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EX-10.1 - EXHIBIT 10.1 - NORTHWEST PIPE COex10-1.htm
Table Of Contents

UNITED STATES      

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


 

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2016

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission File Number: 0-27140 


NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


OREGON

93-0557988

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

 

5721 SE Columbia Way

Suite 200

Vancouver, Washington 98661

 (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

360-397-6250

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)


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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

       

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

 

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

 

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

9,601,011 

(Class)

(Shares outstanding at October 28, 2016)



 

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

 

 

Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

   

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited):

 

   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 

2

   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 

3

   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

4

   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

5

   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

   

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

17

   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

21

   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

22

   

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

   

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

22

   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

22

   

Item 6. Exhibits

23

   

Signatures

24

   

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited):

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 (Unaudited)

 (In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

  

   

September 30,

2016

   

December 31,

2015

 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 11,805     $ 10,309  

Trade and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $459 and $751

    22,615       27,567  

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

    46,063       42,592  

Inventories

    20,606       29,475  

Refundable income taxes

    341       3,413  

Assets held for sale

    6,075       -  

Prepaid expenses and other

    962       1,923  

Total current assets

    108,467       115,279  

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization  of $84,455 and $86,451

    120,164       131,848  

Other assets

    11,638       12,253  

Total assets

  $ 240,269     $ 259,380  
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Current portion of capital lease obligations

  $ 358     $ 340  

Accounts payable

    4,979       4,739  

Accrued liabilities

    12,285       15,971  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

    4,147       520  

Total current liabilities

    21,769       21,570  

Capital lease obligations, less current portion

    667       718  

Deferred income taxes

    2,461       5,124  

Pension and other long-term liabilities

    12,321       14,408  

Total liabilities

    37,218       41,820  
                 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

               
                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               
                 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

    -       -  

Common stock, $.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 9,601,011 and 9,564,752 shares issued and outstanding

    96       96  

Additional paid-in-capital

    118,207       117,819  

Retained earnings

    86,086       101,183  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (1,338 )     (1,538 )

Total stockholders’ equity

    203,051       217,560  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 240,269     $ 259,380  

 

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

 

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 (Unaudited)

 (In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Net sales

  $ 41,088     $ 52,335     $ 117,077     $ 191,046  

Cost of sales

    38,965       54,846       122,553       192,259  

Gross profit (loss)

    2,123       (2,511 )     (5,476 )     (1,213 )

Restructuring expense

    282       -       282       -  

Selling, general and administrative expense

    3,904       4,773       12,594       17,199  

Impairment of Water Transmission goodwill

    -       -       -       5,282  

Operating loss

    (2,063 )     (7,284 )     (18,352 )     (23,694 )

Other income

    16       24       51       82  

Interest income

    10       10       14       173  

Interest expense

    (134 )     (195 )     (371 )     (898 )

Loss before income taxes

    (2,171 )     (7,445 )     (18,658 )     (24,337 )

Income tax benefit

    (2,898 )     (5,930 )     (3,561 )     (8,642 )

Net income (loss)

  $ 727     $ (1,515 )   $ (15,097 )   $ (15,695 )
                                 
                                 
                                 

Basic income (loss) per share

  $ 0.08     $ (0.16 )   $ (1.58 )   $ (1.64 )
                                 

Diluted income (loss) per share

  $ 0.08     $ (0.16 )   $ (1.58 )   $ (1.64 )
                                 

Shares used in per share calculations:

                               

Basic

    9,597       9,565       9,583       9,558  
                                 

Diluted

    9,620       9,565       9,583       9,558  

 

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

 

 

 

 NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 (Unaudited)

 (In thousands)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2016

    2015    

2016

    2015  
                                 

Net income (loss)

  $ 727     $ (1,515 )   $ (15,097 )   $ (15,695 )
                                 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                               

Pension liability adjustment, net of tax

    100       109       299       327  

Deferred gain (loss) on cash flow derivatives, net of tax

    17       15       (99 )     (16 )

Other comprehensive income

    117       124       200       311  

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 844     $ (1,391 )   $ (14,897 )   $ (15,384 )

 

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

 

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)    

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (15,097 )   $ (15,695 )

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

               

Depreciation

    7,373       6,664  

Impairment of goodwill

    -       5,282  

Amortization of intangible assets

    392       410  

Provision for doubtful accounts

    (292 )     (200 )

Amortization of debt issuance costs

    124       203  

Deferred income taxes

    (3,575 )     (2,415 )

Stock based compensation expense

    1,332       1,340  

Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency forward contracts

    294       (173 )

Adjustments to contingent consideration

    (1,042 )     276  

Other, net

    14       31  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Trade and other receivables, net

    5,244       19,121  

Insurance settlements

    -       2,625  

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net

    156       5,007  

Inventories

    8,931       23,946  

Refundable income taxes

    3,072       (3,523 )

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    710       1,321  

Accounts payable

    489       (4,129 )

Accrued and other liabilities

    (3,303 )     (2,287 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

    4,822       37,804  

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Additions to property and equipment

    (1,790 )     (7,704 )

Proceeds from sale of business

    -       4,300  

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    20       55  

Collections on notes receivable

    -       7,219  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    (1,770 )     3,870  

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock and performance stock awards

    (31 )     (423 )

Borrowings on line of credit

    -       77,750  

Repayments on line of credit

    -       (116,785 )

Payments on capital lease obligations

    (292 )     (2,127 )

Payments of contingent consideration

    (1,233 )     -  

Other financing activities

    -       19  

Net cash used in financing activities

    (1,556 )     (41,566 )

Change in cash and cash equivalents

    1,496       108  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

    10,309       527  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  $ 11,805     $ 635  
                 

Non-Cash Investing Activity:

               

Capital lease additions

  $ 259     $ 16  

Accrued property and equipment purchases

  $ 147     $ 356  

 

 

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

 

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 (Unaudited)

 

1.

Basis of Presentation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Northwest Pipe Company (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries in which the Company exercises control as of the financial statement date. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial information as of December 31, 2015 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary (which are of a normal and recurring nature) for the fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto together with management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations contained in the Company’s 2015 Form 10-K.

