3,448,403

 

68.9

%

149,740

 

4.3

%

Selling expenses

 

1,116,922

 

20.0

%

1,346,366

 

26.9

%

(229,444

)

27.8

%

General and administrative expenses

 

1,759,264

 

31.5

%

1,585,962

 

31.7

%

173,302

 

0.0

%

Lab and technical support expenses

 

67,600

 

1.2

%

37,462

 

0.8

%

30,138

 

0.0

%

Loss on impairment

 

 

 

554,000

 

32.0

%

(554,000

)

(17.0

)%

 

Net Sales. NTIC’s consolidated net sales increased 65.9% and 11.6% during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to the three and six months ended February 28, 2009, respectively.  The increase was primarily as a result of increased sales of ZERUST® and EXCOR® rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products and services.  During both the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, 96.9% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from sales of ZERUST® and EXCOR® rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products and services.  Net sales of ZERUST® products increased 20.0% to $5,413,009 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $4,512,380 during the six months ended February 28, 2009 and 61.2% to $2,785,452 during the three months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $1,727,845 during the three months ended February 28, 2009.  Both increases were due to increased demand primarily as a result of the economic recovery of the domestic manufacturing sector.  NTIC experienced a significant decrease in sales orders during its second quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to the prior year period due to the then economic recession.  Although NTIC experienced decreased sales from its existing customers during that time period, NTIC does not believe it lost any significant customers.   Due to some economic recovery of the domestic manufacturing sector, NTIC experienced an increase in sales orders from existing customers during the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and received sales orders from several new customers during the second quarter of fiscal 2010 due in part to its efforts during the past year to expand beyond its traditional core automotive markets.  Additionally, NTIC has focused efforts to develop new product offering to its existing customer base in an effort to increase sales to existing customers.

 

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During both the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, 3.1% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from the sales of its Natur-Tec® products compared to 0.2% and 9.7% during the three and six months end February 28, 2009, respectively.  Net sales of Natur-Tec® products decreased by 63.9% to $174,871 during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to $485,009 during the six months ended February 28, 2009.  This decrease was primarily due to several large stocking orders of Natur-Tec® products during the three months ended November 30, 2008.  Net sales of Natur-Tec® products increased $85,447 during the three months ended February 28, 2010 to $88,139 compared to $2,692 during the three months ended February 28, 2009.

 

The following table sets forth additional detail regarding NTIC’s net sales by product category for the three months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

$
Change

 

%
Change

 

ZERUST® sales

 

$

2,785,452

 

$

1,727,845

 

$

1,057,607

 

61.2

%

Natur-Tec® sales

 

91,026

 

2,692

 

88,334

 

3,280.9

%

React-NTI sales

 

 

3,633

 

(3,633

)

 

Total North American net sales

 

$

2,876,478

 

$

1,734,170

 

$

1,142,308

 

65.9

%

 

The following table sets forth additional detail regarding NTIC’s net sales by product category for the six months ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009:

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

$
Change

 

%
Change

 

ZERUST® sales

 

$

5,413,009

 

$

4,512,380

 

$

900,629

 

20.0

%

Natur-Tec® sales

 

174,871

 

485,009

 

(310,138

)

(63.9

)%

React-NTI sales

 

 

7,725

 

(7,725

)

 

Total North American net sales

 

$

5,587,880

 

$

5,005,114

 

$

582,766

 

11.6

%

 

Cost of Goods Sold.  Cost of goods sold increased 59.3% and 4.3% for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2009 primarily as a result of increased net sales as described above.  Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales decreased to 64.0% and 64.4% for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to 66.6% and 68.9% in the same respective periods in fiscal 2009 primarily as a result of the increase in net sales and decreases in raw material prices of the ZERUST® products.

 

Selling Expenses.  NTIC’s selling expenses decreased 3.6% for the three months ended February 28, 2010 compared to the same period in fiscal 2009 due to decreases in (i) consulting expense of $34,000, (iii) lab testing  related expenses of $41,000 and (iii) insurance expense of $17,000, partially offset by increases of salary and benefits of $62,000.  NTIC’s selling expenses decreased 17.0% for the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared the same period in fiscal 2009 due to decreases in (i) consulting expense of $65,000, (ii) advertising expense of $29,000, (iii) lab testing of $50,000 and (iv) sales and promotional expense of $30,000.  Selling expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 19.3% and 20.0% during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, from 33.2% and 26.9% during the same respective periods in fiscal 2009, due to the increase in net sales while holding costs stable or down.

