10-Q 1 ff20170930_10q.htm FORM 10-Q ff20170930_10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

OR

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

For the transition period from

Commission file number: 0-52577

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware  

 

20-3340900  

(State or Other Jurisdiction of 

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.) 

Incorporation or Organization) 

 

 

8235 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400

St. Louis, Missouri 63105

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(314) 854-8352 

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

Yes √ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes √ No

 

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

 

 

Large accelerated filer   ☐  

 

Accelerated filer 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer  ☐  

 

Smaller reporting 

 

 

(do not check if a smaller reporting company) 

 

company 

 

 

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of November 9, 2017: 43,741,670 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

The following sets forth our unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017, our audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, our unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, and our unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

FutureFuel Corp.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016

(Dollars in thousands)  

   

(Unaudited)

         
   

September 30, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 

Assets

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 113,245     $ 199,272  

Accounts receivable, inclusive of the blenders' tax credit of $0 and $5,495 and net of allowances for bad debt of $0 and $0, at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively

    21,278       24,359  

Accounts receivable – related parties

    1,566       385  

Inventory

    43,523       52,093  

Income tax receivable

    14,962       20,508  

Prepaid expenses

    542       1,694  

Prepaid expenses – related parties

    16       12  

Marketable securities

    123,588       106,146  

Deferred financing costs

    144       144  

Other current assets

    1,467       669  

Total current assets

    320,331       405,282  

Property, plant and equipment, net

    111,777       118,152  

Intangible assets

    1,408       1,408  

Deferred financing costs

    216       325  

Other assets

    3,839       3,876  

Total noncurrent assets

    117,240       123,761  

Total Assets

  $ 437,571     $ 529,043  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Accounts payable

  $ 24,224     $ 22,799  

Accounts payable – related parties

    4,034       1,254  

Deferred revenue – short-term

    6,100       5,530  

Contingent liability – short-term

    1,151       1,151  

Dividends payable

    2,625       110,688  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    4,072       2,485  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – related parties

    -       142  

Total current liabilities

    42,206       144,049  

Deferred revenue – long-term

    13,002       16,792  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    3,396       3,325  

Noncurrent deferred income tax liability

    33,252       32,064  

Total noncurrent liabilities

    49,650       52,181  

Total liabilities

    91,856       196,230  

Commitments and contingencies:

               

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding

    -       -  

Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 43,741,670 and 43,749,970, issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively

    4       4  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    8,152       3,540  

Additional paid in capital

    281,813       281,087  

Retained earnings

    55,746       48,182  

Total stockholders’ equity

    345,715       332,813  

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

  $ 437,571     $ 529,043  

 

 

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

 

1

 

 

 

 

FutureFuel Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited) 

 

  

   

Three months ended

September 30,

   

Nine months ended

September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Revenue

  $ 77,106     $ 66,893     $ 198,726     $ 175,939  

Revenues – related parties

    500       2,413       1,039       7,881  

Cost of goods sold

    61,088       54,170       165,469       144,446  

Cost of goods sold – related parties

    9,880       3,384       17,995       6,819  

Distribution

    1,072       1,306       2,730       2,871  

Distribution – related parties

    40       127       117       340  

Gross profit

    5,526       10,319       13,454       29,344  

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

                               

Compensation expense

    876       1,228       3,170       3,671  

Other expense

    477       505       1,562       1,668  

Related party expense

    38       57       138       146  

Research and development expenses

    935       688       2,535       2,113  
      2,326       2,478       7,405       7,598  

Income from operations

    3,200       7,841       6,049       21,746  

Interest and dividend income

    1,965       1,637       5,679       4,446  

Interest expense

    (43 )     (45 )     (129 )     (130 )

Gain/(loss) on marketable securities

    26       (322 )     (543 )     (727 )

Other expense

    (84 )     (111 )     (117 )     (331 )
      1,864       1,159       4,890       3,258  

Income before income taxes

    5,064       9,000       10,939       25,004  

Provision/(benefit) for income taxes

    1,730       (3,868 )     3,375       (12,657 )

Net income

  $ 3,334     $ 12,868     $ 7,564     $ 37,661  
                                 

Earnings per common share

                               

Basic

  $ 0.08     $ 0.29     $ 0.17     $ 0.86  

Diluted

  $ 0.08     $ 0.29     $ 0.17     $ 0.86  

Weighted average shares outstanding

                               

Basic

    43,705,234       43,570,734       43,662,672       43,524,729  

Diluted

    43,714,753       43,572,997       43,671,420       43,529,423  
                                 

Comprehensive Income

                               

Net income

  $ 3,334     $ 12,868     $ 7,564     $ 37,661  

Other comprehensive income from unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities

    1,006       1,714       7,102       3,741  

Income tax effect

    (353 )     (832 )     (2,490 )     (1,542 )

Total unrealized gain, net of tax

    653       882       4,612       2,199  

Comprehensive income

  $ 3,987     $ 13,750     $ 12,176     $ 39,860  

 

 

  

 

 

 

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

 

2

 

 

 

 

FutureFuel Corp.  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

               

Net income

  $ 7,564     $ 37,661  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Depreciation

    8,735       7,960  

Amortization of deferred financing costs

    109       108  

Benefit for deferred income taxes

    (1,303 )     (9,243 )

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

    (60 )     6,686  

Other than temporary impairment of marketable securities

    177       2,184  

Impairment of fixed assets

    28       178  

Gain/(loss) on the sale of investments

    366       (1,457 )

Stock based compensation

    878       1,431  

Losses on disposals of fixed assets

    145       147  

Noncash interest expense

    20       20  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Accounts receivable

    3,081       16,333  

Accounts receivable – related parties

    (1,181 )     (21 )

Inventory

    8,570       17,009  

Income tax receivable

    5,546       (1,185 )

Prepaid expenses

    1,152       1,104  

Prepaid expenses – related parties

    (4 )     35  

Accrued interest on marketable securities

    22       (84 )

Other assets

    37       (413 )

Accounts payable

    1,425       (9,853 )

Accounts payable – related parties

    2,780       219  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    1,587       3,565  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – related parties

    (142 )     -  

Deferred revenue

    (3,220 )     2,735  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    128       1,760  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    36,440       76,879  

Cash flows from investing activities

               

Collateralization of derivative instruments

    (760 )     (4,009 )

Purchase of marketable securities

    (25,795 )     (54,096 )

Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities

    14,913       20,768  

Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets

    4       -  

Capital expenditures

    (2,614 )     (3,107 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (14,252 )     (40,444 )

Cash flows from financing activities

               

Minimum tax withholding on stock options exercised and awards vested

    (121 )     (59 )

Excess tax benefits associated with stock options and awards

    (31 )     (183 )

Payment of dividends

    (108,063 )     (7,869 )

Net cash used in financing activities

    (108,215 )     (8,111 )

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    (86,027 )     28,324  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    199,272       154,049  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 113,245     $ 182,373  
                 

Cash paid for interest

  $ -     $ 2  

Cash paid for income taxes

  $ 55     $ 986  

 

 

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

 

3

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

1 )

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

Organization

 

FutureFuel Corp. (“FutureFuel”), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company (“FutureFuel Chemical”), owns and operates a chemical production facility located on approximately 2,200 acres of land six miles southeast of Batesville in north central Arkansas fronting the White River (the “Batesville Plant”). FutureFuel Chemical manufactures diversified chemical products, biobased products comprised of biofuels, and biobased specialty chemical products. FutureFuel Chemical’s operations are reported in two segments: chemicals and biofuels.

