PERMA FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC - Annual Report: 2013 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

or

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 No. 1-11596

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		58-1954497
State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization		(IRS Employer Identification Number)
8302 Dunwoody Place, #250, Atlanta, GA		30350
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)
	(770) 587-9898
	(Registrant's telephone number)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.001 Par Value		NASDAQ Capital Markets

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes o   No x

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

 Yeso    No x

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 Yes    x     No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will  not be contained to the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

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 definition of "large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer" and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated Filer o

Non-accelerated Filer o

Smaller reporting company x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes o No   x

The aggregate market value of the Registrant's voting and non-voting common equity held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant computed by reference to the closing sale price of such stock as reported by NASDAQ as of the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2013), was approximately $18,613,733.  For the purposes of this calculation, all executive officers and directors of the Registrant (as indicated in Item 12) are deemed to be affiliates.  As of October 15, 2013, the Registrant’s outstanding voting and non-voting common equity was subject to a 1-for-5 reverse stock split.  As of the effective date of the reverse stock split, the aggregate market value (as computed by reference to the closing sales price as reported by NASDAQ on the effective date of such reverse stock split) of the Registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was approximately $34,541,837.  Such determination should not be deemed an admission that such directors or officers, are, in fact, affiliates of the Registrant.  The Company's Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Markets.

As of March 17, 2014, there were 11,419,650 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $.001 par value, outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference:  None

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PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

INDEX

 

PART I		Page No
Item 1.	Business	1
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	8
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	18
Item 2.	Properties	18
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	18
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosure	19
Item 4A.	Executive Officers of the Registrant	19
PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters	20
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	21
Item 7.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition And Results of Operations	21
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	39
	Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	39
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	42
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	80
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	80
Item 9B.	Other Information	81
PART III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	82
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	88
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	106
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	109
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	111
PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	112

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PART I

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

Company Overview and Principal Products and Services

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the Company, which may be referred to as we, us, or our), a Delaware corporation incorporated in December of 1990, is an environmental and technology know-how company, which provides:

o

Treatment, storage, processing and disposal of mixed waste (which is waste that contains both low-level radioactive and hazardous waste), non-nuclear hazardous waste, nuclear low level, and higher activity radioactive wastes;

o

Research and development (“R&D”) activities to identify, develop and implement innovative waste processing techniques for problematic waste streams;

o

On-site waste management services to commercial and government customers;

o

Technical services which includes: (a) health physics and radiological control technician services; (b) safety and industrial hygiene services; (c) staff augmentation services providing consulting, engineering, project management, waste management, environmental, and decontamination and decommissioning field personal, technical personnel, and management and services to commercial and government customers; and (d) consulting engineering services including air, water, and hazardous waste permitting, air, soil, and water sampling, compliance reporting, emission reduction strategies, compliance auditing, and various compliance and training activities;

o

Nuclear services which includes: (a) technology-based services including engineering, decontamination and decommissioning (“D&D”), specialty services and construction, logistics, transportation, processing and disposal and (b) remediation of nuclear licensed and federal facilities and the remediation cleanup of nuclear legacy sites; and

o

Instrumentation and measurement technologies.

We have grown through acquisitions and internal growth.  Our goal is to continue focus on the efficient operation of our facilities and on-site activities, continue to evaluate strategic acquisitions, and to continue the R&D of innovative technologies to expand company service offering and to treat nuclear waste, mixed waste, and industrial waste.  The Company is focusing on expansion into both commercial and international markets to help offset the uncertainties of government spending in the USA, which a significant portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from. This includes new services, new customers and increased market share in our current markets.

Our business includes services provided by our two segments, Treatment and Services, as described below.

We service research institutions, commercial companies, public utilities, and governmental agencies nationwide, including the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) and U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”). The distribution channels for our services are through direct sales to customers or via intermediaries.

Our executive offices are located at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350.

Segment Information and Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales

The Company has two reportable segments.  In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting”, we define an operating segment as:

 

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TREATMENT SEGMENT reporting includes:

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nuclear, low-level radioactive, mixed, hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment, processing and disposal services primarily through four uniquely licensed (Nuclear Regulatory Commission or state equivalent) and permitted (Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) or state equivalent) treatment and storage facilities held by the following subsidiaries: Perma-Fix of Florida, Inc. (“PFF”), Diversified Scientific Services, Inc., (“DSSI”),  Perma-Fix Northwest Richland, Inc. (“PFNWR”), and East Tennessee Materials & Energy Corporation (“M&EC”). The presence of nuclear and low-level radioactive constituents within the waste streams processed by this segment creates different and unique operational, processing and permitting/licensing requirements; and

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R&D activities to identify, develop and implement innovative waste processing techniques for problematic waste streams.

For 2013, the Treatment Segment accounted for $35,540,000 or 47.8% of total revenue from continuing operations, as compared to $45,882,000 or 36.0% of total revenue from continuing operations for 2012.  See “ –  Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers” and “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further details and a discussion as to our Segments’ contracts with the federal government or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government.

SERVICES SEGMENT reporting includes:

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On-site waste management services to commercial and government customers;

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Technical services, which include:

o

professional radiological measurement and site survey of large government and commercial installations using advanced methods, technology and engineering;

o

integrated Occupational Safety and Health services including industrial hygiene (“IH”) assessments; hazardous materials surveys, e.g., exposure monitoring; lead and asbestos management/abatement oversight; indoor air quality evaluations; health risk and exposure assessments; health & safety plan/program development, compliance auditing and training services; and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) citation assistance;

o

global technical services providing consulting, engineering, project management, waste management, environmental, and D&D field, technical, and management personnel and services to commercial and government customers; and

o

augmented engineering services (through our Schreiber, Yonley & Associates subsidiary – “SYA”) providing consulting environmental services to industrial and government customers:

§

including air, water, and hazardous waste permitting, air, soil and water sampling, compliance reporting, emission reduction strategies, compliance auditing, and various compliance and training activities; and

§

engineering and compliance support to other segments;

-

Nuclear services, which include:

o

technology-based services including engineering, D&D, specialty services and construction, logistics, transportation, processing and disposal;

o

remediation of nuclear licensed and federal facilities and the remediation cleanup of nuclear legacy sites. Such services capability includes: project investigation; radiological engineering; partial and total plant D&D; facility decontamination, dismantling, demolition, and planning; site restoration; site construction; logistics; transportation; and emergency response; and

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A company owned equipment calibration and maintenance laboratory that services, maintains, calibrates, and sources (i.e., rental) of health physics, IH and customized nuclear, environmental, and occupational safety and health (“NEOSH”) instrumentation;

 

For 2013, the Services Segment accounted for $38,873,000 or 52.2% of total revenue from continuing operations, as compared to $81,627,000 or 64.0% of total revenue from continuing operations for 2012.  See “ –  Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers” and “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further details and a discussion as to our Segments’ contracts with the federal government or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government.

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Our segments exclude the Corporate and Business Center (formerly known as our Operations Headquarters), which do not generate revenue.  Our discontinued operations encompass the following:  Perma-Fix of South Georgia, Inc. (“PFSG”) facility which met the held for sale criteria under ASC 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment” on October 6, 2010; Perma-Fix of Fort Lauderdale, Inc. (“PFFL”), Perma-Fix of Orlando, Inc. (“PFO”), Perma-Fix of Maryland, Inc. (“PFMD”), Perma-Fix of Dayton, Inc. (“PFD”), and Perma-Fix Treatment Services, Inc. (“PFTS”) facilities, which were divested in 2011 and prior; and Perma-Fix of Michigan, Inc. (“PFMI”) and Perma-Fix of Memphis, Inc. (“PFM”), two previously closed locations, approved as discontinued operations by our Board of Directors effective October 4, 2004, and March 12, 1998, respectively.

On August 14, 2013, our PFSG facility incurred fire damage which has left it non-operational at this time.  Certain equipment and portions of the building structures were damaged. We carry general liability, pollution, property and business interruption, and workers compensation insurance with a maximum deductible of approximately $300,000 (consisting of $100,000 deductible for each workers compensation, pollution, and property insurance policy).  We are continuing to work with our insurance company in receiving insurance recoveries related to this fire.  We are currently evaluating options regarding the future operation of this facility as we undergo the rebuilding process on the part of the facility damaged by the fire. We continue to market our PFSG facility for sale.

Foreign Operations

Our operations includes Perma-Fix UK Limited (within our Services Segment), located in Blaydon On Tyne, England.  Revenue generated from this operation was approximately $144,000 or 0.2% and $158,000 or 0.1% of our consolidated revenue from continuing operations during 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Our consolidated revenue from continuing operations for 2013 and 2012 included approximately $4,409,000 or 5.9% and $2,433,000 or 1.9%, respectively, from an external customer located in Canada.

Importance of Patents, Trademarks and Proprietary Technology

We do not believe we are dependent on any particular trademark in order to operate our business or any significant segment thereof.  We have received registration to May 2022 and December 2020, for the service marks “Perma-Fix Environmental Services” and “Perma-Fix”, respectively.  In addition, we have received registration for six service marks for our Safety & Ecology Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively known as “Safety and Ecology Corporation” or “SEC”) to periods ranging from 2014 to 2018.

We are dependent on our permits and licenses discussed below in order to operate our businesses (See “-Permits and Licenses”).

We are active in the R&D of technologies that allow us to address certain of our customers' environmental needs. To date, our R&D efforts have resulted in the granting of twelve active patents and the filing of several applications for which patents are pending. These twelve active patents have remaining lives ranging from approximately six to fourteen years. We have filed a patent application in connection with our new technology to produce Technetium-99 (“Tc‑99m”) for certain types of medical applications and have formed a new subsidiary to develop and market this new technology.

 

Our flagship technology, the Perma-Fix Process, is a proprietary, cost effective, treatment technology that converts hazardous waste into non-hazardous material. We have also developed the Perma-Fix II process, a multi-step treatment process that converts hazardous organic components into non-hazardous material. The Perma-Fix II process is particularly important to our mixed waste strategy. The Perma-Fix II process is designed to remove certain types of organic hazardous constituents from soils or other solids and sludges (“Solids”) through a water-based system. Until development of this Perma-Fix II process, we were not aware of a relatively simple and inexpensive process that would remove the organic hazardous constituents from Solids without elaborate and expensive equipment or expensive treating agents.  Due to the organic hazardous constituents involved, the disposal options for such materials are limited, resulting in high disposal cost when there is a disposal option available.  By reducing the organic hazardous waste constituents in the Solids to a level where the Solids meet Land Disposal Requirements, the generator's disposal options for such waste are substantially increased, allowing the generator to dispose of such waste at substantially less cost. We began commercial use of the Perma-Fix II process in 2000.  However, changes to current environmental laws and regulations could limit the use of the Perma-Fix II process or the disposal options available to the generator. See “—Permits and Licenses” and “—Research and Development.”

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Permits and Licenses

Waste management service companies are subject to extensive, evolving and increasingly stringent federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Such federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations govern our activities regarding the treatment, storage, processing, disposal and transportation of hazardous, non-hazardous and radioactive wastes, and require us to obtain and maintain permits, licenses and/or approvals in order to conduct certain of our waste activities.  Failure to obtain and maintain our permits or approvals would have a material adverse effect on us, our operations, and financial condition.  The permits and licenses have terms ranging from one to ten years, and provided that we maintain a reasonable level of compliance, renew with minimal effort, and cost.  Historically, there have been no compelling challenges to the permit and license renewals.  We believe that these permit and license requirements represent a potential barrier to entry for possible competitors.

PFF, located in Gainesville, Florida, operates its hazardous, mixed and low-level radioactive waste activities under a RCRA (“Resource Conservation and Recovery Act”) Part B permit, Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) authorization, Restricted RX Drug Distributor-Destruction license, and a radioactive materials license issued by the State of Florida.

DSSI, located in Kingston, Tennessee, conducts mixed and low-level radioactive waste storage and treatment activities under RCRA Part B permits and a radioactive materials license issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.  Co-regulated TSCA Polychlorinated Biphenyl (“PCB”) wastes are also managed for PCB destruction under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Approval effective June 2008.

M&EC, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, performs hazardous, low-level radioactive and mixed waste storage and treatment operations under a RCRA Part B permit and a radioactive materials license issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.  Co-regulated TSCA PCB wastes are also managed under EPA Approvals applicable to site-specific treatment units.

