NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2022 May (Form 10-Q)

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

May 31, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements that are 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 and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, all of which are consolidated on NTIC’s consolidated financial statements.

As used in this report, references to: (1) “NTIC China” refer to NTIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary in China, NTIC (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; (2) “NTI Europe” refer to NTIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany, NTIC Europe GmbH; (3) “Zerust Mexico” refer to NTIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Mexico, ZERUST-EXCOR MEXICO, S. de R.L. de C.V.; (4) “Zerust India” refer to NTIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary in India effective as of September 1, 2021, Harita-NTI Limited; and (5)“NTI Asean” refer to NTIC’s majority-owned holding company subsidiary, NTI Asean LLC, which holds investments in certain entities that operate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

NTIC’s consolidated financial statements do not include the accounts of any of its joint ventures. Except as otherwise indicated, references in this report to NTIC’s joint ventures do not include any of NTIC’s wholly-owned or majority-owned subsidiaries.

As used in this report, references to “EXCOR” refer to NTIC’s joint venture in Germany, Excor Korrosionsschutz – Technologien und Produkte GmbH.

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

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MAY 31, 2022 (UNAUDITED)

AND AUGUST 31, 2021 (AUDITED)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2022 AND 2021

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2022 AND 2021

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2022 AND 2021

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2022 AND 2021

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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 May 31, 2022 and August 31, 2021, the results of the Company’s operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021, the changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021, and the Company’s cash flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021, 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, 2021. These consolidated financial statements also should be read in conjunction 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 nine months ended May 31, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 31, 2022.

The Company evaluates events occurring after the date of the consolidated financial statements requiring recording or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

As a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and related government mandated restrictions on the Company’s business as well as the businesses of its joint ventures, customers and suppliers, disruption to the Company’s business and the manufacture and sale of its products and services continued to occur during the first nine months of fiscal 2022 and is expected to continue during the remainder of fiscal 2022 and into fiscal 2023. In the first nine months of fiscal 2022, the Company continued to be impacted by shipping issues, including freight container shortages, shipping delays, and increased costs, and supply chain issues, including longer lead times and raw material cost increases.

2.          ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which revises guidance for the accounting for credit losses on financial instruments within its scope, and in November 2018, issued ASU No. 2018-19 and in April 2019, issued ASU No. 2019-04 and in May 2019, issued ASU No. 2019-05, and in November 2019, issued ASU No. 2019-11, which amended the standard. The new standard introduces an approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments and modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. The new approach to estimating credit losses (referred to as the current expected credit losses model) applies to most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases and off-balance-sheet credit exposures. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Entities are required to apply the standard’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of this ASU.

Although there are several other new accounting pronouncements issued or proposed by the FASB, which the Company has adopted or will adopt, as applicable, the Company does not believe any of these accounting pronouncements has had or will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or operating results.

3.         BUSINESS COMBINATION

On September 21, 2021, the Company announced that it acquired the remaining 50% ownership interest in its Indian joint venture, Harita-NTI Limited (Zerust India), for $6,250,000 in cash, effective as of September 1, 2021, the date the Company obtained control. Prior to September 1, 2021, the Company owned 50% of the outstanding capital stock of Zerust India. The Company had historically accounted for this investment under the equity method of accounting. This purchase was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s revolving line of credit. The Company undertook the acquisition to enhance its Zerust business in India.

The purchase price of $6,250,000 was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s revolving line of credit, which was increased in connection with the transaction to $5,000,000.

Because the Company increased its ownership interest in Zerust India to 100%, the acquisition of Zerust India has been accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 805, Business Combinations, by using the acquisition method of accounting. Effective September 1, 2021, Zerust India became a consolidated subsidiary within the Company’s financial statements.

The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation that includes the fair values of the separately identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of September 1, 2021:

The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The fair values assigned to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions. The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed may be subject to change as additional information is received.

The fair value of the intangible asset associated with customer relationships was estimated using a discounted cash flow method with the application of the multi-period excess earnings method. Under this method, an intangible asset’s fair value is equal to the present value of the incremental after-tax cash flows attributable to only the subject intangible asset after deducting contributory asset charges.

The rate used to discount the estimated future net cash flows to their present values for the intangible assets was based upon a weighted average cost of capital calculation. The discount rate was determined after consideration of market rates of return on debt and equity capital, the weighted average return on invested capital and the risk associated with achieving forecasted sales related to the assets acquired from Zerust India. The weighted average discount rate used to determine the fair value of the customer relationships was 15.3%.

