10-K 1 pati10k17.htm PATI 2017 FORM 10-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM 10-K

_________________

(Mark One)    

 

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.
 

or

 

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

 

Commission File Number: 001-36605

_____________________

PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_____________________

 

FLORIDA   47-2482414

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
200 W. Forsyth St., 7th Floor, Jacksonville, Florida   32202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(904) 396-5733

 

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

Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
 Common Stock $.10 par value NASDAQ
   

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

_________________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  [_]    No  [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  [_]    No  [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  [X]    No  [_]

 

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

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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, 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 [X] 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 Act).     Yes  [_]    No  [X]

The number of shares of the registrant’s stock outstanding as of November 29, 2017 was 3,303,802. The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 31, 2017, the last day of business of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $48,769,547. Solely for purposes of this calculation, the registrant has assumed that all directors, officers and ten percent (10%) shareholders of the Company are affiliates of the registrant.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Parts I and II.

 

Portions of the Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. Proxy Statement which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than December 31, 2017 are incorporated by reference in Part III.

 

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Preliminary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

 

Certain matters discussed in this report contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.

 

These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, capital expenditures, liquidity, capital resources and competition and may be indicated by words or phrases such as ”anticipate”, ”estimate”, ”plans”, ”projects”, ”continuing”, ”ongoing”, ”expects”, ”management believes”, ”the Company believes”, ”the Company intends” and similar words or phrases. The following factors and others discussed in the Company’s periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are among the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: freight demand for petroleum products including the impacts of increased fuel economy and electric vehicles and recessionary and terrorist impacts on travel in the Company’s markets; fuel costs and the Company’s ability to recover fuel surcharges; accident severity and frequency; risk insurance markets; driver availability and cost; the impact of future regulations regarding the transportation industry; availability and terms of financing; competition in our markets; interest rates, and inflation and general economic conditions. However, this list is not a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties.

 

These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof based on management’s current expectations, and the Company does not undertake an obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information regarding these and other risk factors may be found in the Company’s other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. BUSINESS.

 

On January 30, 2015, FRP Holdings, Inc. ("FRP") completed the tax-free spin-off (the “Spin-off") of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc., (the "Company" or "Patriot"). In the Spin-off, FRP distributed all of the outstanding stock of the Company to FRP's shareholders as of the record date of January 9, 2015. FRP’s shareholders received one share of Patriot (stock symbol “PATI”) for every three shares of FRP owned on the record date resulting in 3,242,524 of Patriot shares outstanding on the distribution date. Patriot now is an independent, publicly traded company, and FRP retains no ownership in Patriot.

 

Patriot was incorporated on August 5, 2014 in connection with a corporate reorganization that preceded the Spin-off. The business of the Company is conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. (“Tank Lines”), the same subsidiary through which FRP operated the transportation business prior to the Spin-off.

 

Our Business. Our business consists of hauling petroleum related products and dry bulk commodities and liquid chemicals. We are one of the largest regional tank truck carriers in North America. According to the Tank Truck Carrier 2016 Gross Revenue Report issued by Bulk Transporter, we are the 11th largest bulk tank carrier in North America by revenue.  We operate terminals in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. We do not own any of the products we haul; rather, we act as a third party carrier to deliver our customers’ products from point A to point B, using predominately Company employees and Company-owned tractors and tank trailers. Approximately 82% of our business consists of hauling liquid petroleum products (mostly gas and diesel fuel) from large scale fuel storage facilities to our customers’ retail outlets (e.g. convenience stores, truck stops and fuel depots) where we off-load the product into our customer’s fuel storage tanks for ultimate sale to the retail consumer. The remaining 18% of our business consists of hauling our customers’ dry bulk commodities such as cement, lime and various industrial powder products and liquid chemicals. As of September 30, 2017, we employed 624 revenue-producing drivers who operated our fleet of 451 tractors and 558 trailers from our 21 terminals and 7 satellite locations.

 

We are an important link in our customers’ fuel supply chain, transporting primarily from petroleum terminals to retail locations such as hypermarkets, convenience stores and truck stops.  We also provide the last mile of delivery service in the liquid chemical and dry bulk business primarily from distribution facilities or manufacturing facilities to the end user.  Cement and ash are delivered to concrete plants, powdered lime to industrial users and liquid chemicals primarily to the end user at a manufacturing plant or water treatment or storage facility. 

 

Tractors and Trailers. During fiscal 2017, the Company purchased 37 new tractors. Our fiscal 2018 capital budget includes 62 new tractors. We believe maintaining a modern fleet will result in reduced maintenance expenses, improved operating efficiencies and enhanced driver recruitment and retention. At September 30, 2017 the Company operated a fleet of 451 tractors and 558 tank trailers, 7 tractors that were being prepared for sale and 17 tractors that were being placed in service. The Company owns all of the tank trailers and tractors used to conduct our business, except for 13 tractors owned by owner-operators and 10 leased tractors that were assumed in connection with the Company’s acquisitions of Pipeline Transportation, Inc. in November, 2013 and Petroleum Transport Corporation in April 2016.

 

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Competitors. The tank lines transportation business is extremely competitive and fragmented. We have between two and six competitors in each of our markets, consisting of other carriers of varying sizes as well as our customers’ private fleets. Price, service and location are the major competitive factors in each local market. Some of our competitors have greater financial resources and a more expansive geographic footprint than our company. Some of our competitors periodically reduce their prices to gain business, which may limit our ability to maintain or increase prices, implement new pricing strategies or maintain significant growth in our business.

 

Our largest competitors include Kenan Advantage Group, Eagle Transport, Penn Tank Lines, CTL, and Commercial Carriers.  We also compete with smaller carriers in most of our markets. 

 

Our strategy is to build long-term partnerships with our customers based on the highest level of customer service and reliability. The current trend is that hypermarkets and super regional and national chains have emerged to replace many of the independent convenience stores and service stations historically served by many of our competitors. As this continues, we believe that our size, capabilities, scope of services and geographic reach will provide us a competitive advantage over smaller carriers with fewer resources.

 

Customers. Approximately 82% of our business consists of hauling petroleum related products. Our petroleum clients include major convenience store and hypermarket accounts, fuel wholesalers and major oil companies.  We strive to build long-term relationships with major customers by providing outstanding customer service. During fiscal 2017, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for approximately 58.8% of revenue. One of these customers, Murphy USA, accounted for 19.6% of revenue. The loss of any one of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues and income. Our transportation services agreements with our customers generally are terminable upon 90-120 days’ notice, but nine of our top 10 accounts have been customers for at least 10 years.