PFNWR, located in Richland, Washington, operates a low-level radioactive waste processing facility as well as a mixed waste processing facility. Radioactive material processing is authorized under radioactive materials licenses issued by the State of Washington and mixed waste processing is additionally authorized under a RCRA Part B permit with TSCA authorization issued jointly by the State of Washington and the EPA.

The combination of a RCRA Part B hazardous waste permit, TSCA authorization, and a radioactive materials license, as held by PFF, DSSI M&EC, and PFNWR are very difficult to obtain for a single facility and make these facilities unique.

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Backlog

The Treatment Segment of our Company maintains a backlog of stored waste, which represents waste that has not been processed.  The backlog is principally a result of the timing and complexity of the waste being brought into the facilities and the selling price per container. As of December 31, 2013, our Treatment Segment had a backlog of approximately $7,695,000, as compared to approximately $8,668,000 as of December 31, 2012.  Additionally, the time it takes to process waste from the time it arrives may increase due to the types and complexities of the waste we are currently receiving.  We typically process our backlog during periods of low waste receipts, which historically has been in the first or fourth quarter.

Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers

Our segments have significant relationships with the federal government, and continue to enter into contracts, directly as the prime contractor or indirectly as a subcontractor, with the federal government.  The contracts that we are a party to with the federal government or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government generally provide that the government may terminate or renegotiate the contracts on 30 days notice, at the government's election.  Our inability to continue under existing contracts that we have with the federal government (directly or indirectly as a subcontractor) could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

We performed services relating to waste generated by the federal government, either directly as a prime contractor or indirectly as a subcontractor (including the CH Plateau Remediation Company (“CHPRC”) as discussed below) to the federal government, representing approximately $47,557,000 or 63.9% of our total revenue from continuing operations during 2013, as compared to $101,533,000 or 79.6% of our total revenue from continuing operations during 2012.

The following customer accounted for 10% or more of the total revenues generated from continuing operations for twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:

				Total				% of Total
Customer		Year		Revenue				Revenue
CHPRC		2013		$	19,922,000				26.8	%
		2012		$	24,652,000				19.3	%

Revenue generated from CHPRC includes revenue generated from the CHPRC subcontract at our Services Segment and various waste processing contracts at our Treatment Segment.  The CHPRC subcontract was a cost plus award fee subcontract awarded to us during the second quarter of 2008 to participate in the cleanup of the central portion of the Hanford Site located in the state of Washington.  This subcontract expired on September 30, 2013. See further discussion as to the effect on us of the ending of this subcontract under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations – Review.”

Competitive Conditions

The Treatment Segment’s largest competitor is EnergySolutions that operates treatment and disposal facilities in Oak Ridge, TN and Clive, UT. Waste Control Specialists (“WCS”), which has newly licensed disposal capabilities in Andrews, TX, has recently emerged as a competitor in the treatment market and is gaining market share. Perma-Fix now has two options for disposal of treated nuclear waste and thus mitigates the prior risk of EnergySolutions providing the only outlet for disposal.  The Treatment Segment treats and disposes of DOE generated wastes largely at DOE owned sites.  Smaller competitors are also present in the market place; however, they do not present a significant challenge at this time. Our Treatment Segment currently solicits business primarily on a North American basis with both government and commercial clients; however, we are focusing on emerging international markets for future additional work.

 

The permitting and licensing requirements, and the cost to obtain such permits, are barriers to the entry of hazardous waste and radioactive and mixed waste activities as presently operated by our waste treatment subsidiaries.  If the permit requirements for hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal (“TSD”) activities and/or the licensing requirements for the handling of low level radioactive matters are eliminated or if such licenses or permits were made less rigorous to obtain, such would allow companies to enter into these markets and provide greater competition.

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Our Services Segment is engaged in highly competitive businesses in which a number of our government contracts and some of our commercial contracts are awarded through competitive bidding processes. The extent of such competition varies according to the industries and markets in which our customers operate as well as the geographic areas in which we operate. The degree and type of competition we face is also often influenced by the type of projects for which our Services Segment competes, especially projects subject to the governmental bid process. In November 2013, Perma-Fix regained the ability to certify and bid government contracts as a small business, which allows us to bid for prime contracts for small businesses that are set aside for procurements.  Large businesses are more willing to team with small businesses and thus this recent change in size status will be an advantage for future work.  There are a number of qualified small businesses in our market that will provide intense competition that may provide a challenge to our ability to maintain strong growth rates and acceptable profit margins. For international business there are additional competitors, many from within the country the work is to be performed, making winning work in foreign countries more challenging. If our Services Segment is unable to meet these competitive challenges, it could lose market share and experience an overall reduction in its profits.

Certain Environmental Expenditures and Potential Environmental Liabilities

Environmental Liabilities

We have four remediation projects, which are currently in progress at certain of our discontinued facilities (PFD, PFM, PFSG, and PFMI). These remediation projects principally entail the removal/remediation of contaminated soil and, in most cases, the remediation of surrounding ground water.  All of the remedial clean-up projects were an issue for that facility for years prior to our acquisition of the facility and were recognized pursuant to a business combination and recorded as part of the purchase price allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Three of the facilities (PFD, PFM, and PFSG) are RCRA permitted facilities, and as a result, the remediation activities are closely reviewed and monitored by the applicable state regulators.  We recognized our best estimate of such environmental liabilities upon the acquisition of our facilities, as part of the acquisition cost.

At December 31, 2013, we had total accrued environmental remediation liabilities of $1,031,000, of which $649,000 is recorded as a current liability, which reflects a decrease of $583,000 from the December 31, 2012 balance of $1,614,000.  The net decrease represents payments of approximately $50,000 on remediation projects at the four locations and a reduction in reserve of approximately $533,000 at PFSG based on reassessment of the remediation reserve.

No insurance or third party recovery was taken into account in determining our cost estimates or reserves, nor do our cost estimates or reserves reflect any discount for present value purposes.

The nature of our business exposes us to significant cost to comply with governmental environmental laws, rules and regulations and risk of liability for damages.  Such potential liability could involve, for example, claims for cleanup costs, personal injury or damage to the environment in cases where we are held responsible for the release of hazardous materials; claims of employees, customers or third parties for personal injury or property damage occurring in the course of our operations; and claims alleging negligence or professional errors or omissions in the planning or performance of our services.  In addition, we could be deemed a responsible party for the costs of required cleanup of any property, which may be contaminated by hazardous substances generated or transported by us to a site we selected, including properties owned or leased by us.  We could also be subject to fines and civil penalties in connection with violations of regulatory requirements.

 

Research and Development

Innovation and technical know-how by our operations is very important to the success of our business.  Our goal is to discover, develop and bring to market innovative ways to process waste that address unmet environmental needs. We conduct research internally, and also through collaborations with other third parties.  The majority of our research activities are performed as we receive new and unique waste to treat.  We feel that our investments in research have been rewarded by the discovery of the Perma-Fix Process and the Perma-Fix II process. Our competitors also devote resources to research and development and many such competitors have greater resources at their disposal than we do. We have estimated that during 2013 and 2012, we spent approximately $1,764,000 and $1,823,000, respectively, in Company-sponsored research and development activities.

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Number of Employees

In our service-driven business, our employees are vital to our success.  We believe we have good relationships with our employees.  As of December 31, 2013, we employed approximately 300 employees.  We have no union employees at any of our Segments.

Governmental Regulation

Environmental companies and their customers are subject to extensive and evolving environmental laws and regulations by a number of national, state and local environmental, safety and health agencies, the principal of which being the EPA.  These laws and regulations largely contribute to the demand for our services.  Although our customers remain responsible by law for their environmental problems, we must also comply with the requirements of those laws applicable to our services.  We cannot predict the extent to which our operations may be affected by future enforcement policies as applied to existing laws or by the enactment of new environmental laws and regulations.  Moreover, any predictions regarding possible liability are further complicated by the fact that under current environmental laws we could be jointly and severally liable for certain activities of third parties over whom we have little or no control.  Although we believe that we are currently in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we could be subject to fines, penalties or other liabilities or could be adversely affected by existing or subsequently enacted laws or regulations.  The principal environmental laws affecting our customers and us are briefly discussed below.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (“RCRA”)

RCRA and its associated regulations establish a strict and comprehensive permitting and regulatory program applicable to hazardous waste. The EPA has promulgated regulations under RCRA for new and existing treatment, storage and disposal facilities including incinerators, storage and treatment tanks, storage containers, storage and treatment surface impoundments, waste piles and landfills.  Every facility that treats, stores or disposes of hazardous waste must obtain a RCRA permit or must obtain interim status from the EPA, or a state agency, which has been authorized by the EPA to administer its program, and must comply with certain operating, financial responsibility and closure requirements.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA,” also referred to as the “Superfund Act”)

CERCLA governs the cleanup of sites at which hazardous substances are located or at which hazardous substances have been released or are threatened to be released into the environment. CERCLA authorizes the EPA to compel responsible parties to clean up sites and provides for punitive damages for noncompliance. CERCLA imposes joint and several liabilities for the costs of clean up and damages to natural resources.

Health and Safety Regulations

The operation of our environmental activities is subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state laws. Regulations promulgated under OSHA by the Department of Labor require employers of persons in the transportation and environmental industries, including independent contractors, to implement hazard communications, work practices and personnel protection programs in order to protect employees from equipment safety hazards and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

 

Atomic Energy Act

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 governs the safe handling and use of Source, Special Nuclear and Byproduct materials in the U.S. and its territories. This act authorized the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission “USNRC”) to enter into “Agreements with States to carry out those regulatory functions in those respective states except for Nuclear Power Plants and federal facilities like the VA hospitals and the DOE operations.” The State of Florida (with the USNRC oversight), Office of Radiation Control, regulates the radiological program of the PFF facility, and the State of Tennessee (with the USNRC oversight), Tennessee Department of Radiological Health, regulates the radiological program of the DSSI and M&EC facilities. The State of Washington (with the USNRC oversight) Department of Health, regulates the radiological operations of the PFNWR facility.

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Other Laws

Our activities are subject to other federal environmental protection and similar laws, including, without limitation, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.  Many states have also adopted laws for the protection of the environment which may affect us, including laws governing the generation, handling, transportation and disposition of hazardous substances and laws governing the investigation and cleanup of, and liability for, contaminated sites. Some of these state provisions are broader and more stringent than existing federal law and regulations.  Our failure to conform our services to the requirements of any of these other applicable federal or state laws could subject us to substantial liabilities which could have a material adverse effect on us, our operations and financial condition.  In addition to various federal, state and local environmental regulations, our hazardous waste transportation activities are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Interstate Commerce Commission and transportation regulatory bodies in the states in which we operate. We cannot predict the extent to which we may be affected by any law or rule that may be enacted or enforced in the future, or any new or different interpretations of existing laws or rules.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

The following are certain risk factors that could affect our business, financial performance, and results of operations. These risk factors should be considered in connection with evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K, as the forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and actual results and conditions could differ materially from the current expectations.  Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk, and before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risk factors as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in the other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

Risks Relating to our Operations

Failure to maintain our financial assurance coverage that we are required to have in order to operate our permitted treatment, storage and disposal facilities could have a material adverse effect on us.

American International Group (“AIG”) provides our finite risk insurance policies which provide financial assurance to the applicable states for our permitted facilities in the event of unforeseen closure of those facilities.  We are required to provide and to maintain financial assurance that guarantees to the state that in the event of closure, our permitted facilities will be closed in accordance with the regulations.  Our initial policy provides a maximum of $39,000,000 of financial assurance coverage.  We also maintain a financial assurance policy for our PFNWR facility, which provides a maximum coverage of $8,200,000.  In the event that we are unable to obtain or maintain our financial assurance coverage for any reason, this could materially impact our operations and our permits which we are required to have in order to operate our treatment, storage, and disposal facilities

If we cannot maintain adequate insurance coverage, we will be unable to continue certain operations.

