Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2021 July (Form 10-Q)

 

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2021

 

☐	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. 001-32530

 

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware	36-3922969
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
6410 W. Howard Street, 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:

 

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share	PPIH	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  Large accelerated filer ☐   Accelerated filer ☐   Non-accelerated filer ☐   Smaller reporting company ☒   Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒

 

On September 3, 2021, there were 8,144,404 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Note: Earnings per share calculations could be impacted by rounding.

PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

July 31, 2021

(Tabular amounts presented in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 1 - Basis of presentation

The interim consolidated financial statements of Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc., and subsidiaries (collectively, "PPIH", "Company", or "Registrant") are unaudited, but include all adjustments that the Company's management considers necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. These adjustments consist of normal recurring adjustments. Information and footnote disclosures have been omitted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules and regulations. The consolidated balance sheet as of  January 31, 2021 is derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of future or annual results. Interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 2021 and 2020 are for the three and six months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020, and for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Note 2 - Business segment reporting

The Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in one segment: Piping Systems. The Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping systems, and leak detection systems. Specialty piping systems include: (i) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution from central energy plants to multiple locations, (ii) primary and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, and (iii) the coating and/or insulation of oil and gas gathering and transmission pipelines. The Company's leak detection systems are sold with its piping systems or 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.

Note 3 - Accounts receivable

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. In the U.S., collateral is not generally required. In the United Arab Emirates (the "U.A.E.") and Saudi Arabia, letters of credit are usually obtained for significant orders. 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 is based on specifically identified amounts in customers' accounts, where future collectability is deemed uncertain. Management may exercise its judgment in adjusting the provision as a consequence of known items, such as current economic factors and credit trends. Past due trade accounts receivable balances are written off when the Company's collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due and the amount is deemed uncollectible. The write-off is recorded against the allowance for doubtful accounts. 

One of the Company’s accounts receivable in the total amount of $3.7 million as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively, has been outstanding for several years. Included in this balance is a retention receivable that is payable upon the commissioning of the system in the amount of $3.4 million, of which, due to the long-term nature of the receivable, $2.1 million was included in the balance of other long-term assets as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively. The Company completed all of its deliverables in 2015 under the related contract, but the system has not yet been commissioned by the customer. Nevertheless, the Company has been engaged in ongoing active efforts to collect this outstanding amount. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company received approximately $0.1 million from the customer and additional receipts are expected throughout the rest of 2021. The Company continues to engage with the customer to ensure full payment of open balances, and during August 2021 received an updated acknowledgment of the outstanding balances and assurances of payment from the customer. As a result, the Company did not reserve any allowance against this receivable as of July 31, 2021. However, if the Company’s efforts to collect on this account are not successful, the Company may recognize an allowance for all, or substantially all, of any such then uncollected amounts. 

For the three months ended  July 31, 2021, one individual customer accounted for 12% of the Company’s consolidated net sales, and during the same period in 2020, no individual customer accounted for greater than 10% of the Company's consolidated net sales. For the six months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020, no individual customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's consolidated net sales.

As of  July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, two customers accounted for 22% and no one customer accounted for greater than 10% of the Company's accounts receivable, respectively. 

Note 4 - Revenue recognition 

The Company accounts for its revenues under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers".

Revenue from contracts with customers:

The Company defines a contract as an agreement that has approval and commitment from both parties, defined rights and identifiable payment terms, which ensures the contract has commercial substance and that collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company’s standard revenue transactions are classified into two main categories:

In accordance with ASC 606-10-25-27 through 29, the Company recognizes specialty piping and coating systems revenue over time as the manufacturing process progresses because one of the following conditions exist:

 Products revenue is recognized when goods are shipped or services are performed (ASC 606-10-25-30).

A breakdown of the Company's revenues by revenue class for the three and six months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

The input method, as noted in ASC 606-10-55-20, is used by the U.S. operating entities to measure revenue by the costs incurred to date relative to the estimated costs to satisfy the contract over time. Generally, these contracts are considered a single performance obligation satisfied over time and due to the custom nature of the goods and services, the input method is the most faithful depiction of the Company’s performance as it measures the value of the goods and services transferred to the customer. Costs include all material, labor and direct costs incurred to satisfy the performance obligations of the contract. Revenue recognition begins when projects costs are incurred. 

The output method, as noted in ASC 606-10-55-17, is used by all other operating entities to measure revenue by the direct measurement of the outputs produced relative to the remaining goods promised under the contract. Due to the types of end customers, generally these contracts require formal inspection protocols or specific export documentation for units produced, or produced and shipped, therefore, the output method is the most faithful depiction of the Company’s performance. Depending on the conditions of the contract, revenue may be recognized based on units produced, inspected and held by the Company prior to shipment or on units produced, inspected and shipped. 

Some of the Company’s operating entities invoice and collect milestones or other contractual obligations prior to the transfer of goods and services, but do not recognize revenue until the performance obligations are satisfied under the methods discussed above. 

Contract modifications that occur prior to the start of the manufacturing process will supersede the original contract and revenue is recognized using the modified contract value. Contract modifications that occur during the manufacturing process (changes in scope of work, job performance, material costs, and/or final contract settlements) are recognized in the period in which the revisions are known. Provisions for losses on uncompleted contracts are made in contract liabilities account in the period such losses are identified.

Contract assets and liabilities:

Contract assets represent revenue recognized in excess of amounts billed (unbilled receivables) for contract work in progress for which the Company has a valid contract and an enforceable right to payment for work completed. Contract liabilities represent billings in excess of costs (unearned revenue) for contract work in progress for which the Company has a valid contract and an enforceable right to payment for work completed. Both customer billings and the satisfaction (or partial satisfaction) of the performance obligation(s) occur throughout the manufacturing process and impacts the period end balances in these accounts.

