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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005

 

OR

 

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

 

Commission file number: 001-14003

 


 

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

State of Nevada   76-0562134

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1717 St. James Place, Suite 550    
Houston, Texas   77056
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 623-0060

 


 

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  x    No  ¨.

 

Number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, on April 27, 2005: 24,964,609

 



Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION     
Item 1. Financial Statements     

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

   3

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

   4

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

   5

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

   6

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   7
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    23
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    40
Item 4. Controls and Procedures    40
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings    41
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    41
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities    41
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    41
Item 5. Other Information    42
Item 6. Exhibits    42
Signatures    43

 

Certifications

Exhibit 31.1

Exhibit 31.2

Exhibit 32.1

Exhibit 32.2

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements and Notes

 

     March 31,
2005


   

December 31,

2004


 
     (in thousands)  
ASSETS                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 27,703     $ 32,757  

Receivables, net

     11,301       14,025  

Amounts due from majority owner

     105       105  

Inventories

     44,740       40,442  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,524       1,515  
    


 


Total current assets

     85,373       88,844  

Other assets

     1,915       1,798  

Deferred tax assets, net

     1,973       1,754  

Property and equipment, net

     100,391       97,766  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 189,652     $ 190,162  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Current liabilities:

                

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 1,685     $ 1,661  

Accounts payable

     3,099       2,529  

Accrued liabilities

     8,834       10,233  

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     1,285       1,284  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     14,903       15,707  

Long-term debt

     15,511       15,943  

Pension liabilities, net

     9,049       8,845  
    


 


Total liabilities

     39,463       40,495  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 80,000,000 shares; 25,371,709 and 25,258,309 shares issued and 24,958,609 and 24,845,209 shares outstanding at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively

     254       253  

Capital in excess of par value

     116,218       115,803  

Retained earnings

     42,546       42,439  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (6,794 )     (6,793 )

Common stock in treasury, at cost – 413,100 shares

     (2,035 )     (2,035 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     150,189       149,667  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 189,652     $ 190,162  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands, except
per share amount)
 

Revenues

   $ 23,831     $ 25,056  

Cost of sales

     20,775       21,382  
    


 


Gross profit

     3,056       3,674  

Selling, general, and administrative expense

     2,778       2,462  
    


 


Operating income

     278       1,212  

Interest income

     143       143  

Interest expense

     (266 )     (330 )

Other income (expense), net

     (39 )     (56 )
    


 


Income before income taxes

     116       969  

Provision for income taxes

     9       323  
    


 


Net income

   $ 107     $ 646  
    


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.00     $ 0.03  
    


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding

     24,906       24,405  
    


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.00     $ 0.02  
    


 


Weighted average common shares and potential common shares outstanding

     26,985       27,002  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 107     $ 646  

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

                

Depreciation and amortization

     3,330       3,007  

Provision for losses on receivables

     8       8  

Deferred income taxes

     9       323  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

Receivables

     2,716       7,900  

Amounts due from majority owner

     —         (1 )

Inventories

     (4,298 )     7,282  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (9 )     707  

Other assets

     (305 )     116  

Accounts payable

     570       (1,799 )

Accrued liabilities

     (1,399 )     (1,985 )

Pension liabilities, net

     204       174  

Other, net

     (28 )     (7 )
    


 


Total adjustments

     798       15,725  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     905       16,371  
    


 


Cash flows used in investing activities:

                

Capital expenditures

     (5,767 )     (4,338 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (5,767 )     (4,338 )
    


 


Cash flows used in financing activities:

                

Principal payments of long-term debt obligations

     (408 )     (372 )

Proceeds from stock options exercised

     217       61  
    


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (191 )     (311 )
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (1 )     1  
    


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (5,054 )     11,723  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     32,757       35,374  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 27,703     $ 47,097  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Common Stock

   Capital
Excess of
Par Value


   Retained
Earnings


   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss


    Treasury
Stock
Amount


    Total
Stockholders’
Equity


 
     Shares

   Amount

            

Balance at December 31, 2004

   25,259    $ 253    $ 115,803    $ 42,439    $ (6,793 )   $ (2,035 )   $ 149,667  

Issuance of common stock

   113      1      188      —        —         —         189  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

                 227      —        —         —         227  

Comprehensive income:

                                                  

Net income

   —        —        —        107      —         —         107  

Other comprehensive income:

                                                  

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax benefit

   —        —        —        —        (1 )     —         (1 )
    
  

  

  

  


 


 


Total comprehensive income

   —        —        —        107      (1 )     —         106  
    
  

  

  

  


 


 


Balance at March 31, 2005

   25,372    $ 254    $ 116,218    $ 42,546    $ (6,794 )   $ (2,035 )   $ 150,189  
    
  

  

  

  


 


 


 

The accompanying notes are in integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. Significant Accounting Policies

 

Summary Of Operations And Basis Of Presentation

 

Business Description

 

Omega Protein Corporation (“Omega” or the “Company”) produces and markets a variety of products produced from menhaden (a herring-like species of fish found in commercial quantities in the U.S. coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico), including regular grade and value-added specialty fish meals, crude and refined fish oils and fish solubles. The Company’s fish meal products are primarily used as a protein ingredient in animal feed for swine, cattle, aquaculture and household pets. Fish oil is utilized for animal and aquaculture feeds, industrial applications, as well as for additives to human food products. The Company’s fish solubles are sold primarily to livestock feed manufacturers, aquaculture feed manufacturers and for use as an organic fertilizer.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

These interim financial statements of Omega Protein Corporation have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information, the instructions to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally provided have been omitted since such items are disclosed therein.

 

In the opinion of management the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. Operating results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2005.

 

Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Omega and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has reclassified certain amounts previously reported to conform with the presentation at March 31, 2005.

 

Financial Statement Preparation

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Company’s financial statements and the accompanying notes and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts, when available, could differ from those estimates and those differences could have a material affect on the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company derives revenue principally from the sales of a variety of protein and oil products derived from menhaden. The Company recognizes revenue for the sale of its products when title and rewards of ownership to its products are transferred to the customer.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers cash in banks and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash and cash equivalents.

 

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make required payments. The Company considers the following factors when determining if collection is reasonably assured: customer credit worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, and changes in customer payment terms. If the Company has no previous experience with the customer, the Company typically obtains reports from credit organizations to ensure that the customer has a history of paying its creditors. The Company may also request financial information, including financial statements or other documents (e.g., bank statements), to ensure that the customer has the means of making payment. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required.

 

Inventories

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company’s fishing season runs from mid-April to the first of November in the Gulf of Mexico and from the beginning of May into December in the Atlantic. Government regulations generally preclude the Company from fishing during the off-seasons.

 

The Company’s inventory cost system considers all costs associated with an annual fish catch and its processing, both variable and fixed, including both costs incurred during the off-season and during the fishing season. The Company’s costing system allocates cost to inventory quantities on a per unit basis as calculated by a formula that considers total estimated inventoriable costs for a fishing season (including off-season costs) to total estimated fish catch and the relative fair market value of the individual products produced. The Company adjusts the cost of sales, off-season costs and inventory balances at the end of each quarter based on revised estimates of total inventoriable costs and fish catch. The Company’s lower-of-cost-or-market-value analyses at year-end and at interim periods compare the total estimated per unit production cost of the Company’s expected production to the projected per unit market prices of the products. The impairment analyses involve estimates of, among other things, future fish catches and related costs, and expected commodity prices for the fish products as well as projected purchase commitments from customers. These estimates, which management believes are reasonable and supportable, involve estimates of future activities and events which are inherently imprecise and from which actual results may differ materially.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

During the off-seasons, in connection with the upcoming fishing seasons, the Company incurs costs (i.e., plant and vessel related labor, utilities, rent, repairs, and depreciation) that are directly related to the Company’s infrastructure. These costs accumulate in inventory and are applied as elements of the cost of production of the Company’s products throughout the fishing season ratably based on the Company’s monthly fish catch and the expected total fish catch for the season.

 

Insurance

 

The Company carries insurance for certain losses relating to its vessels and Jones Act liabilities for employees aboard its vessels. The Company provides reserves for those portions of the Annual Aggregate Deductible for which the Company remains responsible by using an estimation process that considers Company-specific and industry data as well as management’s experience, assumptions and consultation with counsel, as these reserves include estimated settlement costs. Management’s current estimated range of liabilities related to such cases is based on claims for which management can estimate the amount and range of loss. For those claims where there may be a range of loss, the Company has recorded an estimated liability inside that range, based on management’s experience, assumptions and consultation with counsel. The process of estimating and establishing reserves for these claims is inherently uncertain and the actual ultimate net cost of a claim may vary materially from the estimated amount reserved. There is some degree of inherent variability in assessing the ultimate amount of losses associated with these claims due to the extended period of time that transpires between when the claim might occur and the full settlement of such claims. This variability is generally greater for Jones Act claims by vessel employees. The Company continually evaluates loss estimates associated with claims and losses as additional information becomes available and revises its estimates. Although management believes estimated reserves related to these claims are adequately recorded, it is possible that actual results could significantly differ from the recorded reserves, which could materially impact the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flow.

