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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended

 

June 30, 2004

 


 

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

1-10955

(Commission File Number)

 

DELAWARE   52-1303748

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3700 Koppers St., Baltimore, Maryland   21227
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

410 – 368 - 7000

(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  x    NO  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

7,282,420 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, as of August 6, 2004.

 



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ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS CORPORATION

 

FORM 10-Q

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED

 

JUNE 30, 2004

 

PART I:

  FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

  Financial Statements     
    Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2004 and March 31, 2004    3
    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003    4
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003    5
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    6-9

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    10-13

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    13

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures    13

PART II:

  OTHER INFORMATION    14

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings    14

Item 6.

  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    14

Signatures

   15

 


 

A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this report are not historical or current facts and deal with potential future circumstances and developments (“forward-looking statements”). The discussion of these matters and subject areas is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and these discussions may materially differ from our actual future experience involving any one or more of these matters and subject areas. These forward-looking statements are also subject generally to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, loss of new orders, increased competition, changes in environmental regulations, operating losses, declines in markets for the Company’s products and services, insufficient capital resources, and other factors that are described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including reports filed on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.

 

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Environmental Elements Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

As of June 30, 2004 and March 31, 2004

 

    

June 30,

2004


   

March 31,

2004


 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

                

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 336,000     $ 295,000  

Accounts and retainage receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $836,000 and $830,000, respectively

     4,624,000       5,811,000  

Unbilled contract costs and fees

     505,000       1,362,000  

Inventories

     570,000       660,000  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     507,000       326,000  
    


 


Total current assets

     6,542,000       8,454,000  
    


 


Property and equipment:

                

Machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures

     3,017,000       3,017,000  
    


 


       3,017,000       3,017,000  

Less – Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     2,801,000       2,755,000  
    


 


Property and equipment, net

     216,000       262,000  
    


 


Other assets, net

     313,000       325,000  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 7,071,000     $ 9,041,000  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) INVESTMENT

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 2,935,000     $ 5,298,000  

Billings in excess of contract costs and fees

     2,311,000       1,627,000  

Accrued payroll and related expenses

     501,000       454,000  

Accrued and other current liabilities

     2,194,000       2,199,000  

Line of credit in default

     5,842,000       5,707,000  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     13,783,000       15,285,000  

Long-term liabilities:

                

Accrued pension liability

     4,172,000       4,119,000  

Other non-current liabilities

     607,000       602,000  
    


 


Total liabilities

     18,562,000       20,006,000  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Stockholders’ (deficit) investment:

                

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 7,283,420 shares issued and outstanding

     73,000       73,000  

Paid-in capital

     28,673,000       28,673,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (5,742,000 )     (5,723,000 )

Retained deficit

     (34,495,000 )     (33,988,000 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ (deficit) investment

     (11,491,000 )     (10,965,000 )
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) investment

   $ 7,071,000     $ 9,041,000  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Environmental Elements Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Sales

   $ 3,929,000     $ 10,506,000  

Cost of sales

     (3,840,000 )     (9,620,000 )
    


 


Gross Profit

     89,000       886,000  
    


 


Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (588,000 )     (949,000 )
    


 


Operating Loss

     (499,000 )     (63,000 )

Interest and other expense, net

     (8,000 )     (211,000 )
    


 


Loss before Income Taxes

     (507,000 )     (274,000 )

Provision for income taxes

     —         —    
    


 


Net Loss

   $ (507,000 )   $ (274,000 )
    


 


Loss per share:

                

Basic

   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.04 )
    


 


Diluted

   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.04 )
    


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                

Basic

     7,283,420       7,282,420  

Diluted

     7,283,420       7,282,420  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Environmental Elements Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003

(Unaudited)

 

     2004

    2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net loss

   $ (507,000 )   $ (274,000 )

Non-cash items:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     60,000       162,000  

Loss on sale of China subsidiary

     47,000       0  

Effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts and retainages receivable, net

     1,402,000       (1,756,000 )

