FutureFuel Corp. - FORM 10-K

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EX-31.(A) - EXHIBIT 31.(A) - FutureFuel Corp.	ex31-a.htm
EX-32 - EXHIBIT 32 - FutureFuel Corp.	ex32.htm
EX-31.(B) - EXHIBIT 31.(B) - FutureFuel Corp.	ex31-b.htm
EX-23 - EXHIBIT 23 - FutureFuel Corp.	ex23.htm
EX-21 - EXHIBIT 21 - FutureFuel Corp.	ex21.htm
EX-11 - EXHIBIT 11 - FutureFuel Corp.	ex11.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

	For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016

☐	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: 0-52577

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware		20-3340900
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

8235 Forsyth Blvd., 4th Floor

Clayton, Missouri 63105

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

(314) 854-8352

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.0001		New York Stock Exchange

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

None

(Title of class)

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

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

Note —Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the 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	☐

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. $283,248,378

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 43,749,970

Table of Contents

Page

Part I

Item 1. Business.	1
Item 1A. Risk Factors.	15
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.	24
Item 2. Properties.	24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.	25
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.	25

Part II	26

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.	26
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.	29
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.	30
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.	42
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.	43
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.	80
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.	80
Item 9B. Other Information.	83

Part III	84

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance.	84
Item 11. Executive Compensation.	89
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.	100
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.	102
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.	103

Part IV	105

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.	105
Item 16. Summary	106

PART I

Item 1. Business

General Development of the Business

The Company

FutureFuel Corp. (sometimes referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” and includes our wholly owned subsidiaries) is a Delaware corporation.

Prior to 2011, our shares of common stock were quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (or OTC Bulletin Board). On March 8, 2011, the New York Stock Exchange (or “NYSE”) approved the listing of our common stock for trading on the exchange. Trading of our common stock on the NYSE commenced on March 23, 2011 under the symbol “FF”.

We distributed normal quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share on our common stock for the calendar year 2016. On November 30, 2016, we declared a special cash dividend of $2.29 on our common stock with a December 16, 2016 record date, and a payment date of January 13, 2017. Additionally, we have declared normal quarterly cash dividends of $0.06 per share on our common stock for the calendar year 2017.

FutureFuel Chemical Company

FutureFuel Chemical Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of FutureFuel Corp., is a Delaware corporation and manufactures diversified chemical products, bio-based products comprised of biofuels, and bio-based specialty chemical products. We report FutureFuel Chemical Company’s operations in two reporting segments: chemicals and biofuels. The chemicals segment manufactures a diversified listing of chemical products that are sold to third party customers. The biofuels segment primarily produces and sells biodiesel to its customers.

The majority of the revenues from the chemicals segment are derived from the custom manufacturing of specialty chemicals for specific customers. We have actively worked to develop our chemicals business with new customers in more diversified growth markets.

Our specialty chemicals business is based on a solid reputation as a technology-driven, highly reliable, and globally competitive specialty chemicals producer. We retain a strong emphasis on operational excellence, cost control, and efficiency improvements to enable us to compete in the worldwide chemical industry.

With respect to our biofuels segment, our plant has a demonstrated capacity in excess of 58 million gallons per year. The plant ran at a normal rate during 2016 as the reinstatement of the blenders’ tax credit (BTC) and the EPA’s final rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard strengthened market conditions for renewable fuel. Future production of biodiesel is uncertain and will depend on various factors including: (i) changes in feedstock prices relative to biodiesel prices; (ii) whether government mandates with respect to biodiesel usage remain in effect; (iii) whether certain tax credits with respect to biodiesel production remain in effect; and (iv) competitiveness and availability of foreign imports. See the discussion below, including “Risk Factors” beginning at page 15 below.

Financial Information about Segments

Unless otherwise noted, the financial data presented herein represents our consolidated operations for the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014. Unless otherwise stated, all dollar amounts are in thousands. The following table sets forth: (i) our consolidated revenues from external customers for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014; (ii) our consolidated net income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014; and (iii) our total assets at December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

(Dollars in thousands)

	Revenues from
	External
Period	Customers	Net Income	Total Assets
Year ended December 31, 2016	$ 253,193	$ 56,341	$ 529,043
Year ended December 31, 2015	$ 299,611	$ 46,421	$ 489,109
Year ended December 31, 2014	$ 341,838	$ 53,200	$ 461,488

We have two business reporting “segments” as defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”): chemicals and biofuels. We do not allocate net income and total assets between these two business segments, however, revenues from external customers and gross profit are allocated between the two business segments as set forth in the following table.

(Dollars in thousands)

Total

Gross

Revenues

Margin

from

Total

Chemical

Biofuels

External

Chemical

Biofuels

Gross

Period

Segment

Customers

Segment

Margin

Year ended December 31, 2016

$ 100,907

$ 152,286

$ 253,193

$ 32,055

$ 14,803

$46,858

Year ended December 31, 2015

$ 125,848

$ 173,763

$ 299,611

$ 35,452

$ 21,594

$57,046

Year ended December 31, 2014

$ 146,146

$ 195,692

$ 341,838

$ 46,062

$ 19,911

$65,973

See Note 20 to our consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for adjustments to segment gross profit to arrive at net income.

Narrative Description of Our Business

Principal Executive Offices

Our principal executive offices are located at 8235 Forsyth Blvd., 4th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105. Our telephone number is (314) 854-8352. FutureFuel Chemical Company’s principal executive offices are located at 2800 Gap Road, Highway 394 South, Batesville, Arkansas 72501-9680. Its telephone number is (870) 698-3000.

Plant Location

We own approximately 2,200 acres of land six miles southeast of Batesville in north central Arkansas fronting the White River. Approximately 500 acres of the site are occupied with batch and continuous manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and associated infrastructure, including on-site liquid waste treatment. Land and infrastructure are available to support expansion and business growth. In November 2011, we acquired a nearby warehouse in Batesville, Arkansas.

Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2016, approximately 60% of our revenue was derived from biofuels, 33% from manufacturing specialty chemicals for specific customers (“custom manufacturing”), and 7% of revenues from multi-customer specialty chemicals (“performance chemicals”).

Our biofuels business segment primarily involves the production and sale of biodiesel and petrodiesel blends and the buying, selling, and shipping of refined petroleum products on common carrier pipelines. Custom chemicals manufacturing involves producing unique products for strategic customers, generally under long-term contracts. Our custom chemicals manufacturing portfolio includes agrochemicals and intermediates, detergent additives, biocides intermediates, specialty polymers, dyes, stabilizers, and chemicals intermediates. Our performance chemicals product portfolio includes polymer modifiers that enhance stain resistance and dye-ability to nylon and polyester fibers, in addition to several small-volume specialty chemicals and solvents for diverse applications.

We are committed to growing our biofuels and chemical businesses. For the biofuels business segment, we will continue to leverage our technical capabilities and quality certifications, secure local and regional markets, and expand marketing efforts to fleets and regional/national customers. For our chemicals segment, we intend to pursue commercialization of other products, including building block chemicals. While pursuing this strategy, we will continue our efforts to establish a name identity for both segments.

Biofuels Business Segment

Biofuel Products

Our biofuels business segment began in 2005 and primarily produces and sells biodiesel. In addition, we sell petrodiesel in blends with our biodiesel and, from time to time, with no biodiesel added. Finally, we are a shipper of refined petroleum products on common carrier pipelines, and we buy and sell petroleum products to maintain our active shipper status on these pipelines.

Biodiesel is a renewable energy product consisting of mono-alkyl esters of fatty acids. The mono-alkyl esters are typically produced from vegetable oil, fat, or grease feedstocks. Biodiesel is used primarily as a blend with petrodiesel (usually 5% (commonly referenced as “B5”) to 20% (commonly referenced as “B20”) by volume). A major advantage of biodiesel is that it can be used in most existing diesel engines and fuel injection equipment in blends up to B20 with no material impact to engine performance. As an additional benefit, biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to meet all testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. In 1998, Congress approved the use of biodiesel as an Energy Policy Act compliance strategy, which allowed federal, state, and public fleets covered by this Act to meet their alternative fuel vehicle purchase requirements by simply buying biodiesel and burning it in new or existing diesel vehicles in a minimum B20 blend. Finally, biodiesel also benefits from favorable properties compared to petrodiesel (e.g., negligible sulfur content, lower particulate matter, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a higher cetane number leading to better engine performance and lubrication). See Pew Center on Global Climate Change (“Pew Center”) biodiesel factsheet http://www.c2es.org/technology/factsheet/biodiesel and July 2011 Biodiesel Climate Techbook, http://www.c2es.org/docUploads/Biodiesel_0.pdf.

Our technical and operational competency acquired as a supplier of specialty chemicals enabled the development of a flexible manufacturing process which can utilize a broad range of feedstock oils, including, but not limited to, soy oil, cottonseed oil, pork lard, poultry fat, crude corn oil, yellow grease, inedible tallow, choice white grease, and beef tallow. Our Batesville plant produces biodiesel, which is sometimes referenced as “B100.” A biodiesel blend is currently used in the facility’s diesel fleet and is available for retail sale at the site. We offer B100 and biodiesel blended with petrodiesel (B2, B5, B10, and B20 blends) at our leased storage facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition, we deliver blended product to a small group of customers within our region.

Biodiesel Production/Capacity

While biodiesel can be made from various renewable sources, the choice of feedstock to be used at any particular facility is determined primarily by the price and availability of each feedstock variety, the yield loss of lower quality feedstock, and the capabilities of the producer’s biodiesel production facility. In addition, the chemical properties of the biodiesel (e.g., cloud point, pour point, and cetane number) depend on the type of feedstock. EIA, Monthly Biodiesel Production Report, http://www.eia.gov/biofuels/biodiesel/production.

In the United States, the majority of biodiesel historically has been made from domestically produced crude soybean oil due to its wide spread availability and ease of processing. Since we started our biodiesel production, the cost of crude soybean oil has increased due in part to its use in biodiesel production and competing food demands. As a result, the biodiesel feedstock market in the United States is in a transition from this increasingly expensive first-generation soy feedstock to alternative second-generation lower-cost, non-food feedstocks such as waste vegetable oil, tallow, and algae. See http://www.emerging-markets.com/biodiesel/index.html. Our continuous production line produces biodiesel from these second-generation lower-cost feedstocks with high-free fatty acids. Our plant has demonstrated a production capacity in excess of 58 million gallons of biodiesel per year.

Legislative Incentives

Biodiesel production and use in the United States continues to be driven in large part by legislative initiatives at both the federal and state levels.

Federal Renewable Fuels Mandate

The largest incentive at this time is the federal mandate enacted by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the “2005 Act”). The 2005 Act included a number of provisions intended to spur the production and use of biodiesel. In particular, the 2005 Act’s provisions included biodiesel as part of the minimum volume (i.e., a mandate) of renewable fuels (the “renewable fuels standard” or “RFS”) to be included in the nationwide gasoline and diesel pool. The volume increased each year, from 4 billion gallons per year in 2006 to 16.55 billion gallons per year in 2013. The 2005 Act required the Environmental Protection Agency (the “USEPA”) to publish “renewable fuel obligations” applicable to refiners, blenders, and importers in the contiguous 48 states. The renewable fuel obligations are expressed in terms of a volume percentage of gasoline sold or introduced into commerce and consist of a single applicable percentage that applies to all categories of refiners, blenders, and importers. The renewable fuel obligations are based on estimates that the Energy Information Association provides to the USEPA on the volumes of gasoline it expects will be sold or introduced into commerce. The USEPA released the final rules to implement the RFS on April 10, 2007. Under those rules, the RFS compliance period began on September 1, 2007. No differentiation was made among the various types of renewable fuels (e.g., biodiesel or ethanol).

On December 19, 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the “2007 Act”) was enacted which, among other things, expanded the RFS (the “RFS2”). Prior to the enactment of the 2007 Act, the RFS requirement was mostly filled by ethanol. In contrast to its predecessor, the 2007 Act provided a renewable fuel standard carve-out specifically applicable to biodiesel. On July 1, 2010, RFS2’s biodiesel requirement became effective, thus requiring that a certain percentage of the diesel fuel consumed in the United States be made from renewable sources. The biomass-based diesel mandate rose annually and reached 2.00 billion gallons per year in 2017. Currently, the mandate is determined by the USEPA in coordination with the U.S. Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture. The last update to the mandate was issued on November 30, 2015, when the USEPA finalized the volume requirements and percentage standards under the RFS2 program for 2014, 2015, and 2016 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel.

The following table shows the finalized volume requirement by the USEPA since 2014 with a modest grow rate in biomass-based diesel.

	Final Renewable Fuel Volumes (1) (2)
	2014		2015		2016		2017
Cellulosic biofuel (million gallons)		33		123		230		311
Biomass-based diesel (billion gallons)		1.63		1.73		1.90		2.00
Advanced biofuel (billion gallons)		2.67		2.88		3.61		4.28
Renewable fuel (billion gallons)		16.28		16.93		18.11		19.28

(1)	Units for all volumes are ethanol-equivalent, except for biomass-based diesel volumes, which are expressed as physical gallons.

(2)	See https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/final-renewable-fuel-standards-2017-and-biomass-based-diesel-volume

U.S. biomass-based diesel production, of which biodiesel represents a significant amount, exceeded the federal mandate from 2011 through 2016 as shown in the following chart:

Biomass Production Source : Total U.S. production of renewable fuels in the RFS2 program broken out by fuel type and category is reported by the USEPA at https://www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/2016-renewable-fuel-standard-data.

Federal Blenders’ and Producers’ Credits

Biodiesel tax incentives have been provided through various federal statutes, including the 2005 Act and the American Jobs Creation Act, and later, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The most important of these is the one dollar per gallon blenders’ tax credit (“BTC”) applicable to all biodiesel. This credit has lapsed and been reinstated numerous times over the last decade, in late 2015 the BTC was reinstated retroactively to January 1, 2015 and expired on December 31, 2016 and has not been reinstated.

We also benefit from a “small” agri-biodiesel producers’ tax credit for production in capacity not in excess 60 million gallons per year. This credit of $0.10 per gallon applies to the first 15 million gallons of agri-biodiesel sold. See https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8864.pdf. Like the BTC, the small agri-biodiesel credit expired on December 31, 2016 and has not been reinstated.

State Incentives

Many states follow the federal government’s lead and are offering similar programs and incentives to spur biodiesel production and use. For example, Arkansas offers a tax refund of $0.50 for each gallon of biodiesel used by a supplier to produce a biodiesel/petrodiesel mixture of not more than 2% biodiesel. In April 2007, Arkansas passed legislation that provided for a $0.20 per gallon biodiesel producer credit and up to $50 in grants per site for biodiesel producers and distributors to install distribution infrastructure. The $0.20 per gallon Arkansas producer credit was capped at 10 million gallons of production, or $2 million, per defined time intervals. We applied for, and received, the credit for time intervals through June 30, 2009. No funding was available for this program in 2010 through 2016. However, we intend to apply for the credit in future years when and as such credit is available.

Our review of state statutes reveals that virtually all states provide user or producer incentives for biodiesel, several states provide both types of incentives, and more than 35 states provide incentives to biodiesel producers to build facilities in their states, typically offering tax credits, grants, and other financial incentives. We also are registered with the State of California’s fuel program which incentivizes the use of low carbon fuels specific to biomass based diesel. Oregon and Washington are in the process of implementing similar programs. As we expand our business, we will evaluate these and other state incentives to determine if we qualify.

Summary

We will continue to identify and pursue other legislative incentives to support our business. However, no assurances can be given that we will qualify for any such incentives or, if we do qualify, what the amount of such incentives will be or whether such incentives will continue to be available.

Quality

For quality specification purposes, and to qualify for the federal mandate, biodiesel must meet the requirements of American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) D6751. This specification ensures that blends up to B20 are compatible with diesel engines and associated fuel system hardware. See Status and Issues for Biodiesel in the United States, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, R.L. McCormick et. al., Oct. 2009. All biodiesel manufactured at our Batesville plant is tested in on-site quality control laboratories and confirmed to meet, and typically exceed, the ASTM D6751 standard. Because our biodiesel exceeds industry standard specifications, we appeal to a broader customer base than our competitors.

Commercially available biodiesels can contain small amounts of unreacted or partially reacted oils and fats as well as other minor impurities. The unreacted or partially reacted oils and fats are called glycerides. In rare instances the glycerides and other minor components and impurities can clog engine filters. To address this issue, ASTM D6751 was amended in February 2012 to create two new grades of biodiesel. Grade No. 2 is essentially the specifications in effect before the amendment. Grade No. 1 provides for a maximum total monoglyceride content and a maximum cold soak filterability time and in theory would be used where the No. 2 biodiesel does not operate down to its cloud point. Both grades of biodiesel qualify as “biodiesel” for purposes of the RFS2 mandate. FutureFuel continues to operate under the most recently published version of ASTM D6751, Standard Specifications for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels. All biodiesel made in our continuous process meets the specifications for No. 1 biodiesel.

The U.S. biodiesel industry created the BQ-9000 program to address quality issues that arose during the early years of the industry. This program is run by the National Biodiesel Accreditation Committee, which is a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of biodiesel producers and marketers. The program is a quality system oriented program that includes standards for storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices. Since the creation and adoption of the BQ-9000 program, the quality of biodiesel in the U.S. market has markedly improved. Our plant has operated as a BQ-9000 accredited production facility since 2006.

The ISO 9000 family of standards represents an international consensus on good quality management practices. It consists of standards and guidelines relating to quality management systems and related supporting standards. ISO 9001 provides a set of standardized requirements for a quality management system, regardless of what the user organization does, its size, or whether it is in the private or public sector. It is the only international standard against which organizations can be certified, although certification is not a compulsory requirement of the standard. Our plant is an ISO 9001 accredited production facility for both chemicals and biofuels.

Renewable Identification Numbers

As noted above, the RFS2 mandates levels of various types of renewable fuels that are to be blended with U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel by U.S. refiners, blenders, and importers. Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) are the mechanism for ensuring that the prescribed levels of blending are reached. As ethanol and biodiesel is produced or imported, the producer or importer has the responsibility to report the activity in the USEPA’s Moderated Transaction System (“EMTS”) where a series of numbers (i.e., a RIN) is assigned to their product. Assignment is made according to guidelines established by the USEPA. Currently, 1½ RINs are assigned for each gallon of biodiesel produced. When biofuels change ownership to the refiners, importers, and blenders of the fuel, the RINs are also transferred. The RINs ultimately are separated from the renewable fuel generally at the time the renewable fuel is blended. The refiners, importers, and blenders generally use the RINs to establish that they have blended their applicable percentage of renewable fuels during the applicable reporting period. However, once the RINs are separated from the underlying biofuels (e.g., by blending the underlying biodiesel with petrodiesel), they can also be sold separate and apart from the underlying biofuel.

We generate RINs with our biodiesel. At times, we sell biodiesel with the RIN attached to the fuel. If we blend the biodiesel with petrodiesel in blends of B80 or less (e.g., B5 or B20), we can either sell the RINs with our blended biodiesel or we can sell them as a separate, free-standing instrument removed from the biodiesel. The decision of whether or not to separate the RINs from the blended biodiesel depends on the desires of the customer and market conditions for separated RINs, particularly, market prices. While biodiesel RINs continue to be traded through market makers, no assurances can be given that a separate market for RINs will be sustained or what value will be realized upon the sale of biodiesel RINs.

The USEPA issued a proposed rule on February 21, 2013 to establish a voluntary Quality Assurance Program (“QAP”) to verify the validity of renewable identification numbers under the RFS Program. We voluntarily registered in the program as a QAP B participant in 2013. On July 18, 2014, the USEPA issued the final rule. All of our 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 RINs were verified in accordance with the final rule. See https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-07-18/pdf/2014-16487.pdf.

Byproducts

Glycerin

A byproduct of the biodiesel process is crude glycerin, which is produced at the rate of approximately 10% by mass of the quantity of biodiesel produced. Increased production of biodiesel in Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia resulted in excess glycerin being produced by the biodiesel industry in 2016. See http://www.icis.com/resources/news/2016/12/30/10061932/outlook-17-us-glycerine-market-could-see-more-balance/. Crude glycerin as generated from biodiesel production is commonly sold into energy exploration and the agricultural feed market for limited value, the price of which is determined by energy prices, product supply, and corn commodity prices.

Biodiesel producers may sell their crude glycerin to large refineries for upgrading. Because of the influx of crude glycerin into the market from biodiesel producers, producers currently are receiving only minimal value for this byproduct. Crude glycerin can be refined into a pure form and then used in higher value markets such as specialty chemical production, agricultural formulations, food, pharmaceutical, and/or cosmetic applications. In 2014, we added the capability to refine our crude glycerin to an industrial grade with higher value applications. We currently market both crude and industrial grade glycerin, with our product mix dependent upon refining capacity, product specifications, prices, and other market conditions.

Biodiesel Residue

An additional byproduct of the biodiesel production process is biodiesel residue. We utilize distillation columns in our biodiesel production process. Biodiesel residue accumulates in these columns as biodiesel is produced. This is a low priced commodity that we aggregate and sell to multiple customers, primarily for use in Bunker C #6 oil and as an asphalt release agent.

Biodiesel Production Capacity

According to Biodiesel Magazine, as of December 12, 2016, there were 160 biodiesel plants in existence in the United States with a total combined capacity of 2,745.68 million gallons. See http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/plants/listplants/USA/. An additional 15 plants were under construction with a combined nameplate production capacity of 610.25 million gallons, for a total built-out capacity of 3,355.93 million gallons. See http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/plants/listplants/USA/construction/.

Because both current and anticipated biodiesel production capacities exceed the federal mandate, we believe that price competition in the biodiesel industry will continue to be highly competitive.

Customers and Markets

Biodiesel and biodiesel blends are currently used in nearly all of the end markets where petrodiesel is used. Most biodiesel in the United States is consumed in the on-road diesel fuel market, although some is used for off-road purposes such as farming, residential/commercial heating oil, and power generation.

We currently market our biodiesel products by truck, rail, and barge directly to customers in the United States. Through the utilization of liquid bulk storage facilities and barge loading capabilities, we are positioned to market biodiesel throughout the United States mainly for transportation. Although the regional market is still being developed, we estimate that the regional direct market available to us at maturity will be at least 30 million gallons per year.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, two of our customers represented approximately 29% and 57% of our biofuels revenues (17% and 33% of total revenues), respectively, with the remaining biofuels revenues spread across multiple other customers. We do not have a contract with either primary customer, but rather sell on the basis of monthly or short-term, multi-month purchase orders placed with us by these customers at prices based upon then-prevailing market rates. We do not believe that the loss of either customer would have a material adverse effect on our biofuels segment or on us as a whole in that: (i) biofuels are a commodity with a large potential customer base; (ii) we believe that we could readily sell biofuels to other customers; (iii) the prices we receive from these customers are based upon then-market rates; and (iv) our sales to the customers are not under fixed terms and the customers have no obligation to purchase any minimum quantities except as stipulated by short term purchase orders.

In 2016, U.S. imports of biodiesel rose by more than 50% from an estimated 670 million gallons in 2015 to over 1 billion gallons in 2016. As imports continue to take a larger share of the U.S. market, the U.S. biodiesel industry continues to lobby for a reformation of the BTC as a U.S. domestic production credit. See http://biodiesel.org/news/news-display/2017/01/24/2016-biodiesel-market-skunks-previous-records.

Competition

We compete with other producers of biodiesel locally, regionally, nationally, and with foreign imports. The principal methods of competition in the biodiesel industry are price, supply reliability, biodiesel quality, and RIN integrity, i.e., the degree of confidence the market maintains in the validity of a biodiesel producer’s RINs. The nine largest producers in terms of production capacity of biodiesel in the United States in 2016 were Renewable Energy Group, Inc., RBF Port Neches LLC, World Energy Biox Biofuels LLC, Louis Dreyfus Agricultural Industries LLC, Archer Daniels Midland Co. - Velva, World Energy Natchez, FutureFuel Chemical Company, Ag Processing Inc., and Cincinnati Renewable Fuels LLC. See http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/plants/listplants/USA/. Additionally, we compete with numerous other smaller producers and evolving cellulosic based biodiesel technologies.