 

General and Administrative Expenses.  NTIC’s general and administrative expenses increased 30.2% for the three months ended February 28, 2010 compared to the same period in fiscal 2009 due to increases in (i) auditing and tax expense of $45,000, (ii) stock option expense of $44,000, (iii) salaries and related benefits of $75,000.  NTIC’s general and administrative expenses increased 10.9% during the six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to the same period in fiscal 2009 as a result of the same general increases in expenses noted above during the three

 

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months ended February 28, 2010.  As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses decreased to 29.2% and 31.5% for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, from 37.2% and 31.7% during the same respective periods in fiscal 2009, primarily as a result of fixed general and administrative expenses spread over increased net sales and NTIC’s cost reduction efforts during the second quarter of fiscal 2009, many of which had remained in place during the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

 

NTIC includes expenses in general and administrative expenses that provide benefit to the various joint ventures in addition to providing benefit to NTIC’s North American operations, including specifically, expenses associated with information technology, general insurance, executive and non-executive salaries, bonuses and benefits, building expenses, audit and tax fees and expenses and directors fees and expenses.

 

Lab and Technical Support Expenses.  NTIC’s lab and technical support expenses increased 3.5% and 80.4% during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2009.  These increases were immaterial as lab and technical support expenses represented 1.1% and 1.2% as a percentage of net sales for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively.  As a percentage of net sales, lab and technical support expenses increased by a negligible amount during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2009.

 

International Corporate Joint Ventures and Holding Companies.  Net sales of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and holding companies for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

February 28,
2010

 

February 28,
2009

 

Industrial chemical

 

$

18,518,547

 

$

11,147,616

 

$

37,709,728

 

$

31,990,432

 

Non-industrial chemical

 

1,854,986

 

219,483

 

2,144,344

 

486,253

 

Total

 

$

20,373,533

 

$

11,367,099

 

$

39,854,072

 

$

32,476,685

 

 

The increase in net sales of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and holding companies in the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2009 were primarily a result of increased demand of ZERUST® and EXCOR® products as a result of the worldwide economic recovery.

 

NTIC receives fees for technical and other support services it provides to its corporate joint ventures and holding companies based on the revenues of the individual corporate joint ventures and holding companies.  The support and services NTIC provide its corporate joint ventures include consulting, travel, technical and marketing services to existing joint ventures, legal fees incurred in the establishment of new joint ventures, registration and promotion and legal defense of worldwide trademarks, and legal fees incurred in connection with the filing of patent applications.  NTIC recognized fee income for such support of $1,149,338, and $2,301,268 in the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to $617,850 and $1,938,569 during the same respective periods in fiscal 2009, an increase of 86.0% and 18.7%, respectively.  The increase in fees for technical and other support to its corporate joint ventures was due to the increase in net sales of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and holding companies.

 

NTIC sponsors a worldwide corporate joint venture conference approximately every three to four years in which all of its corporate joint ventures are invited to participate.  NTIC defers a portion of its technical and other support fees received from its corporate joint ventures in each accounting period leading up to the next conference, reflecting that NTIC has not fully earned the payments received during that period.  The next corporate joint venture conference is scheduled to be held in the fall of 2010 or spring of 2011.  There was no deferred income recorded within other accrued liabilities during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 related to this future conference since $288,000 had been accrued over the past three fiscal years, which represents the amount that NTIC expects to spend every three years to hold the conference.  This amount is based on the historical experience of NTIC, current conditions and the intentions of NTIC’s management.  NTIC does not anticipate

 

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deferring any additional technical and other support fees until after the next conference.  The costs associated with these joint venture conferences are offset against the deferral as incurred, generally in the period in which the conference is held and immediately before.