Our business exposes us to various risks, including claims for causing damage to property and injuries to persons that may involve allegations of negligence or professional errors or omissions in the performance of our services.  Such claims could be substantial. We believe that our insurance coverage is presently adequate and similar to, or greater than, the coverage maintained by other companies in the industry of our size.  If we are unable to obtain adequate or required insurance coverage in the future, or if our insurance is not available at affordable rates, we would violate our permit conditions and other requirements of the environmental laws, rules, and regulations under which we operate.  Such violations would render us unable to continue certain of our operations.  These events would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

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The inability to maintain existing government contracts or win new government contracts over an extended period could have a material adverse effect on our operations and adversely affect our future revenues.

A material amount of our segments’ revenues are generated through various U.S. government contracts or subcontracts involving the U.S. government.  Our revenues from governmental contracts and subcontracts relating to governmental facilities within our segments were approximately $47,557,000 or 63.9% and $101,533,000 or 79.6%, of our consolidated operating revenues from continuing operations for 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Most of our government contracts or our subcontracts granted under government contracts are awarded through a regulated competitive bidding process. Some government contracts are awarded to multiple competitors, which increase overall competition and pricing pressure and may require us to make sustained post-award efforts to realize revenues under these government contracts. All contracts with, or subcontracts involving, the federal government are terminable, or subject to renegotiation, by the applicable governmental agency on 30 days notice, at the option of the governmental agency. If we fail to maintain or replace these relationships, or if a material contract is terminated or renegotiated in a manner that is materially adverse to us, our revenues and future operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our existing and future customers may reduce or halt their spending on nuclear services with outside vendors, including us.

A variety of factors may cause our existing or future customers (including the federal government) to reduce or halt their spending on nuclear services from outside vendors, including us. These factors include, but are not limited to:

·

accidents, terrorism, natural disasters or other incidents occurring at nuclear facilities or involving shipments of nuclear materials;

·

failure of the federal government to approve necessary budgets, or to reduce the amount of the budget necessary, to fund remediation of DOE and DOD sites;

·

civic opposition to or changes in government policies regarding nuclear operations; or

·

a reduction in demand for nuclear generating capacity; or

·

failure to perform under existing contracts, directly or indirectly, with the federal government.

These events could result in or cause the federal government to terminate or cancel its existing contracts involving us to treat, store or dispose of contaminated waste and/or to perform remediation projects, at one or more of the federal sites since all contracts with, or subcontracts involving, the federal government are terminable upon or subject to renegotiation at the option of the government on 30 days notice.  These events also could adversely affect us to the extent that they result in the reduction or elimination of contractual requirements, lower demand for nuclear services, burdensome regulation, disruptions of shipments or production, increased operational costs or difficulties or increased liability for actual or threatened property damage or personal injury.

Economic downturns and/or reductions in government funding could have a material negative impact on our businesses.

Demand for our services has been, and we expect that demand will continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations due to a variety of factors beyond our control, including economic conditions, reductions in the budget for spending to remediate federal sites due to numerous reasons, including, without limitation, the substantial deficits that the federal government has and is continuing to incur.  During economic downturns and large budget deficits that the federal government and many states are experiencing, the ability of private and government entities to spend on nuclear services may decline significantly. Our operations depend, in large part, upon governmental funding, particularly funding levels at the DOE.  Significant reductions in the level of governmental funding (for example, the annual budget of the DOE) or specifically mandated levels for different programs that are important to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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As a government contractor, we are subject to extensive government regulation, and our failure to comply with applicable regulations could subject us to penalties that may restrict our ability to conduct our business.

Our governmental contracts, which are primarily with the DOE or subcontracts relating to DOE sites, are a significant part of our business. Allowable costs under U.S. government contracts are subject to audit by the U.S. government.  If these audits result in determinations that costs claimed as reimbursable are not allowed costs or were not allocated in accordance with applicable regulations, we could be required to reimburse the U.S. government for amounts previously received.

Governmental contracts or subcontracts involving governmental facilities are often subject to specific procurement regulations, contract provisions and a variety of other requirements relating to the formation, administration, performance and accounting of these contracts.  Many of these contracts include express or implied certifications of compliance with applicable regulations and contractual provisions.  If we fail to comply with any regulations, requirements or statutes, our existing governmental contracts or subcontracts involving governmental facilities could be terminated or we could be suspended from government contracting or subcontracting.  If one or more of our governmental contracts or subcontracts are terminated for any reason, or if we are suspended or debarred from government work, we could suffer a significant reduction in expected revenues and profits. Furthermore, as a result of our governmental contracts or subcontracts involving governmental facilities, claims for civil or criminal fraud may be brought by the government or violations of these regulations, requirements or statutes.

We are a holding company and depend, in large part, on receiving funds from our subsidiaries to fund our indebtedness.

Because we are a holding company and operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations depends, in large part, on the operating performance and cash flows of our subsidiaries.

 

 

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Changes in environmental regulations and enforcement policies could subject us to additional liability and adversely affect our ability to continue certain operations.

We cannot predict the extent to which our operations may be affected by future governmental enforcement policies as applied to existing laws, by changes to current environmental laws and regulations, or by the enactment of new environmental laws and regulations.  Any predictions regarding possible liability under such laws are complicated further by current environmental laws which provide that we could be liable, jointly and severally, for certain activities of third parties over whom we have limited or no control.

Our Treatment Segment has limited end disposal sites to utilize to dispose of its waste which could significantly impact our results of operations.

Our Treatment Segment has limited options available for disposal of its waste.  Currently, there are only two disposal sites for our low level radioactive waste we receive from non-governmental sites.  If either of these disposal sites ceases to accept waste or closes for any reason or refuses to accept the waste of our Treatment Segment, for any reason, we would be limited to only the one remaining site to dispose of our nuclear waste. With only one end disposal site to dispose of our waste, we could be subject to significantly increased costs which could negatively impact our results of operations.

Our businesses subject us to substantial potential environmental liability.

Our business of rendering services in connection with management of waste, including certain types of hazardous waste, low-level radioactive waste, and mixed waste (waste containing both hazardous and low-level radioactive waste), subjects us to risks of liability for damages. Such liability could involve, without limitation:

 

·

claims for clean-up costs, personal injury or damage to the environment in cases in which we are held responsible for the release of hazardous or radioactive materials; and

·

claims of employees, customers, or third parties for personal injury or property damage occurring in the course of our operations; and

·

claims alleging negligence or professional errors or omissions in the planning or performance of our services.

 

Our operations are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations. We have in the past, and could in the future, be subject to substantial fines, penalties, and sanctions for violations of environmental laws and substantial expenditures as a responsible party for the cost of remediating any property which may be contaminated by hazardous substances generated by us and disposed at such property, or transported by us to a site selected by us, including properties we own or lease.

As our operations expand, we may be subject to increased litigation, which could have a negative impact on our future financial results.

Our operations are highly regulated and we are subject to numerous laws and regulations regarding procedures for waste treatment, storage, recycling, transportation, and disposal activities, all of which may provide the basis for litigation against us. In recent years, the waste treatment industry has experienced a significant increase in so-called “toxic-tort” litigation as those injured by contamination seek to recover for personal injuries or property damage.  We believe that, as our operations and activities expand, there will be a similar increase in the potential for litigation alleging that we have violated environmental laws or regulations or are responsible for contamination or pollution caused by our normal operations, negligence or other misconduct, or for accidents, which occur in the course of our business activities.  Such litigation, if significant and not adequately insured against, could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to fund our operations.  Protracted litigation would likely cause us to spend significant amounts of our time, effort, and money. This could prevent our management from focusing on our operations and expansion.

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Our operations are subject to seasonal factors, which cause our revenues to fluctuate.

We have historically experienced reduced revenues and losses during the first and fourth quarters of our fiscal years due to a seasonal slowdown in operations from poor weather conditions, overall reduced activities during these periods resulting from holiday periods, and finalization of government budgets during the fourth quarter of each year. During our second and third fiscal quarters there has historically been an increase in revenues and operating profits. If we do not continue to have increased revenues and profitability during the second and third fiscal quarters, this could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.

If environmental regulation or enforcement is relaxed, the demand for our services will decrease.

The demand for our services is substantially dependent upon the public's concern with, and the continuation and proliferation of, the laws and regulations governing the treatment, storage, recycling, and disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous, and low-level radioactive waste.  A decrease in the level of public concern, the repeal or modification of these laws, or any significant relaxation of regulations relating to the treatment, storage, recycling, and disposal of hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste would significantly reduce the demand for our services and could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. We are not aware of any current federal or state government or agency efforts in which a moratorium or limitation has been, or will be, placed upon the creation of new hazardous or radioactive waste regulations that would have a material adverse effect on us; however, no assurance can be made that such a moratorium or limitation will not be implemented in the future.

We and our customers operate in a politically sensitive environment, and the public perception of nuclear power and radioactive materials can affect our customers and us.

We and our customers operate in a politically sensitive environment. Opposition by third parties to particular projects can limit the handling and disposal of radioactive materials.  Adverse public reaction to developments in the disposal of radioactive materials, including any high profile incident involving the discharge of radioactive materials, could directly affect our customers and indirectly affect our business. Adverse public reaction also could lead to increased regulation or outright prohibition, limitations on the activities of our customers, more onerous operating requirements or other conditions that could have a material adverse impact on our customers’ and our business.

We may be exposed to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change.

Climate change is receiving ever increasing attention from scientists and legislators alike. The debate is ongoing as to the extent to which our climate is changing, the potential causes of this change and its potential impacts. Some attribute global warming to increased levels of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which has led to significant legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Presently there are no federally mandated greenhouse gas reduction requirements in the United States. However, there are a number of legislative and regulatory proposals to address greenhouse gas emissions, which are in various phases of discussion or implementation. The outcome of federal and state actions to address global climate change could result in a variety of regulatory programs including potential new regulations. Any adoption by federal or state governments mandating a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could increase costs associated with our operations.  Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our financial position, operating results and cash flows.

We may not be successful in winning new business mandates from our government and commercial customers or international customers.

We must be successful in winning mandates from our government, commercial customers and international customers to replace revenues from projects that we have completed or that are nearing completion and to increase our revenues. Our business and operating results can be adversely affected by the size and timing of a single material contract.

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The elimination or any modification of the Price-Anderson Acts indemnification authority could have adverse consequences for our business.

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the AEA, comprehensively regulates the manufacture, use, and storage of radioactive materials.  The Price-Anderson Act supports the nuclear services industry by offering broad indemnification to DOE contractors for liabilities arising out of nuclear incidents at DOE nuclear facilities. That indemnification protects DOE prime contractor, but also similar companies that work under contract or subcontract for a DOE prime contract or transporting radioactive material to or from a site.  The indemnification authority of the DOE under the Price-Anderson Act was extended through 2025 by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Under certain conditions, the Price-Anderson Act’s indemnification provisions may not apply to our processing of radioactive waste at governmental facilities, and do not apply to liabilities that we might incur while performing services as a contractor for the DOE and the nuclear energy industry. If an incident or evacuation is not covered under Price-Anderson Act indemnification, we could be held liable for damages, regardless of fault, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. If such indemnification authority is not applicable in the future, our business could be adversely affected if the owners and operators of new facilities fail to retain our services in the absence of commercial adequate insurance and indemnification.

We are engaged in highly competitive businesses and typically must bid against other competitors to obtain major contracts.

We are engaged in highly competitive business in which most of our government contracts and some of our commercial contracts are awarded through competitive bidding processes.  We compete with national and regional firms with nuclear services practices, as well as small or local contractors. Some of our competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do, which can give them a competitive advantage. In addition, even if we are qualified to work on a new government contract, we might not be awarded the contract because of existing government policies designed to protect certain types of businesses and underrepresented minority contractors. Although the Company has regained the ability to certify and bid government contract as a small business, there are a number of qualified small businesses in our market that will provide intense competition.  Competition places downward pressure on our contract prices and profit margins. Intense competition is expected to continue for nuclear service contracts. If we are unable to meet these competitive challenges, we could lose market share and experience on overall reduction in our profits.

Our failure to maintain our safety record could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our safety record is critical to our reputation. In addition, many of our government and commercial customers require that we maintain certain specified safety record guidelines to be eligible to bid for contracts with these customers.  Furthermore, contract terms may provide for automatic termination in the event that our safety record fails to adhere to agreed-upon guidelines during performance of the contract.  As a result, our failure to maintain our safety record could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to utilize loss carryforwards in the future.

