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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - FutureFuel Corp.ff_8k-050912.htm
 
Exhibit 99.1
 
PRESS RELEASE
 


May 9, 2012

COMPANY CONTACT:
 
FutureFuel Corp.
 
Lee E. Mikles, CEO
 
(805) 565-9800
www.futurefuelcorporation.com
 
 
FutureFuel releases first quarter 2012 results

FutureFuel first quarter revenues increase 55% to $85.7 Million

Reports net income of $7.1 million or $0.17 per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA of $16.6 million

Conference call begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time May 10, 2012

CLAYTON, Mo. (May 9, 2012) FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE: FF), a manufacturer of custom and performance chemicals and biofuels, today announced financial results from the three months ended March 31, 2012.

First Quarter 2012 Financial Highlights (all comparisons are with the first quarter of 2011)

Revenues were $85.7 million, up 55% from $55.2 million
Adjusted EBITDA was $16.6 million, up 87% from $8.9 million
Net income increased to $7.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, from $2.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, increases of 162% and 143%, respectively

“We are pleased to report our fourth consecutive quarter of meaningful year-over-year revenue growth from our business, resulting primarily from increased demand for biodiesel driven by the mandates set by RFS2 and increased capacity from our biodiesel production facility,” said Lee Mikles, FutureFuel president and chief executive officer.  “Revenues from our chemicals business declined compared with the first quarter of 2011, due primarily to lower sales of our bleach activator and herbicide products, which decline was partially offset by higher sales of other chemicals.

“Net income for the quarter was considerably higher from the prior year period, most of which was attributable to our sales of biodiesel in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011.”

2012 Regular Cash Dividends

FutureFuel declared a normal quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share for 2012, payable in March, June, September, and December.
 
 
 

 
 
Financial Overview and Key Operating Metrics

Financial and operating metrics, which include non-GAAP financial measures, include:
 
FutureFuel Corp.
Certain Financial and Operating Metrics
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
   
For the Quarter Ended March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
Change
   
% Change
 
Revenues
  $ 85,727     $ 55,241     $ 30,486       55 %
Income from operations
  $ 10,583     $ 3,220     $ 7,363       229 %
Net income
  $ 7,113     $ 2,716     $ 4,397       162 %
Earnings per common share – basic
  $ 0.17     $ 0.07     $ 0.10       143 %
Earnings per common share – diluted
  $ 0.17     $ 0.07     $ 0.10       143 %
Capital expenditures (net of customer reimbursements and regulatory grants)
  $ 1,956     $ 2,243     $ (287 )     (13 %)
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 157,080     $ 146,039     $ 11,041       8 %
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 16,584     $ 8,882     $ 7,702       87 %

First Quarter Financial and Business Summary
 
FutureFuel reported revenues of $85.7 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 55% from the first quarter of 2011.  Revenues from the chemicals segment decreased 14% to $38.4 million, resulting predominately from decreasing sales of the bleach activator and proprietary herbicide products due to reduced volumes; however, price and volume differences from other products helped to minimize this effect.  Revenues from the biofuels segment increased 349% to $47.3 million due to several factors.  First, the government mandated renewable fuel standard for biodiesel continues to create demand.  Second, FutureFuel continued to debottleneck and increase its production capacity to make use of the improved economics of biodiesel.  Third, sales and production of biodiesel increased in the first quarter of 2012 as FutureFuel was producing and selling biodiesel for the entire period, whereas sales in the first quarter of 2011 were limited due to the initial conversion to lower grade biodiesel feedstocks and adaptation to the improvement in biodiesel economics.  Finally, revenues from biofuels have been benefited by FutureFuel’s sales of refined petroleum products as a shipper on a common carrier pipeline.
 
Income from operations increased to $10.6 million from $3.2 million for the first quarter of 2011.  FutureFuel does not report income from operations by segment, but does report segment gross profit.  The chemicals segment gross profit increased 50% to $11.7 million and the biofuels segment gross profit increased to $1.1 million from a $2.8 million negative gross profit in the prior year.
 
Chemicals segment gross profit increased primarily as a result of two factors.  First, in the first quarter of 2011, FutureFuel incurred certain expenditures that it was unable to pass along to customers.  FutureFuel did not incur those expenditures in the first quarter of 2012.  Second, as sales in FutureFuel’s biofuels segment have increased, fixed costs that were more heavily allocated to the chemicals segment in the first quarter of 2011 were allocated in greater proportion to the biofuels segment in the first quarter of 2012.  The increase in biofuels segment gross profit was primarily the result of increased biodiesel sales as discussed above.
 
FutureFuel reported net income of $7.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012, compared with net income of $2.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011.  Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2012 was $16.6 million, up from $8.9 million for the first quarter of 2011.
 