 

Our dry bulk and chemical customers include large industrial companies including cement and concrete accounts and product distribution companies.  Our customer relationships are long-standing and have grown over time as a result of consistently high safety and service levels.

 

Sales and Marketing. Our marketing activities are focused on building our relationships with existing customers as well as developing new business opportunities. Our senior management team has extensive experience in marketing specialized fuels delivery services. In addition, significant portions of our marketing activities are conducted locally by our regional managers, terminal managers and dispatchers who act as local customer service representatives. These managers and dispatchers maintain regular contact with customers and are well-positioned to identify the changing transportation needs of customers in their respective geographic areas. We also actively participate in various trade associations, including the National Tank Truck Carriers Association, various state trucking and petroleum marketing associations and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Association.

 

Environmental Matters. Our activities, which involve the transportation, storage and disposal of fuels and other hazardous substances and wastes, are subject to various federal, state and local health and safety laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including, among others, those governing the transportation, management and disposal of hazardous materials, vehicle emissions, underground and above ground storage tanks and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Our operations involve risks of fuel spillage or seepage, hazardous waste disposal and other activities that are potentially damaging to the environment. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving

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hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of or liable under applicable laws or regulations, it could significantly increase our cost of doing business.

 

Most of our truck terminals are located in industrial areas, where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination may have occurred. Under environmental laws, we could be held responsible for the costs relating to any contamination at those or other of our past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites, including cleanup costs, fines and penalties and personal injury and property damages. Under some of these laws, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (also known as the Superfund law) and comparable state statutes, liability for the entire cost of the cleanup of contaminated sites can be imposed upon any current or former owner or operator, or upon any party who sent waste to the site, regardless of the lawfulness of any disposal activities or whether a party owned or operated a contaminated property at the time of the release of hazardous substances. From time to time, we have incurred remedial costs and/or regulatory penalties with respect to chemical or wastewater spills and releases relating to our facilities or operations, and, notwithstanding the existence of our environmental management program, we may incur such obligations in the future. The discovery of contamination or the imposition of additional obligations or liabilities in the future could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or our business reputation. Our operations involve hazardous materials and could result in significant environmental liabilities and costs” for a discussion of certain risks of our being associated with transporting hazardous substances. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business”

 

Seasonality. Our business is subject to seasonal trends common in the refined petroleum products delivery industry. We typically face reduced demand for refined petroleum products delivery services during the winter months and increased demand during the spring months. Further, operating costs and earnings are generally adversely affected by inclement weather conditions. These factors generally result in lower operating results during the first and fourth calendar quarters of the year and cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our operating expenses also have been somewhat higher in the winter months, due primarily to decreased fuel efficiency and increased maintenance costs for tractors and trailers in colder months.

 

Employees. As of September 30, 2017, the Company employed 857 people.

 

Financial Information. Financial information about the company is presented in the financial statements included in the accompanying 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Company Website. The Company’s website may be accessed at www.patriottrans.com. All of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission can be accessed through our website promptly after filing. This includes annual reports on Form 10-K, proxy statements, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports filed or furnished on Form 8-K and all related amendments.

 

 

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS.

 

Our future results may be affected by a number of factors over which we have little or no control. The following issues, uncertainties, and risks, among others, should be considered in evaluating our business and outlook. Also, note that additional risks not currently identified or known to us could also negatively impact our business or financial results.

 

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Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Our business is subject to general economic and other factors that are largely out of our control and could affect our operations, profitability and cash flow.

 

Our business is dependent on various economic factors over which we have little control, that include:

 

    the availability of qualified drivers;
       
    access to the credit and capital markets;
       
    rising healthcare costs;
       
    increases in fuel prices, taxes and tolls;
       
    increases in costs of equipment;
       
    interest rate fluctuations;
       
    excess capacity in the trucking industry;
       
    changes in laws or regulations or changes in license and regulatory fees;
       
    potential disruptions at U.S. ports of entry and in pipeline operations;
       
    downturns in customers’ business cycles; and
       
    insurance prices and insurance coverage availability.

 

As a result, we may experience periods of overcapacity, declining prices, lower profit margins and less availability of cash in the future. Our revenues and operating income could be materially adversely affected if we are unable to pass through to our customers the full amount of increased transportation costs.

 

We would be adversely affected by a decline in demand for hauling petroleum products in our markets.

 

We derive approximately 82% of our revenues from the hauling of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel and ethanol. The demand for these services is determined by motor fuel consumption in our markets, which is affected by general economic conditions, employment levels, consumer confidence, spending patterns and gasoline prices. Demand for our petroleum hauling services is also impacted by vehicle fuel efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles and government regulation relating to ethanol. The Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy projects that U.S. motor gasoline consumption will decline at an average rate of 1.1% per year between 2012 and 2040 as improvements in fuel efficiency are expected to outpace increases in miles driven.

 

Advanced technology, improved fuel efficiency and increased use of “green” automobiles (e.g., those automobiles that do not use gasoline or that are powered by hybrid engines) would reduce demand

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for gasoline. Developments regarding climate change and the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change may lead to increased use of “green” automobiles. Consequently, attitudes toward gasoline and its relationship to the environment may significantly affect our sales and ability to market our products. Reduced consumer demand for gasoline could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in the price and availability of fuel.

 

We require large amounts of diesel fuel to operate our tractors. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, cost of fuel (including fuel taxes) represented approximately 16.5%, 12.6%, and 13.4%, respectively, of our total revenue. The market price for fuel can be extremely volatile and can be affected by a number of economic and political factors. In addition, changes in federal or state regulations can impact the price of fuel, as well as increase the amount we pay in fuel taxes.

 

We typically incorporate a fuel surcharge provision in all customer contracts. The intended effect of that provision is to neutralize the impacts of fluctuations in the price of diesel fuel on both the Company and our customer. The amount of the fuel surcharge is typically set at the beginning of each month and is based on the actual price of diesel fuel recorded in the preceding month. This provision produces a lag in the timing of the recovery of the price move for both the Company and our customer. However, our customers may be able to negotiate contracts that minimize or eliminate our ability to pass on fuel price increases. If fuel prices increase and we are unable to pass the increased cost to our customers, the additional expense could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We currently do not hedge our fuel purchases to protect against fluctuations in fuel prices that are not covered by fuel surcharges, and therefore are at risk to the extent that changes in the market price of fuel are not covered by the fuel surcharge provisions of our customer contracts.