 

With respect to health insurance, the Company is primarily self-insured. The Company purchases individual stop loss coverage with a large deductible. As a result, the Company is primarily self-insured for claims and associated costs up to the amount of the deductible, with claims in excess of the deductible amount being covered by insurance. Expected claims estimates are based on health care trend rates and historical claims data; actual claims may differ from those estimates. The Company continually evaluates its claims experience related to this coverage with information obtained from its risk management consultants.

 

Assumptions used in preparing these insurance estimates are based on factors such as claims settlement patterns, claim development trends, claim frequency and severity patterns, inflationary trends and data reasonableness. Together these factors will generally affect the analysis and determination of the “best estimate” of the projected ultimate claim losses. The results of these evaluations are used to both analyze and adjust the Company’s insurance loss reserves.

 

9


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Advertising Costs

 

The costs of advertising are expensed as incurred in accordance with Statement of Position 93-7 “Reporting on Advertising Costs.”

 

Research and Development

 

Costs incurred in research and development activities are expensed as incurred.

 

Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company evaluates at each balance sheet date for continued appropriateness of the carrying value of its long-lived assets including its long-term receivables and property, plant and equipment in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposals of Long-Lived Assets.” The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any such assets may not be recoverable. If indicators of impairment are present, management would evaluate the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets compared to the carrying amount of those items. The net carrying value of assets not recoverable is reduced to fair value. The Company considers continued operating losses, or significant and long-term changes in business conditions, to be its primary indictors of potential impairment. In measuring impairment, the Company looks to quoted market prices, if available, or the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company utilizes the liability method to account for income taxes. This method requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of existing temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax reporting basis of assets and liabilities, and operating loss and tax credits carryforwards for tax purposes.

 

Property, Equipment and Depreciation

 

Property and equipment additions are recorded at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed by the straight-line method at rates expected to amortize the cost of property and equipment, net of estimated salvage value, over their estimated useful lives. Estimated useful lives of assets acquired new, determined as of the date of acquisition are as follows:

 

    

Useful Lives

(years)


Fishing vessels and fish processing plants

   15-20

Machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and other

   3-10

 

Replacements and major improvements are capitalized; maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Upon sale or retirement, the costs and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts. Any resulting gains or losses are included in the statement of operations. The Company capitalizes interest as part of the acquisition cost of a qualifying asset. Interest is capitalized only during the period of time required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use. The Company capitalized approximately $41,000 of interest during the three months ended March 31, 2005.

 

10


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Pension Plans

 

Annual costs of pension plans are determined actuarially based on SFAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions.” The Company’s policy is to fund U.S. pension plans at amounts not less than the minimum requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and generally for obligations under its foreign plans to deposit funds with trustees under insurance policies. The Company applies the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits” for its pensions and other postretirement benefit plans.

 

In 2002, the Board of Directors authorized a plan to freeze the Company’s pension plan in accordance with ERISA rules and regulations so that new employees, after July 31, 2002, will not be eligible to participate in the pension plan and further benefits will no longer accrue for existing participants. The freezing of the pension plan had the effect of vesting all existing participants in their pension benefits in the plan.

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Comprehensive income is defined as change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, including foreign currency translation adjustments and minimum pension liability adjustments. The Company presents comprehensive income in its consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity. The change in equity for minimum pension liability adjustment results from an increase in the minimum pension liability and an increase in prepaid pension cost presented net of tax.

 

The components of other comprehensive loss, included in shareholder’s equity are as follows:

 

    

Three Months

Ended

March 31,


   

Year

Ended

December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Cumulative Translation Adjustments

   $ (44 )   $ (43 )

Minimum Pension Liability Adjustments

     (6,750 )     (6,750 )
    


 


Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

   $ (6,794 )   $ (6,793 )
    


 


 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The Company’s Mexican operations use the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of those operations are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates; income and expenses are translated using the average exchange rates for the reporting period. Translation adjustments are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

 

11


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and trade accounts receivable. The Company’s customer base generally remains consistent from year to year. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require material collateral. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses and such losses have historically been within management’s expectations.

 

At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had cash deposits concentrated primarily in one major bank. In addition, the Company had Certificates of Deposit and commercial quality grade investments A2P2 rated or better with companies and financial institutions. As a result of the foregoing, the Company believes that credit risk in such investments is minimal.

 

Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per common share was computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted EPS reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company. Diluted earnings per common share was computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares (in this case, exercise of the Company’s employee stock options) had been issued during each period as discussed in Note 10.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs.” The statement amends Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 43, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material. ARB No. 43 previously stated that these costs must be “so abnormal as to require treatment as current-period charges,” SFAS No. 151 requires that those items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, this statement requires that allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The statement is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005, with earlier application permitted for fiscal years beginning after the issue date of the statement. The Company is currently evaluating the adoption of this standard and will assess the impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets – An Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29.” APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” is based on the opinion that exchanges of nonmentary assets should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. SFAS No. 153 amends Opinion No. 29 to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges on nonmonetary assets whose results are not expected to significantly change the future cash flows of the entity. The adoption of SFAS No. 153 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s current financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

In December 2004, the FASB revised its SFAS No. 123 (“SFAS No. 123R”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The revision establishes standards for the accounting of transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, particularly transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. The revised statement requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The cost is to be recognized over the period during which the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Changes in fair value during the requisite service period are to be recognized as compensation cost over that period. In addition, the revised statement amends SFAS No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows,” to require that excess tax benefits be reported as a financing cash flow rather than as a reduction of taxes paid. The provisions of the revised statement are effective for financial statements issued for the annual reporting period beginning after June 15, 2005, with early adoption encouraged. The Company is currently evaluating the various methods of adoption and valuation models available and will also assess the impact on its stock option plan and determine what changes, if any, it should consider making to its compensation strategies. See the Stock-Based Compensation section of this note for the estimated impact of this statement on our consolidated results.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

At March 31, 2005, the Company had a stock-based employee compensation plan. The Company accounts for this plan under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” No compensation cost related to stock options is reflected in net earnings, as all options granted under this plan had an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair value of the underlying common stock on the grant date. The FASB issued SFAS No. 123R in December 2004, which is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The Company is evaluating the impact of its adoption on its financial statements. The following table illustrates the effect on net earnings and net earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of stock options is assumed to be amortized to expense over the stock options’ vesting periods. The pro forma effects of recognizing compensation expense under the fair value method on net income and net earnings per common share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were as follows:

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31,


 
     (in thousands,
except per
share data)
 
     2005

    2004

 

Net income, as reported

   $ 107     $ 646  

Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method for all awards, net of related effects

     (139 )     (79 )
    


 


Pro forma net (loss) income

   $ (32 )   $ 567  
    


 


Earnings per common share:

                

Basic – as reported

   $ 0.00     $ 0.03  
    


 


Basic – pro forma

   $ 0.00     $ 0.02  
    


 


Diluted – as reported

   $ 0.00     $ 0.02  
    


 


Diluted – pro forma

   $ 0.00     $ 0.02  
    


 


 

 

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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Note 2. Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

    

March 31,

2005


    December 31,
2004


 
     (in thousands)  

Trade

   $ 9,305     $ 12,161  

Insurance

     1,322       1,242  

Employee

     92       25  

Income tax

     724       722  

Other

     26       35  
    


 


Total accounts receivable

     11,469       14,185  

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

     (168 )     (160 )
    


 


Receivables, net

   $ 11,301     $ 14,025  
    


 


 

Note 3. Inventory

 

The major classes of inventory as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

     March 31,
2005


   December 31,
2004


     (in thousands)

Fish meal

   $ 11,137    $ 18,693

Fish oil

     7,955      11,118

Fish solubles

     318      509

Unallocated inventory cost pool (including off-season costs)

     20,871      5,794

Other materials & supplies

     4,459      4,328
    

  

Total inventory

   $ 44,740    $ 40,442
    

  

 

Inventory at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 is stated at the lower of cost or market. The elements of unallocated inventory cost pool include plant and vessel related labor, utilities, rent, repairs and depreciation, to be allocated to inventories produced through the remainder of 2005.

