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Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. - Annual Report: 2007 (Form 10-K)

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 January 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

OR

 

 

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. 0-18370

 

 

 

 

MFRI, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Delaware

36-3922969

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

 

 

7720 N. Lehigh Avenue

 

Niles, Illinois

60714

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

(847) 966-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

 

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

None

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

Common Stock, $.01 per share

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes / / 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. Yes / / 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 / /

 

 

 

 

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 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. / /

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer / / Accelerated filer / / Non-accelerated filer / x /

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

The aggregate market value of the voting securities of the registrant beneficially owned by non-affiliates of the registrant (the exclusion of the market value of the shares owned by any person shall not be deemed an admission by the registrant that such person is an affiliate of the registrant) was approximately $45,471,668 based on the closing sale price of $10.69 per share as reported on the NASDAQ National Market on July 31, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at April 18, 2007 was 6,537,404.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

 

Portions of the following document of the registrant are incorporated herein by reference:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Document

 

Part of FORM 10-K

 

 

 

Proxy Statement for the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

III

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

FORM 10-K CONTENTS

JANUARY 31, 2007

 

Item

 

Page

 

 

 

Part 1:

 

 

 

 

 

1.

Business

1

 

Company Profile

1

 

Filtration Products Business

1

 

Piping Systems Business

3

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment Business

5

 

Other Business

7

 

Employees

7

 

International

7

 

Executive Officers of the Registrant

8

1A.

Risk Factors

9

1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

10

2.

Properties

10

3.

Legal Proceedings

10

4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

10

 

 

 

Part II:

 

 

 

 

 

5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity; Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

11

6.

Selected Financial Data

13

7.

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

13

7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

23

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

24

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

24

9A.

Controls and Procedures

24

9B.

Other Information

25

 

 

 

Part III:

 

 

 

 

 

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

25

11.

Executive Compensation

25

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

25

13.

Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence

25

14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

25

 

 

 

Part IV:

 

 

 

 

 

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

26

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

27

 

 

Signatures

52

 

 



 

 

PART I

 

 Item 1.

BUSINESS

 

Company Profile

 

MFRI, Inc. collectively with its subsidiaries ("MFRI", the "Company" or the "Registrant") is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in three distinct business segments: filtration products, piping systems and industrial process cooling equipment.

 

The Filtration Products business segment manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for air filtration and particulate collection systems. Air filtration systems are used in many industries in the United States and abroad to limit particulate emissions to comply with environmental regulations. The Filtration Products business segment markets air filtration-related products and accessories, and provides maintenance services, consisting primarily of dust collector inspection, filter cleaning and filter replacement.

 

The Piping System business segment engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping systems and leak detection and location systems. This segment’s specialty piping systems include (i) industrial and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, waste streams and petroleum liquids, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants, and (iii) oil and gas gathering flow lines and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. The Piping System business segment’s leak detection and location systems are sold as part of many of its piping systems products and on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property.

 

The Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business segment engineers, designs, manufactures and sells industrial process cooling equipment, including liquid chillers, mold temperature controllers, cooling towers, plant circulating systems, and related accessories for use in industrial process applications.

 

Additional information with respect to the Company's business segments is included in the following discussions of the separate business segments and in the financial statements and related notes thereto.

 

Filtration Products Business

 

Air Filtration and Particulate Collection Systems. Federal and state legislation and related regulations and enforcement have increased the demand for air filtration and particulate collection systems by requiring industry to meet primary and secondary ambient air quality standards for specific pollutants, including particulates. In certain manufacturing applications, particulate collection systems are an integral part of the production process. Examples of such applications include the production of cement, carbon black and industrial absorbents.

 

The principal types of industrial air filtration and particulate collection systems in use today are baghouses, cartridge collectors, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and mechanical collectors. This equipment is used to eliminate particulate from the air by passing particulate laden gases through fabric filters (filter bags) or pleated media filter elements, in the case of baghouses or cartridge collectors, and between electrically charged collector plates, in the case of electrostatic precipitators.

 

Products and Services. The Company manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for cartridge collectors and baghouse air filtration and particulate collection systems. The Company manufactures filter elements in standard industry sizes, shapes and filtration media and to custom specifications, maintaining manufacturing standards for more than 10,000 styles of filter elements to suit substantially all industrial applications. Filter elements are manufactured from industrial yarn, fabric and papers purchased in bulk. Most filter elements are produced from cellulose, acrylic, fiberglass, polyester, aramid or polypropylene fibers. The Company also manufactures filter elements from more specialized materials, sometimes using special finishes.

 

 

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The Company markets numerous filter-related products and accessories used during the installation, operation and maintenance of cartridge collectors and baghouses, including wire cages used to support filter bags, spring assemblies for proper tensioning of filter bags and clamps and hanger assemblies for attaching filter elements. In addition, the Company markets other hardware items used in the operation and maintenance of cartridge collectors and baghouses. The Company also provides maintenance services, consisting primarily of air filtration system inspection and filter element replacement, using a network of independent contractors. The sale of filter-related products and accessories, collector inspection, maintenance services and leak detection account for approximately 15% of the net sales of the Company's filtration products and services.

 

Over the past three years, the Company's Filtration Products business has served more than 4,000 user locations. The Company has particular expertise in supplying filter bags for use with electric arc furnaces in the steel industry. The Company believes its production capacity and quality control procedures make it a leading supplier of filter bags to large users in the electric power industry. Orders from the electric power industry tend to be substantial in size, but are usually at lower margins than from other industries. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007, no customer accounted for 10% or more of net sales of the Company's filtration products and services.

 

Marketing. The customer base for the Company's filtration products and services is industrially and geographically diverse. These products and services are used primarily by operators of utility and industrial coal-fired boilers, incinerators and cogeneration plants and by producers of metals, cement, chemicals and other industrial products.

 

The Company has an integrated sales program for its Filtration Products business, which consists of field-based sales personnel, manufacturers' representatives, a telemarketing operation and computer-based customer information systems containing data on nearly 18,000 user locations. These systems enable the Company's sales force to access customer information classified by industry, equipment type, operational data and the Company's quotation and sales history. The Company believes the computer-based information systems are instrumental in increasing sales of filter-related products and accessories and maintenance services, as well as sales of filter elements. The Company’s filtration products are marketed domestically under the names, Midwesco Filter and TDC Manufacturing.

 

The Company markets its U.S. manufactured filtration products internationally using domestically based sales resources to target major users in foreign countries. Export sales, which were approximately 11.7% of the domestic filtration business’ product sales during the year ended January 31, 2007 as compared to 10% in the previous year. The Denmark filtration facility markets pleated filter elements throughout Europe and Asia, primarily to original equipment manufacturers. On April 12, 2006, the Company acquired a filtration facility in South Africa. This acquisition was not material to the financial statements.

 

Trademarks. The Company owns the following trademarks covering its filtration products: Seamless Tube®, Leak Seeker®, Prekote®, We Take the Dust Out of Industry®, Pleatkeeper®, Pleat Plus® and EFC®.

 

Backlog. As of January 31, 2007, the dollar amount of backlog (uncompleted firm orders) for filtration products was $36,603,000. As of January 31, 2006, the amount of backlog was $20,426,000. Certain customers have placed orders that are deliverable over multiple years. Therefore, approximately $4,909,000 of the backlog as of January 31, 2007 is not expected to be completed in 2007.

 

Raw Materials and Manufacturing. The basic raw materials used in the manufacture of the Company's filtration products are industrial fibers and media supplied by leading producers of such materials. The majority of raw materials purchased are woven fiberglass fabric, yarns for manufacturing Seamless Tube® products and other woven, felted, spun bond and cellulose media. Only a limited number of suppliers are available for some of these materials. From time to time, any of these materials could be in short supply, adversely affecting the Company's business. The Company believes supplies of all materials are adequate to meet current demand. The Company's inventory includes substantial quantities of various types of media because lead times from suppliers are frequently longer than the delivery times required by customers. Nevertheless, the Company employs an aggressive program to limit inventory to levels compatible with meeting customer needs.

 

Competition. The Filtration Products business is highly competitive. In addition, new installations of cartridge collectors and baghouses are subject to competition from alternative technologies. The Company believes, based on

 

2

 



 

domestic sales, its principal competitors in this segment are: the BHA brand within GE Energy Services; the Menardi division of Beacon Industrial Group; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Donaldson Company, Inc.; Farr Company; and Clarcor, Inc. There are at least 50 smaller competitors, most of which are doing business on a regional or local basis. In Europe, several companies supply filtration products, and the Company is a relatively small participant in that market. Some of the Company's competitors have greater financial resources than the Company.

 

The Company believes quality, service, and price are the most important competitive factors in its Filtration Products business. Often, a manufacturer has a competitive advantage when its products have performed successfully for a particular customer in the past. Additional effort is required by a competitor to market products to such a customer. In certain applications, the Company's proprietary Seamless Tube® product and customer support provide the Company with a competitive advantage. Certain competitors of the Company may have a competitive advantage with respect to their own proprietary products and processes, such as specialized fabrics and fabric finishes. In addition, some competitors may have cost advantages with respect to certain products as a result of lower wage rates and/or greater vertical integration.

 

Government Regulation. The Company's Filtration Products business is substantially dependent upon governmental regulation of air pollution at the federal and state levels. Federal clean air legislation requires compliance with national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards for specific pollutants, including particulate. The states are primarily responsible for implementing these standards and, in some cases, have adopted more stringent standards than those issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”) under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 ("Clean Air Act Amendments”).

 

Piping Systems Business

 

Products and Services. The Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping systems and leak detection and location systems. The Company's specialty piping systems include (i) industrial and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants, and (iii) oil and gas gathering flow lines and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. The Company's leak detection and location systems are sold as part of many of its piping systems, and on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property.

 

The Company's industrial and secondary containment piping systems, manufactured in a wide variety of piping materials, are generally used for the handling of chemicals, hazardous liquids and petroleum products. Industrial piping systems often feature special materials, heat tracing, leak detection and special fabrication. Secondary containment piping systems consist of service pipes housed within outer containment pipes, which are designed to contain any leaks from the service pipes. Each system is designed to provide economical and efficient secondary containment protection that will meet all governmental environmental regulations.

 

With respect to the leak detection and location system capabilities, the Company believes its systems are superior to systems manufactured by other companies. The Company's leak detection and location systems are being used to monitor fueling systems at airports, including those located in Denver, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; and Frankfurt and Hamburg, Germany. They are also used in facilities for mission-critical operations such as those operated by web hosts, application service providers, internet service providers, and in many clean rooms, including such facilities operated by IBM, Intel and Motorola. The Company believes that, in the United States, it is the only major supplier of the above-referenced types of specialty piping systems, which manufactures its own leak detection and location systems.

 

The Company's piping systems are frequently custom-fabricated to job site dimensions and/or incorporate provisions for thermal expansion due to varying temperatures. This custom fabrication helps to minimize the amount of field labor required by the installation contractor. Most of the Company's piping systems are produced for underground installations and, therefore, require trenching, which is done by unaffiliated installation contractors. Generally, sales of the Company's piping systems tend to be lower during the winter months, due to weather constraints over much of the northern hemisphere. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007, only one customer, BHP Billiton Petroleum

 

3

 



 

(Americas) Inc. ("BHP Billiton"), accounted for more than 10.0% of the net sales of the Company's piping systems and as of January 31, 2007, BHP Billiton was the only customer that accounted for over 10% of its accounts receivable. As of April 6, 2007, the Company does not have an outstanding receivable from BHP Billiton.

 

Marketing. The customer base for the Company's piping systems products is industrially and geographically diverse. The Company employs a national sales manager and regional sales managers who use and assist a network of approximately 80 independent manufacturers' representatives, none of whom sells products that are competitive with the Company's piping systems.

 

Patents, Trademarks and Approvals. The Company owns several patents covering the features of its piping and electronic leak detection systems, which expire commencing in 2006. In addition, the Company's leak detection system is listed by Underwriters Laboratories and the U.S. EPA and is approved by Factory Mutual and the Federal Communications Commission. The Company is also approved as a supplier of underground district heating systems under the federal government guide specifications for such systems. The Company owns numerous trademarks connected with its piping systems business including the following: Perma-Pipe®, Chil-Gard®, Double-Pipe®, Double-Quik®, Escon-A®, Ferro-Shield®, FluidWatch®, Galva-Gard®, Hi Gard®, Poly-Therm®, Pal-AT®, Ric-Wil®, Ric-Wil Dual Gard®, Stereo-Heat®, Safe-T-Gard®, Therm-O-Seal®, Uniline®, LiquidWatch®, TankWatch®, PalCom®, Xtru-therm®, Ultra-Pipe®, PEX-GARD®, and ULTRA-THERM®. The Company also owns United Kingdom trademarks for Poly-Therm®, Perma-Pipe® and Ric-Wil®, and a Canadian trademark for Ric-Wil®.

 

Backlog. As of January 31, 2007, the dollar amount of backlog (uncompleted firm orders) for piping and leak detection systems was $46,385,000, substantially all of which is expected to be completed in 2007. As of January 31, 2006, the amount of backlog was $19,869,000.

 

Raw Materials and Manufacturing. The basic raw materials used in the production of the Company's piping systems products are pipes and tubes made of carbon steel, alloy and plastics and various chemicals such as polyols, isocyanate, urethane resin, polyethylene and fiberglass, mostly purchased in bulk quantities. The Company believes there are currently adequate supplies or sources of availability of the needed raw materials. However, there are risks and uncertainties with respect to the supply of certain raw materials that could impact their availability in sufficient quantities to meet the Company’s needs.

 

The sensor cables used in the Company's leak detection and location systems are manufactured to the Company's specifications by companies regularly engaged in the business of manufacturing such cables. The Company owns patents for some of the features of its sensor cables. The Company assembles the monitoring component of the leak detection and location system from standard components purchased from many sources. The Company's proprietary software is installed in the system on a read-only memory chip.

 

The Company's manufacturing processes for its piping systems include equipment and techniques to fabricate piping systems from a wide variety of materials, including carbon steel, alloy and copper piping, and engineered thermoplastics and fiberglass-reinforced urethanes and epoxies. The Company uses computer-controlled machinery for electric plasma metal cutting, filament winding, pipe coating, insulation foam and protective jacket application, pipe bending, pipe cutting and pipe welding. The Company employs skilled workers for carbon steel and alloy welding to various code requirements. The Company is authorized to apply the American Society of Mechanical Engineers code symbol stamps for unfired pressure vessels and pressure piping. The Company's inventory includes bulk resins, chemicals and various types of pipe, tube, insulation, pipe fittings and other components used in its products. The Company maintains a quality assurance program involving lead worker sign-off of each piece at each workstation, statistical process control, and nondestructive testing protocols.

 

Competition. The piping system products business is highly competitive. The Company believes its principal competition in this segment consists of Rovanco Piping Systems, Inc.; Thermacor Process, Inc.; Asahi/America; GF Plastics Systems; Bredero-Price, a subsidiary of Shaw Industries, Inc.; CRP of UK; Soctherm of Italy; Soccoreal of Argentina; Logstor Rohr of Denmark; EPPI of United Arab Emirates; TraceTek; Raychem, a Division of Tyco Thermal Controls LLC, a subsidiary of Tyco Industries; RLE Technologies; Tracer Technologies; Arizona Instrument Corp.; Veeder Root; and Pneumecator.