 

Our operations may also be adversely affected by any limit on the availability of fuel. Disruptions in the political climate in key oil producing regions in the world, particularly in the event of wars or other armed conflicts, could severely limit the availability of fuel in the United States. In the event our customers face significant difficulty in obtaining fuel, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

 

Our business may be adversely affected by seasonal factors and harsh weather conditions.

 

Our business is subject to seasonal trends common in the refined petroleum products delivery industry. We typically encounter increased demand for fuels delivery services in Florida during the spring months. Further, operating costs and earnings are generally adversely affected by inclement weather conditions. These factors generally result in lower operating results during the first and fourth calendar quarters of the year and cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our operating expenses also have been somewhat higher in the winter months, primarily due to decreased fuel efficiency, increased utility costs and increased maintenance costs for tractors and trailers in colder months. An occurrence of unusually harsh or long-lasting inclement weather could have an adverse effect on our operations and profitability.

 

We operate in a highly competitive industry, and competitive pressures may adversely affect our operations and profitability.

 

The tank lines transportation business is extremely competitive and fragmented. We compete with

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many other carriers of varying sizes as well as our customers’ private fleets. Numerous competitive factors could impair our ability to maintain our current level of revenues and profitability and adversely affect our financial condition. These factors include the following:

 

  we compete with many other fuels delivery service providers, particularly smaller regional competitors, some of which may have more equipment in, or stronger ties to, the geographic regions in which they operate or other competitive advantages;

 

  some of our competitors periodically reduce their prices to gain business, which may limit our ability to maintain or increase prices, implement new pricing strategies or maintain significant growth in our business;

 

  many customers periodically accept bids from multiple carriers, and this process may depress prices or result in the loss of some business to competitors;

 

  many customers are looking to reduce the number of carriers they use, and in some instances we may not be selected to provide services;

 

  consolidation in the fuels delivery industry could create other large carriers with greater financial resources than we have and other competitive advantages relating to their size;

  

  the development of alternative power sources for cars and trucks could reduce demand for gasoline; and

 

  advances in technology require increased investments to maintain competitiveness, and we may not have the financial resources to invest in technology improvements or our customers may not be willing to accept higher prices to cover the cost of these investments.

 

If we are unable to address these competitive pressures, our operations and profitability may be adversely affected.

 

The loss or bankruptcy of one or more significant customers may adversely affect our business.

 

We are dependent upon a limited number of large customers. Our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 58.8% of our total revenues during the year ended September 30, 2017. In particular, our largest customer, Murphy USA, accounted for 19.6% of our total revenues during fiscal 2017. The loss of one or more of our major customers, or a material reduction in services performed for such customers, would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, if one or more of our customers were to seek protection under the bankruptcy laws, we might not receive payment for services rendered and, under certain circumstances, might have to return payments made by these customers during the 90 days prior to the bankruptcy filing. If we were to lose one or more of our key customers, we might not be able to capture additional volume from other customers to offset the fixed costs historically covered by the lost revenue.

 

Difficulty in attracting and retaining drivers could negatively affect our operations and limit our growth.

 

There is substantial competition for qualified personnel, particularly drivers, in the trucking industry. We operate in many geographic areas where there is currently a shortage of drivers. Regulatory

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requirements, including electronic logging, and an improving U.S. jobs market, could continue to reduce the number of eligible drivers in our markets. Any shortage of drivers could result in temporary under-utilization of our equipment, difficulty in meeting our customers’ demands and increased compensation levels, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. A loss of qualified drivers could lead to an increased frequency in the number of accidents, potential claims exposure and, indirectly, insurance costs.

 

Difficulty in attracting qualified drivers could also require us to limit our growth. Our strategy is to grow in part by expanding existing customer relationships into new markets. However, we may have difficulty finding qualified drivers on a timely basis when presented with new customer opportunities, which could result in our inability to accept or service this business or could require us to increase the wages we pay in order to attract drivers. If we are unable to hire qualified drivers to service business opportunities in new markets, we may have to temporarily send drivers from existing terminals to those new markets, causing us to incur significant costs relating to out-of-town driver pay and expenses. In making acquisitions and converting private fleets, some of the drivers in those fleets may not meet our standards, which would require us to find qualified drivers to replace them. If we are unable to find and retain such qualified drivers on terms acceptable to us, we may be forced to forego opportunities to expand or maintain our business.

 

If our relationship with our employees were to deteriorate, we may be faced with unionization efforts, labor shortages, disruptions or stoppages, which could adversely affect our business and reduce our operating margins and income.

 

Our operations rely heavily on our employees, and any labor shortage, disruption or stoppage caused by poor relations with our employees could reduce our operating margins and income. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements, although unions have traditionally been active in the U.S. trucking industry. Our workforce has been subject to union organization efforts from time to time, and we could be subject to future unionization efforts as our operations expand. Unionization of our workforce could result in higher compensation and working condition demands that could increase our operating costs or constrain our operating flexibility. In addition, we are from time to time subject to wage and hour claims relating to overtime pay where our drivers work more than eight hours in a day but less than 40 hours in a week. We believe we are exempt from overtime pay rules under regulations of the Department of Transportation (“DOT”). However, our operating costs would increase if this exemption were rescinded or if a court determined that we were not exempt from these overtime pay rules.

 

If we lose key members of our senior management, our business may be adversely affected.

 

Our ability to implement our business strategy successfully and to operate profitably depends in large part on the continued employment of our senior management team, led by Robert Sandlin, President and CEO. If Mr. Sandlin or the other members of senior management become unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, our business or financial results could be adversely affected.

 

If we fail to develop, integrate or upgrade our information technology systems, we may lose customers or incur costs beyond our expectations.

 

We rely heavily on information technology and communications systems to operate our business and manage our network in an efficient manner. We have equipped our tractors with various mobile communications systems and electronic logging devices that enable us to monitor our tractors and communicate with our drivers in the field and enable customers to track the location and monitor the

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progress of their cargo through the Internet. Despite redundancies and security measures, our information technology and communications systems remain susceptible to outages, computer viruses, break-ins, human error, data leakage and other disruptions and imperfections. Any of these could impair the efficiency of our operations, inhibit our customer service or reduce customer access to information. In addition, there could be a loss of confidential information, corruption of data, or damage to our reputation. Demand for our services or the profitability of operations could in turn be affected, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations or cash flows.