The Company anticipates that substantially all costs incurred for uncompleted contracts as of  July 31, 2021 will be billed and collected within one year.

During the year ended  January 31, 2021, one of the Company's customers in Qatar made a call on a performance bond held to secure one of the Company's contracts. The Company believes the customer's claims of non-performance under the contract are invalid and that the customer's actions were themselves a breach of the contract. The Company has engaged local counsel to seek reimbursement as well as additional compensation for lost profits suffered as a result of cancellation of certain work orders under the contract. The Company has recorded the expense related to the encashment of approximately $0.6 million in other income in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended January 31, 2021. No receivable has been recorded related to the potential reimbursement in the consolidated financial statements as of July 31, 2021.

The following table shows the reconciliation of the cost in excess of billings: 

Substantially all of the $1.2 million contract liabilities balance as of January 31, 2020 was recognized in revenues during 2020 and substantially all of the $0.8 million contract liabilities balance as of January 31, 2021 is expected to be recognized in revenues during 2021.

Additionally, included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet, the Company has recorded $3.4 million and $0.2 million of unbilled receivables as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively, from revenues generated by its Middle East subsidiaries.

Practical expedients:

Costs to obtain a contract are not considered project costs as they are not usually incremental, nor does job duration span more than one year. The Company applies the practical expedient for these types of costs and as such are expensed in the period incurred.

As the Company's contracts are less than one year, the Company has applied the practical expedient regarding disclosure of the aggregate amount and future timing of performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied as of the end of the reporting period.

Note 5 - Income taxes 

The determination of the consolidated provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances requires management to make judgments and estimates. As a company with subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions, the process of calculating income taxes involves estimating current tax obligations and exposures in each jurisdiction as well as making judgments regarding the future recoverability of deferred tax assets. Income earned in the UAE is not subject to local country income tax. Additionally, the relative proportion of taxable income earned domestically versus internationally can fluctuate significantly from period to period. Changes in the estimated level of annual pre-tax income, tax laws and the results of tax audits can affect the overall effective income tax rate, which impacts the level of income tax expense and net income. Judgments and estimates related to the Company's projections and assumptions are inherently uncertain; therefore, actual results could differ materially from projections. 

The Company's effective tax rate ("ETR") from operations in the second quarter in fiscal 2021 was 20.1% compared to (56.8%) during the prior year quarter. The Company's worldwide ETR's were 28.5% and 12.3% in the current year-to-date and the prior year year-to-date, respectively. The change in the ETR from the prior year to the current year is largely due to changes in the mix of income and loss in various jurisdictions.

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties at July 31, 2021, recorded in other long-term liabilities was $0.1 million, all of which would impact the Company’s ETR if recognized.

Note 6 - Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company's assessment of long-lived assets, and other identifiable intangibles is based upon factors that market participants would use in accordance with the accounting guidance for the fair value measurement of assets. At July 31, 2021, the Company performed a qualitative analysis assessment to determine if it was more likely than not that the fair values of the Company's long-lived assets exceeded their carrying values. The Company assessed three asset groups as part of this analysis: United States, Canada and Middle East. The qualitative assessment indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair values of the Company's long-lived assets exceeded their carrying values for all three asset groups. Therefore, it was determined that there was no impairment of the Company's long-lived assets for the three and six months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company will continue testing for potential impairment at least annually or as otherwise required by applicable accounting standards.

Goodwill. The purchase price of an acquired company is allocated between intangible assets and the net tangible assets of the acquired business with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. All identifiable goodwill as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021 was attributable to the purchase of Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd., which occurred in 2016.

The Company performs an impairment assessment of goodwill annually as of January 31, or more frequently if triggering events occur, based on the estimated fair value of the related reporting unit or intangible asset. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. At July 31, 2021, the Company elected to perform a qualitative analysis assessment to determine if it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Company's Canadian reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, including goodwill. The qualitative assessment did not identify any triggering events that would indicate potential impairment of the Company's Canadian reporting unit. Therefore, it was determined that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, resulting in no impairment for the three and six months ended July 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company will continue testing for potential impairment at least annually or as otherwise required by applicable accounting standards.

Note 7 - Stock-based compensation 

The Company’s 2017 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan dated June 13, 2017, as amended, which the Company's stockholders approved in June 2017 ("2017 Plan"), expired in June 2020. 

The Company has prior incentive plans under which previously granted awards remain outstanding, including the 2017 Plan, but under which no new awards may be granted. At July 31, 2021 the Company had reserved a total of 433,119 shares for grants and issuances under these incentive stock plans, which includes a reserve for issuances pursuant to unvested or unexercised prior awards.

While the 2017 Plan provided for the grant of deferred shares, non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, and performance-based restricted stock units intended to qualify under section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company issued only restricted shares and restricted stock units under the 2017 Plan. The 2017 Plan authorized awards to officers, employees, consultants and independent directors.

The Company's 2021 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan dated May 26, 2021 was approved by the Company's stockholders in May 2021 ("2021 Plan"). The 2021 Plan will expire in May 2024. The 2021 Plan authorizes awards to officers, employees, consultants and independent directors. Grants were made to the Company's employees, officers and independent directors under the 2021 Plan, as described below.