We have approximately $9,715,000 and $53,035,000 in net operating loss carryforwards which will expire in various amounts starting in 2021 if not used against future federal and state income tax liabilities, respectively.  Our net loss carryforwards are subject to various limitations.  Our ability to use the net loss carryforwards depends on whether we are able to generate sufficient income in the future years.  Further, our net loss carryforwards have not been audited or approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

If our goodwill, permit, or other intangible assets become further impaired, we may be required to record additional significant charge to earnings.

Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), we review our intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill and permits are tested for impairment at least annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances, indicating that the carrying value of our goodwill, permit or other intangible assets may not be recoverable, include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, reduced future cash flow estimates, and slower growth rates in our industry. During 2013, we recorded a total of $27,856,000 in goodwill impairment charges, which represented the total goodwill for three of our four reporting units.  We may be required, in the future, to record additional impairment charges in our financial statements, in which any impairment of our goodwill, permit, or other intangible assets is determined, negatively impacting our results of operations.

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We bear the risk of cost overruns in fixed-price contracts. We may experience reduced profits or, in some cases, losses under these contracts if costs increase above our estimates.

A percentage of our revenues are earned under contracts that are fixed-price in nature. Fixed-price contracts expose us to a number of risks not inherent in cost-reimbursable contracts. Under fixed price and guaranteed maximum-price contracts, contract prices are established in part on cost and scheduling estimates which are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions about future economic conditions, prices and availability of labor, equipment and materials, and other exigencies. If these estimates prove inaccurate, or if circumstances change such as unanticipated technical problems, difficulties in obtaining permits or approvals, changes in local laws or labor conditions, weather delays, cost of raw materials or our suppliers’ or subcontractors’ inability to perform, cost overruns may occur and we could experience reduced profits or, in some cases, a loss for that project. Errors or ambiguities as to contract specifications can also lead to cost-overruns.

 

Adequate bonding is necessary for us to win certain types of new work.

We are often required to provide performance bonds or other financial assurances to customers under fixed-price contracts, primarily within our Services Segment. These surety instruments indemnify the customer if we fail to perform our obligations under the contract. If a bond is required for a particular project and we are unable to obtain it due to insufficient liquidity or other reasons, we may not be able to pursue that project. We currently have a bonding facility but, the issuance of bonds under that facility is at the surety’s sole discretion. Moreover, due to events that affect the insurance and bonding markets generally, bonding may be more difficult to obtain in the future or may only be available at significant additional cost. There can be no assurance that bonds will continue to be available to us on reasonable terms. Our inability to obtain adequate bonding and, as a result, to bid on new work could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or failure to remediate a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and stock price.

Maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and is important in helping to prevent financial fraud.  If we are unable to maintain adequate internal controls, our business and operating results could be harmed. We are required to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes Oxley and the related rules of the Commission, which require, among other things, our management to assess annually the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.  In connection with the restatement to our consolidated financial statements in our 2012 Form 10-K/A – Amendment No. 1, filed with the Commission on December 12, 2013, management, including our Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, reassessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 and concluded that the Company did not maintain adequate control of its accounting for deferred tax accounts in preparation of its provision for income taxes.  As result of the restatement, we also concluded that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of September 30, 2013.  Although the Company has remediated this material weakness and based on our assessment, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2013, failure to remediate any future deficiencies or to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatement in our financial statements.

 

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We believe our proprietary technology is important to us.

We believe that it is important that we maintain our proprietary technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by us to protect our proprietary technologies will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of these technologies by third parties. Misappropriation of our proprietary technology could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.  Changes to current environmental laws and regulations also could limit the use of our proprietary technology.

Risks Relating to our Financial Position and Need for Financing

 

 

Our amount of debt could adversely affect our operations.

At December 31, 2013, our aggregate consolidated debt was approximately $14,283,000 (includes debt discount of $223,000). Our Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 31, 2011, as amended, (“Amended Loan Agreement”) provides for an aggregate commitment of $34,000,000, consisting of a $18,000,000 revolving line of credit and a term loan of $16,000,000. Effective April 14, 2014, our revolving line of credit was reduced to $12,000,000. The maximum we can borrow under the revolving part of the Credit Facility is based on a percentage of the amount of our eligible receivables outstanding at any one time.  As of December 31, 2013, we had no borrowings under the revolving part of our Credit Facility and borrowing availability of up to an additional $6,642,000 based on our outstanding eligible receivables. A lack of positive operating results could have material adverse consequences on our ability to operate our business.  Our ability to make principal and interest payments, or to refinance indebtedness, will depend on both our and our subsidiaries' future operating performance and cash flow. Prevailing economic conditions, interest rate levels, and financial, competitive, business, and other factors affect us.  Many of these factors are beyond our control.

Our substantial level of indebtedness could limit our financial and operating activities, and adversely affect our ability to incur additional debt to fund future needs.

We currently have a substantial amount of indebtedness.  As a result, this level of indebtedness could, among other things:

 

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·

limit our ability to adjust to changing economic, business and competitive conditions;

·

place us at a competitive disadvantage with competitors who may have less indebtedness or greater access to financing;

·

make us more vulnerable to an increase in interest  rates, a downturn in our operating performance or a decline in general economic conditions; and

·

make us more susceptible to changes in credit ratings, which could impact our ability to obtain financing in the future and increase the cost of such financing.

 

Any of the foregoing could adversely impact our operating results, financial condition, and liquidity.  Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern.  Our ability to continue our operations depends on our ability to generate profitable operations or complete equity or debt financings to increase our capital.

 

Risks Relating to our Common Stock

Issuance of substantial amounts of our Common Stock could depress our stock price.

Any sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the public market could cause an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.  The issuance of our Common Stock will result in the dilution in the percentage membership interest of our stockholders and the dilution in ownership value. Given effect of the reverse stock split, as of December 31, 2013, we had 11,398,931 shares of Common Stock outstanding (which excludes 7,642 treasury shares).

In addition, given the effect of the reverse stock split, as of December 31, 2013, we had outstanding options to purchase 362,800 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices from $2.79 to $14.75 per share and two outstanding warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 70,000 shares of Common Stock at exercise price of $2.23 per share.  Further, our preferred share rights plan, if triggered, could result in the issuance of a substantial amount of our Common Stock.  The existence of this quantity of rights to purchase our Common Stock under the preferred share rights plan could result in a significant dilution in the percentage ownership interest of our stockholders and the dilution in ownership value. Future sales of the shares issuable could also depress the market price of our Common Stock.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

Since our inception, we have not paid cash dividends on our Common Stock, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our Credit Facility prohibits us from paying cash dividends on our Common Stock.

The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for our stockholders to resell our Common Stock when a stockholder wants or at prices a stockholder finds attractive.

The price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Markets constantly changes. We expect that the market price of our Common Stock will continue to fluctuate. This may make it difficult for our stockholders to resell the Common Stock when a stockholder wants or at prices a stockholder finds attractive.

Future issuance of our Common Stock could adversely affect the price of our Common Stock, our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings and could dilute the percentage ownership of our common stockholders.

Future sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock or equity-related securities in the public market, or the perception that such sales or conversions could occur, could adversely affect prevailing trading prices of our Common Stock and could dilute the value of Common Stock held by our existing stockholders. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares of Common Stock or the availability of shares of Common Stock for future sale will have on the trading price of our Common Stock. Such future sales or conversions could also significantly reduce the percentage ownership of our common stockholders.

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Delaware law, certain of our charter provisions, our stock option plans, outstanding warrants and our Preferred Stock may inhibit a change of control under circumstances that could give you an opportunity to realize a premium over prevailing market prices.

We are a Delaware corporation governed, in part, by the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware public corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner.  As a result of Section 203, potential acquirers may be discouraged from attempting to effect acquisition transactions with us, thereby possibly depriving our security holders of certain opportunities to sell, or otherwise dispose of, such securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions. Further, certain of our option plans provide for the immediate acceleration of, and removal of restrictions from, options and other awards under such plans upon a “change of control” (as defined in the respective plans). Such provisions may also have the result of discouraging acquisition of us.

 

We have authorized and unissued 63,160,627 (which excludes shares issuable under outstanding options to purchase 362,800 shares of our Common Stock and two warrants to purchase 70,000 shares of our Common Stock) shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock as of December 31, 2013 (which includes 600,000 shares of our Preferred Stock reserved for issuance under our preferred share rights plan).  These unissued shares could be used by our management to make it more difficult, and thereby discourage an attempt to acquire control of us.

Our Preferred Share Rights Plan may adversely affect our stockholders.

In May 2008, we adopted a preferred share rights plan (the “Rights Plan”), designed to ensure that all of our stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of a proposed takeover or abusive tender offer.  However, the Rights Plan may also have the effect of deterring, delaying, or preventing a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

In general, under the terms of the Rights Plan, subject to certain limited exceptions, if a person or group acquires 20% or more of our Common Stock or a tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of our Common Stock is announced or commenced, our other stockholders may receive upon exercise of the rights (the “Rights”) issued under the Rights Plan the number of shares our Common Stock or of one-one hundredths of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the Right.  In addition, if we are acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in which we are not the survivor or more than 50% of our assets or earning power is sold or transferred, then each holder of a Right (other than the acquirer) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the Right.  The initial purchase price of each Right was $13, subject to adjustment and adjustment for the reverse stock split.

The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our board of directors. The Rights may be redeemed by us at $0.001 per Right at any time before any person or group acquires 20% or more of our outstanding common stock.  The rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our board of directors. The Rights expire on May 2, 2018.

 

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ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

Our principal executive office is in Atlanta, Georgia.  Our Business Center is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Our Treatment Segment facilities are located in Gainesville, Florida; Kingston, Tennessee; Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington.  Our Services Segment operates subsidiaries located in Ellisville, Missouri; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Blaydon On Tyne, England, of which we lease all of the properties.  We have a facility located in Valdosta, Georgia, which is included within our discontinued operations.  On August 14, 2013, our Valdosta, Georgia facility incurred fire damage which has left it non-operational at this time, but is undergoing the rebuilding process. We also maintain properties in Brownstown, Michigan and Memphis, Tennessee, which are all non-operational and are included within our discontinued operations.

Three of our facilities are subject to mortgages as granted to our senior lender (Kingston, Tennessee; Gainesville, Florida; and Richland, Washington).

The Company currently leases properties in the following locations:

Location		Square Footage		Expiration of Lease
Knoxville, TN (Safety and Ecology Corporation or "SEC")		20,850		May 31, 2018
Knoxville, TN (SEC)		11,000		September 30, 2014
Blaydon On Tyne, England (Perma-Fix UK Limited)		1,000		Monthly
Pittsburgh, PA (SEC)		640		Monthly
Newport, KY (SEC)		1,566		Monthly
Oak Ridge, TN (M&EC)		150,000		February 28, 2018
Ellisville, MO (SYA)		12,000		May 31, 2016
Atlanta, GA (Corporate)		7,672		May 31, 2015

We believe that the above facilities currently provide adequate capacity for our operations and that additional facilities are readily available in the regions in which we operate, which could support and supplement our existing facilities.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Perma-Fix of Northwest Richland, Inc. (“PFNWR”)

PFNWR filed suit (PFNWR vs. Philotechnics, Ltd.) in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, asserting contract breach and seeking specific performance of the “return-of-waste clause” in the brokerage contract between a prior facility owner (now owned by PFNWR) and Philotechnics, Ltd. (“Philo”), as to certain non-conforming waste Philo delivered for treatment from Philo’s customer, El du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”),  to the PFNWR facility, before PFNWR acquired the facility. Our complaint seeks an order that Philo: (A) specifically perform its obligations under the contract’s “return-of-waste” clause by physically taking custody of and by removing the nonconforming waste, (B) pay PFNWR all additional costs of maintaining and managing the waste, and (C) pay PFNWR the cost to treat and dispose of the nonconforming waste so as to allow PFNWR to compliantly dispose of that waste offsite. Presently, under the supervision of the Court, PFNWR and Philo have agreed to temporarily suspend formal legal proceedings and, instead, to work together to process, package, transport from the facility, and dispose of the nonconforming waste.  PFNWR anticipates that these activities will be completed in 2014.  This matter is currently set to proceed to trial on November 3, 2014 to adjudicate any issues that remain.