 

Certain amounts from the prior year financial statements have been reclassified in order to conform to the current year presentation.

 

Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

 

2.

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

   

September 30,

2016

   

December 31,

2015

 

Short-term inventories:

               

Raw materials

  $ 16,859     $ 21,486  

Work-in-process

    870       1,901  

Finished goods

    515       3,641  

Supplies

    2,362       2,447  

Total short-term inventories

    20,606       29,475  
                 

Long-term inventories:

               

Finished goods

    761       823  

Total inventories

  $ 21,367     $ 30,298  

 

Long-term inventories are recorded in other assets.

 

3.

Assets Held for Sale

 

The Company classifies assets as held for sale when all the following criteria are met: (i) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset or disposal group; (ii) the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition; (iii) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset or disposal group have been initiated; (iv) the sale of the asset or disposal group is probable, and transfer of the asset or disposal group is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale, within one year, with a few exceptions; and (v) the asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable, in relation to its current fair value.

 

As of September 30, 2016, assets held for sale of $6.1 million consists of a disposal group comprised of real estate and certain equipment at the Company's Denver, Colorado location, which is part of the Water Transmission segment. The decision to close the Denver facility and sell the property was driven primarily by the need to address the significant imbalance between production capacity and demand in the steel water pipe market. As the fair value less costs to sell of the disposal group exceeds the carrying value, no impairment charge has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements. Assets are no longer depreciated once classified as held for sale. See Note 16 for discussion of the sale of Denver subsequent to September 30, 2016.

  

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, pre-tax loss generated by the Denver facility was $0.2 million and $2.9 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, pre-tax loss of $0.9 million and $0.5 million, respectively, was generated by the Denver facility.

 

4.

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company records its financial assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

The authoritative guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. These levels are: Level 1 (inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities); Level 2 (inputs are other than quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data); and Level 3 (inputs are unobservable, with little or no market data that exists, such as internal financial forecasts). The Company is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

 

The following table summarizes information regarding the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value (in thousands):

 

  

   

Balance at

                         

Description

 

September 30,

2016

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Financial assets

                               

Deferred compensation plan

  $ 6,362     $ 5,020     $ 1,342     $ -  

Derivatives

    7       -       7       -  

Total assets

  $ 6,369     $ 5,020     $ 1,349     $ -  

Financial liabilities

                               

Contingent consideration

  $ (698 )   $ -     $ -     $ (698 )

Derivatives

    (105 )     -       (105 )     -  

Total liabilities

  $ (803 )   $ -     $ (105 )   $ (698 )

 

   

Balance at

                         

Description

 

December 31,

2015

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Financial assets

                               

Deferred compensation plan

  $ 6,357     $ 5,075     $ 1,282     $ -  

Derivatives

    296       -       296       -  

Total assets

  $ 6,653     $ 5,075     $ 1,578     $ -  

Financial liabilities

                               

Contingent consideration

  $ (2,974 )   $ -     $ -     $ (2,974 )

 

The deferred compensation plan assets consist of cash and several publicly traded stock and bond mutual funds, valued using quoted market prices in active markets, classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, as well as guaranteed investment contracts, valued at principal plus interest credited at contract rates, classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

The Company’s derivatives consist of foreign currency forward contracts, which are accounted for as cash flow hedges, and are valued using various pricing models or discounted cash flow analyses that incorporate observable market parameters, such as interest rate yield curves and currency rates, classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy. Derivative valuations incorporate credit risk adjustments that are necessary to reflect the probability of default by the counterparty or the Company.

  

 

The contingent consideration liability is associated with the acquisition of Permalok Corporation in December 2013 and represents the probability weighted average contingent payment as a percentage of high, mid, and low revenue projections. The inputs used to measure contingent consideration are classified as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy. The valuation is not supported by market criteria and reflects the Company’s internal revenue forecasts. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligation will be reflected in cost of sales during the period the change occurs.

 

The net carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and borrowings on line of credit approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

 

5.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

The Company conducts business in various foreign countries and, from time to time, settles transactions in foreign currencies. The Company has established a program that utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to offset the risk associated with the effects of certain foreign currency exposures, typically arising from sales contracts denominated in Canadian currency. Instruments that do not qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment are remeasured at fair value on each balance sheet date and resulting gains and losses are recognized in income. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, all derivative contracts held by the Company were designated as cash flow hedges. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the total notional amount of the derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges was $4.7 million (CAD$6.1 million) and $6.3 million (CAD$8.7 million), respectively. Derivative assets are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets and derivative liabilities are included within accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. All of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement. The Company presents the assets and liabilities associated with its foreign currency forward contracts at their gross fair values within the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

For each derivative contract entered into in which the Company seeks to obtain cash flow hedge accounting treatment, the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged, how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk will be assessed prospectively and retrospectively, and a description of the method of measuring ineffectiveness. This process includes linking all derivatives to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions and designating the derivatives as cash flow hedges. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative contracts that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. The effective portion of these hedged items is reflected in other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. If it is determined that a derivative contract is not highly effective, or that it has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, the Company will be required to discontinue hedge accounting with respect to that derivative contract prospectively.

 

All of the Company’s Canadian forward contracts have maturities of 12 months or less as of September 30, 2016.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, gains (losses) recognized in net sales from derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments were $76,000 and ($133,000), respectively. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, gains from derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments recognized in net sales totaled $0.2 million. At September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, there was ($20,000) and $18,000, respectively, of unrealized pretax gains (losses) on outstanding derivatives in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Substantially all of the amount in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2016 is expected to be reclassified to net sales within the next 12 months as a result of underlying hedged transactions also being recorded in net sales. See Note 11, “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss” for additional quantitative information regarding derivative gains and losses.