The amortization period for the intangible assets is 15 years. The intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis, which is consistent with the pattern that the economic benefits of the intangible assets are expected to be utilized based upon estimated cash flows generated from such asset. Goodwill associated with the acquisition was primarily attributable to the expansion opportunity of the Company’s Zerust business in India.

Authoritative guidance on accounting for business combinations requires that an acquirer re-measure its previously held equity interest in the acquisition at its acquisition date fair value and recognize the resulting gain or loss in earnings. As such, since the Company acquired the remaining 50% ownership interest of Zerust India effective September 1, 2021, the Company recognized a gain of $3,951,550 during the nine months ended May 31, 2022. This gain is included in “Remeasurement gain on acquisition of equity method investee” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended May 31, 2022.

The Company has included the financial results of Zerust India in the consolidated financial statements from September 1, 2021. Net revenue and net income related to Zerust India since the date of acquisition totaled $7,260,964 and $664,775, respectively. The transaction costs associated with the acquisition were approximately $0 and $115,000, respectively, and are recorded in general and administrative expense as incurred during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022.

Unaudited consolidated pro forma information assuming the acquisition had occurred on September 1, 2020 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2021 would have an increase in net sales $2,405,098 and $6,697,005, respectively. Unaudited pro forma net income, assuming the acquisition had occurred on September 1, 2020, for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2021 was not considered material to the Company’s consolidated net income. The unaudited consolidated pro forma combined financial information does not purport to be indicative of the results which would have been obtained had the acquisition been completed as of the beginning of the earliest period presented or of results that may be obtained in the future. In addition, they do not include any benefits that may result from the acquisition due to synergies that may be derived from the elimination of any duplicative costs.

4.         INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:

5.         PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

6.         PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS, NET

Patents and trademarks, net consisted of the following:

7.         INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES

The consolidated financial statements of the Company’s foreign joint ventures are initially prepared using the accounting principles accepted in the respective joint ventures’ countries of domicile. Amounts related to foreign joint ventures reported in the below tables and the accompanying consolidated financial statements have subsequently been adjusted to conform with U.S. GAAP in all material respects. All material profits on sales recorded that remain on the consolidated balance sheet from the Company to its joint ventures and from joint ventures to other joint ventures have been eliminated for financial reporting purposes.

Financial information from the audited and unaudited financial statements of the Company’s joint venture in Germany, Excor Korrosionsschutz – Technologien und Produkte GmbH (EXCOR), and all the Company’s other joint ventures are summarized as follows:

__________

(1)         Includes Zerust India since Zerust India was not a consolidated subsidiary of the Company as of August 31, 2021 or May 31, 2021. See Note 3 entitled “Business Combination.”

8.         INTANGIBLE ASSET, NET

Intangible asset, net consisted of the following as of May 31, 2022:

The customer relationships were established as a part of purchase accounting related to our Zerust India acquisition. See Note 3 entitled “Business Combination.” The Company amortizes the intangible asset related to the customer relationships using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the asset, which is 15 years. Total amortization expense was $105,783 and $317,350 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to be $423,000 in each of the next five fiscal years.         

9.         CORPORATE DEBT

The Company has a revolving line of credit with PNC Bank, National Association (PNC Bank) of $7,000,000 as of May 31, 2022, which will decrease to $5,000,000 effective August 16, 2022. The line of credit has a maturity date of January 7, 2023 and bears interest at an annual rate equal to the daily Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index plus 250 basis points (2.50%). The line of credit is governed under an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated August 31, 2021.

On May 20, 2022, to maintain financial flexibility, the Company issued an Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Note to PNC Bank, which increased the Company’s line of credit from $5,000,000 to $7,000,000 until August 16, 2022, at which time the line of credit will go back to $5,000,000 until its expiration date on January 7, 2023. Additionally, on January 4, 2022, the Company issued an Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Note, which extended the maturity date to January 7, 2023 and revised the rate at which amounts outstanding under the line of credit bear interest to equal a per annum rate equal to the daily Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index plus 250 basis points (2.50%). The other material terms of the line of credit were not affected by these amendments or other immaterial amendments that have been executed since the execution of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated August 31, 2021.

Borrowings of $4,700,000 were outstanding under the line of credit as of May 31, 2022 and no amounts were outstanding as of August 31, 2021. Such outstanding borrowings were used primarily to fund the Company’s acquisition of the remaining ownership interest of Zerust India. The average interest rate during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 was 2.92% and 2.69%, respectively.