Unbilled contract costs and fees

     916,000       1,880,000  

Inventories

     54,000       (32,000 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (178,000 )     34,000  

Accounts payable

     (2,570,000 )     312,000  

Billings in excess of contract costs and fees

     684,000       376,000  

Accrued payroll and related expenses

     21,000       94,000  

Accrued and other current liabilities

     (20,000 )     (746,000 )

Other non-current liabilities

     5,000       9,000  
    


 


Net cash flows from operating activities

     (86,000 )     59,000  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Purchases of property and equipment

     —         (33,000 )

Expenditures related to sale of Chinese subsidiary

     (55,000 )     0  

Effects of changes in other assets

     13,000       (15,000 )
    


 


Net cash flows from investing activities

     (42,000 )     (48,000 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Net borrowings (repayments) under line of credit

     135,000       (174,000 )

Change in accrued pension liability

     53,000       60,000  

Change in accumulated other comprehensive income

     (19,000 )     41,000  
    


 


Net cash flows from financing activities

     169,000       (73,000 )
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     41,000       (62,000 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     295,000       365,000  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 336,000     $ 303,000  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The interim consolidated financial statements included herein for Environmental Elements Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In management’s opinion, the interim financial data presented herein include all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

 

2. PER SHARE DATA

 

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share was computed assuming the terms and conditions for the common stock options were met and converted. Any difference between the basic and diluted earnings per share is due to the dilutive effect of stock options outstanding. For the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, options to purchase 516,000 and 386,500 shares, respectively, of common stock of the Company were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to their anti-dilutive effect.

 

3. ASSET SALE

 

As the Company has previously disclosed, as a result of the Company’s increased focus on its service and maintenance business and its decision to be more selective in its pursuit of large Systems projects, the Company anticipated that it would have less demand for the products that its Chinese subsidiary supplies. This subsidiary principally provided manufacturing capabilities to the Company. It also had limited sales to outside customers of approximately $458,000 in fiscal 2003 and $61,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2004. Based on projected revenues and expenses, this subsidiary would not generate positive cash flows for the foreseeable future. Therefore, in May 2004, the Company made the decision to dispose of its Chinese subsidiary by selling the stock to the management of that subsidiary at an amount which the Company believes approximates the fair market value. As consideration for the sale, the Company received a $200,000 non-interest bearing promissory note and entered into a license agreement for the use of its electrostatic precipitator and fabric filter technologies for which it may receive future royalties. The non-interest bearing note is due $100,000 on December 31, 2007 and $100,000 on December 31, 2008. The Company will account for these notes in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 81, “Gain Recognition on the Sale of a Business or Operating Assets to a Highly Leveraged Entity.” The impact of this transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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4. LONG TERM LINE OF CREDIT

 

During fiscal year 2004, the Company completed a restructuring of its outstanding bank debt. The new agreement resulted in a $5,000,000 reduction of the Company’s outstanding line of credit balance, an adjustment to the borrowing capacity under the line up to a maximum of $6,750,000 and a restructuring of the financial and other covenants within the previous borrowing agreement. In return for these accommodations, the Company assigned to the Bank its rights to a long-term master lease on its headquarters building in Baltimore, Maryland. The new agreement expires March 31, 2005 at which time all amounts outstanding become due. As of June 30, 2004, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $5,842,000.

 

Under the terms of the new agreement, the Company’s bank did not waive any default provisions that existed under the previous agreement. However, the bank agreed to forbear from exercising its rights under the default provisions of the old agreement through the term of the new agreement, provided the Company maintains compliance with the terms of the new agreement. As disclosed in previous filings, the Company is in default with several financial covenants of the previous agreement and expects that it will work with its bank prior to March 31, 2005 to attempt to negotiate an extension of the forbearance agreement or to develop a new lending facility to replace the expiring one. If the Company is unable to negotiate a new agreement, it will be required to seek alternative financing arrangements, which may have a material impact on its ability to continue to operate. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to extend its current financing commitments or obtain alternative financing subsequent to March 31, 2005.