Stock-based compensation expense

The Company has granted stock-based compensation awards to eligible employees, officers or independent directors. The following were the Company's stock-based compensation expenses for the periods presented:

Stock Options

The Company did not grant any stock options during the three or six months ended July 31, 2021. The following tables summarizes the Company's stock option activity:

No stock options were exercised during the six months ended July 31, 2021. 

There was no vesting, expiration or forfeiture of previously unvested stock options during the six months ended July 31, 2021. As of July 31, 2021, there were no remaining unvested stock options outstanding, and therefore no unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options.

Restricted stock

The following table summarizes the Company's restricted stock activity for the six months ended July 31, 2021:

As of July 31, 2021, there was $1.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock granted under the plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

Note 8 - Earnings/(loss) per share

Note 9 - Debt

Debt totaled $8.6 million and $13.2 million at July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively.

Paycheck Protection Program Loan. On May 1, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement under the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") and received proceeds of approximately $3.2 million. Interest on the loan accrued at a fixed interest rate of 1.0%, and the loan had a maturity date of April 28, 2022. Under Section 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), borrowers are eligible for forgiveness of principal and accrued interest on the loans to the extent that the proceeds are used to cover eligible payroll costs, mortgage interest costs, rent and utility costs, otherwise described as qualified expenses. During the three months ended  July 31, 2020, the Company used all of the PPP loan proceeds to pay for qualified expenses, 100% of which were used for payroll related expenses.  The Company submitted its application and supporting documentation for forgiveness to its bank, which submitted the application and supporting documents to the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). On June 24, 2021, the Company was notified by its lender that its PPP loan had been forgiven by the SBA. 

Guidance from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' ("AICPA") Technical Question and Answer Section 3200.18 states that if a company expects to meet the PPP’s eligibility criteria and concludes that the PPP loan represents, in substance, a grant that is expected to be forgiven, it may analogize to International Accounting Standards ("IAS") 20 - Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance to account for the PPP loan. The Company has recognized the earnings impact on a systematic basis over the periods in which the Company recognized as expenses the related costs for which the grants were intended to compensate. We noted that all of these expenses, and thus the related earnings impact, were incurred during the year ended January 31, 2021.

The IAS 20 guidance allows for recognition in earnings either separately under a general heading such as other income, or as a reduction of the related expenses. The Company has elected the former option, to make a more clear distinction in its financial statements between its operating income and the amount of net income resulting from the PPP loan and subsequent forgiveness. As such, we have recognized the proceeds in earnings during the year ended January 31, 2021. The amounts were recognized in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. 

Revolving lines - North America. On September 20, 2018, the Company and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (collectively, together with the Company, the “North American Loan Parties”) entered into a Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC"), as administrative agent and lender, providing for a three-year $18.0 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Senior Credit Facility”).

The Company has used proceeds from the Senior Credit Facility for on-going working capital needs, and expects to continue using this facility to fund future capital expenditures, working capital needs and other corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to an alternate base rate or London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on average quarterly undrawn availability with respect to the Senior Credit Facility.  Interest on alternate base rate borrowings are generally payable monthly in arrears and interest on LIBOR borrowings are generally payable in arrears on the last day of each interest period.  Additionally, the Company is required to pay a 0.375% per annum facility fee on the unused portion of the Senior Credit Facility.  The facility fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

Subject to certain exceptions, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of the assets of its North American subsidiaries. The North American Loan Parties’ obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are guaranteed by Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on September 20, 2021. The Company has engaged a consultant to assist with the search for, communication with and selection of a new lender or a replacement facility with PNC. We have been in communications and shared data with PNC and others. The Company expects to negotiate a renewal to or replacement for its existing credit facility prior to maturity.

Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the North American Loan Parties’ ability to create liens, merge or consolidate, consummate acquisitions, make investments, dispose of assets, incur debt, and pay dividends and other distributions. In addition, the North American Loan Parties cannot allow capital expenditures to exceed $3.0 million annually (plus a limited carryover of unused amounts).

The Senior Credit Facility also contains financial covenants requiring (i) the North America Loan Parties to achieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and interest payments on the advances under the Senior Credit Facility (excluding from the calculation items related to the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) ("fixed charge coverage ratio") to be not less than 1.10 to 1.00  at each quarter end on a trailing four-quarter basis; and (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries (including the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) to achieve a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00 at each quarter end on a trailing four-quarter basis.

As of October 31, 2020, the Company and its subsidiaries failed to achieve the necessary fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 for the trailing four-quarters ended October 31, 2020 under its Credit Agreement for both the North American Loan Parties and the Company and its subsidiaries. On December 18, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment and Waiver to the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (“Amendment and Waiver”) with PNC, which (i) reflected PNC’s waiver of the Company’s failure to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 as of October 31, 2020 on a trailing four quarter basis as required under the Company’s Credit Agreement and (ii) further amended certain future fixed charge coverage ratio covenants requirements under the Credit Agreement as described below.  Additionally, the Company was also required to have received, and applied to reduce the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement, $1.0 million from one of its foreign subsidiaries, Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC, in the UAE. The transfer and repayment occurred on December 17, 2020 and did not cause the Company to incur any additional fees or taxes, nor did it force the Company to change any of its assertions with regards to permanent reinvestment in any of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company will incur additional fees over the remainder of the Amendment and Waiver of approximately $0.1 million. The Amendment and Waiver also eliminates the Company’s ability to make LIBOR borrowings and reduces the overall availability by $2.0 million until maturity. 