 

Increasingly, we compete for customers based upon the flexibility and sophistication of our technologies supporting our services. The failure of hardware or software that supports our information technology systems, the loss of data contained in the systems, or the inability of our customers to access or interact with our website, could significantly disrupt our operations and cause us to lose customers. If our information technology systems are unable to handle additional volume for our operations as our business and scope of service grow, our service levels and operating efficiency will decline. In addition, we expect customers to continue to demand more sophisticated fully-integrated information systems. If we fail to hire and retain qualified personnel to implement and maintain our information technology systems or if we fail to upgrade or replace these systems to handle increased volumes, meet the demands of our customers and protect against disruptions of our operations, we may lose customers, which could seriously harm our business.

 

To compete effectively, we must anticipate and adapt to technology changes. We may choose new technologies that later prove to be inadequate, or may be forced to implement new technologies, at substantial cost, to remain competitive. In addition, competitors may implement new technologies before we do, allowing such competitors to provide lower priced or enhanced services and superior quality compared to those we provide. This development could have a material adverse impact on our ability to compete.

 

We are self-insured and/or have deductible exposure to certain claims and are subject to the fluctuations of the insurance marketplace, all of which could affect our profitability.

 

The primary accident risks associated with our business are:

 

    motor-vehicle related bodily injury and property damage;
    workers’ compensation claims;
    environmental pollution liability claims;
    cargo loss and damage; and
    general liability claims.

  

We currently maintain insurance for:

 

    motor-vehicle related bodily injury and property damage claims;
    workers’ compensation insurance coverage on our employees; and
    general liability claims.

 

Our insurance program included a self-insured deductible of $250,000 per incident for bodily injury, property damage, and workers’ compensation (with a basket at $250,000 for all three) until September 30, 2017. Effective October 1, 2017 our deductible on bodily injury and property damage remained at $250,000 but increased to $500,000 on workers compensation with no basket coverage. In addition, we maintained insurance policies with a total limit of $50 million, of which $49 million was provided under umbrella and excess liability policies and $1 million is provided under a primary

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liability policy. The $250,000 deductible per incident could adversely affect our profitability, particularly in the event of an increase in the frequency or severity of incidents. Additionally, we are self-insured for damage to the equipment that we own and lease, as well as for cargo losses and such self-insurance is not subject to any maximum limitation. In addition, even where we have insurance, our insurance policies may not provide coverage for certain claims against us or may not be sufficient to cover all possible liabilities.

 

Our self-insured retentions require us to make estimates of expected loss amounts and accrue such estimates as expenses. Changes in estimates may materially and adversely affect our financial results. In addition, our insurance does not cover claims for punitive damages. As a result of the increase in our self-insured retention, it is likely that we will increase our claims accrual as a result of a possible increase in our claims expense.

 

We are subject to changing conditions and pricing in the insurance marketplace that in the future could change dramatically the cost or availability of various types of insurance. To the extent these costs cannot be passed on to our customers in increased prices, increases in insurance costs could reduce our future profitability and cash flow.

 

In addition, our insurance carriers and the states in which we operate require us to post either letters of credit or surety bonds to collateralize our self-insured retention. We currently have letters of credit of $2.2 million outstanding to satisfy these obligations. If our insurance carriers or the states in which we operate require us to increase the amount of collateral we provide in the future, we could face increased costs, including the payment of additional fees to the providers of letters of credit. Since our letters of credit are considered debt under the financial covenants for our financing arrangements, increases in the amount of letters of credit we have outstanding to collateralize our self-insurance obligations will reduce borrowing availability under our credit agreement and reduce our capacity for additional borrowings.

 

Moreover, any accident or incident involving us, even if we are fully insured or not held to be liable, could negatively affect our reputation among customers and the public, thereby making it more difficult for us to compete effectively, and could significantly affect the cost and availability of insurance in the future. Because we provide “last mile” fuels delivery services, we generally perform our services in more crowded areas, which increases the possibility of an accident involving our trucks.

 

We operate in a highly regulated industry, and increased costs of compliance with, or liability for violation of, existing or future regulations could significantly increase our costs of doing business.

 

As a motor carrier, we are subject to regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) and DOT, and by various federal and state agencies. These regulatory authorities exercise broad powers governing various aspects such as operating authority, safety, hours of service, hazardous materials transportation, financial reporting and acquisitions. There are additional regulations specifically relating to the trucking industry, including testing and specification of equipment, product-handling requirements and drug testing of drivers. In 2003, Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. underwent a compliance review by the FMCSA in which we retained our satisfactory DOT safety rating. Any downgrade in our DOT safety rating (as a result of new regulations or otherwise) could adversely affect our business.  

 

The trucking industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes that may affect the

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economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices, emissions or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing trucking services. Possible changes include:

 

    increasingly stringent environmental regulations, including changes intended to address climate change;
    restrictions, taxes or other controls on emissions;
    regulation specific to the energy market and logistics providers to the industry;
    changes in the hours-of-service regulations, which govern the amount of time a driver may drive in any specific period;
    driver and vehicle electronic logging requirements;
    requirements leading to accelerated purchases of new tractors;
    mandatory limits on vehicle weight and size;
    driver hiring restrictions;
    increased bonding or insurance requirements; and
    mandatory regulations imposed by the Department of Homeland Security.

 

From time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced, including proposals to increase federal, state, or local taxes, including taxes on motor fuels and emissions, which may increase our operating costs, require capital expenditures or adversely impact the recruitment of drivers.

 

Restrictions on emissions or other climate change laws or regulations could also affect our customers that use significant amounts of energy or burn fossil fuels in producing or delivering the products we carry. We also could lose revenue if our customers divert business from us because we have not complied with their sustainability requirements.

 

Our business may be adversely affected by terrorist attacks and anti-terrorism measures.

 

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, federal, state and municipal authorities have implemented and are implementing various security measures, including checkpoints and travel restrictions on large trucks and fingerprinting of drivers in connection with new hazardous materials endorsements on their licenses. Such measures may have costs associated with them which we are forced to bear. While we believe we are in compliance with these new regulations, if existing requirements are interpreted differently by governmental authorities or additional new security measures are required, the timing of our deliveries may be disrupted and we may fail to meet the needs of our customers or incur increased expenses to do so. Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Moreover, large trucks containing petroleum products are potential terrorist targets, and we may be obligated to take measures, including possible capital expenditures intended to protect our trucks. In addition, the insurance premiums charged for some or all of the coverage maintained by us could continue to increase dramatically or such coverage could be unavailable in the future.