 

NTIC incurred direct expenses related to its corporate joint ventures and the holding companies of $1,183,516 and $2,040,082 during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to $1,317,028 and $2,495,062 during the same respective periods in fiscal 2009, a decrease of 10.1% and 18.2%, respectively.  These decreases during the six months ended February 28, 2010 were attributable to $286,000 of grants and research and development expense reimbursement received during the six months ended November 30, 2009.  Additionally, the decrease was attributable to decreases in (i) salary and benefit expense of $95,000, (ii) consulting expense of $181,000 and (iii) legal expenses of $100,000, partially offset by increases in miscellaneous expenses of $60,000.

 

NTIC had equity in income (loss) of corporate joint ventures and holding companies of $691,687 and $1,397,586 during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to $(1,028) and $657,738 in the same respective periods in fiscal 2009.  The increase in equity in income was due to increased profitability of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and holding companies primarily resulting from increased sales and cost control measures put in place during the last year, many of which remained in place during the most recent periods.

 

Interest Income.  NTIC’s interest income increased slightly to $3,247 and $4,743 during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to $874 and $1,319 during the same respective periods in fiscal 2009 primarily due to the increased cash balances earning interest during the most recent periods.

 

Interest Expense.  NTIC’s interest expense decreased slightly to $23,783 and $49,770 during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to $42,440 and $74,338 during the same respective periods in fiscal 2009 primarily due to lower average outstanding debt levels during the most recent periods.

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Expense.  Income (loss) before income tax expense was $252,641 and $673,346 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to $(1,967,690) and $(1,921,805) for the same respective periods in fiscal 2009.

 

Income Tax Benefit. Income tax benefit was $94,000 and $109,000 during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010, respectively, compared to income tax benefit of $454,000 and $421,000 in the same respective periods in fiscal 2009.  Income tax benefit was calculated based on management’s estimate of NTIC’s annual effective income tax rate.  NTIC’s annual effective income tax rate during the three and six months ended February 28, 2010 and 2009 was lower than the statutory rate primarily due to NTIC’s equity in income of corporate joint ventures being recognized based on after-tax earnings of these entities.  To the extent undistributed earnings of NTIC’s joint ventures are distributed to NTIC, it is not expected to result in any material additional income tax liability after the application of foreign tax credits. NTIC determined based on all available evidence, including historical data and projections of future results, that it is more likely than not that all of its deferred tax assets, except for its foreign tax credit carryforward and Minnesota state research and development credit carryforwards, will be fully realized and that NTIC’s deferred tax asset related to foreign tax credit carryforwards will not be realized due to insufficient federal taxable income within the carryforward period and the fact that for ordering purposes the foreign tax credit carryforwards are not allowed to be used until after any current year foreign tax credits are utilized.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Sources of Cash and Working Capital.  As of February 28, 2010, NTIC’s working capital was $5,817,415, including $1,334,389 in cash and cash equivalents, compared to working capital of $2,727,737 including $138,885 in cash and cash equivalents, as of August 31, 2009.

 

In September 2009, NTIC completed a $3,552,000 registered direct offering in which NTIC sold an aggregate of 480,000 shares of its common stock to institutional investors at a purchase price of $7.40 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $3,195,613, after deducting placement agent fees and expenses and NTIC’s offering expenses.  All of the shares were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement.

 

NTIC has a $2,300,000 demand line of credit with National City Bank.  Advances made under the demand line of credit are made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and are due and payable on demand.  Outstanding amounts under the demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  As of February 28, 2010, the interest rate was 3.08%.  Interest is payable in arrears on the 15th day of each month and on demand.  As of February 28, 2010, NTIC had no borrowings under the demand line of credit.

 

In September 2006, NTIC purchased the real estate and 40,000 square feet building in which its corporate headquarters is located pursuant to a like-kind exchange transaction within the meaning of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for a purchase price of $1,475,000.  To finance the transaction, NTIC obtained a secured term loan in the principal amount of $1,275,000.  The term loan matures on May 1, 2011, bears interest at a fixed rate of 8.01% and is payable in 59 monthly installments equal to approximately $10,776 (inclusive of principal and interest) commencing June 1, 2006.  All of the remaining unpaid principal and accrued interest is due and payable on the May 1, 2011 maturity date, unless the bank demands payment earlier due to a covenant breach by NTIC as discussed in more detail below.  The loan is secured by a first lien on the real estate and building.