 

The chemicals segment manufactures a diversified portfolio of chemical products that are sold to third party customers. The majority of the revenues from the chemicals segment are derived from the custom manufacturing of specialty chemicals for specific customers.

 

The biofuels business segment primarily produces and sells biodiesel. FutureFuel Chemical also sells petrodiesel in blends with the company’s biodiesel and, from time to time, with no biodiesel added. Finally, FutureFuel Chemical is a shipper of refined petroleum products on common carrier pipelines and buys and sells petroleum products to maintain an active shipper status on these pipelines.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by FutureFuel in accordance and consistent with the accounting policies stated in FutureFuel’s 2016 audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the 2016 audited consolidated financial statements of FutureFuel.

 

In the opinion of FutureFuel, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the unaudited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements, and do include amounts that are based upon management estimates and judgments. Future actual results could differ from such current estimates. The unaudited consolidated financial statements include assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of FutureFuel and its wholly owned subsidiaries; namely, FutureFuel Chemical, FFC Grain, L.L.C., FutureFuel Warehouse Company, L.L.C., and Legacy Regional Transport, L.L.C. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

 

2 )

INVENTORY

 

The carrying values of inventory were as follows as of: 

 

 

   

September 30, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 

At average cost (approximates current cost)

               

Finished goods

  $ 18,926     $ 27,971  

Work in process

    2,046       1,913  

Raw materials and supplies

    30,797       25,127  
      51,769       55,011  

LIFO reserve

    (8,246 )     (2,918 )

Total inventory

  $ 43,523     $ 52,093  

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)  

 

Lower of Cost or Market ("LCM") adjustments are recorded as a decrease in inventory values and an increase in cost of goods sold.  The inventory is relieved at the LCM adjusted cost basis when sold.  There was no LCM adjustment in the three months ended September 30, 2017.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, there were LCM adjustments of $1,912 of which all impacted inventory was sold prior to September 30, 2017. For the  three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the LCM adjustment was $1,877.

 

 

3 )

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

 

FutureFuel is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. Commodity price risk is the primary risk managed by using derivative instruments. Regulated fixed price futures and option contracts are utilized to manage the price risk associated with future purchases of feedstock used in FutureFuel’s biodiesel production along with physical feedstock and finished product inventories attributed to this process.

 

FutureFuel recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its consolidated balance sheets. FutureFuel’s derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting under the specific guidelines of ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging. None of the derivative instruments are designated and accounted for as hedges primarily as a result of the extensive record keeping requirements.

 

The fair value of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments is determined based on the closing prices of the derivative instruments on relevant commodity exchanges at the end of an accounting period. Realized gains and losses on derivative instruments and changes in fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded in the statements of operations as a component of cost of goods sold, and amounted to a loss of $3,314 and a gain of $803 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and losses of $1,511 and $5,375 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The volumes and carrying values of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments were as follows at:

 

 

   

September 30, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 
   

Number of

Contracts

Short

   

Fair Value

   

Number of

Contracts

Short

   

Fair Value

 

Regulated options, included in other current assets

  200     $ (162 )   -     $ -  

Regulated fixed price future commitments, included in other current assets

  182     $ (36 )   135     $ (258 )

 

 

The margin account maintained with a broker to collateralize these derivative instruments carried an account balance of $1,518 and $758 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and is classified as other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The carrying values of the margin account and of the derivative instruments are included net, in other current assets.

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

4 )

MARKETABLE SECURITIES

 

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, FutureFuel had investments in certain preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments. These investments are classified as current assets in the consolidated balance sheets. FutureFuel has designated these securities as being available-for-sale. Accordingly, they are recorded at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of stockholders’ equity.

 

FutureFuel’s marketable securities were comprised of the following at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

 

   

September 30, 2017

 
   

Adjusted

Cost

   

Unrealized

Gains

   

Unrealized

Losses

   

Fair

Value

 

Equity instruments

  $ 49,815     $ 9,206     $ (916 )   $ 58,105  

Preferred stock

    53,562       4,263       (5 )     57,820  

Trust preferred securities

    3,147       114       -       3,261  

Exchange traded debt instruments

    4,154       248       -       4,402  

Total

  $ 110,678     $ 13,831     $ (921 )   $ 123,588  
                                 
   

December 31, 2016

 
   

Adjusted

Cost

   

Unrealized

Gains

   

Unrealized

Losses

   

Fair

Value

 

Equity instruments

  $ 32,667     $ 5,549     $ (304 )   $ 37,912  

Preferred stock

    57,105       1,196       (698 )     57,603  

Trust preferred securities

    3,147       -       (9 )     3,138  

Exchange traded debt instruments

    7,420       99       (26 )     7,493  

Total

  $ 100,339     $ 6,844     $ (1,037 )   $ 106,146  

 

 

The aggregate fair value of instruments with unrealized losses totaled $16,854 and $31,126 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, FutureFuel had no investments in marketable securities that were in an unrealized loss position for a greater than 12-month period.

 

 

5 )

ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including those associated with related parties, consisted of the following at:  

 

 

   

September 30, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 

Accrued employee liabilities

  $ 2,615     $ 864  

Accrued property, franchise, motor fuel and other taxes

    1,078       1,428  

Other

    379       335  

Total

  $ 4,072     $ 2,627  

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

6 )

BORROWINGS

 

On April 16, 2015, FutureFuel, with FutureFuel Chemical as the borrower, and certain of FutureFuel’s other subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into a $150,000 secured and committed credit facility with the lenders party thereto, Regions Bank as administrative agent and collateral agent, and PNC Bank, N.A., as syndication agent. On May 25, 2016, FutureFuel increased the credit facility by $15,000. The credit facility consists of a five-year revolving credit facility in a dollar amount of up to $165,000, which includes a sublimit of $30,000 for letters of credit and $15,000 for swingline loans (collectively, the “Credit Facility”).