 

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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Note 4. Other Assets

 

Other assets as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

     March 31,
2005


   December 31,
2004


     (in thousands)

Fish nets, net of amortization

   $ 645    $ 719

Insurance receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     831      623

Title XI loan origination fee

     311      328

Deposits

     128      128
    

  

Total other assets, net

   $ 1,915    $ 1,798
    

  

 

Amortization expense for fishing nets amounted to approximately $172,000 and $212,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

The Company carries insurance for certain losses relating to its vessels and Jones Act liability for employees aboard its vessels (collectively, “Vessel Claims Insurance”). The typical Vessel Claims Insurance policy contains an annual aggregate deductible (“AAD”) for which the Company remains responsible, while the insurance carrier is responsible for all applicable amounts which exceed the AAD. It is the Company’s policy to accrue current amounts due and record amounts paid out on each claim. Once payments exceed the AAD, the Company records an insurance receivable for a given policy year, net of allowance for doubtful accounts. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 the allowance for doubtful insurance receivable accounts was $2.0 million, respectively.

 

Note 5. Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

    

March 31,

2005


    December 31,
2004


 
     (in thousands)  

Land

   $ 6,995     $ 6,995  

Plant assets

     88,295       88,295  

Fishing vessels

     85,219       85,219  

Furniture and fixtures

     2,527       2,527  

Construction in progress

     13,040       7,273  
    


 


Total property and equipment

     196,076       190,309  

Less: accumulated depreciation and impairment

     (95,685 )     (92,543 )
    


 


Property and equipment, net

   $ 100,391     $ 97,766  
    


 


 

Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 was $3.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

 

16


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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Note 6. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt

 

At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

    

March 31,

2005


    December 31,
2004


 
     (in thousands)  

U.S. government guaranteed obligations (Title XI loan) collateralized by a first lien on certain vessels and certain plant assets:

                

Amounts due in installments through 2016, interest from 5.7% to 7.6%

   $ 16,783     $ 17,171  

Amounts due in installments through 2014, interest at Eurodollar rates of 3.0% and 2.03% at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, plus 4.5%

     389       400  

Other debt at 7.9% to 7.9% at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively

     24       33  
    


 


Total debt

     17,196       17,604  

Less current maturities

     (1,685 )     (1,661 )
    


 


Long-term debt

   $ 15,511     $ 15,943  
    


 


 

The Company was initially authorized to receive up to $20.6 million in loans under the Title XI program, and has borrowed the entire amount authorized under such program. The Title XI loans are secured by liens on certain of the Company’s fishing vessels and mortgages on the Company’s Reedville, Virginia and Abbeville, Louisiana plants. Loans are now available under similar terms pursuant to the Title XI program without intervening lenders.

 

On October 1, 2003, pursuant to the Title XI program, the United States Department of Commerce approved the fiscal 2003 financing application made by the Company in the amount of $5.3 million. The Company closed on the $5.3 million Title XI loan on December 30, 2003.

 

In September 2004, the United States Department of Commerce Fisheries Finance Program approved the Company’s financing application in an amount not to exceed $14 million (the “Approval Letter”). Borrowings under the Approval Letter are to be used to finance and/or refinance approximately 73% of the actual depreciable cost of the Company’s future fishing vessels refurbishments and capital expenditures relating to shore-side fishing assets, for a term not to exceed 15 years from inception at interest rates determined by the U.S. Treasury. Final approval for all such future projects requires individual approval through the Secretary of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service (“National Marine Fisheries Service”). Borrowings under the United States Department of Commerce Fisheries Finance Program are required to be evidenced by secured agreements, undertakings, and other documents of whatsoever nature deemed by the National Marine Fisheries Service sole discretion, as necessary to accomplish the intent and purpose of the Approval Letter. The Company is required to comply with customary National Marine Fisheries Service covenants as well as certain special covenants. In December 2004, the Company submitted a $4.9 million financing request. The Company expects to receive the $4.9 million financing in June 2005. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Approval Letter.

 

17


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

On December 20, 2000 the Company entered into a three-year $20 million revolving credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (the “Credit Facility”). Borrowings under this facility may be used for working capital and capital expenditures. On May 19, 2003, the Company amended the existing Credit Facility to among other things, extend the maturity until December 20, 2006, delete certain existing financial covenants and add certain affirmative covenants such as, a Leverage Ratio covenant not to exceed 3 to 1 at any time and a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant not to be less than 1 as of the end of each month, measured for the twelve-month period then ended. The Company is required to comply with the financial covenants from and after the last day of any month in which the Credit Facility’s availability is less than $3 million on any date or the Credit Facility’s availability averages less than $6 million for any calendar month. A commitment fee of 50 basis points per annum is payable on the unused portion of the Credit Facility. If at any time the Company’s loan outstanding under the Credit Facility is $5 million or greater, the commitment fee on the unused portion will be 25 basis points per annum. Applicable interest is payable at alternative rates of LIBOR plus 2.25% or Prime plus 0%. The applicable interest rate will be adjusted (up or down) prospectively on a quarter basis from LIBOR plus 2.25% to LIBOR plus 2.75% or at the Company’s option, Prime plus 0% to Prime plus 0.25%, depending upon the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio being greater than 2.5 times to less than or equal to 1.5 times, respectively. The Credit Facility is collateralized by all of the Company’s trade receivables, inventory and equipment. In addition, the Credit Facility does not allow for the payment of cash dividends or stock repurchases and also limits capital expenditures and investments. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility. At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling approximately $2.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively, issued primarily in support of worker’s compensation insurance programs.

 

Note 7. Accrued Liabilities

 

Accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:

 

    

March 31,

2005


   December 31,
2004


     (in thousands)

Salary and benefits

   $ 2,346    $ 4,093

Insurance

     3,569      3,340

Taxes, other than income tax

     428      179

Trade creditors

     2,412      2,556

Other

     79      65
    

  

Total accrued liabilities

   $ 8,834    $ 10,233
    

  

 

18


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Capital Commitments

 

The Company has entered into a purchase agreement to purchase a 40-acre facility containing office and warehouse space located next to the Company’s Moss Point, Mississippi facility. The proposed purchase price is $1.8 million. The closing of the purchase is contingent on the completion of the Company’s due diligence on the property and is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2005. If the Company acquires the property, the Company estimates that it will spend an additional $2 million during the remainder of 2005 for capital improvements to the property.

 

Litigation

 

The Company is defending various claims and litigation arising from its operations. In the opinion of management, and based on advice of, and consultation with, legal counsel, any existing litigation involving the Company will not materially affect its financial condition, cash flows or future results of operations.

 

Insurance

 

The Company carries insurance with coverages and coverage limits that it believes to be adequate. Although there can be no assurance that such insurance is sufficient to protect the Company against all contingencies, management believes that its insurance protection is reasonable in view of the nature and scope of the Company’s operations. Should the Company’s insurers become insolvent, the Company is responsible for payment of all outstanding claims associated with the insurer’s policies.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Environmental Matters

 

The Company is subject to various possible claims and lawsuits regarding environmental matters. Management believes that costs, if any, related to these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, cash flows or financial position of the Company.

 

Indemnification

 

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws limit the liability of the Company’s officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. Nevada provides that directors of Nevada corporations may be relieved of monetary liabilities for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except under certain circumstances, including (i) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law of (ii) the willful or grossly negligent payment of unlawful distributions.

 

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws generally require the Company to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws also require the Company to advance expenses to its directors and its officers to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it should be ultimately determined that they are not entitled to indemnification by the Company. The Company also has entered into indemnification agreements with all of its directors and certain of its officers which provide for the indemnification and advancement of expenses by the Company. The Company also maintains director and officer liability insurance with respect to liabilities arising out of certain matters, including matters arising under the securities laws. This insurance is subject to limitations, conditions and deductibles set forth in the respective insurance policy.

 

Purchase Obligation

 

As of March 5, 2005, the Company had normal purchase commitments for energy usage of approximately $4.5 million, that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used in the normal course of business during the 2005 fishing season.

 

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Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Note 9. Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Per Share Data (in thousands except per share data)

 

     Earnings
(Numerator)


   Shares
(Denominator)


   Per Share
Data


Three Months Ended March 31, 2005

                  

Net earnings

   $ 107            
    

           

Basic earnings per common share:

                  

Earnings available to common shareholders

   $ 107    24,906    $ 0.00
                

Effect of dilutive securities:

                  

Stock options assumed exercised

     —      2,079       
    

  
      

Diluted earnings per common share:

                  

Earnings available to common shareholders plus stock options assumed exercised

   $ 107    26,985    $ 0.00
    

  
  

     Earnings
(Numerator)


   Shares
(Denominator)


   Per Share
Data


Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

                  

Net Earnings

   $ 646            
    

           

Basic earnings per common share:

                  

Earnings available to common shareholders

   $ 646    24,405    $ 0.03
                

Effect of dilutive securities:

                  

Stock options assumed exercised

     —      2,597       
    

  
      

Diluted earnings per common share:

                  

Earnings available to common shareholders plus stock options assumed exercised

   $ 646    27,002    $ 0.02
    

  
  

 

21


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Options to purchase 2,507,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $7.76 to $17.25 a per share were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2005, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise prices of the options were greater than the average market price of the shares during that period.