Furthermore, the emergence of significant new supplies of natural gas in the U.S., primarily as a result of shale gas development, has increased the awareness of natural gas as a key component of the domestic U.S. energy supply and has lowered natural gas prices. Natural gas use in the transportation sector is likely to increase. See http://mitei.mit.edu/publications/reports-studies/future-natural-gas. Increased usage of natural gas may lead to declines in the demand for petrodiesel and biodiesel.

We cannot give any assurances that renewable diesel fuel, green diesel, natural gas or some other product produced by these or similar competing technologies will not supplant biodiesel as an alternative to conventional petrodiesel.

The biodiesel industry also is in competition with the petroleum-based diesel fuel industry. The biodiesel industry is small relative to the size of the petroleum-based diesel fuel industry and large petroleum companies have greater resources than we do. Without government incentives and requirements, biodiesel would likely be more expensive than petroleum-based diesel, making it difficult for biodiesel to compete with petroleum-based diesel on price.

Supply and Distribution

As a result of our feedstock-flexible process, we are able to source feedstock from a broad supplier base, which includes crude corn oil producers and pork, chicken, and beef rendering facilities from both national and regional suppliers. Crude corn oil has been sourced from several national and regional producers. All feedstocks are currently supplied by either rail or truck. We believe that an adequate supply of feedstocks can be sourced to support our anticipated production.

We sell biodiesel from our plant site as well as ship it to liquid bulk storage facilities for further distribution. Sales from our plant site are made by railcar and tank truck. Biodiesel is being delivered by Company-owned tank trucks and common carriers to a liquid bulk storage facility leased by us for distribution there and for further transportation by barge or tank truck.

Cyclicality and Seasonality

Biodiesel producers have historically experienced seasonal fluctuations in demand for biodiesel. Biodiesel demand has tended to be lower during the winter in northern and Midwestern states due to concerns about biodiesel’s ability to operate optimally in cold weather as compared to petrodiesel. This seasonal fluctuation has been strongest for biodiesel made from animal fats and used cooking oils. Biodiesel made from such feedstocks has a higher cloud point (which is the point at which a fuel begins to gel) than biodiesel produced from vegetable oils such as soybean, canola, or crude corn oil. This higher cloud point may cause cold weather performance issues. This historical seasonality appears to be decreasing as biodiesel blends are used in cold Midwestern states throughout the year.

The mandate for biodiesel usage as established by RFS2 may interject an additional seasonal fluctuation in our biodiesel business. Once the mandate for a calendar year is met, or is anticipated to be met, demand for biodiesel may decrease. This seasonal fluctuation was less prevalent in 2014 and 2015 given the weakened market conditions and the absence of a renewable fuel mandate. We did not experience this fluctuation in 2016 given the increased demand in the fourth quarter with the BTC expiring.

Outlook for the Biodiesel Industry/Our Future Strategy

The BTC was reinstated on December 18, 2015, and made retroactive to January 1, 2015 and expired on December 31, 2016. Based on analysis from industry analysts, it is anticipated that the U.S. biodiesel market may transition to larger plants, alternative feedstocks and second-generation technologies, resulting in consolidation among smaller, first-generation producers accompanied by a series of mergers and acquisitions in the field. Although it is unclear whether this trend will occur, if it does, we believe that producers who are proactive in responding to these changes can compete with foreign imports and benefit in this emerging market. These responses include: new and improved technologies; alternative feedstocks with higher yields; production scalability and flexibility options; supply chain, distribution and co-location strategies; the sale of RINs separate from the underlying biodiesel; and innovative risk management strategies. See http://www.emerging-markets.com/biodiesel/index.html.

Our future strategy for our biofuels segment is geared towards these responses. Notwithstanding our future strategy, our continued production of biodiesel may be severely limited or eliminated entirely in the event Congress eliminates the federal mandate of the RFS2. See “Risk Factors” beginning at page 15 below.

Chemicals Business Segment

Overview of the Segment

Our chemicals segment manufactures diversified chemical products that are sold to third party customers. This segment comprises two components: “custom manufacturing” (manufacturing specialty chemicals for specific customers); and “performance chemicals” (multi-customer specialty chemicals).

Chemical Products

Custom manufacturing involves producing unique products for strategic customers, generally under long-term contracts. Many of these products are produced under confidentiality agreements in order to protect each company’s intellectual property. This is a service-based business where customers value dependability, regulatory compliance, technical capabilities, responsiveness, product quality, process scale up and improvement, operational safety, and environmental protection. Our custom manufacturing products are manufactured by continuous production, dedicated batch or general purpose batch mode depending on the volumes required. We are recognized as a strategic production partner to our key customers in this segment and our engineering and technology teams collaboratively work together with our customers to further develop the processes and drive continued improvement.

Our plant’s custom manufacturing product portfolio includes products that are used in the agricultural chemical, coatings, chemical intermediates, industrial and consumer cleaning, oil and gas, and specialty polymers industries. We historically have produced two significant products, or product families, within this particular portfolio. One is our laundry detergent additive product, which is produced for a major detergent and consumer products manufacturer. The other was a proprietary herbicide and associated intermediates we produced for a former long-term Agro chemical customer. We ceased production for this latter customer in 2014 and began the process of transitioning the equipment used for the production of the proprietary herbicide and intermediates into use for a different customer desiring a different proprietary herbicide. Our custom manufacturing business has expanded to new customers in new markets such that no one customer was greater than 10% of revenues in 2015 nor 2016.

Performance chemicals comprise multi-customer products which are sold based upon specification and/or performance in the end-use application. This portfolio includes a family of polymer (nylon and polyester) modifiers, glycerin products, and several small-volume specialty chemicals and solvents for diverse applications. In addition, we have recently been successful in growing our performance chemical business through new product development. New products include a family of acetal based solvents, including diethoxymethane, dimethoxymethane, dibutoxymethane, glycerol formal, and phenol sulfonic acid. In 2014, we added the capability to refine our crude glycerin to an industrial grade of glycerin for higher value specialty chemical applications.

Future Strategy

To build on and maintain our reputation as a technology-driven competitive chemical producer, we believe that we must continuously focus on customer relationship development, cost control, operational efficiency, capacity utilization, operational safety, and environmental protection to maximize earnings. The ability to utilize large-scale batch and continuous production processes and a continuous focus on process improvements allows us to compete effectively in the global custom manufacturing market and to remain cost competitive with, and for some products cost-advantaged over, our competitors. We intend to improve margins in this area of our business by careful management of product mix with regard to size of opportunity, timing to market, capital efficiency and matching of opportunities to assets and capabilities.

Customers and Markets

Our chemical products are used in a variety of markets and end uses, including detergent, agrochemical, automotive, oil and gas, coatings, nutrition, and polymer additives. Some of the chemical products can be cyclically driven by changes in energy and agricultural commodity prices. In the case of our custom manufacturing business, the customers are often the “brand owners” and therefore control factors related to demand, such as market development and external manufacturing strategy. In such cases, we may be unable to increase or maintain our level of sales revenue for these products.

We have agreed to extend the supply of our laundry detergent additive to our customer through 2018. This customer had previously expressed its intent to terminate the supply arrangement effective December 31, 2015, but agreed to amended terms. Demand for the laundry detergent additive has decreased in recent years. We continue to work collaboratively with our customer to assess their future demand, which may continue to decline. We are also working to find new customers for this product.

None of our chemical customers represented 10% or more of our 2016 consolidated sales revenues.

Competition

Historically, there have been significant barriers to entry for competitors with respect to specialty chemicals primarily due to the fact that the relevant technology and manufacturing capability has been held by a small number of companies. As technology and investment have increasingly moved outside of North America, competition from international multi-national chemical manufacturers has intensified, primarily from manufacturers in India and China. We compete with these and other producers primarily based on price, customer service, technology, quality, and reliability. Our major competitors in this segment include large multi-national companies with specialty chemical business units and smaller independent producers. The international multi-national competitors are often disadvantaged by poor responsiveness and customer service, while the small producers often have limited technology and financial resources. We believe that we are well positioned for growth due to the combination of our scale of operations, technical capabilities, reputation, and financial strength.

Supply and Distribution

Specialty chemicals are generally high unit value products sold in packaged, or low-volume bulk form, and for which distribution is a relatively minor component of cost. Most products are sold FOB the Batesville site for distribution globally. Similarly, raw materials for these products are comparatively higher-value components that are sourced globally. An exception is the biofuels co-products, which are recovered from local processing.

Cyclicality and Seasonality

Some of the chemical products can be cyclical, driven by changes in energy prices and agricultural commodity prices. For example, demand for chemical products sold into energy exploration and transportation markets is influenced by oil prices. The use of chemical products in agricultural markets likewise is influenced by agricultural commodity prices. Supply and demand dynamics determine profitability at different stages of cycles and global economic conditions affect the length of each cycle. Despite sensitivity to cyclicality in these industries, many of the products in the chemical segment provide stable earnings.

Backlog

The majority of our revenues are derived under custom manufacturing agreements with specific customers. These customers generally provide us with forecasts of demand on a monthly or quarterly basis. These forecasts are intended to enable us to optimize the efficiency of our production processes and generally are not firm sales orders. As such, we do not monitor or report backlog.

Intellectual Property

We consider our intellectual property portfolio to be a valuable corporate asset which we intend to expand and protect globally through a combination of trade secrets, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, patents, trademarks and copyrights. As a producer of a broad and diverse portfolio of chemicals, our intellectual property relates to a wide variety of products and processes acquired through the development and manufacture of over 300 specialty chemicals during the history of the site. Our primary strategy regarding our intellectual property portfolio is to appropriately protect all innovations and know-how in order to provide our business segments with a technology-based competitive advantage wherever possible. In the chemicals business segment, custom manufacturing projects are primarily conducted within the framework of confidentiality agreements with each customer to ensure that intellectual property rights are defined and protected. In the biofuels business segment, innovations and process know-how are vigorously protected as appropriate.

As may be necessary, we will seek to license technologies from third parties that complement our strategic business objectives. Neither our business as a whole, nor any particular segment, is materially dependent upon any one particular patent, copyright, or trade secret. As the laws of many foreign countries do not protect intellectual property to the same extent as the laws of the United States, we can make no assurance that we will be able to adequately protect all of our intellectual property assets.

Research and Development

We devote considerable resources to our research and development programs, which are primarily targeted towards three objectives:

	●	innovating, developing and improving biofuels processes, in particular biodiesel and other biofuels, including value-up technology and applications for co-products;
	●	developing and improving processes for custom manufacturing products; and
	●	innovating, developing and improving performance chemical products and manufacturing processes.

Our research and development capabilities comprise analytical chemistry competencies to assay and characterize raw materials and products, organic chemistry expertise applied across a breadth of reaction chemistries and materials, design and process engineering capabilities for batch and continuous processing of both solid and liquid materials, and proficiency in process safety to design and scale-up safe chemical manufacturing processes. We believe that these core competencies, established in support of the legacy chemical business, are applicable to building a technology-based position in biofuels and associated bio-based specialty products and expanding our performance chemicals product line.

Research and development expense incurred by us for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 were $2,715, $2,741, and $3,168, respectively. Substantially all of such research and development expense are related to the development of new products, services, and processes or the improvement of existing products, services, and processes.

Environmental Matters

Various aspects of our operations are subject to regulation by state and federal agencies. Biofuel and chemical operations are subject to numerous, stringent and complex laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. These laws and regulations may:

	●	require acquisition of permits regarding discharges into the air and discharge of waste waters;
	●	place restrictions on the handling and disposal of hazardous and other wastes; and;
	●	require capital expenditures to implement pollution control equipment.

Compliance with such laws and regulations can be costly and noncompliance can result in substantial civil and even criminal penalties. Some environmental laws impose strict liability for environmental contamination, rendering a person liable for environmental damages and cleanup costs without regard to negligence or fault. Moreover, there is strong public interest in the protection of the environment. Our operations could be adversely affected to the extent laws are enacted or other governmental action is taken that imposes environmental protection requirements that result in increased costs to the biofuels and/or chemical manufacturing industry in general. The following provides a general discussion of some of the significant environmental laws and regulations that impact our activities.

The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (or “CERCLA”), and analogous state laws, impose joint and severe liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original act, on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the owner and operator of the site where the release occurred, past owners and operators of the site, and companies that disposed or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at the site. Responsible parties under CERCLA may be liable for the costs of cleaning up hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources. Additionally, it is not uncommon for third parties to assert claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other pollutants into the environment.

The federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (or “RCRA”), is the principal federal statute governing the management of wastes, including the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. RCRA imposes stringent operating requirements, and liability for failure to meet such requirements, on a person who is either a generator or transporter of hazardous waste or an owner or operator of a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility. Many of the wastes generated in our manufacturing facility are governed by RCRA.

The federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (or “OPA”) and regulations thereunder impose liability on responsible parties for damages resulting from oil spills into or upon navigable waters, adjoining shorelines, or in the exclusive economic zone of the United States. A responsible party includes the owner or operator of an onshore facility. Effective December 31, 2015, OPA increased its liability limit for onshore facilities from $350,000 to $633,850. These liability limits may not apply if a spill is caused by a party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, the spill resulted from violation of a federal safety, construction, or operating regulation, or if a party fails to report a spill or to cooperate fully in a clean-up. Failure to comply with OPA’s requirements may subject a responsible party to civil, criminal, or administrative enforcement actions.

The federal Water Pollution Control Act (also referred to as the “Clean Water Act”) imposes restrictions and controls on the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. These controls have become more stringent over the years, and it is possible that additional restrictions may be imposed in the future. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into state and federal waters. The Clean Water Act provides for civil, criminal, and administrative penalties for discharges of oil and other pollutants, and imposes liability on parties responsible for those discharges for the costs of cleaning up any environmental damage caused by the release and for natural resource damages resulting from the release. Comparable state statutes impose liability and authorize penalties in the case of an unauthorized discharge of petroleum or its derivatives, or other pollutants, into state waters.

The federal Clean Air Act and associated state laws and regulations restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including facilities involved in manufacturing chemicals and biofuels. New facilities are generally required to obtain permits before operations can commence, and new or existing facilities may be required to incur certain capital expenditures to install air pollution control equipment in connection with obtaining and maintaining operating permits and approvals. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for non-compliance with permits or other requirements of the Clean Air Act and associated state laws and regulations.

The federal Endangered Species Act, the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, and similar federal and state wildlife protection laws prohibit or restrict activities that could adversely impact protected plant and animal species or habitats. Manufacturing activities could be prohibited or delayed in areas where such protected species or habitats may be located, or expensive mitigation may be required to accommodate such activities.

Our policy is to operate our plant and facilities in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of our employees and the public. We intend to continue to make expenditures for environmental protection and improvements in a timely manner consistent with our policies and with the technology available. In some cases, applicable environmental regulations such as those adopted under the Clean Air Act and RCRA, and related actions of regulatory agencies, determine the timing and amount of environmental costs incurred by us.

In addition to our general environmental policies and policies for asset retirement obligations and environmental reserves, we accrue environmental costs when it is probable that we have incurred a liability and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In some instances, the amount cannot be reasonably estimated due to insufficient data, particularly in the nature and timing of the future performance. In these cases, the liability is monitored until such time that sufficient data exists. With respect to a contaminated site, the amount accrued reflects our assumptions about remedial requirements at the site, the nature of the remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other potentially responsible parties at multi-party sites, and the number and financial viability of other potentially responsible parties. Changes in the estimates on which the accruals are based, unanticipated government enforcement action, or changes in health, safety, environmental, chemical control regulations, and testing requirements could result in higher or lower costs.

Our cash expenditures related to environmental protection and improvement were approximately $11,136, $10,205, and $10,007 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. These amounts pertain primarily to operating costs associated with environmental protection equipment and facilities, but also include expenditures for construction and development. While we do not expect future environmental capital expenditures arising from requirements of environmental laws and regulations to materially increase our planned level of annual capital expenditures for environmental control facilities, we can give no assurances that such requirements will not materialize in the future.

We believe that we have obtained in all material respects the necessary environmental permits and licenses to carry on our operations as presently conducted. We have reviewed environmental investigations of the properties owned by us and believe, on the basis of the results of the investigations carried out to date, that there are no material environmental issues which adversely impact us. In connection with the acquisition of our warehouse in Batesville, the seller agreed to remediate certain environmental conditions existing at the facility on the date that we acquired it and to indemnify us with respect to those environmental conditions. We continue to monitor the seller’s compliance with its remediation obligations.

Management Team and Workforce

Our executive management team at the Batesville plant consists of individuals with a combined 90 plus years of experience in the chemicals industry, comprising technical, operational, and business responsibilities. The members of the executive team also have international experience, including assignments in Europe. The operational and commercial management group at the Batesville site includes additional degreed professionals with an average experience of over 25 years in the chemical industry.

Our Batesville workforce comprises approximately 500 full-time employees, and includes degreed professionals including chemists (some with PhDs) and engineers (including licensed professional electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineers). Operations personnel have received extensive training and are highly skilled. Additionally, all site manufacturing and infrastructure is fully automated and computer-controlled. Due to the lack of locally-available process industry infrastructure, the workforce is substantially self-sufficient in the range of required operational skills and experience. Voluntary attrition at the site has averaged 5.3% over the past five years.

Financial Information about Geographic Areas

Most of our sales are FOB the Batesville plant, although some transfer points are in other states or foreign ports. While many of our chemicals are utilized to manufacture products that are shipped, further processed, and/or consumed throughout the world, the chemical products, with limited exceptions, generally leave the United States only after we have transferred ownership. Rarely are we the exporter of record, never are we the importer of record into foreign countries, and we are not always aware of the exact quantities of our products that are moved into foreign markets by our customers. We do track the addresses of our customers for invoicing purposes and use this address to determine whether a particular sale is within or outside the United States. Our revenues for the last three fiscal years attributable to the United States and foreign countries (based upon the billing addresses of our customers) were as set forth in the following table.

(Dollars in thousands)

			All Foreign
Period	United States		Countries		Total
Year ended December 31, 2016	$	250,320	$	2,873	$	253,193
Year ended December 31, 2015	$	297,415	$	2,196	$	299,611
Year ended December 31, 2014	$	334,210	$	7,628	$	341,838

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, revenues from Mexico accounted for 0%, 0%, and 1%, respectively, of total revenues. Other than Mexico, revenues from a single foreign country during 2016, 2015, and 2014 did not exceed 1% of our total revenues.

All of our long-lived assets are located in the United States.

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly, and other reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers such as us that file electronically with the SEC. You may access that site at http://www.sec.gov.

Our Internet website address is www.futurefuelcorporation.com. We make available free of charge, through the “Investor Relations - SEC Filings” section of our Internet website (http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/sec.cfm), our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or the Exchange Act), as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such material with, or furnishing it to, the SEC.

We also make available free of charge, through the “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance” section of our website (http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm), the corporate governance guidelines of our board of directors, the charters of each of the committees of our board of directors, and the code of business conduct and ethics for our directors, officers, and employees. Such materials will be made available in print upon the written request of any shareholder to FutureFuel Corp., 8235 Forsyth Blvd., 4th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, Attention: Investor Relations.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

An investment in us involves a high degree of risk and may result in the loss of all or part of your investment. You should consider carefully all of the information set out in this document and the risks attaching to an investment in us, including, in particular, the risks described below. The information below does not purport to be an exhaustive list and should be considered in conjunction with the contents of the rest of this document.

Risks Associated With Our Business Activities

The BTC for biodiesel expired on December 31, 2016. If the credit is not renewed, our cost of producing biodiesel will be increased or our selling price could decrease, which could have an adverse effect on our financial position.

In October 2004, Congress passed a biodiesel tax incentive, structured as a federal excise tax credit, as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The credit amounted to one cent for each percentage point of vegetable oil or animal fat biodiesel that was blended with petrodiesel (and one-half cent for each percentage point of recycled oils and other non-agricultural biodiesel, subsequently amended and increased to one cent). For example, blenders that blended B20 made from soy, canola, and other vegetable oils and animal fats received a $0.20 per gallon excise tax credit. The tax incentive generally was taken by petroleum distributors and was passed on to the consumer. It was designed to lower the cost of biodiesel to consumers in both taxable and tax-exempt markets. The tax credit was scheduled to expire at the end of 2006, but was extended in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to December 31, 2008. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended the biodiesel tax credit through December 31, 2009 and qualified all biodiesel for a BTC, including biodiesel made from non-virgin feedstocks such as yellow grease. On December 18, 2015, the BTC was reinstated retroactively to January 1, 2015 and expired on December 31, 2016. There is no guarantee that the BTC will be reinstated, which could have a material adverse effect on us and the biodiesel industry in general.

If biodiesel feedstock costs do not decrease significantly relative to biodiesel prices, we could realize a negative gross margin on biodiesel. As a result, we could cease producing biodiesel, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition.

Our biofuels operations may be harmed if the federal or state governments were to change current laws and regulations.

Alternative fuels businesses benefit from government subsidies and mandates. If any of the state or federal laws and regulations relating to the government subsidies and mandates change, including failure to reinstate the federal biodiesel BTC, our ability to benefit from our alternative fuels business could be harmed.

Our biofuels platform is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the application and use of alternative energy products, including those related specifically to biodiesel. For instance, biodiesel products benefit from being the only alternative fuel certified by the USEPA that fulfills the requirements of Section 211(B) of the Clean Air Act. Also, portions of our biofuels may from time to time be registered in states where we obtain benefits from state specific subsidies, mandates or programs. If federal or state agency determinations, laws, and regulations relating to the application and use of alternative energy are changed, the marketability and sales of biodiesel production could be materially adversely affected.

The industries in which we compete are highly competitive.

The biodiesel and specialty chemical industries are highly competitive. There is competition within these industries and also with other industries in supplying the energy, fuel, and chemical needs of industry and individual customers. We compete with other firms in the sale or purchase of various goods or services in many national and international markets. We compete with large national and multi-national companies that have longer operating histories, greater financial, technical, and other resources, and greater name recognition than we do. In addition, we compete with several smaller companies capable of competing effectively on a regional or local basis, and the number of these smaller companies is increasing. Our competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and services and changes in customer requirements. As a result of competition, we may lose market share or be unable to maintain or increase prices for our products and/or services or to acquire additional business opportunities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Although we will employ all methods of competition which are lawful and appropriate for such purposes, no assurances can be made that they will be successful. A key component of our competitive position, particularly given the commodity-based nature of many of our products, will be our ability to manage expenses successfully, which requires continuous management focus on reducing unit costs and improving efficiency. No assurances can be given that we will be able to successfully manage such expenses.

Our competitive position in the markets in which we participate is, in part, subject to external factors in addition to those that we can impact. Natural disasters, changes in laws or regulations, trade disputes, war or other outbreak of hostilities, or other political factors in any of the countries or regions in which we operate or do business, or in countries or regions that are key suppliers of strategic raw materials, could negatively impact our competitive position and our ability to maintain market share.

As to our biofuels segment, biodiesel produced in Canada, South America, Europe, Eastern Asia, the Pacific Rim, or other regions may be imported into the United States to compete with U.S. produced biodiesel. These regions may benefit from biodiesel production incentives or other financial incentives in their home countries that offset some of their biodiesel production costs and enable them to profitably sell biodiesel in the U.S. at lower prices than U.S.-based biodiesel producers. Under the RFS2, imported biodiesel may be eligible to satisfy an obligated party’s requirements and therefore may compete to meet the volumetric requirements of RFS2. This could make it more challenging for us to market or sell biodiesel in the United States, which would have a material adverse effect on our revenues.

The total production capacity is well in excess of the current 2.0 billion gallons per year RFS2 mandate for 2017. The excess of production capacity over the 2017 mandate could result in a decline in biodiesel prices and profitability, negatively impacting our ability to maintain the profitability of our biofuels segment and recover capital expenditures in this business segment.