 

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The Company believes quality, service, a comprehensive product line and price are the key competitive factors in the Company's Piping Systems business. The Company believes it has a more comprehensive line of piping systems products than any of its competitors. Certain competitors of the Company have cost advantages as a result of manufacturing a limited range of products. Some of the Company's competitors have greater financial resources than the Company.

 

Government Regulation. The demand for the Company's leak detection and location systems and secondary containment piping systems is driven by federal and state environmental regulation with respect to hazardous waste. The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires, in some cases, that the storage, handling and transportation of certain fluids through underground pipelines feature secondary containment and leak detection. The National Emission Standard for Hydrocarbon Airborne Particulates requires reduction of airborne volatile organic compounds and fugitive emissions. Under this regulation, many major refineries are required to recover fugitive vapors and dispose of the recovered material in a process sewer system, which then becomes a hazardous secondary waste system that must be contained. Although there can be no assurances as to the ultimate effects of these governmental regulations, the Company believes they may increase the demand for its piping systems products.

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment Business

 

Products and Services. The Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells coolers for industrial purposes. The Company's cooling products include: chillers (portable and central); cooling towers; plant circulating assemblies; hot water, hot oil, and negative pressure temperature controllers; water treatment equipment; specialty cooling devices for printing presses and ink management; and replacement parts and various accessories relating to the foregoing products. The Company's cooling products are used to optimize manufacturing productivity by quickly removing heat from manufacturing processes. The Company combines chillers and/or cooling towers with plant circulating systems to create plant-wide systems that account for a large portion of its business. The Company specializes in customizing cooling systems and their computerized controls according to customer specifications.

 

The principal markets for the Company’s cooling products are thermoplastics processing and the printing industries. The Company also sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, to other cooling manufacturers on a private branded basis and to manufacturers in the laser, metallizing, and machine tool industries.

 

The Company believes it manufactures the most complete line of chillers available in its primary markets. It incorporates a microprocessor capable of computer communications to standard industry protocols. While portable chillers are considered to be a commodity product by many customers, the Company believes its units enable it to provide the customer with quality, features, customization and other benefits at a competitive price. The Company believes the ability to offer central chillers used for plant-wide cooling provides it with a unique, total cooling approach concept sales advantage.

 

Marketing. In general, the Company sells its cooling products in the domestic and international thermoplastics and printing markets as well as to other industrial applications that require specialized heat transfer equipment. Domestic thermoplastics processors are the largest market served by the Company, representing the core of its business.

 

There are approximately 8,000 companies processing plastic products in the United States, primarily using injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding machinery. The Company believes the total U.S. market for water cooling equipment in the plastics industry is over $100 million annually, and that the Company is one of the three largest suppliers of such equipment to the plastics industry. The Company believes the plastics industry is a mature industry with growth generally consistent with that of the national economy. Due to the high plastics content in many major consumer items, such as cars and appliances, this industry experiences cyclical economic activity. The Company believes it is recognized in the domestic plastics market as a quality equipment manufacturer and it will be able to maintain current market share, with potential to increase its market share through product development. The Company's cooling products are sold through independent manufacturers' representatives on an exclusive-territory basis. Four regional managers employed by the Company supported eighteen representatives responsible for covering the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

 

 

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Sales of the Company's cooling products outside the United States have mainly been in Latin America. Some international sales have been obtained elsewhere as a result of the assembly of complete worldwide PET (plastic bottle) plants by multinational companies. The Company believes it has a significant opportunity for growth due to the high quality of its equipment and the fact that it offers complete system design. Many United States competitors do not provide equipment outside the U.S. and, while European competitors sell equipment in Latin America, the Company believes they lack system design capabilities and have a significant freight disadvantage. The Company markets its cooling products through a combination of manufacturers' representatives, distributors and consultants managed by regional managers, reporting to a National Sales and Marketing Manager.

 

The Company has increased sales to non-plastics industries that require specialized heat transfer equipment, usually sold to end users as a package by the supplier of the primary equipment, particularly in the laser industry, metallizing industry, and machine tool industry. The Company believes the size of this market is more than $200 million annually. The original equipment manufacturer generally distributes products to the end user in these markets.

 

Trademarks. The Company has registered the trademarks Thermal Care®, AWS® and Applied Web Systems®.

 

Backlog. As of January 31, 2007, the dollar amount of backlog (uncompleted firm orders) for industrial process cooling equipment was $6,805,000, substantially all of which is expected to be completed in 2007. As of January 31, 2006, the amount of backlog was $9,306,000.

 

Raw Materials and Manufacturing. The Company uses prefabricated sheet metal and subassemblies manufactured by both Thermal Care and outside vendors for temperature controller fabrication. The production line is self-contained to reduce handling required to assemble, wire, test, and crate the units for shipment.

 

Cooling towers up to 240 tons in capacity are assembled to finished goods inventory, which allows the Company to meet quick delivery requirements. The cooling towers are manufactured using fiberglass and hardware components purchased from several sources. The wet deck is cut from bulk fill material and installed inside the tower. Customer-specified options can be added at any time. The Company believes its access to sheet metal, subassemblies, fiberglass and hardware components is adequate.

 

The Company assembles all plant circulating systems by fabricating the steel to meet the size requirements and adding purchased components to meet customers’ specifications. Portable chillers are assembled utilizing components both manufactured by the Company and supplied by outside vendors. Central chillers are manufactured to customer specifications.

 

Competition. The Company believes there are about 15 competitors selling cooling equipment in the domestic plastics market. The Company further believes three manufacturers, including the Company, account for approximately 50% of the domestic plastics cooling equipment market. The Company believes its principal competition in this segment is Sterling a subsidiary of ACS Group and Advantage Engineering, Inc. Many international customers, with relatively small cooling needs, are able to purchase small refrigeration units (portable chillers), which are manufactured in their respective local markets at prices below that which the Company can offer due to issues such as freight cost and customs duties. However, such local manufacturers often lack the technology and products needed for plant-wide cooling systems. The Company believes its reputation for producing quality plant-wide cooling products results in a significant portion of the Company’s business in this area.

 

The Company believes quality, service, a comprehensive product line and price are the key competitive factors in its Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business. The Company believes it has a more comprehensive line of cooling products than any of its competitors. Certain competitors of the Company have cost advantages as a result of manufacturing in non-union shops and offering a limited range of products. Some of the Company's competitors may have greater financial resources than the Company.

 

Government Regulation. The Company does not expect compliance with federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment to have a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings or the Company’s competitive position. Management is not aware of the need for any material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities for the foreseeable

 

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future. Regulations, promulgated under the Federal Clean Air Act, prohibit the manufacture and sale of certain refrigerants. The Company does not use these refrigerants in its products. The Company expects that suitable refrigerants conforming to federal, state and local laws and regulations will continue to be available to the Company, although no assurances can be given as to the ultimate effect of the Federal Clean Air Act and related laws on the Company.

 

Other Business

 

During 2006, the Company recognized sales pursuant to a contract wholly subcontracted to an affiliated company, Midwesco, Inc., for installation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a high rise building in Chicago. See Note 3 Related Party Transactions in Item 8 of this report. During the fourth quarter 2006, the Company created a new subsidiary, Midwesco Mechanical and Energy, Inc., that was not material to the financial statements, in which the Company intends to engage in similar activities.

 

Backlog. As of January 31, 2007, the dollar amount of backlog (uncompleted firm orders) for other business was $8,350,000, substantially all of which is expected to be completed in 2007.

 

Employees

 

As of March 31, 2007, the Company had 1,058 full-time employees, 92 of whom were engaged in sales and marketing, 244 of whom were engaged in management, engineering and administration, and 722 were engaged in production. Hourly production employees of the Company's Filtration Products business in Winchester, Virginia are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the International United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America, which expires in October 4, 2009. Most of the production employees of the Company's Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business are represented by two unions, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States (UAJAPPI) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union (IBEW). The collective bargaining agreement for UAJAPPI is scheduled to expire on June 1, 2007, and the IBEW agreement expires on May 31, 2007, with both agreements thereafter continuing to be in effect for yearly periods unless amended or terminated in writing. The collective bargaining agreement of the Piping Systems business in Lebanon, Tennessee, with the Metal Trades Division of UAJAPPI was renewed in March 2007 for a three year term through March 2010.

 

International

The Company’s international operations include subsidiaries in three foreign countries on three continents. The Company’s international operations contributed approximately 12.5% of revenues in 2006 and 11.7% of revenues in 2005.

 

Refer to the Business Segment descriptions on pages 1 through 7 above and Note 10 - Business Segment and Geographic Information in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements elsewhere herein for additional information on international activities. International operations are subject to certain risks inherent in conducting business in foreign countries, including price controls, exchange controls, limitations on participation in local enterprises, nationalization, expropriation and other governmental action, and changes in currency exchange rates.

 

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following table set forth information regarding the officers of the Company as of March 31, 2007:

 

 

Name

 

 

Offices and Positions, if any,

held with the Company; Age

 

 

Executive Officer of the Company

or its Predecessor since

 

David Unger

Director, Chairman of the Board, and Chief
     Executive Officer of the Company; Age 72

 

1972

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry M. Mautner

Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of the
      Company; Age 80

 

1972

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bradley E. Mautner

Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of
      the Company; Age 51

 

1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gene K. Ogilvie

Vice President; Age 67

 

 

1969

 

 

Fati A. Elgendy

Vice President; Age 58

 

1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Gruenberg

Vice President; Age 64

 

1980

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael D. Bennett

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

Secretary and Treasurer; Age 63

 

1989

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas A. Benson

Vice President; Age 53

 

1988

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy E. Ervin

Vice President; Age 61

 

1986

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Maffei

Vice President; Age 58

 

1987

 

 

All of the officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

David Unger, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1989; President of the Company from 1994 until 2004.

 

Henry M. Mautner, Vice Chairman of the Company since 1989. Mr. Mautner is the father of Bradley E. Mautner.

 

Bradley E. Mautner, President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2004; Executive Vice President from December 2002 to December 2004;Vice President of the Company from December 1996 through December 2002; director of the Company since 1995. Bradley E. Mautner is the son of Henry M. Mautner.

 

Gene K. Ogilvie, President and Chief Operating Officer of Midwesco Filter since 1989.

 

Fati A. Elgendy, President and Chief Operating Officer of Perma-Pipe since March 1995.

 

Don Gruenberg, President and Chief Operating Officer of Thermal Care since 1988.

 

Michael D. Bennett, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of the Company since August 1989.

 

Thomas A. Benson, Vice President Sales and Marketing of Thermal Care since May 1988.

 

Billy E. Ervin, Vice President, Director of Production of Perma-Pipe since 1986.

 

Robert A. Maffei, Vice President, Director of Sales and Marketing of Perma-Pipe since August 1996.

 

8

 



 

 

1A.

Risk Factors

 

Competition. The businesses in which the Company is engaged are highly competitive. Many of the competitors are larger than the Company and have more resources. Many of the Company’s products are also subject to competition from alternative technologies and alternative products. To the extent the Company relies upon a single source for key components of several of its products, the Company believes there are alternate sources available for such components; however, there can be no assurance that the interruption of supplies of such components would not have an adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company, and that the Company, if required to do so, would be able to negotiate agreements with alternative sources on acceptable terms.

 

Government Regulation. The demand for the Company’s leak detection and location systems and secondary containment piping systems is driven primarily by government regulation with respect to hazardous waste. Laws such as the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), and standards such as the National Emission Standard for Hydrocarbon Airborne Particulates (“NESHAP”), have increased the demand for the Company’s leak detection and location and secondary containment piping systems. The Company’s filtration products business to a large extent is dependent on governmental regulation of air pollution at the federal and state levels. The Company believes that continuing growth in the sale of filtration products and services will be materially dependent on continuing enforcement of environmental laws such as the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (“Clean Air Act Amendments”). Although changes in such environmental regulations could significantly alter the demand for the Company’s products and services, the Company does not believe such a change is likely to decrease demand in the foreseeable future.

 

In addition, the Company has experienced, and may experience additional, increased costs of compliance with other government regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

Dividends. The Company has not paid dividends in the past and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future. The Company’s line of credit agreement contains certain restrictions on payment of dividends.

 

Changes in Government Policies and Laws, Worldwide Economic Conditions. The Company anticipates that international sales will represent an increasing portion of its total sales and that continued growth and profitability may require further international expansion. The Company’s financial results could be affected by changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations, or other activities of U.S. and non-U.S. governments, agencies and similar organizations. These conditions include but are not limited to changes in a country’s or region’s economic or political conditions, trade regulations affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, burdensome taxes and tariffs and other trade barriers. International risks and uncertainties, including changing social and economic conditions as well as terrorism, political hostilities and war, could lead to reduced international sales and reduced profitability associated with such sales.

 

Economic Factors. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and commodity prices. The Company monitors and manages currency exposures that are associated with monetary asset positions, committed currency purchases and sales, and other assets and liabilities created in the normal course of business. Failure to successfully manage these risks could have an adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Seasonality. Due to the seasonality of the Company's Piping Systems business, sales and earnings are typically lower during the late fall, winter and early spring (fourth and first quarters), due to unfavorable weather for construction over much of North America and are correspondingly higher during the late spring, summer and early fall months (second and third quarters).

 

 

9

 



 

 

 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None

 

Item 2.

PROPERTIES

 

Filtration Products Business

Illinois

Owned Production Facilities and Office Space

130,700 square feet on 2.8 acres

Virginia

Owned Production Facilities

Leased Office Space

97,500 square feet on 5.0 acres

12,000 square feet

Denmark

Owned Production Facilities and

Office Space

69,800 square feet on 3.5 acres

South Africa

Leased Production Facilities and

Office Space

24,800 square feet

 

Piping Systems Business

Louisiana

Owned Production Facilities and Leased land

12,000 square feet

Tennessee

Owned Production Facilities and Office Space

152,000 square feet on approximately 24.0 acres

United Arab Emirates

Leased Production Facilities and Office Space

80,200 square feet on 11.8 acres

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment Business

Illinois

Owned Production Facilities and Office Space

88,000 square feet on 8.1 acres

Denmark

Owned Production Facilities and

Office Space

20,000 square feet

 

The Company's principal executive offices, which occupied approximately 43,000 square feet of space in Niles, Illinois is owned by the Company. The Company believes its properties and equipment are well maintained and in good operating condition and that, productive capacities will generally be adequate for present and currently anticipated needs.

 

The terms of the two material agreements are as follows:

 

United Arab Emirates production facilities and office space lease term, for approximately 80,200 square feet, runs from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2012.

 

Virginia office lease term, for approximately 12,000 square feet, runs from June 17, 2004 to June 30, 2007. The Company has the option to extend the lease term for two successive terms of three years at a rate agreed upon between the Company and the lessor per the lease amendment dated August 1st 2004.

 

For further information regarding lease commitments, see note 7 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company had no pending litigation material to its business.

 

Item 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

 

10

 



 

PART II

 

Item 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Company’s fiscal year ends on January 31. Years described as 2006, 2005 and 2004 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Balances described as balances as of 2006 and 2005 are balances as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "MFRI." The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low Common Stock sale prices as reported by the Nasdaq Global Market for 2005 and for 2006.

 

2005

 

High

 

Low

First Quarter

 

$

10.43

 

$

6.19

Second Quarter

 

 

8.37

 

 

6.40

Third Quarter

 

 

8.00

 

 

6.00

Fourth Quarter

 

 

6.30

 

 

5.09

 

2006

 

High

 

Low

First Quarter

 

$

12.60

 

$

6.26

Second Quarter

 

 

12.55

 

 

9.27

Third Quarter

 

 

16.96

 

 

9.81

Fourth Quarter

 

 

24.63

 

 

16.06

 

As of April 12, 2007, there were approximately 80 stockholders of record.