 

Options to purchase 2,129,800 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $7.86 to $17.25 and were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2004, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise prices of the options were greater than the average market price of the shares during that period.

 

NOTE 10. Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,


 
     (in thousands)  
     2005

    2004

 

Service Cost

   $ —       $ —    

Interest Cost

     364       367  

Expected return on plan assets

     (350 )     (354 )

Amortization of prior service costs

     —         —    

Amortization of net loss

     190       161  
    


 


Net periodic pension cost

   $ 204     $ 174  
    


 


 

As of March 31, 2005, no contributions to the Company’s pension plan have been made and at this point in time, the Company anticipates the fiscal 2005 contribution to be zero due to the enactment of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004. No contributions to the pension plan were made during fiscal 2004.

 

22


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

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

 

Forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q, future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), the Company’s press releases and oral statements by authorized officers of the Company are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors and Significant Factors that May Affect Forward-Looking Statements” appearing in Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The Company believes that forward-looking statements made by it are based on reasonable expectations; however, no assurances can be given that actual results will not differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include the words “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “predict,” “assume,” “believe,” “could,” “would,” “hope,” “may,” and similar expressions.

 

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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

General

 

Omega Protein Corporation is the largest processor, marketer and distributor of fish meal and fish oil products in the United States. As used herein, the term “Omega” or the “Company” refers to Omega Protein Corporation or to Omega Protein Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, as applicable. The Company’s principal executive offices are at 1717 St. James Place, Suite 550, Houston, Texas 77056 (Telephone: (713) 623-0060).

 

The Company produces and sells a variety of protein and oil products derived from menhaden, a species of wild herring-like fish found along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts. The fish is not genetically modified or genetically enhanced. The Company processes several grades of fish meal (regular or “FAQ” meal and specialty meals), as well as fish oil and fish solubles. The Company’s fish meal products are primarily used as a protein ingredient in animal feed for swine, cattle, aquaculture and household pets. Fish oil is utilized for animal and aquaculture feeds, industrial applications, and additives to human food products. The Company’s fish solubles are sold primarily to livestock feed manufacturers, aquaculture feed manufacturers and for use as an organic fertilizer.

 

All of the Company’s products contain healthy long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly referred to as “essential fatty acids” because the body does not produce them. Instead, essential fatty acids must be obtained from outside sources, such as food or special supplements. Long-chain Omega-3s are also commonly referred to as a “good fat” for their health benefits, as opposed to the “bad fats” that create or aggravate health conditions through long-term consumption. Scientific research suggest that long-chain Omega-3s as part of a balanced diet may provide significant benefits for health issues such as cardiovascular disease, inflammatory conditions and other ailments.

 

Under its patented production process, the Company produces OmegaPure®, a taste-free, odorless refined fish oil which is the only marine source of long-chain Omega-3’s directly affirmed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) as a food ingredient that is Generally Recognized as Safe (“GRAS”). See “Company Overview—Products” in Part I Item 1 and 2 of the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The Company operates four menhaden processing plants: two in Louisiana, one in Mississippi and one in Virginia, as well as a fish oil processing facility also located in Virginia. The four plants have an aggregate annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2004 of 950,000 tons of fish. The Company also completed construction of a new Health and Science Center in Reedville, Virginia in October 2004, which provides 100-metric tons per day fish oil processing capacity. See “Company Overview—Meal and Oil Processing Plants” and “Company Overview—Health and Science Center,” in Part I, Item 1 and 2 of the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The Company operates through three material subsidiaries: Omega Protein, Inc., Omega Shipyard, Inc. and Omega Protein Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (“Omega Mexico”). Omega Protein, Inc. is the Company’s principal operating subsidiary for its menhaden processing business and is the successor to a business conducted since 1913. Omega Shipyard, Inc. owns a drydock facility in Moss Point, Mississippi, which is used to provide shoreside maintenance for the Company’s fishing fleet and, subject to outside demand and excess capacity, third-party vessels. Revenues from shipyard work for third-party vessels for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were not material. Omega Mexico coordinates the Company’s meal and oil sales and purchases in Mexico. The Company also has a number of other immaterial direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

24


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

Until April 1998, the Company, including its predecessors, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zapata Corporation (“Zapata”). In April 1998, the Company completed an initial public offering of its common stock. Zapata currently owns approximately 58% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

 

Available Information

 

The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports filed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), as well as Section 16 filings by officers and directors, are available free of charge at the Company’s website at www.omegaproteininc.com or at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and are posted as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the SEC. The Company will provide a copy of these documents to stockholders upon request. Information on the Company’s website or any other website is not incorporated by reference in this report and does not constitute part of this report.

 

In addition, the public may read and copy any materials filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals, as well as the Charters for the Board’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Corporate Governance Committee and Scientific Committee, are available at the Company’s website. These Guidelines, Codes and Charters are not incorporated by reference in this report. The Company will provide a copy of these documents to stockholders upon request.

 

Company Overview

 

Business. Omega is the largest U.S. producer of protein-rich meal and oil derived from marine sources. The Company’s products are produced from menhaden (a herring-like fish found in commercial quantities), and includes regular grade and value-added specialty fish meals, crude and refined fish oils and fish solubles.

 

Fishing. The Company’s harvesting season generally extends from May through December on the mid-Atlantic coast and from April through October on the Gulf coast. During the off-season and the first few months of each fishing season, the Company fills purchase orders from the inventory it has accumulated during the previous fishing season or in some cases, by re-selling meal purchased from other suppliers.

 

During the first quarter of 2005, the Company owned a fleet of 66 fishing vessels and 32 spotter aircraft for use in its fishing operations and also leased additional aircraft where necessary to facilitate operations. During the 2005 fishing season in the Gulf of Mexico, which runs from mid-April through October, the Company plans to operate 31 fishing vessels and 28 spotter aircraft. The fishing area in the Gulf is generally located along the Gulf Coast, with a concentration off the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts. The fishing season along the Atlantic coast begins in early May and usually extends into December. During 2005, the Company plans to operate 10 fishing vessels and 7 spotter aircraft along the mid-Atlantic coast, concentrated primarily in and around Virginia and North Carolina. The remaining fleet of fishing vessels and spotter aircraft are not routinely operated during the fishing season and are back-up to the active fleet, used for other transportation purposes, inactive or in the process of refurbishment in the Company’s shipyard.

 

25


Table of Contents

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

The Company converted several of its fishing vessels to “carry vessels” that do not engage in active fishing but instead carry fish from the Company’s offshore fishing vessels to its plants. Utilization of carry vessels increases the amount of time that certain of the Company’s fishing vessels remain offshore fishing productive waters and therefore increases the Company’s fish catch per vessel employed. The carry vessels have reduced crews and crew expenses and incur less maintenance cost than the actual fishing vessels.

 

The fish catch is processed into three general types of products; fish meal, fish oil and fish solubles at the Company’s four operating meal and oil processing plants, two in Louisiana, one in Mississippi and one in Virginia.

 

The Company’s Health and Science Center located in Virginia provides 100-metric tons per day of fish oil processing capacity. The food-grade facility allows the Company to further refine its fish oil into fish oils of special quality and food grade oils that offer a long-chain Omega-3 content.

 

During 2004 and 2003, the Company experienced a poor fish catch (approximately 18% and 11%, respectively, below expectations and a similar reduction from 2002), combined with poor oil yields. The reduced fish catch was primarily attributable to adverse weather conditions and the poor oil yields due to the reduced fat content of the fish. As a result of the poor fish catch and reduced yields, the Company experienced significantly higher per unit product costs (approximately 15% increase) during 2004 compared to 2003. The impact of higher cost inventories and fewer volumes available for sale will be carried forward and will adversely affect the Company’s earnings through the first and second quarters of 2005.