 

Under the note governing the term, NTIC is subject to a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.0:1.0.  At August 31, 2009, November 30, 2009 and February 28, 2010, NTIC failed to meet this financial covenant.  Although the bank has subsequently waived the covenant violation as of August 31, 2009, NTIC has not sought or obtained a waiver of any subsequent covenant violations from the bank.  As a result, an event of default occurred under the note and the bank has the right in its discretion, by giving written notice to NTIC, to declare the full amount outstanding under the note immediately due and payable in full. NTIC has no intention to obtain a waiver for the event of default or desire to renegotiate or refinance the term loan.  NTIC has not received any notice from the bank regarding the bank’s intent to call the loan.  In the event the bank declares the note immediately due and payable, NTIC intends to pay off the note in full with existing cash and cash equivalents. NTIC has classified all amounts outstanding under the note as a current liability on its consolidated balance sheets as of February 28, 2010 and August 31, 2009.

 

NTIC believes that a combination of its existing cash and cash equivalents, forecasted cash flows from future operations, and anticipated distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees to NTIC from its joint venture investments and funds available through existing or anticipated financing arrangements, will be adequate to fund its existing operations, capital expenditures, debt repayments and any stock repurchases for at least the next 12 months.  During fiscal 2010, NTIC expects to continue to invest in research and development and in marketing efforts and resources into its new businesses, product lines and markets, including in particular the application of its corrosion prevention technology into the oil and gas industry.  In order to take advantage of such new product and market opportunities to expand its business and increase its revenues, NTIC may decide to finance such opportunities by borrowing under its line of credit or raising additional financing through the issuance of debt or equity securities.  There is no assurance that any financing transaction will be available on terms acceptable to NTIC or at all, or that any financing transaction will not be dilutive to NTIC’s current stockholders.

 

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NTIC traditionally has utilized the cash generated from its North American operations and distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees from its joint venture investments to fund NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and new technology investments.  NTIC’s corporate joint ventures have traditionally operated with little or no debt and have been self financed with minimal initial capital investment.  Therefore, NTIC believes it is not likely that there exists any exposure to debt by its corporate joint ventures that could materially impact their operations and/or liquidity.

 

Uses of Cash and Cash Flows. Cash flows used in operations for the six months ended February 28, 2010 was $1,286,287, which resulted principally from equity income of corporate joint ventures, an increase in inventory and trade receivables including corporate joint ventures, offset by net income, depreciation and amortization expense, stock option expense, decrease in technical and other services receivables from corporate joint ventures, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.  Cash flows used in operations for the six months ended February 28, 2009 was $1,462,704, which resulted principally from NTIC’s net loss, equity income of corporate joint ventures, increases in joint venture trade receivables, income tax receivables, prepaid expenses and decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, partially offset by decreases in trade receivables excluding joint ventures and inventories, the loss on the impairment of assets and depreciation expense.

 

NTIC considers internal and external factors when assessing the utilization of available working capital, specifically when determining inventory levels and the credit terms of customers.  Its internal considerations include existing inventory levels, stock reorder points, customer forecasts and customer requested payment terms, and key external factors include the availability of primary raw materials and sub-contractor production lead times.  NTIC experienced an increase in inventory and receivables for the six months ended February 28, 2010, specifically due to the corresponding increase in sales and requests from customers to stock more products to shorten lead times.

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2010 was $1,978 which was comprised of dividends received from corporate joint ventures, partially offset by investments in patents and additions to property and equipment.  Net cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2009 was $1,988,289, which was comprised of dividends received from corporate joint ventures, decrease in other assets and disposal of industrial patents, partially offset by additions to property and equipment and investments in patents.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2010 was $2,483,769, which resulted primarily from the issuance of common stock and, to a lesser extent, proceeds from NTIC’s employee stock purchase plan and option exercises, partially offset by repayments to the demand line of credit and principal payments on the bank loan for NTIC’s corporate headquarters buildings.  Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2009 was $541,800, which resulted primarily from bank overdrafts and principal payments on the bank loan for NTIC’s corporate headquarters building, partially offset by borrowings made under the demand line of credit.