We are reliant upon a relatively small number of customers.

Our business is concentrated with five large strategic customers covering multiple products representing greater than 82% of our chemicals segment product sales, or 33% of total revenues. Although this business is contracted in longer-term production agreements, the loss of any of these strategic customers could have a material adverse effect on our chemicals business.

Additionally, our biofuels segment has one large customer. Sales to this biodiesel customer totaled approximately 14% of total revenues in 2016 (or $35,568), compared to 11% in 2015 (or $33,255), and 18% in 2014 (or $62,994). Sales of biodiesel, petrodiesel, petrodiesel blends, and other petroleum products to a related party totaled 22% in 2015 (or $64,981), and 11% in 2014 (or $39,090). For the period ended December 31, 2016, sales to the related party were not greater than 10%. We do not have a contract with these customers, but rather sell based on monthly or short-term, multi-month purchase orders placed with us by the customers at prices based upon then-prevailing market rates.

Fluctuations in commodity prices may cause a reduction in the demand or profitability of the products or services we produce.

Prices for alternative fuels tend to fluctuate widely based on a variety of political and economic factors. These price fluctuations heavily influence the oil and gas industry. Lower energy prices for existing products tend to limit the demand for alternative forms of energy services and related products and infrastructure. Historically, the markets for alternative fuels have been volatile, and they are likely to continue to be volatile. Wide fluctuations in alternative fuel prices may result from relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, market uncertainty, and other factors that are beyond our control, including:

	●	worldwide and domestic supplies of oil and gas;
	●	the price and/or availability of biodiesel feedstocks;
	●	weather conditions;
	●	the level of consumer demand;
	●	the price and availability of alternative fuels;
	●	the availability of pipeline and refining capacity;
	●	the price and level of foreign imports;
	●	domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxes;
	●	the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to agree to and maintain oil price and production controls;
	●	political instability or armed conflict in oil-producing regions; and
	●	the overall economic environment.

These factors and the volatility of the commodity markets make it extremely difficult to predict future alternative fuel price movements with any certainty. There may be a decrease in the demand for our products or services and our profitability could be adversely affected.

We are reliant on certain strategic raw materials for our operations.

We are reliant on certain strategic raw materials (such as acetic anhydride, pelargonic acid, biodiesel feedstocks and methanol) for our operations. We have implemented certain risk management tools, such as multiple suppliers and hedging to mitigate short-term market fluctuations in raw material supply and costs. There can be no assurance, however, that such measures will result in cost savings or supply stability or that all market fluctuation exposure will be eliminated. In addition, natural disasters, changes in laws or regulations, war or other outbreak of hostilities, or other political factors in any of the countries or regions in which we operate or do business, or in countries or regions that are key suppliers of strategic raw materials, could affect availability and costs of raw materials.

While temporary shortages of raw materials may occasionally occur, these items have historically been sufficiently available to cover current requirements. However, their continuous availability and price are impacted by natural disasters, plant interruptions occurring during periods of high demand, domestic and world market and political conditions, changes in government regulation, and war or other outbreak of hostilities. In addition, as we increase our biodiesel capacity, we will require larger supplies of raw materials which have not yet been secured and may not be available for the foregoing reasons, or may be available only at prices higher than current levels. Our operations or products may, at times, be adversely affected by these factors.

The European Commission has imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on biodiesel blends imported into Europe, which have effectively eliminated our ability to sell those biodiesel blends in Europe.

In March 2009, as a response to the federal BTC, the European Commission imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on biodiesel produced in the United States. These tariffs have effectively eliminated European demand for B20 or higher blends imported from the United States. The European Commission extended these tariffs through 2020. In May 2011, the European Commission imposed similar anti-dumping and countervailing duties on biodiesel blends below B20. These duties significantly increase the price at which we and other United States biodiesel producers will be able to sell such biodiesel blends in European markets, making it difficult or impossible to compete in the European biodiesel market. These anti-dumping and countervailing duties therefore decrease the demand for biodiesel produced in the United States and increase the supply of biodiesel available in the United States market. Such market dynamics may negatively impact our revenues and profitability.

Changes in technology may render our products or services obsolete.

The alternative fuel and chemical industries may be substantially affected by rapid and significant changes in technology. Examples include competitive product technologies, such as green gasoline and renewable diesel produced from catalytic hydroforming of renewable feedstock oils and competitive process technologies such as advanced biodiesel continuous reactor and washing designs that increase throughput. Additionally, new supplies of natural gas in the U.S., primarily as a result of shale gas development, have lowered natural gas prices. Lower natural gas prices may lead to increased use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Increased usage of natural gas in the transportation market, or other markets which have traditionally utilized petrodiesel or biodiesel, may lead to declines in the demand for petrodiesel and biodiesel. Lastly, new and more active compounds may be discovered that require less volume or different manufacturing methods, or the end products may become obsolete and be replaced with differing materials.

These changes may render obsolete certain existing products, energy sources, services, and technologies currently used by us. We cannot assure you that the technologies used by or relied upon by us will not be subject to such obsolescence. While we may attempt to adapt and apply the services provided by us to newer technologies, we cannot assure you that we will have sufficient resources to fund these changes or that these changes will ultimately prove successful.

Failure to comply with governmental regulations could result in the imposition of penalties, fines or restrictions on operations and remedial liabilities.

The biofuel and chemical industries are subject to extensive federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations related to the general population’s health and safety and those associated with compliance and permitting obligations (including those related to the use, storage, handling, discharge, emission, and disposal of municipal solid waste and other waste, pollutants or hazardous substances or waste, or discharges and air and other emissions) as well as land use and development. Existing laws also impose obligations to clean up contaminated properties or to pay for the cost of such remediation, often upon parties that did not actually cause the contamination. Compliance with these laws, regulations, and obligations could require substantial capital expenditures. Failure to comply could result in the imposition of penalties, fines, or restrictions on operations and remedial liabilities. These costs and liabilities could adversely affect our operations.

Changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any changes that result in more stringent or costly waste handling, storage, transport, disposal, or cleanup requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business segments in general and on our results of operations, competitive position, or financial condition. We are unable to predict the effect of additional environmental laws and regulations which may be adopted in the future, including whether any such laws or regulations would materially adversely increase our cost of doing business or affect our operations in any area.

Under certain environmental laws and regulations, we could be held strictly liable for the removal or remediation of previously released materials or property contamination regardless of whether we were responsible for the release or contamination, or if current or prior operations were conducted consistent with accepted standards of practice. Such liabilities can be significant and, if imposed, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Market conditions or transportation impediments may hinder access to raw goods and distribution markets.

Market conditions, the unavailability of satisfactory transportation, or the location of our manufacturing complex from more lucrative markets may hinder our access to raw goods and/or distribution markets. The availability of a ready market for biodiesel depends on a number of factors, including the demand for and supply of biodiesel and the proximity of the plant to trucking and terminal facilities. The sale of large quantities of biodiesel necessitates that we transport our biodiesel to other markets since the Batesville, Arkansas regional market is not expected to absorb all of our contemplated production. Currently, common carrier pipelines are not transporting biodiesel or biodiesel/ petrodiesel blends. This leaves trucks, barges, and rail cars as the means of distribution of our product from the plant to these storage terminals for further distribution. However, the current availability of rail cars is limited and at times unavailable because of repairs or improvements, or as a result of priority transportation agreements with other shippers. Additionally, the current availability of barges is limited, particularly heated barges to transport biodiesel during winter months. If transportation is restricted or is unavailable, we may not be able to sell into more lucrative markets and consequently our cash flow from sales of biodiesel could be restricted.

The biodiesel industry also faces several challenges to wide biodiesel acceptance, including cold temperature limitations, storage stability, fuel quality standards, and exhaust emissions. If the industry does not satisfy consumers that these issues have been resolved or are being resolved, biodiesel may not gain widespread acceptance which may have an adverse impact on our cash flow from sales of biodiesel.

Our insurance may not protect us against our business and operating risks.

We maintain insurance for some, but not all, of the potential risks and liabilities associated with our business. For some risks, we may not obtain insurance if we believe the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially and, in some instances, certain insurance policies may become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. As a result, we may not be able to renew our existing insurance policies or procure other desirable insurance on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Although we will maintain insurance at levels we believe are appropriate for our business and consistent with industry practice, we will not be fully insured against all risks which cannot be sourced on economic terms. In addition, pollution and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. Losses and liabilities from uninsured and underinsured events and delay in the payment of insurance proceeds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

If a significant accident or other event resulting in damage to our operations (including severe weather, terrorist acts, war, civil disturbances, pollution, or environmental damage) occurs and is not fully covered by insurance or a recoverable indemnity from a customer, it could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We depend on key personnel, the loss of any of whom could materially adversely affect our future operations.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon the efforts and abilities of our executive officers and lead management team. The loss of the services of one or more of these key employees could have a material adverse effect on us. Our business is also dependent upon our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. Acquiring or retaining these personnel could prove more difficult to hire or cost substantially more than estimated. This could cause us to incur greater costs.

If we are unable to effectively manage the commodity price risk of our raw materials or finished goods, we may have unexpected losses.

We hedge our raw materials and/or finished products for our biofuels segment to some degree to manage the commodity price risk of such items. This requires the purchase or sale of commodity futures contracts and/or options on those contracts or similar financial instruments. We may be forced to make cash deposits available to counterparties as they mark-to-market these financial hedges. This funding requirement may limit the level of commodity price risk management that we are prudently able to complete. If we do not manage or are not capable of managing the commodity price risk of our raw materials and/or finished products for our biofuels segment, we may incur losses as a result of price fluctuations with respect to these raw materials and/or finished products.

In most cases, we are not capable of hedging raw material and/or finished products for our chemicals segment. Certain of our products are produced under manufacturing agreements with our customers which provide us the contractual ability to pass along raw material price increases. However, we do not have this protection for all product lines within the chemicals segment. If we do not manage or are not capable of managing escalating raw material prices and/or passing these increases along to our customers via increased prices for our finished products, we may incur losses.

If we are unable to acquire or renew permits and approvals required for our operations, we may be forced to suspend or cease operations altogether.

The operation of our manufacturing plant requires numerous permits and approvals from governmental agencies. We may not be able to obtain or renew all necessary permits (or modifications thereto) and approvals and, as a result, our operations may be adversely affected. In addition, obtaining all necessary renewal permits (or modifications to existing permits) and approvals for future expansions may necessitate substantial expenditures and may create a significant risk of expensive delays or loss of value if a project is unable to function as planned due to changing requirements.

Our indebtedness may limit our ability to borrow additional funds or capitalize on acquisition or other business opportunities.

We have entered into a $165 million revolving credit facility with a commercial bank. Although as of the date of this report we have no outstanding borrowings under this facility, when we do borrow the restrictions governing this indebtedness (such as total debt to EBITDA limitations) could reduce our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in certain transactions, or capitalize on acquisition or other business opportunities.

We expect to have capital expenditure requirements, and we may be unable to obtain needed financing on satisfactory terms.

We expect to make capital expenditures for the expansion of our biofuels and chemicals production capacity and complementary infrastructure. We intend to finance these capital expenditures primarily through cash flow from our operations, borrowings under our credit facility, and existing cash. However, if our capital requirements vary materially from those provided for in our current projections, we may require additional financing sooner than anticipated. A decrease in expected revenues or adverse change in market conditions could make obtaining this financing economically unattractive or impossible. As a result, we may lack the capital necessary to complete the projected expansions or capitalize on other business opportunities.

We may be unable to successfully integrate future acquisitions with our operations or realize all of the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions.

Failure to successfully integrate future acquisitions, if any, in a timely manner may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. The difficulties of combining acquired operations include, among other things:

	●	operating a significantly larger combined organization;
	●	consolidating corporate technological and administrative functions;
	●	integrating internal controls and other corporate governance matters; and
	●	diverting management’s attention from other business concerns.

In addition, we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits from future acquisitions, such as increased earnings, cost savings, and revenue enhancements, for various reasons, including difficulties integrating operations and personnel, higher and unexpected acquisition and operating costs, unknown liabilities, and fluctuations in markets. If benefits from future acquisitions do not meet the expectations of financial or industry analysts, the market price of our shares of common stock may decline.

If we are unable to respond to changes in ASTM or customer standards, our ability to sell biodiesel may be harmed.

We currently produce biodiesel to conform to or exceed standards established by ASTM. ASTM standards for biodiesel and biodiesel blends may be modified in response to new observations from the industries involved with diesel fuel. New tests or more stringent standards may require us to make additional capital investments in, or modify, plant operations to meet these standards. In addition, some biodiesel customers have developed their own biodiesel standards which are stricter than the ASTM standards. If we are unable to meet new ASTM standards or our biodiesel customers’ standards cost effectively or at all, our production technology may become obsolete, and our ability to sell biodiesel may be harmed, negatively impacting our revenues and profitability.

If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we might not be able to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud; in that case, our stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and could negatively impact the value of our stock.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. The process of maintaining our internal controls may be expensive and time consuming and may require significant attention from management. Although we have concluded as of December 31, 2016, that our internal control over financial reporting provides reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect fraud or misstatements. Failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we or our independent registered public accounting firm discover a material weakness, the disclosure of that fact could harm the value of our stock and our business.

Confidentiality agreements with customers, employees, and others may not adequately prevent disclosures of confidential information, trade secrets, and other proprietary information.

We rely in part on trade secret protection to protect our confidential and proprietary information and processes. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We have taken measures to protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, but these measures may not be effective. For example, we require new custom manufacturing chemical customers to execute confidentiality agreements before we begin manufacturing custom chemicals for them. We also require employees and consultants to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of their employment or consulting arrangement with us. These agreements generally require that all confidential information developed by the individual or made known to the individual by us during the course of the individual’s relationship with us be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties. These agreements also generally provide that know-how and inventions conceived by the individual in the course of rendering services to us are our exclusive property. Nevertheless, these agreements may be breached, or may not be enforceable, and our proprietary information may be disclosed. Further, despite the existence of these agreements, third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques. Accordingly, it may be difficult for us to protect our trade secrets. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.

Moreover, we cannot assure that our technology does not infringe upon any valid claims of patents that other parties own. In the future, if we were found to be infringing on a patent owned by a third party, we might have to seek a license from such third party to use the patented technology. We cannot assure that, if required, we would be able to obtain such a license on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If a third party brought a legal action against us or our licensors, we could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves, and we cannot assure that such an action would be resolved in our favor. If such a dispute were to be resolved against us, we could be subject to significant damages.

We depend on our ability to maintain relationships with industry participants, including our strategic partners.

Our ability to maintain commercial arrangements with chemical and biodiesel customers, raw material and feedstock suppliers, and transportation and logistics services providers may depend on maintaining close working relationships with industry participants. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or establish additional necessary strategic relationships, in which case the opportunity to grow our business may be negatively affected.

If automobile manufacturers and other industry groups express reservations regarding the use of biodiesel, our ability to sell biodiesel will be negatively impacted.

Research on biodiesel use in automobiles is ongoing. Some industry groups have recommended that blends of no more than 5% biodiesel be used for automobile fuel due to concerns about fuel quality, engine performance problems, and possible detrimental effects of biodiesel on rubber components and other engine parts. Although some manufacturers have encouraged use of biodiesel fuel in their vehicles, cautionary pronouncements by other manufacturers or industry groups may impact our ability to market our biodiesel.

There is currently excess production capacity and low utilization in the biodiesel industry and if non-operational and underutilized facilities commence or increase operations, our results of operations may be negatively affected.

Many biodiesel plants in the United States do not operate at full capacity. Further, plants under construction and expansion in the United States as of December 31, 2016, if completed, would add additional biodiesel production capacity. The annual production capacity of existing plants and plants under construction far exceeds both historic consumption of biodiesel in the United States and required consumption under RFS2. If this excess production capacity was utilized for biodiesel production, it would increase competition for our feedstocks, increase the volume of biodiesel on the market, and may reduce biodiesel gross margins, harming our revenues and profitability.

Perception about “food vs. fuel” could impact public policy which could impair our ability to operate at a profit and substantially harm our revenues and operating margins.

Some people believe that biodiesel may increase the cost of food, as some feedstocks such as soybean oil used to make biodiesel can also be used for food products. This debate is often referred to as “food vs. fuel.” Though our biodiesel is sourced from non-food grade feedstocks, this is a concern to the biodiesel industry because biodiesel demand is heavily influenced by government policy and, if public opinion were to erode, it is possible that these policies would lose political support. These views could also negatively impact public perception of biodiesel. Such claims have led some, including members of Congress, to urge the modification of current government policies which affect the production and sale of biofuels in the United States.

Concerns regarding the environmental impact of biodiesel production could affect public policy which could impair our ability to operate at a profit and substantially harm our revenues and operating margins.

The environmental impacts associated with biodiesel production and use have not yet been fully analyzed. Under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, the USEPA is required to produce a study every three years of the environmental impacts associated with current and future biofuel production and use, including effects on air and water quality, soil quality and conservation, water availability, energy recovery from secondary materials, ecosystem health and biodiversity, invasive species, and international impacts. A draft of the first such triennial report was released in January 2011 and a final report was submitted to Congress on January 31, 2012. See http://www.epa.gov/ncea/biofuels/. The report concluded the following: (i) the extent of negative impacts to date due to the biofuels industry is limited in magnitude and primarily associated with intensification of corn production; (ii) future negative or positive impacts will be determined by the choice of feedstock, land use change, cultivation and conservation practices; and (iii) potential benefits will likely require implementation of conservation measures and innovative technologies, best management practices, and improvements in production efficiency. These factors, along with any negative findings or interpretations of this report or subsequent reports, may negatively impact public perception of biodiesel, its acceptance and development as an alternative fuel, and its political support. No subsequent report has been issued.

To the extent that state or federal laws are modified or public perception turns against biodiesel, use requirements such as RFS2 may not continue, which could materially harm our ability to operate profitably.

Growth in the sale and distribution of biodiesel is dependent on the expansion of related infrastructure which may not occur on a timely basis, if at all, and our operations could be adversely affected by infrastructure limitations or disruptions.

Growth in the biodiesel industry depends on substantial development of infrastructure for the distribution of biodiesel. Substantial investment required for these infrastructure changes and expansions may not be made on a timely basis or at all. The scope and timing of any infrastructure expansion are generally beyond our control. Also, we compete with other biofuel companies for access to some of the key infrastructure components such as pipeline and terminal capacity. As a result, increased production of biodiesel or other biofuels will increase the demand and competition for necessary infrastructure. Any delay or failure in expanding distribution infrastructure could hurt the demand for or prices of biodiesel, impede delivery of our biodiesel, and impose additional costs, each of which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Our business will be dependent on the continuing availability of infrastructure for the distribution of increasing volumes of biodiesel and any infrastructure disruptions could materially harm our business.

Nitrogen oxide emissions from biodiesel may harm its appeal as a renewable fuel and increase costs.

In some instances, biodiesel may increase emissions of nitrogen oxide as compared to petrodiesel, which could harm air quality. Nitrogen oxide is a contributor to ozone and smog. These emissions may decrease the appeal of biodiesel to environmental groups and agencies who have been historic supporters of the biodiesel industry, potentially harming our ability to market our biodiesel.

In addition, several states have acted to regulate potential nitrogen oxide emissions from biodiesel. Texas currently requires that biodiesel blends contain an additive to eliminate this perceived nitrogen oxide increase. California is in the process of formulating biodiesel regulations that may also require such an additive. In states where such an additive is required to sell biodiesel, the additional cost of the additive may make biodiesel less profitable or make biodiesel less cost competitive against petrodiesel or renewable diesel, which would negatively impact our ability to sell our products in such states and therefore have an adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.

Several biofuels companies throughout the United States have filed for bankruptcy over the last several years due to industry and economic conditions.

Unfavorable worldwide economic conditions, lack of financing, and volatile biofuel prices and feedstock costs have likely contributed to the necessity of bankruptcy filings by biofuel producers. Our business may be negatively impacted by the industry conditions that influenced the bankruptcy proceedings of other biofuel producers, or we may encounter new competition from buyers of distressed biodiesel properties who enter the industry at a lower cost than original plant investors.

We are exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in market values of our investments

We could experience significant declines in the market value of our investment portfolio. Credit ratings and pricing of these investments can be negatively affected by liquidity, credit deterioration, financial results, economic risk, political risk, sovereign risk, or other factors. As a result, the value and liquidity of our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities could decline and result in significant impairment.

We are exposed to operating risks

As a manufacturer of diversified chemical products and biofuels, our business is subject to operating risks common to chemical manufacturing, storage, handling, and transportation. These risks include, but are not limited to, fires, explosions, inclement weather, natural disasters, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, transportation interruptions, remediation, chemical spills, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases. Significant limitation on our ability to manufacture products due to disruption of manufacturing operations or related infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our sales revenue, costs, results of operations, and financial condition.

Disruptions could also occur due to internal factors such as computer or equipment malfunction (accidental or intentional), operator error, or process failures; or external factors such as computer or equipment malfunction at third-party service providers, natural disasters, pandemic illness, changes in laws or regulations, war or other outbreak of hostilities or terrorism, cyber-attacks, or breakdown or degradation of transportation infrastructure used for delivery of supplies to the Company or for delivery of products to customers. We have in the past experienced cyber-attacks and breaches of our computer information systems, and although none of these have had a material adverse effect on our operations, no assurances can be provided that any future disruptions due to these, or other, circumstances will not have a material effect on operations. Such disruptions could result in an unplanned event that could be significant in scale and could negatively impact operations, neighbors, and the environment, and could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

Risks Associated With Owning Our Shares

We may issue substantial amounts of additional shares without stockholder approval.

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 75,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of the date of this report, 43,749,970 shares of our common stock currently are outstanding. The issuance of any additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock would dilute the percentage ownership of our company held by existing stockholders.

The market price of our common stock is highly volatile and may increase or decrease dramatically at any time.

The market price of our common stock is highly volatile and our shares are thinly traded. Our stock price may change dramatically as the result of: (i) announcements of new products or innovations by us or our competitors; (ii) uncertainty regarding the viability of any of our product initiatives; (iii) significant customer contracts; (iv) significant litigation; (v) the loss of the BTC or RFS2 mandate; or (vi) other factors or events that would be expected to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects.

The market price for our common stock may also be affected by various factors not directly related to our business or future prospects, including the following:

	●	a reaction by investors to trends in our stock rather than the fundamentals of our business;
	●	a single acquisition or disposition, or several related acquisitions or dispositions, of a large number of our shares, including by short sellers covering their position;
	●	the interest of the market in our business sector, without regard to our financial condition, results of operations, or business prospects;
	●	positive or negative statements or projections about us or our industry by analysts and other persons;
	●	the adoption of governmental regulations or government grant programs and similar developments in the United States or abroad that may enhance or detract from our ability to offer our products and services or affect our cost structure; and
	●	economic and other external market factors, such as a general decline in market price due to poor economic conditions, investor distrust, or a financial crisis.

If securities or industry analysts issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock or do not publish research or reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for shares of our common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that equity research analysts publish about us and our business. The price of our common stock could decline if one or more equity research analysts downgrade our common stock or if those analysts issue other unfavorable commentary or cease publishing reports about us or our business.

If our founding shareholders and Mr. Novelly or his designees exercise their registration rights, such exercise may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares of common stock.

Those shareholders holding shares of our common stock prior to our July 2006 offering (our founding shareholders; see “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters -- Founding Shares Owned by the Founding Shareholders” below) and Mr. Paul A. Novelly, our executive chairman of the board, or his designees, are entitled to demand that we register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or the “Securities Act”), the resale of their shares of our common stock issued prior to our July 2006 offering (the founding shares) and their shares included in the units purchased in our initial public offering. The demand may be made at any time after the date on which we became a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and their founding shares have been released from escrow. This occurred on July 12, 2009. If our founding shareholders exercise their registration rights with respect to all of their shares of our common stock, there will be an additional 16,250,000 shares (which includes the 5,000,000 shares issued on exercise of their warrants) eligible for trading in the public market. The presence of this additional number of shares eligible for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares.