 

The new agreement requires that beginning on January 1, 2004 the Company may not incur cumulative losses in excess of $400,000 over two consecutive fiscal quarters as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In addition, the agreement states that the Company must not incur negative cash flows as defined in the agreement in any two successive fiscal quarters in an aggregate amount in excess of $400,000.

 

Based on the results as reported by the Company for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, the Company is not in compliance with either the requirement limiting GAAP losses or the negative cash flow requirement. The Company is in discussions with its Bank in order to achieve a waiver of these requirements for this period, but there can be no assurance that the Bank will grant such a waiver. They may elect to cease advancing funds or declare the outstanding balance immediately due and payable. The Company does not have the liquidity to repay amounts outstanding under its debt agreement.

 

5. PROJECT DISPUTE

 

The Company provided the materials for a circulating dry scrubber and an electrostatic precipitator as a subcontractor to a general contractor on a larger air pollution control system installation project. Under the terms of its subcontract, the Company was required to post a performance bond in an amount equal to its contract value, or approximately $14.6 million. The total project was delivered late by the general contractor, had initial operating and performance problems and resulted in significant cost overruns by the Company and the general contractor. The Company fully recorded its costs in the periods in which they were incurred and provided reserves for its estimation of additional costs to settle its responsibilities under its contract. During fiscal year 2004, the general contractor made a claim to the Company’s bonding company for

 

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approximately $8 million based on its calculations of costs to be backcharged to the Company and liquidated damages due from the Company resulting from the late delivery of the project to the end user. The Company does not accept responsibility for these extra costs and has assisted the bonding company in aggressively defending the claim. Under the original terms of the bonding agreement, should the bonding company be required to pay any of the amounts claimed, or if it makes a decision to settle the dispute, the Company agreed to indemnify the bonding company. Based on the Company’s financial position, any significant payment made by the bonding company would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to continue to operate.

 

6. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Amounts paid in cash for interest during the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 were $68,000 and $150,000, respectively. There were no income taxes paid during either three month period.

 

7. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

As a result of the Company’s increased focus on the service and maintenance components of its business, the Company has restated its business segment information. Therefore, the Engineered Products business unit has been combined with the Systems business unit for the current and prior periods. The Company now has two reportable operating segments as of June 30, 2004: the Systems Business Unit and the Services Business Unit. The Systems Business Unit provides custom-engineered, original equipment systems to traditionally intensive users of air pollution control (APC) systems and the Services Business Unit provides maintenance, repair, and spare parts products and services to customers with particulate abatement installed APC equipment.

 

The segments reported below are the segments of the Company for which separate financial information is available and for which sales and operating income amounts are evaluated by executive management in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company does not allocate assets to the individual operating segments and there are no significant intercompany sales transactions between the operating segments.

 

Information about reported segment sales and operating income (loss) for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 is as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

 

Business Unit


   Sales

  

Operating

Income (Loss)


    Sales

  

Operating

Income (Loss)


 

Systems

   $ 355,000    $ (478,000 )   $ 5,088,000    $ (118,000 )

Services

     3,574,000      (21,000 )     5,416,000      55,000  
    

  


 

  


Total

   $ 3,929,000    $ (499,000 )   $ 10,506,000    $ (63,000 )
    

  


 

  


 

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The Company attributes revenues to individual geographic areas based upon the country where services are provided or products are delivered. Sales by geographic area for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:

 

Geographic Area


   2004

   2003

United States

   $ 2,641,000    $ 9,509,000

United Kingdom

     894,000      613,000

Canada

     333,000      226,000

Other International

     61,000      158,000
    

  

Total

   $ 3,929,000    $ 10,506,000
    

  

 

8. COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company’s comprehensive loss for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 is as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

 

Net Loss as Reported

   $ (507,000 )   $ (274,000 )

Effect of Foreign Currency Translation Gain

     (19,000 )     41,000  
    


 


Comprehensive Loss

   $ (526,000 )   $ (233,000 )
    


 


 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss as shown in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2004 is comprised of $5,612,000 of minimum pension liability and $130,000 of accumulated foreign currency loss.