 

Capital Expenditures and Commitments.  NTIC had no material lease commitments as of February 28, 2010, except a lease agreement entered into by NTI Facilities, Inc., a subsidiary of NTIC, for approximately 16,994 square feet of office, manufacturing, laboratory and warehouse space in Beachwood, Ohio, requiring monthly payments of $17,500, which are adjusted annually according to the annual consumer price index, through November 2014.

 

NTIC has no postretirement benefit plan and does not anticipate establishing any postretirement benefit program.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

NTIC does not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet financial arrangements.  As such, NTIC is not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if NTIC had engaged in such arrangements.

 

In fiscal 1999, a subsidiary of NTIC, NTI Facilities, Inc., acquired a one-third ownership of Omni-Northern Ltd., which owns and operates a rental property located at 23205 Mercantile Road, Beachwood, Ohio.  The property has an approximate value of $2,205,000, based upon the cash-to-mortgage acquisition price of the property paid in fiscal 2000.  NTIC has guaranteed up to $329,082 of Omni-Northern Ltd.’s $1,903,571 mortgage obligation with National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio.  The building is fully leased at present.

 

Inflation and Seasonality

 

Inflation in the U.S. and abroad historically has had little effect on NTIC.  NTIC’s business has not historically been seasonal.

 

Market Risk

 

NTIC is exposed to some market risk stemming from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates.

 

Because the functional currency of NTIC’s foreign operations and investments in its foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies is the applicable local currency, NTIC is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the normal course of business.  NTIC’s principal exchange rate exposure is with the Euro, the Japanese yen, Indian Rupee, Chinese yuan, Korean won and the English pound against the U.S. dollar.  NTIC’s fees for technical support and other services and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in foreign currencies and thus fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could result in declines in NTIC’s reported net income.  Since NTIC’s investments in its corporate joint ventures and holding companies are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would not change NTIC’s equity in income of joint ventures and holding companies reflected in its consolidated statements of income.  NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency exchange rate risk.

 

Some raw materials used in NTIC’s products are exposed to commodity price changes.  The primary commodity price exposures are with a variety of plastic resins.

 

NTIC’s demand line of credit bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR and thus may subject NTIC to some market risk on interest rates.  As of February 28, 2010, NTIC had no borrowings under its $2,300,000 demand line of credit.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

There have been no material changes to NTIC’s critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in “Part II. Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies,” included in NTIC’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains not only historical information, but also forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. In addition, NTIC or others on NTIC’s behalf may make forward-looking statements from time to time in oral presentations, including telephone conferences and/or web casts open to the public, in press releases or reports, on NTIC’s Internet web site or otherwise. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report or expressed by NTIC orally from time to time that address activities, events or developments that NTIC expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements including, in particular, the statements about NTIC’s plans, objectives, strategies, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, and prospects regarding, among other things, NTIC’s financial condition, results of operations and business. NTIC has identified some of these forward-looking statements in this report with words like “believe,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “forecast,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximate” “outlook” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other words and terms of similar meaning.  These forward-looking statements may be contained in the notes to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements and elsewhere in this report, including under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting NTIC and are subject to uncertainties and factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to NTIC.  These uncertainties and factors are difficult to predict and many of them are beyond NTIC’s control.  The following are some of the uncertainties and factors known to us that could cause NTIC’s actual results to differ materially from what NTIC has anticipated in its forward-looking statements:

 

·                  The effect of current worldwide economic conditions on NTIC’s business;

 

·                  The effect of the significant downturn in the U.S. automotive industry on NTIC’s business;

 

·                  NTIC’s dependence on the success of its joint ventures and technical fees and dividend distributions that NTIC receives from them;

 

·                  NTIC’s relationships with its joint ventures and its ability to maintain those relationships;

 

·                  Risks associated with NTIC’s international operations and exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

·                  Fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials, including resins and other commodities;

 