We may be suspended or delisted from the New York Stock Exchange if we do not satisfy their continued listing requirements.

Our common stock commenced trading on the NYSE on March 23, 2011 under the symbol “FF”. Securities admitted to the NYSE may be suspended from dealing or delisted at any time the listed company fails to satisfy certain continued listing criteria. These criteria could be triggered if, among other things, the number of our publicly-held shares falls below 600,000, the average closing price of our common stock is less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading-day period, or we fail to file certain reports with the SEC. As a matter of practice, the NYSE generally gives a listed company notice if any of these criteria are triggered, and generally provides the listed company with certain cure periods. If we suffer such an event but do not cure it, or if such event cannot be cured, trading of our common stock on the NYSE may be suspended from dealing or our stock may be delisted. Any such suspension or delisting may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2.

Properties.

Our principal asset is a manufacturing plant situated on approximately 2,200 acres of land six miles southeast of Batesville in north central Arkansas fronting the White River. Approximately 500 acres of the site are occupied with batch and continuous manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and infrastructure, including on-site liquid waste treatment. Our subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company, is the fee owner of this plant and the land upon which it is situated (which plant and land are not subject to any major encumbrances), and manufactures both biofuels and chemicals at the plant. Utilization of these facilities may vary with product mix and economic, seasonal, and other business conditions, but the plant is substantially utilized with the exception of facilities designated for capacity expansion of biodiesel. The plant, including approved expansions, has sufficient capacity for existing needs and expected near-term growth. We believe that the plant is generally well maintained, in good operating condition, and suitable and adequate for its uses.

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

We are not a party to, nor is any of our property subject to, any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business. From time to time, we may be parties to, or targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations, and proceedings, including product liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety, and employment matters, which we expect to be handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While we are unable to predict the outcome of any matters currently pending, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of any such pending matters will have a material adverse effect on our overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Information

The high and low sales price on the NYSE for our shares of common stock for the period January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016 are set forth in the following table.

	Shares
Period	High		Low
January 1, 2015 - March 31, 2015	$	13.17	$	9.94
April 1, 2015 - June 30, 2015	$	13.71	$	10.02
July 1, 2015 - September 30, 2015	$	13.24	$	9.11
October 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015	$	16.08	$	9.91
January 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016	$	14.80	$	11.01
April 1, 2016 - June 30, 2016	$	12.81	$	9.77
July 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016	$	12.12	$	10.30
October 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016	$	16.58	$	10.24

As of March 15, 2017, there are 43,749,970 shares of our common stock outstanding.

Holders

The shares of our common stock were held by approximately 279 holders of record on March 15, 2017 as recorded on our transfer agents’ register. We believe that the number of beneficial owners of our common stock is substantially greater than the number of holders of record.

Dividends

The payment of cash dividends by us is dependent upon our existing cash and cash equivalents, future earnings, capital requirements, and overall financial condition.

We declared and paid regular cash dividends for 2015 and 2016 as follows:

Per Share Amount	Record Date	Payment Date	Date of Declaration
$0.06	March 2, 2015	March 13, 2015	December 19, 2014
$0.06	June 1, 2015	June 12, 2015	December 19, 2014
$0.06	September 1, 2015	September 11, 2015	December 19, 2014
$0.06	December 1, 2015	December 11, 2015	December 19, 2014
$0.06	March 1, 2016	March 15, 2016	January 6, 2016
$0.06	June 1, 2016	June 15, 2016	January 6, 2016
$0.06	September 1, 2016	September 15, 2016	January 6, 2016
$0.06	December 1, 2016	December 15, 2016	January 6, 2016

We have also declared dividends for 2017 as follows:

Per Share Amount	Record Date	Payment Date	Date of Declaration
$2.29	December 16, 2016	January 13, 2017	November 30, 2016
$0.06	March 1, 2017	March 15, 2017	November 30, 2016
$0.06	June 1, 2017	June 15, 2017	November 30, 2016
$0.06	September 1, 2017	September 15, 2017	November 30, 2016
$0.06	December 1, 2017	December 15, 2017	November 30, 2016

No assurances can be given that we will declare or pay dividends for years after 2017.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plan

Our board of directors adopted an omnibus incentive plan which was approved by our shareholders at our 2007 annual shareholder meeting on June 26, 2007. We do not have any other equity compensation plan or individual equity compensation arrangement. Under this plan, we are authorized to issue 2,670,000 shares of our common stock. The shares to be issued under the plan were registered with the SEC on a Form S-8 filed on April 29, 2008. Through December 31, 2016, we issued options to purchase 1,060,500 shares of our common stock and awarded an additional 414,800 shares to participants under the plan. The following additional information regarding this plan is as of December 31, 2016.

Plan Category

Number of securities

to be issued upon

exercise of

outstanding options,

warrants and rights

(a)

Weighted-average

exercise price of

outstanding options,

warrants and rights

(b)

Number of securities

remaining available for future

issuance under equity

compensation plans (excluding

securities reflected in column

(a))

(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

70,000

12.48

1,194,700

Performance Graph

The following graph shows changes over the 60-month period beginning January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016 in the value of a $100 investment in: (i) our common stock; (ii) Russell 2000; and (iii) an industry group of other companies that file reports with the SEC using SIC Code 2860. The companies in this industry group are: Aemetis Inc., AJ Greentech Holdings Limited, Bioamber Inc., Bluefire Renewables Inc., Cardinal Ethanol LLC, Celanese Corp., Clean Tech Biofuels Inc., Codexis Inc., ESP Resources Inc., SC Holdings Corporation, Global Energy inc., Green Plains Inc., Green Plains Partners, Greenbelt Resources Corp., Greenshift Corp., Heron Lake Bioenergy LLC Unit, Immage Biotherapeutics Corp., Innophos Holdings Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., KMG Chemicals Inc., Koppers Holdings Inc., Kreido Biofuels Inc., Good Vibrations Shoes Inc., Methes Energies International Limited, New America Energy Corp., Newmarket Corp., OCI Partners Limited Partnership, Pacific Ethanol Inc., Parabel Inc., Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., Red Trail Energy Limited Liability, Renewable Energy Group Inc., Rex American Resources Corp., Tantech Holdings Limited, Tapinator Inc., Vitality Biopharma Inc. and Westlake Chemical Partners Partners Limited.

Recent Sales of Securities

We did not sell any of our securities within the three-year period ended December 31, 2016 in transactions that were not registered under the Securities Act.

Purchase of Securities by Us

During 2016, neither we nor anyone acting on our behalf purchased any shares of our common stock, which is the only class of our equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.

The following table sets forth summary historical financial and operating data regarding us for the periods indicated below. This summary historic financial and operating data has been derived from our consolidated financial statements for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. The information presented in the table below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and Notes thereto.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Twelve			Twelve			Twelve			Twelve			Twelve
	Months			Months			Months			Months			Months
	Ended			Ended			Ended			Ended			Ended
	December 31,			December			December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
Item		2016			2015			2014			2013			2012
Operating Revenues	$	253,193		$	299,611		$	341,838		$	444,919		$	351,829
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421		$	53,200		$	74,034		$	34,304
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	1.29		$	1.06		$	1.22		$	1.71		$	0.83
Diluted	$	1.29		$	1.06		$	1.22		$	1.71		$	0.83
Total Assets	$	529,043		$	489,109		$	461,488		$	414,447		$	355,237
Long-term obligations	$	52,181		$	46,244		$	50,392		$	45,461		$	58,669
Cash dividends per common share	$	2.77		$	0.24		$	0.48		$	0.69		$	1.60
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	90,975		$	39,623		$	51,952		$	62,454		$	64,888
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	$	(35,207	)	$	2,025		$	6,708		$	(24,111	)	$	(32,613	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$	(10,545	)	$	(11,678	)	$	(21,044	)	$	(10,617	)	$	(63,283	)

Item 7.

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

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements, including the Notes thereto, set forth herein.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Information” below for additional discussion regarding risks associated with forward-looking statements.

Unless otherwise stated, all dollar amounts are in thousands.

Overview

In General

Our company is managed and reported in two reporting segments: chemicals segment and biofuels segment. Within the chemicals segment are two product groups: custom chemicals and performance chemicals. The custom chemicals group is comprised of chemicals manufactured for a single customer whereas the performance chemicals product group is comprised of chemicals manufactured for multiple customers. The biofuels segment is comprised of one product group. Management believes that the diversity of each segment strengthens the company by better utilizing resources and is committed to growing each segment.

Major products in the custom chemicals group include: (i) a laundry detergent additive manufactured exclusively for a customer for use in a household detergent; (ii) proprietary herbicide intermediates manufactured for select strategic customers; (iii) chlorinated polyolefin adhesion promoters (or CPOs) and antioxidant precursors (or DIPB) for a customer; and (iv) a biocide intermediate for another customer. The custom chemicals group also includes consumer products (cosmetics and personal care products, specialty polymers, and specialty products used in the fuels industry).

Revenues generated from the laundry detergent additive are based on a supply agreement with the customer. In 2015, we agreed to extend the supply of the laundry detergent additive to this customer through 2018 at reduced volumes and prices. This customer had previously expressed its intent to terminate the supply arrangement effective December 31, 2015, but agreed to amended terms. With the extension, we acquired intellectual property rights related to the laundry detergent additive and are working to leverage this intellectual property to find new customers for this product.

In 2013, we completed a supply agreement with a major multi-national life sciences company to manufacture an intermediate to a new herbicide. The equipment utilized for this project is, in part, the equipment vacated from the termination of previous contracts with other customers. The contract is effective through December 31, 2018. No assurances can be given, however, that the agreement will be further extended past 2018.

Pricing for the other custom manufacturing products is negotiated directly with the customer. Some, but not all, of these products have pricing mechanisms and/or protections against raw material or conversion cost changes.

Performance chemicals consist of specialty chemicals that are manufactured to general market-determined specifications and are sold to a broad customer base. The major product line in the performance chemicals group is SSIPA/LiSIPA, a polymer modifier that aids the properties of nylon and polyesters. This group of products also includes other sulfonated monomers and hydrotropes, specialty solvents, polymer additives, and chemical intermediates, such as glycerin.

SSIPA/LiSIPA revenues are generated from a diverse customer base of nylon fiber manufacturers and other customers that produce condensation polymers. Contract sales are, in certain instances, indexed to key raw materials for inflation; otherwise, there is no pricing mechanism or specific protection against raw material or conversion cost changes.

Pricing for the other performance chemical products is established based upon competitive market conditions. Some, but not all, of these products have pricing mechanisms and/or specific protections against raw material or conversion cost changes.

For our biofuels segment, we procure all of our own feedstock and only sell biodiesel for our own account. In rare instances, we purchase biodiesel from other producers for resale. We have the capability to process multiple types of feedstock including vegetable oils, animal fats, and separated food waste oils. We can receive feedstock by rail or truck, and we have substantial storage capacity to acquire feedstock at advantaged prices when market conditions permit. Our annual biodiesel production capacity is in excess of 58 million gallons per year.

There currently is uncertainty as to whether we will produce biodiesel in the future. This uncertainty results from changes in feedstock prices relative to biodiesel prices and the lack of permanency of government mandates and tax credits. See “Risk Factors” above.

While biodiesel is the principal component of the biofuels segment, we also generate revenue from the sale of petrodiesel both in blends with our biodiesel and, from time to time, with no biodiesel added. Petrodiesel and biodiesel blends are available to customers at our leased storage facility in North Little Rock, Arkansas and at our Batesville plant. In addition, we deliver blended product to a small group of customers within our region. We also sell refined petroleum products on common carrier pipelines in part to maintain our status as an active shipper on these pipelines.

The majority of our expenses are cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold includes raw material costs as well as both fixed and variable conversion costs, conversion costs being those expenses that are directly or indirectly related to the operation of our plant. Significant conversion costs include labor, benefits, energy, supplies, depreciation, and maintenance and repair. In addition to raw material and conversion costs, cost of goods sold includes environmental reserves and costs related to idle capacity. Finally, cost of goods sold includes hedging gains and losses recognized by us related to our biofuels segment. Cost of goods sold is allocated to the chemicals and biofuels business segments based on equipment and resource usage for most conversion costs and based on revenues for most other costs.

Operating costs include selling, general and administrative, and research and development expenses.

The discussion of results of operations that follows is based on revenues and expenses in total and for individual product lines and does not differentiate related party transactions.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015

Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information for the periods indicated.

(Dollars in thousands other than per share amounts)

	Twelve		Twelve
	Months		Months
	Ended		Ended
		December 31,		December 31,	Dollar			%
	2016		2015		Change			Change
Revenues	$	253,193	$	299,611	$	(46,418	)	(15.5	%	)
Income from operations	$	36,523	$	46,971	$	(10,448	)	(22.2	%	)
Net income	$	56,341	$	46,421	$	9,920		21.4	%
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	1.29	$	1.06	$	0.23		21.8	%
Diluted	$	1.29	$	1.06	$	0.23		21.8	%
Capital expenditures (net of customer reimbursements and regulatory grants)	$	4,223	$	6,798	$	(2,575	)	(37.9	%	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	55,261	$	50,097	$	5,164		10.3	%

We use adjusted EBITDA as a key operating metric to measure both performance and liquidity. 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. We define 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 we employ in assessing the overall operation and liquidity of our business. Our calculation of adjusted EBITDA may be different from similarly titled measures used by other companies; therefore, the results of our calculation are not necessarily comparable to the results of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA allows our chief operating decision makers to assess the performance and liquidity of our business on a consolidated basis to assess the ability of our operating segments to produce operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, to fund capital expenditures and to pay dividends. In particular, our management believes that adjusted EBITDA permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance and liquidity, relative to a performance and liquidity based on GAAP results, while isolating the effects of depreciation and amortization, which may vary among our 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, which can cause net income to appear volatile from period to period relative to the sale of the underlying physical product.

We enter into commodity derivative instruments to protect our operations from downward movements in commodity prices, and to provide greater certainty of cash flows associated with sales of our commodities. We enter into hedges, and we utilize mark-to-market accounting to account for these instruments. Thus, our results in any given period can be impacted, and sometimes significantly, by changes in market prices relative to our contract price along with the timing of the valuation change in the derivative instruments relative to the sale of biofuel. We include this item as an adjustment as we believe it provides a relevant indicator of the underlying performance of our business in a given period.

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA with net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

(Dollars in thousands)

	Twelve months ended December 31:
	2016			2015
Adjusted EBITDA	$	55,261		$	50,097
Depreciation and amortization		(10,963	)		(10,187	)
Non-cash stock-based compensation		(1,908	)		(2,043	)
Interest and dividend income		6,152			5,106
Interest expense		(27	)		(134	)
Losses on disposal of property and equipment		(147	)		(178	)
(Losses)/gains on derivative instruments		(6,220	)		9,101
(Losses)/gains on marketable securities		(1,340	)		107
Income tax benefit/(expense)		15,535			(5,448	)
Other		(2	)		-
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA with cash flows from operations, the most directly comparable GAAP liquidity financial measure:

(Dollars in thousands)

	Twelve months ended December 31:
	2016			2015
Adjusted EBITDA	$	55,261		$	50,097
Amortization of deferred financing costs		-			(108	)
Benefit for deferred income taxes		(5,271	)		(3,721	)
Impairment of fixed assets		178			-
Interest and dividend income		6,152			5,106
Income tax benefit/(expense)		15,535			(5,448	)
(Losses)/gains on derivative instruments		(6,220	)		9,101
Change in fair value of derivative instruments		3,621			(3,295	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net		21,720			(12,109	)
Other		(1	)		-
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	90,975		$	39,623

Results of Operations

Consolidated

	2016 Compared to 2015:											2015 Compared to 2014:
					Change											Change
(Dollars in thousands)	2016		2015		$			%				2015		2014		$			%
Sales	$	253,193	$	299,611	$	(46,418	)		(15.5	%	)	$	299,611	$	341,838	$	(42,227	)	(12.4	%	)
Volume/product mix effect					$	(47,252	)		(15.8	%	)					$	20,106		5.9	%
Price effect					$	834			0.3	%						$	(62,333	)	(18.2	%	)
Gross profit	$	46,858	$	57,046	$	(10,188	)		(17.9	%	)	$	57,046	$	65,973	$	(8,927	)	(13.5	%	)
Operating expense	$	10,335	$	10,075	$	260			2.6	%		$	10,075	$	9,845	$	230		2.3	%

2016 Compared to 2015

Consolidated sales revenue decreased 15.5% or $46,418 in 2016 compared to 2015. The biofuels segment suffered from lower sales revenue in common carrier pipelines. The chemicals segment also suffered from the decline in sales volumes and price of the laundry detergent additive and reduced sales volumes in the custom manufacturing products from contraction in the Agro chemical and energy markets.

Gross profit decreased by 17.9% or $10,188 in 2016 compared to 2015. This decrease in profit was primarily attributable to: i) losses from hedging activity as compared to hedging gains in 2015, ii) reduced profitability from lower sales volumes in the chemical segment and iii) the impact by adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting. These reductions were partially offset by improved margins in biodiesel from increased sales to the low carbon industry and regional markets.

Operating expenses increased $260 in 2016 compared to 2015. This increase was primarily the result of increased professional services incurred in 2016 on general administrative expenses from related parties.

Provision for Taxes

The effective tax rates for the years December 31, 2016 and 2015, reflect FutureFuel’s expected tax rate on reported operating earnings before income tax. Our effective tax rate for the years December 31, 2016 and 2015, reflects the positive effect of the reinstatement of certain tax credits and incentives for 2016 and 2015. In 2016 and 2015, these tax credits and incentives formed a larger proportion of FutureFuel’s net income than in prior years. The increase in these tax credits and incentives relative to net income, combined with the income tax treatment of the credits and incentives reduced FutureFuel's effective income tax rate in 2016 and 2015 relative to prior years. In addition, during the second quarter of 2016, FutureFuel booked a tax benefit related to the reversal of a state’s treatment of the taxability of the tax credits and incentives. The tax credits and incentives and the impact seen from the income tax treatment of these credits and incentives are not presently anticipated to continue after December 31, 2016. As a result, our effective tax rate in 2017 and beyond is currently expected to be significantly higher than the effective tax rates of 2016 and 2015. See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included herein.

Prior to 2013, FutureFuel had historically included proceeds from the biodiesel BTC in taxable income on its federal and state income tax returns. In 2013, as a result of then recently issued technical guidance from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, FutureFuel changed its position related to the benefit from the biodiesel BTC to exclude this credit from taxable income for 2010 and all future years. The biodiesel BTC expired effective December 31, 2016 and has not been reenacted.

FutureFuel’s unrecognized tax benefits totaled $2,056 and $4,588 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

2015 Compared to 2014

Consolidated sales revenue decreased $42,227 in 2015 compared to 2014. The biofuels segment suffered from lower prices as experienced in the industry as a whole, although this segment did experience higher sales volumes which helped to offset the decline in biofuels prices. The chemicals segment suffered from lower sales volumes, especially with respect to the laundry detergent additive product. The decrease in consolidated revenue is also reflective of a graphite powder contract termination payment of $8,816, which was recorded in revenue in 2014 and did not recur in 2015.

Gross profit decreased by $8,927 in 2015 compared to 2014. This decrease in profit is attributable to: i) reduced chemicals sales volumes of the laundry detergent additive; ii) reduced profitability on biodiesel as feedstock prices decreased at a slower rate than the selling price; and iii) reduced profitability on common carrier pipeline activity consistent with the global decline in the fuel market. Our gross profit was benefited by adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting, and improved margins in other custom chemicals.

Operating expenses increased $230 in 2015 compared to 2014. This increase was primarily the result of compensation expense recognized in 2015 from stock awards issued during 2014.

Provision for Taxes

The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 reflect our expected tax rate on reported operating earnings before income taxes. In 2015, the positive effect of the biodiesel BTC constituted a larger proportion of FutureFuel’s net income than in prior years. This increase in proportion combined with the income tax treatment of the BTC served to reduce FutureFuel’s effective income tax rate in 2015 relative to prior years. See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included herein.

In 2013, as a result of then recently issued technical guidance from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, FutureFuel changed its position related to the benefit from the $1 biodiesel BTC to exclude this credit from taxable income for the years 2010 through 2013. This change had a significant impact on FutureFuel’s provision for income taxes in the fourth quarter of 2013. This benefit reduced FutureFuel’s provision for income taxes by $11,633 in 2013, with $7,755 related to the years 2010 through 2012 and $3,878 related to 2013. This same treatment was followed in 2014 and 2015 when the biodiesel BTC was retroactively reinstated for 2014 and 2015 in December of 2014 and 2015, respectively. The biodiesel BTC was extended through the end of 2016 as part of the tax extenders package.

Income Taxes

Our liability for uncertain tax positions totaled $336 and $2,981 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Chemicals Segment

	2016 Compared to 2015:										2015 Compared to 2014 :
(Dollars in thousands)					Change										Change
	2016		2015		$			%			2015		2014		$			%
Sales	$	100,907	$	125,848	$	(24,941	)		(19.8%	)	$	125,848	$	146,146	$	(20,298	)	(13.9	%	)
Volume/product mix effect					$	(17,608	)		(14.0%	)						(19,412	)	(13.3	%	)
Price effect						(7,333	)		(5.8%	)						(886	)	(0.6	%	)

Gross profit	$	32,055	$	35,452	$	(3,397	)		(9.6%	)	$	35,452	$	46,062	$	(10,610	)	(23.0	%	)

2016 Compared to 2015

Chemical sales revenue decreased 19.8% or $24,941 in 2016 compared with 2015. Sales revenue for our custom chemicals product line (chemicals produced for specific customers) totaled $82,667, a decline of $25,493 from 2015. The decline in the laundry detergent additive with the decline in custom manufacturing products from contraction in the Agro chemical and energy markets were the most significant reductions in the custom chemical product line. Our contract for sales of the laundry detergent additive was extended in 2015 on lower sales volumes and prices. The amendment (i) supersedes such customer’s notice of termination of the supply arrangement effective December 31, 2015; (ii) extends the term of the supply arrangement to December 31, 2018 (unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of the purchase agreement, as amended); and (iii) provides for sales of the laundry detergent additive to this customer in reduced volumes with adjusted pricing during 2015-2018 to account for revised market conditions. As part of the contract extension, we acquired additional intellectual property rights related to the laundry detergent additive product, which we continue to pursue with new customers. Additionally, sales of custom chemicals declined as result of customers insourcing some external production during contraction in the Agro chemical and energy markets. Performance chemicals (comprised of multi-customer products which are sold based on specification) revenue was $18,240 in 2016, an increase of $552 from 2015. This increase was from sales of polymer modifier products and glycerin.

Gross profit for the chemicals segment decreased 9.6% or $3,397 in 2016 compared with 2015. This decrease resulted primarily from reduced sales volumes and prices in custom chemicals and from the impact of the change in adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting. Partially offsetting these declines were improved profits in performance chemicals and short term cost savings projects to optimize resources given contractions in the Agro chemical and energy markets.