 

The interest rate floats at the following margins over LIBOR or base rate based upon the leverage ratio from time to time:

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio

 

Adjusted LIBOR Rate Loans and

Letter of Credit Fee

 

Base Rate Loans

 

Commitment Fee

< 1.00:1.0

 

 

 

 

1.25%

 

 

 

0.25%

 

 

 

0.15%

 

≥ 1.00:1.0

And

< 1.50:1.0

 

 

1.50%

 

 

 

0.50%

 

 

 

0.20%

 

≥ 1.50:1.0

And

< 2.00:1.0

 

 

1.75%

 

 

 

0.75%

 

 

 

0.25%

 

≥ 2.00:1.0

And

< 2.50:1.0

 

 

2.00%

 

 

 

1.00%

 

 

 

0.30%

 

≥ 2.50:1.0

 

 

 

 

2.25%

 

 

 

1.25%

 

 

 

0.35%

 

 

 

The terms of the Credit Facility contain certain covenants and conditions including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, and a minimum liquidity requirement. FutureFuel was in compliance with such covenants as of September 30, 2017.

 

There were no borrowings under this credit agreement at September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

 

 

7 )

PROVISION/(BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES 

 

The following table summarizes the provision/(benefit) for income taxes.

   

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Provision/(benefit) for income taxes

  $ 1,730     $ (3,868 )   $ 3,375     $ (12,657 )

Effective tax rate

    34.2 %     (43.0% )     30.9 %     (50.6% )

 

 

The effective tax rate for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, reflects our expected tax rate on reported operating income before income tax. Our effective tax rate in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, reflects the elimination of certain tax credits and incentives which expired December 31, 2016 and were not in effect for 2017. 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)  

 

The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, reflects our expected tax rate on reported operating earnings before income tax. Our effective tax rate in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, reflects the positive effect of the reinstatement of certain tax credits and incentives for 2016.  In 2016, these tax credits and incentives formed a large proportion of FutureFuel’s net income. This increase in proportion combined with the income tax treatment of the credits and incentives reduced FutureFuel’s effective income tax rate in 2016. In addition, during the second quarter of 2016, FutureFuel booked a tax benefit related to the reversal of a state’s treatment of the taxability of the tax credits and incentives.

 

Unrecognized tax benefits totaled $2,052 and $2,056 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

FutureFuel records interest and penalties, net, as a component of income tax expense. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, FutureFuel recorded $248 and $193, respectively, in accruals for interest or tax penalties.

 

 

8 )

EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

We compute earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with ASC Topic No. 260, “Earnings per Share.” The two-class method is an allocation of earnings between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders. Our outstanding non-vested shares of restricted stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and, therefore, are considered participating securities for purposes of computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. We had no other participating securities at September 30, 2017 or 2016.

 

Contingently issuable shares associated with outstanding service-based restricted stock units were not included in the earnings per share calculations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 or 2016 as the vesting conditions had not been satisfied.

 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share were computed as follows: 

 

   

For the three months ended

September 30,

   

For the Nine months ended

September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Numerator:

                               

Net income

  $ 3,334     $ 12,868     $ 7,564     $ 37,661  

Less: distributed earnings allocated to non-vested stock

    -       (8 )     -       (32 )

Less: undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested restricted stock

    (3 )     (35 )     (15 )     (131 )

Numerator for basic earnings per share

  $ 3,331     $ 12,825     $ 7,549     $ 37,498  

Effect of dilutive securities:

                               

Add: undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested restricted stock

    3       35       15       131  

Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to non-vested restricted stock

    (3 )     (35 )     (15 )     (131 )

Numerator for diluted earnings per share

  $ 3,331     $ 12,825     $ 7,549     $ 37,498  

Denominator:

                               

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

    43,705,234       43,570,734       43,662,672       43,524,729  

Effect of dilutive securities:

                               

Stock options and other awards

    9,519       2,263       8,748       4,694  

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

    43,714,753       43,572,997       43,671,420       43,529,423  
                                 

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.08     $ 0.29     $ 0.17     $ 0.86  

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.08     $ 0.29     $ 0.17     $ 0.86  

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Certain options to purchase FutureFuel’s common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 because they were anti-dilutive in the periods. The weighted average number of options excluded on this basis was 0 and 10,000 for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.  The weighted average number of options excluded on this basis was 30,000 and 76,667 for the three-months and nine-months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

 

9 )

SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

FutureFuel has two reportable segments organized along similar product groups – chemicals and biofuels.

 

Chemicals

 

FutureFuel’s chemicals segment manufactures diversified chemical products that are sold externally to third party customers. This segment is comprised of two components: “custom manufacturing” (manufacturing chemicals for specific customers) and “performance chemicals” (multi-customer specialty chemicals).

 

Biofuels

 

FutureFuel’s biofuels business segment primarily manufactures and markets biodiesel. Biodiesel revenues are generated through the sale of biodiesel to customers through FutureFuel’s distribution network at the Batesville Plant, through distribution facilities available at leased oil storage facilities, and through a network of remotely located tanks. Biofuels revenues also include the sale of biodiesel blends with petrodiesel, petrodiesel with no biodiesel added, internally generated, separated RINs, biodiesel production byproducts, and the purchase and sale of other petroleum products on common carrier pipelines.  Biodiesel selling prices and profitability can at times fluctuate based on the timing of unsold, internally generated RINs. FutureFuel does not allocate production costs to internally generated RINs, and, from time to time, can enter into sales of biodiesel on a “RINs-free” basis. Such method of selling results in FutureFuel maintaining possession of the applicable RINs from the sale. The benefit derived from the eventual sale of the RINs is not reflected in results of operations until such time as the RIN sale has been completed, which may lead to variability in reported operating results.

 

Summary of long-lived assets and revenues by geographic area

 

All of FutureFuel’s long-lived assets are located in the United States.

 

Most of FutureFuel’s sales are transacted with title passing at the time of shipment from the Batesville Plant, although some sales are transacted with title passing at the delivery point. While many of FutureFuel’s chemicals are utilized to manufacture products that are shipped, further processed, and/or consumed throughout the world, the chemical products, with limited exceptions, generally leave the United States only after ownership has transferred from FutureFuel to the customer. FutureFuel is rarely the exporter of record, never the importer of record into foreign countries, and is not always aware of the exact quantities of its products that are moved into foreign markets by its customers. FutureFuel does track the addresses of its customers for invoicing purposes and uses this address to determine whether a particular sale is within or outside the United States. FutureFuel’s revenues attributable to the United States and foreign countries (based upon the billing addresses of its customers) were as follows: 
 

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

United States

  $ 76,711     $ 68,462     $ 197,044     $ 181,677  

All Foreign Countries

    895       844       2,721       2,143  

Total

  $ 77,606     $ 69,306     $ 199,765     $ 183,820  

 

 

Revenues from a single foreign country during the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 did not exceed 1% of total revenues.  