The amended fixed charge coverage ratio requirements for the Company and its subsidiaries under the Amendment and Waiver are 1.25 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending July 31, 2021. The amended fixed charge coverage ratio requirements for the North American Loan Parties under the Amendment and Waiver are 1.10 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending July 31, 2021.  In order to cure any future breach of the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant by the North American Loan Parties, the Company may repatriate cash from any of its foreign subsidiaries that are otherwise not a party to the Credit Agreement in an amount which, when added to the amount of the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA, would result in pro forma compliance with the covenant. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of July 31, 2021.

As of July 31, 2021, the Company had $3 thousand in borrowings and had $10.3 million available under the Senior Credit Facility, before application of the $2.0 million availability block noted above in connection with the Amendment and Waiver. As of January 31, 2021, the Company had borrowed an aggregate of $2.8 million and had $1.7 million available under the Senior Credit Facility.

Finance obligation - buildings and land. On April 14, 2021, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the "Purchase and Sale Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Company sold its land and buildings in Lebanon, Tennessee (the "Property") for a purchase price of $10.4 million. The transaction generated net cash proceeds of $9.1 million, following the release of the escrowed amount in June 2021 discussed below. The Company used a portion of the proceeds to repay its borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The Company expects to use its liquidity for strategic investments and general corporate needs. Concurrent with the sale of the Property, the Company entered into a fifteen-year lease agreement (the “Lease Agreement”), whereby the Company will lease back the Property at an annual rental rate of approximately $0.8 million, subject to annual rent increases of 2.0%. Under the Lease Agreement, the Company has four consecutive options to extend the term of the lease by five years for each such option.

In accordance with ASC Topic 842, "Leases", this transaction was recorded as a failed sale and leaseback as the present value of lease payments exceeded substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset. The Company utilized an incremental borrowing rate of 8.0% to determine the finance obligation to record for the amounts received and will continue to depreciate the assets. The current portion of the finance obligation of $0.1 million is recognized in current maturities of long-term debt and the long-term portion of $9.4 million is recognized in long-term finance obligation on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2021. The net carrying amount of the financial liability and remaining assets will be zero at the end of the lease term. Concurrently with the sale, the Company paid off the approximately $0.9 million mortgage note on the Property to its lender. At closing, $0.4 million was placed in a short-term escrow account to cover certain post-closing contingencies that may arise. The contingencies were resolved in May 2021 and the Company received the escrowed funds in June 2021.

Revolving lines - foreign. The Company also has credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries in the U.A.E. and Egypt as discussed further below.

The Company has a revolving line for 8.0 million Dirhams (approximately $2.2 million at July 31, 2021) from a bank in the U.A.E. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 3.58% and was originally set to expire in  November 2020, however, the expiration was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and inability to finalize renewal documentation prior to that time. The Company has submitted final documentation to complete the renewal process, and is awaiting official notification from the bank of the renewal completion. This process is expected to be completed in September 2021.

The Company has a second revolving line for 19.5 million Dirhams (approximately $5.3 million at July 31, 2021) from a bank in the U.A.E. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 4.5% and is set to expire in  January 2022.

The Company has a third revolving line for 3.0 million Dirhams (approximately $0.8 million at July 31, 2021) from a bank in the U.A.E. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 4.5% and is set to expire in  January 2022.

These credit arrangements are in the form of overdraft facilities and project financing at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. The lines are secured by certain equipment, certain assets (such as accounts receivable and inventory), and a guarantee by the Company. Some credit arrangement covenants require a minimum tangible net worth to be maintained, including maintaining certain levels of intercompany subordinated debt. In addition, some of the revolving credit facilities restrict payment of dividends or undertaking of additional debt.

In June 2021, the Company's Egyptian subsidiary entered into a credit arrangement with a bank in Egypt for a revolving line of 100.0 million Egyptian Pounds (approximately $6.2 million at July 31, 2021). This credit arrangement is in the form of project financing at rates competitive in Egypt. The line was secured by certain assets (such as accounts receivable) of the Company's Egyptian subsidiary. Among other covenants, the credit arrangement established a maximum leverage ratio allowable and restricted the Company's Egyptian subsidiary's ability to undertake any additional debt. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 11.0% and is set to expire in August 2022.

In January 2021, the Company entered into a second credit arrangement for project financing with a bank in Egypt for 46.2 million Egyptian Pounds (approximately $2.9 million at July 31, 2021). This credit arrangement is in the form of project financing at rates competitive in Egypt. The line is secured by the contract for a project being financed by the Company's Egyptian subsidiary. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 8.0% and is expected to expire in September 2021 in connection with the completion of the project.

The Company’s credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries renew on an annual basis. The Company guarantees the subsidiaries' debt including all foreign debt.

The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the credit arrangements in the U.A.E. and Egypt as of July 31, 2021. On July 31, 2021, interest rates were based on the Emirates Inter Bank Offered Rate plus 3.0% to 3.5% per annum for the U.A.E. credit arrangements, two of which have a minimum interest rate of 4.5% per annum, and based on the stated interest rate in the agreement for the Egypt credit arrangement. Based on these base rates, as of July 31, 2021, the Company's interest rates ranged from 3.57% to 8.0%, with a weighted average rate of 5.89%, and the Company had facility limits totaling $17.6 million under these credit arrangements. As of July 31, 2021, $5.1 million of availability was used to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases and for performance guarantees. Additionally, as of July 31, 2021, the Company had borrowed $2.5 million, and had an additional $10.1 million of borrowing remaining available under the foreign revolving credit arrangements. The foreign revolving lines balances as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, were included as current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

Mortgages. On July 28, 2016, the Company borrowed CAD 8.0 million (approximately $6.1 million at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a bank in Canada under a mortgage note secured by the Company's manufacturing facility located in Alberta, Canada that matures on December 23, 2042. The interest rate is variable, and was 4.55% at July 31, 2021. Principal payments began in January 2018.