2015 Compared to 2014

Chemical sales revenue decreased $20,298 in 2015 compared with 2014. Sales revenue for our custom chemicals product line (unique chemicals produced for specific customers) totaled $108,160, a decline of $19,796 from 2014. The decline in the laundry detergent additive revenue was the most significant reduction in the custom chemical product line. Our contract for sales of the laundry detergent additive (entered into by our subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company) was set to expire on December 31, 2015. On September 30, 2015, FutureFuel Chemical Company signed a contract amendment to extend the supply of the laundry detergent additive through 2018. The amendment (i) supersedes such customer’s notice of termination of the supply arrangement effective December 31, 2015; (ii) extends the term of the supply arrangement to December 31, 2018 (unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of the purchase agreement, as amended); and (iii) provides for sales of the laundry detergent additive to this customer in reduced volumes with adjusted pricing during 2015-2018 to account for revised market conditions. Revenue from the laundry detergent additive was less than 10% of total revenue in 2015 as compared to 13% in 2014. As part of the contract extension, we acquired additional intellectual property rights related to the laundry detergent additive product, which we anticipate will support sales of this product to other customers. To the extent such sales are realized, we anticipate reporting such sales as a component of our performance chemicals segment. This laundry detergent additive is currently only used in dry laundry powders and sales are challenged by the trend to liquid based laundry detergents. The decrease in revenue is also reflective of a graphite powder contract termination payment of $8,816, which was recorded in revenue in 2014 and did not recur in 2015. We invested to expand production capacity to some our custom chemicals product lines, however, anticipated growth failed to materialize based on contraction in the energy exploration and agricultural chemistry industries. The growth we experienced in 2015 from other custom products helped minimize these impacts. Performance chemical (comprised of multi-customer products which are sold based on specification) revenue was $17,688 in 2015, a decrease of $502 from 2014. This decrease was from declines in sales of polymer modifier products.

Gross profit for the chemicals segment decreased $10,610 in 2015 compared with 2014. This decrease in gross profit was primarily attributed to reduced volumes and selling price of the laundry detergent additive. This decrease was offset by net gross profit improvements in custom chemicals due to growth in herbicide intermediate, biocide intermediates, and fuel additive products. Furthermore, gross profit in the chemicals segment for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was benefited by adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting.

Biofuels Segment

	2016 Compared to 2015:										2015 Compared to 2014:
(Dollars in thousands)					Change										Change
	2016		2015		$			%			2015		2014		$			%
Sales	$	152,286	$	173,763	$	(21,477	)		(12.4	%)	$	173,763	$	195,692	$	(21,929	)	(11.2	%	)
Volume/product mix effect						(29,644	)		(17.1	%)						39,518		20.2	%
Price effect						8,167			4.7	%						(61,447	)	(31.4	%	)

Gross profit	$	14,803	$	21,594	$	(6,791	)		(31.4	%)	$	21,594	$	19,911	$	1,683		8.5	%

2016 Compared to 2015

Biofuels sales revenue decreased 12.4% or $21,477 in 2016 compared to 2015 primarily from reduced gross sales in common carrier pipelines. Common carrier pipeline sales totaled $9,018 compared to $66,544 in 2015. Increased sales volumes of biodiesel and diesel in a favorable market (with both the blenders tax credit and the renewable fuel volume obligation in place) helped offset the decline in common carrier pipeline revenue. The market faced greater headwinds in 2015 without either benefit in place for the majority of the year. The renewable volume obligation was set in late 2015 and the BTC was reinstated in December 2015 and made retroactive to January 1, 2015. At the end of 2015, as a result of contractual provisions with certain customers, a share of the BTC was owed upon reinstatement of the BTC to customers. No such adjustment was made in 2016 as the BTC was in full effect for the year and expired on December 31, 2016.

Revenues from common carrier pipelines varies as its revenue recognition depends upon whether a transaction is bought from and sold to the same party. Purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty that are entered into in contemplation of one another (including buy/sell agreements) are combined and recorded on a net basis. Revenue from common carrier pipelines fluctuates with market conditions. In 2016, a portion of our revenue was generated by pipeline sales of petroleum products to a petroleum wholesale, storage, and transportation company. No assurances can be given that we will continue to sell to such customer, or, if we do sell, the volume we will sell or the profit margin we will realize. We do not believe that the loss of this customer would have a material adverse effect on this segment or on us as a whole in that: (i) these are commodity transactions with a very large potential customer base; (ii) we believe that we could readily transact with other customers as there is significant market demand for these products; (iii) our sales to this customer are not under fixed terms and the customer has no fixed obligation to purchase any minimum quantities except as stipulated by individual orders; and (iv) the prices we receive from this customer are based upon then-market rates, as would be the case with these types of transactions with other customers.

Additionally, a portion of our biodiesel sold in 2016 and 2015 was to a major refiner in the United States and no assurances can be given that we will continue to sell to such major refiner, or, if we do sell, the volume we will sell or the profit margin we will realize. We do not believe that the loss of this customer would have a material adverse effect on our biofuels segment or on us as a whole in that: (i) unlike our custom manufacturing products, biodiesel is a commodity with a large potential customer base; (ii) we believe that we could readily sell our biodiesel to other customers as potential demand from other customers for biodiesel exceeds our production capacity; (iii) our sales to this customer are not under fixed terms and the customer has no fixed obligation to purchase any minimum quantities except as stipulated by short term purchase orders; and (iv) the prices we receive from this customer are based upon then-market rates, as would be the case with sales of this commodity to other customers.

Biofuels gross profit decreased 31.4% or $6,791 in 2016 compared to 2015. This was largely a result of the change in hedging losses of $6,220 in 2016 as compared to hedging gains of $9,101 in 2015, the impact of the change in adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting, a lower of cost or market adjustment on pipeline products, and to a much lesser extent, reduced margins in common carrier pipelines. Partially offsetting these declines was improved biodiesel margins from increased sales to the low carbon industry and regional market.

2015 Compared to 2014

Biofuels sales revenue decreased $21,929 in 2015 compared to 2014 primarily from decreased sales prices as experienced globally in the industry. The renewable fuel final mandate was set in late 2015 and the BTC was reinstated in December, retroactive to January 1, 2015, and made effective through December 31, 2016. As a result of contractual provisions with certain customers, a share of the BTC was owed upon reinstatement of a retroactive BTC. Increased sales volume on common carrier pipelines helped reduce the price impact as well as to offset lower sales volumes of biodiesel and diesel blends. Such sales from common carrier pipelines totaled $66,544 compared to $40,263 in 2014.

Revenues from common carrier pipelines varies as its revenue recognition depends upon whether a transaction is bought from and sold to the same party. Purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty that are entered into in contemplation of one another (including buy/sell agreements) are combined and recorded on a net basis. Revenue from common carrier pipelines fluctuates with market conditions. In 2015, a portion of our revenue was generated by pipeline sales of petroleum products to a petroleum wholesale, storage, and transportation company. No assurances can be given that we will continue to sell to such customer, or, if we do sell, the volume we will sell or the profit margin we will realize. We do not believe that the loss of this customer would have a material adverse effect on this segment or on us as a whole in that: (i) these are commodity transactions with a very large potential customer base; (ii) we believe that we could readily transact with other customers as there is significant market demand for these products; (iii) our sales to this customer are not under fixed terms and the customer has no fixed obligation to purchase any minimum quantities except as stipulated by individual orders; and (iv) the prices we receive from this customer are based upon then-market rates, as would be the case with these types of transactions with other customers.

Additionally, a portion of our biodiesel sold in 2015 and 2014 was to a major refiner in the United States and no assurances can be given that we will continue to sell to such major refiner, or, if we do sell, the volume we will sell or the profit margin we will realize. We do not believe that the loss of this customer would have a material adverse effect on our biofuels segment or on us as a whole in that: (i) unlike our custom manufacturing products, biodiesel is a commodity with a large potential customer base; (ii) we believe that we could readily sell our biodiesel to other customers as potential demand from other customers for biodiesel exceeds our production capacity; (iii) our sales to this customer are not under fixed terms and the customer has no fixed obligation to purchase any minimum quantities except as stipulated by short term purchase orders; and (iv) the prices we receive from this customer are based upon then-market rates, as would be the case with sales of this commodity to other customers.

Biofuels gross profit increased $1,683 in 2015 compared to 2014. This was largely a result of our retaining a larger portion of the BTC than we did last year, increased volumes of sales of byproducts, and from adjustments in the carrying value of our inventory as determined utilizing the LIFO method of inventory accounting of $3,380. This LIFO adjustment resulted in a lower of cost or market adjustment of $1,595. Lastly, hedging gains decreased to $9,101 in 2015 compared to $12,757 in 2014.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We reduce our accounts receivable by amounts that may be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based upon management’s evaluation of the collectability of individual invoices and is based upon management’s evaluation of the financial condition of our customers and historical bad debt experience. This estimate is subject to change based upon the changing financial condition of our customers. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, we recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 and $0, respectively. We historically have not experienced significant problems in collecting our receivables, and we do not expect this to change going forward.

Depreciation

Depreciation is provided for using the straight-line method over the associated assets’ estimated useful lives. We primarily base our estimate of an asset’s useful life on our experience with other similar assets. The actual useful life of an asset may differ significantly from our estimate for such reasons as the asset’s build quality, the manner in which the asset is used, or changes in the business climate. When the actual useful life differs from the estimated useful life, impairment charges may result. We monitor the estimated useful lives of our assets and do not currently anticipate impairment charges.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We establish reserves for closure/post-closure costs associated with the environmental and other assets we maintain. Environmental assets include waste management units such as incinerators, landfills, storage tanks, and boilers. When these types of assets are constructed or installed, a reserve is established for the future costs anticipated to be associated with the closure of the site based on an expected life of the environmental assets, the applicable regulatory closure requirements, and our environmental policies and practices. These expenses are charged into earnings over the estimated useful life of the assets. The future costs anticipated to be associated with the closure of the site are based upon estimated current costs for such activities adjusted for anticipated future inflation rates. Unanticipated changes in either of these two variables or changes in the anticipated timing of closure/post-closure activities may significantly affect the established reserves. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we recorded a reserve for closure/post-closure liabilities of $849 and $822, respectively. We monitor this reserve and the assumptions used in its calculation. As deemed necessary, we have made changes to this reserve balance and anticipate that future changes will occur.

Revenue Recognition

For most product sales, revenue is recognized when product is shipped from our facilities and risk of loss and title have passed to the customer, which is in accordance with our customer contracts and the stated shipping terms. Nearly all custom manufactured products are manufactured under written contracts. Performance chemicals and biodiesel are generally sold pursuant to the terms of written purchase orders. In general, customers do not have any rights of return, except for quality disputes. However, all of our products are tested for quality before shipment, and historically returns have been inconsequential. We do not offer rebates or other warranties.

Bill and hold transactions for 2016 related to specialty chemical customers whereby revenue was recognized in accordance with contractual agreements based upon product being produced and ready for use. These sales were subject to written monthly purchase orders with agreement that production was reasonable. The inventory was custom manufactured and stored at the customer’s request and could not be sold to another buyer. Credit and payment terms for bill and hold transactions are similar to other specialty chemical customers. Sales revenues under bill and hold arrangements totaled $23,725, $28,740, and $31,598 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

We sell petroleum products from time to time on common carrier pipelines in part to maintain our status as a shipper on these pipelines. When such transactions result in our purchasing and selling product to the same counterparty, such transactions are recorded net as an element of revenue or cost of goods sold.

Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities

Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are recorded on a net basis within cost of goods sold.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax basis. A future income tax asset or liability is estimated for each temporary difference using enacted and substantively enacted income tax rates and laws expected to be in effect when the asset is realized or the liability settled. Changes in the expected tax rates and laws to be in effect when the asset is realized or the liability settled could significantly affect the income tax assets and liabilities booked by us. We monitor changes in applicable tax laws and adjust our income tax assets and liabilities as necessary.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are set forth in the following table.

(Dollars in thousands)

	2016			2015			2014
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	90,975		$	39,623		$	51,952
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	$	(35,207	)	$	2,025		$	6,708
Net cash used in financing activities	$	(10,545	)	$	(11,678	)	$	(21,044	)

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities increased from $39,623 in 2015 to $90,975 in 2016, a net increase of $51,352. This increase was attributed to: (i) cash collected from the sale of inventory of biodiesel and a chemical we campaigned in 2016 of $32,468 compared to cash used for inventory of $19,604 in 2015 and (ii) cash from accounts receivable, including accounts receivable due from related parties, of $21,585, which resulted from the subsequent collections following the retroactive reinstatement of the BTC in 2015. Primarily offsetting this cash from operations was a use of cash for accounts payable, including accounts payable to related parties of $10,633 in 2016 as compared to cash from accounts payable, including accounts payable to related parties, of $1,388. These changes were attributable to the timing and amounts of payments to vendors.

Cash provided by operating activities decreased from $51,952 in 2014 to $39,623 in 2015, a net decrease of $12,329. This decrease was attributed to: (i) decreased cash earnings from the chemical segment; (ii) a decrease in the change in accounts payable; and (iii) increases in biodiesel and chemical inventory. In 2015, sales volume reductions in the chemical segment, primarily from the laundry detergent additive, reduced cash from operations. In 2015, increased inventories decreased cash provided by operating activities by $19,604. In 2014, inventory increased $3,189. In 2014, accounts payable, including accounts payable to related parties, increased cash $17,514. In 2015, accounts payable, including accounts payable to related parties, increased cash $1,388. Mostly offsetting these decreases in cash from operating activities was accounts receivable. In 2015, accounts receivable, including accounts receivable due from related parties, increased cash $4,979. In 2014, accounts receivable, including accounts receivable due from related parties, decreased cash $18,059. The absence of a retroactive reinstatement of the BTC in 2013 resulted in a large increase in accounts receivable in 2014 as compared to 2013, which resulted in cash used in operations increasing substantially more in 2014 as compared to 2015.

Investing Activities

Cash from investing activities was $2,025 in 2015 compared with a use of cash of $35,207 in 2016, for a net decrease in cash from investing activities of $37,232. This decrease was primarily attributable to an increase in the net purchases of marketable securities in 2016 compared to 2015. Such net purchases totaled a net $30,177 in 2016, as compared to total net sales proceeds of $9,410 in 2015. A decrease in the cash paid for capital expenditures in 2016 compared to 2015, as described below, helped to reduce the cash used.

Cash from investing activities decreased from $6,708 in 2014 to $2,025 in 2015. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in the net proceeds from the sale of marketable securities in 2015 compared to 2014. Such proceeds totaled a net $9,410 in 2015, as compared to total net proceeds of $15,729 in 2014. Collateralization of derivative instruments helped reduce this reduction in cash. Cash from collateralization of derivative instruments was $1,239 in 2015 as compared to cash used in 2014 of $985.

Our capital expenditures and customer reimbursements are summarized in the table below.

(Dollars in thousands)

	2016			2015
Cash paid for capital expenditures and intangibles	$	4,495		$	8,630
Cash received as reimbursement of capital expenditures	$	(272	)	$	(1,832	)
Cash paid, net of reimbursement, for capital expenditures	$	4,223		$	6,798

Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities decreased from $11,678 in 2015 to $10,545 in 2016. This decrease was primarily due to $721 in deferred financing costs in 2015 which did not reoccur in to 2016.

Cash used in financing activities decreased from $21,044 in 2014 to $11,678 in 2015. This decrease was primarily due to $20,928 of cash dividends paid in 2014 as compared to $10,493 of cash dividends paid in 2015.

Capital Expenditure Commitments

We had no material capital projects that generated commitments as of December 31, 2016.

Historically, we finance capital requirements for our business with cash flows from operations and have not had the need to incur bank indebtedness to finance any of our operations during the periods discussed herein.

Credit Facility

On April 16, 2015, FutureFuel, with FutureFuel Chemical as borrowers, and certain of FutureFuel’s other subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into a $150,000 secured and committed credit facility with the lenders party thereto, Regions Bank as administrative agent and collateral agent, and PNC Bank, N.A., as syndication agent. On May 25, 2016, FutureFuel increased the credit facility by $15,000. The credit facility consists of a five-year revolving credit facility in a dollar amount of up to $165,000, which includes a sublimit of $30,000 for letters of credit and $15,000 for swingline loans (collectively, the “Credit Facility”).

We will be permitted to use net proceeds of any borrowings under the Credit Facility for working capital and other general corporate purposes. No borrowings were made under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2016.

The Credit Facility contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including negative covenants that limit or restrict, among other things, indebtedness, liens and encumbrances, dividends, burdensome agreements, mergers and fundamental changes, assets sales, investments, transactions with affiliates, changes in fiscal years and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements.

The interest rate floats at the following margins over LIBOR or base rate based upon the leverage ratio from time to time. The material financial covenants, ratios or tests contained in the Credit Facility are i) a consolidated leverage ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.0; ii) a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of greater than or equal to 1.25 to 1.0; and iii) a minimum liquidity at any time greater than or equal to $50,000.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio	Adjusted LIBOR Rate Loans and Letter of Credit Fee		Base Rate Loans		Commitment Fee
< 1.00:1.0		1.25%		0.25%		0.15%
≥ 1.00:1.0and< 1.50:1.0		1.50%		0.50%		0.20%
≥ 1.50:1.0and< 2.00:1.0		1.75%		0.75%		0.25%
≥ 2.00:1.0and< 2.50:1.0		2.00%		1.00%		0.30%
≥ 2.50:1.0		2.25%		1.25%		0.35%

Certain of our subsidiaries have entered into guarantees of payment on behalf of the Company for amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility. In addition, we and certain subsidiaries have entered into a pledge and security agreement with the bank to secure the obligations under the Credit Facility. Pursuant to the pledge and security agreement, we and certain of its subsidiaries have pledged certain collateral, including but not limited to, interests in intellectual property rights and certain equity interests in their subsidiaries.

We intend to fund future capital requirements for our businesses from cash flow generated by us as well as from existing cash, cash investments, and, if the need should arise, borrowings under our credit facility. We do not believe there will be a need to issue any securities to fund such capital requirements.

Dividends

In 2016, we paid regular cash dividends aggregating $0.24 per share on our common stock with record dates and payment dates as previously discussed. The regular cash dividends totaled $10,493. On November 30, we declared a special cash dividend of $2.29 per share on our common stock and normal quarterly dividends of $0.06 with record dates and payment dates as previously discussed. Dividends declared but not paid were accrued at December 31, 2016.

In 2015, we paid regular cash dividends aggregating $0.24 per share on our common stock with record dates and payment dates as previously discussed. The regular cash dividends totaled $10,493.

Capital Management

As a result of positive operating results and the exercise of warrants, we accumulated excess working capital. Some of this working capital has been paid out in dividends in January 2017, as previously discussed. We intend to retain the remaining cash to fund infrastructure and capacity expansion at our Batesville plant or to otherwise fund our future growth. Third parties have not placed significant restrictions on our working capital management decisions.

A significant portion of these funds were held in cash or cash equivalents at multiple financial institutions. In 2016 and 2015, we also had investments in certain preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt, and other equity instruments. We classify these investments as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and designate them as being “available-for-sale”. Accordingly, they are recorded at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. The fair value of these preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt, and other equity instruments, including accrued dividends and interest, totaled $106,146 and $74,667 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Lastly, we maintain depository accounts such as checking accounts, money market accounts, and other similar accounts at selected financial institutions.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We engage in two types of hedging transactions. First, we hedge our biofuels sales through the purchase and sale of futures contracts and options on futures contracts of energy commodities. This activity was captured on our balance sheet at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Second, we hedge our biofuels feedstock through the execution of purchase contracts and supply agreements with certain vendors. These hedging transactions are recognized in earnings and were not recorded on our balance sheet at December 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015, as they do not meet the definition of a derivative instrument as defined under GAAP. The purchase of biofuels feedstock generally involves two components: basis and price. Basis covers any refining or processing required as well as transportation. Price covers the purchases of the actual agricultural commodity. Both basis and price fluctuate over time. A supply agreement with a vendor constitutes a hedge when we have committed to a certain volume of feedstock in a future period and have fixed the basis for that volume.

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2016, the payments due by period for the following contractual obligations.

(Dollars in thousands)

Contractual Obligations	Total		Less than 1 Year		1-3 Years		4-5 Years		More than 5 Years
Long-term debt obligations (a)	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Capital lease obligations	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Operating lease obligations	$	1,346	$	714	$	322	$	191	$	119
Purchase obligations (b)	$	7,797	$	7,797	$	-	$	-	$	-
Other long-term liabilities reflected on our balance sheet under GAAP (c)	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Total	$	9,143	$	8,511	$	322	$	191	$	119

(a)

As of December 31, 2016, we had no borrowings under the $165 million credit agreement described above.

(b)

Purchase obligations within less than one year include (i) the purchase of biodiesel feedstock to be taken during 2017 and (ii) various other infrastructure and capital repairs.

(c)

A component of other noncurrent liabilities is a reserve for asset retirement obligations and environmental contingencies of $849 at December 31, 2016. We are liable for these asset retirement obligations and environmental contingencies only in certain events, primarily the closure of our Batesville, Arkansas facility. As such, we do not expect a payment related to these liabilities in the foreseeable future and therefore we have excluded this amount from the table above.

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

In recent years, general economic inflation has not had a material adverse impact on our costs and, as described elsewhere herein, we have passed some price increases along to our customers. However, we are subject to certain market risks as described below.

Market risk represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. Commodity price risk is inherent in the chemical and biofuels business both with respect to input (electricity, coal, raw materials, biofuel feedstocks, etc.) and output (manufactured chemicals and biofuels).

We seek to mitigate our market risks associated with the manufacturing and sale of chemicals by entering into term sale contracts that include contractual market price adjustment protections to allow changes in market prices of key raw materials to be passed on to the customer. Such price protections are not always obtained, however, so raw material price risk remains a significant risk.

In order to manage price risk caused by market fluctuations in biofuel prices, we may enter into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts. We account for these derivative instruments in accordance with ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging. Under this standard, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends upon whether it has been designated as an accounting hedging relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. To qualify for designation as an accounting hedging relationship, specific criteria must be met and appropriate documentation maintained. We had no derivative instruments that qualified under these rules as designated accounting hedges in 2016 or 2015. Changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recognized at the end of each accounting period and recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold.

Our gross profit will be impacted by the prices we pay for raw materials and conversion costs (costs incurred in the production of chemicals and biofuels) for which we do not possess contractual market price adjustment protection. These items are principally comprised of crude corn oil and yellow grease and petrodiesel. The availability and price of these items are subject to wide fluctuations due to unpredictable factors such as weather conditions, overall economic conditions, governmental policies, commodity markets, and global supply and demand.

We prepared a sensitivity analysis of our exposure to market risk with respect to key raw materials and conversion costs for which we do not possess contractual market price adjustment protections, based on average prices in 2016. We included only those raw materials and conversion costs for which a hypothetical adverse change in price would result in a 1% or greater decrease in gross profit. Assuming that the prices of the associated finished goods could not be increased and assuming no change in quantities sold, a hypothetical 10% change in the average price of the commodities listed below would result in the following change in annual gross profit.

(Volumes and dollars in thousands)

Item	Volume Requirements (a)	Units	Hypothetical Adverse Change in Price	Decrease in Gross Profit	Percentage Decrease in Gross Profit
Crude corn oil and yellow grease	418,628	LB	10%	$11,931	25.5%
Methanol	181,355	LB	10%	$ 2,231	4.8%
Petrofuels	11,603	GAL	10%	$ 1,585	3.4%
Electricity	99	MWH	10%	$ 546	1.2%

(a)	Volume requirements and average price information are based upon volumes used and prices obtained for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. Volume requirements may differ materially from these quantities in future years as our business evolves.

We had no borrowings as of December 31, 2016 or 2015 and, as such, we were not exposed to interest rate risk for those years. Due to the relative insignificance of transactions denominated in a foreign currency, we consider our foreign currency risk to be immaterial.

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Financial Statements.