 

  

 

9

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Summary of business by segment

 

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Revenue

                               

Custom chemicals

  $ 23,593     $ 20,455     $ 65,189     $ 60,148  

Performance chemicals

    4,574       3,844       12,686       13,782  

Chemicals revenue

    28,167       24,299       77,875       73,930  

Biofuels revenue

    49,439       45,007       121,890       109,890  

Total Revenue

  $ 77,606     $ 69,306     $ 199,765     $ 183,820  
                                 

Segment gross profit

                               

Chemicals

  $ 8,060     $ 7,853     $ 20,401     $ 22,722  

Biofuels

    (2,534 )     2,466       (6,947 )     6,622  

Total gross profit

    5,526       10,319       13,454       29,344  

Corporate expenses

    (2,326 )     (2,478 )     (7,405 )     (7,598 )

Income/(loss) before interest and taxes

    3,200       7,841       6,049       21,746  

Interest and other income

    1,965       1,637       5,679       4,446  

Interest and other expense

    (101 )     (478 )     (789 )     (1,188 )

(Provision)/benefit for income taxes

    (1,730 )     3,868       (3,375 )     12,657  

Net income

  $ 3,334     $ 12,868     $ 7,564     $ 37,661  

 

Depreciation is allocated to segment costs of goods sold based on plant usage. The total assets and capital expenditures of FutureFuel have not been allocated to individual segments as large portions of these assets are shared to varying degrees by each segment, causing such an allocation to be of little value.

 

 

10 )

 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

Fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Fair value accounting pronouncements also include a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of FutureFuel. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect FutureFuel’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based upon the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs (other than quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables provide information by level for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value, on a recurring basis, at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

   

Asset (Liability)

 
           

Fair Value Measurements Using

 
   

Fair Value at

   

Inputs Considered as:

 

Description

 

September 30, 2017

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Derivative instruments

  $ (198 )   $ (198 )   $ -     $ -  

Preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments

  $ 123,588     $ 123,588     $ -     $ -  
                                 
       
   

Asset (Liability)

 
           

Fair Value Measurements Using

 
   

Fair Value at

   

Inputs Considered as:

 

Description

 

December 31, 2016

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Derivative instruments

  $ (258 )   $ (258 )   $ -     $ -  

Preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments

  $ 106,146     $ 106,146     $ -     $ -  

 

 

11 )

RECLASSIFICATIONS FROM ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

The following tables summarize changes in accumulated other comprehensive income from unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. 

 

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income From Unrealized  

Gains and Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

(net of tax)

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Balance at July 1

  $ 7,499     $ 3,372  

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    670       672  

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

    (17 )     210  

Net current-period other comprehensive income

    653       882  

Balance at September 30

  $ 8,152     $ 4,254  
                 
                 

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income From Unrealized

 

Gains and Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

 

(net of tax)

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Balance at January 1

  $ 3,540     $ 2,055  

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    4,259       1,727  

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

    353       472  

Net current-period other comprehensive income

    4,612       2,199  

Balance at September 30

  $ 8,152     $ 4,254  

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables summarize amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

Reclassifications from Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended

September 30, 2017 and 2016

                   
   

Three months ended

September 30,

   
   

2017

   

2016

 

Affected Line Item in Statement of Operations

Unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities

  $ 26     $ (322 )

Gain/(loss) on marketable securities

Total before tax

    26       (322 )  

Tax (provision)/benefit

    (9 )     112    

Total reclassifications

  $ 17     $ (210 )  
                   
   

Nine months ended

September 30,

   
   

2017

   

2016

 

Affected Line Item in Statement of Operations

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

  $ (543 )   $ (727 )

Loss on marketable securities

Total before tax

    (543 )     (727 )  

Tax benefit

    190       255    

Total reclassifications

  $ (353 )   $ (472 )  

 

 

 

 

12 )

 LEGAL MATTERS

 

From time to time, FutureFuel and its operations are parties to, or targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations, regulatory matters, and proceedings, which are being handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While FutureFuel is unable to predict the outcomes of these matters, it does not believe, based upon currently available facts, that the ultimate resolution of any such pending matters will have a material adverse effect on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

 

13 )

 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

FutureFuel enters into transactions with companies affiliated with or controlled by a director and significant shareholder. Revenues, expenses, prepaid amounts, and unpaid amounts related to these transactions are captured in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as related party line items.

 

Related party revenues are the result of sales of biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends, other petroleum products, and other similar or related products to these related parties.  

 

Related party cost of goods sold and distribution are the result of sales of biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends, and other petroleum products to these related parties along with the associated expense from the purchase of natural gas, storage and terminalling services, and income tax and consulting services by FutureFuel from these related parties.

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

14 )

 INTANGIBLE ASSET

 

In April of 2015, FutureFuel acquired additional historical line space on a pipeline for $1,408. The acquired line space was recorded as an intangible asset with an indefinite life as there was no foreseeable limit on the time period over which it is expected to contribute to cash flows. The carrying value of the asset was $1,408 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. FutureFuel tests the intangible asset for impairment in accordance with ASC 350-30-35-18 through 35-20.

 

 

 

15 )

 RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS

 

The following table provides a brief description of recent Accounting Standard Updates ("ASU") issued by the FASB:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard

 

Description

 

Effective Date

 

Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases.

 

The new guidance supersedes the lease guidance under FASB ASC Topic 840, Leases, resulting in the creation of FASB ASC Topic 842, Leases. The guidance requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for both finance and operating leases.

 

Annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.

 

The Company is currently evaluating its population of leases, and is continuing to assess all potential impacts of the standard, but currently believes the most significant impact relates to its accounting for logistics equipment. The Company anticipates recognition of additional assets and corresponding liabilities related to leases upon adoption. The Company plans to adopt the standard effective January 1, 2019.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Since that date, the FASB has issued additional ASUs clarifying certain aspects of ASU 2014-09.

 

The core principle of this guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. To achieve the core principle, the guidance establishes the following five steps: 1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, 2) identify the performance obligation in the contract, 3) determine the transaction price, 4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and 5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The guidance also details the accounting treatment for costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. Lastly, disclosure requirements have been enhanced to provide sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

 

Annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Earlier adoption was permitted, but not before December 15, 2016.