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ITEM 4

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

 

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 4A.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF  THE REGISTRANT

 

The following table sets forth, as of the date hereof, information concerning our executive officers:

NAME	AGE	POSITION
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti	70	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Ben Naccarato	51	Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, and Secretary
Mr. Robert Schreiber, Jr.	63	President of Schreiber, Yonley & Associates (“SYA”), a subsidiary of the Company, and Principal Engineer
Mr. John Lash	51	Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Louis F. Centofanti

Dr. Centofanti has served as Board Chairman since joining the Company in February 1991. Dr. Centofanti also served as Company President and Chief Executive Officer (February 1991 to September 1995) and again in March 1996 was elected Company President and Chief Executive Officer.  From 1985 until joining the Company, Dr. Centofanti served as Senior Vice President of USPCI, Inc., a large hazardous waste management company, where he was responsible for managing the treatment, reclamation and technical groups within USPCI.  In 1981 he founded PPM, Inc. (later sold to USPCI), a hazardous waste management company specializing in treating PCB contaminated oils.  From 1978 to 1981, Dr. Centofanti served as Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Energy for the southeastern region of the United States.  Dr. Centofanti has a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Youngstown State University.

Mr. Ben Naccarato

Mr. Naccarato has served as the Chief Financial Officer since February 26, 2009.  Mr. Naccarato joined the Company in September 2004 and served as Vice President, Finance of the Company’s Industrial Segment until May 2006, when he was named Vice President, Corporate Controller/Treasurer.  Prior to joining the Company in September 2004, Mr. Naccarato was the Chief Financial Officer of Culp Petroleum Company, Inc., a privately held company in the fuel distribution and used waste oil industry from December 2002 to September 2004.  Mr. Naccarato is a graduate of University of Toronto having received a Bachelor of Commerce and Finance Degree and is a Certified Management Accountant.

Mr. Robert Schreiber, Jr.

Mr. Schreiber has served as President of SYA since the Company acquired the environmental engineering firm in 1992. Mr. Schreiber co-founded the predecessor of SYA, Lafser & Schreiber in 1985, and held several executive roles in the firm until our acquisition of SYA.  From 1978 to 1985, Mr. Schreiber was the Director of Air programs and all environmental programs for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Schreiber provides technical expertise in wide range of areas including the cement industry, environmental regulations and air pollution control.  Mr. Schreiber has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Mr. John Lash

On April 13, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved the appointment by the company on March 20, 2014 of Mr. John Lash as the Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Lash previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations of the Company’s Treatment Segment for over ten years. Mr. Lash has over 20 years of experience in the nuclear industry, with specific experience in managing remedial activities, as well as decontamination and disposal of radioactive materials from commercial and government operating facilities. As Senior Vice President of Operations, Mr. Lash was responsible for all treatment and remediation activities.  Prior to joining Perma-Fix in 2001, Mr. Lash served as Broad Spectrum Manager for Waste Control Specialists in Dallas, TX where his responsibilities included contract management of DOE nationwide procurement for mixed waste treatment services, business development activities, and technology development. Prior to that, he worked for ten years at Chem-Nuclear Systems where he held various managerial positions including manager of the Chem-Nuclear Consolidation Facility.  Mr. Lash received his education and qualification from the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Program, where he served for 8 years prior to working in the commercial and nuclear industry.

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Resignation of Chief Operating Officer

On March 20, 2014, the Company accepted the resignation of Mr. James A. Blankenhorn, as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.  The resignation was effective March 28, 2014. Mr. Blankenhorn’s resignation was not due to a disagreement with the Company.

Certain Relationships

There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers.

PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Our Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Markets (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “PESI”. The following table sets forth the high and low market trade prices quoted for the Common Stock during the periods shown.  The source of such quotations and information is the NASDAQ online trading history reports.  The trade prices noted below have been adjusted for the 1-for-5 reverse stock split.

 

			2013								2012
			Low				High				Low				High
Common Stock	1st Quarter		$	3.14			$	5.25			$	7.32			$	9.50
	2st Quarter			1.80				4.30				5.30				8.40
	3st Quarter			1.96				4.00				4.25				5.95
	4st Quarter			2.85				4.28				3.40				5.35

Since our inception, we have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock and have no dividend policy. Our Amended Loan Agreement prohibits us from paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock without prior approval from the lender.  We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our outstanding Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

No sales of unregistered securities occurred during 2013.  There were no purchases made by us or on behalf of us or any of our affiliated members of shares of our Common Stock during 2013.

We have adopted a preferred share rights plan, which is designed to protect us against certain creeping acquisitions, open market purchases, and certain mergers and other combinations with acquiring companies.  See “Item 1A. - Risk Factors – Our Preferred Share Rights Plan” as to further discussion relating to the terms of our preferred share rights plan.

 

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The primary reason for implementing this reverse stock split was to increase the market price per share of our Common Stock in order to regain compliance with the NASDAQ’s continued listing criteria related to Minimum Bid Price Rule.  On October 29, 2013, we received a letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that we had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market.  The Company’s Common Stock continues to be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not required under Regulation S-K for smaller reporting companies.

ITEM 7.

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

Certain statements contained within this “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” may be deemed “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 (collectively, the “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995”).  See “Special Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements” contained in this report.

Management's discussion and analysis is based, among other things, upon our audited consolidated financial statements and includes our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, after elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 8 of this report.

Reverse Stock Split

The Company has effected a reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-5 of the Company’s Common Stock, effective as of 12:01 a.m. on October 15, 2013.  As a result of this reverse stock split, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, as to the number of shares outstanding, per share amounts, and outstanding stock option and warrant data of the Company’s Common Stock have been restated to reflect the effect of the stock split for all periods presented.

Review

This year was a challenging year for the Company.  Revenues for fiscal year 2013 were below our expectations and internal forecasts as a result, in large part, of the government sequestration, federal and state governmental clients operating under reduced budgets, including short term budget Continuing Resolutions (“CR”), the government shutdown of approximately 16 days in October 2013, ending of contracts, and general adverse economic conditions.

 

Revenue decreased $53,096,000 or 41.6% to $74,413,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 from $127,509,000 for the corresponding period of 2012.  We saw a revenue decrease of approximately $42,754,000 or 52.4% within our Services Segment primarily resulting from completion/near completion of certain large contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) within the nuclear services area and a large contract in the technical services area.  In addition, effective September 30, 2013, the CH Plateau Remediation Company (“CHPRC”) subcontract (under the nuclear services area), which became effective June 19, 2008, expired. This subcontract was awarded to our East Tennessee Materials & Energy Corporation (“M&EC”) subsidiary in connection with CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company’s (“CH2M Hill”) prime contract with the DOE, relating to waste management and facility operations at the DOE’s Hanford, Washington site. The CHPRC subcontract provided for a base contract period from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2013, with an option of renewal for an additional five years.  Revenue generated under this subcontract was approximately $17,150,000 and $23,462,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and twelve months ended December 31, 2012, respectively.  Revenue from our Treatment Segment was lower by $10,342,000 or 22.5% primarily due to lower waste volume from government clients.  Gross profit decreased $5,988,000 or 37.9%, primarily due to reduced revenue.  Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased $4,014,000 or 21.8% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the corresponding period of 2012. We had a net loss of $36,039,000 for fiscal year 2013 as compared to a net loss of $3,179,000 for the corresponding period of 2012.  Our net loss for 2013 included approximately $27,856,000 in goodwill impairment charges recorded for three of our four reporting units and a charge to tax expense of approximately $4,760,000 ($3,596,000 for our continuing operations and $1,164,000 for our discontinued operations) to provide a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets.

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We had a working capital deficit of $2,958,000 at December 31, 2013, as compared to a working capital of $2,652,000 at December 31, 2012, a decrease of $5,610,000.

Business Environment, Outlook and Liquidity

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company incurred net losses of $36,039,000 and $3,179,000, respectively, and net cash used in operating activities was $2,716,000 and $3,409,000, respectively.  Our net loss for 2013 included approximately $27,856,000 in goodwill impairment charges recorded for three of our four reporting units and a charge to tax expense of approximately $4,760,000 ($3,596,000 for our continuing operations and $1,164,000 for our discontinued operations) to provide a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets.  As of December 31, 2013, we have a deficit in working capital of $2,958,000, an accumulated deficit of $55,078,000 and cash on hand of $333,000.  Revenues for fiscal years 2013 and 2012 were $74,413,000 and $127,509,000, respectively, and were below our expectations and internal forecasts as a result, in large part, of the government sequestration, federal governmental clients operating under reduced budgets, the government shutdown of approximately 16 days in October 2013, ending of contracts, and general adverse economic conditions.  Our revenue during the year ended December 31, 2013 was insufficient to attain profitable operations and generated negative operating cash flow from operations. We did not meet the minimum quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio requirement under our credit facility for the first and fourth quarters of 2013; however, we obtained a waiver from our lender for each of these quarters for the non-compliance. Our lender also has waived the fixed charge coverage ratio testing requirement for the first quarter of 2014 and amended the methology and the quarterly minimum ratio requirement to be used in calculating our quarterly fixed charge ratio for the subsequent quarters of 2014 (See "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Financing Activities" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations" for further information of these waivers and this amendment and other matters).

The Company’s cash flow requirements during 2013 have been financed by cash on hand, operations, our credit facility, and debt financing.  The Company is continually reviewing operating costs and is committed to further reducing operating costs to bring them in line with revenue levels.

Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability is dependent upon our ability to successfully raise additional capital and develop our business plans that will generate profitable revenues. The Company continues to explore all sources of increasing revenue.  If the Company is unable in the near term to raise capital on commercially reasonable terms or increase revenue, it may not have sufficient cash to sustain its operations for the next twelve months.  As a result, the Company may be forced to further reduce or even curtail its operations.  These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern in their report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013. We have obtained a waiver from our lender waiving the requirement that our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, be issued without a going concern qualification (see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Financing Activities for further information of this waiver). The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

The Company continues to focus on expansion into both commercial and international markets to help offset the uncertainties of government spending in the USA.  This includes new services, new customers and increased market share in our current markets.  Although no assurances can be given, we believe we will be able to successfully implement this plan.  In January 2014, the fiscal year 2014 Omnibus spending bill was approved by Congress and the President.  This budget, the first approved in several years, restores federal government funding cuts instituted in 2013 from sequestration and allows for new spending on projects that was not allowed under CR.  The 2014 budget provides approximately $5.83 billion for the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (“EM”), which is an effective increase in funding availability of $300,000,000 to $600,000,000.  The increase in funding allows government agencies to spend on discretionary clean-up and waste treatment projects that represents over half of Perma-Fix’s business base. Although no assurances can be given, we believe these factors provide potential increased revenues and generate positive cash flows in 2014.