On June 19, 2012, the Company borrowed $1.8 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. The proceeds were used for repayment of amounts borrowed. On April 14, 2021, the Company entered into the Purchase and Sale Agreement, discussed further in Note 9 - Debt, above. Concurrently with the sale, the Company paid off the approximately $0.9 million remaining on the mortgage note on the Property to its lender.

Note 10 - Leases

Operating Leases. In August 2020, the Company entered into a new lease in Abu Dhabi for land upon which the Company intends to build a facility. The annual payments are initially expected to be approximately 1.2 million Dirhams (approximately $0.3 million at October 31, 2020), inclusive of rent and common charges, with escalation clauses in the agreement. Rent payments are deferred until August 2022. The lease expires in August 2050.

Finance Leases. In 2019, the Company obtained two finance leases for a total of CAD 1.1 million (approximately $0.8 million at the prevailing exchange rates on the transaction dates) to finance vehicle equipment. The interest rates for these finance leases were 8.0% per annum with monthly principal and interest payments of less than $0.1 million. These leases mature in August 2023.  In 2017, the Company obtained three finance leases for a total of CAD 1.1 million (approximately $0.8 million at the prevailing exchange rates on the transaction dates) to finance vehicle equipment. The interest rates for these finance leases range from 4.0% to 7.8% per annum with monthly principal and interest payments of less than $0.1 million. Two of these leases matured in April 2021 and new leases have been entered into in May 2021 to replace the matured leases. The remaining lease matures in September 2022.

The Company has several significant operating lease agreements, with lease terms of one to 30 years, which consist of real estate, vehicles and office equipment leases. These leases do not require any contingent rental payments, impose any financial restrictions or contain any residual value guarantees.  Certain of the Company’s leases include renewal options and escalation clauses; renewal options have not been included in the calculation of the lease liabilities and right-of-use ("ROU") assets as the Company is not reasonably certain to exercise the options.  Variable expenses generally represent the Company’s share of the landlord’s operating expenses.  The Company does not have any arrangements where it acts as a lessor, other than one sub-lease arrangement. 

At July 31, 2021, the Company had total operating lease liabilities of $13.3 million and total operating ROU assets of $11.8 million, which are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet. At July 31, 2021, the Company also had total finance lease liabilities of $0.7 million included in current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt less current maturities, and total finance ROU assets of $0.9 million which were included in property plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation in the consolidated balance sheet.

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows (in thousands): 

Total lease costs consist of the following (in thousands): 

(1) Includes variable lease costs, which are immaterial

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows (in thousands):

Weighted-average lease terms and discount rates are as follows: 

Maturities of lease liabilities as of July 31, 2021, are as follows (in thousands):

Rent expense on operating leases, which is recorded on straight-line basis, was $0.7 million for the three months ended  July 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 

Note 11 - Restricted cash

Restricted cash held by foreign subsidiaries was $1.2 million as of July 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and is related to fixed deposits that also serve as security deposits and guarantees. 

Note 12 - Fair value

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. The carrying amount of the Company's short-term debt, revolving line of credit and long-term debt approximate fair value because the majority of the amounts outstanding accrue interest at variable market rates.

Note 13 - Recent accounting pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides guidance designed to provide relief from the accounting analysis and impacts that may otherwise be required for modifications to agreements necessitated by the scheduled discontinuation of LIBOR on December 31, 2021. It also provides optional expedients to enable companies to continue to apply hedge accounting to certain hedging relationships impacted by reference rate reform. The ASU provides the option to account for and present a modification that meets the scope of the standard as an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date or reassessment of a previous accounting determination required under the relevant topic or subtopic. This ASU is effective for all entities; however, application of the guidance is optional, is only available in certain situations and is only available for companies to apply from March 12, 2020 until December 31, 2022. The Company's Senior Credit Facility which matures on September 20, 2021 bears interest using an alternate base rate or LIBOR plus an applicable margin.  Based on the maturity of the Senior Credit Facility prior to the discontinuation of LIBOR, the Company does not expect a material impact from the adoption of this standard on the financial statements of the Company.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new guidance affects loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. A recently adopted amendment has delayed the effective date until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating this standard and the impact to the financial statements of the Company. 

The Company evaluated other recent accounting pronouncements and does not expect them to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

The statements contained under the caption MD&A and other information contained elsewhere in this quarterly 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 as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, those under the heading Item 1A. Risk Factors included in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, contained elsewhere in this report. Percentages set forth below in the MD&A have been rounded to the nearest percentage point, and may not exactly correspond to the comparative data presented.

COVID-19 and Depressed Oil and Gas Market Impact

The Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flow in 2020 and the three months ended April 30, 2021 were materially adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the depressed market prices for oil and gas, and may continue to be materially adversely affected, the extent to which remains unclear at this time. See Item 1A. Risk Factors included in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

As of the date of filing this Form 10-Q, all of the Company’s plants are operating. The Company's global supply chains have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the winter weather events in the Gulf Coast region. The Company is taking steps to ensure continuity of supply. Due to the unprecedented actions taken to stem the spread of the virus and the uncertainty of the duration and impact of additional actions that may be required, the resulting future disruptions to the Company’s operations are uncertain.

In response to the factors noted above that negatively impacted our business in 2020 and early 2021, the Company has updated its forecasts more frequently to determine the continuing financial impact of these events on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. As a result of the anticipated conditions, the Company reduced headcount, planned capital expenditures and non-essential operating expenses. 