 

9. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company maintains a stock option plan that authorizes the granting of options to purchase shares of common stock at prices not less than fair market value at the date of grant. The current plan, the 1998 Stock Option Plan (the Plan), was approved by a majority of the Company’s shareholders and authorizes the granting of options to purchase up to 650,000 shares of common stock. Under the terms of the Plan, 20% of the options granted are exercisable immediately along with 20% on each of the next four anniversaries and expire five years from the date of grant. The Company accounts for stock options granted using the intrinsic value method of expense recognition and measurement prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations (collectively, “APB No. 25”). In accordance with FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS No. 123”), as amended by FASB Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, the following tables illustrate the effect on net loss and basic and diluted loss per share if the Company had applied the fair value based method of expense recognition and measurement provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30


 
     2004

    2003

 

Net Income (Loss), as reported

   $ (507,000 )   $ (274,000 )

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (72,000 )     (40,000 )
    


 


Pro forma net income (Loss)

   $ (579,000 )   $ (314,000 )
    


 


Income (Loss) per share:

                

Basic — as reported

   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.04 )

Diluted — as reported

   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.04 )

Basic — pro forma

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.04 )

Diluted — pro forma

   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.04 )

 

No stock options were granted during the three month period ended June 30, 2004.

 

Under the SFAS No. 123 pro forma disclosure provisions, the fair value of options granted subsequent to December 15, 1995, has been estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price characteristics that are significantly different from those of traded options. Because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the Company’s outstanding options. For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of options is amortized to expense over the estimated vesting period. The provisions of SFAS No. 123 may not necessarily be indicative future results.

 

10. NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTDEFINED BENEFIT PLAN

 

For a detailed disclosure on the company’s pension and employee benefits plans, please refer to Note 5 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The following sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost of the non-contributory defined benefit plan for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30


 
     2004

    2003

 

Service Cost

   $ 68,000     $ 68,000  

Interest Cost

     254,000       239,000  

Expected return on plan assets

     (214,000 )     (240,000 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     7,000       12,000  

Recognized actuarial (gain) loss

     54,000       48,000  
    


 


Net periodic cost

   $ 169,000     $ 127,000  
    


 


 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

The following information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report and the audited Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

 

GENERAL

 

The Company designs, supplies and services systems and equipment and provides aftermarket products that enable its customers to comply with regulations limiting particulate and gaseous emissions. The Company generally is contractually responsible for all phases of design, fabrication and, if included in the scope of the Company’s contract, field construction of its equipment and systems. The Company faces substantial competition in each of its principal markets. Many contracts for the Company’s large-scale systems design and construction projects are awarded through competitive bidding and are undertaken on a fixed-price basis. Like others in its industry, the Company relies on outside suppliers, manufacturers and fabricators to supply parts and components in accordance with the Company’s designs and specifications. When the Company’s scope of work includes installation of equipment, the Company selects and supervises subcontractors for this work. The Company’s successful completion of its contractual obligations is usually determined by performance testing of its systems. The Company’s services and maintenance work is done primarily on a time and material basis and also relies on outside subcontractors and suppliers. This type of work generally is of a shorter duration (1 to 3 months) and does not include performance testing of the service or repairs.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Long-Term Contracts

 

The Company records sales from long-term contracts using the percentage-of-completion method. Under this method, the Company recognizes as sales that portion of the total contract price which the cost of work completed bears to the estimated total cost of the work covered by the contract. Because contracts may extend over more than one fiscal period, revisions of cost and profit estimates are made periodically and are reflected in the accounting period in which they are determined. If the estimate of total costs on a contract indicates a loss, the total anticipated loss is recognized immediately. Revenues for spare parts are recognized when those parts are shipped to the customer.