 

Our operations involve hazardous materials and could result in significant environmental liabilities and costs.

 

Our activities, which involve the transportation, storage and disposal of fuels and other hazardous substances and wastes, are subject to various federal, state and local health and safety laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including, among others, those governing the transportation, management and disposal of hazardous materials, vehicle emissions, underground and above ground storage tanks and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Our operations involve risks

13 
 

of fuel spillage or seepage, hazardous waste disposal and other activities that are potentially damaging to the environment. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of or liable under applicable laws or regulations, it could significantly increase our cost of doing business.

  

Most of our truck terminals are located in industrial areas, where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination may have occurred. Under environmental laws, we could be held responsible for the costs relating to any contamination at those or other of our past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites, including cleanup costs, fines and penalties and personal injury and property damages. Under some of these laws, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (also known as the Superfund law) and comparable state statutes, liability for the entire cost of the cleanup of contaminated sites can be imposed upon any current or former owner or operator, or upon any party who sent waste to the site, regardless of the lawfulness of any disposal activities or whether a party owned or operated a contaminated property at the time of the release of hazardous substances. From time to time, we have incurred remedial costs and/or regulatory penalties with respect to spills and releases in connection with our operations and, notwithstanding the existence of our environmental management program, such obligations may be incurred in the future. The discovery of contamination or the imposition of additional obligations or liabilities in the future could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or our business reputation.

 

Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. If we fail to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, we could also be subject to substantial fines or penalties and to civil and criminal liability. As a result, our costs of complying with current or future environmental laws or liabilities arising from such laws may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

We have significant ongoing capital requirements.

 

Our business requires substantial ongoing capital investment, particularly for tractors, trailers, terminals and technology. Our capital expenditures were approximately $9.9 million, $11.5 million and $6.3 million in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, and we expect to make capital expenditures of approximately $10.5 million during fiscal 2018. We expect that cash flow from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be our primary sources of financing for capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash from operations or borrow sufficient funds on terms that are acceptable to us, we may be forced to limit our growth and operate existing equipment for significant periods of time, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We may face difficulty in purchasing new equipment on a timely basis. Any delay in delivery of equipment could impair our ability to serve our customers, and, to the extent that we must obtain equipment from alternative sources at increased prices, could result in a significant increase in our anticipated capital expenditures and, accordingly, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Financing may not always be available to fund our activities.

 

We usually must spend and risk a significant amount of capital to fund our activities. Although most capital needs are funded from operating cash flow, the timing of cash flows from operations and

14 
 

capital funding needs may not always coincide, and the levels of cash flow may not fully cover capital funding requirements.

 

From time to time, we may need to supplement our cash generated from operations with proceeds from financing activities. We currently have a revolving credit facility available to us, for up to $25 million of borrowings, to provide us with available financing for working capital, equipment purchases and other general corporate purposes. This credit facility is intended to meet any ongoing cash needs in excess of internally generated cash flows.

 

Our revolving credit agreement limits our ability to engage in some business activities.

 

Our revolving credit agreement contains customary negative covenants and other financial and operating covenants that will, among other things:

 

    limit our ability to incur certain additional indebtedness;
       
    limit our ability to make certain investments;
       
    limit our ability to merge with another company;
       
    limit our ability to pay dividends;
       
    require us to maintain financial coverage ratios; and
       
    prevent us from encumbering certain assets except as approved by the lender.

 

These limitations could cause us to default on our credit agreements or negatively affect our operations.

 

Our growth will depend in part upon making acquisitions, which are subject to the uncertainties of evaluating potential liabilities, integration risks and other difficulties.

 

Our growth strategy depends in part upon our ability to acquire regional competitors in strategically desirable locations and to integrate them successfully into our existing operations.

 

Successful acquisitions require an assessment of a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include operating costs and potential environmental and other liabilities of acquired companies and the extent to which such acquired companies would retain existing customers and add profitable routes to our geographic scope of coverage. Such assessments are inexact and their accuracy is inherently uncertain. In connection with our assessments, we perform a review of the companies to be acquired that we believe is generally consistent with industry practices. However, such a review will not reveal all existing or potential problems. In addition, our review may not permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the companies to fully assess their deficiencies and capabilities.

 

In seeking acquisitions, we may be required to compete with other potential acquirers, some of which may have substantially greater financial and other resources than those available to us. We are unable to predict whether and when any prospective acquisition candidate will become available or the likelihood that any acquisition will be completed on acceptable terms. Further, if we make future acquisitions, we may issue shares of capital stock that dilute other shareholders, incur debt, assume significant liabilities and create additional expenses related to intangible assets, any of which might reduce our reported earnings or earnings per share. In addition, any financing that we might need for these acquisitions may only be available to us on terms that restrict our business and acquisition-related accounting charges may adversely affect our balance sheet and results of operations.

 

15 
 

Additionally, we may encounter difficulties in integrating acquired companies into our existing operations and business because they may have substantially different operating characteristics or be in different geographic locations than our existing operations. Once integrated, acquired businesses may not achieve levels of revenues, profitability or productivity comparable to our existing business or otherwise perform as expected. Also, acquisitions may involve difficulties in the retention of personnel, diversion of management’s attention, risks of the customers of acquired companies allocating all or a portion of their business to our competitors while they evaluate the impact of the acquisition, unexpected legal liabilities, and tax and accounting issues. Any inability on our part to consummate and integrate future acquisitions successfully may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

 

Your percentage of ownership in the Company may be diluted in the future.

 

In the future, your percentage ownership in the Company may be diluted because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or other corporate purposes, including equity awards that we will grant to our directors, officers and employees. Our employees have options to purchase shares of our common stock and we anticipate our compensation committee will grant additional stock options or other stock-based awards to our employees. Such awards will have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. From time to time, we will issue additional options or other stock-based awards to our employees under our employee benefits plans.

 

In addition, our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our shareholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, including preferences over our common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our board of directors generally may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could dilute the voting power or reduce the value of our common stock. For example, we could grant the holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we could assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the common stock.

 

Certain shareholders have effective control of a significant percentage of our common stock and likely will control the outcome of any shareholder vote.

 

As of September 30, 2017, two of our directors, Edward L. Baker and Thompson S. Baker II, beneficially own approximately 6.74% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (64.47% of such shares are held in trusts under which voting power is shared with other family members) and certain of their family members beneficially own an additional 24.38%. As a result, these individuals effectively may have the ability to direct the election of all members of our board of directors and to exercise a controlling influence over our business and affairs, including any determinations with respect to mergers or other business combinations involving us, our acquisition or disposition of assets, our borrowing of monies, our issuance of any additional securities, our repurchase of common stock and our payment of dividends.