·                  NTIC’s investments in its new business and research and development efforts and its need for additional capital to support such new business and research and development efforts;

 

·                  The success of and risks associated with NTIC’s emerging new businesses;

 

·                  Acceptance of NTIC’s existing and new products;

 

·                  Increased competition;

 

·                  NTIC’s reliance upon and its relationships with its distributors, independent sales representatives and corporate joint ventures;

 

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·                  NTIC’s reliance upon suppliers;

 

·                  The costs and effects of complying with changes in tax, fiscal, government and other regulatory policies, including rules relating to environmental, health and safety matters;

 

·                  The costs and effects of currently outstanding or threatened litigation;

 

·                  Unforeseen product quality or other problems in the development, production and usage of new and existing products;

 

·                  Loss of or changes in executive management or key employees;

 

·                  Ability of management to manage around unplanned events;

 

·                  NTIC’s reliance on its intellectual property rights and the absence of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; and

 

·                  NTIC’s reliance upon its management information systems.

 

For more information regarding these and other uncertainties and factors that could cause NTIC’s actual results to differ materially from what NTIC has anticipated in its forward-looking statements or otherwise could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition or operating results, see NTIC’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009 under the heading “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

 

All forward-looking statements included in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.  We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated.  Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the uncertainties and factors described above, as well as others that we may consider immaterial or do not anticipate at this time.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct.  Our expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown uncertainties and factors, including those described above.  The risks and uncertainties described above are not exclusive and further information concerning us and our business, including factors that potentially could materially affect our financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time.  We assume no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements.  We advise you, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

This Item 3 is inapplicable to NTIC as a smaller reporting company and has been omitted pursuant to Item 305(e) of SEC Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

NTIC maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by NTIC in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to NTIC’s management, including NTIC’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  NTIC’s management evaluated, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered in this report.  Based on that evaluation, NTIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that NTIC files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to NTIC’s management, including NTIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There was no change in NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended February 28, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II          OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.           LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

A description of NTIC’s legal proceedings in Note 13 of its consolidated financial statements included within this report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 1A.        RISK FACTORS

 

This Item 1A is inapplicable to NTIC as a smaller reporting company.

 

ITEM 2.           UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

 

During the three months ended February 28, 2010, NTIC did not issue any shares of its common stock or other equity securities of NTIC that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

During the three months ended February 28, 2010, NTIC did not purchase any shares of its common stock or other equity securities of NTIC.

 

On November 13, 2003, the Board of Directors of NTIC authorized Matthew Wolsfeld, Chief Financial Officer of NTIC, to repurchase on behalf of NTIC, up to 100,000 shares of NTIC’s common stock from time to time in accordance with applicable rules governing issuer stock repurchases.  Since being authorized, NTIC has not repurchased and retired any shares of its common stock.

 

ITEM 3.           DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4.           RESERVED

 

ITEM 5.           OTHER INFORMATION

 

(a)        The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NTIC was held on January 28, 2010.

 

(b)        The results of the stockholder votes were as follows:

 

 

 

For

 

Against/
Withheld

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Vote

 

1. Election of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pierre Chenu

 

898,089

 

7,300

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

Tilman B. Frank, M.D.

 

898,089

 

7,300

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

Soo-Keong Koh

 

898,089

 

7,300

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

Donald A. Kubik, Ph.D.

 

876,376

 

29,013

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

Sunggyu Lee, Ph.D.

 

866,214

 

39,175

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

G. Patrick Lynch

 

876,464

 

28,925

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

Ramani Narayan, Ph.D.

 

865,714

 

39,675

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

Mark J. Stone

 

898,089

 

7,300

 

 

 

1,972,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Ratification of Appointment of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

2,877,296

 

805

 

187

 

N/A

 

 

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ITEM 6.           EXHIBITS

 

The following exhibits are being filed or furnished with this quarterly report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

 

 

Date: April 13, 2010

Matthew C. Wolsfeld, CPA

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized to Sign on Behalf of the Registrant)

 

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NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

 

Method of Filing

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed herewith

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed herewith

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Furnished herewith

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Furnished herewith

 

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