 

The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance. This new guidance, will likely result in a change in the nature and extent of the related footnote disclosures. The Company plans to adopt the new guidance when effective and presently anticipates adopting on a modified retrospective basis to each prior reporting period presented with the election of applicable practical expedients.

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.444

 

All dollar amounts expressed as numbers in this M D&A are in thousands (except per share amounts).

Certain tables may not add due to rounding.

 

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, set forth herein. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. See “Forward Looking Information” below for additional discussion regarding risks associated with forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

Our company is managed and reported in two reporting segments: chemicals segment and biofuels segment. Within the chemicals segment are two product groupings: custom chemicals and performance chemicals. The custom product group is comprised of specialty chemicals manufactured for a single customer whereas the performance product group is comprised of chemicals manufactured for multiple customers. The biofuels segment is comprised of one product group. Management believes that the diversity of each segment strengthens the company in the ability to utilize resources and is committed to growing each segment.

 

Summary of Financial Results

 

Set forth below is a summary of certain consolidated financial information for the periods indicated. 

 

   

Three months ended September 30,

 
                   

Dollar

   

%

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

Change

   

Change

 

Revenues

  $ 77,606     $ 69,306     $ 8,300       12.0%  

Income from operations

  $ 3,200     $ 7,841     $ (4,641 )     (59.2% )

Net income

  $ 3,334     $ 12,868     $ (9,534 )     (74.1% )

Earnings per common share:

                               

Basic

  $ 0.08     $ 0.29     $ (0.21 )     (72.4% )

Diluted

  $ 0.08     $ 0.29     $ (0.21 )     (72.4% )

Capital expenditures and intangibles (net of customer reimbursements and regulatory grants)

  $ 856     $ 853     $ 3       0.4%  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 9,553     $ 10,117     $ (564 )     (5.6% )
                                 
   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
                   

Dollar

   

%

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

Change

   

Change

 

Revenues

  $ 199,765     $ 183,820     $ 15,945       8.7%  

Income from operations

  $ 6,049     $ 21,746     $ (15,697 )     (72.2% )

Net income

  $ 7,564     $ 37,661     $ (30,097 )     (79.9% )

Earnings per common share:

                               

Basic

  $ 0.17     $ 0.86     $ (0.69 )     (80.2% )

Diluted

  $ 0.17     $ 0.86     $ (0.69 )     (80.2% )

Capital expenditures and intangibles (net of customer reimbursements and regulatory grants)

  $ 2,413     $ 2,988     $ (575 )     (19.2% )

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 17,201     $ 36,328     $ (19,127 )     (52.7% )

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

   

We use adjusted EBITDA as a key operating metric to measure both performance and liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for operating income, net income, or cash flow from operating activities (each as determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of performance or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization expenses, excluding, when applicable, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, public offering expenses, acquisition-related transaction costs, purchase accounting adjustments, losses on disposal of property and equipment, gains or losses on derivative instruments, and other non-operating income or expenses. Information relating to adjusted EBITDA is provided so that investors have the same data that we employ in assessing the overall operation and liquidity of our business. Our calculation of adjusted EBITDA may be different from similarly titled measures used by other companies; therefore, the results of our calculation are not necessarily comparable to the results of other companies.

 

Adjusted EBITDA allows our chief operating decision makers to assess the performance and liquidity of our business on a consolidated basis to assess the ability of our operating segments to produce operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, to fund capital expenditures and to pay dividends. In particular, our management believes that adjusted EBITDA permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance and liquidity, relative to a performance and liquidity based on GAAP results, while isolating the effects of certain items, including depreciation and amortization, which may vary among our operating segments without any correlation to their underlying operating performance, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash expense that varies widely among similar companies, and gains and losses on derivative instruments, which can cause net income to appear volatile from period to period relative to the sale of the underlying physical product.

 

We enter into commodity derivative instruments primarily to protect our operations from downward movements in commodity prices, and to provide greater certainty of cash flows associated with sales of our commodities. We enter into hedges, and we utilize mark-to-market accounting to account for these instruments. Thus, our results in any given period can be impacted, and sometimes significantly, by changes in market prices relative to our contract price along with the timing of the valuation change in the derivative instruments relative to the sale of biofuel. We include this item as an adjustment as we believe it provides a relevant indicator of the underlying performance of our business in a given period.

 

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA with net income, the most directly comparable GAAP performance financial measure. 

 

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 9,553     $ 10,117     $ 17,201     $ 36,328  

Depreciation

    (2,927 )     (2,739 )     (8,735 )     (8,068 )

Non-cash stock-based compensation

    (128 )     (477 )     (878 )     (1,431 )

Interest and dividend income

    1,965       1,637       5,679       4,446  

Interest expense

    (43 )     (9 )     (129 )     (22 )

Losses on disposal of property and equipment

    (68 )     (10 )     (145 )     (147 )

Gains/(losses) on derivative instruments

    (3,314 )     803       (1,511 )     (5,375 )

Gains/(losses) on marketable securities

    26       (322 )     (543 )     (727 )

Income tax (expense)/benefit

    (1,730 )     3,868       (3,375 )     12,657  

Net income

  $ 3,334     $ 12,868     $ 7,564     $ 37,661  

 

  

15

 

 

 

 

 

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA with cash flows from operations, the most directly comparable GAAP liquidity financial measure.

 

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 17,201     $ 36,328  

Benefit for deferred income taxes

    (1,303 )     (9,243 )

Impairment of fixed assets

    28       178  

Interest and dividend income

    5,679       4,446  

Income tax (expense)/benefit

    (3,375 )     12,657  

Losses on derivative instruments

    (1,511 )     (5,375 )

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

    (60 )     6,686  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net

    19,781       31,204  

Other

    -       (2 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 36,440     $ 76,879  

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

Results of Operations 

 

Consolidated

 

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
                   

Change

                   

Change

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

Amount

   

%

   

2017

   

2016

   

Amount

   

%

 
                                                             

Revenues

  $ 77,606     $ 69,306     $ 8,300     12.0%     $ 199,765     $ 183,820     $ 15,945     8.7%  

Volume/product mix effect

                  $ (3,523 )   (5.1% )                   $ (20,033 )   (10.9% )

Price effect

                  $ 11,823     17.1%                     $ 35,978     19.6%  
                                                             

Gross profit

  $ 5,526     $ 10,319     $ (4,793 )   (46.4% )   $ 13,454     $ 29,344     $ (15,890 )   (54.2% )

 

 

 

Consolidated sales revenue in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased $8,300 and $15,945, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. This increase primarily resulted from higher prices in the biofuel segment and increased sales volumes in the chemical segment.  In the nine-month comparison period, the increase from higher prices in the biofuel segment was partially offset by lower sales volumes largely from the expiration of the federal blenders’ tax credit (“BTC”).