 

 

11

 



 

 

STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The Stock Price Performance Graph compares the yearly dollar change in the Company’s cumulative total stockholder return on its Common Stock with the cumulative total returns of the Nasdaq Market Index (the “Nasdaq Index”) and the Russell 2000 Index. The Company has selected the Russell 2000 Index, which is an index of companies with similar market capitalizations to the Company, as the most appropriate comparison because the Company has three distinctly different businesses and no industry “peer” group is comparable to the Company. The comparison assumes $100.00 investments on January 31, 2002 in the Company’s Common Stock, the Nasdaq Index and the Russell 2000 Index, and further assumes reinvestment of dividends.

 


 

 

 

1/02

1/03

1/04

1/05

1/06

1/07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MFRI, Inc.

 

100.00

54.75

80.66

262.30

198.36

626.23

NASDAQ Composite

 

100.00

67.71

106.18

110.50

128.60

128.35

Russell 2000

 

100.00

78.13

123.46

134.17

159.51

176.17

 

The Company has never declared or paid a cash dividend and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Management presently intends to retain all available funds for the development of the business and for use as working capital. Future dividend policy will depend upon the

Company's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other relevant factors. The Company's line of credit agreement contains certain restrictions on the payment of dividends.

 

Neither the Company nor any “affiliated purchaser” as defined in Rule 10b-18 purchased any shares of the Company’s Common Stock during the period covered by this report. The Company has not made any sale of unregistered securities during the preceding three years.

 

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Shares is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004, (212) 509-4000.

 

Subsequent to the 2006 year end, in February 2007, the Company sold 1,003,000 shares of common stock at a price of $18.50 per share pursuant to the Company’s existing shelf registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The net proceeds of $18,253,000 from a private placement of common stock were utilized to pay down the revolving line of credit. As a result, increased revolving line of credit borrowing capacity is available to finance future general business needs.

 

 

 

12

 



Equity Compensation Plan Information

 The following table provides certain information regarding the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Company’s equity compensation plans and the weighted average exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under those plans as of January 31, 2007.

Plan Category

Number of shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Number of shares available for future issuance under equity compensation plans

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

548,323

$4.91

403,444

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

0

N/A

0

 

 

Item 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected financial data for the Company for the years 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002 are derived from the financial statements of the Company. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included herein in response to Item 7 and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included herein in response to Item 8.

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

(In thousands, except per share information)

 

Fiscal Year ended January 31,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

2003

 

Statements of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

213,471

 

$

154,587

 

$

145,096

 

 

$

120,889

 

 

$

122,897

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

8,942

 

 

2,679

 

 

5,177

 

 

 

(721

)

 

 

914

 

Income (loss) before extraordinary items

and cumulative effect of accounting

change

 

 

4,593

 

 

531

 

 

2,813

 

 

 

(1,097

)

 

 

(824

)

Net income (loss)

 

 

4,593

 

 

531

 

 

2,813

 

 

 

(1,097

)

 

 

(11,528

)

Net income (loss) per share – basic

 

 

0.86

 

 

0.10

 

 

0.56

 

 

 

(0.22

)

 

 

(2.34

)

Net income (loss) per share – diluted

 

 

0.82

 

 

0.10

 

 

0.54

 

 

 

(0.22

)

 

 

(2.34

)

 

(In thousands)

 

As of January 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

121,440

 

$

88,635

 

$

85,516

 

$

78,927

 

$

78,976

Long-term debt (excluding capital leases),

Less current portion

 

 

29,606

 

 

29,715

 

 

26,190

 

 

16,653

 

 

18,983

Capitalized leases, less current portion

 

 

238

 

 

9

 

 

15

 

 

8

 

 

66

 

Item 7.

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

 

The statements contained under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and certain other information contained elsewhere in this annual report, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “remains,” “intend,” “aim,” “should,” “prospects,” “could,” “future,” “potential,” “believes,” “plans,” “likely” and “probable” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, market demand and pricing, competitive and cost

 

13

 



 

factors, raw material availability and prices, global interest rates, currency exchange rates, labor relations and other risk factors.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Consolidated

 

Consolidated Backlog (In thousands):

 

1/31/07

 

 

10/31/06

 

 

1/31/06

Filtration Products

$

36,603

 

$

38,588

 

$

20,426

Piping Systems

 

46,385

 

 

30,376

 

 

19,869

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

6,805

 

 

7,083

 

 

9,306

Corporate and Other

 

8,350

 

 

-

 

 

-

Totals

$

98,143

 

$

76,047

 

$

49,601

 

MFRI, Inc. ("MFRI", the "Company" or the "Registrant") is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in three distinct business segments: filtration products, piping systems and industrial process cooling equipment. Generally, sales of the Company's piping systems have had a tendency to be lower during the winter months, due to weather constraints over much of the northern hemisphere. The Company’s other businesses do not demonstrate seasonality.

 

Our analysis presented below was organized to provide instructive information for understanding the business going forward. However, this discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report, including the notes thereto. An overview of the segment results is provided in Note 10 - Business Segment and Geographic Information to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report.

 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

Net sales of $213,471,000 in 2006 increased 38.1% from $154,587,000 in 2005, with increased sales in all business segments. Gross profit of $44,405,000 in 2006 increased 35.9% from $32,686,000 in 2005. Gross margin decreased to 20.8% of net sales in 2006 from 21.1% in 2005. (See discussion of each business segment below.)

 

Selling expense increased 17.3% to $14,530,000 in 2006 from $12,383,000 in 2005 primarily due to increased number of selling personnel and related commissions. (See discussion of each business segment below.)

 

General and administrative expenses increased 18.8% to $20,933,000 in 2006 from $17,624,000 in 2005. General administrative expense increases included an increase in management incentive compensation earned as a result of improved profitability, and higher travel and administrative costs associated with the United Arab Emirates (“U.A.E.”) facility. (See discussion of each business segment below.)

 

Net income increased to $4,593,000 or $0.86 per common share (basic), compared to net income of $531,000 or $0.10 per common share in 2005 primarily for reasons summarized above and discussed in more detail below.

 

2005 Compared to 2004

 

Net sales of $154,587,000 in 2005 increased 6.5% from $145,096,000 in 2004. Sales increased in all business segments. Gross profit of $32,686,000 in 2005 increased 5.0% from $31,128,000 in 2004. Gross margin decreased to 21.1% of net sales in 2005 from 21.5% in 2004. (See discussion of each business segment below.)

 

 

14

 



 

Selling expense increased 18.2% to $12,383,000 in 2005 from $10,477,000 in 2004 due primarily to increased number of selling personnel and related commissions. (See discussion of each business segment below.)

 

General and administrative expenses increased 13.9% to $17,624,000 in 2005 from $15,474,000 in 2004. General administrative expense increases included $656,000 related to professional services expenses and use of consultants for Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 (“SOX404”) compliance related spending. Other general administrative expense increases included $585,000 in start up costs described in the Piping Systems business section of this report, and costs from operations interruption related to Hurricane Rita. The plant located in New Iberia, LA suffered damage of $172,000 and was not operational for most of October 2005. (See discussion of each business segment below.)

 

Net income declined to $531,000 or $0.10 per common share (basic), compared to net income of $2,813,000 or $0.56 per common share in 2004 primarily for reasons summarized above and discussed in more detail below.

 

Filtration Products Business

 

During the second quarter 2006, the Company finalized the purchase accounting for a filtration facility in South Africa that was acquired on April 12, 2006. This acquisition was not material to the financial statements.

 

In 2006, the average invoice amount was approximately $4,200. The timing of large orders can have a material effect on net sales and gross profit from period to period. Pricing on large orders was generally extremely competitive and therefore resulted in lower gross margins. In 2006, 2005 and 2004, no customer accounted for 10% or more of the net sales of the Company’s filtration products and services.

 

The Company’s Filtration Products business is dependent on government regulation of air quality at the federal and state levels. The Company believes that growth in the sale of its filtration products and services will be materially dependent on continued enforcement of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act Amendments. Although there can be no assurance what the ultimate effect of the Clean Air Act Amendments will be on the Company’s Filtration Products business, the Company believes the Clean Air Act Amendments are likely to have a positive long-term effect on demand for the Company’s filtration products and services.

 

Filtration Products Business

 

 

(In thousands)

 

% Increase

(Decrease)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

86,362

 

$

64,413

 

$

61,740

 

 

34.1%

 

4.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

 $

16,230

 

 $

11,758

 

 $

12,320

 

 

38.0%

 

(4.6%

)

As a percentage of net sales

 

 

18.8%

 

 

18.3%

 

 

20.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

5,274

 

2,221

 

$

3,539

 

 

137.5%

 

(37.2%

)

As a percentage of net sales

 

 

6.1%

 

 

3.4%

 

 

5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

Net sales increased 34.1% to $86,362,000 in 2006 from $64,413,000 in 2005. This increase was the result of increased sales in all product lines, primarily as a result of better economic conditions in general.

 

Gross profit as a percent of net sales increased to 18.8% in 2006 from 18.3% in 2005, primarily as a result of improved product mix, which has been offset in part by a highly competitive marketplace.

 

Selling expense increased to $7,257,000 or 8.4% of net sales in 2006 from $6,388,000 or 9.9% of net sales in 2005. The dollar increase in selling expense was primarily due to additional selling personnel, related commissions and travel expenses.

 

15

 



 

General and administrative expenses decreased by 0.6% of net sales to $3,699,000 or 4.3% of net sales from $3,150,000 or 4.9% of net sales in 2005. The dollar increase was the result of the inclusion of $234,000 of general and administrative expenses from the South African facility acquired in April 2006, increased professional service fees and depreciation expense.

 

2005 Compared to 2004

 

Net sales increased 4.3% to $64,413,000 in 2005 from $61,740,000 in 2004. This increase was primarily the result of increased sales of filter elements. This increase was offset to some extent by a decline in sales of related products. The increase in sales also resulted from better economic conditions in general and improved conditions in the domestic steel industry in particular.

 

Gross profit as a percent of net sales decreased to 18.3% in 2005 from 20.0% in 2004, primarily as a result of a decline in gross margin on filter bag sales as a result of competitive marketplace pricing and product mix.

 

Selling expense increased to $6,388,000 or 9.9% of net sales in 2005 from $5,644,000 or 9.1% of net sales in 2004. The increase was primarily due to additional selling resources and increased travel expenses.

 

General and administrative expenses decreased by 0.2% of net sales to $3,150,000 or 4.9% of net sales in 2005 from $3,137,000 or 5.1% of net sales in 2004. This dollar increase was primarily the result of increased legal expense and depreciation expense. The increase in depreciation expense was related to installed computer hardware and software.

 

Piping Systems Business

 

Due to the seasonality of the Company's Piping Systems business, sales and earnings are typically lower during the late fall, winter and early spring (fourth and first quarters), due to unfavorable weather for construction over much of North America and are correspondingly higher during the late spring, summer and early fall months (second and third quarters).

 

The Company’s leak detection and location systems generally have higher profit margins than its District Heating and Cooling (“DHC”) piping systems and secondary containment piping systems. The Company has benefited from continuing efforts to have its leak detection and location systems included as part of the customers’ original specifications for construction projects.

 

The average order amount for 2006 was approximately $108,000. In 2005 and 2004, no customer accounted for 10% or more of net sales of the Company’s Piping Systems business. The timing of such orders can have a material effect on the comparison of net sales and gross profit from period to period. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007, only one customer, BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc. ("BHP Billiton"), accounted for more than 10.0% of the net sales of the Company's piping systems and as of January 31, 2007, BHP Billiton was the only customer that accounted for over 10% of its accounts receivable. As of April 6, 2007, the Company does not have an outstanding receivable from BHP Billiton.

 

Piping Systems Business

 

 

(In thousands)

 

% Increase

(Decrease)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

82,166

 

$

54,657

 

$

54,053

 

 

50.3%

 

1.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

 $

16,780

 

10,862

 

$

10,284

 

 

54.5%

 

5.6%

 

As a percentage of net sales

 

 

20.4%

 

 

19.9%

 

 

19.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

9,568

 

 $

5,060

 

5,405

 

 

89.1%

 

(6.4%

)

As a percentage of net sales

 

 

11.6%

 

 

9.3%

 

 

10.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 



 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

Net sales increased 50.3% to $82,166,000 in 2006 from $54,657,000 in 2005. This increase was primarily due to increased demand from the oil and gas industry as well as a strong year for the DHC business.

 

Gross profit as a percent of net sales increased to 20.4% in 2006 from 19.9% in 2005, mainly from higher margins in the oil and gas industry.

 

Selling expense increased to $1,560,000 or 1.9% of net sales in 2006 from $1,442,000 or 2.6% of net sales in 2005. This dollar increase was primarily due to higher commissions, travel and marketing expenses.

 

General and administrative expense increased to $5,653,000 or 6.9% of net sales in 2006 from $4,360,000 or 8.0% of net sales in 2005. The dollar increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in management incentive compensation earned as a result of improved profitability, and higher travel and administrative costs associated with the U.A.E. facility, which opened in March 2006.

 

2005 Compared to 2004

 

Net sales increased 1.1% to $54,657,000 in 2005 from $54,053,000 in 2004, primarily due to a slight increase in the oil and gas piping products.

 

Gross profit as a percent of net sales increased to 19.9% in 2005 from 19.0% in 2004, mainly due to product mix and an increase in the oil and gas piping products.

 

Selling expense increased to $1,442,000 or 2.6% of net sales in 2005 from $1,209,000 or 2.2% of net sales in 2004. The increase was primarily due to hiring additional personnel early in the year.

 

General and administrative expense increased to $4,360,000 or 8.0% of net sales in 2005 from $3,670,000 or 6.8% of net sales in 2004. In March 2006, the Company opened a new facility in the U.A.E. that will manufacture specialty pre-insulated piping systems for Dubai, U.A.E., and other markets in the region. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to $585,000 in start-up costs related to the U.A.E. facility. In addition, the plant located in New Iberia, LA suffered hurricane damage of $172,000 and was not operational for most of October 2005.

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment Business

 

In 2006, the average order amount was approximately $5,000. In 2006, 2005 and in 2004, no customer accounted for 10% or more of net sales of the Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business.

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment Business

 

 

(In thousands)

 

% Increase

(Decrease)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

41,161

 

$

35,517

 

$

29,303

 

 

15.9%

 

21.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

 $

11,274

 

10,066

 

$

8,524

 

 

12.0%

 

18.1%

 

As a percentage of net sales

 

 

27.4%

 

 

28.3%

 

 

29.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

1,222

 

 $

1,544

 

$

1,570

 

 

(20.9%

)

(1.7%

)

As a percentage of net sales

 

 

3.0%

 

 

4.3%

 

 

5.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

 



 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

Net sales increased 15.9% to $41,161,000 in 2006 from $35,517,000 in 2005 mainly due to increased demand from original equipment manufacturers in several markets and new products.

 

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 27.4% in 2006 from 28.3% in 2005, primarily due to pricing pressure, material cost increases, and increasing sales to original equipment manufacturers.

 

Selling expense increased to $5,713,000 or 13.9% of net sales in 2006 from $4,553,000 or 12.8% of net sales in 2005. The increase was primarily due to increased customer service, advertising and trade show expenses, and the commissions associated with higher sales.