The obligations of the Company under the loan agreement are secured by a lien on all of the Company’s personal property, excepting certain liens consented to in writing by PNC. The loan agreement contains covenants, including affirmative financial covenants, such as the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10:1.00, and negative covenants, which, among other things, limit the incurrence of additional indebtedness, loans and equity investments, disposition of assets, mergers and consolidations and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements. As of May 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

As of May 31, 2022 and August 31, 2021, the Company did not have any letters of credit outstanding with respect to the letter of credit sub-facility available under the revolving line of credit with PNC Bank. As of May 31, 2022 and August 31, 2021, the Company had $72,418 of letters of credit with JP Morgan Chase Bank that are performance based and set to expire between 2021 and 2022.

10.         STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During the nine months ended May 31, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends on the following dates in the following amounts to holders of record of the Company’s common stock as of the following record dates:

On April 23, 2020, the Company announced the temporary suspension of its quarterly cash dividend pending clarity on the financial impact of COVID-19 on the Company. On January 15, 2021, the Company announced the reinstatement of its quarterly cash dividend. During the nine months ended May 31, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends on the following dates in the following amounts to holders of record of the Company’s common stock as of the following record dates:

During the nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased no shares of its common stock.

During the nine months ended May 31, 2022, the Company granted stock options under the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended, the 2019 Plan) to purchase an aggregate of 174,840 shares of its common stock to various employees and directors. The weighted average per share exercise price of the stock options is $16.97. The exercise price of the stock options is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. During the nine months ended May 31, 2022, stock options to purchase an aggregate of 51,218 shares of common stock were exercised at a weighted average exercise price of $6.60 per share, resulting in the net issuance of 42,071 shares of common stock since some of the options were exercised on a net cashless exercise basis.

During the nine months ended May 31, 2021, the Company granted stock options under the 2019 Plan to purchase an aggregate of 419,874 shares of its common stock to various employees and directors. The weighted average per share exercise price of the stock options is $8.24. The exercise price of the stock options is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. During the nine months ended May 31, 2021, no stock options to purchase common stock were exercised.

The Company issued 2,636 and 4,646 shares of common stock on September 1, 2021 and 2020, respectively, under the Northern Technologies International Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The Company issued 2,966 and 5,225 shares of common stock on March 1, 2022 and 2021, respectively, under the ESPP. The ESPP is compensatory for financial reporting purposes. As of May 31, 2021, 69,220 shares of common stock remained available for sale under the ESPP.

11.         NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

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

The following is a reconciliation of the net income per share computation for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021:

The dilutive impact summarized above relates to the periods when the average market price of the Company’s common stock exceeded the exercise price of the potentially dilutive option securities granted. Net income per common share was based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods when computing basic net income per share. When dilutive, stock options are included as equivalents using the treasury stock market method when computing the diluted net income per share. Excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 were options outstanding to purchase 327,793 shares of common stock. Excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2021 were options outstanding to purchase 136,221 shares of common stock.

12.         STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has three stock-based compensation plans under which stock options or other stock-based awards have been granted: the Northern Technologies International Corporation Amended and Restated 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, the Northern Technologies International Corporation Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (2007 Plan) and the Northern Technologies International Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The 2019 Plan replaced the 2007 Plan with respect to future grants; and, therefore, no further awards may be made under the 2007 Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors administer these plans.

The 2019 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. On January 15, 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved certain amendments to the 2019 Plan, including an increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan by an additional 800,000 shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in the 2019 Plan, up to a maximum of 1,600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are issuable under the 2019 Plan. Options granted generally have a term of ten years and become exercisable over a one- or three-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. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of options. As of May 31, 2022, options to purchase an aggregate of 895,484 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding under the 2019 Plan and 704,516 shares of the Company’s common stock remain available for grant under the 2019 Plan. As of May 31, 2022, options to purchase an aggregate of 654,789 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding under the 2007 Plan.

The Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 174,840 and 419,874 shares of its common stock during the nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  The fair value of option grants is determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the assumptions listed below.  The Company recognized compensation expense of $232,883 and $698,649 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022, respectively, and compensation expense of $160,834 and $503,338 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2021, respectively, related to the options that vested during such time period.  As of May 31, 2022, the total compensation cost for non-vested options not yet recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations was $1,242,602.  Stock-based compensation expense of $232,883 is expected through the remainder of fiscal 2022 and $671,526 and $338,193 is expected to be recognized during fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024, respectively, based on outstanding options as of May 31, 2022.  Future option grants will impact the compensation expense recognized. Stock-based compensation expense is included in general and administrative expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

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:

The weighted average per share fair value of options granted during the nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021 was $7.29 and $3.12, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the options outstanding as of May 31, 2022 and 2021 was 6.02 years and 6.40 years, respectively.

13.         SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Segment Information

The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company’s business is organized into two reportable segments: ZERUST® and Natur-Tec®. The Company has been selling its proprietary ZERUST® rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets for over 45 years and, more recently, has targeted and expanded into the oil and gas industry. The Company also sells a portfolio of bio-based and compostable (fully biodegradable) polymer resins and finished products under the Natur-Tec® brand.

The following table sets forth the Company’s net sales for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021 by segment:

The following table sets forth the Company’s cost of goods sold for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021 by segment:

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

The Company 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.

Geographic Information

Net sales by geographic location for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:

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

Fees for services provided to joint ventures by geographic location as a percentage of total fees for services provided to joint ventures during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:

The geographical distribution of total property and equipment and net sales is as follows:

Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment and patents. These assets are periodically reviewed to assure the net realizable value from the estimated future production based on forecasted sales exceeds the carrying value of the assets.

Sales to the Company’s joint ventures are included in the foregoing segment and geographic information; however, sales by the Company’s joint ventures to other parties are not included. The foregoing segment and geographic information represents only sales recognized directly by the Company and sold in that geographic territory.

All joint venture operations, including equity in income, fees for services and related dividends, are primarily related to ZERUST® products and services.

14.         COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Annual Bonus Plan

On August 26, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved the material terms of an annual bonus plan for the Company’s executive officers as well as certain officers and employees for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022. For fiscal 2022, as in past years, the total amount available under the bonus plan for all plan participants, including executive officers, is dependent upon the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, and other income (EBITOI), as adjusted to take into account amounts to be paid under the bonus plan and certain other adjustments (Adjusted EBITOI). Each plan participant’s percentage of the overall bonus pool is based upon the number of plan participants, the individual’s annual base salary, and the individual’s position and level of responsibility within the Company. In the case of each of the Company’s executive officer participants, 75% of the amount of their individual bonus payout will be determined based upon the Company’s actual EBITOI for fiscal 2022 compared to a pre-established target EBITOI for fiscal 2022, and 25% of the payout will be determined based upon such executive officer’s achievement of certain pre-established individual performance objectives. The payment of bonuses under the plan is discretionary, and bonuses may be paid to executive officer participants in both cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, the exact amount and percentages of which are determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, after the completion of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2022. There was $1,200,000 recognized for management bonuses for the nine months ended May 31, 2022, compared to $1,800,000 recognized for management bonuses for the nine months ended May 31, 2021.

Concentrations

Three joint ventures (consisting of the Company’s joint ventures in South Korea, Japan and Thailand) accounted for 62.3% of the Company’s trade joint venture receivables as of May 31, 2022, and three joint ventures (consisting of the Company’s joint ventures in India, South Korea and Thailand) accounted for 73.7% of the Company’s trade joint venture receivables as of May 31, 2021.

Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company is subject to various other claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of its business. The Company records a liability in its consolidated financial statements for costs related to claims, including future legal costs, settlements and judgments, where the Company has assessed that a loss is probable and an amount could be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a probable loss is a range, the Company records the most probable estimate of the loss or the minimum amount when no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. The Company discloses a contingent liability even if the liability is not probable or the amount is not estimable, or both, if there is a reasonable possibility that material loss may have been incurred. In the opinion of management, as of May 31, 2022, the amount of liability, if any, with respect to these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

15.         SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information consisted of:

16.         INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 was $604,314 and $1,260,437, respectively, compared to $276,338 and $929,588, respectively, for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2021. The expense was largely due to foreign operations. The Company has federal and state tax credit carry forwards, net operating loss carry forwards and foreign tax carry forwards. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the U.S. deferred tax assets as of May 31, 2022 and August 31, 2021.

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” in this report and under “Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021. 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.”