 

Gross profit in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased $4,793 and $15,890, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. In the biofuel segment, this decrease largely resulted from the absence of the BTC which expired on December 31, 2016.  We also experienced a reduction in pipeline profits for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the prior year period. 

 

Another significant impact to the reduction in gross profit in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the prior year period, was the adjustment in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting.  This adjustment reduced gross profit $5,329 in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and increased gross profit $1,845 in the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  This change in LIFO resulted in a lower of cost or market adjustment of $1,877 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and no such adjustment was necessary in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. Please see footnote 2 for additional discussion.

 

Also contributing to the reduction in gross profit in the three months ended September 30, 2017, was the loss in the unrealized and realized activity in derivative instruments of $3,314, as compared to a gain of $803, in the prior year period. The change in the derivative activity in the nine months ending September 30, 2017 favorably impacted gross profit with a loss of $1,511, as compared to a loss of $5,375 in the prior year period.

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses decreased from $2,478 to $2,326 or $152 in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and from $7,598 to $7,405 or $193 in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.  This reduction in both periods was from lower compensation cost partially offset by higher research and development expense.

 

 

Provision/(Benefit) for Income Taxes 

 

The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, reflects our expected tax rate on reported operating income before income tax. Our effective tax rate in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, reflects the elimination of certain tax credits and incentives for 2017. 

 

The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, reflects our expected tax rate on reported operating income earnings before income tax. Our effective tax rate in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, reflects the positive effect of the reinstatement of the certain tax credits and incentives for 2016. In addition, during the second quarter of 2016, FutureFuel booked a tax benefit related to the reversal of a state’s treatment of the taxability of the tax credits and incentives.

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

Unrecognized tax benefits totaled $2,052 and $2,056 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

  

Net Income

 

Net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased $9,534 and $30,097, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2016. The decrease resulted from the lack of the benefit of tax credits and incentives in effect in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 which were not in effect in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. Additionally, the adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting negatively impacted net income in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. In comparison, net income in the three months ended September 30, 2016 was negatively impacted by this adjustment, but this adjustment benefited net income in the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

 

Chemicals Segment

 

 

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
                   

Change

                   

Change

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

Amount

   

%

   

2017

   

2016

   

Amount

   

%

 
                                                             

Revenues

  $ 28,167     $ 24,299     $ 3,868     15.9%     $ 77,875     $ 73,930     $ 3,945     5.3%  

Volume/product mix effect

                  $ 2,937     12.1%                     $ 2,774     3.8%  

Price effect

                  $ 931     3.8%                     $ 1,171     1.6%  
                                                             

Gross profit

  $ 8,060     $ 7,853     $ 207     2.6%     $ 20,401     $ 22,722     $ (2,321 )   (10.2% )

 

 

Sales revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $3,868 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. Sales revenue for our custom chemicals (unique chemicals produced for specific customers) for the three months ended September 30, 2017 totaled $23,593, an increase of $3,138 from the comparable period in 2016. This increase was primarily attributed to increased sales volumes in the agrochemical and energy markets. Performance chemicals (comprised of multi-customer products which are sold based on specification) sales revenues were $4,574 in the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $730 from the three months ended September 30, 2016. This increase was primarily from increased sales of polymer modifiers and specialty additives.

 

Sales revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased $3,945 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  This increase was primarily attributed to increased sales volume in the agrochemical and energy markets, new customer product sales and increased amortization of deferred revenue which were mostly offset by the reduced price and volume of the laundry detergent additive.  Performance chemical sales revenue were down $1,096 to $12,686, in the nine month period ended September 30, 2017.  This decrease was primarily from reduced sales volumes of a polymer modifier product. 

 

Gross profit for the chemicals segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $207 when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. Factors positively impacting the three-month comparison of gross profit were from the change in adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting and volume growth in the agrochemical and energy markets. Items negatively impacting gross profit were a decline in the sales volume and price of the laundry detergent additive and a change in product mix.

 

Gross profit for the chemicals segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased by $2,321 when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Factors negatively impacting the nine-month comparison of gross profit were from the change in adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting, a decline in the sales volume and price of the laundry detergent additive, and a decline in the sales volume of the polymer modifier product. Positively impacting the nine-month comparison period was the volume growth in the agrochemical and energy markets.

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

Biofuels Segment

 

   

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
                   

Change

                   

Change

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

Amount

   

%

   

2017

   

2016

   

Amount

   

%

 
                                                             

Revenues

  $ 49,439     $ 45,007     $ 4,432     9.8%     $ 121,890     $ 109,890     $ 12,000     10.9%  

Volume/product mix effect

                  $ (6,460 )   (14.4% )                   $ (22,807 )   (20.8% )

Price effect

                  $ 10,892     24.2%                     $ 34,807     31.7%  
                                                             

Gross profit

  $ (2,534 )   $ 2,466     $ (5,000 )   (202.8% )   $ (6,947 )   $ 6,622     $ (13,569 )   (204.9% )

 

 

Biofuels sales revenue in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased $4,432 and $12,000 when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. This increase was primarily from higher prices on biodiesel, biodiesel RINs, and biodiesel blends. The sale of separated, internally generated RINs, comprised a larger component of revenue in the current quarter and nine-month period as compared to the prior year periods.  In addition, pipeline sales increased to $1,852 from $1,509 in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For the nine-month comparison period, pipeline sales decreased to $1,852 from $7,390.  

 

Revenue from common carrier pipelines varies as its revenue recognition depends upon whether a transaction is bought from and sold to the same party. Purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty that are entered into in contemplation of one another (including buy/sell agreements) are combined and recorded on a net basis. Additionally, revenue from common carrier pipelines fluctuates with market conditions.

 

A portion of our biodiesel sold in 2017 was to two major refiners/blenders and one major refiner in 2016.  No assurances can be given that we will continue to sell to such major refiners, or, if we do sell, the volume we will sell or the profit margin we will realize. We do not believe that the loss of these customers would have a material adverse effect on our biofuels segment or on us as a whole in that: (i) unlike our custom manufacturing products, biodiesel is a commodity with a large potential customer base; (ii) we believe that we could readily sell our biodiesel to other customers as potential demand from other customers for biodiesel exceeds our production capacity; (iii) our sales to these customers are not under fixed terms and the customers have no fixed obligation to purchase any minimum quantities except as stipulated by short term purchase orders; and (iv) the prices we receive from these customers are based upon then-market rates, as would be the case with sales of this commodity to other customers.