 

6.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Portland Harbor Superfund

 

On December 1, 2000, a section of the lower Willamette River known as the Portland Harbor Site was included on the National Priorities List at the request of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”). While the Company’s Portland, Oregon manufacturing facility does not border the Willamette River, an outfall from the facility’s stormwater system drains into a neighboring property’s privately owned stormwater system and slip. Since the listing of the site, the Company was notified by the EPA and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (“ODEQ”) of potential liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). In 2008, the Company was asked to file information disclosure reports with the EPA (CERCLA 104 (e) information request). A remedial investigation and feasibility study (“RI/FS”) of the Portland Harbor Site has been directed by a group of 14 potentially responsible parties known as the Lower Willamette Group (the “LWG”) under agreement with the EPA. The remedial investigation report was finalized in February 2016. The feasibility study (“FS”) was finalized in June 2016 by the EPA, and identified multiple remedial alternatives. The EPA published its Proposed Plan for public comment in June 2016. The Proposed Plan recommends an Alternative Remedy that EPA believes will take 7 years and $745 million to construct. The Proposed Plan does not determine who is responsible for the costs of cleanup or how the cleanup costs will be allocated among the potentially responsible parties.

  

 

In 2001, groundwater containing elevated volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) was identified in one localized area of leased property adjacent to the Portland facility furthest from the river. Assessment work was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to further characterize the groundwater. In February 2005, the Company entered into a Voluntary Agreement for Remedial Investigation and Source Control Measures (the “Agreement”) with ODEQ. The Company performed RI work required under the Agreement and submitted a draft RI/Source Control Evaluation Report (“SCE”) in December 2005, a revised draft RI/SCE Report in January 2014, and a further revised RI/SCE Report in March 2015. In May 2015, and subsequently in August and October 2015, the Company received the EPA’s and ODEQ’s comments, respectively, requesting additional information and modifications to the revised RI/SCE Report, including the request to conduct additional groundwater sampling. The Company provided a Supplemental Groundwater Sampling Work Plan (“proposed Work Plan”) in December 2015. The DEQ and EPA provided comments to the proposed Work Plan in January 2016 and made additional requests in February 2016. The Company provided a Final Supplemental Groundwater Sampling Work Plan in the third quarter of 2016, and the DEQ approved work to proceed.     

 

Concurrent with the activities of the EPA and ODEQ, the Portland Harbor Natural Resources Trustee Council (“Trustees”) sent some or all of the same parties, including the Company, a notice of intent to perform a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (“NRDA”) for the Portland Harbor Site to determine the nature and extent of natural resource damages under CERCLA section 107. The Trustees for the Portland Harbor Site consist of representatives from several Northwest Indian Tribes, three federal agencies and one state agency. The Trustees act independently of the EPA and ODEQ. The Trustees have encouraged potentially responsible parties to voluntarily participate in the funding of their injury assessments and several of those parties have agreed to do so. In June 2014, the Company agreed to participate in the injury assessment process, which included funding $0.4 million of the assessment; of this amount, $0.2 million was paid in July 2014 and the remainder was paid in January 2015. The Company has not assumed any additional payment obligations or liabilities with the participation with the NRDA.

 

The Company’s potential liability is a portion of the costs of the remedy the EPA will select for the entire Portland Harbor Superfund Site. The cost of that remedy is expected to be allocated among more than 100 potentially responsible parties. Because of the large number of responsible parties and the variability in the range of remediation alternatives, the Company is unable to estimate an amount or an amount within a range of costs for its obligation with respect to the Portland Harbor Site matters, and no further adjustment to the consolidated financial statements has been recorded as of the date of this filing. The Company has insurance policies for defense costs, as well as indemnification policies it believes will provide reimbursement for any share of the remediation assessed. However, the Company can provide no assurance that those policies will cover all of the costs which the Company may incur.

 

In December 2014, a federal district court approved settlements between the Company and two of its insurance carriers. The Company released its interests in the related insurance policies, and received $2.6 million in January 2015 for reimbursement of past indemnification and defense costs incurred by the Company associated with the Portland Harbor Site, substantially all of which reduced cost of sales in 2014. Notwithstanding these settlements, the Company continues to have insurance coverage for indemnification and defense costs related to the Portland Harbor Site as described above.

 

Houston Environmental Issue

 

In connection with the Company’s sale of its oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) business, a Limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment was conducted at the Houston, Texas plant and completed in March 2014, which revealed the presence of VOCs in the groundwater and certain metals in the soil. In June 2014, the Company was accepted into the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) Voluntary Cleanup Program (“VCP”) to address these issues and obtain a Certificate of Completion (“COC”) from TCEQ. The cost of any potential assessment and cleanup will not be covered by insurance. However, any costs incurred will be reimbursed by the purchaser of the OCTG business if the purchaser exercises its option to purchase the property under certain circumstances after the COC is obtained.

 

The proposed remediation approach includes a municipal ordinance to prevent consumption of shallow groundwater from beneath the property, thereby eliminating the need for more costly remediation measures. In February 2016, the Company submitted an application to the City of Houston under the municipal ordinance, and is currently in the process of satisfying the requirements of the City and TCEQ to obtain approval of the application. 

 

While the final remediation approach has not yet been determined, the Company has completed an initial assessment and currently estimates that the future costs associated with the VCP will be between $0.1 million and $1.6 million. At September 30, 2016, the Company has a $0.2 million accrual for remediation costs based on the low-end estimate of future costs using a probability-weighted analysis of remediation approaches, and estimates that completion of the VCP process will occur between the third quarter of 2017 and the third quarter of 2019.

  

 

All Sites

 

The Company operates its facilities under numerous governmental permits and licenses relating to air emissions, storm water run-off, and other environmental matters. The Company’s operations are also governed by many other laws and regulations, including those relating to workplace safety and worker health, principally the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations there under which, among other requirements, establish noise and dust standards. The Company believes it is in material compliance with its permits and licenses and these laws and regulations, and the Company does not believe that future compliance with such laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of its business. The Company maintains insurance coverage against potential claims in amounts that are believed to be adequate. To the extent that insurance does not cover legal, defense, and indemnification costs associated with a loss contingency, such costs will be expensed as incurred. The Company believes that it is not presently a party to any other litigation, the outcome of which would have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Guarantees

 

The Company has entered into certain stand-by letters of credit that total $2.0 million at September 30, 2016. The stand-by letters of credit relate to workers’ compensation insurance.

 

7.     Segment Information

 

The Company’s business is the manufacturing of welded steel pipe. Within this business, the Company’s operations are organized into two reportable segments: the Water Transmission Group and the Tubular Products Group. These reportable segments are based on the nature of the products and the manufacturing process. The two segments represent distinct business activities, which management evaluates based on segment gross profit and operating income. Transfers between segments in the periods presented were not material.