Business Overview

NTIC develops and markets proprietary, environmentally-beneficial products and services in over 65 countries either directly or via a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures, independent distributors, and agents. NTIC’s primary business is corrosion prevention marketed mainly under the ZERUST® brand. NTIC has been selling its proprietary ZERUST® products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military, and retail consumer markets for over 45 years and, in recent years, has targeted and expanded into the oil and gas industry. NTIC also markets and sells a portfolio of bio-based and certified compostable (fully biodegradable) 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 waste disposal options.

NTIC’s ZERUST® rust and corrosion inhibiting products include plastic and paper packaging, liquids, coatings, rust removers, cleaners, and diffusers as well as engineered solutions designed specifically for the oil and gas industry. NTIC also offers worldwide, on-site, technical consulting for rust and corrosion prevention issues. NTIC’s technical service consultants work directly with the end users of NTIC’s ZERUST® rust and corrosion inhibiting products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their performance requirements. In North America, NTIC sells its ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions through a network of independent distributors and agents supported by a direct sales force.

Internationally, NTIC sells its ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions through its wholly-owned subsidiary in China, NTIC (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (NTIC China), starting September 1, 2021 its wholly-owned subsidiary in India, Harita-NTI Ltd. (Zerust India), its majority-owned joint venture holding company for NTIC’s joint venture investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, NTI Asean LLC (NTI Asean), certain majority-owned and wholly-owned subsidiaries, and joint venture arrangements in North America, Europe, and Asia. NTIC also sells products directly to its European joint venture partners through its wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany, NTIC Europe GmbH (NTI Europe).

One of NTIC’s strategic initiatives is to expand into and penetrate other markets for its ZERUST® corrosion prevention technologies. Consequently, for the past several years, NTIC has focused significant sales and marketing efforts on the oil and gas industry, as the infrastructure that supports that industry is typically constructed using metals that are highly susceptible to corrosion. NTIC believes that its ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions will minimize maintenance downtime on critical oil and gas industry infrastructure, extend the life of such infrastructure, and reduce the risk of environmental pollution due to leaks caused by corrosion.

NTIC markets and sells its ZERUST® rust and corrosion prevention solutions to customers in the oil and gas industry across several countries either directly, through its subsidiaries, or through its joint venture partners and other strategic partners. The sale of ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions to customers in the oil and gas industry typically involves long sales cycles, often including multi-year trial periods with each customer and a slow integration process thereafter.

Natur-Tec® bio-based and compostable plastics are manufactured using NTIC’s patented and/or proprietary technologies and are intended to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. The Natur-Tec® biopolymer resin compound portfolio includes formulations that have been optimized for a variety of applications, including blown-film extrusion, extrusion coating, injection molding, and engineered plastics. These resin compounds are certified to be fully biodegradable in a composting environment and are currently being used to produce finished products, including can liners, shopping and grocery bags, lawn and leaf bags, branded apparel packaging bags and accessories, and various foodservice items, such as disposable cutlery, drinking straws, food-handling gloves, and coated paper products. In North America, NTIC markets its Natur-Tec® resin compounds and finished products primarily through a network of regional and national distributors as well as independent agents. NTIC continues to see significant opportunities for finished bioplastic products and, therefore, continues to strengthen and expand its North American distribution network for finished Natur-Tec® bioplastic products.

Internationally, NTIC sells its Natur-Tec® resin compounds and finished products both directly and through its wholly-owned subsidiary in China and majority-owned subsidiaries in India and Sri Lanka and through distributors and certain joint ventures.

Acquisition of Zerust India

On September 21, 2021, NTIC announced that it acquired the remaining 50% ownership interest in its Indian joint venture, Zerust India, for $6,250,000 in cash, effective as of September 1, 2021.

As a result of the acquisition of Zerust India, NTIC’s revenues and operating expenses increased and its equity in income from joint ventures decreased during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 as compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2021, and it is anticipated that the acquisition will continue to have these effects on NTIC’s financial results during the remainder of fiscal 2022.

See Note 3 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements for a discussion of Zerust India.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted global supply chains and shipping, created significant volatility and disruption in financial markets and resulted in an economic recession. The outbreak and continuing rapid spread of COVID-19 has resulted in the curtailment of business activities worldwide from time to time and has caused weakened economic conditions, both in the United States and abroad.

As part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, federal, state, local and foreign governments imposed various restrictions on the conduct of business and travel, some of which remain in place in whole or in part and some of which have been or may be reinstated. Government restrictions, such as stay-at-home orders, quarantines and worker absenteeism as a result of COVID-19, led to a significant number of business closures and slowdowns. These business closures and slowdowns adversely impacted and may continue to adversely impact NTIC directly and caused some of NTIC’s customers and suppliers to operate at a fraction of their capacities or wholly lock down, which disrupted and may continue to disrupt NTIC’s sales and production.