   

Biofuels gross profit in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased $5,000 and $13,569 when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Cost of goods sold increased as a result of the absence of the blenders’ tax credit which expired December 31, 2016 and was in effect in the prior year’s period. Gross profits were reduced by the change in adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting. This adjustment decreased gross profit $383 and $4,276 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to a decrease of $336 and an increase of $898 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. This change in LIFO resulted in a lower of cost or market adjustment of $1,877, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. No such adjustment impacted gross profit in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.  Please see footnote 2 for additional discussion.

 

Biofuels gross profit was further reduced by the change in the activity in derivative instruments in comparison to the prior year quarter with a loss of $3,314 as compared to a gain of $803 in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The change in the derivative activity in the nine months ending September 30, 2017 favorably impacted gross profit with a loss of $1,511, as compared to a loss of $5,375 in the prior year period. In order to better manage the commodity price risk caused by market fluctuations in biofuel prices, we may enter into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts. We account for these derivative instruments in accordance with accounting standards whereby the fair value of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments is determined based on the closing prices of the derivative instruments on relevant commodity exchanges at the end of an accounting period. Realized gains and losses on derivative instruments and changes in fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold within the biofuels segment.

 

FutureFuel recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel’s derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting under the specific guidelines of ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging. None of the derivative instruments are designated and accounted for as hedges due primarily to the extensive record keeping requirements.

19

 

 

 

 

 

The volumes and carrying values of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments were as follows:

 

   

September 30, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 
   

Number of

Contracts

Short

   

Fair Value

   

Number of

Contracts

Short

   

Fair Value

 

Regulated options, included in other current assets

  200     $ (162 )   -     $ -  

Regulated fixed price future commitments, included in other current assets

  182     $ (36 )   135     $ (258 )

 

 

*All derivative instruments are entered into with the standard contract terms and conditions in accordance with major trading authorities of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

  

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

For most product sales, revenue is recognized when product is shipped from our facilities and risk of loss and title have passed to the customer, which is in accordance with our customer contracts and the stated shipping terms. Nearly all custom manufactured products are manufactured under written contracts. Performance chemicals and biodiesel are generally sold pursuant to the terms of written purchase orders. In general, customers do not have any rights of return, except for quality disputes. All of our products are tested for quality before shipment, and historically returns have been inconsequential. We do not offer rebates or other warranties.

 

Biodiesel selling prices can at times fluctuate based on the timing of unsold, internally generated RINs. From time to time, sales of biodiesel are on a “RINs-free” basis. Such method of selling results in applicable RINs being held. The value of the RINs is not reflected in revenue until such time as the RIN sale has been completed.

 

Revenue from bill and hold transactions in which a performance obligation exists is recognized when the total performance obligation has been met and title to the product has transferred. Bill and hold transactions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were related to specialty chemicals customers whereby revenue was recognized in accordance with contractual agreements based upon product being produced and ready for use. These sales were subject to written monthly purchase orders with agreement that production was reasonable. The inventory was custom manufactured and stored at the customer’s request and could not be sold to another buyer. Credit and payment terms for bill and hold customers are similar to other specialty chemicals customers. Sales revenue under bill and hold arrangements were $4,519 and $6,759 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $12,477 and $17,103 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are set forth in the following chart.

  

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 36,440     $ 76,879  

Net cash used in investing activities

  $ (14,252 )   $ (40,444 )

Net cash used in financing activities

  $ (108,215 )   $ (8,111 )

  

 

Operating Activities

 

Cash from operating activities decreased from $76,879 of cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2016 to $36,440 of cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2017. This decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease of $30,097 in net income, the decrease in the change in accounts receivable of $13,252 and inventory of $8,439 offset by the increase in the change in accounts payable of $11,278.  

20

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

Cash used in investing activities was $14,252 in the first nine months of 2017 compared to $40,444 used in the first nine months of 2016. This change was primarily the result of net purchases of marketable securities in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016. Such net purchases totaled $10,882 and $33,328, in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our capital expenditures and customer reimbursements for capital expenditures are summarized in the following table: 

 

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Cash paid for capital expenditures and intangibles

  $ 2,614     $ 3,107  

Cash received as reimbursement of capital expenditures

  $ (201 )   $ (119 )

Cash paid, net of reimbursement, for capital expenditures

  $ 2,413     $ 2,988  

 

   

Financing Activities

 

Cash used in financing activities increased to $108,215 in the first nine months of 2017 from $8,111 in the first nine months of 2016. This change is primarily the result of payments of dividends on our common stock in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016. The payment of dividends totaled $108,063 and $7,869 in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

 

Credit Facility

 

Effective April 16, 2015, we entered into a new $150,000 secured committed credit facility with a syndicated group of commercial banks. On May 25, 2016, we increased the facility $15,000. The loan is a revolving facility, the proceeds of which may be used for our working capital, capital expenditures, and general corporate purposes. The facility terminates on April 16, 2020. See Note 6 – “Borrowings” in our consolidated financial statements ended September 30, 2017 for additional information regarding our Credit Agreement.

 

We intend to fund future capital requirements for our businesses from cash flow as well as from existing cash, cash investments, and, if the need should arise, borrowings under our credit facility. We do not believe there will be a need to issue any securities to fund such capital requirements.

 

 

Dividends

 

In the first three quarters of 2017, we paid a regular cash dividend in the amount of $0.06 per share on our common stock. The regular cash dividend amounted to $2,625 per quarter in the first, second and third quarters of 2017.  In the first quarter of 2017, we also paid a special cash dividend of $2.29 per share on our common stock. This special cash dividend amounted to $100,188. Total cash dividends paid were $108,063 in the first nine months of 2017.

 

In the first three quarters of 2016, we paid a regular cash dividend in the amount of $0.06 per share on our common stock. The regular cash dividend amounted to $2,623 in the first, second, and third quarters of 2016, for aggregate dividend payments of $7,869 in the first nine months of 2016.

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Capital Management

 

As a result of our initial equity offering, our subsequent positive operating results, the exercise of warrants, and the issuance of shares in our at-the-market offering, we accumulated excess working capital. Some of this excess working capital has been paid out as special and regular cash dividends. Additionally, regular cash dividends will be paid in 2017, as previously reported. Third parties have not placed significant restrictions on our working capital management decisions.

 

A significant portion of these funds was held in cash or cash equivalents at multiple financial institutions. In the periods ended September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we also had investments in certain preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments. We classify these investments as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and designate them as being “available-for-sale.” Accordingly, they are recorded at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. The fair value of these preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments totaled $123,588 and $106,146 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

Lastly, we maintain depositary accounts such as checking accounts, money market accounts, and other similar accounts at selected financial institutions.