 

General and administrative expense increased to $4,339,000 or 10.5% of net sales in 2006 from $3,969,000 or 11.2% of net sales in 2005. This dollar increase was primarily due to increased staffing and related benefit costs.

 

2005 Compared to 2004

 

Net sales increased 21.2% to $35,517,000 in 2005 from $29,303,000 in 2004 mainly due to improved conditions in domestic plastic molding and printing markets and continued economic recovery.

 

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 28.3% in 2005 from 29.1% in 2004, primarily due to pricing pressure in international markets and material cost increases.

 

Selling expense increased to $4,553,000 or 12.8% of net sales in 2005 from $3,624,000 or 12.4% of net sales in 2004. The increase was primarily due to additional personnel and higher commissions associated with increased sales.

 

General and administrative expense increased to $3,969,000 or 11.2% of net sales in 2005 from $3,330,000 or 11.4% of net sales in 2004. The dollar increase was primarily due to increased professional services expenses and costs of $290,000 for the use of consultants to implement production planning systems.

 

General Corporate and Other

 

The 2006 year included sales of $3,782,000 and gross profit of $121,000 not related to the Company’s three reportable business segments.

 

General corporate expense included interest expense and general and administrative expenses that were not allocated to the business segments.

 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

General and administrative expense increased 17.8% to $7,242,000 in 2006 from $6,146,000 in 2005, and decreased as a percentage of consolidated net sales to 3.4% in 2006 from 4.0% in 2005. The dollar increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in management incentive compensation earned as a result of improved profitability.

 

Interest expense increased 45.5% to $2,676,000 in 2006 from $1,839,000 in 2005. The increase was primarily due to additional borrowings on the Company’s revolving line of credit at higher interest rates.

 

2005 Compared to 2004

 

General and administrative expense increased 15.1% to $6,146,000 in 2005 from $5,337,000 in 2004, and increased as a percentage of consolidated net sales to 4.0% in 2005 from 3.7% in 2004. The increase was mainly due to expenses incurred to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley including consulting fees of $656,000, additional personnel of $130,000 primarily in the accounting and control area, and increased group insurance expense of $110,000.

 

18

 



 

Interest expense increased 10.9% to $1,839,000 in 2005 from $1,658,000 in 2004. The increase was primarily due to additional borrowings at higher interest rates.

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective income tax expense rates were 32.0%, 48.7%, and 24.9% in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The differences between the effective income tax rate and the U.S. Statutory tax rate for 2006 and 2005 were:

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

 

Statutory tax rate

 

 

34.0%

 

 

 

34.0%

 

State taxes, net of federal benefit

 

 

2.4%

 

 

 

5.4%

 

Differences in foreign tax rate

 

 

10.4%

 

 

 

8.0%

 

All other, net (benefit) expense

 

 

(14.8%

)

 

 

1.3%

 

Effective tax rate

 

 

32.0%

 

 

 

48.7%

 

 

All other net tax benefit for 2006 predominantly represented the anticipated utilization of net operating loss carryforward and research tax credits. Based on a review of projected taxable income, it appears more likely than not, that the research tax credit carryforward would be utilized in subsequent periods.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash and cash equivalents as of January 31, 2007 were $565,000 as compared to $1,114,000 as January 31, 2006. The Company used $6,920,000 from operations in 2006. Operating cash flows in 2006 decreased by $10,380,000 from 2005. Cash distributions of $450,000 in 2006 were received from the Company’s investment in a joint venture. These cash flows were used to support $8,548,000 in capital spending. Exercise of stock options resulted in proceeds of $1,160,000.

 

Net sales in 2006 increased $58,884,000 or 38.1% compared to 2005 net sales. The higher sales contributed to the increased balances in trade accounts receivable, inventories, and trade accounts payable.

 

Net cash used in 2006 investing activities was $8,088,000. Capital expenditures in 2006 increased to $8,269,000 from $6,315,000 in 2005. In March 2006, the Company opened a new facility in the U.A.E. to manufacture specialty pre-insulated piping systems for Dubai and other markets in the region. Capital expenditures in 2006 of $3,199,000 related to equipment and other costs at the U.A.E. facility. Other 2006 capital expenditures were mainly equipment purchases.

 

The Company estimates that capital expenditures for 2007 will be approximately $5,824,000, primarily relating to machinery and equipment, building and leasehold improvements, and computer hardware and software purchases. The Company may finance capital expenditures through equipment financing loans, internally generated funds and its revolving line of credit.

 

Debt totaled $39,035,000, an increase of $7,749,000 since the beginning of 2006. Net cash inflows from financing activity were $14,385,000, primarily to support higher working capital investments. Stock option activity resulted in $2,105,000 of cash inflow, which included $945,000 in excess tax benefit from stock options.

 

 

19

 



 

The following table summarizes the Company’s estimated contractual obligations excluding the revolving lines of credit of $20,930,000 at January 31, 2007.

 

In Thousands

 

 

Payment Due By:

Contractual Obligations (1)

Total

 

1/31/08

 

1/31/09

 

1/31/10

 

1/31/11

 

1/31/12

 

Thereafter

Mortgages (2)

$

8,667

 

$

3,008

 

$

1,837

 

$

674

 

$

674

 

$

674

 

$

1,800

IRB Payable (2)

 

3,185

 

 

3,185

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Term Loans (3)

 

8,075

 

 

3,484

 

 

1,131

 

 

1,236

 

 

704

 

 

278

 

 

1,242

Subtotals

 

19,927

 

 

9,677

 

 

2,968

 

 

1,910

 

 

1,378

 

 

952

 

 

3,042

Capitalized Lease Obligations

 

412

 

 

153

 

 

153

 

 

94

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

-

Operating Lease Obligations (4)

 

3,612

 

 

1,252

 

 

876

 

 

712

 

 

478

 

 

187

 

 

107

Projected pension contributions (5)

 

2,477

 

 

184

 

 

202

 

 

208

 

 

214

 

 

247

 

 

1,422

Deferred Compensation (6)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Interest Rate Swap (7)

 

73

 

 

73

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Totals

$

26,501

 

$

11,339

 

$

4,199

 

$

2,924

 

$

2,076

 

$

1,392

 

$

4,571

 

Notes to Contractual Obligations Table

 

(1)

Interest obligations exclude floating rate interest on debt payable under revolving lines of credit. Based on the amount of such debt at January 31, 2007, and the weighted average interest rates on that debt at that date (7.35%), such interest was being incurred at an annual rate of approximately $1,322,000. See Note (7) below.

 

(2)

Scheduled maturities, including interest.

 

(3)

Term loan obligations exclude floating rate interest on Term Loan with a January 31 balance of $2,457,000. Based on the amount of such debt as of January 31, 2007, and the weighted average interest rates on that debt at that date (7.41%), such interest was being incurred at an annual rate of approximately $182,000. See Note (7) below.

 

(4)

Minimum contractual amounts. We have assumed no changes in variable expenses.

 

(5)

Estimate future benefit payments reflecting expected future service.

 

(6)

Non-qualified deferred compensation plan – The Company has deferred compensation agreements with key employees. Vesting is based on years of service. Life insurance contracts have been purchased which may be used to fund the Company’s obligation under these agreements. No specific event to trigger a payment date has occurred.

 

(7)

To partially hedge the interest described in Notes (1) and (3) above, the Company entered into an Interest Swap Agreement for $15,000,000 fixed at 5.13% plus LIBOR margin. Based on the LIBOR margin in effect as of January 31, 2007, the Company’s fixed interest obligation under the Swap Agreement was 7.38%, or $1,107,000 on an annual basis. The counter party to the Swap Agreement is obligated to pay the Company interest on $15,000,000 each month at the one-month LIBOR interest rate in effect at the beginning of the month, which effectively hedges interest rate variability on $15,000,000 of the debt described in (1) and (3) above.

 

Other long term liabilities of $2,840,000 were composed primarily of deferred compensation and accrued pension cost.

 

The Company’s working capital was $30,734,000 at January 31, 2007 compared to $28,543,000 at January 31, 2006. This increase was due to the increase in accounts receivable and inventories offset by the increase in accounts payable and increase in current maturities of long term debt.

 

The Company’s current ratio was 1.6 to 1 and 2.2 to 1 at January 31, 2007 and January 31, 2006, respectively. Debt to total capitalization at January 31, 2007 increased to 50.1% from 49.6% at January 31, 2006.

 

Subsequent to 2006 year end in February 2007, the Company sold 1,003,000 shares of common stock at a price of $18.50 per share pursuant to the Company’s existing shelf registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The net proceeds of $18,253,000 from a private placement of common stock were utilized to pay down the revolving line of credit. As a result, increased revolving line of credit borrowing capacity is available to finance future general business needs.

 

 

20

 



 

Financing

 

At January 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with covenants under the Loan Agreement (see the paragraphs below that describe the Loan Agreement).

 

On July 11, 2002, the Company entered into a secured loan and security agreement with a financial institution ("Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement was amended and restated on December 15, 2006. Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, which matures on November 13, 2010, the Company can borrow up to $38,000,000, subject to borrowing base and other requirements, under a revolving line of credit. The Loan Agreement covenants restrict debt, liens, and investments, do not permit payment of dividends, and require attainment of certain levels of profitability and cash flows. Interest rates generally are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At January 31, 2007, the prime rate was 8.25%, and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were 0.25 and 1.75 percentage points, respectively. Monthly interest payments were made. The average interest rate for the year ending January 31, 2007 was 8.04%. As of January 31, 2007, the Company had borrowed $17,973,000 and had $3,972,500 available to it under the revolving line of credit. In addition, $4,515,200 of availability was used under the Loan Agreement primarily to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts owed for Industrial Revenue Bond borrowings. The Loan Agreement provides that all payments by the Company's customers are deposited in a bank account from which all funds may only be used to pay the debt under the Loan Agreement. At January 31, 2007, the amount of restricted cash was $540,000. Cash required for operations is provided by draw-downs on the line of credit.

At January 31, 2006, one interest rate swap agreement was in effect with a notional value of $8,000,000 maturing in 2008. In September 2006, the Company terminated the interest rate swap with a notional value of $8,000,000 and entered into an interest rate swap with a notional value of $15,000,000 maturing in 2011. The swap agreement exchanges the variable rate to fixed interest rate payments of 5.13% plus LIBOR margin. The interest rate swap was effective as a cash flow hedge and no charge to earnings was required during the period ended January 31, 2007. The fair value of the derivative financial instrument was $(3,300), and $(2,100), net of deferred tax expense of $1,200, was recorded in other assets and accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the cash flow hedge at January 31, 2007. Subsequent to the 2006 year end, on February 5, 2007 the Company terminated such interest rate swap and recognized a loss of $72,500.

 

On August 31, 2006, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of $5,200,000 U.A.E. Dirhams (“AED”) (approximately $1,416,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a U.A.E. bank to finance capital expenditures. The loan matures January 2012. The loan bears interest at rate between 8.75% and 9.5% per annum with quarterly principal payments of $93,600.

 

On April 30, 2006, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of $5,500,000 AED (approximately $1,498,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a U.A.E. bank to finance capital expenditures. The loan matures January 2010. The loan bears interest at Ebor/Libor plus 4% per annum with quarterly principal payments of $100,000.

 

The Company also has short-term credit arrangements used by its Denmark and U.A.E. subsidiaries. These credit arrangements are generally in the form of overdraft facilities at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. At January 31, 2007, borrowings under these credit arrangements totaled $2,956,000; an additional $3,301,000 remained unused.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Reclassifications: Reclassifications were made to prior-year financial statements to conform to the current-year presentations.

 

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the

 

21

 



 

financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company has accounting policies which it believes are important to the Company's financial condition and results of operations, and which require the Company to make estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. These critical accounting policies include revenue recognition, realizability of inventories, collectibility of accounts receivable, depreciation of plant and equipment, and income taxes. The Company believes the above critical policies have resulted in past actual results approximating the estimated amounts in those areas.

 

Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenues including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, when all the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iii) collectibility is reasonably assured. All subsidiaries of the Company, except the Piping Systems business, recognize revenues upon shipment or delivery of goods or services when title and risk of loss pass to customers.

 

Percentage of Completion Method Revenue Recognition: Piping Systems business recognizes revenues on contracts under the "percentage of completion" method. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts 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. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated.

 

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for substantially all inventories.

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives: The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, which requires that goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives be analyzed for impairment on an annual basis or when there is reason to suspect that their values have been impaired. For the 2006 and 2005 evaluations, the fair value was determined using discounted cash flows and other market-related valuation models. Certain estimates and judgments are required in the application of the fair value models. Based upon the Company’s evaluations for 2006 and 2005, no impairment of goodwill was required. Goodwill was $2,613,000 and $2,509,000 at January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of January 31, 2007 and 2006, $1,100,000 of goodwill was allocated to the Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business. As of January 31, 2007 and 2006 $1,513,000 and $1,409,000, respectively, was allocated to the Filtration Products business. The change in goodwill of the Filtration Products business was due to foreign currency translation.

 

Stock Options: Effective February 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of February 1, 2006 based on the fair value at grant date estimated in accordance with SFAS 123. The Company has awarded 109,500 shares stock-based compensation to employees, officers or directors in June 2006. The stock-based compensation expense for the year ended January 31, 2007 was $138,420. In accordance with SFAS 123R, results for prior periods have not been restated.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 was issued to provide interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. The provisions of SAB 108 were effective for the Company for its January 31, 2007 year-end. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

 

22

 



 

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”, (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that it has taken or expects to take on a tax return. On January 17, 2007, the FASB affirmed its previous decision to make FIN 48 effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN 48 must be applied to all existing tax positions upon initial adoption. The cumulative effect of applying Fin 48 at adoption, if any, is to be reported as an adjustment to opening retained earnings for the year of adoption. Accordingly, FIN 48 is effective for the Company on February 1, 2007. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of FIN 48 on its financial statements. Management believes the adoption of FIN 48 will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of this standard apply to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. SFAS 157 becomes effective for the Company on February 1, 2008. Upon adoption, the provisions of SFAS 157 are to be applied prospectively with limited exceptions. The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued “Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)”, (“SFAS 158”). On January 31, 2007, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 158. This statement requires employers to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and postretirement plans as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and previously unrecognized changes in that funded status through accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company recorded an after-tax charge to accumulated other comprehensive income of $716,000 in 2006 to recognize the funded status of its benefit plans. The fiscal year end was used as the Company’s measurement date.

 

Effective February 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of February 1, 2006 based on the fair value at grant date estimated in accordance with SFAS 123. In accordance with SFAS 123R, results for prior periods have not been restated. Adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 12 - Stock Options for additional details.

 

Item 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company is subject to market risk associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. Foreign currency exchange rate risk is mitigated through maintenance of local production facilities in the markets served, invoicing of customers in the same currency as the source of the products and use of foreign currency denominated debt in Denmark, U.A.E. and South Africa. The Company has used foreign currency forward contracts to reduce exposure to exchange rate risks. The forward contracts are short-term in duration, generally one year or less. The major currency exposure hedged by the Company has been the Canadian dollar. The contract amounts, carrying amounts and fair values of these contracts were not significant at January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

 

The Company has attempted to mitigate its interest rate risk by maintaining a balance of fixed-rate long-term debt and floating-rate debt.

 

The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to reduce its exposure to market risks from changing interest rates under the revolving credit agreement. Under the terms of the swap agreement, the Company agreed to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to the notional principal amount. Any differences paid or received on the interest rate swap agreements are recognized as adjustments to interest expense over the life of the swap, thereby adjusting the effective interest rate on the underlying obligation. Financial instruments are not held or issued for trading purposes.