 

Markets. The Company’s products are sold both in the U.S. and internationally. The Company’s fish meal is sold primarily to domestic feed producers for utilization as a high-protein ingredient for the swine, aquaculture, dairy and pet food industries. International sales consist mainly of fish oil sales to Norway, Canada, China, Chile and Mexico. The Company’s sales in these foreign markets are denominated in U.S. dollars and are not directly affected by currency fluctuations. Such sales could be adversely affected by changes in demand resulting from fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

 

Prices for the Company’s products tend to be lower during the fishing season when product is more abundant than in the off-season. Throughout the entire year, prices are significantly influenced by supply and demand in world markets for competing products, particularly other globally produced fish meal and fish oil, as well as other animal proteins and soybean meal for its fish meal products, and vegetable fats and oils for its fish oil products when used as an alternative to vegetable fats and oils. Pricing for the Company’s products has been volatile in the past several years and is attributable mainly to the international availability, or the perceived international availability, of fish meal and fish oil inventories. In an effort to reduce price volatility and to generate higher,

 

26


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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

more consistent profit margins, in fiscal 2000 the Company embarked on a quality control program designed to increase its capability of producing higher quality fish meal products and, in conjunction therewith, enhanced it sales efforts to penetrate premium product markets. Since 2000, the Company’s sales volumes of specialty meal products have increased approximately 41%. Future volumetric growth in specialty meal sales will be dependent upon increased harvesting efforts and market demand. Additionally, the Company is attempting to introduce its refined fish oil into the food market. The Company has made sales, which to date have not been material, of its refined fish oil, trademarked OmegaPure®, to food manufacturers in the United States and Canada at prices that provide substantially improved margins over the margins that can be obtained from selling non-refined crude fish oil. The Company cannot estimate, however, the size of the actual domestic or international markets for Omega Pure® or how long it may take to develop these markets.

 

Part of the Company’s business plan involves expanding its purchase and resale of other manufacturer’s fish meal and fish oil products. The Company initially focused on the purchase and resale of Mexican fish meal and fish oil and revenues generated from these types of transactions. During 2003 and 2004, the Company’s fish catch and resultant product inventories were reduced, primarily due to adverse weather conditions, and the Company further expanded its purchase and resales of other fish meals and oils (primarily Panamanian, Peruvian and Mexican fish meal and U.S. menhaden oil). Although operating margins from these activities are less than the margins typically generated from the Company’s base domestic production, these operations provide the Company with a source of fish meal and oil to sell into other markets where the Company has not historically had a presence. The Company purchased products totaling approximately 15,950 and 17,800 tons, or approximately 37% and 8% of total volume sales, for the quarter ending March 31, 2005 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, respectively. These purchases and resale transactions have been ancillary to the Company’s base manufacturing and sales business.

 

Historically, approximately 35% to 40% of Omega’s FAQ grade fish meal was sold on a two-to-twelve-month forward contract basis. The balance of FAQ grade fish meal and other products was substantially sold on a spot basis through purchase orders. Due to increasing customer demand for the Company’s specialty meal and crude fish oil, approximately 50% and 43% of its specialty meals and crude fish oil had been sold on a forward contract basis during 2003 and 2004, respectively. The balance of FAQ grade fish meal, specialty meals, crude fish oil and other products was substantially sold on a spot basis. As of March 31, 2005, approximately 80% and 22%, of the Company’s fish meals and crude fish oil have either been sold or sold on a forward contract basis. The Company’s annual revenues are highly dependent on both annual fish catch and inventories and, in addition, inventory is generally carried over from one year to the next year. The Company determines the level of inventory to be carried over based on prevailing market prices of the products and anticipated customer usage and demand during the off-season. Thus, production volume does not necessarily correlate with sales volume in the same year and sales volumes will fluctuate from quarter to quarter. The Company’s fish meal products have a useable life of approximately one year from date of production. Practically, however the Company attempts to empty its warehouses of the previous season’s products by the second or third month of the new fishing season. The Company’s crude fish oil products do not lose efficacy unless exposed to oxygen and, therefore, their storage life typically is longer than that of fish meal.

 

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The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues by product (in millions) and the approximate percentage of total revenues represented thereby, for the indicated periods:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,

 
     2005

    2004

 
     Revenues

   Percent

    Revenues

   Percent

 

Regular Grade

   $ 4.1    17.2 %   $ 4.3    17.1 %

Special Select

     9.9    41.6       9.4    37.5  

Sea-Lac

     4.9    20.6       3.9    15.5  

Crude Oil

     3.3    13.9       6.0    23.9  

Refined Oil

     1.1    4.6       1.0    4.0  

Fish Solubles

     0.5    2.1       0.5    2.0  
    

  

 

  

Total

   $ 23.8    100.0 %   $ 25.1    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

Competition. The marine protein and oil business is subject to significant competition from producers of vegetable and other animal protein products and oil products such as Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill. In addition, but to a lesser extent, the Company competes with smaller domestic privately-owned menhaden fishing companies and international marine protein and oil producers, including Scandinavian herring processors and South American anchovy processors. Many of these competitors have greater financial resources and more extensive operations than the Company.

 

Omega competes on price, quality and performance characteristics of its products, such as protein level and amino acid profile in the case of fish meal. The principal competition for the Company’s fish meal and fish solubles is from other global production of marine proteins as well as other protein sources such as soybean meal and other vegetable or animal protein products. The Company believes, however, that these other non-marine sources are not complete substitutes because fish meal offers nutritional values not contained in such other sources. Other globally produced fish oils provide the primary market competition for the Company’s fish oil, as well as soybean and palm oil, from time to time.

 

Fish meal prices have historically borne a relationship to prevailing soybean meal prices, while prices for fish oil are generally influenced by prices for vegetable fats and oils, such as soybean and palm oils. Thus, the prices for the Company’s products are established by worldwide supply and demand relationships over which the Company has no control and tend to fluctuate significantly over the course of a year, and from year to year.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s primary sources of liquidity and capital resources have been cash flows from operations, bank credit facilities and term loans from various lenders provided pursuant to the National Marine Fisheries Finance Program under Title XI of the Marine Act of 1936 (“Title XI”). These sources of cash flows have been used for capital expenditures and payment of long-term debt. The Company expects to finance future expenditures through internally generated cash flows and, if necessary, through funds available from the Credit Facility and/or Title XI facilities described below.

 

Under a program offered through National Marine Fisheries Services (“NMFS”) pursuant to Title XI, the Company has secured loans through lenders with terms generally ranging between 12 and 20 years at interest rates between 6% and 8% per annum which are enhanced with a government guaranty to the lender for up to 80% of the financing. The Company’s current Title XI borrowings are secured by liens on 17 fishing vessels and mortgages on the Company’s Reedville, Virginia and Abbeville, Louisiana plants. In 1996, Title XI borrowing was modified

 

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to permit use of proceeds from borrowings obtained through this program for shoreside construction. The Company used the entire $20.6 million amount originally authorized under the program. Loans are now available under similar terms pursuant to the Title XI program without intervening lenders. The Company borrowed $1.9 million under this new program during 2001 and closed an additional $5.3 million Title XI loan on December 30, 2003.

 

On September 2, 2004, pursuant to the Title XI program, the United States Department of Commerce approved a financing application made by the Company in the amount of $14 million (the “Approval Letter”). In December 2004, the Company submitted a $4.9 million financing request to be drawn against the $14 million approved financing application. The Company expects to receive approval of the $4.9 million financing request in June 2005. The Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Approval Letter at March 31, 2005. Borrowings under this Title XI program may be used for refurbishment of the Company’s fishing vessels and capital expenditures relating to the Company’s shore-side fishing assets. The Title XI loans are secured by liens on certain of the Company’s fishing vessels and mortgages on the Company’s Reedville, Virginia and Abbeville and Cameron, Louisiana plants.

 

Omega had an unrestricted cash balance of $27.7 million at March 31, 2005, down $5.1 million from December 31, 2004. This decrease was due primarily to purchases of fish meal to satisfy ongoing customer requirements. The Company’s liquidity is greatly influenced by the selling prices received for its products. Should the Company experience decreased pricing in the future, as it experienced in 1999 and 2000, liquidity would decline and the Company would possibly have to utilize its working capital credit facility. The Company’s long-term debt at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 was $15.5 million and $15.9 million, respectively. Current maturities attributable to the Company’s long-term debt were $1.7 million at both March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004. The Company did not utilize its working capital credit facility during the first three months of 2005 or 2004 other than for $2.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in standby letters of credit primarily used to support Company workers compensation programs. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had $13 million available under its working capital credit facility. The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements other than normal operating leases and standby letters of credit.

 

 

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The following table aggregate information about the Company’s contractual cash obligations and other commercial commitments (in thousands) as of March 31, 2005:

 

     Payments Due by Period

Contractual Cash Obligations


   Total

   Less than
1 year


   1 to 3
years


   4 to 5
years


   After 5
years


Long Term Debt

   $ 17,196    $ 1,685    $ 3,670    $ 3,312    $ 8,529

Interest

     6,301      1,115      1,873      1,364      1,949

Operating Leases

     833      290      228      165      150

Minimum Pension Liability

     9,049      —        —        —        9,049

Standby Letters of Credit (1)

     2,864      2,864      —        —        —  

Energy Commitments (2)

     4,453      4,453      —        —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

   $ 40,696    $ 10,407    $ 5,771    $ 4,841    $ 19,677
    

  

  

  

  


(1) As of March 31, 2005, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the $20 million Credit Facility other than $2.9 million in stand-by letters of credit. In September 2004, the United States Department of Commerce Fisheries Finance Program approved a $14 million financing application (“Approval Letter”) submitted by the Company. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had no borrowings under the Approval Letter. In December 2004, the Company submitted a $4.9 million financing request, and expects to receive approval of the $4.9 million financing request in June 2005.