   

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

Off- Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We engage in two types of hedging transactions. First, we hedge our biofuels sales through the purchase and sale of futures contracts and options on futures contracts of energy commodities. This activity was captured on our balance sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Second, we hedge our biofuels feedstock through the execution of purchase contracts and supply agreements with certain vendors. These hedging transactions are recognized in earnings and were not recorded on our balance sheet at September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 because they do not meet the definition of a derivative instrument as defined under GAAP. The purchase of biofuels feedstock generally involves two risk components: basis and price. Basis covers any refining or processing required as well as transportation. Price covers the purchases of the actual agricultural commodity. Both basis and price fluctuate over time. A supply agreement with a vendor constitutes a hedge when we have committed to a certain volume of feedstock in a future period and have fixed the basis for that volume.

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

All dollar amounts expressed as numbers in these Market Risk Disclosures are in thousands (except per share amounts).

 

 

In recent years, general economic inflation has not had a material adverse impact on our costs and, as described elsewhere herein, we have passed some price increases along to our customers. However, we are subject to certain market risks as described below.

 

Market risk represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. Commodity price risk is inherent in the chemicals and biofuels business both with respect to inputs (electricity, coal, raw materials, biofuels feedstock, etc.) and outputs (manufactured chemicals and biofuels).

 

We seek to mitigate our market risks associated with the manufacturing and sale of chemicals by entering into long-term sale contracts that include contractual market price adjustment protections to allow changes in market prices of key raw materials to be passed on to the customer. Such price protections are not always obtained, however, and some raw material price risk remains significant.

 

In order to manage price risk caused by market fluctuations in biofuels prices, we may enter into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts. We account for these derivative instruments in accordance with ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging. Under this standard, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends upon whether it has been designated as an accounting hedging relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. To qualify for designation as an accounting hedging relationship, specific criteria must be met and appropriate documentation maintained. We had no derivative instruments that qualified under these rules as designated accounting hedges in the first nine months of 2017 or 2016. Changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recognized at the end of each accounting period and recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold within the biodiesel segment.

 

Our immediate recognition of derivative instrument gains and losses can cause net income to be volatile from period to period due to the timing of the change in value of the derivative instruments relative to the volume of biofuel being sold. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair values of our derivative instruments were a net liability in the amount of $198 and $258, respectively.

 

Our gross profit will be impacted by the prices we pay for raw materials and conversion costs (costs incurred in the production of chemicals and biofuels) for which we do not possess contractual market price adjustment protection. These items are principally comprised of crude corn oil and yellow grease and petrodiesel. The availability and price of these items are subject to wide fluctuations due to unpredictable factors such as weather conditions, overall economic conditions, governmental policies, commodity markets, and global supply and demand.

 

We prepared a sensitivity analysis of our exposure to market risk with respect to key raw materials and conversion costs for which we do not possess contractual market price adjustment protections, based on average prices for the first nine months of 2017. We included only those raw materials and conversion costs for which a hypothetical adverse change in price would result in a 1% or greater decrease in gross profit. Assuming that the prices of the associated finished goods could not be increased and assuming no change in quantities sold, a hypothetical 10% change in the average price of the commodity listed below would result in the following change in gross profit.

 

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

(Volume and dollars in thousands)

 

Item

 

Volume Requirements

(a)

 

Units

 

Hypothetical Adverse Change in Price

 

Decrease in Gross Profit

 

Percentage Decrease in Gross Profit

Biodiesel Feedstocks

 

           247,487 

 

LB

 

10%

 

 $          7,267 

 

54.0%

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel

 

               12,150 

 

GAL

 

10%

 

 $          1,962 

 

14.6%

Methanol

 

             102,450 

 

LB

 

10%

 

 $          1,660 

 

12.3%

Electricity

 

             86 

 

MWH

 

10%

 

 $             415 

 

3.1%

Natural Gas

 

           1,006

 

MCF

 

10%

 

 $             343 

 

2.6%

Sodium Methylate

 

               8,287

 

LB

 

10%

 

 $             332 

 

2.5%

Coal

 

             28 

 

Ton

 

10%

 

 $             177 

 

1.3%

 

(a)   Volume requirements and average price information are based upon volumes used and prices obtained for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  Volume requirements may differ materially from these quantities in future years as our business evolves.

 

 

We had no borrowings as of September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 and, as such, we were not exposed to interest rate risk for those periods. Due to the relative insignificance of transactions denominated in foreign currency, we consider our foreign currency risk to be immaterial.

   

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and our principal financial officer and other senior management personnel, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2017 were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

   

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

We are not a party to, nor is any of our property subject to, any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business. However, from time to time, we may be a party to, or a target of, lawsuits, claims, investigations, and proceedings, including product liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety, and employment matters, which we expect to be handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While we are unable to predict the outcome of any matters currently pending, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of any such pending matters will have a material adverse effect on our overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, adverse developments could negatively impact earnings or cash flows in future periods.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There have been no material changes to the risk factors we previously disclosed in Item 1A of our Form 10-K, Annual

Report for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Description

11.

Statement re Computation of per Share Earnings

31(a).

Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of chief executive officer

31(b).

Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of chief principal officer

32.

Section 1350 Certification of chief executive officer and principal financial officer

101

Interactive Data Files**

101.INS

XBRL Instance

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

**

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files in Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or

part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

   

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

 

This report, and the documents incorporated by reference into this report contain forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements deal with our current plans, intentions, beliefs, and expectations, and statements of future economic performance. Statements containing such terms as “believe,” “do not believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” and other phrases of similar meaning are considered to contain uncertainty and are forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time we or our representatives have made or will make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements may be included in various filings that we make with the SEC, or in press releases, or in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized executive officers.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in FutureFuel’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in our future filings made with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this report which reflect our management’s opinions only as of their respective dates. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties described in this report and in subsequent filings with the SEC are not the only ones we face. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. There may be additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial to our business. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. If any such risks occur, our business, operating results, liquidity, and financial condition could be materially affected in an adverse manner. You should consult any additional disclosures we have made or will make in our reports to the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, and any amendments thereto. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this report.

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

S I G N A T U R E S

 

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.

 

FUTUREFUEL CORP.  

 

 

 

 

By:  

/s/ Paul A. Novelly

 

 

 

 

Paul A. Novelly, Chairman and Chief  

 

Executive Officer  

 

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2017  

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:    

/s/ Rose M. Sparks

 

 

 

 

Rose M. Sparks, Chief Financial Officer

 

and Principal Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2017  

 

 

28