 

Provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and certain provisions of Florida law could delay or prevent a change in control of us.

16 
 

 

The existence of some provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws and Florida law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of us that a shareholder may consider favorable. These include provisions:

 

    providing that our directors may be removed by our shareholders only for cause;
       
       
       
    establishing supermajority vote requirements for our shareholders to approve certain business combinations;
    establishing supermajority vote requirements for our shareholders to amend certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and our bylaws;
    authorizing a large number of shares of stock that are not yet issued, which would allow our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, thereby protecting the continuity of our management, or which could be used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us;
    prohibiting shareholders from calling special meetings of shareholders or taking action by written consent; and
    imposing advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors at the annual shareholder meetings.

 

These provisions apply even if a takeover offer may be considered beneficial by some shareholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our board of directors determines is not in our and our shareholders’ best interests.

 

 

Risks Related to the Spin-off

 

Potential indemnification liabilities to FRP pursuant to the Separation agreement could materially adversely affect the Company.

 

The separation agreement with FRP provides for indemnification obligations designed to make the Company financially responsible for substantially all liabilities that may exist relating to its business activities, whether incurred prior to or after the Company's Spin-off from FRP, as well as those obligations of FRP assumed by the Company pursuant to the separation agreement. If the Company is required to indemnify FRP under the circumstances set forth in the separation agreement, the Company may be subject to substantial liabilities.

 

We share three of our executives with FRP so those executives do not devote their full time and attention to our business.

 

Under the terms of the Transition Services Agreement between us and FRP, we provide the services of two of our executive officers to FRP. John D. Milton, Jr., our General Counsel, and John D. Klopfenstein, our Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, serve in the same capacities with FRP under the Transition Services Agreement. These executives will spend approximately 75% and 50% respectively of their time working with FRP during the term of the Transition Services Agreement, and FRP has agreed to reimburse us for 75 and 50% respectively of the total costs associated with these executives (inclusive of overhead). Our business could be adversely impacted by lack of the full-time focus of these executives during the term of the Transition Services Agreement. In addition, these executives may face actual or apparent conflicts of interest if there are issues or disputes under the agreements between us and FRP.

 

17 
 

We have potential conflicts of interest with FRP.

 

We have common management with FRP, which may lead to conflicting interests. Two of our executive officers also serve as executive officers of FRP. Our executive officers and members of our board of directors will have fiduciary duties to our shareholders. Likewise, any such persons who serve in similar capacities at FRP will have fiduciary duties to FRP’s shareholders. Therefore, such persons may have conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting each company. For example, there will be the potential for a conflict of interest if we and FRP look at acquisitions and other corporate opportunities that may be suitable for each of us. Moreover, after the Spin-off, most of our directors and officers continue to own FRP stock, and some officers continue to own options to purchase FRP stock. These ownership interests could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when these individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our company and FRP. From time to time, FRP may enter into transactions with us or our subsidiaries or other affiliates. Although the terms of any such transactions will be established based upon negotiations between employees of the companies involved, there can be no assurance that the terms of any such transactions will be as favorable to us or our subsidiaries or affiliates as would be the case where the parties are completely at arms’ length.

 

Our inter-company agreements were negotiated when we were a subsidiary of FRP. We have entered into agreements with FRP pursuant to which we will provide to FRP certain management, administrative, financial, treasury, accounting, tax, legal and other services, for which FRP will reimburse us on a cost basis. In addition, we have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, a Tax Matters Agreement and an Employee Matters Agreement with FRP. The terms of these agreements were established while we were a wholly owned subsidiary of FRP, and hence were not the result of arms’ length negotiations. However, we believe that such terms are commercially reasonable and fair to both parties under the circumstances. Nevertheless, conflicts could arise in the interpretation or any extension or renegotiation of the foregoing agreements after the Spin-off.

 

There could be significant liability if the distribution of common stock that occurred as a result of the Spin-off is determined to be a taxable transaction.

 

Our former parent, FRP, received an opinion of outside tax counsel to the effect that, among other things, the Spin-off will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code. The opinion relies on certain facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings from FRP and the Company regarding the past and future conduct of the companies’ respective businesses and other matters. If any of these facts, assumptions, representations or undertakings are incorrect or not satisfied, FRP and its shareholders may not be able to rely on the opinion of tax counsel and could be subject to significant tax liabilities.

 

Notwithstanding an opinion of tax counsel, the IRS could determine on audit that the Spin-off is taxable if it determines that any of these facts, assumptions, representations or undertakings are not correct or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinion, or for other reasons, including as a result of certain significant changes in the share ownership of FRP or the Company after the Spin-off. If the Spin-off is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, FRP and its shareholders that are subject to U.S. federal income tax could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities and the Company could incur significant liabilities. In connection with the Spin-off, FRP and the Company entered into a tax matters agreement, which describes the sharing of any such liabilities between FRP and the Company.

 

18 
 

Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

 

None.

 

Item 2. PROPERTIES.

 

As of September 30, 2017, our terminals and satellite locations were located in the following cities:

 

 

State

 

 

City

Terminal or Satellite
Location
 

 

Owned/Leased

           
Alabama   Birmingham Terminal   Leased
Alabama   Mobile Satellite   Leased
Alabama   Montgomery Terminal   Leased
Florida   Cape Canaveral Satellite   Leased
Florida   Ft. Lauderdale Terminal   Leased
Florida   Freeport Satellite   Leased
Florida   Jacksonville Terminal   Owned
Florida   Newberry Satellite   Leased
Florida   Orlando Terminal   Leased
Florida   Panama City Terminal   Owned
Florida   Pensacola Terminal   Owned
Florida   Tampa Terminal   Owned
Florida   White Springs Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Albany Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Athens Satellite   Leased
Georgia   Augusta Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Bainbridge Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Columbus Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Doraville Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Macon Terminal   Owned
Georgia   Rome Satellite   Leased
Georgia   Savannah Terminal   Leased
North Carolina   Charlotte Satellite   Leased
North Carolina   Wilmington Terminal   Leased
South Carolina   Spartanburg Terminal   Leased
Tennessee   Chattanooga Terminal   Owned
Tennessee   Nashville Terminal   Leased
Tennessee   Knoxville Terminal   Owned

 

 

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

Note 11 to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in the accompanying 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

None.