 

(2) As of March 31, 2005, the Company had normal purchase commitments for energy usage of approximately $4.5 million, that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used in the normal course of business during the 2005 fishing season.

 

Net, operating activities provided cash of approximately $905,000 and $16.4 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in operating activities is primarily attributable to the change in activities relating to inventory.

 

Investing activities used $5.8 million and $4.3 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company’s investing activities consists mainly of capital expenditures for equipment purchases, replacements, and vessel refurbishments and a fish oil processing facility. The Company anticipates making approximately $12.7 million in capital expenditures in 2005, which will be used to refurbish vessels, plant assets and to repair certain equipment.

 

Net, financing activities used $191,000 and $311,000 during the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The exercise of stock options provided proceeds of $217,000 and $61,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

On December 20, 2000, the Company entered into a three-year $20 million revolving credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (the “Credit Facility”). Borrowings under this facility may be used for working capital and capital expenditures. On May 19, 2003, the Company amended the existing Credit Facility to among other things, extend the maturity until December 20, 2006, delete certain existing financial covenants and added certain affirmative covenants such as, a Leverage Ratio covenant not to exceed 3 to 1 at any time and a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant not to be less than 1 to 1 as of the end of each month, measured for the twelve-month period then ended.

 

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The Company is required to comply with the financial covenants from and after the last day of any month in which the Credit Facility’s availability is less than $3,000,000 on any date, or the Credit Facility’s availability averages less than $6,000,000 for any calendar month. A commitment fee of 50 basis points per annum is payable on the unused portion of the Credit Facility. If at any time the Company’s loan outstanding under the Credit Facility is $5 million or greater, the commitment fee on the unused portion will be 25 basis points per annum. Applicable interest is payable at alternative rates of LIBOR plus 2.25% or Prime plus 0%. The applicable interest rate shall be adjusted (up or down) prospectively on a quarterly basis from LIBOR plus 2.25% to LIBOR plus 2.75% or, at the Company’s option, Prime plus 0% to Prime plus 0.25%, depending upon the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio being greater than 2.5 times to less than or equal to 1.5 times, respectively. The Credit Facility is collateralized by all of the Company’s trade receivables, inventory and equipment. In addition, the Credit Facility does not allow for the payment of cash dividends or stock repurchases and also limits capital expenditures and investments. The Company was in compliance with the Credit Facility covenants at March 31, 2005. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had no cash borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility other than $2.9 million in stand-by letters of credit. The Company had $13 million available under the Credit Facility at March 31, 2005.

 

In September 2004, the United States Department of Commerce Fisheries Finance Program approved the Company’s financing application in an amount not to exceed $14 million (the “Approval Letter”). Borrowings under the Approval Letter are to be used to finance and/or refinance approximately 73% of the actual depreciable cost of the Company’s future fishing vessel refurbishments and capital expenditures relating to shore-side fishing assets, for a term not to exceed 15 years from inception at interest rates determined by the U.S. Treasury. Final approval for all such future projects requires individual approval through the Secretary of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service (“National Marine Fisheries Service”). Borrowings under the United States Department of Commerce Fisheries Finance Program are required to be evidenced by secured agreements, undertakings, and other documents of whatsoever nature deemed by the National Marine Fisheries Service’s sole discretion, as necessary to accomplish the intent and purpose of the Approval Letter. The Company is required to comply with customary National Marine Fisheries Service covenants as well as certain special covenants. In December 2004, the Company submitted a $4.9 million financing request. The Company expects to receive the $4.9 million financing request in June of 2005. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Approval Letter.

 

The Company’s principal raw material is menhaden, a species of fish that inhabits coastal and inland tidal waters in the United States. Menhaden are undesirable for direct human consumption due to their small size, prominent bones and high oil content. Certain state agencies impose resource depletion restrictions on menhaden pursuant to fisheries management legislation or regulations and may impose additional legislation or regulations in the future. For example, the Menhaden Management Board of the ASMFC voted in February 2005 to initiate the preparation of an addendum to the existing ASMFC Interstate Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden which would limit the amount of commercial menhaden catch in the Chesapeake Bay for a two-year period. The proposal, if ultimately passed, would limit annual menhaden catch from the Chesapeake Bay to the Bay’s 5-year average catch, or 110,400 metric tons. (The Company’s Chesapeake Bay fish catch was 99,300 metric tons in 2004 or approximately 22% of the Company’s total 2004 fish catch). If any limitation were to be ultimately imposed, it would likely become effective for the Company’s 2006 and 2007 fishing seasons. To date, the Company has not experienced any material adverse impact on its fish catch or results of operations as a result of these restrictions.

 

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The Company from time to time considers potential transactions including, but not limited to, enhancement of physical facilities to improve production capabilities and the acquisition of other businesses. Certain of the potential transactions reviewed by the Company would, if completed, result in its entering new lines of business (generally including certain businesses to which the Company sells its products such as pet food manufacturers, aquaculture feed manufacturers, fertilizer companies and organic foods distributors) although historically, reviewed opportunities have been generally related in some manner to the Company’s existing operations. Although the Company does not, as of the date hereof, have any commitment with respect to a material acquisition, it could enter into such agreement in the future.

 

The Company maintains insurance against physical loss and damage to its assets, coverage against liabilities to third parties it may incur in the course of its operations, as well as workers’ compensation, United States Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and Jones Act coverage. Assets are insured at replacement cost, market value or assessed earning power. The Company’s limits for liability coverage are statutory or $50 million. The $50 million limit is comprised of several excess liability policies, which are subject to deductibles, underlying limits and exclusions. The Company believes its insurance coverage to be in such form, against such risks, for such amounts and subject to such deductibles and self-retentions as are prudent and normal for its operations. The Company does not carry insurance against terrorist attacks, or against business interruption, in large part because of the high costs of such insurance.

 

The Company carries insurance for certain losses relating to its vessels and Jones Act liability for employees aboard its vessels (collectively, “Vessel Claims Insurance”). The typical Vessel Claims Insurance policy contains an annual aggregate deductible (“AAD”) for which the Company remains responsible, while the insurance carrier is responsible for all applicable amounts which exceed the AAD. It is the Company’s policy to accrue current amounts due and record amounts paid out on each claim. Once payments exceed the AAD, the Company records an insurance receivable for a given policy year.

 

The Company believes that the existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and funds available through its Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet its working capital and capital expenditure requirements through at least the end of 2005.

 

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Overview of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported therein, including estimates about the effects of matters or future events that are inherently uncertain. The most significant of these requiring difficult or complex judgments in any particular period involve the costing of inventory, including inventory lower-of-cost-or-market analyses and the Company’s accounting for various losses on self-insurance retentions.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company evaluates at each balance sheet date the continued appropriateness of the carrying value of its long-lived assets including its long-term receivables and property, plant and equipment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposals of Long-Lived Assets.” The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any such assets may not be recoverable. If indicators of impairment are present, management would evaluate the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets compared to the carrying amount of those items. The net carrying value of assets not recoverable is reduced to fair value. The Company considers continued operating losses, or significant and long-term changes in business conditions, to be its primary indicators of potential impairment. In measuring impairment, the Company looks to quoted market prices, if available, or the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Inventories

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company’s fishing season runs from mid-April to the first of November in the Gulf of Mexico and from the beginning of May into December in the Atlantic. Government regulations generally preclude the Company from fishing during the off-seasons.

 

The Company’s inventory cost system considers all costs associated with an annual fish catch and its processing, both variable and fixed and includes both costs incurred during the off-season and during the fishing season. The Company’s costing system allocates cost to inventory quantities on a per unit basis as calculated by a formula that considers total estimated inventoriable costs for a fishing season (including off-season costs) to total estimated fish catch and the relative fair market value of the individual products produced. The Company adjusts the cost of sales, off-season costs and inventory balances at the end of each quarter based on revised estimates of total inventoriable costs and fish catch. The Company’s lower-of-cost-or-market-value analyses at year-end and at interim periods compares to total estimated per unit production cost of the Company’s expected production to the projected per unit market prices of the products. The impairment analyses involve estimates of, among other things, future fish catches and related costs, and expected commodity prices for the fish products. These estimates, which management believes are reasonable and supportable, involve estimates of future activities and events which are inherently imprecise and from which actual results may differ materially. Revisions in such estimates or actual results could materially impact the Company’s results of operation and financial position.