 

The Water Transmission Group manufactures large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, which are primarily related to drinking water systems. These products are also used for hydroelectric power systems, wastewater systems and other applications. In addition, the Water Transmission Group makes products for industrial plant piping systems and certain structural applications.

 

The Tubular Products Group manufactures and markets smaller diameter, electric resistance welded steel pipe used in a wide range of applications, including energy, construction, agriculture and industrial systems.  

  

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Net sales:

                               

Water Transmission

  $ 41,075     $ 39,792     $ 110,208     $ 134,479  

Tubular Products

    13       12,543       6,869       56,567  

Total

  $ 41,088     $ 52,335     $ 117,077     $ 191,046  
                                 

Gross profit (loss):

                               

Water Transmission

  $ 2,939     $ (725 )   $ (4,083 )   $ 8,049  

Tubular Products

    (816 )     (1,786 )     (1,393 )     (9,262 )

Total

  $ 2,123     $ (2,511 )   $ (5,476 )   $ (1,213 )
                                 
                                 

Operating income (loss):

                               

Water Transmission (1)

  $ 1,363     $ (2,384 )   $ (8,541 )   $ (2,566 )

Tubular Products

    (802 )     (2,298 )     (1,700 )     (11,169 )

Corporate

    (2,624 )     (2,602 )     (8,111 )     (9,959 )

Total

  $ (2,063 )   $ (7,284 )   $ (18,352 )   $ (23,694 )

 

(1)     Operating loss for the Water Transmission Group for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes the write-off of Water Transmission goodwill of $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2015.

 

8.     Share-based Compensation      

 

The Company has one active stock incentive plan for employees and directors: the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, which provides for awards of stock options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted and unrestricted shares of common stock, restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance share awards (PSAs). In addition, the Company has one inactive stock option plan, the 1995 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors, under which previously granted options remain outstanding.

 

The Company recognizes compensation cost as service is rendered based on the fair value of the awards. The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense recorded (in thousands):

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Cost of sales

  $ 79     $ 116     $ 118     $ 296  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    440       91       1,214       1,044  

Total

  $ 519     $ 207     $ 1,332     $ 1,340  

 

As of September 30, 2016, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the Company’s RSUs and PSAs was $1.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years.

  

 

 Stock Option Awards

 

A summary of the status of the Company’s stock options as of September 30, 2016 and changes during the nine months then ended is presented below:

 

 

   

Options

Outstanding

   

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

per Share

   

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

   

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

 
                           

(In thousands)

 

Balance, January 1, 2016

    28,000     $ 25.21                  

Options granted

    -       -                  

Options exercised

    -       -                  

Options cancelled

    (2,000 )     28.31                  

Balance, September 30, 2016

    26,000       24.97       3.28     $ -  

Exercisable, September 30, 2016

    26,000       24.97       3.28     $ -  

 

Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Awards

 

A summary of the status of the Company’s RSUs and PSAs as of September 30, 2016 and changes during the nine months then ended is presented below:

 

 

 

   

Number of RSUs and PSAs

   

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

 

Balance, January 1, 2016

    127,852     $ 38.87  

RSUs and PSAs granted

    169,583       9.50  

RSUs and PSAs vested

    (12,212 )     31.50  

RSUs and PSAs canceled

    (63,126 )     36.93  

Balance, September 30, 2016

    222,097       17.40  

 

RSUs and PSAs are measured at the estimated fair value on the date of grant. RSUs are service-based awards and vest according to vesting schedules, which range from immediate to ratably over a three-year period. PSAs are service-based awards that vest over a three-year period and have a market-based payout condition. Vesting of the market-based PSAs is dependent upon the performance of the market price of the Company’s stock relative to a peer group of companies. The unvested balance of RSUs and PSAs at September 30, 2016 includes approximately 47,000 PSAs at a target level of performance; the actual number of common shares that will ultimately be issued will be determined by multiplying this number of PSAs by a payout percentage ranging from 0% to 200%.

 

Stock Awards

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, stock awards of 27,640 and 10,464 shares, respectively, were granted to non-employee directors, which vested immediately upon issuance. The Company recorded compensation expense based on the weighted average fair market value per share of the awards on the grant date of $9.95 and $21.02 in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

9.     Income Taxes

 

The Company files income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction, in a limited number of foreign jurisdictions, and in many state jurisdictions. Internal Revenue Service examinations have been completed for years prior to 2011. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state or foreign income tax examinations for years before 2012.

 

The Company recorded an income tax benefit at an estimated effective tax rate of 133.5% and 19.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, and an income tax benefit at an estimated effective tax rate of 79.7% and 35.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The income tax benefit in the third quarter of 2016 is due primarily to a reduction in the expected increase in the valuation allowance for 2016, driven by updates to forecasted earnings and the taxable gain associated with the sale of the Denver facility in the fourth quarter of 2016 (see Note 16). The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is lower than statutory rates because a portion of the Company’s net operating losses from the period are subject to a valuation allowance.

  

 

The Company had $4.9 million of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the following twelve months; however, actual results could differ from those currently expected. Effectively all the unrecognized tax benefits would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized at some point in the future. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company determined that it no longer considers the earnings of its Mexican subsidiary to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. This change was made to allow the Company to more efficiently manage its cash balances and working capital. The change did not have a significant effect on the Company’s income taxes.

 

 

10.     Income (Loss) per Share

 

Income (loss) per basic and diluted weighted average common share outstanding were calculated as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 
                                 

Net income (loss)

  $ 727     $ (1,515 )   $ (15,097 )   $ (15,695 )
                                 

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

    9,597       9,565       9,583       9,558  

Effect of potentially dilutive common shares(1)

    23       -       -       -  

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

    9,620       9,565       9,583       9,558  
                                 

Income (loss) per common share:

                               

Income (loss) per basic common share

  $ 0.08     $ (0.16 )   $ (1.58 )   $ (1.64 )

Income (loss) per diluted common share

    0.08       (0.16 )     (1.58 )     (1.64 )

     

(1)

Represents the effect of the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units and performance stock awards, based on the treasury stock method.