 

23

 



 

At January 31, 2006, one interest rate swap agreement was in effect with a notional value of $8,000,000 maturing in 2008. In September 2006, the Company terminated such interest rate swap with a notional value of $8,000,000 and entered into an interest rate swap with a notional value of $15,000,000 maturing in 2011. The swap agreement exchanges the variable rate to fixed interest rate payments of 5.13% plus LIBOR margin. The interest rate swap was effective as a cash flow hedge and no charge to earnings was required during the period ended January 31, 2007. The fair value of the derivative financial instrument was $(3,300), and $(2,100), net of deferred tax expense of $1,200, was recorded in other assets and accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the cash flow hedge at January 31, 2007. Subsequent to the 2006 year end, on February 5, 2007 the Company terminated such interest rate swap and recognized a loss of $72,500.

 

A hypothetical ten percent change in market interest rates over the next year would increase interest on the Company's floating rate debt instruments by approximately $40,000.

 

Commodity price risk is the possibility of higher or lower costs due to changes in the prices of commodities, such as ferrous alloys (e.g., steel) which the Company uses in the production of piping systems. The Company attempts to mitigate such risks by obtaining price commitments from its commodity suppliers and, when it appears appropriate, purchasing quantities in advance of likely price increases.

 

Item 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Company for each of the three years in the period ended as of January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the notes thereto are set forth elsewhere herein.

 

Item 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

Item 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of January 31, 2007, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of January 31, 2007, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Changes in Internal Controls.

 

There was a material weakness in internal control described in Item 9A of the Company’s January 31, 2006 10-K filed on May 12, 2006. When processing inventory transactions using an Enterprise Resources Planning system installed in December 2004 at the Company's production facility for filtration products in Winchester, VA ("Winchester Facility"), errors were made subsequent to Winchester Facility's January 31, 2005 physical inventory, and during each of the interim fiscal quarters of 2005, which were discovered by Registrant's accounting personnel only when analyzing the Winchester Facility physical inventory as of January 31, 2006. The errors did not affect the quantity of physical inventory, and no restatement for any such period affects the Registrant's sales, cash flows, or business prospects. However, the errors did result in the overstatement of inventories, current assets, total assets, income before income taxes, and net income for each of the interim fiscal quarters of 2005.

 

Since January 31, 2006, the Company has taken steps to correct transaction processing procedures, accounting controls and reporting controls at the Winchester Facility to prevent recurrence of such errors. The Company has also examined controls and procedures at the Registrant's other locations to detect the presence of possible weaknesses similar to those that caused the above errors, and has analyzed the inventory accounts at Registrant's other locations

 

24

 



 

to detect the possible presence of errors similar to those described above. No such weaknesses or errors were detected.

 

Other than the change discussed above, there have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls, or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls, subsequent to the date of that evaluation.

 

 Item 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 

PART III

 

Item 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Information with respect to directors of the Company is incorporated herein by reference to the table under the caption "Nominees for Election as Directors" and the textual paragraphs following the aforesaid table and the information contained under the captions “Board of Director Meetings and Committees” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company's proxy statement for the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Information with respect to executive officers of the Company is included in Item1, Part I hereof under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant".

 

Item 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Information with respect to executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the caption "Executive Compensation" in the Company's proxy statement for the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Item 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the Company and related stockholder matters is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the caption "Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock" in the Company's proxy statement for the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Item 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Information with respect to certain relationships and transactions, and director independence is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the caption "Certain Transactions" in the Company's proxy statement for the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Item 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information with respect to the independence of the Company’s public accountants and the fees paid to such accountants is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

 

25

 



 

PART IV

 

Item 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

 

a.

List of documents filed as part of this report:

 

 

(1)

Financial Statements - Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company

 

Refer to Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 

 

(2)

Financial Statement Schedules

 

 

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

 

 

b.

Exhibits: The exhibits, as listed in the Exhibit Index included herein, are submitted as a separate section of this report.

 

 

c.

The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted under 15a (2) above.

 

 

26

 



 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders

MFRI, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MFRI, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. In connection with our audits, we have also audited the financial statement schedule (the “Schedule”) listed in the Index at Item 15a(2). These financial statements and Schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and Schedule based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

For the year ended January 31, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments,” and No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” as discussed in note 12 and note 9, respectively, to the consolidated financial statements.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and Schedule referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MFRI, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

 

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON

Chicago, Illinois

April 20, 2007

 

 


 

27

 



 

MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(In thousands except per share information)

 

2006

2005

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

 

 

2007

2006

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

$

213,471

 

 

$

154,587

 

 

$

145,096

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

169,066

 

 

 

121,901

 

 

 

113,968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

44,405

 

 

 

32,686

 

 

 

31,128

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling expense

 

14,530

 

 

 

12,383

 

 

 

10,477

 

General and administrative expense

 

20,933

 

 

 

17,624

 

 

 

15,474

 

Total operating expenses

 

35,463

 

 

 

30,007

 

 

 

25,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

8,942

 

 

 

2,679

 

 

 

5,177

 

Income from Joint Venture

 

491

 

 

 

196

 

 

 

225

 

Interest expense, net

 

2,676

 

 

 

1,839

 

 

 

1,658

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

6,757

 

 

 

1,036

 

 

 

3,744

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

2,164

 

 

 

505

 

 

 

931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

$

4,593

 

 

$

531

 

 

$

2,813

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic

 

5,358

 

 

 

5,254

 

 

 

4,986

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

0.86

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted

 

5,600

 

 

 

5,585

 

 

 

5,223

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

0.82

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

28

 



 

MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

As of January 31,

ASSETS

 

2007

 

2006

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

$

565

 

 

$

1,114

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

540

 

 

 

369

 

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $352 in 2006 and $504 in 2005

 

 

 

 

 

35,056

 

 

 

20,377

 

Accounts receivable – related company

 

 

 

 

 

583

 

 

 

1,149

 

Income taxes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

145

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted
contracts

 

 

 

 

 

4,974

 

 

 

2,471

 

Inventories, net

 

 

 

 

 

35,155

 

 

 

23,711

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

2,382

 

 

 

2,131

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

 

 

 

1,326

 

 

 

1,311

 

Total current assets

 

 

 

 

 

80,674

 

 

 

52,778

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

 

 

 

 

 

33,441

 

 

 

28,320

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patents, net

 

 

 

 

 

392

 

 

 

453

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

2,613

 

 

 

2,509

 

Other assets

 

 

 

 

 

4,320

 

 

 

4,575

 

Total other assets

 

 

 

 

 

7,325

 

 

 

7,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

 

 

 

$

121,440

 

 

$

88,635

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade accounts payable

 

 

 

 

$

20,919

 

 

$

10,929

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

9,191

 

 

 

1,562

 

Commissions payable

 

 

 

 

 

6,908

 

 

 

5,018

 

Customer Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

5,454

 

 

 

1,995

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

3,119

 

 

 

2,119

 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

 

 

 

 

 

2,480

 

 

 

2,478

 

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

 

 

 

 

 

1,270

 

 

 

134

 

Accounts payable – related company

 

 

 

 

 

599

 

 

 

-

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

49,940

 

 

 

24,235

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current maturities

 

 

 

 

 

29,844

 

 

 

29,724

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

2,840

 

 

 

2,866

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

32,684

 

 

 

32,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 50,000 shares in 2006 and 2005 respectively; 5,530 and 5,276 issued and outstanding in 2006 and 2005, respectively

 

 

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

53

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

 

25,327

 

 

 

23,084

 

Retained earnings

 

 

 

 

 

13,037

 

 

 

8,444

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

397

 

 

 

229

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

38,816

 

 

 

31,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

$

121,440

 

 

$

88,635

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

29

 



 

MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

 

Retained

Earnings

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

Comprehensive
Income

Common Stock

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balances at January 31, 2004

 

 

4,922

 

$

49

 

$

21,397

 

$

5,100

 

$

327

 

$

261

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,813

 

 

 

 

 

2,813

 

Stock options exercised

 

 

304

 

 

3

 

 

929

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment (net of cumulative tax benefit of $320)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(168

)

 

(168

)

Unrealized translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

278

 

 

278

 

Balances at January 31, 2005

 

 

5,226

 

$

52

 

$

22,868

 

$

7,913

 

$

437

 

$

2,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

531

 

 

 

 

 

531

 

Stock options exercised

 

 

50

 

 

1

 

 

145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment (net of cumulative tax benefit of $154)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

271

 

 

271

 

Interest Rate Swap (including a tax benefit of $7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

 

13

 

Unrealized translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(492

)

 

(492

)

Balances at January 31, 2006

 

 

5,276

 

$

53

 

$

23,084

 

$

8,444

 

$

229

 

$

323

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,593

 

 

 

 

 

4,593

 

Stock options exercised

 

 

254

 

 

2

 

 

1,160

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment (net of cumulative tax benefit of $154)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

252

 

 

(252

)

Impact of Adoption of FAS 158 (net of deferred taxes of $338)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(716

)

 

Interest Rate Swap (including a tax expense of $1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16

)

 

(16

)

OCI Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities (including a tax benefit of $87)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

184

 

 

184

 

Unrealized translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

464

 

 

464

 

Balances at January 31, 2007

 

 

5,530

 

$

55

 

$

25,327

 

$

13,037

 

$

397

 

$

4,973

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

30

 



 

MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

2006

2005

2004

 

Fiscal Year Ended January 31,

 

2007

2006

2005

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

4,593

 

 

$

531

 

 

$

2,813

 

Adjustments, to reconcile net income to net cash flows from

 perating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Income from Joint Venture

 

(491

)

 

 

(196

)

 

 

(225

)

   Depreciation and amortization

 

4,067

 

 

 

3,522

 

 

 

3,779

 

   Provisions for uncollectible accounts

 

(157

)

 

 

113

 

 

 

(75

)

   Deferred income taxes

 

89

 

 

 

(234

)

 

 

(184

)

   (Gain) Loss on sales of assets

 

8

 

 

 

(53

)

 

 

(10

)

   Stock-based compensation expense

 

138

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Accounts receivable

 

(14,265

)

 

 

2,225

 

 

 

(4,287

)

   Income taxes receivable

 

41

 

 

 

(125

)

 

 

348

 

   Inventories

 

(12,029

)

 

 

(2,662

)

 

 

(2,659

)

   Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

521

 

 

 

(639

)

 

 

(1,594

)

   Accounts payable

 

4,141

 

 

 

(1,089

)

 

 

1,638

 

   Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

 

1,989

 

 

 

640

 

 

 

(29

)

   Other assets and liabilities

 

4,435

 

 

 

1,427

 

 

 

1,679

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

(6,920

)

 

 

3,460

 

 

 

1,194

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(8,269

)

 

 

(6,315

)

 

 

(1,755

)

Distributions from joint venture

 

450

 

 

 

270

 

 

 

50

 

Acquisitions and investments, net

 

(279

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

10

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

1,804

 

Net cash flows from investing activities

 

(8,088

)

 

 

(5,999

)

 

 

99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings under revolving, term and mortgage loans

 

211,932

 

 

 

57,005

 

 

 

15,141

 

Repayments of debt

 

(204,833

)

 

 

(53,002

)

 

 

(16,271

)

Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts

 

4,815

 

 

 

(1,326

)

 

 

(945

)

Borrowings on capitalized lease obligations

 

374

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Payments on capitalized lease obligations

 

(8

)

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(43

)

Tax benefit of stock options exercised

 

945

 

 

 

71

 

 

 

542

 

Stock options exercised

 

1,160

 

 

 

146

 

 

 

934

 

Net cash flows from financing activities

 

14,385

 

 

 

2,877

 

 

 

(642

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

74

 

 

 

53

 

 

 

(82

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(549

)

 

 

391

 

 

 

569

 

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

 

1,114

 

 

 

723

 

 

 

154

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents –end of year

$

565

 

 

$

1,114

 

 

$

723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net of capitalized amounts

$

2,642

 

 

$

1,753

 

 

$

1,818

 

Income taxes paid (refunded)

 $

890

 

 

719

 

 

 $

(207

)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

31

 



 

MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

 

MFRI, Inc. ("MFRI", the “Company”, or the “Registrant”) was incorporated on October 12, 1993. MFRI is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in three distinct business segments: filtration products, piping systems and industrial process cooling equipment.

 

Fiscal Year: The Company’s fiscal year ends on January 31. Years described as 2006, 2005 and 2004 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Balances described as balances as of 2006, 2005 and 2004 are balances as of January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Nature of Business: The Filtration Products business segment manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for use in industrial air filtration systems and particulate collection systems. Air filtration systems are used in a wide variety of industries to limit particulate emissions, primarily to comply with environmental regulations. The Filtration Products business segment markets air filtration-related products and accessories, and provides maintenance services, consisting primarily of dust collector inspection, filter cleaning and filter replacement. The Piping System business segment engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping systems and leak detection and location systems. This segment’s specialty piping systems include (i) industrial and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, waste streams and petroleum liquids, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants, and (iii) oil and gas gathering flow lines and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. The Piping System business segment’s leak detection and location systems are sold as part of many of its piping system products, and on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property. The Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business segment engineers, designs, manufactures and sells industrial process cooling equipment, including chillers, cooling towers, plant circulating systems, and related accessories for use in industrial process applications. The Company’s products are sold both within the United States and internationally.

 

Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies

 

Reclassifications: Reclassifications were made to prior-year financial statements to conform to the current-year presentations.

 

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenues including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, when all the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iii) collectibility is reasonably assured. All subsidiaries of the Company, except the Piping Systems business, recognize revenues upon shipment or delivery of goods or services when title and risk of loss pass to customers.

 

Percentage of Completion Revenue Recognition: The Piping System business segment recognizes revenues on contracts under the "percentage of completion" method. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts 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. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they

 

32

 



 

are determined. Claims for additional compensation due the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated.

 

Shipping and Handling: Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold, and the amounts invoiced to customers relating to shipping and handling are included in net sales.

 

Operating Cycle: The length of the Piping System business segment’s contracts vary, but are typically less than one year. The Company includes in current assets and liabilities amounts realizable and payable in the normal course of contract completion unless completion of such contracts extends significantly beyond one year. The Company’s other businesses do not have an operating cycle beyond one year.

 

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned and controlled domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Translation of Foreign Currency: Assets and liabilities of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Gains or losses on foreign currency transactions and the related tax effects are reflected in net income. The resulting translation adjustments are included in stockholders’ equity as part of accumulated comprehensive income.

 

Contingencies: The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, including those involving environmental, tax, product liability and general liability claims. The Company accrues for such liabilities when it is probable that future costs will be incurred and such costs can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are based on developments to date, the Company’s estimates of the outcomes of these matters, its experience in contesting, litigating and settling other similar matters.

 

The Company does not currently anticipate the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to these matters will materially affect the Company’s financial position, liquidity or future operations.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents: All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. Accounts Payable included Drafts Payable of $7,611,000 and $2,796,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

Restricted Cash: The Loan Agreement provides that all payments by the Company’s customers are deposited in a bank account from which all funds may only be used to pay the debt under the Loan Agreement.