19 
 

PART II

 

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

There were approximately 406 holders of record of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. common stock, $.10 par value, as of September 30, 2017. The Company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Symbol PATI).

 

Price Range of Common Stock. Information concerning stock prices is included under the caption "Quarterly Results" on page 5 of the Company's 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Dividends. The Company has not paid a cash dividend in the past and it is the present policy of the Board of Directors not to pay cash dividends. Information concerning restrictions on the payment of cash dividends is included in Note 3 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included in the accompanying 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included in Item 12 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers. Share repurchase activity during the three months ended September 30, 2017 was as follows:

                 
            Total    
            Number of    
            Shares    
            Purchased   Approximate
            As Part of   Dollar Value of
    Total       Publicly   Shares that May
    Number of   Average   Announced   Yet Be Purchased
    Shares   Price Paid   Plans or   Under the Plans
Period   Purchased   per Share   Programs   or Programs (1)
  July 1                                  
  Through                                  
  July 31       —       $ —         —       $ 5,000,000  
                                     
  August 1                                  
  Through                                  
  August 31       —       $ —         —       $ 5,000,000  
                                     
  September 1                                  
  Through                                  
  September 30       —       $ —         —       $ 5,000,000  
                                     
  Total       —       $ —         —            

 

 

20 
 

(1) On February 4, 2015, the Board of Directors authorized management to expend up to $5,000,000 to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time as opportunities arise. To date, the Company has not repurchased any common stock of the Company.

 

Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

 

Information required in response to this Item 6 is included under the caption "Five Year Summary" on page 5 of the Company's 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION.

 

Information required in response to Item 7 is included under the caption "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" on pages 6 through 12 of the Company’s 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Interest Rate Risk. We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes through our variable-rate borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Under the Wells Fargo revolving credit line, the applicable margin for borrowings at September 30, 2017 was 1.0% over LIBOR. The applicable margin for such borrowings will be increased in the event that our debt to capitalization ratio as calculated under the Credit Agreement Facilities exceeds a target level.

 

The Company did not have any variable or fixed rate debt outstanding at September 30, 2017, so a sensitivity analysis was not performed to determine the impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

 

Commodity Price Risk. The price and availability of diesel fuel are subject to fluctuations due to changes in the level of global oil production, seasonality, weather, global politics and other market factors. Historically, we have been able to recover a significant portion of fuel price increases from our customers in the form of fuel surcharges. The price and availability of diesel fuel can be unpredictable as well as the extent to which fuel surcharges can be collected to offset such increases. In fiscal 2017 and 2016, a significant portion of fuel costs was recovered through fuel surcharges.

 

 

Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

Information required in response to this Item 8 is included under the caption "Quarterly Results" on page 5 and on pages 13 through 24 of the Company's 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

 

None.

 

21 
 

Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls And Procedures. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and chief accounting officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such terms is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our chief accounting officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.

 

Management’s Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013), our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2017.

 

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our Independent Registered Certified Public Accounting Firm, Hancock Askew & Co., LLP, regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our Independent Registered Certified Public Accounting Firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.

 

Change In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. During the fourth quarter of 2017, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Inherent Limitations Over Internal Controls. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated and combined financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

i.pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;

 

ii.provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated and combined financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

 

iii.provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

22 
 

Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and circumvention by collusion or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system may not prevent or detect material misstatements on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

 

PART III

 

 

Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

 

Information regarding the Company’s executive officers and directors (including the disclosure regarding audit committee financial experts), required in response to this Item 10, is included under the captions "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance- Our Board of Directors," "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance- Board Leadership," "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance- Board Committees," "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance- Business Conduct Policies,” “Securities Ownership- Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” and "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" in the Company's Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than December 31, 2017.

 

The Company has adopted a Financial Code of Ethical Conduct applicable to its principal executive officers, principal financial officers and principal accounting officers. A copy of this Financial Code of Ethical Conduct is filed as Exhibit 14 to this Form 10-K. The Financial Code of Ethical Conduct is available on our web site at www.patriottrans.com under the heading Corporate Governance.

 

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

 

Information required in response to this Item 11 is included under the captions "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance- Board Committees- Compensation Committee," "Non-Employee Director Compensation," "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" and "Executive Compensation" in the Company's Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than December 31, 2017.

 

Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

Information required in response to this Item 12 is included under the captions "Securities Ownership" in the Company's Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than December 31, 2017.

23 
 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

                Number of
                Securities
                Remaining
                Available
    Number of           for future
    Securities       Weighted   Issuance
    to be       Average   under equity
    issued upon       exercise   Compensation
    exercise of       price of   Plans
    outstanding       outstanding   (excluding
    options,       options,   Securities
    Warrants       warrants   reflected in
    and rights       and rights   column (a))
Plan Category   (a)       (b)   (c)
                 
Equity compensation                
 plans approved by                
 security holders   151,591     $ 22.18   87,131
                 
Equity compensation                
 plans not approved                
 by security holders   0       0   0
                 
Total   151,591     $ 22.18   87,131

 

 

Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

 

Information required in response to this Item 13 is included under the caption “Related Party Transactions" and “Board of Directors and Corporate Governance- Director Independence " in the Company's Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than December 31, 2017.

 

 

Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

 

Information required in response to this Item 14 is included under the captions “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than December 31, 2017.

 

 

 

 

24 
 

PART IV

 

 

Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE.

 

(a) (1) and (2) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule.

 

The response to this item is submitted as a separate section. See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule on page 28 of this Form 10-K.

 

(3) Exhibits.

 

The response to this item is submitted as a separate section. See Exhibit Index on pages 27 of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

      Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
         
         
Date:  December 1, 2017   By ROBERT E. SANDLIN  
      Robert E. Sandlin  
      President and Chief Executive Officer
      (Principal Executive Officer)
         
         
    By MATTHEW C. MCNULTY  
      Matthew C. McNulty  
      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
       (Principal Financial Officer)  
         
         
    By JOHN D. KLOPFENSTEIN  
      John D. Klopfenstein  
      Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
      (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

25 
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on December 1, 2017.