 

During the off-seasons, in connection with the upcoming fishing seasons, the Company incurs costs (i.e., plant and vessel related labor, utilities, rent, repairs and depreciation) that are directly related to the Company’s infrastructure. These costs accumulate in inventory and are applied as elements of the cost of production of the Company’s products throughout the fishing season ratably based on the Company’s monthly fish catch and the expected total fish catch for the season.

 

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Insurance

 

As mentioned previously, the Company carries insurance for certain losses relating to its vessels and Jones Act liabilities for employees aboard its vessels. The Company provides reserves for those portions of the AAD for which the Company remains responsible by using an estimation process that considers Company-specific and industry data as well as management’s experience, assumptions and consultation with outside counsel. Management’s current estimated range of liabilities related to such cases is based on claims for which management can estimate the amount and range of loss. The process of estimating and establishing reserves for these claims is inherently uncertain and the actual ultimate net cost of a claim may vary materially from the estimated amount reserved. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to its pending litigation and revises its estimates. Such revisions in estimates for potential liability could materially impact the Company’s results of operation, financial position or cash flows.

 

Pension

 

The Company estimates income or expense related to the pension plan based on actuarial assumptions, including assumptions regarding discount rates and expected returns on plan assets. The Company determines the discount rates of return on high-quality fixed-income investments currently available and expected to be available during the period to maturity of its pension obligations. Based on historical data and discussions with its actuary, Omega determines its expected return on plan assets based on the expected long-term rate of return on its plan assets and the market-related value of its plan assets. Changes in these assumptions can result in significant changes in estimated pension income or expense. The Company will revise its assumptions on an annual basis based upon changes in current interest rates, return on plan assets and the underlying demographics of the workforce. These assumptions are reasonably likely to change in future periods and may have a material impact on future earnings.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth as a percentage of revenues certain items of the Company’s operations for each of the indicated periods.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Revenues

   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of sales

   87.2     85.3  
    

 

Gross profit

   12.8     14.7  

Selling, general and administrative expense

   11.7     9.9  
    

 

Operating income

   1.1     4.8  

Interest income

   0.6     0.6  

Interest expense

   (1.1 )   (1.3 )

Other expense, net

   (0.2 )   (0.2 )
    

 

Income before income taxes

   0.4     3.9  

Provision for income taxes

   0.0     1.3  
    

 

Net income

   0.4 %   2.6 %
    

 

 

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Interim Results for the First Quarters ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004

 

Revenues. Revenues decreased $1.3 million or 5.2% for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The decrease was primarily due to an 11.4% decrease in sales volumes partially offset by 7.4% increase in sales price, of the Company’s fish meal and fish oil sales activity. The Company experienced a $3.0 million decrease in revenues due to reduced sales volumes offset by a $1.6 million increase in revenues due to higher sales prices for its fish meal and fish oil.

 

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales, including depreciation and amortization, for the current quarter ended March 31, 2005 was $20.8 million, a decrease from $21.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues increased 1.8% to 87.2% for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 as compared to the corresponding period in 2004. The increase in cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to higher fiscal 2004 costs of production due to reduced fish catch, brought about by adverse weather conditions along the Atlantic Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, combined with lower oil yields for the Gulf of Mexico fish.

 

Gross Profit. Gross profit margins decreased 16.8% from a $3.7 million gross profit in the quarter ended March 31, 2004 as compared to $3.1 million in the current quarter ended March 31, 2005. The decrease in gross profit margins was primarily due to higher cost inventories carried forward from fiscal 2004, offset by increased sales prices.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $316,000 from $2.5 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2004 compared to $2.8 million for the current quarter ended March 31, 2005. This increase was attributable primarily to increased consulting expenditures related to the Company’s governmental relations program and Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 compliance efforts.

 

Operating income. As a result of the factors discussed above, the Company’s operating income decreased $0.9 million or 77.1% from an operating income $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 to an operating income of $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. As a percentage of revenues, operating income decreased 3.7% for the current quarter ended March 31, 2005.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $64,000 for the current quarter ended March 31, 2005 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to the decreased Title XI loan balance and interest of approximately $41,000 which was capitalized in conjunction with the construction of certain fixed assets during the current quarter ended March 31, 2005, as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

 

Other expense, net. Other expense, net decreased $17,000 in the current quarter ended March 31, 2005 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in line of credit commitment fees in the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

 

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Provision for income taxes. The Company recorded a $9,000 provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2005 representing an effective tax rate of 8% for income taxes. The effective tax rate for 2005 was reduced below the statutory rate due mainly to a state income tax benefit on current year pre-tax income and the partial exclusion of income on foreign sales. The provision for income taxes for the corresponding period reflected an effective tax rate of 33%. The increased effective tax rate for the 2004 period is due to the Company not recognizing any extraterritorial income tax benefit due to the then congressional discussions aimed towards eliminating the benefit. The Company believes that it is more probable than not that the recorded estimated deferred tax asset will be realized. The statutory tax rate of 34% for U.S. federal taxes was in effect for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

Seasonal and Quarterly Results

 

The Company’s menhaden harvesting and processing business is seasonal in nature. The Company generally has higher sales during the menhaden harvesting season (which includes the second and third quarter of each fiscal year) due to increased product availability, but prices during the fishing season tend to be lower than during the off-season. As a result, the Company’s quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and may fluctuate in the future. In addition, from time to time the Company defers sales of inventory based on worldwide prices for competing products that affect prices for the Company’s products which may affect comparable period comparisons.

 

Risk Factors and Significant Factors That May Affect Forward-Looking Statements

 

The Company cautions investors that the following risk factors, and those factors described elsewhere in this Report, other filings by the Company with the SEC from time to time and press releases issued by the Company, could affect the Company’s actual results which could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

 

The risks described below are not the only ones facing the Company. The Company’s business is also subject to other risks and uncertainties that affect many other companies, such as competition, technological obsolescence, labor relations (including risks of strikes), general economic conditions and geopolitical events. Additional risks not currently known to the Company or risks that the Company currently believes are immaterial may also impair the Company’s business, results of operations and financial results.

 

Risks Relating to the Company’s Business and Industry:

 

1.    The Company is dependent on a single natural resource and may not be able to catch the amount of menhaden that it requires to operate profitably. The Company’s primary raw material is menhaden. The Company’s business is totally dependent on its annual menhaden harvest in ocean waters along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The Company’s ability to meet its raw material requirements through its annual menhaden harvest fluctuates from year to year, and even at times month to month, due to natural conditions over which the Company has no control. These natural conditions, which include varying fish population, adverse weather conditions and disease, may prevent the Company from catching the amount of menhaden required to operate profitability.
2.    Fluctuation in “oil yields” derived from the Company’s fish catch could impact the Company’s ability to operate profitably. The “oil yield,” or the percentage of oil derived from the menhaden fish, while it is relatively high compared to many species of fish, has fluctuated over the years and from month to month due to natural conditions relating to fish biology over which the Company has no control. The oil yield has at times materially impacted the amount of fish oil that the Company has been able to produce from its available fish catch and it is possible that oil yields in the future could also impact the Company’s ability to operate profitably.

 

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3.   

Laws or regulations that restrict or prohibit menhaden or purse seine fishing operations could adversely affect the Company’s ability to operate. The adoption of new laws or regulations at federal, regional, state or local levels that restrict or prohibit menhaden or purse seine fishing operations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws or regulations, could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the impact of a violation by the Company of federal, regional, state or local law or regulation relating to its fishing operations, the protection of the environment or the health and safety of its employees could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

One example of potentially restrictive regulation involves a vote by a regional regulatory board in February 2005 to permit discussion on, and consider for potential adoption, a proposal which could limit for a two-year period the annual amount commercial menhaden catch in the Chesapeake Bay to the Bay’s 5-year average catch, or 110,400 metric tons.