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Results of Operations

The reporting of financial results and pertinent discussions are tailored to our two reportable segments:  The Treatment Segment (“Treatment”) and the Services Segment (“Services”):

Below are the results of continuing operations for our years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

(Consolidated)		2013				%				2012				%
Net revenues		$	74,413				100.0			$	127,509				100.0
Cost of goods sold			64,597				86.8				111,705				87.6
Gross Profit			9,816				13.2				15,804				12.4
Selling, general and administrative			14,376				19.3				18,390				14.4
Impairment of goodwill			27,856				37.4				¾				¾
Research and development			1,764				2.4				1,823				1.4
Loss on disposal of property and equipment			49				¾				15				¾
Loss from operations			(34,229	)			(45.9	)			(4,424	)			(3.4	)
Interest income			35				¾				41				¾
Interest expense			(762	)			(1.0	)			(818	)			(.6	)
Interest expense – financing fees			(132	)			(.2	)			(107	)			(.1	)
Other			(8	)			¾				8				¾
Loss from continuing operations before taxes			(35,096	)			(47.1	)			(5,300	)			(4.1	)
Income tax benefit			(625	)			(.8	)			(2,151	)			(1.6	)
Loss from continuing operations		$	(34,471	)			(46.3	)		$	(3,149	)			(2.5	)

Net Revenue

Consolidated revenues from continuing operations decreased $53,096,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, as follows:

(In thousands)		2013				% Revenue				2012				% Revenue				Change				% Change
Treatment
Government waste		$	20,188				27.1			$	30,501				23.9			$	(10,313	)			(33.8	)
Hazardous/non-hazardous			4,439				6.0				3,230				2.6				1,209				37.4
Other nuclear waste			10,913				14.7				12,151				9.5				(1,238	)			(10.2	)
Total			35,540				47.8				45,882				36.0				(10,342	)			(22.5	)
Services
Nuclear			32,067				43.1				62,043				48.6				(29,976	)			(48.3	)
Technical			6,806				9.1				19,584				15.4				(12,778	)			(65.2	)
Total			38,873				52.2				81,627				64.0				(42,754	)			(52.4	)
Total		$	74,413				100.0			$	127,509				100.0			$	(53,096	)			(41.6	)

 

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Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold decreased $47,108,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, as follows:

(In thousands)		2013				% Revenue				2012				% Revenue				Change
Treatment		$	29,966				84.3			$	36,614				79.8			$	(6,648	)
Services			34,631				89.1				75,091				92.0				(40,460	)
Total		$	64,597				86.8			$	111,705				87.6			$	(47,108	)

Cost of goods sold for the Treatment Segment decreased $6,648,000 or 18.2%, primarily due to reduced revenue from lower waste volume and our continued effort in reducing our cost structure.  We incurred lower costs throughout most categories within cost of goods sold. We incurred significant reduction in salaries and payroll/healthcare related expenses ($2,600,000) resulting from reductions in workforce which occurred in February 2013, December 2012, and June 2012, as we continue to manage headcount and streamline our operations. The lower costs discussed above were partially offset by approximately $113,000 increase in severance expense. In addition, our costs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 included $188,000 of penalty recorded in final settlement on July 16, 2013 by our PFNWR subsidiary with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, regarding certain alleged violations that our PFNWR subsidiaries had improperly stored certain mixed waste.  Treatment cost of goods sold included a reduction of approximately $1,007,000 in depreciation expense and an increase of approximately $559,000 in closure expense due to adjustments to our asset retirement obligations for our M&EC, DSSI, PFF, and PFNWR facilities.  The adjustment was made principally to record the obligation using appropriate discount rates. The closure obligations were previously based on undiscounted values.  The associated assets were also adjusted to reflect this change. Services Segment cost of goods sold decreased $40,460,000 or 53.9% primarily due to reduced revenue as discussed above.  We incurred lower costs throughout most categories within cost of goods sold.  Salaries and payroll related expenses were significantly lower ($22,000,000) resulting from reduced revenue and a reduction in workforce which occurred in February 2013.  In addition, we incurred significantly lower outside services/subcontract costs ($14,000,000).   Included within cost of goods sold is depreciation and amortization expense of $3,486,000 and $5,146,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased $4,014,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the corresponding period for 2012, as follows:

(In thousands)		2013				% Revenue				2012				% Revenue				Change
Administrative		$	5,215				¾			$	6,536				¾			$	(1,321	)
Treatment			4,253				12.0				4,051				8.8				202
Services			4,908				12.6				7,803				9.6				(2,895	)
Total		$	14,376				19.3			$	18,390				14.4			$	(4,014	)

The decrease in administrative SG&A was primarily the result of lower outside services expenses resulting from fewer corporate legal, consulting and business matters ($540,000), lower payroll and healthcare costs ($486,000), lower travel expenses and lower public company expense.  During the second quarter of 2012, we wrote off approximately $117,000 in costs related to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 which expired on June 26, 2012.  In addition, general expenses were lower throughout all categories.  Treatment SG&A was higher primarily due to higher payroll related expenses and higher allocations. With the completion of the CHPRC subcontract effective September 30, 2013, the Treatment and Services segments are each allocated a higher share of the Business Center overhead costs. The higher Treatment SG&A cost was also attributed to higher bad debt expense ($43,000).  Services SG&A was lower in most categories. We incurred lower salaries and payroll related expenses ($1,400,000) resulting from reduced headcount due to completion of integration of administrative functions and the completion of the CHPRC subcontract effective September 30, 2013, lower travel expenses ($114,000), lower outside services ($100,000) from reduced consulting and subcontract matters, and lower general expenses ($600,000).  Bad debt expense was significantly lower ($450,000) primarily resulting from collection of accounts receivable previously reserved in our allowance for doubtful account for a certain fixed price contract.  The lower cost was partially offset by higher legal expenses incurred in settlement and collection of the accounts receivable mentioned above and other legal matters. Included in SG&A expenses is depreciation and amortization expense of $425,000 and $305,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development costs decreased $59,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the corresponding period of 2012.  Research and development costs consist primarily of employee salaries and benefits, laboratory costs, third party fees, and other related costs associated with the development of new technologies to increase company offerings and technological enhancement of new potential waste treatment processes.  The decrease was primarily due to lower payroll costs.  Included in research and development expense is depreciation expense of $215,000 and $19,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

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The impairment charges are noncash in nature and did not affect our liquidity or cash flows from operating activities. Additionally, the goodwill impairment had no effect on our borrowing availability or covenants under our credit facility agreement.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $56,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the corresponding period of 2012.

(In thousands)		2013				2012				Change				%
PNC interest		$	605			$	616			$	(11	)			(1.8	)
Other			157				202				(45	)			(22.3	)
Total		$	762			$	818			$	(56	)			(6.8	)

 

The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to reducing Term Loan balance from monthly payments.  In addition, interest expense was lower from a reduced loan balance and termination of the $2,500,000 note we entered into with Timios National Corporation (“TNC” and formerly known as Homeland Capital Security Corporation) from the acquisition of Safety and Ecology Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively known as Safety and Ecology Corporation or “SEC”) on October 31, 2011 and a reducing loan balance of the $1,322,000 earn-out note dated September 28, 2010, which was paid in full in September 2013. The lower interest expense was partially offset by higher interest expense resulting from a $3,000,000 loan the Company entered into with Messrs. Ferguson and Lampson on August 2, 2013.  In addition, our interest expense for 2013 included approximately $65,000 in loss on debt modification (recorded in accordance with ASC 470-50, “Debt – Modification and Extinguishment”) which we incurred as a result of an amendement that we entered into with our lender on August 2, 2013, which amended certain provisions of our amended loan agreement.”See “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities” below for further details of these notes and the August 2, 2013 amendment.

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Interest Expense- Financing Fees

Interest expense-financing fees increased approximately $25,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the corresponding period of 2012.  The increase was primarily due to the debt discount amortized as financing fees in connection with the issuance of our Common Stock and two purchase Warrants as consideration for the Company receiving a $3,000,000 loan from Messrs. Ferguson and Lampson on August 2, 2013 as discussed above.

Income Taxes

We had income tax benefits of $625,000 and $2,151,000 for continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  The Company’s effective tax rates were approximately 8.7% and 39.3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  The lower tax rate for 2013 was primarily the result of the Company providing a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets. We have treated the total goodwill impairment loss of approximately $27,856,000 recorded in 2013 for our CHPRC, Treatment, and SEC reporting units as a discrete item and have not included the impact of the impairment in our estimated effective tax rates for 2013, in accordance with ASC 740-270-30-8.  We estimate our tax liability based on our estimated annual effective tax rate, which is based on our expected annual income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate.

Discontinued Operations and Divestitures

Our discontinued operations consist of our Perma-Fix of South Georgia, Inc. (“PFSG”) facility which met the held for sale criteria under ASC 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment” on October 6, 2010.  Our discontinued operations also encompass our Perma-Fix of Fort Lauderdale, Inc. (“PFFL”), Perma-Fix of Orlando, Inc. (“PFO”), Perma-Fix of Maryland, Inc. (“PFMD”), Perma-Fix of Dayton, Inc. (“PFD”), and Perma-Fix Treatment Services, Inc. (“PFTS”) facilities, which were divested on August 12, 2011, October 14, 2011,  January 8, 2008, March 14, 2008, and May 30, 2008, respectively.  Our discontinued operations also includes two previously closed locations, Perma-Fix of Michigan, Inc. (“PFMI”) and Perma-Fix of Memphis, Inc. (“PFM”), which were approved as discontinued operations by our Board of Directors effective October 4, 2004, and March 12, 1998, respectively.

On August 14, 2013, our PFSG facility incurred fire damage which has left it non-operational.  Certain equipment and portions of the building structures were damaged. We carry general liability, pollution, property and business interruption, and workers compensation insurance with a maximum deductible of approximately $300,000 (consisting of $100,000 deductible for each workers compensation, pollution, and property insurance policy), which was accrued and included within our “loss from discontinued operations.”  As of December 31, 2013, we have recorded $130,000 for impairment of fixed assets related to the fire, and has incurred approximately $6,729,000 of other costs related to the fire.  As of December 31, 2013, approximately $3,664,000 in insurance proceed reimbursements have been paid by our insurers, of which $1,750,000 was paid to us, with the remaining paid directly to the vendor performing the clean-up of the facility. We have recorded a receivable of approximately $2,995,000 as we have determined that the receipt of reimbursement of these expenses from our insurer is probable in accordance with its insurance policies.

 

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Subsequent to December 31, 2013, our insurers paid approximately $3,510,000 of insurance recoveries, of which approximately $2,000,000 was paid to us, with the remaining paid directly to the vendor working on the clean-up of the facility.  We continue to gather information related to insurance claims on this fire.

We are currently evaluating options regarding the future operation of this facility as we undergo the rebuilding process on the part of the facility damaged by the fire.  As required by ASC 360, based on our internal financial valuations, we concluded that no tangible asset impairments existed for PFSG as of December 31, 2013, other than the write-off of the equipment damaged in the fire as discussed above.  No intangible assets exist at PFSG.

Our discontinued operations had net revenue of $1,789,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, as compared to $2,204,000 for the corresponding period of 2012.  We had net losses of $1,568,000 and $30,000 for our discontinued operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Our net loss for 2013 included a charge to income tax expense of approximately $1,164,000 to provide a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets.

Assets related to discontinued operations totaled $4,481,000 and $2,113,000 as of December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively, and liabilities related to discontinued operations totaled $4,596,000 and $3,341,000 as of December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company incurred net losses of $36,039,000 and $3,179,000, respectively.  Our net loss for 2013 included approximately $27,856,000 in goodwill impairment charges recorded for three of our four reporting units and a charge to tax expense of approximately $4,760,000 ($3,596,000 for our continuing operations and $1,164,000 for our discontinued operations) to provide a full valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets.  Revenues for fiscal years 2013 and 2012, were $74,413,000 and $127,509,000, respectively, and were below our expectations and internal forecasts as a result, in large part, of the government sequestration, federal and state governmental clients operating under reduced budgets, the government shutdown of approximately 16 days in October 2013, ending of contracts, and general adverse economic conditions.  Our revenue during twelve months ended December 31, 2013 was insufficient to attain profitable operations and generated negative operating cash flow from operations.

The Company’s cash flow requirements during 2013 have been financed by cash on hand, operations, our credit facility, and debt financing.  The Company is continually reviewing operating costs and is committed to further reducing operating costs to bring them in line with revenue levels.

Our capital requirements consist of general working capital needs, scheduled principal payments on our debt obligations and capital leases, remediation projects and planned capital expenditures.  Our capital resources consist primarily of cash generated from operations, funds available under our revolving credit facility and proceeds from issuance of our Common Stock.  Our capital resources are impacted by changes in accounts receivable as a result of revenue fluctuation, economic trends, collection activities, and the profitability of the segments.

 

Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability is dependent upon our ability to successfully raise additional capital and develop our business plans that will generate profitable revenues. The Company continues to explore all sources of increasing revenue.  If the Company is unable in the near term to raise capital on commercially reasonable terms or increase revenue, it may not have sufficient cash to sustain its operations for the next twelve months.  As a result, the Company may be forced to further reduce or even curtail its operations.  These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern in their report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 (see "Financing Activities" in this section for a discussion as to the waiver issued by lender waiving the requirement that our consolidated financial statements for the  year ended December 31, 2013, be issued without a going concern qualification). The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

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At December 31, 2013, we had cash of $333,000.  The following table reflects the cash flow activities during the twelve months of 2013:

(In thousands)		2013
Cash used in operating activities of continuing operations		$	(1,696	)
Cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations			(1,020	)
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations			(1,487	)
Cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations			204
Principal repayment of long-term debt for discontinued operations			(36	)
Decrease in cash		$	(4,035	)

As of December 31, 2013, we were in a positive cash position.  We attempt to move all excess cash into a Money Market Sweep account in order to maximize the interest earned.  When we are in a net borrowing position, we attempt to move all excess cash balances immediately to the revolving credit, so as to reduce debt and interest expense. We utilize a centralized cash management system, which includes a remittance lock box and is structured to accelerate collection activities and reduce cash balances, as idle cash is moved without delay to the revolving credit facility or the Money Market account, if applicable.  The cash balance at December 31, 2013, primarily represents cash provided by operations and minor petty cash and local account balances used for miscellaneous services and supplies.