The following sets forth our consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 2016 and 2015 and our consolidated statements of operations, statements of comprehensive income, statements of cash flows, and statements of changes in stockholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, together with RubinBrown LLP’s report thereon.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

FutureFuel Corp.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FutureFuel Corp. and subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. FutureFuel Corp.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FutureFuel Corp. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), FutureFuel Corp. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 16, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ RubinBrown LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

March 16, 2017

FutureFuel Corp.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015

(Dollars in thousands)

	2016		2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	199,272	$	154,049
Accounts receivable, inclusive of the blenders' tax credit of $5,495 and $30,895 and net of allowances for bad debt of $0 and $0, at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		24,359		46,319
Accounts receivable – related parties		385		10
Inventory		52,093		64,957
Income tax receivable		20,508		14,114
Prepaid expenses		1,694		1,642
Prepaid expenses – related parties		12		35
Marketable securities		106,146		74,667
Deferred financing costs		144		144
Other current assets		669		3,887
Total current assets		405,282		359,824
Property, plant and equipment, net		118,152		124,330
Intangible assets		1,408		1,408
Deferred financing costs		325		469
Other assets		3,876		3,078
Total noncurrent assets		123,761		129,285
Total Assets	$	529,043	$	489,109
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Accounts payable	$	22,799	$	34,442
Accounts payable – related parties		1,254		244
Current deferred income tax liability		-		7,060
Deferred revenue – short-term		5,530		2,680
Contingent liability – short-term		1,151		1,151
Dividends payable		110,688		-
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		2,485		2,976
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – related parties		142		-
Total current liabilities		144,049		48,553
Deferred revenue – long-term		16,792		15,908
Other noncurrent liabilities		3,325		1,219
Noncurrent deferred income tax liability		32,064		29,117
Total noncurrent liabilities		52,181		46,244
Total liabilities		196,230		94,797
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, 43,749,970 and 43,715,832, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively		4		4
Accumulated other comprehensive income		3,540		2,055
Additional paid in capital		281,087		279,231
Retained earnings		48,182		113,022
Total stockholders’ equity		332,813		394,312
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	529,043	$	489,109

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

FutureFuel Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	2016			2015			2014
Revenue	$	244,822		$	234,630		$	302,748
Revenues – related parties		8,371			64,981			39,090
Cost of goods sold		191,662			233,063			213,172
Cost of goods sold – related parties		10,319			6,662			58,822
Distribution		3,976			2,435			3,536
Distribution – related parties		378			405			335
Gross profit		46,858			57,046			65,973
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Compensation expense		4,921			4,955			4,268
Other expense		2,176			2,164			2,195
Related party expense		523			215			214
Research and development expenses		2,715			2,741			3,168
		10,335			10,075			9,845
Income from operations		36,523			46,971			56,128
Interest and dividend income		6,152			5,106			6,877
Interest expense		(173	)		(134	)		(25	)
(Loss)/gain on marketable securities		(1,340	)		107			4,335
Other (expense)/income		(356	)		(181	)		30
		4,283			4,898			11,217
Income before income taxes		40,806			51,869			67,345
(Benefit)/provision for income taxes		(15,535	)		5,448			14,145
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421		$	53,200

Earnings per common share
Basic	$	1.29		$	1.06		$	1.22
Diluted	$	1.29		$	1.06		$	1.22
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		43,542,785			43,432,149			43,357,602
Diluted		43,547,538			43,445,730			43,392,011

Comprehensive Income	2016			2015			2014
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421		$	53,200
Other comprehensive income/(loss) from unrealized
net gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities		2,643			(3,518	)		(5,157	)
Income tax effect		(1,158	)		1,314			1,980
Total unrealized gains/(losses), net of tax		1,485			(2,204	)		(3,177	)
Comprehensive income	$	57,826		$	44,217		$	50,023

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

FutureFuel Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014

(Dollars in thousands)

	2016			2015			2014
Cash flows provided by operating activities
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421		$	53,200
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		10,819			10,187			8,981
Amortization of deferred financing costs		144			-			-
(Benefit)/provision for deferred income taxes		(5,271	)		(3,721	)		5,388
Change in fair value of derivative instruments		3,621			(3,295	)		(396	)
Other than temporary impairment of marketable securities		2,184			606			-
Impairment of fixed assets		178			-			247
Gain on the sale of investments		(843	)		(713	)		(4,335	)
Stock based compensation		1,908			2,043			1,440
Losses on disposals of fixed assets		147			178			108
Noncash interest expense		27			26			25
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		21,960			3,816			(21,515	)
Accounts receivable – related parties		(375	)		1,163			3,456
Inventory		12,864			(19,604	)		(3,189	)
Income tax receivable		(6,394	)		5,602			(4,984	)
Prepaid expenses		(52	)		28			173
Prepaid expenses – related party		23			(35	)		-
Accrued interest on marketable securities		(110	)		30			99
Other assets		(556	)		(668	)		65
Accounts payable		(11,643	)		4,056			15,459
Accounts payable – related parties		1,010			(2,668	)		2,055
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(645	)		(1,673	)		(3,153	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – related parties		142			(46	)		43
Deferred revenue		3,734			721			(2,524	)
Other noncurrent liabilities		1,762			(2,831	)		1,309
Net cash provided by operating activities		90,975			39,623			51,952
Cash flows from investing activities
Collateralization of derivative instruments		(535	)		1,239			(985	)
Purchase of marketable securities		(60,664	)		(39,136	)		(41,369	)
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities		30,487			48,546			57,098
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets		-			6			81
Expenditures for intangible assets		-			(1,408	)		-
Capital expenditures		(4,495	)		(7,222	)		(8,117	)
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities		(35,207	)		2,025			6,708
Cash flows from financing activities
Minimum tax withholding on stock options exercised and awards vested		(128	)		(120	)		(175	)
Excess tax benefits associated with stock options and awards		(137	)		(344	)		59
Deferred financing costs		-			(721	)		-
Proceeds from issuance of stock		213			-			-
Payment of dividends		(10,493	)		(10,493	)		(20,928	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(10,545	)		(11,678	)		(21,044	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		45,223			29,970			37,616
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		154,049			124,079			86,463
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	199,272		$	154,049		$	124,079

Cash paid for interest	$	-		$	-		$	-
Cash paid for income taxes	$	987		$	13,381		$	12,372
Noncash items incurred:
Noncash dividends declared	$	110,688		$	-		$	-
Noncash capital expenditures	$	471		$	-		$	-

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

FutureFuel Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014

(Dollars in thousands)

						Accumulated
						Other			Additional						Total
	Common Stock					Comprehensive			paid-in			Retained			Stockholders’
	Shares			Amount		Income			Capital			Earnings			Equity
Balance - January 1, 2014		43,342,830		$	4	$	7,436		$	276,328		$	44,822		$	328,590
Dividends		-			-		-			-			(20,928	)		(20,928	)
Stock based compensation		379,558			-		-			1,440			-			1,440
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options		-			-		-			59			-			59
Minimum tax withholdings on options and awards		-			-		-			(175	)		-			(175	)
Other comprehensive loss		-			-		(3,177	)					-			(3,177	)
Net income		-			-		-			-			53,200			53,200
Balance - December 31, 2014		43,722,388		$	4	$	4,259		$	277,652		$	77,094		$	359,009
Dividends		-			-		-			-			(10,493	)		(10,493	)
Stock based compensation					-		-			2,043			-			2,043
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options		-			-		-			(344	)		-			(344	)
Minimum tax withholdings on options and awards		(6,556	)		-		-			(120	)		-			(120	)
Other comprehensive loss		-			-		(2,204	)		-			-			(2,204	)
Net income		-			-		-			-			46,421			46,421
Balance - December 31, 2015		43,715,832		$	4	$	2,055		$	279,231		$	113,022		$	394,312
Dividends		-			-		-			-			(121,181	)		(121,181	)
Proceeds from the issuance of stock		34,138			-		-			213			-			213
Stock based compensation		-			-		-			1,908			-			1,908
Excess income tax benefits from exercise of stock options		-			-		-			(137	)		-			(137	)
Minimum tax withholdings on options and awards		-			-		-			(128	)		-			(128	)
Other comprehensive loss		-			-		1,485			-			-			1,485
Net income		-			-		-			-			56,341			56,341
Balance - December 31, 2016		43,749,970		$	4	$	3,540		$	281,087		$	48,184		$	332,813

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these financial statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

1)	Nature of operations and basis of presentation

Viceroy Acquisition Corporation

Viceroy Acquisition Corporation (“Viceroy”) was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on August 12, 2005 to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of one or more operating businesses in the oil and gas industry. On July 12, 2006, Viceroy completed an equity offering (see Note 16).

On October 31, 2006, Viceroy acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Eastman SE, Inc. (“Eastman SE”) from Eastman Chemical Company (“Eastman Chemical”). Immediately subsequent to the acquisition, Viceroy changed its name to FutureFuel Corp. (“FutureFuel”) and Eastman SE changed its name to FutureFuel Chemical Company (“FutureFuel Chemical”).

Eastman SE, Inc.

Eastman SE was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on September 1, 2005 and subsequent thereto operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Chemical through October 31, 2006. Eastman SE was incorporated for purposes of effecting a sale of Eastman Chemical’s manufacturing facility in Batesville, Arkansas (the “Batesville Plant”).

The Batesville Plant was constructed to produce proprietary photographic chemicals for Eastman Kodak Company (“Eastman Kodak”). Over the years, Eastman Kodak shifted the plant’s focus away from the photographic imaging business to the custom synthesis of fine chemicals and organic chemical intermediates used in a variety of end markets, including paints and coatings, plastics and polymers, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, household detergents, and agricultural products.

In 2005, the Batesville Plant began the implementation of a bio-based products platform. This included the production of biofuels (biodiesel) and bio-based specialty chemical products (bio-based solvents, chemicals, and intermediates). In addition to bio-based products, the Batesville Plant continues to manufacture specialty and other organic chemicals.

2)	Significant accounting policies

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FutureFuel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: FutureFuel Chemical Company; FFC Grain, L.L.C., which was formed in 2009 to acquire a granary in Marianna, Arkansas; FutureFuel Warehouse Company, L.L.C., which was formed in 2011 to acquire a warehouse in Batesville, Arkansas; and Legacy Regional Transport, L.L.C., which was formed in 2012 and operates FutureFuel’s truck fleet.

All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and are carried at cost, which approximates market. FutureFuel places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. At times, bank deposits may be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts, and credit risk

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. FutureFuel has established procedures to monitor credit risk and has not experienced significant credit losses in prior years. Accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for amounts that may be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based upon management’s evaluation of the collectability of individual invoices and is based upon management’s evaluation of the financial condition of its customers and historical bad debt experience. Write-offs are recorded at the time a customer receivable is deemed uncollectible.

Customer concentrations

Significant portions of FutureFuel’s sales are made to a relatively small number of customers. All sales of a laundry detergent additive were made to a leading North American consumer products company. Sales of the laundry detergent additive were less than 10% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Such sales were greater than 10% for the year ended December 31, 2014 at $43,927. Sales to one biodiesel customer totaled $35,568, $33,255, and $62,994 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Additionally, sales of biodiesel, petrodiesel, petrodiesel blends, and other petroleum products to a related party totaled $64,981 and $39,090 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the period ended December 31, 2016, sales to the related party were not greater than 10%. See Note 19 below.

Inventory

FutureFuel determines the cost of substantially all raw materials and finished goods inventories by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. FutureFuel writes down its inventories for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the carrying value of inventory and the estimated market value based upon current demand and market conditions.

Financial and derivative instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

FutureFuel records all derivative instruments at fair value. Fair value is determined by using the closing prices of the derivative instruments on the New York Mercantile Exchange at the end of an accounting period. Changes in fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded in the statements of operations as a component of cost of goods sold. FutureFuel maintains a margin account with a broker to collateralize these derivative instruments.

In order to manage commodity price risk caused by market fluctuations in biofuel prices, future purchases of feedstock used in our biodiesel production, physical feedstock, finished product inventories attributed to the process, and other petroleum products purchased or sold, we may enter into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts. We account for these derivative instruments in accordance with ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging. Under this standard, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends upon whether it has been designated as an accounting hedging relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. To qualify for designation as an accounting hedging relationship, specific criteria must be met and appropriate documentation maintained. We had no derivative instruments that qualified under these rules as designated accounting hedges in 2016 or 2015. Changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recognized at the end of each accounting period and recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold.

Our immediate recognition of derivative instrument gains and losses can cause net income to be volatile from period to period due to the timing of the change in value of the derivative instruments relative to the sale of the physical commodity sold. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the fair values of our derivative instruments were ($258) and $3,362, respectively. They were comprised of short positions of 135 regulated fixed price futures contracts with a fair value of ($258) at December 31, 2016. Comparatively, we held a short position of 200 regulated options with a value of $(427) and a short position of 631 regulated fixed price future commitments with a value of $3,789 at December 31, 2015.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment is carried at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings; replacements and betterments are capitalized. When FutureFuel retires or otherwise disposes of an asset, it removes the cost of such asset and related accumulated depreciation from the accounts. FutureFuel records any profit and loss on retirement or other disposition in earnings. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Impairment of assets

Long-lived tangible assets

FutureFuel evaluates the carrying value of long-lived tangible assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Such events and circumstances include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the asset, adverse changes in the extent or manner in which the asset is being used, significant changes in business climate, or current or projected cash flow losses associated with the use of the assets. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such assets are separately identifiable and are less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. For long-lived assets to be held for use in future operations and for fixed (tangible) assets, fair value is determined primarily using either the projected cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved or an appraisal. For long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale or other than sale, fair value is determined in a similar manner, except that fair values are reduced for disposal costs.

Indefinite-lived intangible asset

Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company performs annual impairment tests of the intangible assets during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and assesses qualitative factors to determine the likelihood of impairment. The Company’s qualitative analysis includes, but is not limited to, assessing the changes in macroeconomic conditions, legal and regulatory environment, industry and market conditions, financial performance, and any other relevant events or circumstances specific to the intangible asset. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of the intangible asset is greater than the carrying value, no further testing is required. Otherwise, the Company will apply the quantitative impairment test method. In performing the Company's qualitative analysis, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset's fair value was greater than the carrying value.

Deferred revenue

FutureFuel has signed contracts with customers to construct plant and related assets on FutureFuel’s property for the manufacture of custom chemicals. The cost of construction has been funded by the customers with title and risk of loss to the equipment residing with FutureFuel. Reimbursements are recognized as deferred revenue and are amortized over the expected life of the customer relationship starting upon the completion of construction and the asset being placed into service.

Additionally, FutureFuel has been awarded grants from governmental agencies related to the construction of production equipment and infrastructural improvements at its plant site. The cost of construction of these projects has been either funded by the governmental agencies directly or funded by FutureFuel who has then been reimbursed by the governmental agencies. Direct payments and reimbursements for construction costs have been recognized as deferred revenue and will be amortized into earnings over the expected life of the applicable customer relationship or the life of the asset if no direct customer relationship is tied to the asset. Such amortization will not begin until the asset has been placed into service and all contingencies associated with the grants are fulfilled.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Asset retirement obligations

FutureFuel establishes reserves for closure/post-closure costs associated with the environmental and other assets it maintains. Environmental assets include but are not limited to waste management units such as destructors, landfills, storage tanks, and boilers. When these types of assets are constructed or installed, a liability is established for the future costs anticipated to be associated with the closure of the site based on an expected life of the environmental assets, the applicable regulatory closure requirements, and FutureFuel’s environmental policies and practices. These expenses are charged into earnings over the estimated useful life of the assets. Currently, FutureFuel estimates the useful life of each individual asset up to 35 years. Changes made in estimates of the asset retirement obligation costs or the estimate of the useful lives of these assets are reflected in earnings as an increase or decrease in the period such changes are made.

Environmental costs are capitalized if they extend the life of the related property, increase its capacity, and/or mitigate or prevent future contamination. The cost of operating and maintaining environmental control facilities is charged to expense.

Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax basis. A future income tax asset or liability is estimated for each temporary difference using enacted and substantively enacted income tax rates and laws expected to be in effect when the asset is realized or the liability settled. A valuation allowance is established, if necessary, to reduce any future income tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements. ASC 740 provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized. ASC 740 also provides guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

In November 2015, the FASB issued additional guidance for Topic 740, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, under the simplification and productivity initiative for presentation of deferred income tax liabilities and assets. This guidance simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes such that deferred tax liabilities and assets are to be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The update does not amend the current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets of a tax-paying component of an entity be offset and presented as a single amount. This guidance was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to adopt this standard in the fourth quarter of 2016 on a prospective basis. The 2015 financial statements were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease in current deferred income tax liability by $7,188 and an increase in noncurrent deferred income tax liability of $7,188.

Revenue recognition

For most product sales, revenue is recognized when product is shipped from our facilities and risk of loss and title have passed to the customer, which is in accordance with our customer contracts and the stated shipping terms. All custom manufactured products are manufactured under written contracts. Performance chemicals and biofuels are usually sold pursuant to the terms of written purchase orders. In general, customers do not have any rights of return, except for quality disputes. However, all of our products are tested for quality before shipment, and historically returns have been inconsequential. FutureFuel does not offer rebates or other warranties.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Bill and hold transactions for 2016, 2015, and 2014 related to three specialty chemical customers in 2016 and 2015 and four in 2014, whereby revenue was recognized in accordance with contractual agreements based on product produced and ready for use. These sales were subject to written monthly purchase orders with agreement that production was reasonable. The inventory was custom manufactured and stored at the customer’s request and could not be sold to another buyer. Credit and payment terms for bill and hold transactions are similar to other specialty chemical customers. Sales revenue under bill and hold arrangements totaled $23,725, $28,740, and $31,598 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities

Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenues and cost of goods sold.

Shipping and handling fees

Shipping and handling fees related to sales transactions are billed to customers and recorded as sales revenues.

Cost of goods sold and selling, general, and administration expenses

Cost of goods sold includes the costs of inventory sold, related purchasing, distribution, and warehousing costs, costs incurred for shipping and handling, and environmental remediation costs. In 2016, 2015 and 2014, the biodiesel tax incentive for blending biodiesel with petroleum diesel is netted with costs of goods sold. The one dollar per gallon blenders’ tax credit (“BTC”) amounted to one cent for each percentage point of vegetable oil or animal fat biodiesel that was blended with petrodiesel. The credit was recognized as it was earned as a reduction to cost of goods sold, i.e., when biodiesel blended with petrodiesel was sold or when such credit was made law. This tax credit expired on December 31, 2016.

Selling, general, and administration expenses include personnel costs associated with sales, marketing and administration, legal and legal-related costs, consulting and professional services fees, advertising expenses, and other similar costs.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Research and development

All costs identified as research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred.

Planned major maintenance activities

Expenditures for planned major maintenance activities are recognized as expense as incurred.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share is computed using the two-class method in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. The two-class method is an allocation of earnings between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders. FutureFuel’s outstanding unvested shares of restricted stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and, therefore, are considered participating securities for purposes of computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. FutureFuel had no other participating securities at December 31, 2016 or 2015.

Contingently issuable shares associated with outstanding service-based restricted stock shares were not included in the earnings per share calculations for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Comprehensive income

Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and other comprehensive income/(losses) (“OCI”). Comprehensive income comprises all changes in stockholders’ equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. FutureFuel’s OCI is comprised of unrealized gains and losses resulting from its investment in certain marketable securities classified as available for sale (see Note 6). For the year ended December 31, 2016, FutureFuel recorded other comprehensive income of $1,485, net of income taxes of $1,158. For the year ended December 31, 2015, FutureFuel recorded other comprehensive losses of $2,204, net of income tax benefit of $1,314, on these securities. For the year ended December 31, 2014, FutureFuel recorded other comprehensive losses of $3,177, net of income tax benefit of $1,980, on these securities. For the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, FutureFuel reclassified a portion of its unrealized income related to certain of its available-for-sale securities from OCI to a component of net income as a result of recording an other than temporary impairment. This reclassification totaled $1,419 and $394, net of income tax benefit of $765 and $212 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. No such reclassification was made for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Realized gains and losses are recognized on the specific identification method.

Commitments and contingent liabilities

In the ordinary course of its business, FutureFuel enters into supply and sales contracts as deemed commercially desirable. Supply contracts are utilized to ensure the availability of raw materials used in the production process. Sales contracts are utilized to ensure the future sale of produced product.

FutureFuel and its operations from time to time may be parties to or targets of lawsuits, claims, investigations, and proceedings including product liability, personal injury, patent and intellectual property, commercial, contract, environmental, health and safety, and environmental matters, which are handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. FutureFuel accrues a liability for such matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. When a single amount cannot be reasonably estimated but the cost can be estimated within a range, FutureFuel accrues the minimum amount.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during a reporting period. Estimates are used when accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation, amortization, asset retirement obligations, and income taxes as well as the evaluation of potential losses due to impairments or future liabilities. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Segment reporting

FutureFuel identifies operating segments when separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by its chief operating decision maker in assessing the performance of those segments and in determining how to allocate resources. FutureFuel has determined that it has two reportable segments organized along product lines -- chemicals and biofuels.

3)	Reinstatement of biodiesel BTC and small agri-biodiesel producers tax credit

On December 22, 2014, the BTC was retroactively reinstated for 2014 and expired on December 31, 2014. The retroactive credit for 2014 totaled $33,031, and $28,954 was recognized as a reduction in cost of goods sold in the fourth quarter of 2014, with the remainder recognized as a reduction of cost of goods sold in 2015. Pursuant to the terms of certain 2014 sales commitments, $18,628 of the 2014 retroactive credit was owed to customers. This obligation was recognized as a reduction in sales revenue in the fourth quarter of 2014. The BTC was reinstated on December 18, 2015. The retroactive credit for 2015 totaled $30,895 and was recognized as a reduction of cost of goods sold in the fourth quarter of 2015. Pursuant to the terms of certain 2015 sales commitments, $16,544 of the 2015 retroactive credit was owed to customers. This obligation was recognized as a reduction in sales revenue in the fourth quarter of 2015. No such adjustments were required for 2016 because the BTC was in effect throughout the year and expired December 31, 2016.

A part of the bill from which the BTC mentioned above was reinstated, was a small agri-biodiesel producer tax credit of $0.10 per gallon qualifying on the first 15 million gallons sold. A small agri-biodiesel producer’s capacity can not exceed 60 million gallons. As such, the tax credit, totaling $1,500, was effective for 2016 and was also retroactively reinstated for 2015 and 2014. This credit expired December 31, 2016.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Inventory

The carrying values of inventory were as follows as of December 31:

	2016			2015
At average cost (approximates current cost)
Finished goods	$	27,971		$	35,517
Work in process		1,913			1,695
Raw materials and supplies		25,127			31,247
Total inventories at weighted average cost		55,011			68,459
LIFO reserve		(2,918	)		(3,502	)
Total inventories	$	52,093		$	64,957

A lower of cost or market adjustment was recorded at December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $1,435 and $1,595, respectfully, which was caused in part by the change in the LIFO reserve.

5)	Derivative instruments

FutureFuel is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. Commodity price risk is the primary risk managed by using derivative instruments. Regulated fixed price futures and option contracts are utilized to manage the price risk associated with future purchases of feedstock used in FutureFuel’s biodiesel production along with physical feedstock and finished product inventories attributed to this process.

FutureFuel recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel’s derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting under the specific guidelines of ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging, Hedging-General, Recognition. While management believes each of these instruments are entered into in order to effectively manage various risks, none of the derivative instruments are designated and accounted for as hedges primarily as a result of the extensive record keeping requirements. The fair value of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments is determined based on the closing prices of the derivative instruments on relevant commodity exchanges at the end of an accounting period. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments and changes in fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold, and amounted to a loss of $(6,220) and gains of $9,101 and $12,757 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

The volumes and carrying values of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments were as follows at December 31:

	Asset/(Liability)
	2016					2015
	Quantity/ contracts Short		Fair Value			Quantity/ contracts Short		Fair Value
Regulated options, included in other current assets		-	$	-			200	$	(427	)
Regulated fixed price future commitments, included in other current assets		135	$	(258	)		631	$	3,789

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The margin account maintained with a broker to collateralize these derivative instruments carried an account balance of $758 and $225 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is classified as other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The carrying values of the margin account and of the derivative instruments are included, net, in other current assets.

6)	Marketable securities

At December 31, 2016 and 2015, FutureFuel had investments in certain preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments. These investments are classified as current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel has designated these securities as being available-for-sale. Accordingly, they are recorded at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of stockholders’ equity.