Capital Expenditures
 
Capital expenditures were $2.1 million for the first three months of 2012, compared with $8.2 million for the first three months of 2011.  This decrease was primarily due to the completion prior to the first quarter of 2012 of certain projects undertaken on behalf of certain customers.  FutureFuel is reimbursed for a portion of these expenditures by certain customers and by regulatory grants as summarized in the following table.
 
 
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Three Months Ended
March 31, 2012
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2011
 
Cash paid for capital expenditures
  $ 2,113     $ 8,163  
Cash received as reimbursement of capital expenditures
    (157 )     (5,920 )
Cash paid, net of reimbursement, for capital expenditures
  $ 1,956     $ 2,243  

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
 
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $157 million as of March 31, 2012, compared with $146 million as of March 31, 2011.  These balances increased primarily due to cash generated by FutureFuel’s operations and sales proceeds of FutureFuel’s common stock under its at-the-market offering.
 
Conference Call and Webcast
 
A conference call and webcast will be held May 10, 2012 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time (8:00 a.m. Central time).  To access the conference call, dial (877) 251-1860 (U.S. and Canada) or (224) 357-2386 (international callers).  The webcast will also be available in the investor relations section of the company’s website at www.futurefuelcorporation.com.  A replay of the call and webcast will begin approximately two hours after the live call has ended.  To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 78321256.
 
About FutureFuel
 
FutureFuel is a leading manufacturer of diversified chemical products and biobased products comprised of biofuels and biobased specialty chemical products.  In its chemicals business, it manufactures specialty chemicals for specific customers (custom manufacturing) as well as multi-customer specialty chemicals (performance chemicals).  Its custom manufacturing product portfolio includes a bleach activator for a major detergent manufacturer, a proprietary herbicide and intermediates for a major life sciences company, and chlorinated polyolefin adhesion promoters and antioxidant precursors for a major chemical company.  The performance chemicals product portfolio includes polymer (nylon) modifiers and several small-volume specialty chemicals for diverse applications.  In its biofuels segment, the company predominantly produces biodiesel.  Visit www.futurefuelcorporation.com for more information on FutureFuel.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements deal with FutureFuel’s current plans, intentions, beliefs, and expectations, and statements of future economic performance.  Statements containing such terms as “believe,” “do not believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” and other phrases of similar meaning are considered to contain uncertainty and are forward-looking statements.  In addition, from time to time FutureFuel or its representatives have made or will make forward-looking statements orally or in writing.  Furthermore, such forward-looking statements may be included in various filings that the company makes with United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in press releases, or in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of FutureFuel’s authorized executive officers.
 
These forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in FutureFuel’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in its future filings made with the SEC.  An investor should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this document which reflect FutureFuel’s management’s opinions only as of their respective dates.  Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements.  The risks and uncertainties described in this document and in current and future filings with the SEC are not the only ones FutureFuel faces.  New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the company to predict which will arise.  There may be additional risks not presently known to the company or that the company currently believes are immaterial to its business.  In addition, FutureFuel cannot assess the impact of each factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  If any such risks occur, FutureFuel’s business, operating results, liquidity, and financial condition could be materially affected in an adverse manner.  An investor should consult any additional disclosures FutureFuel has made or will make in its reports to the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, and any amendments thereto.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to FutureFuel or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this document.
 
 
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
In this press release, FutureFuel used adjusted EBITDA as a key operating metric.  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure.  Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for operating income, net income, or cash flow from operating activities (each as determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of performance or liquidity.  Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP.  FutureFuel defines adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization expenses, excluding, when applicable, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, public offering expenses, acquisition-related transaction costs, purchase accounting adjustments, losses on disposal of property and equipment, gains or losses on derivative instruments, and other non-operating income or expenses.  Information relating to adjusted EBITDA is provided so that investors have the same data that management employs in assessing the overall operation of FutureFuel’s business.  FutureFuel’s calculation of adjusted EBITDA may be different from similarly titled measures used by other companies; therefore, the results of its calculation are not necessarily comparable to the results of other companies.
 
Adjusted EBITDA allows FutureFuel’s chief operating decision makers to assess the performance of FutureFuel’s business on a consolidated basis to assess the ability of its operating segments to produce operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, to fund capital expenditures, and to pay dividends.  In particular, FutureFuel’s management believes that adjusted EBITDA permits a comparative assessment of FutureFuel’s operating performance, relative to a performance based on GAAP results, while isolating the effects of depreciation and amortization, which may vary among its operating segments without any correlation to their underlying operating performance, and of non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash expense that varies widely among similar companies, and gains and losses on derivative instruments, whose immediate recognition can cause net income to be volatile from quarter to quarter due to the timing of the valuation change in the derivative instruments relative to the sale of biofuel.
 