Operating Activities

Accounts Receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts, totaled $8,106,000 at December 31, 2013, a decrease of $3,289,000 from the December 31, 2012 balance of $11,395,000.  The decrease was primarily due to reduction in invoicing resulting from decreased revenue.

As of December 31, 2013, unbilled receivables totaled $5,219,000, a decrease of $3,448,000 from the December 31, 2012 balance of $8,667,000.  Treatment unbilled receivables decreased $949,000 from $5,147,000 as of December 31, 2012 to $4,198,000 as of December 31, 2013.  Services Segment unbilled receivables (which are all current) decreased $2,499,000 from a balance of $3,520,000 as of December 31, 2012 to $1,021,000 as of December 31, 2013.  The delays in processing invoices usually take several months to complete and the related receivables are normally considered collectible within twelve months. However, as we have historical data in our Treatment Segment to review the timing of these delays, we realize that certain issues including, but not limited, to delays at our third party disposal site, can extend collection of some of these receivables greater than twelve months.  Therefore, we have segregated the unbilled receivables between current and long term. The current portion of the unbilled receivables as of December 31, 2013 was $4,917,000, a decrease of $3,613,000 from the balance of $8,530,000 as of December 31, 2012. The long term portion as of December 31, 2013 was $302,000, an increase of $165,000 from the balance of $137,000 as of December 31, 2012.

 

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Investing Activities

During 2013, our purchase of capital equipment totaled approximately $944,000. These expenditures were primarily for improvements to our Segments.   These capital expenditures were funded by the cash provided by operating activities. We have budgeted approximately $600,000 for 2014 capital expenditures for our Segments to maintain operations and regulatory compliance requirements. Certain of these budgeted projects may either be delayed until later in the year or deferred altogether.  We have traditionally incurred actual capital spending totals for a given year less than the initial budget amount.  We plan to fund our capital expenditures from cash from operations and/or financing.  The initiation and timing of projects are also determined by financing alternatives or funds available for such capital projects.

Financing Activities

The Company entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 31, 2011 (“Amended Loan Agreement”), with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), acting as agent and lender, replacing our previous Loan Agreement with PNC.  The Amended Loan Agreement provides us with the following credit facilities: (a) up to $25,000,000 revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit”), subject to the amount of borrowings based on a percentage of eligible receivables (as defined); (b) a term loan (“Term Loan”) of $16,000,000, which requires monthly installments of approximately $190,000 (based on a seven-year amortization); and (c) equipment line of credit up to $2,500,000, subject to certain limitations.  The Amended Loan Agreement terminates as of October 31, 2016, unless sooner terminated.  We may terminate the Amended Loan Agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice and upon payment in full of our obligations under the Amended Loan Agreement.

We have the option of paying an annual rate of interest due on the revolving credit facility at prime plus 2% or London Interbank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 3% and the term loan and equipment credit facilities at prime plus 2.5% or LIBOR plus 3.5%.

On August 2, 2013, the Company entered into an Amendment to our Amended Loan Agreement.  This Amendment reduced our Revolving Credit facility from $25,000,000 to $18,000,000 and removed the equipment line credit of up to $2,500,000.  All other terms of the Amended Loan Agreement remain principally unchanged.   As a result of this amendment, we recorded approximately $65,000 in loss on debt modification (included in our interest expense) in accordance with ASC 470-50, “Debt – Modification and Extinguishment.” As of December 31, 2013, the excess availability under our revolving credit was approximately $6,642,000, based on our eligible receivables.

Our credit facility with PNC Bank contains certain financial covenants, along with customary representations and warranties.  A breach of any of these financial covenants, unless waived by PNC, could result in a default under our credit facility allowing our lender to immediately require the repayment of all outstanding debt under our credit facility and terminate all commitments to extend further credit.  On May 9, 2013, we entered into an Amendment to our Amended Loan Agreement.  This Amendment waived our fixed charge coverage ratio non-compliance for the first quarter of 2013.  This Amendment also changed the methodology in calculating our fixed charge coverage ratio in each subsequent quarter of 2013.  The minimum fixed charge coverage ratio requirement of 1:25 to 1:00 for each subsequent quarter of 2013 remains unchanged. As a condition of this Amendment, we paid PNC a fee of $20,000, which is being amortized over the term of the Amended Loan Agreement. All other terms of the Amended Loan Agreement remain principally unchanged.

 

As discussed above, our fixed charge coverage ratio non-compliance for the first quarter of 2013 was waived by PNC.  We met our fixed charge coverage ratio in the second and third quarters of 2013.  We did not meet our minimum fixed charge coverage ratio for the fourth quarter of 2013.  On April 14, 2014, we entered into an Amendment to our Amended Loan Agreement whereby our lender waived our non-compliance for failing to meet the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio in the fourth quarter of 2013 as discussed above.  This Amendment also waived the quarterly fixed charge coverage testing requirement for the first quarter of 2014, revises the methodology in calculating the fixed charge coverage ratio in each of the subsequent quarters of 2014 and changes the minimum quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio requirement of 1:25 to 1:00 to 1:15 to 1:00 for each of the subsequent quarters of 2014. As a result of this Amendment, we expect to meet our quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio requirement in each of the second to fourth quarters of 2014. If we fail to meet the minimum quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio requirement in any of the quarters noted above in 2014 and PNC does not waive the non-compliance or further revise our covenant so that we are in compliance, PNC could accelerate the repayment of borrowings under our credit facility.  In the event that PNC accelerates the payment of our borrowings, we may not have sufficient liquidity to repay our debt under our credit facility and other indebtedness.  The following table illustrates the most significant financial covenants under our credit facility and reflects the quarterly compliance required by the terms of our senior credit facility as of December 31, 2013:

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Quarterly

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

(Dollars in thousands)

Requirement

Actual

Actual

Actual

Actual

Senior Credit Facility

Fixed charge coverage ratio

1.25:1

0.63:1

2.21:1

1.30:1

0.53:1

Minimum tangible adjusted net worth

$30,000

$55,349

$55,106

$51,537

$46,971

 

In addition to the waivers and revisions discussed above, our lender also waived the requirement that our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, be issued without a going concern qualification, a violation, if any, of our purchase of 80% of CEE Opportunity Partners Poland S.A. on April 4, 2014 (or "Polish subsidiary") a subsidiary in Poland and the formation of Perma-Fix Medical Corporation ("PFMedical" which was incorporated in January 2014), neither of which shall be a credit party under our Amended Loan Agreement. We intend to license PFMedical to produce and market the new technology relating to technetium-99 ("Tc-99m") that we have developed.

 

This Amendment also reduced, our Revolving Credit facility from $18,000,000 to $12,000,000. As a condition of this Amendment, we agreed to pay PNC a fee of $30,000.

 

On February 12, 2013, the Company entered into an unsecured promissory note (“New Note”) with TNC in the principal amount of approximately $230,000 as a result of a settlement with TNC in connection with certain claims that we asserted against TNC for breach of certain representations and covenant subsequent to our acquisition of SEC from TNC on October 31, 2011.  In connection with the acquisition of SEC on October 31, 2011, as partial consideration of the purchase price, we entered into a $2,500,000 unsecured, non-negotiable promissory note (the “October Note”), bearing an annual rate of interest of 6%, payable in 36 monthly installments, with TNC.  As part of the settlement with TNC regarding the aforementioned claims, the October Note, with balance of approximately $1,460,000, was cancelled and terminated and the New Note was issued in replacement of the October Note.  The New Note bears an annual interest rate of 6%, payable in 24 monthly installments of principal and interest of approximately $10,000, with the first payment due February 28, 2013, as agreed by us and TNC after entering into the promissory note, with subsequent payments due on the last day of each month thereafter.  The New Note provides us the right to prepay such at any time without interest or penalty.

In connection with the acquisition of Perma-Fix Northwest, Inc. (“PFNW”) and Perma-Fix Northwest Richland, Inc. (“PFNWR”) in June 2007, we issued a promissory note, dated September 28, 2010, in the principal amount of $1,322,000 to the former shareholders of Nuvotec (now known as PFNW) in connection with an earn-out amount that we were required to pay upon meeting certain conditions for each measurement year ended June 30, 2008 to June 2011.  The note provides for 36 equal monthly payments of $40,000, consisting of interest (annual interest rate of 6%) and principal, starting October 15, 2010.  We made the final note payment in September 2013.

 

On August 2, 2013, the Company completed a lending transaction with Messrs. Robert Ferguson and William Lampson (“collectively, the “Lenders”), whereby the Company borrowed from the Lenders the sum of $3,000,000 pursuant to the terms of a Loan and Security Purchase Agreement and promissory note (the “Loan”).  The Lenders were formerly shareholders of PFNW prior to our acquisition of PFNW and PFNWR and are also stockholders of the Company, having received shares of our Common Stock in connection with the acquisition of PFNW and PFNWR in June 2007.  Mr. Ferguson also served as a Company Board member from August 2007 to February 2010 and from August 2011 to September 2012. The proceeds from the Loan were used for general working capital purposes.  The promissory note is unsecured, with a term of three years with interest payable at a fixed interest rate of 2.99% per annum.  The promissory note provides for monthly payments of accrued interest only during the first year of the Loan with the first interest payment due September 1, 2013 and monthly payments of $125,000 in principal plus accrued interest for the second and third year of the Loan.  In connection with the above Loan, the Lenders entered into a Subordination Agreement dated August 2, 2013, with the Company’s credit facility lender, whereby the Lenders agreed to subordinate payment under the Loan, and agreed that the Loan will be junior in right of payment to the credit facility in the event of default or bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding by the Company.  As consideration for the Company receiving the Loan, we issued a Warrant to each Lender to purchase up to 35,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price based on the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock at the closing of the transaction which was determined to be $2.23. The Warrants are exercisable six months from August 2, 2013 and expire on August 2, 2016.  We estimated the fair value of the Warrants to be approximately $59,000 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:  55.54% volatility, risk free interest rate of .59%, an expected life of three years and no dividends. As further consideration for the Loan, the Company issued an aggregate 90,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, with each Lender receiving 45,000 shares.  The 90,000 shares of Common Stock and 70,000 Common Stock purchase warrants were issued in a private placement and bear a restrictive legend against resale except in a transaction registered under the Securities Act or in a transaction exempt from registration thereunder.  We determined the fair value of the 90,000 shares of Common Stock to be approximately $200,000 which was based on the closing price of the stock of $2.23 per share on August 2, 2013.  The fair value of the Warrants and Common Stock and the related closing fees incurred from the transaction (approximately $13,000) were recorded as a debt discount, which is being amortized over the term of the loan as interest expense – financing fees.  The number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Lenders has been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.  The number of shares subject to the Warrants and the exercise price under the Warrants were also adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

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In summary, our financial results for fiscal year 2013 were below our expectations and were negatively impacted as a result, in large part, due to the government sequestration, federal and state governmental clients operating under reduced budgets, including short term budget Continuing Resolutions, the government shutdown of approximately 16 days in October 2013, ending of contracts, and general adverse economic conditions.  However, we continue to take steps to improve our operations and liquidity and to invest working capital into our facilities to fund capital additions in our Segments. Although there are no assurances, we believe that our cash flows from operations and our available liquidity from the amended and restated line of credit are sufficient to service the Company’s current obligations.

 

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Revenue Recognition Estimates.  We utilize a performance based methodology for purposes of revenue recognition in our Treatment Segment.  As we accept more complex waste streams in this segment, the treatment of those waste streams become more complicated and time consuming.  We have continued to enhance our waste tracking capabilities and systems, which has enabled us to better match the revenue earned to the processing phases achieved using a proportional performance method.  The major processing phases are receipt, treatment/processing and shipment/final disposition. Upon receiving various wastes we recognize a certain percentage (ranging from 9.0% to 33%) of revenue as we incur costs for transportation, analytical and labor associated with the receipt of mixed waste.  As the waste is processed, shipped and disposed of we recognize the remaining revenue and the associated costs of transportation and burial. We review and evaluate our revenue recognition estimates and policies on an annual basis.