4.    The Company’s fish catch may be impacted by restrictions on its spotter aircraft. If the Company’s spotter aircraft are prohibited or restricted from operating in their normal manner during the Company’s fishing season, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. For example, as a direct result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Secretary of Transportation issued a federal ground stop order that grounded certain aircraft (including the Company’s fish-spotting aircraft) for approximately nine days. This loss of spotter aircraft coverage severely hampered the Company’s ability to locate menhaden fish during this nine-day period and thereby reduced its amount of saleable product.
5.    Worldwide supply and demand relationships, which are beyond the Company’s control, influence the prices that the Company receives for many of its products and may from time to time result in low prices for many of the Company’s products. Prices for many of the Company’s products are subject to, or influenced by, worldwide supply and demand relationships over which the Company has no control and which tend to fluctuate to a significant extent over the course of a year and from year to year. The factors that influence these supply and demand relationships are world supplies of fish meal made from other fish species, animal proteins and fats, palm oil, soy meal and oil, and other edible oils.
6.    New laws or regulation regarding contaminants in fish oil or fish meal may increase the Company’s cost of production or cause the Company to lose business. It is possible that future enactment of increasingly stringent regulations regarding contaminants in fish meal or fish oil by foreign countries or the United States may adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. More stringent regulations could result in: (i) the Company’s incurrence of additional capital expenditures on contaminant reduction technology in order to meet the requirements of those jurisdictions, and possibly higher production costs for Company’s products, or (ii) the Company’s withdrawal from marketing its products in those jurisdictions.

 

Risks Relating to the Company’s Ongoing Operations:

 

1.    The Company’s strategy to expand into the food grade oils market may be unsuccessful. The Company’s attempts to expand its fish oil sales into the market for refined, food grade fish oils for human consumption may not be successful. The Company’s expectations regarding future demand for Omega-3 fatty acids may prove to be incorrect or, if future demand does meet the Company’s expectations, it is possible that purchasers could utilize Omega-3 sources other than the Company’s products.
2.    The Company’s quarterly operating results will fluctuate. Fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly operating results will occur due to the seasonality of the Company’s business, the unpredictability of the Company’s fish catch and oil yields, and the Company’s deferral of sales of inventory based on worldwide prices for competing products.
3.    The Company’s business is subject to significant competition, and some competitors have significantly greater financial resources and more extensive and diversified operations than the Company. The marine protein and oil business is subject to significant competition from producers of vegetable and other animal protein products and oil products such as Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill. In addition, but to a lesser extent, the Company competes with small domestic privately-owned menhaden fishing companies and international marine protein and oil producers, including Scandinavian herring processors and South American anchovy and sardine processors. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources and more extensive and diversified operations than the Company.

 

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4.   

The Company’s foreign customers are subject to disruption typical to foreign countries. The Company’s sales of its products in foreign countries are subject to risks associated with foreign countries such as changes in social, political and economic conditions inherent in foreign operations, including:

 

•      Changes in the law and policies that govern foreign investment and international trade in foreign countries;

 

•      Changes in U.S. laws and regulations relating to foreign investment and trade;

 

•      Changes in tax or other laws;

 

•      Partial or total expropriation;

 

•      Current exchange rate fluctuations;

 

•      Restrictions on current repatriation; or

 

•      Political disturbances, insurrection or war.

 

In addition, it is possible that the Company, at any one time, could have a significant amount of its revenues generated by sales in a particular country which would concentrate the Company’s susceptibility to adverse events in that country.

5.    The Company may undertake acquisitions that are unsuccessful and the Company’s inability to control the inherent risks of acquiring businesses could adversely affect its business, results of operations and financial condition operations. In the future the Company may undertake acquisitions of other businesses, located either in the United States or in other countries, although there can be no assurances that this will occur. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able (i) to identify and acquire acceptable acquisition candidates on favorable terms, (ii) to profitably manage future businesses it may acquire, or (iii) to successfully integrate future businesses it may acquire without substantial costs, delays or other problems. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
6.    The Company’s failure to comply with federal U.S. citizenship ownership requirements may prevent it from harvesting menhaden in the U.S. jurisdictional waters. The Company’s harvesting operations are subject to the Shipping Act of 1916 and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration which require, among other things, that the Company be incorporated under the laws of the U.S. or a state, the Company’s chief executive officer be a U.S. citizen, no more of the Company’s directors be non-citizens than a minority of a number necessary to constitute a quorum and at least 75% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock (including a majority of its voting capital stock) be owned by U.S. citizens. If the Company fails to observe any of these requirements, the Company will not be eligible to conduct its harvesting activities in U.S. jurisdictional waters. Such a lost of eligibility would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
7.    The Company may not be able to recruit, train and retain qualified marine personnel in sufficient numbers. The Company’s business is dependent on its ability to recruit, train and retain qualified marine personnel in sufficient numbers such as vessel captains, vessel engineers and other crewmembers. To the extent that the Company is not successful in recruiting, training and retaining these employees in sufficient numbers, its productivity may suffer. If the Company were unable to secure a sufficient number of workers during periods of peak employment, the lack of personnel could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Investment Risks. Investment risks specifically related to the Company’s common stock include:

 

1.    The Company’s market liquidity for its common stock is relatively low. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had 24,958,609 shares of common stock outstanding. The average daily trading volume in the Company’s common stock during the three month period ending March 31, 2005 was approximately 22,900 shares. Although a more active trading market may develop in the future, the limited market liquidity for the Company’s stock could affect a stockholder’s ability to sell at a price satisfactory to that stockholder.
2.    If significant shares eligible for future sale are sold, the result could depress the Company’s stock price by increasing the supply of shares in the market at a time when demand may be limited. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had approximately 25.0 million shares of common stock outstanding, as well as stock options to purchase approximately 4.9 million shares of common stock. Of these options, approximately 4.5 million were

 

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     exercisable at March 31, 2005. In addition, certain of the Company’s officers and directors have entered into Rule 10b5-1 sales plans with brokers unaffiliated with the Company whereby they have committed to sell automatically and without discretion a predetermined number of shares of Company common stock over a period of time according to their own individual criteria. To the extent that the above stock options are exercised or the above shares are sold, it is possible that the increase in the number of the Company’s outstanding shares could adversely affect the price for the Company’s common stock.
3.    The Company is controlled by a principal stockholder. Zapata Corporation, a publicly traded company, owns approximately 58% of the Company’s common stock. As a result, Zapata has the ability to elect all the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and otherwise control the management and affairs of the Company. Zapata’s ownership will make an unsolicited acquisition of the Company’s common stock more difficult, and could discourage certain types of transactions in which holders of Company common stock might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over current market prices. In addition, because of Zapata’s majority ownership, the Company is a “controlled company” under the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance guidelines and accordingly, is exempt from certain of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.
4.    The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, Nevada Law, and Federal Law have provisions that discourage corporate takeovers and could prevent stockholders from realizing a premium on their investment. Certain provisions of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as well as the Nevada Corporation Law, to which the Company is subject, could delay or frustrate the removal of incumbent directors and could make difficult a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involvement the Company, even if such events could be viewed as beneficial by its stockholders. The Company’s Board of Directors is empowered to issue preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder action. Any issuance of this blank-check preferred stock could materially limit the rights of holders of the Company’s common stock and render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a tender offer, merger, proxy contest or otherwise. In addition, the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain a number of provisions which could impede a takeover or change in control of the Company, including, among other things, staggered terms for members of its Board of Directors, the requiring of two-thirds vote of stockholders to amend certain provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the inability, after Zapata no longer owns a majority of the Company’s common stock, to take action by written consent or to call special stockholder meetings. Certain provisions of the Nevada Corporation Law could also discourage takeover attempts that have not been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, federal law requires that at least 75% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock be owned by U.S. citizens which will discourage takeover attempts by potential foreign purchasers.
5.    The Company has not paid dividends and does not expect to pay dividends in the near future. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common stock since it became a public company in April 1998 and has no intention to do so in the near future. Any determination as to payment of dividends will be made at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company’s operating results, financial condition, capital requirements, general business conditions and such other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, the payment of cash dividends is not permitted by the terms of the Company’s revolving credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A.

 

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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

In the normal course of business, the financial condition of the Company is exposed to minimal market risk associated with interest rate movements on the Company’s borrowings. A one percent increase or decrease in the levels of interest rates on variable rate debt would not result in a material change to the Company’s results of operations.

 

Although the Company sells products in foreign countries, substantially all of the Company’s revenues are billed and paid for in US dollars. As a result, management does not believe that the Company is exposed to any significant foreign country currency exchange risk, and the Company does not utilize market risk sensitive instruments to manage its exposure to this risk.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its “disclosure controls and procedures,” as that phrase is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Office (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”).

 

Based on and as of the date of that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that (i) the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be discussed by the Company in the reports that the Company files or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and (ii) that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be no assurance that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures will detect or uncover all failures of persons within the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company’s periodic reports. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving their control objectives.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is defending various claims and litigation arising from operations which arise in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. In the opinion of management, any losses resulting from these matters will not have a material adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

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

 

None

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None

 

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OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit


31.1   Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification for Chief Executive Officer.
31.2   Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification for Chief Financial Officer.
32.1   Certifications Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Chief Executive Officer.
32.2   Certifications Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the Chief Financial Officer.

 

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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.

 

       

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

(Registrant)

April 28, 2005

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT W. STOCKTON


        (Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer)

 

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