 

Unbilled contract costs and fees represent revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed. All unbilled contract costs and fees are expected to be collected within the next fiscal year. Billings in excess of contract costs and fees represent billings in excess of revenues recognized. The Company provides for warranty expenses on contracts based on estimates that take into account historical experience. Warranty expenses and related accruals are included in cost of sales and in accrued and other current liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

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Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Inventories consist principally of purchased and fabricated parts held for use in contracts and as spare parts.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table sets forth the percentage relationships to sales of selected items in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations (unaudited) for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003:

 

     2004

    2003

 

Sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of sales

   97.7     91.6  
    

 

Gross profit

   2.3     8.4  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   15.0     9.0  
    

 

Operating loss

   (12.7 )%   (.6 )%
    

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2004 COMPARED TO

THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2003

 

Sales for the three months ended June 30, 2004 decreased 62.6%, or $6,577,000, to $3,929,000 from $10,506,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2003. The poor financial performance experienced by the Company’s major customer groups during the last two years continued into the first quarter of fiscal 2005, resulting in their continued curtailment of purchases of the Company’s products and services. There were few awards of systems projects of the size and scope that the Company could compete for and spending by the power and pulp and paper sector on maintenance and rebuild services continued to be below those levels of previous years.

 

As a percentage of sales, cost of sales increased to 97.7% in the current period as compared to 91.6% in the same period of the prior year, and the Company’s gross profit percentage decreased to 2.3% from 8.4%. The primary reason for the increase in cost of sales was that the lowered sales volumes that the Company experienced during the quarter did not allow for the Company to sufficiently leverage the fixed component of its cost of sales.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 38.0%, or $361,000 to $588,000 from $949,000, but increased as a percentage of sales to 15.0% from 9.0%. These decreased expense levels were a direct result of the Company’s continuing cost reduction efforts in response to the slowdown in its business, while the increase as a percentage of sales was due to the lowered revenues that were realized in the quarter.

 

For the reasons set forth above, the Company incurred an operating loss of $499,000, or 12.7% of sales, for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, compared to an operating loss of $63,000, or .6% of sales, for the prior year period

 

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The Company reported interest and other expense, net of $8,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared with net interest expense of $211,000 in the prior period. The decrease was primarily due to the $5,000,000 reduction of the Company’s line of credit and amortization of deferred interest expense, both the result of the debt restructuring. Also included in net interest and other expense was a $61,000 royalty receipt and a loss of $47,000 on the sale of the Chinese subsidiary.

 

The Company incurred a loss before income taxes of $507,000 or 12.9% of sales, in the current year quarter, compared to a net loss before income taxes of $274,000 or 2.6% of sales, for the prior year period.

 

There was no provision for income taxes in either quarter reported because the Company incurred pre-tax losses and recorded a valuation reserve offsetting the deferred tax benefit.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company seeks to arrange its contracts so as to minimize its investment in net working capital, but the amount of this investment varies with the payment terms and stage of completion of its contracts. (“Net working capital invested in contracts” consists of accounts and retainages receivable and unbilled contract costs and fees, less accounts payable and less billings in excess of contract costs and fees.) Net working capital invested in contracts was a negative $117,000 at June 30, 2004 and $248,000 at March 31, 2004. The Company also requires capital to the extent that its net cash flows from operating activities are negative, and borrows against its line of credit when necessary.

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $41,000 and borrowings under the Company’s line of credit increased by $135,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2004.

 

During fiscal year 2004, the Company completed a restructuring of its outstanding bank debt. The new agreement resulted in a $5,000,000 reduction of the Company’s outstanding line of credit balance, an adjustment to the borrowing capacity under the line up to a maximum of $6,750,000 and a restructuring of the financial and other covenants within the previous borrowing agreement. In return for these accommodations, the Company assigned to the Bank its rights to a long-term master lease on its headquarters building in Baltimore, Maryland. The new agreement expires March 31, 2005 at which time all amounts outstanding become due. As of June 30, 2004, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $5,842,000.