FutureFuel’s marketable securities were comprised of the following at:

	December 31, 2016
	Adjusted Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
Equity instruments	$	32,667	$	5,549	$	(304	)	$	37,912
Preferred stock		57,105		1,196		(698	)		57,603
Trust preferred securities		3,147		-		(9	)		3,138
Exchange traded debt instruments		7,420		99		(26	)		7,493
Total	$	100,339	$	6,844	$	(1,037	)	$	106,146

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	December 31, 2015
	Adjusted Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
Equity instruments	$	10,825	$	44	$	(711	)	$	10,158
Preferred stock		37,703		2,419		(122	)		40,000
Trust preferred securities		16,464		1,303		(66	)		17,701
Exchange traded debt instruments		6,511		297		-			6,808
Total	$	71,503	$	4,063	$	(899	)	$	74,667

The aggregate fair value of investments with unrealized losses totaled $31,126 and $15,571 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, FutureFuel had no investments in marketable securities that were in an unrealized loss position for a greater than 12-month period, respectively.

In 2016, FutureFuel recategorized a net gain of $728 from accumulated other comprehensive income to a component of net income as a result of sales of available for sale securities. This amount totaled $2,402 and $5,712 of net gains in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

7)	Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

	2016		2015
Land and land improvements	$	5,741	$	5,741
Buildings and building equipment		26,171		26,478
Machinery and equipment		163,401		157,289
Construction in progress		2,271		3,586
Accumulated depreciation		(79,432)		(68,764)
Total	$	118,152	$	124,330

Depreciation expense totaled $10,819, $10,187, and $8,891 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

8)	Intangible assets

In April of 2015, FutureFuel acquired additional historical line space on a pipeline for $1,408. The acquired line space was recorded as an intangible asset with an indefinite life as there was no foreseeable limit on the time period over which it is expected to contribute to cash flows. The carrying value of the asset was $1,408 and $1,408, respectively, as of December 30, 2016 and 2015. The Company tested the intangible asset for impairment in accordance with codification ASC 350-30-35-18 through 35-20 and no impairment was necessary for either period.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

9)	Other assets

Other assets are primarily comprised of supplies and parts that have been held longer than 24 months and are not expected to be used in the twelve-month period subsequent to the balance sheet date. The balance related to these items totaled $3,876 and $3,078 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

10)	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including those associated with related parties, consisted of the following at December 31:

	2016		2015
Accrued employee liabilities	$	864	$	1,474
Accrued property, use, and franchise taxes		1,428		1,248
Other		335		254
Total	$	2,627	$	2,976

11)	Borrowings

The interest rate floats at the following margins over LIBOR or base rate based upon the leverage ratio from time to time:

Consolidated Leverage Ratio	Adjusted LIBOR Rate Loans and Letter of Credit Fee		Base Rate Loans		Commitment Fee
< 1.00:1.0		1.25%		0.25%		0.15%
≥ 1.00:1.0 and < 1.50:1.0		1.50%		0.50%		0.20%
≥ 1.50:1.0 and < 2.00:1.0		1.75%		0.75%		0.25%
≥ 2.00:1.0 and < 2.50:1.0		2.00%		1.00%		0.30%
≥ 2.50:1.0		2.25%		1.25%		0.35%

The terms of the Credit Facility contain certain covenants and conditions including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, and a minimum liquidity requirement. FutureFuel was in compliance with such covenants as of December 31, 2016.

There were no borrowings under this credit agreement at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

12)	Asset retirement obligations and environmental reserves

The Batesville Plant generates hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, the treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal of which are regulated by various governmental agencies. In addition, the Batesville Plant may be required to incur costs for environmental and closure and post-closure costs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. FutureFuel’s liability for asset retirement obligations and environmental contingencies was $849 and $822 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These amounts are recorded in other noncurrent liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table summarizes the activity of accrued obligations for asset retirement obligations:

	2016		2015
Balance at January 1	$	822	$	796
Accretion expense		27		26
Balance at December 31	$	849	$	822

13)	Stock based compensation

The board of directors of FutureFuel adopted an omnibus incentive plan which was approved by the shareholders of FutureFuel at its 2007 annual shareholder meeting on June 26, 2007. The purpose of the plan is to:

●

Encourage ownership in FutureFuel by key personnel whose long-term employment with or engagement by FutureFuel or its subsidiaries is considered essential to its continued progress and, thereby, encourage recipients to act in FutureFuel’s shareholders’ interests and share in its success;

●

Encourage such persons to remain in FutureFuel’s employ or in the employ of its subsidiaries; and

●

Provide incentives to persons who are not FutureFuel employees to promote FutureFuel’s success.

The plan authorizes FutureFuel to issue stock options (including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options), stock awards, and stock appreciation rights. Eligible participants in the plan include: (i) members of FutureFuel’s board of directors and its executive officers; (ii) regular, active employees of FutureFuel and any of its subsidiaries; and (iii) persons engaged by FutureFuel or any of its subsidiaries to render services to FutureFuel or its subsidiaries as an advisor or consultant.

Awards under the plan are limited to shares of FutureFuel’s common stock, which may be shares acquired by FutureFuel, including shares purchased in the open market, or authorized but un-issued shares. Awards are limited to 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of FutureFuel’s common stock in the aggregate.

The plan became effective upon its approval by FutureFuel’s shareholders on June 26, 2007 and continues in effect for a term of ten years thereafter unless amended and extended by FutureFuel or unless otherwise terminated.

FutureFuel recognizes compensation expense in its financial statements for stock based options based upon the grant-date fair value over the requisite service period.

In May 2014, FutureFuel issued a restricted stock award of 250,000 shares to Paul A. Novelly, FutureFuel’s Chief Executive Officer. The restricted shares vest in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the award was $4,195 and will be recognized into expense equally over the three years.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

In July 2014, FutureFuel issued a restricted stock award of 125,000 shares to Paul M. Flynn, FutureFuel’s Executive Vice President of Business and Marketing, upon commencement of employment on September 2, 2014. Twenty percent of the shares vested immediately. The remaining shares vest equally over the remaining annual installments on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the commencement of employment as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the award was $2,136, with 20% recognized immediately and the remainder to be recognized into expense equally over the four years.

No stock awards were issued in 2015 or 2016.

In December 2014, FutureFuel granted a total of 90,000 stock options to select members of management. The options awarded have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for FutureFuel’s common stock as of the grant date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. The options awarded vest annually in equal increments over three years and expire on December 2, 2019. FutureFuel has utilized the Black Scholes Merton option pricing model, which relies on certain assumptions, to estimate the fair value of the options it granted.

In December 2015, FutureFuel granted a total of 30,000 stock options to new members of the Board of Directors. The options awarded in 2015 have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for FutureFuel’s common stock as of the grant date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. All options awarded in 2015 vested immediately upon grant and expire in December 2020. FutureFuel has utilized the Black Scholes Merton option pricing model, which relies on certain assumptions, to estimate the fair value of the options it granted.

No stock options were granted in 2016.

The assumptions used in the determination of the fair value of the options granted are provided in the following table:

Assumptions	December 2015 Options	December 2014 Options
Expected volatility rate	43.08%	41.48%
Expected dividend yield	1.72%	4.23%
Risk-free interest rate	1.67%	1.25%
Expected forfeiture rate	0.00%	0.00%
Expected term in years	4.5	4.5

The volatility rate for the options granted in 2015 and 2014 were derived from the historical stock price volatility of FutureFuel’s common stock over the same time period as the expected term of each stock option award. The volatility rate is derived by a mathematical formula utilizing the daily closing stock price data over the expected term.

The expected dividend yield is calculated using FutureFuel’s expected dividend amount at the date of the option grant over the expected term divided by the fair market value of FutureFuel’s common stock.

The risk-free interest rate is derived from the United States Federal Reserve’s published interest rates of yields for the same time period as the expected term.

FutureFuel has only included share-based awards expected to vest in share-based compensation expense. The estimated forfeiture rates are based upon FutureFuel’s expected rate of forfeiture and are excluded from the quantity of awards included in share-based compensation expense.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, total share-based compensation expense (before tax) totaled $1,908, $2,043, and $1,440, respectively. In the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, this balance was recorded as an element of selling, general, and administrative expenses. As of December 31, 2016, $1,243 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.15 years. As of December 31, 2016, $75 of the total unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.92 years. Each amount will be adjusted for any future changes in estimated forfeitures.

The weighted average fair value of options granted in 2015 was $4.55 per option, in 2014, it was $2.78 per option.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

A summary of the activity of FutureFuel’s stock options and awards for the period beginning January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2016 is presented below.

	Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2014		180,611		$	11.70
Granted		90,000		$	11.34
Exercised		(30,611	)	$	10.06
Canceled, forfeited, or expired		-			-
Outstanding at December 31, 2014		240,000		$	11.77
Granted		30,000		$	13.99
Exercised		(20,000	)	$	11.68
Canceled, forfeited, or expired		-			-
Outstanding at December 31, 2015		250,000		$	12.05
Granted		-			-
Exercised		(120,000	)	$	11.45
Canceled, forfeited, or expired		(60,000	)	$	12.74
Outstanding at December 31, 2016		70,000		$	12.48

There were 1,194,700 options available for grant under the incentive plan at December 31, 2016. The following table provides the remaining contractual term and weighted average exercise prices of stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016.

		Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Exercise Price		Number Outstanding at December 31, 2016		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number Exercisable at December 31, 2016		Weighted Average Exercise Price
$	11.34		40,000		2.92	$	11.34		10,000	$	11.34
$	13.99		30,000		3.97	$	13.99		30,000	$	13.99
			70,000		3.37	$	12.48		40,000	$	13.33

The weighted average remaining contractual life of all exercisable options is 3.71 years.

The aggregate intrinsic values of total options outstanding and at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $102 and $378, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic values of total options exercisable at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $26 and $248, respectively. Intrinsic value is the amount by which the last trade price of the common stock closest to December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, exceeded the exercise price of the options granted.

In 2016, FutureFuel realized gross proceeds from stock option exercises of $213 and realized a net tax expense of $23. A portion of the options exercised in 2016 were exercised on a cashless basis and resulted in 85,862 shares of FutureFuel’s common stock being returned to FutureFuel by the stock option holder. All of the stock awards that vested were issued on a cash basis. Minimum tax requirements related to these exercises were $128.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following summarizes unvested restricted stock activity:

	Number of Restricted Stock		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted Average Life Remaining
Unvested as of January 1, 2014		-		-		-
Granted		375,000	$	16.88		-
Vested		25,000	$	17.09		-
Forfeited		-		-		-
Unvested as of December 31, 2014		350,000	$	16.87		2.73
Granted		-		-		-
Vested		108,333	$	16.85		-
Forfeited		-		-		-
Unvested as of December 31, 2015		241,667	$	16.88		1.86
Granted		-		-		-
Vested		108,333	$	16.85		-
Forfeited		-		-		-
Unvested as of December 31, 2016		133,334	$	16.90		1.15

The company realized a tax benefit of $160, $339, and $164 in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the vesting of restricted shares. The excess tax benefit attributable to restricted stock has been recorded as a decrease to additional paid-in-capital and is reflected as a financing cash inflow in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following summarizes unvested stock option activity:

	Stock Options			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted Average Life Remaining
Unvested as of January 1, 2014		-			-		-
Granted		90,000		$	2.78		-
Vested		-			-		-
Forfeited		-			-		-
Unvested as of December 31, 2014		90,000		$	2.78		2.92
Granted		30,000		$	4.55		-
Vested		(60,000	)	$	3.67		-
Forfeited		-			-		-
Unvested as of December 31, 2015		60,000		$	2.78		1.92
Granted		-			-		-
Vested		(30,000	)	$	2.78		-
Forfeited		-			-		-
Unvested as of December 31, 2016		30,000		$	2.78		0.92

14)	Provision/(benefit) for income taxes

The following table summarizes the provision/(benefit) for income taxes:

	2016			2015			2014
Income before taxes - U.S.	$	40,806		$	51,869		$	67,345
Provision for income taxes:
Current		(13,014	)		7,475			8,455
Deferred		(1,437	)		(2,283	)		3,858
State and other
Current		(1,120	)		487			1,306
Deferred		36			(231	)		526
Total	$	(15,535	)	$	5,448		$	14,145

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Differences between the provision/(benefit) for income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate were as follows:

	2016			2015			2014
Amount computed using the statutory rate of 35%	$	14,282		$	18,154		$	23,571
Section 199 manufacturing deduction		-			(163	)		-
Agri-biodiesel production credit		(975	)		(975	)		(975	)
Federal excise tax benefit		(20,048	)		(9,958	)		(10,344	)
State excise tax benefit		(6,845	)		(792	)		(2,409	)
Credit for increasing research activities		(56	)		(51	)		(80	)
Alternative fueling equipment credit		-			-			(2	)
Dividends received deduction		(730	)		(427	)		(336	)
State income taxes, net		(1,262	)		695			3,189
Tax (benefit)/expense recorded as a decrease/increase in unrecognized tax benefit		193			(747	)		1,309
Other		(94	)		(288	)		222
(Benefit)/provision for income taxes	$	(15,535	)	$	5,448		$	14,145

The effective tax rates for the years December 31, 2016 and 2015, reflect FutureFuel’s expected tax rate on reported operating earnings before income tax. Our effective tax rate for the years December 31, 2016 and 2015, reflects the positive effect of the reinstatement of certain tax credits and incentives for 2016 and 2015. In 2016 and 2015, these tax credits and incentives formed a larger proportion of FutureFuel’s net income than in prior years. This increase in proportion combined with the income tax treatment of the credits and incentives reduced FutureFuel’s effective income tax rate in 2016 and 2015 relative to prior years. In addition, during the second quarter of 2016, FutureFuel booked a tax benefit related to the reversal of a state’s treatment of the taxability of the tax credits and incentives. The tax credits and incentives and the impact seen from the income tax treatment of these credits and incentive are not presently anticipated to continue after December 31, 2016. As a result, our effective tax rate in 2017 and beyond is currently expected to be significantly higher than the effective tax rates of 2016 and 2015.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows as of December 31:

	2016			2015
Deferred tax assets
Compensation	$	-		$	249
Inventory reserves		1,149			1,244
Self insurance		90			111
Asset retirement obligation		299			299
Deferred revenue		9,388			9,993
Stock based compensation		77			144
Derivative instruments		90
Other		2,546			-
Total deferred tax assets		13,639			12,040
Deferred tax liabilities
Available for sale securities		(1,376	)		(1,075	)
Derivative instruments		-			(1,348	)
Accrued expenses		-			(656	)
LIFO inventory		(5,821	)		(5,163	)
Depreciation		(38,293	)		(39,930	)
Other		(213	)		(45	)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(45,703	)		(48,217	)
Valuation allowance		-			-
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(32,064	)	$	(36,177	)

	2016			2015
As recorded in the consolidated balance sheet
Current deferred tax liability	$	-		$	(7,060	)
Noncurrent deferred tax liability		(32,064	)		(29,117	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(32,064	)	$	(36,177	)

Prior to 2013, FutureFuel had historically included revenue from the biodiesel BTC in taxable income on its federal and state income tax returns. In 2013, as a result of then recently issued technical guidance from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, FutureFuel changed its position related to the benefit from the biodiesel BTC to exclude this credit from taxable income for 2010 and all future years. The biodiesel BTC expired effective December 31, 2016 and has not been reenacted.

FutureFuel elected to early adopt ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, in the fourth quarter of 2016 on a prospective basis. The 2015 financial statements were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease in current deferred income tax liability by $7,188 and an increase in noncurrent deferred income tax liability of $7,188.

FutureFuel’s unrecognized tax benefits totaled $2,056 and $4,588 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table summarizes FutureFuel’s unrecognized tax benefits activity.

	2016			2015			2014
Balance at January 1	$	4,588		$	2,981		$	1,718
Increases to tax positions taken in the current year		2,056			1,471			1,255
Increases to tax positions taken in a prior year		-			3,117			8
Decrease due to resolution of tax positions taken in a prior year		(4,588	)		(2,981	)		-
Balance at December 31	$	2,056		$	4,588		$	2,981

FutureFuel does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.

FutureFuel records interest and penalties net as a component of income tax expense. FutureFuel accrued balances of $193 and $61 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for interest or tax penalties.

FutureFuel and its subsidiaries file tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and with various state jurisdictions. In general, FutureFuel is subject to U.S., state, and local examinations by tax authorities from 2013 forward. In the second quarter of 2015, the IRS completed its audit of FutureFuel’s 2010 through 2012 amended federal income tax returns. FutureFuel was successful in recovering the benefits previously unrecorded in its financial statements. Also, during the second quarter of 2015, FutureFuel received notice of rejection from an administrative law judge in The Arkansas Office of Hearings and Appeals regarding FutureFuel’s 2010 through 2012 amended state income tax returns. This decision was subsequently reversed in 2016 by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration which resulted in FutureFuel being successful in recovering the benefits previously unrecorded in the financial statements.

15)	Deferred revenue and contingent liability

FutureFuel has signed contracts with customers to construct plant and other related assets on FutureFuel’s property for the manufacture of custom chemicals. The cost of the construction has been funded by the customers. Additionally, FutureFuel has been awarded grants from governmental agencies related to the construction of production equipment and infrastructural improvements. As these customers and governmental agencies have paid for such projects, FutureFuel has recorded such amounts as deferred revenue. Deferred revenue totaled $22,322 at December 31 2016, with $5,530 classified as a current liability and $16,792 classified as a noncurrent liability. Deferred revenue totaled $18,588 at December 31, 2015, with $2,680 classified as a current liability and $15,908 classified as a noncurrent liability.

The following table summarizes FutureFuel’s deferred revenue activity:

	2016			2015
Beginning balance	$	18,588		$	17,867
Amortization		(4,018	)		(2,468	)
Additions		7,752			3,365
Impairment		-			(176	)
Balance at December 31	$	22,322		$	18,588

One of the grants from a governmental agency is contingent upon FutureFuel meeting certain employment goals. If these goals are not reached, FutureFuel may be required to remit a portion of the grant back to the agency. As a result of this provision, FutureFuel has recorded a contingent liability for the monies received under this grant. This balance totaled $1,151 and $1,151 at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

16)	Stockholders’ equity

On July 12, 2006, Viceroy and its founding shareholders entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which the holders of the majority of founding shares and shares of common stock included in the units purchased in Viceroy’s July 2006 offering by a director or his designees are entitled to make up to two demands that Viceroy register with the SEC their founding shares and the shares included in the units purchased in Viceroy’s July 2006 offering. The holders of the majority of such shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after the date on which Viceroy has become a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and such shares have been released from any applicable escrow agreement and lock-in deeds. In addition, those shareholders have certain “piggyback” registration rights on registration statements filed subsequent to the date on which such shares are released from escrow or other lock up arrangements. Viceroy agreed to bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. There are 16,250,000 shares of Viceroy’s common stock subject to this registration rights agreement.

On February 10, 2011, FutureFuel filed with the SEC a Form S-3 Registration Statement commonly referred to as a “shelf registration” whereby FutureFuel registered shares of its common stock, preferred stock, warrants, rights, and units which it might issue in the future in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000. This registration statement became effective on March 10, 2011. Pursuant to this registration statement, on May 11, 2011, FutureFuel commenced an “At-the-Market” offering under which FutureFuel could from time to time over the succeeding three years sell up to 3,000,000 shares of its common stock. During 2011, FutureFuel issued 1,313,985 shares of its common stock pursuant to this “At-the-Market” offering for a net aggregate purchase price of $15,763, and paid its underwriters $488 as compensation with respect to such issuances. During 2012, FutureFuel issued 91,143 shares of its common stock pursuant to this offering for a net aggregate purchase price of $1,074, and paid its underwriters $33 as compensation with respect to such issuances. During 2013, FutureFuel issued 1,594,872 shares of its common stock pursuant to this offering for a net aggregate purchase price of $19,292, and paid its underwriters $599 as compensation with respect to such issuances.

On February 6, 2013, FutureFuel announced the completion of the sale of shares of its common stock under the At-the-Market offering. An aggregate 3,000,000 shares were sold in open market trading for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $37,247, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $36,127 after deducting commissions and fees.

17)	Earnings per share

We compute earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. The two-class method is an allocation of earnings between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders. Our outstanding unvested shares of restricted stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and, therefore, are considered participating securities for purposes of computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. We had no other participating securities at December 31, 2016 or 2015.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Contingently issuable shares associated with outstanding service-based restricted stock units were not included in the earnings per share calculations for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

	For the twelve months ended December 31:
	2016			2015			2014
Numerator:
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421		$	53,200
Less: distributed earnings allocated to non-vested stock		(377	)		(66	)		(114	)
Less: undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested restricted stock		264			(237	)		(258	)
Numerator for basic earnings per share	$	56,228		$	46,118		$	52,828
Effect of dilutive securities:
Add: undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested restricted stock		(264	)		237			258
Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to non-vested restricted stock		264			(237	)		(258	)
Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$	56,228		$	46,118		$	52,828
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic		43,542,785			43,432,149			43,357,602
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and other awards		4,753			13,581			34,409
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted		43,547,538			43,445,730			43,392,011

Basic earnings per share	$	1.29		$	1.06		$	1.22
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.29		$	1.06		$	1.22

Certain options to purchase FutureFuel’s common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 because they were anti-dilutive in the period. The weighted number of options excluded on this basis was 65,000, 97,500 and 25,000, respectively.

18)	Employee benefit plans

Defined contribution savings plan

FutureFuel currently offers its employees a company 401(k) matching savings plan, which covers substantially all employees. Under this plan, FutureFuel matches the amount of eligible employees’ contributions, subject to specified limits, up to 6% of earnings. Company contributions totaled $1,540, $1,648, and $1,683 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

19)	Related party transactions

FutureFuel enters into transactions with companies affiliated with or controlled by a director and significant stockholder. Revenues, expenses, prepaid amounts, and unpaid amounts related to these transactions are captured on our accompanying consolidated financial statements as related party line items. These related party transactions are summarized in the following table and further described below.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Related party balance sheet accounts

	2016		2015
Accounts receivable
Biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends and other petroleum products	$	385	$	10
Total accounts receivable	$	385	$	10
Prepaid expenses
Administrative services and other	$	12	$	35
Total prepaid expenses	$	12	$	35
Accounts payable
Natural gas and fuel purchases	$	1,045	$	233
Travel and administrative services	$	209	$	11
Total accounts payable	$	1,254	$	244
Accrued liabilities
Travel and administrative services	$	142	$	-
Total accrued liabilities	$	142	$	-

Related party income statement accounts

	For the years ended December 31:

	2016		2015		2014
Revenues
Biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends and other petroleum products	$	8,371	$	64,981	$	39,090
Total revenues	$	8,371	$	64,981	$	39,090
Cost of goods sold
Biodiesel, petrodiesel, blends, and other petroleum products	$	6,016	$	2,412	$	51,647
Natural gas purchases		4,223		4,190		7,095
Income tax, consulting services and other		80		60		80
Total cost of goods sold	$	10,319	$	6,662	$	58,822
Distribution
Distribution and related services	$	378	$	405	$	335
Total distribution	$	378	$	405	$	335
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Commodity trading advisory fees	$	307	$	143	$	132
Travel and administrative services		216		72		82
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses	$	523	$	215	$	214

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Biodiesel, petrodiesel and blends

FutureFuel enters into agreements to buy and sell biofuels (biodiesel, petrodiesel, biodiesel/petrodiesel blends, RINs, and biodiesel production byproducts) and other petroleum products such as gasoline with an affiliate from time to time. Such agreements are priced at the then current market price of the product, as determined from bids from other customers and/or market pricing services. Cost of goods sold related to these sales includes variable costs and allocated fixed costs.

Natural gas purchases

FutureFuel utilizes natural gas to generate steam for its manufacturing process and to support certain of its air and waste treatment utilities. This natural gas is purchased through an affiliate provider of natural gas marketing services. Expenses related to these purchases include the cost of the natural gas only; transportation charges are paid to an independent third party.

Income tax and consulting services

An affiliate provides professional services to FutureFuel, primarily in the area of income tax preparation and consulting. FutureFuel also receives certain finance and accounting expertise from this affiliate as requested. Expenses related to these services are comprised of an agreed quarterly fee plus reimbursement of expense, at cost.