 

Due to the Company’s net loss in the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, and the net loss in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015, the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units and performance stock awards using the treasury stock method would have had an antidilutive effect and were therefore excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share. The weighted average number of such antidilutive shares not included in the computation of diluted loss per share was 181,000 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, and 163,000 and 185,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

In the three months ended September 30, 2016, there were 27,000 shares from the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units using the treasury stock method that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because to include these shares would have had an antidilutive effect.

 

11.     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

The following tables summarize changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands). All amounts are net of tax:

 

 

   

Defined Benefit

Pension Items

   

Gains (Losses) on

Cash Flow

Hedges

   

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2015

  $ (1,624 )   $ 86     $ (1,538 )
                         

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

    127       (75 )     52  

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    172       (24 )     148  

Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)

    299       (99 )     200  
                         

Balance, September 30, 2016

  $ (1,325 )   $ (13 )   $ (1,338 )

  

 

 

   

Defined Benefit

Pension Items

   

Gains (Losses) on

Cash Flow

Hedges

   

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2014

  $ (1,862 )   $ 29     $ (1,833 )
                         

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    167       76       243  

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    160       (92 )     68  

Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)

    327       (16 )     311  
                         

Balance, September 30, 2015

  $ (1,535 )   $ 13     $ (1,522 )

 

The following table provides additional detail about accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) components that were reclassified to the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

   
   

2016

    2015    

Details about Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components

 

Amount reclassified from Accumulated

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Affected line item in the

Condensed Consolidated

Statement of Operations

                   

Pension liability adjustment

                 

Net periodic pension cost

  $ (213 )   $ (255 )

Cost of sales

Associated tax benefit

    41       95  

Income tax expense (benefit)

      (172 )     (160 )

Net of tax

                   

Deferred gain on cash flow derivatives

                 

Gain on cash flow derivatives

    39       148  

Net sales

Hedge ineffectiveness

    (1 )     (1 )

Net sales

Associated tax expense

    (14 )     (55 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

      24       92  

Net of tax

                   

Total reclassifications for the period

  $ (148 )   $ (68 )  

 

12.      Recent Accounting and Reporting Developments

 

 

There have been no developments to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures, from those disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except for the following:

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The core principle of the ASU is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. The ASU requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments. The ASU will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018, including interim periods in 2018, and allows for both retrospective and prospective methods of adoption. The Company is in the process of evaluating its revenue streams to determine accounting treatment under the ASU. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)”. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-11, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) – Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of ASU 2014-09 and 2014-16” and ASU No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”. These four ASUs do not change the core principle of the guidance in ASU 2014-09, but rather provide further clarification to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance included in ASU 2014-09.The effective date for these ASUs is the same as the effective date of ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently assessing the impact of these ASUs on its consolidated financial statements.

  

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-07, “Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting” (“ASU 2016-07”). Among other things, the amendments in ASU 2016-07 eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. Therefore, upon qualifying for the equity method of accounting, no retroactive adjustment of the investment is required. The amendments are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments should be applied prospectively upon their effective date to increases in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence that result in the adoption of the equity method. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”   (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. The guidance will be effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that year. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 is intended to provide financial statement users with more useful information about expected credit losses on financial assets held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The new standard replaces the existing incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable forward-looking information to estimate all expected credit losses. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 clarifies whether eight specifically identified cash flow issues, which previous GAAP did not address, should be categorized as operating, investing or financing activities in the statement of cash flows. The guidance will be effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that year. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

 

13. Restructuring

 

In June 2016, the Company made a decision to close the Denver facility (part of the Water Transmission segment) and sell the property. Employee severance and termination related restructuring expenses associated with the closure of approximately $0.3 million were incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2016. The Company expects to incur additional restructuring costs of $0.3 million related to employee severance and termination, which will result in future cash outlays, and additional restructuring costs related to demobilization activities at the Denver facility, of approximately $1.0 million to $2.0 million, which will also result in future cash outlays.

 

In April 2015, the Company initiated a production curtailment at its Atchison, Kansas facility within the Tubular Products Group. Severance related restructuring expenses associated with the production curtailment of approximately $0.5 million were incurred and paid during the three months ended June 30, 2015, and included in Cost of sales for that period.

  

 

14.          Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the assigned fair values of the assets and liabilities assumed in conjunction with an acquisition, and is reviewed for impairment annually at December 31 or whenever events occur or circumstances change that indicate goodwill may be impaired.

 

Due to Water Transmission market conditions in 2015, goodwill of $5.3 million related to the Company’s Water Transmission Group was quantitatively evaluated using a weighted average of income and market approaches. The income approach is primarily driven by inputs from the Company’s internal financial forecasts. The market approach incorporates inputs from market participant data, as well as inputs derived from Company assumptions. The Company determined that its Water Transmission Group goodwill was impaired at June 30, 2015, and it was completely written off in the second quarter of 2015.

 

15.            Related Party Transaction

 

In the second quarter of 2015, the Company engaged Raymond James & Associates, an affiliate of Eagle Asset Management, to provide investment banking services related to a possible disposition of the Company’s Tubular Products business. Eagle Asset Management was a substantial stockholder of the Company (owning more than 10 percent of the Company’s common stock) until September 30, 2015, when Eagle Asset Management reported that it then owned less than 5 percent of the Company’s common stock.

 

Less than $5,000 was billed by Raymond James during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016. Approximately $17,000 of reimbursable expenses were billed by Raymond James during the nine month period ended September 30, 2015, of which $12,000 was paid by September 30, 2015. Professional fees payable to Raymond James will be contingent upon completion of a future transaction, which may or may not occur.

 

 

16.            Subsequent Event

 

On October 4, 2016, the Company sold its Denver facility for $14.4 million, and anticipates recording a gain on the sale of approximately $7.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Under the terms of the sale, the Company will lease the property through December 31, 2016 (with two options to extend the lease period by 30 days each), in order to conclude production at the facility, complete final shipments, and transfer certain equipment assets to other Company facilities.