On May 1, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement under the PPP and received proceeds of approximately $3.2 million. Interest on the loan accrued at a fixed interest rate of 1.0%. Under Section 1106 of the CARES Act, borrowers are eligible for forgiveness of principal and accrued interest on the loans to the extent that the proceeds are used to cover eligible payroll costs, mortgage interest costs, rent and utility costs, otherwise described as qualified expenses. During the three months ended July 31, 2020, the Company used all of the PPP loan proceeds to pay for qualified expenses, 100% of which were used for payroll related expenses.  The Company submitted its application and supporting documentation for forgiveness to its bank, which submitted the application and supporting documents to the Small Business Administration ("SBA").

Based on the facts and circumstances of the Company's PPP loan and according to the applicable accounting guidance described herein, the Company has elected to account for the PPP loan proceeds as a grant that has reasonable assurance of being forgiven. As such, the Company recognized the proceeds in earnings during the year ended January 31, 2021. The amounts were recognized in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. On June 24, 2021, the Company was notified by its lender that its PPP loan had been forgiven by the SBA. 

Beginning in April 2020, the Company's subsidiary, Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. ("PPCA"), applied for relief in the form of grants from the Canadian government under the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") program. Based on the program rules, the grants are applied for each month and are granted based on the amount of eligible employee expenses incurred over the previous month. Beginning in October 2020, PPCA also applied for grants under the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy ("CERS") program. PPCA was approved for and received approximately $0.6 million and $0.1 million in grants under the CEWS and CERS programs, respectively, during the six months ended July 31, 2021. Both programs are expected to continue through September 2021. PPCA plans to apply for additional grants under the program, however there is no guarantee that PPCA will be granted any additional funds under the program. The proceeds from the CEWS and CERS programs are recognized in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in one reportable segment. Since the Company focuses on large discrete projects, operating results are significantly impacted as a result of large variations in the level of project activity in reporting periods.

Three months ended July 31, 2021 ("current quarter") vs. Three months ended July 31, 2020 ("prior year quarter")

Net sales:

Net sales were $39.8 million in the current quarter, an increase of $19.4 million, or 95%, from $20.4 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was a result of increased sales volumes in both North America and the Middle East due to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company's U.A.E. business benefitted from the introduction of a new product line. 

Gross profit:

Gross profit increased to $10.7 million, or 27% of net sales, in the current quarter from $2.4 million, or 12% of net sales, in the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by higher sales volumes and project mix.

General and administrative expenses:

General and administrative expenses increased $1.1 million, or 25%, from the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by personnel related expense increases corresponding to the business activity increases during the period. 

Selling expenses:

Selling expenses decreased to $1.1 million in the current quarter, compared to $1.3 million in the prior year quarter due primarily to organizational changes in the roles of certain corporate employees. 

Interest expense, net:

Net interest expense increased to $0.3 million in the current quarter from $0.1 million in the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily related to the sale leaseback transaction for our operating facility in Tennessee entered into in April 2021. 

Other income, net:

Other income, net decreased to an income of $0.5 million in the current quarter, compared to income of $3.7 million in the prior year quarter. This decrease was a result of income recorded in the prior year quarter for funds received under the PPP program of $3.2 million.

Income from operations before income taxes:

Income from operations before income taxes increased by $4.1 million to $4.3 million in the current quarter from $0.2 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was a result of increased sales volumes in both North America and the Middle East due to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company's U.A.E. business benefitted from the introduction of a new product line. 

Income tax expense/(benefit):

The Company's worldwide effective tax rates ("ETR") were 20.1% and (56.8%) in the current quarter and the prior year quarter, respectively. The change in the ETR from the prior year quarter to the current year quarter is largely due to changes in the mix of income and loss in various jurisdictions.

The Company expects that future distributions from foreign subsidiaries will not be subject to incremental U.S. federal tax as they will either be remittances of previously taxed earnings and profits or eligible for a full dividends-received deduction. Current and future earnings in the Company's subsidiaries in Canada and Egypt are not permanently reinvested, and earnings in its Indian subsidiary are partially permanently reinvested. The earnings from these subsidiaries will be subject to tax in their local jurisdiction, and the impact of Indian, Canadian and Egyptian withholding taxes will be recorded. As such, the Company has accrued a liability of $0.5 million as of July 31, 2021 related to these taxes.

For further information, see Note 5 - Income taxes, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The resulting net income of $3.4 million in the current quarter was an improvement of $3.1 million over the $0.3 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was a result of increased sales volumes in both North America and the Middle East due to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company's U.A.E. business benefitted from the introduction of a new product line. 

Six months ended July 31, 2021 ("current year-to-date") vs. Six months ended July 31, 2020 ("prior year year-to-date")

Net sales:

Net sales were $64.2 million in the current year-to-date, an increase of $21.1 million, or 49%%, from $43.1 million in the prior year year-to-date. The increase was a result of increased sales volumes in both North America and the Middle East due to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company's U.A.E. business benefitted from the introduction of a new product line. 

Gross profit:

Gross profit increased to $15.2 million, or 24% of net sales, in the current year-to-date from $5.8 million, or 14% of net sales, in the prior year year-to-date. This increase was driven by higher sales volumes and project mix. 

General and administrative expenses:

General and administrative expenses were $10.0 million in the current year-to-date, an increase of $1.2 million, or 14%, from $8.8 million in the prior year year-to-date. This increase was driven by personnel related expense increases corresponding to the business activity increases during the period. 