 

Under the terms of the new agreement, the Company’s bank did not waive any default provisions that existed under the previous agreement. However, the bank agreed to forbear from exercising its rights under the default provisions of the old agreement through the term of the new agreement, provided the Company maintains compliance with the terms of the new agreement. As disclosed in previous filings, the Company is in default with several financial covenants of the previous agreement and expects that it will work with its bank prior to March 31, 2005 to attempt to negotiate an extension of the forbearance agreement or to develop a new lending facility to replace the expiring one. If the Company is unable to negotiate a new agreement, it will be required to seek alternative financing arrangements, which would have a material adverse impact on its ability to continue to operate. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to extend its current financing commitments or obtain alternative financing subsequent to March 31, 2005.

 

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The new agreement requires that beginning on January 1, 2004 the Company may not incur cumulative losses in excess of $400,000 over two consecutive fiscal quarters as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In addition, the agreement states that the Company must not incur negative cash flows as defined in the agreement in any two successive fiscal quarters in an aggregate amount in excess of $400,000.

 

Based on the results as reported by the Company for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, the Company is not in compliance with the either the requirement limiting GAAP losses or the negative cash flow requirement. The Company is in discussions with its Bank in order to achieve a waiver of these requirements for this period, but there can be no assurance that the Bank will grant such a waiver. They may elect to cease advancing funds or declare the outstanding balance immediately due and payable. The Company does not have the liquidity to repay amounts outstanding under its debt agreement. If the Bank does not waive compliance, the Company may lose its ability to continue to operate.

 

The Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at June 30, 2004 increased 68% to $13.8 million from $8.2 million at June 30, 2003. New orders received during the three months ended June 30, 2004 increased 124% from the same period last year, to $13.0 million from $5.8 million.

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Although the Company’s business is primarily in the United States, the Company does have business and operations outside the United States. As a global concern, the Company faces exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. These exposures may change over time as business practices evolve and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial results. Historically the Company’s primary exposures have been related to non-dollar denominated operating expenses in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. The Company is prepared to hedge against fluctuations in foreign currencies if this exposure becomes material but does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. As of June 30, 2004 the assets and liabilities of the Company related to non-dollar denominated currencies were not material. Therefore, an increase or decrease of 10 percent in the foreign exchange rate would not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The President and the Chief Financial Officer have reviewed the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2004 (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on that review, they have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, these controls and procedures were, in design and operation, effective to assure that the information required to be included in this report has been properly collected, processed, and timely communicated to those responsible in order that it may be included in this report.

 

b) Changes in Internal Controls. Subsequent to the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes including corrective actions, in our internal accounting controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the disclosure controls and procedures.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Project Dispute

 

The Company provided the materials for a circulating dry scrubber and an electrostatic precipitator as a subcontractor to a general contractor on a larger air pollution control system installation project. Under the terms of its subcontract, the Company was required to post a performance bond in an amount equal to its contract value, or approximately $14.6 million. The total project was delivered late by the general contractor, had initial operating and performance problems and resulted in significant cost overruns by the Company and the general contractor. The Company fully recorded its costs in the periods in which they were incurred and provided reserves for its estimation of additional costs to settle its responsibilities under its contract. During fiscal year 2004, the general contractor made a claim to the Company’s bonding company for approximately $8 million based on its calculations of costs to be backcharged to the Company and liquidated damages due from the Company resulting from the late delivery of the project to the end user. The Company does not accept responsibility for these extra costs and has assisted the bonding company in aggressively defending the claim. Under the original terms of the bonding agreement, should the bonding company be required to pay any of the amounts claimed, or if it makes a decision to settle the dispute, the Company agreed to indemnify the bonding company. Based on the Company’s financial position, any significant payment made by the bonding company would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to continue to operate.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits:

 

The following certifications are filed as exhibits to this Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit 31- Certification pursuant to SEC rule 13a-14(A)/15d-14(A), as adopted pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Exhibit 32- Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

 

Form 8-K, dated July 7, 2004, reported that the Company issued a press release setting forth its results for its fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS CORPORATION

      (Registrant)

/s/ Lawrence Rychlak


Lawrence Rychlak

President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 16, 2004

 

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