 

 

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

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business, management’s beliefs, and assumptions made by management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of important factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, those that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by us include changes in demand and market prices for our products, product mix, bidding activity, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, production schedules, the price and availability of raw materials, price and volume of imported product, excess or shortage of production capacity, international trade policy and regulations and other risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”) and from time to time in our other SEC filings and reports. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Report. If we do update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

Water Transmission Group. We are the largest manufacturer of engineered steel pipe water systems in North America. With our strategically located Water Transmission manufacturing facilities, we are positioned to meet North America’s growing needs for water and wastewater infrastructure. We serve a wide range of markets and our solutions-based products are a good fit for applications including water transmission, plant piping, tunnels and river crossings. With a history that dates back more than 100 years, we have become a leading manufacturer in the welded steel pipe industry. These pipeline systems are produced by our Water Transmission Group from eight manufacturing facilities, which are located in Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; Adelanto, California; Parkersburg, West Virginia; Saginaw, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; St. Louis, Missouri; and Monterrey, Mexico. On October 4, 2016, we completed the sale of our Denver, Colorado facility, and anticipate recording a gain on the sale of approximately $7.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Production at the facility is scheduled to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2016 with final shipments planned into the first quarter of 2017. Our Water Transmission Group accounted for approximately 94% of our net sales in the first nine months of 2016.

 

Our water infrastructure products are sold generally to installation contractors, who include our products in their bids to municipal agencies or privately-owned water companies for specific projects. We believe our sales are substantially driven by spending on new water infrastructure with a recent trend towards spending on water infrastructure replacement, repair and upgrade. Within the total range of pipe products, our products tend to fit the larger diameter, higher-pressure applications.

 

 

Tubular Products Group. We announced on July 20, 2015 that we are in the process of exploring the sale of our remaining Tubular Products business, which includes line, structural and standard pipe, and is located in Atchison, Kansas. This decision reflects our long-term objective to focus on our core Water Transmission business through organic growth initiatives as well as through merger and acquisition activity. The Atchison facility operated at reduced levels from April 2015 to January 2016, when we idled the Atchison facility to reduce operating expenses until market conditions improve or a sale is completed. We completed the sale of substantially all remaining previously manufactured tubular products inventory during the second quarter of 2016. Our Tubular Products Group generated approximately 6% of our net sales in the first nine months of 2016. Our Tubular Products Group’s sales volume is typically driven by energy spending, non-residential construction spending and general economic conditions.

 

Our Current Economic Environment. We operate our Water Transmission Group with a long-term time horizon. Projects are often planned for many years in advance, and are sometimes part of fifty-year build out plans. Long-term demand for water infrastructure projects in the United States appears strong. However, in the near term, we expect strained governmental and water agency budgets and increased capacity from competitors to impact the Water Transmission Group. Fluctuating steel costs will also be a factor, as the ability to adjust our selling prices as steel costs fluctuate will depend on market conditions. Purchased steel represents a substantial portion of our cost of sales, and changes in our selling prices often correlate directly to changes in steel costs.

  

 

Demand for line pipe, the primary product of our Tubular Products Group, is correlated to oil and gas exploration activity in the United States, which is itself correlated to global oil prices. Historically low oil prices led to reduced demand in 2015 and the first nine months of 2016, and we continue to expect weak demand through the remainder of 2016.

 

In addition to the macroeconomic factors described above, we continue to face pressures from significant volumes of foreign imports of tubular products, as well as increased pressures due to recent domestic capacity expansions by our competitors.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A description of our critical accounting policies and related judgments and estimates that affect the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements is set forth in our 2015 Form 10-K.

 

Valuation of Goodwill

 

See Note 14 of the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I—Item I, “Financial Statements” for discussion of the impairment of Water Transmission Group goodwill as of June 30, 2015.

 

 Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 12 of the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I—Item I, “Financial Statements” for a description of recent accounting pronouncements, including the dates of adoption and estimated effects on financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following tables set forth, for the period indicated, certain financial information regarding costs and expenses expressed as a percentage of total net sales and net sales of our business segments.

   

   

Three months ended September 30, 2016

   

Three months ended September 30, 2015

 
   

$ (in thousands)

   

% of Net Sales

   

$ (in thousands)

   

% of Net Sales

 

Net sales

                               

Water Transmission

  $ 41,075       100.0

%

  $ 39,792       76.0

%

Tubular Products

    13       0.0       12,543       24.0  

Total net sales

    41,088       100.0       52,335       100.0  

Cost of sales

    38,965       94.8       54,846       104.8  

Gross profit (loss)

    2,123       5.2       (2,511 )     (4.8 )

Restructuring expense

    282       0.7       -       -  

Selling, general and administrative expense

    3,904       9.5       4,773       9.1  

Operating loss

    (2,063 )     (5.0 )     (7,284 )     (13.9 )

Other income

    16       -       24       -  

Interest income

    10       -       10       -  

Interest expense

    (134 )     (0.3 )     (195 )     (0.3 )

Loss before income taxes

    (2,171 )     (5.3 )     (7,445 )     (14.2 )

Income tax benefit

    (2,898 )     (7.1 )     (5,930 )     (11.3 )

Net Income (loss)

  $ 727       1.8

%

  $ (1,515 )     (2.9

)%

                                 

Gross profit (loss) as a percentage of segment net sales:

                               

Water Transmission

            7.2

%

            (1.8

)%

Tubular Products

            (6,276.9 )(1)             (14.2 )

 

 

(1)

This percentage reflects that, while substantially all remaining Tubular Products inventory was sold prior to the three months ended September 30, 2016, we continue to incur ongoing costs to maintain the Atchison facility.