 

Accounts Receivable Collection: The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from geographically dispersed contractors and manufacturing companies. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a customer’s financial condition, including the availability of credit insurance, and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are due within various time periods specified in the terms applicable to the specific customer and are stated at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for claims and doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts was calculated using a percentage of sales method based upon collection history and an estimate of uncollectible accounts. Management may exercise its judgment in adjusting the provision as a consequence of known items, such as current economic factors and credit trends. Accounts receivable adjustments are recorded against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk: The Company has a broad customer base doing business in all regions of the United States as well as other areas in the world. The Company maintained foreign credit insurance covering selected foreign sales not secured by letters of credit or guarantees from parent companies in the United States. This expense is included in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): Other comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity resulting from transactions from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the following:

 

33

 



minimum pension liability, foreign currency translation, unrealized gain on marketable securities and interest rate swap.

 

Investments: Short-term marketable securities were classified as available-for-sale and carried at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The investments were recorded in other current assets.

 

Pension Plan Policy: The Winchester facility has a defined benefit plan covering its hourly rated employees. The benefits are based on fixed amounts multiplied by years of service of retired participants. The Company engages outside actuaries to calculate its obligations and costs. The funding policy is to contribute such amounts as are necessary to provide for benefits attributed to service to date and those expected to be earned in the future. The amounts contributed to the plan are sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for substantially all inventories. Inventories consist of the following:

 

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Raw materials

 

$

27,982

 

 

$

17,695

 

Work in process

 

 

3,644

 

 

 

3,045

 

Finished goods

 

 

4,803

 

 

 

4,254

 

 

 

 

36,429

 

 

 

24,994

 

Less allowances

 

 

1,274

 

 

 

1,283

 

Inventories, net

 

$

35,155

 

 

$

23,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Lived Assets: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Interest is capitalized in connection with the construction of facilities and amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. No interest was capitalized during 2006 and 2005. Long-lived assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review indicates impairment, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to an estimated fair value.

 

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 30 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the remaining life of the lease. Amortization of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization.

 

The Company’s investment in property, plant and equipment as of January 31 is summarized below:

 

(In thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

Land, buildings and improvements

 

$

22,260

 

 

$

20,710

 

Machinery and equipment

 

 

32,214

 

 

 

25,521

 

Furniture, office equipment and computer software and systems

 

 

8,981

 

 

 

9,399

 

Transportation equipment

 

 

291

 

 

 

167

 

 

 

 

63,746

 

 

 

55,797

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

30,305

 

 

 

27,477

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

33,441

 

 

$

28,320

 

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives: The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, which requires that goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives be analyzed for impairment on an annual basis or when there is reason to suspect that their values have been impaired. For the 2006 and 2005 evaluations, the fair value was determined using discounted cash flows and other market-related valuation models. Certain estimates and judgments are required in the application of the fair value models. Based upon the Company’s evaluations for 2006 and 2005, no impairment of goodwill was required. Goodwill was $2,613,000 and $2,509,000 at January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of January 31, 2007 and 2006, $1,100,000 of goodwill was allocated to the Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business. 

 

34

 



 

As of January 31, 2007 and 2006 $1,513,000 and $1,409,000, respectively, was allocated to the Filtration Products business. The change in goodwill of the Filtration Products business was due to foreign currency translation.

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended January 31, 2007, are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,509

 

Foreign translation effect

 

 

 

 

 

 

104

 

Balance as of January 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,613

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other intangible assets with definite lives: Patents are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed the legal lives of the patents. Patents were $2,447,000 and $2,288,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Accumulated amortization was $2,055,000 and $1,835,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Future amortizations over the next five years ending January 31 will be $76,000 in 2008, $73,000 in 2009, $69,000 in 2010, $67,000 in 2011, and $60,000 in 2012.

 

Investment in Joint Venture: In April 2002, the Piping System business and two unrelated companies formed an equally owned joint venture to more efficiently market their complementary thermal insulation products and systems for use in undersea pipeline flow assurance projects worldwide. The Company received partner distributions from its joint venture of $450,000, $270,000 and $50,000 in 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively. The Company accounts for its joint venture investment using the equity method. The Company's share of joint venture income was $491,000, $196,000 and $225,000 in 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively.

 

Financial Instruments: Gains and losses on hedges of existing assets, or liabilities are marked-to-market and the result is included within Accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements. Gains and losses on financial instruments that hedge firm future commitments are deferred until the underlying transactions are recognized or recorded immediately when the transaction is no longer expected to occur. Gains or losses on financial instruments that do not qualify as hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” are recognized immediately as income or expense.

 

Income Tax Provision: Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences arising from differences in basis of assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes on temporary differences have been recorded at the current tax rate. The Company assessed its deferred tax assets for realizability at each reporting period.

 

Net Income Per Common Share: Earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic) plus all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the year (diluted).

 

The basic weighted average shares reconcile to diluted weighted average shares as follows:

 

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

5,358

 

 

 

5,254

 

 

 

4,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of stock options

 

242

 

 

 

331

 

 

 

237

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming full
   dilution

 

5,600

 

 

 

5,585

 

 

 

5,223

 

 

 

35

 



 

 

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Weighted average number of stock options not included in the
   computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because
   the option exercise prices exceeded the average market prices of the
   common shares

 

-

 

 

 

176

 

 

 

340

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expired options during the year

 

25

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options with an exercise price below the average stock price

 

548

 

 

 

558

 

 

 

611

 

 

In 2006, a total of 253,772 stock options were exercised. There were 4,477 stock options exercised from February 1, 2007 through April 30, 2007.

 

Stock Options: Effective February 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of February 1, 2006 based on the fair value at grant date estimated in accordance with SFAS 123. The Company has awarded 109,500 shares stock-based compensation to employees, officers or directors in June 2006. The stock-based compensation expense for the year ended January 31, 2007 was $138,420. In accordance with SFAS 123R, results for prior periods have not been restated.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are reasonable estimates of their fair value due to their short-term nature.

 

Accounting Pronouncements:

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 was issued to provide interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. The provisions of SAB 108 were effective for the Company for its January 31, 2007 year-end. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”, (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that it has taken or expects to take on a tax return. On January 17, 2007, the FASB affirmed its previous decision to make FIN 48 effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN 48 must be applied to all existing tax positions upon initial adoption. The cumulative effect of applying Fin 48 at adoption, if any, is to be reported as an adjustment to opening retained earnings for the year of adoption. Accordingly, FIN 48 is effective for the Company on February 1, 2007. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of FIN 48 on its financial statements. Management believes the adoption of FIN 48 will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of this standard apply to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. SFAS 157 becomes effective for the Company on February 1, 2008. Upon adoption, the provisions of SFAS 157 are to be applied prospectively with limited exceptions. The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued “Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)”, (“SFAS 158”). On January 31, 2007, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 158. This statement requires employers to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and 

 

36

 



 

 postretirement plans as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and previously unrecognized changes in that funded status through accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company recorded an after-tax charge to accumulated other comprehensive income of $716,000 in 2006 to recognize the funded status of its benefit plans. The fiscal year end was used as the Company’s measurement date.

 

Effective February 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of February 1, 2006 based on the fair value at grant date estimated in accordance with SFAS 123. In accordance with SFAS 123R, results for prior periods have not been restated. Adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 12 - Stock Options for additional details.

 

Note 3 - Related Party Transactions

 

The Company provides certain services and facilities to a company (affiliate) primarily owned by two principal stockholders who are also members of management. The Company also purchased certain services, leased space and subcontracted projects with such company under a management services agreement, a lease agreement or contracts, which were approved by the Company’s Committee of Independent Directors.

 

The Company received $73,500 and paid $64,800 from the affiliate under such agreements in 2006. The Company received $102,000 and paid $121,000 from the affiliate under such agreements in 2005. The Company received $140,000 and paid $147,000 from the affiliate under such agreements in 2004. During 2006, the Company recognized net sales of $3,782,000 pursuant to a contract wholly subcontracted to such company.

 

Related company accounts receivable of $583,000 and $1,149,000 was included in the receivable balances at January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Related company accounts payable of $599,000 was included in the payable balance at January 31, 2007.

 

Note 4 - Retention Receivable

 

Retention is the amount withheld by a customer until a contract is completed. Retentions of $388,338 and $91,544 were included in the balance of trade accounts receivable as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Note 5 - Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts

 

Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts

 

$

30,157

 

 

$

11,669

 

Estimated earnings

 

 

11,950

 

 

 

2,694

 

Earned revenue

 

 

42,107

 

 

 

14,363

 

Less billings to date

 

 

38,403

 

 

 

12,026

 

Total

 

$

3,704

 

 

$

2,337

 

Classified as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on
   uncompleted contracts

 

$

4,974

 

 

$

2,471

 

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on
   uncompleted contracts

 

 

(1,270

)

 

 

(134

)

Total

 

$

3,704

 

 

$

2,337

 

 

 

37

 



 

Note 6 - Debt

 

Debt consists of the following:

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Revolving bank loan domestic

 

 

17,973

 

 

 

13,612

 

Industrial revenue bonds

 

 

3,150

 

 

 

3,150

 

Mortgage notes

 

 

7,375

 

 

 

8,998

 

Term loans

 

 

7,201

 

 

 

4,556

 

Revolving bank loan foreign

 

 

2,957

 

 

 

955

 

Capitalized lease obligations (Note 7)

 

 

379

 

 

 

15

 

Total debt

 

 

39,035

 

 

 

31,286

 

Less current maturities

 

 

9,191

 

 

 

1,562

 

Total Long-Term Debt

 

$

29,844

 

 

$

29,724

 

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s scheduled maturities, excluding the revolving lines of credit of $20,930,000 at January 31, 2007:

 

( In thousands)

Total

 

1/31/08

 

1/31/09

 

1/31/10

 

1/31/11

 

1/31/12

 

Thereafter

Mortgages

$

7,375

 

$

2,589

 

$

1,622

 

$

523

 

$

558

 

$

597

 

$

1,486

IRB Payable

 

3,150

 

 

3,150

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Term Loans

 

7,201

 

 

3,311

 

 

960

 

 

1,069

 

 

590

 

 

214

 

 

1,057

Capitalized Lease Obligations

 

379

 

 

141

 

 

141

 

 

86

 

 

6

 

 

5

 

 

-

Totals

$

18,105

 

$

9,191

 

$

2,723

 

$

1,678

 

$

1,154

 

$

816

 

$

2,543

 

Debt

 

At January 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with covenants under the Loan Agreement (see the paragraphs below that describe the Loan Agreement).

 

On July 11, 2002, the Company entered into a secured loan and security agreement with a financial institution ("Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement was Amended and restated on December 15, 2006. Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, which matures on November 13, 2010, the Company can borrow up to $38,000,000, subject to borrowing base and other requirements, under a revolving line of credit. The Loan Agreement covenants restrict debt, liens, and investments, do not permit payment of dividends, and require attainment of certain levels of profitability and cash flows. Interest rates generally are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At January 31, 2007, the prime rate was 8.25%, and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were 0.25 and 1.75 percentage points, respectively. Monthly interest payments were made. The average interest rate for the year ending January 31, 2007 was 8.04%. As of January 31, 2007, the Company had borrowed $17,973,000 and had $3,972,500 available to it under the revolving line of credit. In addition, $4,515,200 of availability was used under the Loan Agreement primarily to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts owed for Industrial Revenue Bond borrowings. The Loan Agreement provides that all payments by the Company's customers be deposited in a bank account from which all funds may only be used to pay the debt under the Loan Agreement. At January 31, 2007, the amount of restricted cash was $540,000. Cash required for operations is provided by draw-downs on the line of credit.

At January 31, 2006, one interest rate swap agreement was in effect with a notional value of $8,000,000 maturing in 2008. In September 2006, the Company terminated such interest rate swap with a notional value of $8,000,000 and entered into an interest rate swap with a notional value of $15,000,000 maturing in 2011. The swap agreement exchanges the variable rate to fixed interest rate payments of 5.13% plus LIBOR margin. The interest rate swap was effective as a cash flow hedge and no charge to earnings was required during the period ended January 31, 2007. The fair value of the derivative financial instrument was $(3,300), and $(2,100), net of deferred tax expense of $1,200, was recorded in other assets and accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the cash flow hedge at January 31, 2007. Subsequent to the 2006 year end, on February 5, 2007 the Company terminated such interest rate swap and recognized a loss of $72,500.

 

38

 



 

On March 28, 2005, the Company's Loan Agreement was amended to add a term loan of $4,300,000 ("Term Loan"). Interest rates under the Term Loan are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At January 31, 2007, the prime rate was 8.25%, and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were 0.50 and 2.0 percentage points, respectively. The Company is scheduled to pay $215,000 of principal on the first days of March, June, September, and December in each year, commencing on June 1, 2005 and ending on September 30, 2007, with the remaining unpaid principal payable on November 30, 2007.

 

On May 10, 2006, the Company’s Loan Agreement was amended to add an equipment loan facility (“Equipment Loan Facility”) of $1,000,000 subject to certain restrictions. Interest rates under the Equipment Loan Facility are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At May 10, 2006, the prime rate was 8.00% and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were .50 and 2.50 percentage points, respectively.

 

On August 31, 2006, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of $5,200,000 U.A.E. Dirhams (“AED”) (approximately $1,416,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a U.A.E. bank to finance capital expenditures. The loan matures January 2012. The loan bears interest at rate between 8.75% and 9.5% per annum with quarterly principal payments of $93,600.

 

On April 30, 2006, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of $5,500,000 AED (approximately $1,498,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a U.A.E. bank to finance capital expenditures. The loan matures January 2010. The loan bears interest at Ebor/Libor plus 4% per annum with quarterly principal payments of $100,000.

 

On December 31, 2005, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of $7,067,000 Danish Kroners (“DKK”) (approximately $1,122,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a Danish bank to partially finance the building addition. The loan has a term of twenty years. The loan bears interest at 4.28% with quarterly payments of $23,500 for both principal and interest.

 

On December 30, 2005, Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $900,000 under an equipment loan secured by equipment. The loan bears interest at 6.23% with monthly payments of $13,400 for both principal and interest, and has a seven year term.

 

On May 11, 2005, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of 3,241,500 DKK (approximately $536,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a Danish bank to partially finance the building addition. The loan has a term of twenty years. The loan bears interest at 4.89% with quarterly payments of $10,700 for both principal and interest.

 

On April 8, 2003, the Company obtained a loan from a Danish bank to purchase equipment and office furniture for the new building, in the amount of 700,000 Euro, approximately $754,600 U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of the transaction. The loan has a term of ten years. The loan bears interest at 6.1% with quarterly payments of $9,400 for both principal and interest.

 

On January 29, 2003, the Company obtained a loan from a Danish bank to construct a building, in the amount of 1,050,000 Euro, approximately $1,136,000 U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of the transaction. The loan has a term of twenty years. The loan bears interest at 4.0% with quarterly payments of $19,000 for both principal and interest.

 

On April 26, 2002, Midwesco Filter borrowed $2,025,000 under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Winchester, Virginia. Proceeds from the mortgage, net of a prior mortgage loan were used to make principal payments to the lenders under the Prior Term Loans and the bank which was the lender under the

 

39

 



 

Company’s revolving line of credit at that time. The loan bears interest at 7.10% with a monthly payment of $23,616 for both principal and interest, and has a ten year term.

 

On July 31, 2002 Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $1,750,000 under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. From the proceeds, $1,000,000 was used for a payment of amounts borrowed under the Note Purchase Agreements with the remaining proceeds used to repay amounts borrowed under the Loan Agreement. The loan bears interest at 7.75% with monthly payments of $21,001 for both principal and interest, and has a ten year term.