As the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, NTIC’s primary focus was, and continues to be, the health, safety and wellbeing of its employees, customers and suppliers. In order to continue its operations, as permitted by respective state, local and foreign governments, NTIC has adopted numerous safety measures in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and federal, state, local and foreign guidance in order to protect its employees, customers and suppliers. These safety measures include, but are not limited to, adhering to social distancing protocols, enabling the majority of its employees to work from home, suspending non-essential travel, disinfecting facilities and workspaces extensively and frequently, suspending all non-essential visitors and requiring employees who must be present at NTIC’s facilities to wear face coverings. NTIC expects to continue such safety measures for the foreseeable future and may take further actions, or adapt these existing policies, as government authorities may require or recommend or as it may determine to be in the best interests of its employees, customers and suppliers.

NTIC has been balancing its safety-focused approach with the needs of its customers. Government mandated measures resulting in the substantial curtailment of business activities generally have excluded certain essential businesses and services, including certain manufacturing. With the exception of the temporary closures of NTIC’s facilities in China and India during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and again sporadically during 2021 and 2022, NTIC’s manufacturing activities are generally considered part of the “critical sector” with respect to state and local government orders. This has allowed NTIC to continue to receive orders and provide uninterrupted order fulfillment to its customers. However, its facilities have been operating at a reduced capacity in order to abide by local government requirements and recommendations, such as social distancing practices, and in response to reduced demand. During the first nine months of fiscal 2022, certain of NTIC’s facilities continued to be impacted by reduced levels of production, manufacturing inefficiencies due to the reconfiguration of certain of its manufacturing processes in order to implement social distancing protocols and reduced demand. NTIC has engaged and continues to engage in communications with its suppliers in an attempt to identify and mitigate supply chain risks and shipping delays and proactively manage inventory levels in order to align production with demand. While domestic and international governmental measures may be modified or extended, NTIC currently expects that its global facilities will remain operational, although operating at reduced production capacity at certain of its facilities. However, such expectation is dependent upon future governmental actions and demand for NTIC’s products, the stability of its global supply chain and the ability of carriers to transport supplies to its facilities and products to its customers.

As a result of the global economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, NTIC experienced softened demand in various regions and markets during the nine months ended May 31, 2022, which had an adverse effect on NTIC’s operating results and financial condition. NTIC expects this softness in sales to continue through at least the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. In addition, NTIC has experienced supply shortages and price increases on raw materials and increased labor costs, which have adversely affected its margins. NTIC has also experienced increased shipping costs and shipping delays as a result of freight container shortages. These issues have persisted into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and are expected to persist into fiscal 2023, especially in light of recently increased inflationary pressures. Due to the international reach of COVID-19, NTIC’s international joint ventures have also been adversely impacted. It is not possible to predict how long the pandemic will last or the time that it will take for economic activity to return to prior pre-pandemic levels for all business units.

Any of these events could materially adversely affect NTIC’s business, operating results and financial condition.

Worldwide Supply Chain Disruptions

Worldwide supply chain disruptions, which were initially brought about by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have persisted despite the recovery in the global economy and financial markets. These issues continued during the first nine months of fiscal 2022 and are expected to continue throughout the remainder of fiscal 2022 and into fiscal 2023. NTIC has experienced longer lead times for raw materials, has been forced to find new suppliers of certain raw materials, and has experienced raw material cost increases compared to prior fiscal quarters. Additionally, NTIC has experienced significantly longer shipping times and significant price increases per shipping container compared to prior fiscal quarters due to ocean freight capacity issues resulting from increased demand for shipping and reduced capacity and equipment. These and other issues resulting from worldwide supply chain disruptions are expected to continue through the remainder of fiscal 2022 and into fiscal 2023 and could continue to have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s business, operating results and financial condition. The precise financial impact and duration, however, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

Financial Overview

NTIC’s management, including its chief executive officer, who is NTIC’s chief operating decision maker, reports and manages NTIC’s operations in two reportable business segments based on products sold, customer base and distribution center: Zerust® products and services and Natur-Tec® products.

Highlights of NTIC’s financial results for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 include the following with increases or decreases in each case as compared to the respective prior fiscal year period:

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth NTIC’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2022 and 2021.