   

 

 

 

   

Nine months ended September 30, 2016

   

Nine months ended September 30, 2015

 
   

$ (in thousands)

   

% of Net Sales

   

$ (in thousands)

   

% of Net Sales

 

Net sales

                               

Water Transmission

  $ 110,208       94.1

%

  $ 134,479       70.4

%

Tubular Products

    6,869       5.9       56,567       29.6  

Total net sales

    117,077       100.0       191,046       100.0  

Cost of sales

    122,553       104.7       192,259       100.6  

Gross loss

    (5,476 )     (4.7 )     (1,213 )     (0.6 )

Restructuring expense

    282       0.2       -       -  

Selling, general and administrative expense

    12,594       10.7       17,199       9.0  

Impairment of Water Transmission goodwill

    -       -       5,282       2.8  

Operating loss

    (18,352 )     (15.6 )     (23,694 )     (12.4 )

Other income

    51       -       82       -  

Interest income

    14       -       173       0.1  

Interest expense

    (371 )     (0.3 )     (898 )     (0.4 )

Loss before income taxes

    (18,658 )     (15.9 )     (24,337 )     (12.7 )

Income tax benefit

    (3,561 )     (3.0 )     (8,642 )     (4.5 )

Net loss

  $ (15,097 )     (12.9

)%

  $ (15,695 )     (8.2

)%

                                 

Gross profit (loss) as a percentage of segment net sales:

                               

Water Transmission

            (3.7

)%

            6.0

%

Tubular Products

            (20.3 )             (16.4 )

 

 

Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

As discussed above, we announced on July 20, 2015 that we are in the process of exploring the sale of our remaining Tubular Products business, and we operated the Atchison facility at reduced levels from April 2015 to January 2016, at which time we idled the facility to reduce operating expenses until market conditions improve or a sale is completed. We also completed the sale of substantially all remaining previously manufactured tubular products inventory during the second quarter of 2016. In recognition of this strategic decision, the discussion below is focused on the Water Transmission segment.

 

Net sales. Net sales decreased 21.5% to $41.1 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $52.3 million for the third quarter of 2015 and decreased 38.7% to $117.1 million for the first nine months of 2016 compared to $191.0 million for the first nine months of 2015. Three customers in the Water Transmission segment, Garney Construction, Barrick Cortez Inc., and BAR Constructors, Inc. accounted for 33.1%, 11.8%, and 11.5%, respectively, of total net sales in the third quarter of 2016. Garney Construction accounted for 29.7% of total net sales in the first nine months of 2016. Two customers in the Water Transmission segment, BAR Constructors, Inc. and Garney Construction, accounted for 24.1% and 15.0%, respectively, of total net sales in the third quarter of 2015. Garney Construction accounted for 10.3% of total net sales in the first nine months of 2015.

 

Water Transmission sales increased 3.2% to $41.1 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $39.8 million for the third quarter of 2015 and decreased 18.0% to $110.2 million for the first nine months of 2016 compared to $134.5 million for the first nine months of 2015. The increase in sales in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015 was due to a 7% increase in selling price per ton, offset slightly by a 3% decrease in tons produced. The increase in selling prices per ton in the third quarter of 2016 was due to improved market conditions and a change in product mix. The decrease in tons produced was due to project timing. The decrease in sales in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015 was due to a 38% decrease in average selling price per ton offset in part by a 33% increase in tons produced. The decrease in selling prices per ton in the first nine months of 2016 was due to an 18% decrease in steel costs per ton and increased competition, as well as a change in product mix. Bidding activity, backlog and production levels may vary significantly from period to period affecting sales volumes.

 

Gross profit (loss). Gross profit increased from a $2.5 million gross loss (negative 4.8% of total net sales) in the third quarter of 2015 to a $2.1 million gross profit (5.2% of total net sales) in the third quarter of 2016, and gross loss increased 351.4% to a $5.5 million gross loss (negative 4.7% of total net sales) in the first nine months of 2016 compared to a $1.2 million gross loss (negative 0.6% of total net sales) in the first nine months of 2015.

  

 

Water Transmission gross profit increased $3.7 million, or 505.4%, to a $2.9 million gross profit (7.2% of segment net sales) for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $0.7 million gross loss (negative 1.8% of segment net sales) for the third quarter of 2015 and decreased $12.1 million, or 150.7%, to $4.1 million gross loss (negative 3.7% of segment net sales) in the first nine months of 2016 compared to $8.0 million gross profit (6.0% of segment net sales) in the first nine months of 2015. The increase in gross profit as a percent of sales in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015 was due to a recent improvement in the competitive environment, leading to increased margins. The decrease in gross profit as a percent of net sales in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015 was due to the significant competition that we have experienced on our project bids in the first half of the year, which has led to decreased selling prices, combined with the mix of projects produced in the year to date.

 

Restructuring expenses. In response to adverse market conditions, the decision was made in the second quarter of 2016 to close the Denver facility (part of our Water Transmission segment) and sell the property. Restructuring costs of $0.3 million related to this decision have been incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, and consist primarily of employee severance and termination costs. The Company expects to incur additional restructuring costs of $0.3 million related to employee severance and termination, which will result in future cash outlays, and additional restructuring costs related to demobilization activities at the Denver facility, of approximately $1.0 million to $2.0 million, which will also result in future cash outlays. The property was sold on October 4, 2016, and under the sales agreement we will lease the property back from the buyer until December 31, 2016, with two options to extend the lease-back period by 30 days each, in order to conclude production at the facility and complete final shipments.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 18.2% to $3.9 million (9.5% of total net sales) for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $4.8 million (9.1% of total net sales) for the third quarter of 2015 and decreased $4.6 million, or 26.8%, to $12.6 million (10.7% of net sales) in the first nine months of 2016 compared to $17.2 million (9.0% of net sales) in the first nine months of 2015. The decrease for the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015 was primarily due to a reduction in wages and benefits due to lower headcount. The decrease for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015 was due primarily to $3.2 million in lower wages and benefits due to lower headcount, and a $1.3 million decrease in professional fees.

 

Impairment of Water Transmission goodwill. Goodwill related to the Company’s Water Transmission segment of $5.3 million was evaluated for impairment in the second quarter of 2015 due to then current market conditions. We concluded that the business enterprise value of the Water Transmission segment was less than its carrying amount, and engaged a consultant to assist the Company in calculating implied fair value of goodwill for the reporting unit. As a result of that analysis, the entire balance of Water Transmission segment goodwill was written off as of June 30, 2015.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense was $0.1 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $0.2 million for the third quarter of 2015 and decreased to $0.4 million for the first nine months of 2016 compared to $0.9 million for the first nine months of 2015. The decrease in interest expense was a result of a decrease in outstanding borrowings and lower capital lease balances during the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2015.