Selling expenses:

Selling expenses decreased to $2.1 million in the current year-to-date, compared to $3.0 million in the prior year year-to-date due to organizational changes in the roles of certain corporate employees as well as the continued effects of cost reduction strategies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Interest expense, net:

Net interest expense remained relatively consistent, increasing slightly from $0.3 million in the prior year year-to-date to $0.4 million in the current year-to-date. This increase is primarily related to the sale leaseback transaction for our operating facility in Tennessee entered into in April 2021. 

Other income, net:

Other income, net decreased to $0.9 million in the current year-to-date, compared to $3.7 million in the prior year year-to-date. This decrease was a result of income recorded in the prior year for funds received under the PPP program of $3.2 million, offset by funds received under the CEWS and CERS programs in Canada.

Income/(loss) from operations before income taxes:

Income/(loss) from operations before income taxes increased by $6.2 million to income of $3.6 million in the current year-to-date from a loss of ($2.6 million) in the prior year year-to-date. The increase was a result of increased sales volumes in both North America and the Middle East due to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company's U.A.E. business benefitted from the introduction of a new product line. 

Income tax expense/(benefit):

The Company's worldwide effective tax rates ("ETR") were 28.5% and 12.3% in the current year-to-date and the prior year year-to-date, respectively. The change in the ETR from the prior year to the current year was largely due to changes in the mix of income and loss in various jurisdictions.

Net income/(loss):

The resulting net income of $2.6 million in the current year-to-date was an improvement of approximately $4.9 million over the net loss of ($2.3 million) in the prior year year-to-date. The increase was a result of increased sales volumes in both North America and the Middle East due to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company's U.A.E. business benefitted from the introduction of a new product line. 

Liquidity and capital resources

Cash and cash equivalents as of July 31, 2021 were $5.5 million compared to $7.2 million on January 31, 2021. On July 31, 2021, $1.5 million was held in the U.S., and $4.0 million was held at the Company's foreign subsidiaries. The Company's working capital was $38.9 million on July 31, 2021 compared to $25.6 million on January 31, 2021. Of the working capital components, accounts receivable increased by $18.5 million and cash and cash equivalents decreased by $1.7 million as the result of the movements discussed below. As of July 31, 2021, the Company had $10.3 million of borrowing capacity under its Senior Credit Facility in North America and $10.1 million of borrowing capacity under its foreign revolving credit agreements. The Company had $3 thousand borrowed under its Senior Credit Facility $2.5 million borrowed under its foreign revolving credit agreements at July 31, 2021.

Net cash used in operating activities in the six months ended July 31, 2021 was $5.2 million, as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $2.6 million in the prior year period. This decrease in cash from operations was due primarily to increases in net working capital requirements in the current period compared to the prior year period due to increased activity as a result of post-COVID-19 economic recovery. The largest component of this increase was an increase in accounts receivable resulting in cash used of $19.3 million, partially offset by increases in net income and accounts payable of $2.6 million and $6.4 million, respectively. All of these changes were the result of the increase in project activity during the period.

Net cash used in investing activities in the six months ended July 31, 2021 and in the prior year period was $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. This increase was due primarily to our Canadian subsidiary entering into two capital equipment leases during the quarter. 

Net cash provided by financing activities in the six months ended July 31, 2021 was $4.5 million, as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $6.3 million in the prior year period. The main source of cash from financing activities during the period was net proceeds of $8.6 million as a result of the sale and leaseback of the Company's land and buildings in Lebanon, Tennessee during the period. This increase was also impacted by increased net repayments of approximately $3.6 million under the Senior Credit Facility, as compared to the prior year period, where net repayments were approximately $5.8 million. Debt totaled $8.6 million and $13.2 million as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively. For additional information, see Note 9 - Debt, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Revolving line - North America. On September 20, 2018, the Company and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (collectively, together with the Company, the “North American Loan Parties”) entered into a Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC"), as administrative agent and lender, providing for a three-year $18.0 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Senior Credit Facility”).

The Company has used proceeds from the Senior Credit Facility for on-going working capital needs, and expects to continue using this facility to fund future capital expenditures, working capital needs and other corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to an alternate base rate or London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on average quarterly undrawn availability with respect to the Senior Credit Facility.  Interest on alternate base rate borrowings are generally payable monthly in arrears and interest on LIBOR borrowings are generally payable in arrears on the last day of each interest period.  Additionally, the Company is required to pay a 0.375% per annum facility fee on the unused portion of the Senior Credit Facility.  The facility fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

Subject to certain exceptions, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of the assets of its North American subsidiaries. The North American Loan Parties’ obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are guaranteed by Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on September 20, 2021. The Company has engaged a consultant to assist with the search for, communication with and selection of a new lender or a replacement facility with PNC. The Company is in ongoing discussions with PNC to extend our current credit agreement for a multi-year term, which we expect to finalize prior to our current credit agreement's expiration on September 20, 2021.

Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the North American Loan Parties’ ability to create liens, merge or consolidate, consummate acquisitions, make investments, dispose of assets, incur debt, and pay dividends and other distributions. In addition, the North American Loan Parties cannot allow capital expenditures to exceed $3.0 million annually (plus a limited carryover of unused amounts).

The Senior Credit Facility also contains financial covenants requiring (i) the North America Loan Parties to achieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and interest payments on the advances under the Senior Credit Facility (excluding from the calculation items related to the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) ("fixed charge coverage ratio") to be not less than 1.10 to 1.00  at each quarter end on a trailing four-quarter basis; and (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries (including the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) to achieve a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00 at each quarter end on a trailing four-quarter basis.