 

On September 20, 2000, the Company purchased an 8.1-acre parcel of land with a 131,000-square foot building in Niles, Illinois, from two principal stockholders, who are also members of management, for approximately $4,438,000. This amount included the assumption of a $2,500,000 mortgage note with a remaining balance of $2,405,000. The loan bears interest at 7.52% with monthly payments of $18,507 for both principal and interest based on an amortization schedule of 25 years with a balloon payment at the end of the ten-year term. At the date of purchase, the remaining term of the loan was 7.25 years. The loan matures in the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

On June 30, 1998, the Company borrowed $1,400,000 under a mortgage note secured by the manufacturing facility in Cicero, Illinois. The loan bears interest at 6.76% with monthly payments of $9,682 for both principal and interest based on an amortization schedule of 25 years with a balloon payment at the end of the ten-year term.

 

On June 1, 1998, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of 4,500,000 DKK (approximately $650,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) from a Danish bank to partially finance the acquisition of Boe-Therm A/S (“Boe-Therm”). It is secured by the land and building of Boe-Therm, bears interest at 6.48% and has a term of twenty years. Another loan in the amount of 850,000 DKK (approximately $134,000 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction) was obtained on January 1, 1999 to acquire land and a building, bears interest at 6.1% and has a term of twenty years. The interest rates on both the twenty-year loans are guaranteed for the first ten years, after which they will be renegotiated based on prevailing market conditions.

 

On October 18, 1995, Perma-Pipe in Lebanon, Tennessee received $3,150,000 of proceeds of Industrial Revenue Bonds, which mature on September 1, 2007. The bonds are fully secured by bank letters of credit, which the Company expects to renew, reissue, extend or replace prior to each expiration date during the term of the bonds. The bonds bear interest at a variable rate, which approximates 4.5% per annum, including letter of credit and re-marketing fees. The bond proceeds were available for capital expenditures related to manufacturing capacity expansions and efficiency improvements during a three-year period which commenced in the fourth quarter of 1995 and ended during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended October 31, 1998. On November 1, 1999, the Company used $1,100,000 of unspent bond proceeds to redeem bonds outstanding as provided in the indenture.

 

The Company also has short-term credit arrangements used by its Denmark and U.A.E. subsidiaries. These credit arrangements are generally in the form of overdraft facilities at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. At January 31, 2007, borrowings under these credit arrangements totaled $2,956,000; an additional $3,301,000 remained unused.

 

 

40

 



 

Note 7 - Lease Information

 

The following is an analysis of property under capitalized leases:

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Machinery and equipment

 

$

164

 

 

$

164

 

Furniture and office equipment

 

 

252

 

 

 

698

 

Transportation equipment

 

 

741

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

1,157

 

 

 

900

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

 

650

 

 

 

890

 

 

 

$

507

 

 

$

10

 

 

The Piping Systems business leases manufacturing and warehouse facilities, land, transportation equipment and office space under non-cancelable operating leases, which expire beginning 2007 through 2017. The Filtration Products business leases approximately 12,000 square feet of office space under an operating lease, which began in June 2004 and expires in July 2010. Management expects that these leases will be renewed or replaced by other leases in the normal course of business.

 

At January 31, 2007, future minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable lease obligations were as follows:

(In thousands)

 

Operating

Leases

 

Capital

Leases

2008

 

$

1,252

 

 

$

141

 

2009

 

 

876

 

 

 

141

 

2010

 

 

712

 

 

 

86

 

2011

 

 

478

 

 

 

6

 

2012

 

 

187

 

 

 

5

 

Thereafter

 

 

107

 

 

 

 

 

Future minimum lease payments (Note 6)

 

$

3,612

 

 

$

379

 

 

Rental expense for operating leases was $1,333,900, $1,341,600 and $752,300 in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Note 8 - Income Taxes

 

The following is a summary of domestic and foreign income (loss) before income taxes:

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Domestic

$

7,896

 

 

$

(210

)

 

$

2,172

 

Foreign

 

(1,138

)

 

 

1,246

 

 

 

1,572

 

Total

$

6,758

 

 

$

1,036

 

 

$

3,744

 

 

Components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

$

1,417

 

 

$

(109

)

 

$

467

 

Foreign

 

197

 

 

 

566

 

 

 

475

 

State and other

 

462

 

 

 

140

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

2,076

 

 

 

597

 

 

 

1,115

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

72

 

 

 

(94

)

 

 

(86

)

Foreign

 

118

 

 

 

85

 

 

 

(95

)

State and other

 

(102

)

 

 

(83

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

88

 

 

 

(92

)

 

 

(184

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

$

2,164

 

 

$

505

 

 

$

931

 

 

 

41

 



 

The excess tax benefit related to stock options recorded through equity was $945,000, $71,000 and $542,000 in 2006, 2005 and 2004, which did not affect net income in 2006, 2005 and 2004.

 

The income tax expense of $2,164,000 for 2006 predominantly represented the anticipated utilization of the net operating loss and the research tax credits. Based on a review of projected taxable income, it was more likely than not that the research tax credit carryforward would be utilized in subsequent periods.

 

The difference between the provision (benefit) for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the federal effective rate of 32.0%, 48.7%, and 24.9% in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively is as follows:

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Tax expense at federal statutory rate

$

2,297

 

 

$

352

 

 

$

1,273

 

Foreign rate tax expense (benefit) differential

 

702

 

 

 

228

 

 

 

(59

)

State tax expense (benefit), net of federal benefit

 

160

 

 

 

(28

)

 

 

157

 

Research tax credit

 

(826

)

 

 

(68

)

 

 

(401

)

Other – net

 

(169

)

 

 

21

 

 

 

(39

)

Totals

$

2,164

 

 

$

505

 

 

$

931

 

 

Components of the current deferred income tax asset balances were as follows:

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Accrued commissions and bonuses

 

$

1,308

 

 

$

969

 

Other accruals not yet deducted

 

 

746

 

 

 

590

 

Inventory valuation allowance

 

 

453

 

 

 

489

 

Inventory uniform capitalization

 

 

113

 

 

 

-

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

87

 

 

 

170

 

Other

 

 

76

 

 

 

106

 

Totals

 

$

2,783

 

 

$

2,324

 

 

Component of the current deferred income tax liability balances was as follows:

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Prepaids

 

$

285

 

 

$

148

 

 

Components of the long-term deferred income tax asset balances were as follows:

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Capital loss carry forward from sale of foreign subsidiary

 

$

104

 

 

$

114

 

Goodwill

 

 

252

 

 

 

338

 

Non-qualified deferred compensation

 

 

903

 

 

 

642

 

Net operating loss

 

 

-

 

 

 

744

 

Research tax credit (1)

 

 

338

 

 

 

426

 

Other

 

 

263

 

 

 

237

 

Totals

 

$

1,860

 

 

$

2,501

 

(1) The 2006 Research tax credit carryforward is net of a valuation allowance of $139,000.

 

Components of the long-term deferred income tax liability balances were as follows:

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

Depreciation

 

$

813

 

 

$

1,124

 

Minimum pension liability

 

 

153

 

 

 

230

 

Foreign deferred liability

 

 

348

 

 

 

230

 

Totals

 

$

1,314

 

 

$

1,584

 

 

Gross deferred tax assets were $4,643,000 and $4,825,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively  Gross deferred tax liabilities were $1,599,000 and $1,732,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

The Company’s management periodically estimates the probable tax obligations of the Company using historical experience in tax jurisdictions and informed judgments. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business. The judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits, as well as changes to or further interpretations of regulations. If such changes take place, there is a risk that the tax rate may increase or decrease in any period. Tax accruals for tax liabilities related to potential changes in judgments and 

 

42

 



 

estimates for both federal and state tax issues are included in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Note 9 - Employee Retirement Plans

 

Pension Plan

 

The Winchester facility has a defined benefit plan covering its hourly rated employees. The benefits are based on fixed amounts multiplied by years of service of retired participants. The Company engages outside actuaries to calculate its obligations and costs. The funding policy is to contribute such amounts as are necessary to provide for benefits attributed to service to date and those expected to be earned in the future. The amounts contributed to the plan are sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Company may contribute additional amounts at its discretion.

 

The market related value of plan assets at January 31, 2007 was $3,869,122. The plans hold no securities of MFRI, Inc. 100% of the assets are held for benefits under the plan. The target asset allocation was 95% to 100% mutual funds. The investment policy is to invest all funds in the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund except for cash needed to pay benefits and investment expenses for the year. At January 31, 2007, 95.7% of plan assets were held in a mutual fund and the remaining 4.3% was in a money market fund. The expected long-term rate-of-return-on-assets is based on historical long-term rates of equity and fixed income investments and the asset mix objective of the fund.

 

Effective January 31, 2007, the Company implemented the recognition provisions of SFAS 158. The following table details the incremental effect of applying SFAS 158 on individual line items in the statement of financial position:

(in thousands)

 

 

Before Application of SFAS 158

 

 

 

 

SFAS 158

Adjustments

 

 

 

 

After Application of SFAS 158

 

Prepaid (accrued) benefit liability - Long Term

 

$

932

 

 

$

(1,054

)

 

$

(122

)

Deferred Income Taxes - Long Term

 

 

546

 

 

 

(338

)

 

 

208

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

$

1,113

 

 

$

(716

)

 

$

397

 

 

 

43

 



 

The following provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of the plan:

 

(In thousands)

 

 

2006

 

2005

Accumulated benefit obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested benefits

 

 

 

 

$

3,642

 

 

$

3,456

 

Accumulated benefits

 

 

 

 

 

3,696

 

 

 

3,466

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation – beginning of year

 

 

 

 

$

3,600

 

 

$

4,647

 

Service cost

 

 

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

114

 

Interest cost

 

 

 

 

 

198

 

 

 

248

 

Amendments

 

 

 

 

 

250

 

 

 

-

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

 

 

 

 

(56

)

 

 

(1,319

)

Benefits paid

 

 

 

 

 

(98

)

 

 

(90

)

Benefit obligation – end of year

 

 

 

 

 

3,991

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets – beginning of year

 

 

 

 

$

3,420

 

 

$

3,091

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

339

 

 

 

260

 

Company contributions

 

 

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

159

 

Benefits paid

 

 

 

 

 

(98

)

 

 

(90

)

Fair value of plan assets – end of year

 

 

 

 

 

3,869

 

 

 

3,420

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status

 

 

 

 

$

(122

)

 

$

(179

)

Unrecognized prior service cost

 

 

 

 

 

657

 

 

 

489

 

Unrecognized actuarial loss

 

 

 

 

 

397

 

 

 

539

 

Prepaid benefit cost recognized in the consolidated balance sheet

 

 

 

 

$

932

 

 

$

849

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid benefit cost

 

 

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

849

 

Accrued benefit liability – Long Term

 

 

 

 

 

(122

)

 

 

(895

)

Intangible asset

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

489

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

406

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

397

 

 

 

-

 

Prior service cost

 

 

 

 

 

657

 

 

 

-

 

Net amount recognized

 

 

 

 

$

1,054

 

 

$

406

 

The amount of prior service cost and net loss to be amortized in the following year is $107,307 and -0-, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost and benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obligations for years ended January 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of year benefit obligation

 

 

 

 

 

5.710%

 

 

 

5.620%

 

Service cost discount rate

 

 

 

 

 

5.620%

 

 

 

5.388%

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

8.000%

 

 

 

8.000%

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

 

 

 

$

97

 

 

$

114

 

Interest cost

 

 

 

 

 

198

 

 

 

248

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

(276

)

 

 

(252

 )

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

 

 

82

 

 

 

82

 

Recognized actuarial loss

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

201

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

 

 

 

$

124

 

 

$

393

 

 

 

44

 



 

 

Cash Flows:

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

Expected employer contributions for fiscal year ending 1/31/2008

 

$

97

 

Expected employee contributions for fiscal year ending 1/31/2008

 

 

$

0

 

Estimated future benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal year(s) ending:

 

 

 

 

 

1/31/2008

 

 

$

184

 

1/31/2009

 

 

 

202

 

1/31/2010

 

 

 

208

 

1/31/2011

 

 

 

214

 

1/31/2012

 

 

 

247

 

1/31/2013-1/31/2017

 

 

$

1,422

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

401(k) Plan

 

The domestic employees of the Company participate in the MFRI, Inc. Employee Savings and Protection Plan, which is applicable to all employees except certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreement benefits. The plan allows employee pretax payroll contributions of up to 16% of total compensation. The Company matches 50% of each participant's contribution, up to a maximum of 2% of each participant’s salary.

 

Contributions to the 401(k) Plan and its predecessors were $385,400, $346,400 and $329,300 for the years ended January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company estimates that it will contribute $360,000 for the year ending January 31, 2008.

 

Deferred Compensation Plans

 

The Company also has deferred compensation agreements with key employees. Vesting is based on years of service. Life insurance contracts have been purchased which may be used to fund the Company’s obligation under these agreements. The cash surrender value of the life insurance contracts of $1,491,000 and $1,231,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006 was included in other assets, and the deferred compensation liability of $2,566,000 and $1,879,000 as of January 31, 2007 and 2006 was included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The charges to expense were $508,300, $225,900 and $288,200 in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Note 10 - Business Segment and Geographic Information

 

Business Segment Information

 

The Company has three reportable segments: the Filtration Products business, the Piping Systems business and the Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business. The Filtration Products business manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for air filtration and particulate collection systems. The Piping Systems business engineers, designs, manufactures, and sells specialty piping systems and leak detection and location systems. The Industrial Process Cooling Equipment business engineers, designs, manufactures and sells chillers, mold temperature controllers, cooling towers, plant circulating systems and coolers for industrial process applications.

 

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. (See Note 2.) The Company evaluates performance based on gross profit and income or loss from operations.

 

MFRI’s reportable segments are strategic businesses that offer different products and services. Each is managed separately based on fundamental differences in their operations. Each strategic business was acquired as a unit and management at the time of acquisition was retained.

 

 

45

 



 

 

The following is information relevant to the Company's business segments:

 

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Net Sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

86,362

 

 

$

64,413

 

 

$

61,740

 

Piping Systems

 

82,166

 

 

 

54,657

 

 

 

54,053

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

41,161

 

 

 

35,517

 

 

 

29,303

 

Other

 

3,782

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total Net Sales

$

213,471

 

 

$

154,587

 

 

$

145,096

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

16,230

 

 

$

11,758

 

 

$

12,320

 

Piping Systems

 

16,780

 

 

 

10,862

 

 

 

10,284

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

11,274

 

 

 

10,066

 

 

 

8,524

 

Other

 

121

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total Gross Profit

$

44,405

 

 

$

32,686

 

 

$

31,128

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

5,274

 

 

$

2,221

 

 

$

3,539

 

Piping Systems

 

9,568

 

 

 

5,060

 

 

 

5,405

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

1,222

 

 

 

1,544

 

 

 

1,570

 

Corporate

 

(7,122

)

 

 

(6,146

)

 

 

(5,337

)

Total Income from Operations

$

8,942

 

 

$

2,679

 

 

$

5,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) before Income Taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

5,274

 

 

$

2,221

 

 

$

3,539

 

Piping Systems

 

10,059

 

 

 

5,256

 

 

 

5,630

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

1,222

 

 

 

1,544

 

 

 

1,570

 

Corporate

 

(9,798

)

 

 

(7,985

)

 

 

(6,995

)

Total Income before Income Taxes

$

6,757

 

 

$

1,036

 

 

$

3,744

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

51,886

 

 

$

36,179

 

 

$

33,511

 

Piping Systems

 

44,130

 

 

 

30,333

 

 

 

29,696

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

14,809

 

 

 

12,545

 

 

 

12,101

 

Corporate

 

10,615

 

 

 

9,578

 

 

 

10,208

 

Total Segment Assets

$

121,440

 

 

$

88,635

 

 

$

85,516

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

1,251

 

 

$

1,654

 

 

$

623

 

Piping Systems

 

6,260

 

 

 

4,043

 

 

 

762

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

371

 

 

 

230

 

 

 

139

 

Corporate

 

666

 

 

 

388

 

 

 

226

 

Total Capital Expenditures

$

8,548

 

 

$

6,315

 

 

$

1,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filtration Products

$

1,332

 

 

$

1,194

 

 

$

1,214

 

Piping Systems

 

1,848

 

 

 

1,416

 

 

 

1,385

 

Industrial Process Cooling Equipment

 

413

 

 

 

357

 

 

 

357

 

Corporate

 

474

 

 

 

555

 

 

 

823

 

Total Depreciation and Amortization

$

4,067

 

 

$

3,522

 

 

$

3,779

 

 

 

46

 



 

 

Geographic Information

 

Net sales are attributed to a geographic area based on the destination of the product shipment. Long-lived assets are based on the physical location of the assets and consist of property, plant and equipment used in the generation of revenues in the geographic area.