 

For our Services Segment, revenues on services are performed under time and material, fixed price, and cost-reimbursement contracts. Revenues and costs associated with fixed price contracts are recognized using the percentage of completion (efforts expended) method. We estimate our percentage of completion based on attainment of project milestones.  Revenues and costs associated with time and material contracts are recognized as revenue when earned and costs are incurred.

Under cost-reimbursement contracts, we are reimbursed for costs incurred plus a certain percentage markup for indirect costs, in accordance with contract provision.  Costs incurred in excess of contract funding may be renegotiated for reimbursement.  We also earn a fee based on the approved costs to complete the contract.  We recognize this fee using the proportion of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs.

Contract costs include all direct labor, material and other non-labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract support, such as depreciation, fringe benefits, overhead labor, supplies, tools, repairs and equipment rental. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.

Consulting revenues are recognized as services are rendered. The services provided are based on billable hours and revenues are recognized in relation to incurred labor and consulting costs.  Out of pocket costs reimbursed by customers are also included in revenues.

The liability, “billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings”, represents billings in excess of revenues recognized and accrued costs to jobs.

 

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In estimating the fair value of the reporting units, the Company makes estimates and judgments about its future cash flows using an income approach. The income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow analysis, includes assumptions for, among others, forecasted revenue, gross margin, operating income, working capital cash flow, perpetual growth rates and long-term discount rates (reflects a weighted average cost of capital rate), all of which require significant judgment by management. The sum of the fair values of the Company's reporting units are also compared to its external market capitalization to determine the appropriateness of its assumptions. These assumptions take into account the current environment and industry trends (with significant focus on government spending trends) and their impact on the Company's business.

We have three reporting units as of October 1, 2013:  (1) SYA reporting unit - our SYA subsidiary operations; (2) SEC reporting unit - our SEC operations; and (3) Treatment reporting unit – our treatment operations (See “Goodwill Impairment” above for impairment losses recorded in 2013).

Intangible assets that have definite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. We amortize intangible asset of customer relationships using an accelerated method. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are also tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment expenditures are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets for financial statement purposes, while accelerated depreciation methods are principally used for income tax purposes.  Generally, annual depreciation rates range from ten to forty years for buildings (including improvements and asset retirement costs) and three to seven years for office furniture and equipment, vehicles, and decontamination and processing equipment. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the lesser of the term of the lease or the life of the asset. Maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense as incurred. The cost and accumulated depreciation of assets sold or retired are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss from sale or retirement is recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Renewals and improvement, which extend the useful lives of the assets, are capitalized.

 

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Disposal/Transportation Costs. We accrue for waste disposal based upon a physical count of the waste at each facility at the end of each accounting period.  Current market prices for transportation and disposal costs are applied to the end of period waste inventories to calculate the disposal accrual.  Costs are calculated using current costs for disposal, but economic trends could materially affect our actual costs for disposal. As there are limited disposal sites available to us, a change in the number of available sites or an increase or decrease in demand for the existing disposal areas could significantly affect the actual disposal costs either positively or negatively.

Stock-Based Compensation. We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”.  ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values.  The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based awards which requires subjective assumptions.  Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted include the exercise price of the award, the expected term, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock over the option’s expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the option’s expected term, and the expected annual dividend yield. In addition, judgment is also required in estimating the amount of stock-based awards that are expected to be forfeited.

Income Taxes.  The provision for income tax is determined in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes.”  As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We record this amount as a provision or benefit for taxes.  This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure, including assessing the risks associated with tax audits, and assessing temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent that we believe recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance.  As of December 31, 2013, we had net deferred tax assets of approximately $8,182,000 (which excludes a deferred tax liability relating to goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets), which were primarily related to federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, impairment charges, and closure costs.  As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we concluded that it was more likely than not that $8,182,000 and $5,729,000 of our deferred income tax assets would not be realized, and as such, a full valuation allowance was applied against those deferred income tax assets. Our net operating losses are subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Services, and, as a result, the amounts could be reduced.

 

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Legal Matters:

Perma-Fix of Northwest Richland, Inc. (“PFNWR”)

PFNWR filed suit (PFNWR vs. Philotechnics, Ltd.) in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, asserting contract breach and seeking specific performance of the “return-of-waste clause” in the brokerage contract between a prior facility owner (now owned by PFNWR) and Philotechnics, Ltd. (“Philo”), as to certain non-conforming waste Philo delivered for treatment from Philo’s customer, El du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”),  to the PFNWR facility, before PFNWR acquired the facility. Our complaint seeks an order that Philo: (A) specifically perform its obligations under the contract’s “return-of-waste” clause by physically taking custody of and by removing the nonconforming waste, (B) pay PFNWR all additional costs of maintaining and managing the waste, and (C) pay PFNWR the cost to treat and dispose of the nonconforming waste so as to allow PFNWR to compliantly dispose of that waste offsite. “Presently, under the supervision of the Court, PFNWR and Philo have agreed to temporarily suspend formal legal proceedings and, instead, to work together to process, package, transport from the facility, and dispose of the nonconforming waste. PFNWR anticipates that these activities will be completed in 2014.  This matter is currently set to proceed to trial on November 3, 2014 to adjudicate any issues that remain.

 

Significant Customers. Our segments have significant relationships with the federal government, and continue to enter into contracts, directly as the prime contractor or indirectly as a subcontractor, with the federal government.  The contracts that we are a party to with the federal government or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government generally provide that the government may terminate or renegotiate the contracts on 30 days notice, at the government's election.  Our inability to continue under existing contracts that we have with the federal government (directly or indirectly as a subcontractor) could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

We performed services relating to waste generated by the federal government, either directly as a prime contractor or indirectly as a subcontractor (including the CH Plateau Remediation Company (“CHPRC”) as discussed below) to the federal government, representing approximately $47,557,000 or 63.9% of our total revenue from continuing operations during 2013, as compared to $101,533,000 or 79.6% of our total revenue from continuing operations during 2012.

 

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Presently there are no federally mandated greenhouse gas reduction requirements in the United States. However, there are a number of legislative and regulatory proposals to address greenhouse gas emissions, which are in various phases of discussion or implementation. The outcome of federal and state actions to address global climate change could result in a variety of regulatory programs including potential new regulations.  Any adoption by federal or state governments mandating a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could increase costs associated with our operations.  Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our financial position, operating results and cash flows.

Environmental Contingencies

We are engaged in the waste management services segment of the pollution control industry.  As a participant in the on-site treatment, storage and disposal market and the off-site treatment and services market, we are subject to rigorous federal, state and local regulations.  These regulations mandate strict compliance and therefore are a cost and concern to us.  Because of their integral role in providing quality environmental services, we make every reasonable attempt to maintain complete compliance with these regulations; however, even with a diligent commitment, we, along with many of our competitors, may be required to pay fines for violations or investigate and potentially remediate our waste management facilities.

 

We routinely use third party disposal companies, who ultimately destroy or secure landfill residual materials generated at our facilities or at a client's site. In the past, numerous third party disposal sites have improperly managed waste and consequently require remedial action; consequently, any party utilizing these sites may be liable for some or all of the remedial costs.  Despite our aggressive compliance and auditing procedures for disposal of wastes, we could further be notified, in the future, that we are a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) at a remedial action site, which could have a material adverse effect.

 

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Related Party Transactions

Mr. Robert Schreiber, Jr.

During March 2011, we entered into a lease with Lawrence Properties LLC, a company jointly owned by Robert Schreiber, Jr., the President of Schreiber, Yonley and Associates, and Mr. Schreiber’s spouse.  Mr. Schreiber is a member of our executive management team.  The lease is for a term of five years starting June 1, 2011.  Under the lease, we pay monthly rent of approximately $11,400, which we believe is lower than costs charged by unrelated third party landlords.  Additional rent will be assessed for any increases over the new lease commencement year for property taxes or assessments and property and casualty insurance premiums.

Mr. David Centofanti

Mr. David Centofanti serves as our Director of Information Services.  For such services, he received total compensation in 2013 of approximately $163,000. Mr. David Centofanti is the son of our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board, Dr. Louis F. Centofanti.  We believe the compensation received by Mr. Centofanti for his technical expertise which he provides to the Company is competitive and comparable to compensation we would have to pay to an unaffiliated third party with the same technical expertise.

Christopher Leichtweis

The Company is obligated to make lease payments of approximately $29,000 per month through June 2018, pursuant to a Lease Agreement, dated June 1, 2008 (the “Lease”), between Leichtweis Enterprises, LLC, as lessor, and Safety and Ecology Holdings Corporation (“SEHC”), as lessee. Leichtweis Enterprises, LLC, is owned by Mr. Christopher Leichtweis (“Leichtweis”), who was a Senior Vice President of the Company and President of SEC, prior to his voluntary termination and retirement from the Company effective May 24, 2013.  The Lease covers SEC’s principal offices in Knoxville, Tennessee.

 

Under an agreement of indemnity (“Indemnification Agreement”), SEC, Leichtweis and his spouse (“Leichtweis Parties”), jointly and severally, agreed to indemnify the individual surety with respect to contingent liabilities that may be incurred by the individual surety under certain of SEC’s bonded projects.  In addition, SEC agreed to indemnify Leichtweis Parties against judgments, penalties, fines, and expense associated with those SEC performance bonds that Leichtweis Parties have agreed to indemnify in the event SEC cannot perform, which has an aggregate bonded amount of approximately $10,900,000 (which has been released/expired).  The Indemnification Agreement provided by SEC to the Leichtweis Parties also provides for compensating the Leichtweis Parties at a rate of 0.75% of the value of bonds (60% having been paid previously and the balance at substantial completion of the contract).  On February 14, 2013, the Company entered into a Settlement and Release Agreement and Amendment to Employment Agreement (the “Leichtweis Settlement”), in final settlement of certain claims made by us against Leichtweis in connection with the certain claims asserted by the Company against TNC subsequent to our acquisition of SEC on October 31, 2011.  The Leichtweis Settlement terminated our obligation to pay the Leichtweis Parties a fee under the Indemnification Agreement.

 

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ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not required under Regulation S-K for smaller reporting companies.

 

·	inability to increase profitable revenue;

·	lender refuses to waive non-compliance or revises our covenant so that we are in compliance; and

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ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

In accordance with the rules of Regulation S-X, schedules are not submitted because (a) they are not applicable to or required by the Company, or (b) the information required to be set forth therein is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

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(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Share and per Share Amounts)		2013				2012
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	333			$	4,368
Restricted cash			35				35
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,932 and $2,507, respectively			8,106				11,395
Unbilled receivables - current			4,917				8,530
Retainage receivable			135				312
Inventories			520				473
Prepaid and other assets			2,949				3,282
Deferred tax assets - current			¾				1,316
Current assets related to discontinued operations			3,114				499
Total current assets			20,109				30,210
Property and equipment:
Buildings and land			19,486				26,297
Equipment			35,279				34,657
Vehicles			610				661
Leasehold improvements			11,625				11,625
Office furniture and equipment			2,046				2,116
Construction-in-progress			630				334
			69,676				75,690
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(43,616	)			(40,376	)
Net property and equipment			26,060				35,314
Property and equipment related to discontinued operations			1,367				1,614
Intangibles and other long term assets:
Permits			16,744				16,799
Goodwill			1,330				29,186
Other intangible assets - net			2,980				3,610
Unbilled receivables – non-current			302				137
Finite risk sinking fund			21,307				21,272
Other assets			1,401				1,549
Total assets		$	91,600			$	139,691

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PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONTINUED

As of December 31,

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the years ended December 31,

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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(Amounts in Thousands)		2013				2012
Net loss		$	(36,039	)		$	(3,179	)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain			4				1
Total other comprehensive income			4				1
Comprehensive loss			(36,035	)			(3,178	)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest			(64	)			180
Comprehensive loss attributable to Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. common stockholders		$	(35,971	)		$	(3,358	)