A table included in this news release reconciles adjusted EBITDA with net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
 
 
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FutureFuel Corp.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 88,886     $ 89,745  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $10
    22,117       35,677  
Inventory
    67,952       57,439  
Marketable securities
    68,194       56,294  
Other current assets
    3,383       3,370  
Total current assets
    250,532       242,525  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    139,952       140,517  
Other assets
    2,173       2,202  
Total noncurrent assets
    142,125       142,719  
Total Assets
  $ 392,657     $ 385,244  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Accounts payable
  $ 21,770     $ 21,688  
Other current liabilities
    18,124       14,111  
Total current liabilities
    39,894       35,799  
Deferred revenue – long-term
    28,365       29,256  
Other noncurrent liabilities
    31,973       31,951  
Total noncurrent liabilities
    60,338       61,207  
Total Liabilities
    100,232       97,006  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 41,319,057 and 41,308,446 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively
    4       4  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    2,929       1,803  
Additional paid in capital
    253,585       253,505  
Retained earnings
    35,907       32,926  
Total stockholders’ equity
    292,425       288,238  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 392,657     $ 385,244  


 
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FutureFuel Corp.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Revenues
  $ 85,727     $ 55,241  
Cost of goods sold and distribution
    72,926       50,242  
Gross profit
    12,801       4,999  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    1,375       1,026  
Research and development expenses
    843       753  
      2,218       1,779  
Income from operations
    10,583       3,220  
Other income
    1,396       732  
Income before income taxes
    11,979       3,952  
Provision for income taxes
    4,866       1,236  
Net income
  $ 7,113     $ 2,716  
                 
Earnings per common share
               
Basic
  $ 0.17     $ 0.07  
Diluted
  $ 0.17     $ 0.07  
Weighted average shares outstanding
               
Basic
    41,314,859       39,982,905  
Diluted
    41,493,135       40,131,086  
                 
Comprehensive Income
               
Net income
  $ 7,113     $ 2,716  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax of $701 in 2012 and $618 in 2011
    1,126       987  
Comprehensive income
  $ 8,239     $ 3,703  

 
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FutureFuel Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Cash flows provided by operating activities
           
Net income
  $ 7,113     $ 2,716  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    2,584       1,911  
Benefit from deferred income taxes
    (161 )     (1,478 )
Change in fair value of derivative instruments and marketable securities
    (1,266 )     (2 )
(Gain)/loss on investments
    (314 )     69  
Losses on disposals of fixed assets
    63       6  
Noncash interest expense
    6       6  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    13,607       8,114  
Accounts receivable – related parties
    (47 )     (22 )
Inventory
    (10,513 )     (3,827 )
Income taxes receivable
    -       519  
Prepaid expenses
    216       (22 )
Accrued interest on marketable securities
    -       (96 )
Other assets
    15       153  
Accounts payable
    2,776       7,853  
Accounts payable – related parties
    (2,694 )     14  
Income taxes payable
    3,198       1,730  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    317       47  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – related parties
    (26 )     (2 )
Deferred revenue
    (891 )     5,277  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    13,983       22,966  
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Restricted cash
    -       16,400  
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets
    31       -  
Collateralization of derivative instruments
    1,050       (199 )
Purchase of marketable securities
    (17,406 )     (58,311 )
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities
    7,648       19,577  
Capital expenditures
    (2,113 )     (8,163 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (10,790 )     (30,696 )
Cash flows from financing activities
               
Proceeds from the issuance of stock
    72       35  
Excess tax benefits associated with stock options
    8       -  
Payment of dividend
    (4,132 )     (3,999 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (4,052 )     (3,964 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (859 )     (11,694 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    89,745       91,057  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 88,886     $ 79,363  
                 
Cash paid for interest
  $ -     $ 3  
                 
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 2,090     $ 465  
                 
Non-cash capital expenditures
  $ -     $ 535  

 
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FutureFuel Corp.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure to Financial Measure
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 16,584     $ 8,882  
Depreciation and amortization
    (2,584 )     (1,911 )
Non-cash stock-based compensation
    -       -  
Interest and dividend income
    1,140       776  
Interest expense
    (6 )     (134 )
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
    (63 )     (6 )
Losses on derivative instruments
    (3,406 )     (3,750 )
Other income (expense), net
    314       95  
Impairment of fixed assets
    -       -  
Income tax expense
    (4,866 )     (1,236 )
Net income
  $ 7,113     $ 2,716  

FutureFuel Corp.
Condensed Consolidated Segment Income
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Revenues
           
Chemicals
  $ 38,409     $ 44,695  
Biofuels
    47,318       10,546  
Revenues
  $ 85,727     $ 55,241  
                 
Segment gross profit
               
Chemicals
  $ 11,669     $ 7,774  
Biofuels
    1,132       (2,775 )
Segment gross profit
    12,801       4,999  
Corporate expenses
    (2,218 )     (1,779 )
Income before interest and taxes
    10,583       3,220  
Investment income
    1,454       871  
Interest and other expense
    (58 )     (139 )
Provision for income taxes
    (4,866 )     (1,236 )
Net income
  $ 7,113     $ 2,716  

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