 

Income taxes. The tax benefit was $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2016 (an effective tax benefit rate of 133.5%) compared to a tax benefit of $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2015 (an effective tax benefit rate of 79.7%), and the tax benefit of $3.6 million in the first nine months of 2016 (an effective tax benefit rate of 19.1%) compared to tax benefit of $8.6 million in the first nine months of 2015 (an effective tax rate of 35.5%).

 

The tax benefit in the third quarter of 2016 is due primarily to a reduction in the expected increase in valuation allowance for 2016, driven by updates to forecasted earnings and the taxable gain associated with the sale of the Denver facility in the fourth quarter of 2016. The tax benefit rate for the first nine months of 2016 is lower than statutory rates because a portion of our net operating losses from the period are subject to a valuation allowance. The tax benefit rate in the third quarter of 2015 is substantially higher than statutory rates due to a discrete benefit of $2.5 million related to a research and development (“R&D”) tax credit study. The tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes the impact of the recognition of R&D tax credits (which increased the effective benefit rate) as well as the non-deductibility of expense related to the impairment of goodwill and the valuation allowance recorded (both of which decreased the effective benefit rate). The effective income tax rate can change significantly depending on the relationship of permanent income tax deductions and tax credits to estimated pre-tax income or loss, and the changes in valuation allowances. Accordingly, the comparison of effective rates between periods is not meaningful in all situations.  

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

Our principal sources of liquidity generally include operating cash flows and our bank credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”). From time to time our long-term capital needs may be met through the issuance of long-term debt or additional equity. Our principal uses of liquidity generally include capital expenditures, working capital and debt service.

  

 

As of September 30, 2016, our working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) was $86.7 million compared to $93.7 million as of December 31, 2015. The primary reasons for the decrease in working capital were decreases in trade and other receivables and inventories, due to lower sales, billings and production in 2016 compared to 2015, offset in part by the reclassification of the Denver assets held for sale as a current asset. Our Tubular Products inventories have decreased following the production curtailment at the Atchison plant which began in April 2015. Net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2016 was $4.8 million. Cash from operating activities was primarily the result of fluctuations in working capital accounts that included a decrease in trade receivables and inventories.

 

Fluctuations in our working capital accounts result from timing differences between production, shipment, invoicing, and collection, as well as changes in levels of production and costs of materials. We typically have a relatively large investment in working capital, as we generally pay for materials, labor, and other production costs in the initial stages of a project, while payments from our customers are generally received after finished product is delivered. Our revenues in the Water Transmission segment are recognized on a percentage-of-completion method; therefore, cash receipts typically occur subsequent to when revenue is recognized and the elapsed time between when revenue is recorded and when cash is received can be significant. As such, our payment cycle is a significantly shorter interval than our collection cycle, although the effect of this difference in the cycles may vary by project, and from period to period.

 

Net cash used in investing activities in the first nine months of 2016 was $1.8 million of capital expenditures, which was primarily standard capital replacement. Total capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $2.7 million for 2016.

 

Net cash used by financing activities in the first nine months of 2016 was $1.6 million, primarily from the payment of contingent consideration in January 2016 for amounts earned on 2015 revenues of Permalok Corporation.

 

We anticipate that our existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flows expected to be generated by operations, and amounts available to borrow under our Credit Agreement will be adequate to fund our working capital and capital requirements for the foreseeable future. To the extent necessary, we may also satisfy capital requirements through additional bank borrowings, senior notes, term notes, subordinated debt, and capital and operating leases, if such resources are available on satisfactory terms. We have from time to time evaluated and continue to evaluate opportunities for acquisitions and expansion. Any such transactions, if consummated, may use a portion of our working capital or necessitate additional bank borrowings or other sources of funding.

 

Borrowings on Line of Credit

 

At September 30, 2016, we had no outstanding borrowings, and $2.0 million of outstanding letters of credit, under our Loan and Security Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A. dated October 26, 2015. The Agreement expires on October 25, 2018 and provides for revolving loans and letters of credit up to the maximum principal amount (the Revolver Commitment) of $60 million, subject to a borrowing base. We have the ability to increase the Revolver Commitment to $100 million, subject to the provisions of the Agreement.

 

The borrowing base is calculated by applying various advance rates to eligible accounts receivable, costs and expected earnings in excess of billings, inventories, and fixed assets, subject to various exclusions, adjustments, and sublimits by asset class. Additionally, the Agreement effectively limits availability under the borrowing base during times when our Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Agreement, is not met for the previous 12-month period. As of September 30, 2016, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio was not met, and therefore the availability limit applied. Including the effect of this limit, we had additional borrowing capacity of $17.2 million, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the Agreement at September 30, 2016. Based on our business plan and forecasts of operations, we expect to have sufficient credit availability to support our operations in 2016.

 

Borrowings under the Agreement bear interest at rates related to LIBOR plus 1.75% to 2.25%, or at Bank of America’s prime rate plus 0.75% to 1.25%. Borrowings under the Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

Capital Leases

 

We had a total of $1.0 million in capital lease obligations outstanding at September 30, 2016. The weighted average interest rate on all of our capital leases is 4.6%. Our capital leases are for certain equipment used in the manufacturing process.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

 

For a discussion of the Company’s market risk associated with foreign currencies and interest rates, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Part II of the Company’s 2015 Form 10-K.

  

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

In connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2016. As a result of the assessment, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of September 30, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Part II – Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Information required by this Item 1 is contained in Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, Part I—Item 1, “Financial Statements” of this report, under the caption “Commitments and Contingencies.” The text under such caption is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, the factors discussed in Part I—Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 could materially affect our business, financial condition or operating results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing us. There are additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial, that may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or operating results.

 

  

Item 6. Exhibits

 

 (a) The exhibits filed as part of this Report are listed below:

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

     

10.1

 

Change in Control Agreement dated August 1, 2016 between Northwest Pipe Company and Aaron Wilkins

     

31.1

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

     
     

31.2

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

     
32.1   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     

32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

     

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document

     

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

     

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document

     

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document

     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

     
       

 

  

 

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.

 

Dated: November 2, 2016

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Montross 

 

 

 

Scott Montross 

 

 

 

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer 

 

       
  By: /s/ Robin Gantt  
    Robin Gantt  
    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary   
    (Principal Financial Officer)  

 

 

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