As of October 31, 2020, the Company and its subsidiaries failed to achieve the necessary fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 for the trailing four-quarters ended October 31, 2020 under its Credit Agreement for both the North American Loan Parties and the Company and its subsidiaries. On December 18, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment and Waiver to the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (“Amendment and Waiver”) with PNC, which (i) reflected PNC’s waiver of the Company’s failure to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 as of October 31, 2020 on a trailing four quarter basis as required under the Company’s Credit Agreement and (ii) further amended certain future fixed charge coverage ratio covenants requirements under the Credit Agreement as described below.  Additionally, the Company was also required to have received, and applied to reduce the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement, $1.0 million from one of its foreign subsidiaries, Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC, in the UAE. The transfer and repayment occurred on December 17, 2020 and did not cause the Company to incur any additional fees or taxes, nor did it force the Company to change any of its assertions with regards to permanent reinvestment in any of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company will incur additional fees over the remainder of the Amendment and Waiver of approximately $0.1 million. The Amendment and Waiver also eliminates the Company’s ability to make LIBOR borrowings and reduces the overall availability by $2.0 million until maturity. 

The amended fixed charge coverage ratio requirements for the Company and its subsidiaries under the Amendment and Waiver are 1.25 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending July 31, 2021. The amended fixed charge coverage ratio requirements for the North American Loan Parties under the Amendment and Waiver are 1.10 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending July 31, 2021.  In order to cure any future breach of the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant by the North American Loan Parties, the Company may repatriate cash from any of its foreign subsidiaries that are otherwise not a party to the Credit Agreement in an amount which, when added to the amount of the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA, would result in pro forma compliance with the covenant. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of July 31, 2021.

As of July 31, 2021, the Company had $3 thousand in borrowings and had $10.3 million available under the Senior Credit Facility, before application of the $2.0 million availability block noted above in connection with the Amendment and Waiver. As of January 31, 2021, the Company had borrowed an aggregate of $2.8 million and had $1.7 million available under the Senior Credit Facility.

Revolving lines - foreign. The Company also has credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries in the U.A.E. and Egypt as discussed further below.

Additional liquidity from the PPP

On May 1, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement under the PPP and received proceeds of approximately $3.2 million. Interest on the loan accrued at a fixed interest rate of 1.0%. Under Section 1106 of the CARES Act, borrowers are eligible for forgiveness of principal and accrued interest on the loans to the extent that the proceeds are used to cover eligible payroll costs, mortgage interest costs, rent and utility costs, otherwise described as qualified expenses. During the three months ended July 31, 2020, the Company used all of the PPP loan proceeds to pay for qualified expenses, 100% of which were used for payroll related expenses.  The Company submitted its application and supporting documentation for forgiveness to its bank, which submitted the application and supporting documents to the Small Business Administration ("SBA").

Based on the facts and circumstances of the Company's PPP loan and according to the applicable accounting guidance described herein, the Company has elected to account for the PPP loan proceeds as a grant that has reasonable assurance of being forgiven. As such, the Company recognized the proceeds in earnings during the year ended January 31, 2021. The amounts were recognized in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. On June 24, 2021, the Company was notified by its lender that its PPP loan had been forgiven by the SBA. 

Additional liquidity from the CEWS Program

Beginning in April 2020, the Company's subsidiary, PPCA, applied for relief in the form of grants from the Canadian government under the CEWS program. Based on the program rules, the grants are applied for each month and are granted based on the amount of eligible employee expenses incurred over the previous month. Beginning in October 2020, PPCA also applied for grants under the CERS program. PPCA was approved for and received approximately $0.6 million and $0.1 million in grants under the CEWS and CERS programs, respectively, during the six months ended July 31, 2021. Both programs are expected to continue through September 2021. The proceeds from CEWS and CERS are recognized in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. 

Accounts receivable: 

In 2013, the Company started a project in the Middle East as a sub-contractor, with billings in the aggregate amount of approximately $41.9 million. The Company completed all of its deliverables in 2015 under the related contract, but the system has not yet been commissioned by the customer. Nevertheless, the Company has since then collected approximately $38.2 million as of July 31, 2021, with a remaining balance due in the amount of $3.7 million. Included in this balance is an amount of $3.4 million, which pertains to retention clauses within the agreements of the Company's customer (contractor), and which become payable by the customer when this project is fully tested and commissioned. In the absence of a firm date for the final commissioning of the project, and due to the long-term nature of this receivable, $2.1 million of this retention amount was reclassified to a long-term receivable account.

The Company has been engaged in ongoing active efforts to collect the outstanding amount. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company received approximately $0.1 million from the customer and additional receipts are expected throughout the rest of 2021. The Company continues to engage with the customer to ensure full payment of open balances, and during August 2021 received an updated acknowledgment of the outstanding balances and assurances of payment from the customer. As a result, the Company did not reserve any allowance against this amount as of July 31, 2021. However, if the Company’s efforts to collect on this account are not successful, the Company may recognize an allowance for all, or substantially all, of any such then uncollected amounts.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Critical accounting policies are described in Item 7. MD&A and in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended January 31, 2021 contained in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any new accounting policies or updates to existing accounting policies as a result of new accounting pronouncements have been discussed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The application of critical accounting policies may require management to make assumptions, judgments and estimates about the amounts reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management uses historical experience and all available information to make these estimates and judgments, and different amounts could be reported using different assumptions and estimates.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of July 31, 2021. Based upon the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective and operating to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly, in all material respects, the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the Company's most recent quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

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.