 

 

ROBERT E. SANDLIN

  THOMPSON S. BAKER II  
Robert E. Sandlin   Thompson S. Baker II  
President and Executive Officer   Chairman of the Board   
(Principal Executive Officer)   Director  
       
       
MATTHEW C. MCNULTY   JOHN E. ANDERSON  
Matthew C. McNulty   John E. Anderson  
Vice President and Chief Financial Director   
Officer (Principal Financial Officer)      
     
       
JOHN D. KLOPFENSTEIN   LUKE E. FICHTHORN  
John D. Klopfenstein   Luke E. Fichthorn III  
Controller and Chief Accounting Director  
Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)    
       
       
EDWARD L. BAKER   CHARLES D. HYMAN  
Edward L. Baker   Charles D. Hyman  
Director, Chairman Emeritus   Director  
       
       
       
       
       

 

 

 

26 
 

PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC.

FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

EXHIBIT INDEX

[Item 14(a)(3)]

 

 (2.1) Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015, by and between FRP Holdings, Inc. and Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.(incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed February 2, 2015).
   
(3.1) Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2015).
   
(3.2) Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2015).
   
(10.1) Credit Agreement, dated January 30, 2015, among Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2015).
   

(10.2) Tax Matters Agreement, dated January 30, 2015, by and between FRP Holdings, Inc. and Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed February 2, 2015).
   
(10.3) Transition Services Agreement, dated January 30, 2015, by and between FRP Holdings, Inc. and Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed February 2, 2015).
   
(10.4) Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015, by and between FRP Holdings, Inc. and Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed February 2, 2015).
   
(10.5) 2014 Equity Incentive Plan for Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2015).
   
(10.6) Management Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2015).
   
(14) Financial Code of Ethical Conduct between the Company, Chief Executive Officers, and Financial Managers (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed February 2, 2015).
   
(21) Subsidiaries of Registrant at September 30, 2017:  Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. (a Florida corporation); Patriot Transportation of Florida, Inc. (a Florida corporation).
   
(23)(a) Consent of Hancock Askew & Co., Inc., Independent Registered Certified Public Accounting Firm, appears on page 29 of this Form 10-K.
   
(31)(a) Certification of Robert E. Sandlin.
(31)(b) Certification of Matthew C. McNulty.
(31)(c) Certification of John D. Klopfenstein.
(32) Certification of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Accounting Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS XBRL Instance Document
101.XSD XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

27 
 

  

PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

(Item 15(a) (1) and 2))

 

      Page
Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements:        
  Consolidated and combined balance sheets at September 30, 2017 and 2016     14 (a)
         
  For the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015:        
    Consolidated and combined statements of income     13 (a)
    Consolidated and combined statements of comprehensive income     13 (a)
    Consolidated and combined statements of cash flows     15 (a)
    Consolidated and combined statements of shareholders' equity/net investment     16 (a)
         
  Notes to consolidated and combined financial statements     17-24 (a)
         
  Report of Independent Registered Certified Public Accounting Firm     25 (a)
         
  Selected quarterly financial data (unaudited)     5 (a)
         
Consent of Independent Registered Certified Public Accounting Firm     29 (b)
         
Report of Independent Registered Certified Public        
  Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedule     29 (b)
         
Consolidated and Combined Financial Statement Schedule:        
         
 II - Valuation and qualifying accounts     30 (b)
         
         
         
         
(a)         Refers to the page number in the Company's 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders.  Such information is incorporated by reference in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
         
(b)         Refers to the page number in this Form 10-K  
         
All other schedules have been omitted, as they are not required under the related instructions, are inapplicable, or because the information required is included in the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

28 
 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-201791 and 333-201792) of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. of our report dated December 1, 2017 relating to the consolidated and combined financial statements which appear in the Annual Report to Shareholders incorporated by reference herein. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated December 1, 2017, relating to the financial statement schedule, which appears in this Form 10-K.

 

Hancock Askew & Co., LLP

 

Savannah, Georgia

December 1, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

 

 

The Shareholders and Directors

Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.

 

 

Our audit of the consolidated and combined financial statements referred to in our report dated December 1, 2017 appearing in the 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (which report and consolidated and combined financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K) also included an audit of the financial statement schedule listed in Item 15(a)(2) of this Form 10-K. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statement schedule based on our audit. In our opinion, this financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

Hancock Askew & Co., LLP

 

Savannah, Georgia

December 1, 2017

 

 

 

29 
 

PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC.

SCHEDULE II (CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED) - VALUATION

AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017, 2016 AND 2015

 

 

 

            ADDITIONS     ADDITIONS              
      BALANCE     CHARGED TO   CHARGED TO         BALANCE  
      AT BEGIN.     COST AND     OTHER           AT END  
      OF YEAR     EXPENSES     ACCOUNTS     DEDUCTIONS     OF YEAR  
                                 
Year Ended                                
September 30, 2017:                                
                                 
Allowance for                                
 doubtful accounts   $ 152,516   $ 19,291   $ —     $ 21,741 (a) $ 150,066  
Accrued risk                                
 Insurance:                                
  Tanklines   $ 6,909   $ 2,400,754   $ —     $ 2,908,432   $ (500,769) (b)
Accrued health                                
 Insurance     881,214     3,681,769     —       3,812,528     750,455  
Totals -                                
 Insurance   $ 888,123   $ 6,082,523   $  —     $ 6,720,960 (c)  $ 249,686  
                                 
Year Ended                                
September 30, 2016:                                
                                 
Allowance for                                
 doubtful accounts   $ 143,988   $   $ —     $ (8,528) (a) $ 152,516  
Accrued risk                                
 Insurance:                                
  Tanklines   $ 973,154   $ 2,162,707   $ —     $ 3,128,952   $ 6,909  
Accrued health                                
 Insurance     1,174,950     3,501,849     (200,876) (d)   3,594,709     881,214  
Totals -                                
 Insurance   $ 2,148,104   $ 5,664,556   $ (200,876)   $ 6,723,661 (c) $ 888,123  
                                 
Year Ended                                
September 30, 2015:                                
                                 
Allowance for                                
 doubtful accounts   $ 155,476   $ 144   $ —     $ 11,632 (a) $ 143,988  
Accrued risk                                
 Insurance:                                
  Tanklines   $ 1,551,255   $ 2,317,467   $ —     $ 2,895,568   $ 973,154  
Accrued health                                
 Insurance     1,036,219     3,948,125     3,772 (d)   3,813,166     1,174,950  
Totals -                                
 Insurance   $ 2,587,474   $ 6,265,592   $ 3,772   $ 6,708,734 (c)  $ 2,148,104  
                                 
                                 

(a) Accounts written off less recoveries

(b) Prepaid Insurance Claims

(c) Payments

(d) Other comprehensive income (ASC Topic 715).

30