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Net Sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

$

175,096

 

 

$

129,556

 

 

$

117,511

 

Asia

 

14,598

 

 

 

8,860

 

 

 

8,200

 

Europe

 

13,595

 

 

 

9,830

 

 

 

12,994

 

Canada

 

5,370

 

 

 

2,471

 

 

 

3,415

 

Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean

 

3,663

 

 

 

3,719

 

 

 

2,686

 

Africa

 

734

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

70

 

Other

 

415

 

 

 

151

 

 

 

220

 

Total Net Sales

$

213,471

 

 

$

154,587

 

 

$

145,096

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Lived Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

$

20,744

 

 

$

20,340

 

 

$

21,882

 

United Arab Emirates

 

7,603

 

 

 

3,445

 

 

 

-

 

Europe

 

5,011

 

 

 

4,535

 

 

 

3,918

 

South Africa

 

83

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total Long-Lived Assets

$

33,441

 

 

$

28,320

 

 

$

25,800

 

 

Note 11 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

A summary of annual supplemental cash flow information follows:

 

(In thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Cash Paid For:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes, net of (refunds) received

$

890

 

 

$

719

 

 

$

(207

)

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized

$

2,642

 

 

$

1,753

 

 

$

1,818

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncash Financing and Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets acquired under capital leases

$

372

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of a business for specified assets and
   assumption of specified liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase price and cash paid

$

304

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

Net liabilities assumed

$

25

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

Note 12 - Stock Options

 

Under the 2004 Stock Option Plan (“Option Plans”), 250,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance to key employees of the Company and its affiliates as well as certain advisors and consultants to the Company. In addition, under the 2004 Option Plan, the number of shares that may be issued shall be increased by an additional two percent of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company, beginning January 31, 2005. Option exercise prices will be no less than fair market value for the common stock on the date of grant. The options granted under the Option Plan may be either non-qualified options or incentive options. Such options vest ratably over four years and are exercisable for up to ten years from the date of grant.

 

Pursuant to the 2001 Independent Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”), an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock is granted automatically to each director who is not an employee of the Company (an “Independent Director”) on the date the individual is first elected as an Independent Director, an option to purchase

 

47

 



 

1,000 shares was granted to each Independent Director acting on December 31, 2001, and options to purchase 1,000 shares are granted to each Independent Director upon each date such Independent Director is re-elected as an Independent Director, commencing with the Company’s annual meeting for the year 2002.

 

The following summarizes the changes in options under the plans:

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Outstanding at beginning of year

 

 

733,596

 

 

$

4.22

 

 

688,380

 

 

$

3.62

 

 

1,017,950

 

$

3.44

Granted

 

 

109,500

 

 

 

10.075

 

 

101,600

 

 

 

7.61

 

 

4,000

 

 

3.31

Exercised

 

 

(253,772

)

 

 

4.58

 

 

(50,034

)

 

 

2.90

 

 

(303,757

)

 

3.08

Cancelled

 

 

(41,001

)

 

 

8.39

 

 

(6,350

)

 

 

3.49

 

 

(29,813

)

 

2.91

Outstanding at end of year

 

 

548,323

 

 

$

4.91

 

 

733,596

 

 

$

4.22

 

 

688,380

 

$

3.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at year-end

 

 

418,121

 

 

 

 

 

 

655,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

385,025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable 

Range of

Exercise

Prices

 

Number

Outstanding at

January 31, 2007

 

Weighted Average Remaining

Contractual Life

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 

Number

Outstanding at

January 31, 2007

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

$2.00-$2.99

 

 

100,635

 

 

5.9

 

$

2.16

 

 

79,133

 

$

2.16

$3.00-$3.99

 

 

259,388

 

 

5.0

 

 

3.12

 

 

257,388

 

 

3.12

$4.00-$4.99

 

 

8,400

 

 

3.1

 

 

4.11

 

 

8,400

 

 

4.11

$6.00-$6.99

 

 

1,000

 

 

0.2

 

 

6.94

 

 

1,000

 

 

6.94

$7.00-$7.99

 

 

71,700

 

 

8.4

 

 

7.61

 

 

71,700

 

 

7.61

$8.00-$8.99

 

 

500

 

 

1.2

 

 

8.10

 

 

500

 

 

8.10

$10.00-$10.99

 

 

106,700

 

 

9.4

 

 

10.08

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

548,323

 

 

6.4

 

$

4.91

 

 

418,121

 

$

3.74

 

Prior to February 1, 2006, the Company accounted for its equity-based awards in accordance with the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), and related interpretations, as permitted by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). The Company did not recognize stock-based compensation cost in its Consolidated Statement of Operations prior to February 1, 2006, since the options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the common stock on the grant date.

 

Effective February 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes compensation costs for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of February 1, 2006 based on the fair value at grant date estimated in accordance with SFAS 123. The Company has awarded 109,500 shares stock-based compensation to employees, officers or directors in June 2006. The stock-based compensation expense for the year ended January 31, 2007 was $138,420. In accordance with SFAS 123R, results for prior periods have not been restated.

 


The principal variable assumptions utilized in valuing options and the methodoligy for estimating such model inputs include: (1) risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the "Market yield on U.S. Treasury secrities at 7-year constant maturity, quoted on investment basis" for the end of week closetst to the stock option grant date, from the Federal Researve web site; (2) expected volatility - an estimtae based on the historical volatility of MFRI Common Stock's weekly closing stock price for the period 1/1/93 to the date of grant and (3) expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations.

 

48

 



 

 The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2006 (net of options surrendered), 2005 and 2004 are estimated at $5.99, $4.36 and $1.85, per share, respectively, on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Expected volatility

 

52.23

%

 

 

51.95

%

 

 

49.18

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

5.16

%

 

 

3.86

%

 

 

4.31

%

Dividend yield

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

Expected life in years

 

7.0

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

The effect on earnings and earnings per share if the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123R were applied to the year ending January 31, 2005 and 2004 is shown in the following table:

 

(In thousands except per share information)

2005

 

2004

 

Net income (loss) – as reported

$

531

 

 

$

2,813

 

 

Compensation cost under fair-market value-based accounting method,
   net of tax

$

(343

)

 

$

(221

)

 

Net income (loss) – pro forma

$

188

 

 

$

2,592

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted, as reported

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.56

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted, pro forma

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.52

 

 

Reported diluted EPS higher than pro forma diluted EPS

$

0.06

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

 

Note 13 - Stock Rights

 

On September 15, 1999, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a “Right”) for each share of MFRI’s common stock outstanding at the close of business on September 22, 1999. The stock issued after September 22, 1999 and before the redemption or expiration of the Rights is also entitled to one Right for each such additional share. Each Right entitles the registered holders, under certain circumstances, to purchase from the Company one share of MFRI’s common stock at $25.00, subject to adjustment. At no time will the Rights have any voting power.

 

The Rights may not be exercised until 10 days after a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company’s common stock, or announces a tender offer that, if consummated, would result in 15% or more ownership of the Company’s common stock. Separate Rights certificates will not be issued and the Rights will not be traded separately from the stock until then.

 

Should an acquirer become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company’s common stock, Rights holders other than the acquirer would have the right to buy common stock in MFRI, or in the surviving enterprise if MFRI is acquired, having a value of two times the exercise price then in effect. Also, MFRI’s Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than those of the acquirer which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of MFRI common stock (and/or other securities, cash or other assets having equal value) per Right subject to adjustment. The Rights described in this paragraph and the preceding paragraph shall not apply to an acquisition, merger or consolidation approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Rights will expire on September 15, 2009, unless exchanged or redeemed prior to that date. The redemption price is $0.01 per Right. MFRI’s Board of Directors may redeem the Rights by a majority vote at any time prior to the 20th day following public announcement that a person or group has acquired 15% of MFRI’s common stock. Under certain circumstances, the decision to redeem requires the concurrence of a majority of the independent directors.

 

 

49

 



 

 

Note 14 - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years 2006 and 2005:

 

 

2006

(In thousands except per share information)

First

Quarter

 

Second

Quarter

 

Third

Quarter

 

Fourth

Quarter

Net Sales

$

46,932

 

 

$

53,542

 

 

$

64,182

 

 

$

48,815

 

Gross Profit

 

9,805

 

 

 

12,521

 

 

 

14,367

 

 

 

7,712

 

Net income (loss)

 

151

 

 

 

2,314

 

 

 

2,720

 

 

 

(592

)

Weighted average number of common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding – basic

 

5,281

 

 

 

5,306

 

 

 

5,381

 

 

 

5,464

 

Outstanding – diluted

 

5,662

 

 

 

5,710

 

 

 

5,677

 

 

 

5,761

 

Per Share Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) – basic

$

0.03

 

 

 

0.44

 

 

 

0.51

 

 

$

(0.12

)

Net income (loss) - diluted

$

0.03

 

 

 

0.41

 

 

 

0.48

 

 

$

(0.10

)

 

 

2005

(In thousands except per share information)

First

Quarter

 

Second

Quarter

 

Third

Quarter

 

Fourth

Quarter

Net Sales

$

36,202

 

 

$

40,691

 

 

$

39,384

 

 

$

38,310

 

Gross Profit

 

7,867

 

 

 

9,074

 

 

 

9,163

 

 

 

6,582

 

Net income (loss)

 

218

 

 

 

619

 

 

 

788

 

 

 

(1,094

)

Weighted average number of common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding – basic

 

5,234

 

 

 

5,252

 

 

 

5,262

 

 

 

5,267

 

Outstanding – diluted

 

5,623

 

 

 

5,606

 

 

 

5,596

 

 

 

5,541

 

Per Share Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) – basic

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.12

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

$

(0.21

)

Net income (loss) - diluted

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.11

 

 

$

0.14

 

 

$

(0.19

)

 

 

Note 15 - Product Warranties

 

The Company issues a standard warranty with the sale of its products and sells extended warranty contracts to customers. The Company’s recognition of warranty liability is based, generally, on analyses of warranty claims experiences in the operating units in the preceding years. Changes in the warranty liability in 2006, 2005 and 2004 are summarized below:

 

(in thousands)

2006

 

2005

 

2004

Aggregate product warranty liability at beginning of year

$

827

 

 

 

738

 

 

$

630

 

Aggregate accruals related to product warranties

 

1,996

 

 

 

907

 

 

 

451

 

Aggregate reductions for payments

 

(1,535

)

 

 

(802

)

 

 

(387

)

Aggregate changes for pre-existing warranties

 

(29

)

 

 

(16

)

 

 

44

 

Aggregate product warranty liability at end of year

$

1,259

 

 

$

827

 

 

$

738

 

 

Note 16 - Subsequent Event

 

Subsequent to 2006 year end in February 2007, the Company sold 1,003,000 shares of common stock at a price of $18.50 per share pursuant to the Company’s existing shelf registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The net proceeds of $18,253,000 from a private placement of common stock were utilized to pay down the revolving line of credit. As a result, increased revolving line of credit borrowing capacity is available to finance future general business needs.

  

50

 



 

Schedule II

MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

For the Years Ended January 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

In Thousands

Description

 

Balance at Beginning

of Period

 

Charged to Costs and Expenses

 

Deductions from Reserves (1)

 

Recoveries from previous accounts charged off (2)

 

 

Balance at End

of Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended January 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables

 

$

504

 

$

141

 

$

340

 

$

47

 

$

352

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended January 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables

 

$

482

 

$

91

 

$

142

 

$

73

 

$

504

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended January 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for possible losses

in collection of trade receivables

 

$

557

 

$

189

 

$

264

 

$

-

 

$

482

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Uncollectible accounts charged off

 

(2)

Recoveries from accounts previously charged off

 

51

 



 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

MFRI, INC.

 

Date:

April 20, 2007

/s/ David Unger

 

 

David Unger

 

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors, and

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

DAVID UNGER*

 

Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

)

)

)

 

 

 

 

)

 

HENRY M. MAUTNER*

 

Director

)

 

 

 

 

)

 

BRADLEY E. MAUTNER*

 

Director and President

)

 

 

 

 

)

 

MICHAEL D. BENNETT*

 

Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

)

)

April 18, 2007

 

 

 

)

 

ARNOLD F. BROOKSTONE*

 

Director

)

 

 

 

 

)

 

EUGENE MILLER*

 

Director

)

 

 

 

 

)

 

STEPHEN B. SCHWARTZ*

 

Director

)

 

 

 

 

)

 

DENNIS KESSLER*

 

Director

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*By:

/s/ David Unger

 

Individually and as Attorney in Fact

 

 

 

David Unger

 

 

 

 

                

 

52

 



 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3(i)

 

Certificate of Incorporation of MFRI, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Registration Statement No. 33-70298]

3(ii)

 

By-Laws of MFRI, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement No. 33-70298]

4

 

Specimen Common Stock Certificate [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 33-70794]

10(a)

 

1993 Stock Option Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Registration Statement No. 33-70794]

10(b)

 

1994 Stock Option Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994 (SEC File No. 0-18370)]

10(c)

 

2001 Independent Directors Stock Option Plan, as amended [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d)(5) to the Company’s Schedule TO filed on May 25, 2001 (SEC File No. 0-18370)]

10(d)

 

Form of Directors Indemnification Agreement

10(e)

 

MFRI 2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 (SEC File No. 0-18370)]

10(f)

 

Loan and Security Agreement between the Company and Fleet Capital Corporation dated July 11, 2002 and the amendments thereto dated October 3, 2002, December 12, 2002, April 30, 2003, October 31, 2003, July 1, 2004 and March 28, 2005. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 (SEC File No. 0-18370)]

10(g)

 

Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement between the Company and Bank of America dated December 15, 2006

14

 

Code of Conduct [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 (SEC File No. 0-18370)]

21*

 

Subsidiaries of MFRI, Inc.

23*

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Grant Thornton LLP

24*

 

Power of Attorney executed by directors and officers of the Company

31*

 

Rule 13a – 14(a)/15d – 14(a) Certifications

(1)  Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(2)  Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32*

 

Section 1350 Certifications

(1)  Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(2)  Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

* Filed herewith

 

 

53