Distribution and related services

Distribution and related services are comprised of barge transportation and related unloading charges for petrodiesel that were arranged and paid by an affiliate and subsequently rebilled to FutureFuel. Additionally, FutureFuel leases oil storage capacity from an affiliate under a storage and throughput agreement. This agreement provides for the storage of biodiesel, diesel or biodiesel/petrodiesel blends, methanol, and biodiesel feedstocks in above-ground storage tankage at designated facilities of the affiliate. Expenses related to this agreement include monthly lease charges, generally on a per barrel basis, and associated heating, throughput, and other customary terminalling charges.

Commodity trading advisory fees

FutureFuel entered into a commodity trading advisory agreement with an affiliate. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, the affiliate provides advice to FutureFuel concerning the purchase, sale, exchange, conversion, and/or hedging of commodities as FutureFuel may request from time to time.

Legal, travel and administrative services

FutureFuel reimburses an affiliate for legal, trading, travel and other administrative services incurred on its behalf. Such reimbursement is performed at cost with the affiliate realizing no profit on the transaction.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

20)	Segment information

FutureFuel has two reportable segments organized along similar product lines – chemicals and biofuels. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 2.

Chemicals

FutureFuel’s chemicals segment manufactures diversified chemical products that are sold to third party customers. This segment is comprised of two product groups: “custom manufacturing” (manufacturing chemicals for specific customers) and “performance chemicals” (multi-customer specialty chemicals).

Biofuels

FutureFuel’s biofuels business segment manufactures and markets biodiesel. Biodiesel revenues are generated through the sale of biodiesel to customers through FutureFuel’s distribution network at the Batesville Plant, through distribution facilities available at leased oil storage facilities, and through a network of remotely located tanks. Results of the biofuels business segment also reflect the sale of biodiesel blends with petrodiesel, petrodiesel with no biodiesel added, RINs, biodiesel production byproducts, and the purchase and sale of other petroleum products on common carrier pipelines.

Summary of long-lived assets and revenues by geographic area

All of FutureFuel’s long-lived assets are located in the U.S.

Most of FutureFuel’s sales are transacted with title passing at the time of shipment from the Batesville Plant, although some sales are transacted based on title passing at the delivery point. While many of FutureFuel’s chemicals are utilized to manufacture products that are shipped, further processed, and/or consumed throughout the world, the chemical products, with limited exceptions, generally leave the United States only after ownership has transferred from FutureFuel to the customer. Rarely is FutureFuel the exporter of record, never is FutureFuel the importer of record into foreign countries, and FutureFuel is not always aware of the exact quantities of its products that are moved into foreign markets by its customers. FutureFuel does track the addresses of its customers for invoicing purposes and uses this address to determine whether a particular sale is within or without the United States. FutureFuel’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 attributable to the United States and foreign countries (based upon the billing addresses of its customers) were as follows.

Fiscal Year	United States		All Foreign Countries		Total
December 31, 2016	$	250,320	$	2,873	$	253,193
December 31, 2015	$	297,415	$	2,196	$	299,611
December 31, 2014	$	334,210	$	7,628	$	341,838

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Summary of business by segment

	Twelve months ended
	2016			2015			2014
Revenue
Custom chemicals	$	82,667		$	108,160		$	127,956
Performance chemicals		18,240			17,688			18,190
Chemicals revenue		100,907			125,848			146,146
Biofuels revenue		152,286			173,763			195,692
Total Revenue	$	253,193		$	299,611		$	341,838

Segment gross profit
Chemicals	$	32,055		$	35,452		$	46,062
Biofuels		14,803			21,594			19,911
Total gross profit		46,858			57,046			65,973
Corporate expenses		10,335			10,075			9,845
Income before interest and taxes		36,523			46,971			56,128
Interest and other income		6,152			5,213			6,877
Interest and other expense		(1,869	)		(315	)		4,340
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes		15,535			(5,448	)		(14,145	)
Net income	$	56,341		$	46,421		$	53,200

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.

Gross margins for the biofuels segment for the year ended December 31, 2016 were favorably impacted by the receipt of approximately $220 awarded to FutureFuel under the United States Department of Agriculture Section 9005 – Advanced Biofuel Producers program in 2016. This award totaled $147 and $420 in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Based on the characteristics of this award, FutureFuel recognizes the income from the award in the period the funding is received. The biofuels segment also includes activity on common carrier pipelines.

21)	Fair value measurements

Fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Fair value accounting pronouncements also include a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of FutureFuel. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect FutureFuel’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based upon the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs (other than quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table provides information by level for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value, on a recurring basis.

		Asset (Liability)
				Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as
Description		Fair Value at December 31, 2016		Level 1			Level 2		Level 3
Derivative instruments	$	(258	)	$	(258	)	$	-	$	-
Preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments	$	106,146		$	106,146		$	-	$	-

		Asset/(Liability)
			Fair Value Measurements Using Inputs Considered as
Description		Fair Value at December 31, 2015	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Derivative instruments	$	3,362	$	3,362	$	-	$	-
Preferred stock, trust preferred securities, exchange traded debt instruments, and other equity instruments	$	74,667	$	74,667	$	-	$	-

22)	Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income

The following tables summarize the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income from unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities:

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized

Gains and Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities For the

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

(net of tax)

	2016
Balance at January 1, 2016	$	2,055
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications		615
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		870
Net current-period other comprehensive gain - twelve months ended December 31, 2016		1,485
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	3,540

	2015
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	4,259
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(2,134	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		(70	)
Net current-period other comprehensive loss - twelve months ended December 31, 2015		(2,204	)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	2,055

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table summarizes amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income in the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	2016			Affected Line Item in Statement of Operations
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities	$	(1,340	)	Loss on marketable securities
Total before tax		(1,340	)
Tax benefit		470
Total reclassifications	$	(870	)

		2015		Affected Line Item in Statement of Operations
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	$	107		Gain on marketable securities
Total before tax		107
Tax expense		(37	)
Total reclassifications	$	70

23)	Commitments

Lease agreements

FutureFuel has entered into lease agreements for oil storage capacity, railcars, isotainers, gas cylinders, argon tanks, and office machines. Minimum rental commitments under existing noncancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2016 were as follows:

	Minimum Rental Commitment
2017	$	714
2018		132
2019		95
2020		95
2021		95
Thereafter		215
Total	$	1,346

Lease expenses totaled $1,121, $1,060, and $946 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Purchase obligations

FutureFuel has entered into contracts for the purchase of goods and services including contracts for the purchase of feedstocks for biodiesel and expansion of FutureFuel’s specialty chemicals segment and related infrastructure.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

24)	Quarterly financial information (unaudited)

	Quarter
	1st		2nd		3rd		4th
2016
Revenues	$	46,635	$	67,879	$	69,306	$	69,373
Gross profit	$	11,053	$	7,972	$	10,319	$	17,514
Net income	$	10,569	$	14,224	$	12,868	$	18,680
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.24	$	0.33	$	0.29	$	0.43
Diluted	$	0.24	$	0.33	$	0.29	$	0.43

	Quarter
	1st		2nd		3rd		4th
2015
Revenues	$	54,087	$	104,598	$	107,054	$	33,872
Gross profit	$	13,314	$	5,544	$	8,675	$	29,513
Net income	$	8,131	$	3,793	$	4,850	$	29,647
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.19	$	0.09	$	0.11	$	0.68
Diluted	$	0.19	$	0.09	$	0.11	$	0.68

Earnings per share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts will not necessarily equal the total for the year.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

25)	Recently issued accounting standards

In May 2014, the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board jointly issued new principles-based accounting guidance for revenue recognition that will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance. The core principle of this guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. To achieve the core principle, the guidance establishes the following five steps: 1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, 2) identify the performance obligation in the contract, 3) determine the transaction price, 4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and 5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The guidance also details the accounting treatment for costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. Lastly, disclosure requirements have been enhanced to provide sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. In July 2015, the FASB affirmed its proposal to defer the effective date by one year. In May 2016, the FASB issued improvements and practical expedients to the standard that included clarification of the collectability criterion, noncash considerations as well as clarification of options at transition. In December 2016, the FASB issued additional corrections and improvements. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance. This new guidance, will likely result in a change in the nature and extent of the related footnote disclosures. The Company plans to adopt the new guidance when effective and presently anticipates adopting on a modified retrospective basis to each prior reporting period presented with the election of applicable practical expedients.

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance to reduce existing diversity in practice in regards to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The guidance specifically addresses the following items: debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies; distributions received from equity method investees; beneficial interest in securitization transactions; and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period and early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The new guidance is to be applied retrospectively to each period presented at the date of adoption. FutureFuel has concluded this guidance will have a minimal impact on the Company’s statement of cash flows and related disclosures and plans to adopt in accordance with the guidance.

During June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to credit losses. The new guidance replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with an expected credit loss methodology and requires consideration of a broader range of information to determine credit loss estimates. Financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by using an allowance for credit losses. Purchased credit deteriorated loans will receive an allowance account for expected credit losses at the acquisition date that represents a component of the purchase price allocation. Credit losses relating to available for sale debt securities will be recorded through an allowance for expected credit losses, with such allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. An allowance will be established for estimated credit losses on held to maturity securities. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. FutureFuel has historically had minor credit losses and therefore expects this standard to have minimal to no impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations and related disclosures.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance in regards to stock compensation as a part of the simplification initiative that covers related tax accounting, cash flow presentation, and forfeitures. The two tax accounting related amendments are as follows: all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) should be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement, the tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur, an entity also should recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period; and the threshold to qualify for equity classification permits withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions. The cash flow presentation items set forth that excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity and cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity. For forfeitures, an entity can make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period and early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. Management has determined this standard will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position and results of operations and related disclosures.

In February 2016, a pronouncement was issued that creates new accounting and reporting guidelines for leasing arrangements. The new guidance requires organizations that lease assets to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet related to the rights and obligations created by those leases, regardless of whether they are classified as finance or operating leases. Consistent with current guidance, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. The guidance also requires new disclosures in order to help users of financial statements better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early application permitted. The new standard is to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. FutureFuel is currently evaluating the impact of the new pronouncement on its financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued guidance under the simplification and productivity initiative for presentation of deferred income tax liabilities and assets. This guidance simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes such that deferred tax liabilities and assets are to be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The update does not amend the current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets of a tax-paying component of an entity be offset and presented as a single amount. This guidance was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to adopt this standard in the fourth quarter of 2016 on a prospective basis. The 2015 financial statements were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease in current deferred income tax liability by $7,188 and an increase in noncurrent deferred income tax liability of $7,188.

In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new guidance that requires inventory not measured using either the last in, first out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. The new standard will be effective for periods on or after December 15, 2016 and will be applied prospectively. FutureFuel has concluded that the change in accounting required by this standard will not materially impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations and related disclosures.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

26)	Reserve roll forwards - valuation and qualifying accounts

	Balance at		Charged to		Charged to				Balance at
	January 1,		Cost and		Other				December
	2016		Expense		Accounts		Deductions			31,2016
Reserve for:
Doubtful accounts and returns	$	-	$	106	$	-	$	106	$	-
LIFO inventory		3,502		-		-		584		2,918
Aged and obsolete inventory		546		-		-		205		341
Deferred tax valuation allowance		-		-		-		-		-
Aged and obsolete supplies and parts		987		235		-		-		1,222
	$	5,035	$	341	$	-	$	895	$	4,481

	Balance at January 1, 2015		Charged to Cost and Expense		Charged to Other Accounts		Deductions		Balance at December 31, 2015
Reserve for:
Doubtful accounts and returns	$	-	$	37	$	-	$	37	$	-
LIFO inventory		8,342		-		-		4,840		3,502
Aged and obsolete inventory		633		-		-		87		546
Deferred tax valuation allowance		-		-		-		-		-
Aged and obsolete supplies and parts		949		38		-		-		987
	$	9,924	$	75	$	-	$	4,964	$	5,035

	Balance at January 1, 2014		Charged to Cost and Expense		Charged to Other Accounts		Deductions		Balance at December 31, 2014
Reserve for:
Doubtful accounts and returns	$	-	$	46	$	-	$	46	$	-
LIFO inventory		9,287		-		-		945		8,342
Aged and obsolete inventory		408		225		-		-		633
Deferred tax valuation allowance		-		-		-		-		-
Aged and obsolete supplies and parts		945		4		-		-		949
	$	10,640	$	229	$	-	$	945	$	9,924

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

27)	Asset impairment

On July 29, 2013, FutureFuel received notice from a chemicals segment customer for the intermediate anode powder that the customer will terminate the contract in accordance with its terms effective August 9, 2014. This contract subsequently terminated on August 9, 2014 without any additional material being produced or sold in 2014. As a result of the cancelation notice, FutureFuel assessed the carrying values of its fixed assets and deferred revenue associated with this product and recorded an impairment loss of $17,580 for the equipment based on the scrap value method less disposition costs and recorded a reduction of deferred revenue as an element of cost of goods sold slightly offset by other expenses in the amount of $16,160 in 2013. The net impact of this impairment recorded in cost of goods sold for 2013 was $1,420. FutureFuel’s customer remitted payment for all remaining minimum take or pay quantities per the terms of the sales agreement in 2014. FutureFuel also recognized the shortfall payment from 2013 in 2014. Such amounts totaled $4,176 and $4,640 respectively, and were recorded as a component of chemical segment revenue in 2014.

28)	Legal proceedings

FutureFuel is not a party to, nor is any of its property subject to, any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. However, from time to time, FutureFuel may be a party to, or a target of, lawsuits, claims, investigations, and proceedings, including product liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety, and employment matters, which FutureFuel expects to be handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While FutureFuel is unable to predict the outcome of any matters currently pending, FutureFuel does not believe that the ultimate resolution of any such pending matters will have a material adverse effect on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, adverse developments could negatively impact earnings or cash flows in future periods.

Supplementary Financial Information.

The following is selected quarterly financial data for each full quarter within our two most recent fiscal years.

(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

	Quarter
	1st		2nd		3rd		4th
2016
Revenues	$	46,635	$	67,879	$	69,306	$	69,373
Gross profit	$	11,053	$	7,972	$	10,319	$	17,514
Net income	$	10,569	$	14,224	$	12,868	$	18,680
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.24	$	0.33	$	0.29	$	0.43
Diluted	$	0.24	$	0.33	$	0.29	$	0.43

2015
Revenues	$	54,087	$	104,598	$	107,054	$	33,872
Gross profit	$	13,314	$	5,544	$	8,675	$	29,513
Net income	$	8,131	$	3,793	$	4,850	$	29,647
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.19	$	0.09	$	0.11	$	0.68
Diluted	$	0.19	$	0.09	$	0.11	$	0.68

Earnings per share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly amounts will not necessarily equal the total for the year.

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

RubinBrown LLP was engaged as the principal accountant to audit our financial statements for 2014, 2015, and 2016, and no other independent accountant was so engaged. There were no disagreements with RubinBrown LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and our principal financial officer and other senior management personnel, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2016 were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2016, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 has been audited by our auditor, RubinBrown LLP, a registered public accounting firm, which expressed an unqualified opinion as stated in their report, a copy of which is included below.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

FutureFuel Corp.:

We have audited FutureFuel Corp. and subsidiaries’ (collectively, the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A of the Company's December 31, 2016 annual report on Form 10-K. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

In our opinion, FutureFuel Corp. and its subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of FutureFuel Corp. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, and our report dated March 16, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ RubinBrown LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

March 16, 2017

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We did not make any changes in our internal control over financial reporting as a result of our evaluation that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Item 9B.

Other Information.

We did not fail to disclose any information required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of 2016.

PART III

Unless otherwise stated, all dollar amounts are in thousands.

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance.

Identification of Directors

Our directors as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:

Name	Age		Director Since		Term Expires
Paul A. Novelly, Chairman and chief executive officer		73		2005		2018
Edwin A. Levy		79		2005		2019
Paul G. Lorenzini		77		2007		2018
Donald C. Bedell		75		2008		2019
Paul M. Manheim		68		2011		2017
Dale E. Cole		68		2015		2018
Terrance C.Z. Egger		59		2015		2019
Jeffrey L. Schwartz		68		2015		2017

There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the above directors and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected as a director.

Identification of Executive Officers

Our executive officers are as follows.

Name	Position	Age		Officer Since
Paul A. Novelly	Chairman of the board and chief executive officer		73		2005
Thomas McKinlay(a)	Chief Operating Officer		53		2017
Rose M. Sparks	Principal financial officer and chief financial officer		50		2012
Sam W. Dortch	Executive Vice President		68		2015
Paul M. Flynn	Executive Vice President		50		2015

(a)

Mr. McKinlay was appointed as Chief Operating Officer on January 9, 2017.

There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the above officers and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected as an officer.

Identification of Certain Significant Employees

The following individuals are executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company who are expected to make significant contributions to our business.

Name

Position

Age

Officer

Since

Thomas McKinlay(a)

Chief Operating Officer

2017

Samuel W. Dortch

Executive vice president and general manager

2007

Rose M. Sparks

Chief financial officer

2013

Paul M. Flynn

Executive vice president of business and marketing

2014

(a)

Mr. McKinlay was appointed as Chief Operating Officer on January 9, 2017.

There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the above officers and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected as an officer.

Family Relationships

There is no family relationship between any of our executive officers and directors.

Business Experience

Paul A. Novelly has been our chairman of the board since inception and chief executive officer since January 2013. Mr. Novelly is chairman and chief executive officer of Apex Oil Company, Inc., a privately-held company based in St. Louis, Missouri engaged in the trading, storage, marketing, and transportation of petroleum products, including liquid terminal facilities in the Midwest and Eastern United States, and towboat and barge operations on the inland waterway system. Mr. Novelly is president and a director of AIC Limited, a Bermuda-based oil trading company, chairman, chief executive officer and a director of WPT GP, LLC, a director and the chairman of World Point Terminals, Inc., a Delaware company based in Missouri which is the owner of WPT GP, LLC, the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP which is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates petroleum storage facilities in the United States, and chief executive officer of St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, which provides corporate management services. He currently serves on the board of directors at Boss Holdings, Inc., a distributor of work gloves, boots and rainwear, and other consumer products, and FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., a holding company whose material subsidiary is Florida Community Bank. Mr. Novelly previously served on the board of directors of World Point Terminals, Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange company and the predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

Our board believes that Mr. Novelly’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as our chairman since 2005 and his knowledge of our operations and effectiveness of our business strategies provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Novelly’s experience as the chief executive officer of Apex Oil Company, Inc., AIC Limited, St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, and WPT GP, LLC and as the chairman of World Point Terminals, Inc., as well as a number of executive positions with other oil refining, terminalling, storage, and transportation companies, are integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Novelly’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

Paul G. Lorenzini has been a member of our board since January 2007 and served as our chief operating officer from April 21, 2008 through August 27, 2015. In January 1970, Mr. Lorenzini co-founded Packaging Consultants, Inc., a distribution business supplying packaging materials to the food industry. In 1983, Bunzl PLC, a supplier of supermarket and food service packaging, acquired Packaging Consultants, Inc. Mr. Lorenzini continued to work for Bunzl PLC and in 1986 became president of Bunzl USA. He subsequently became the chief executive officer and chairman of Bunzl North America and grew Bunzl North America to the largest food packaging distributor in North America and retired in July 2004 with the title of chairman emeritus. Mr. Lorenzini served as a director of Bunzl PLC between 1988 and 1991 and between 1999 and 2004.

Our board believes that Mr. Lorenzini’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as our chief operating officer and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his seven-plus years of service as chief operating officer provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Lorenzini’s operational and management experience with Bunzl PLC, Bunzl USA, and Bunzl North America is integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Lorenzini’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

Edwin A. Levy has been a member of our board since November 2005. In 1979, Mr. Levy co-founded Levy, Harkins & Co., Inc., an investment advisory firm, where he now serves as chairman emeritus of the board. Mr. Levy was a director of Traffix, Inc. between November 1995 and 2006, and served as a member of its audit committee and stock options committee. He is a director of WPT GP, LLC and World Point Terminals, Inc., a Delaware company based in Missouri which is the owner of WPT GP, LLC, the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP which is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates petroleum storage facilities in the United States. Mr. Levy previously served on the board of directors of World Point Terminals, Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange company and the predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

Our board believes that Mr. Levy’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise as a member of our board and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his ten-plus years of service to us in that capacity provide valuable perspective to our board and add significant value. Additionally, Mr. Levy’s finance and investment experience from his involvement with Levy, Harkins & Co., Inc. is integral to our board’s assessment of our business opportunities and strategic options. Finally, Mr. Levy’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

Donald C. Bedell has been a member of our board since March 17, 2008. Mr. Bedell is chairman of the board of privately held Castle Partners and its affiliates, based in Sikeston, Missouri, which operate over 35 skilled nursing, health care, pharmaceutical, hospice, and therapy facilities throughout Missouri and other states. Mr. Bedell is a director of First Community Bank of Batesville, Arkansas and is a member of the executive committee of such bank and its holding company. He is also a director of WPT GP, LLC and World Point Terminals, Inc. FutureFuel Corp.’s chairman, Paul A. Novelly, is the chief executive officer of WPT GP, LLC and the chairman of the board of World Point Terminals, Inc. Mr. Bedell is the former chairman of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Mr. Bedell previously served on the board of directors of World Point Terminals, Inc., a Canadian and Toronto Stock Exchange company and the predecessor to World Point Terminals, Inc.

Our board believes that Mr. Bedell’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the chairman at Castle Partners, including experience and understanding of business strategy formation and execution from both a board and management perspective, add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Bedell’s service and experience as a director for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

Paul M. Manheim has been a member of our board since July 15, 2011. Mr. Manheim is currently the CEO of HAL Real Estate Inc., which develops and owns a portfolio of real estate in the Pacific Northwest consisting of multi-family, office, and mixed-use assets. HAL Real Estate Inc. is a subsidiary of HAL Holding N.V. Mr. Manheim joined Holland America Line, N.V., the predecessor of HAL Holding N.V., an international holding company traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, in 1982 and filled various positions in the financial and corporate development areas. From 2005 to 2015, Mr. Manheim was the chairman of the board of Shanghai Red Star Optical Company, which owns a portfolio of optical retail outlets in China and is affiliated with Europe’s largest optical retailer. Mr. Manheim has served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of WPT GP, LLC, the general partner of World Point Terminals, LP since 2013. Mr. Manheim received a bachelor of commerce degree with honors from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1976.

Our board believes that Mr. Manheim’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the president and chief executive officer at HAL Real Estate Inc., including experience and understanding of business strategy formation and execution from both a board and management perspective, add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Manheim’s service and experience as a director for other boards, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board. Finally, Mr. Manheim’s experience as the chairman of the audit committee of WPT GP, LLC and his experience as a chartered accountant add significant value to our board.

Dale E. Cole has been a member of our board since August 27, 2015. Mr. Cole's career in banking began in 1974 with Texas Bank and Trust Company in Dallas, TX. He then worked with First National Bank in Marshal, TX, and became President of Banc Texas McKinney in McKinney, TX in 1983. In 1988, Mr. Cole became Chairman and CEO of Worthen Banking Corporation, with two banks in Batesville and Newark, AR. Mr. Cole founded First Community Bank in 1997. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of First Community Bank and its holding company. As of December 31, 2016, First Community Bank had 19 branch locations in Northeast Arkansas and Southwest Missouri and maintained assets of approximately $1.201 billion. In 2016, Mr. Cole was elected to the board of trustees of Lyon College in Batesville, AR and he serves on Lyon College’s finance committee. Mr. Cole previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, TN, the Board of Visitors of the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville, AR, the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Foundation in Batesville, AR, Lyon College Advisory Counsel, and the board of White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR.

Mr. Cole's extensive career in banking built in him a strong foundation in business, regulatory environments, and corporate governance. Having served on numerous committees throughout his career, including compensation, trust, executive, asset/liability, investment, and many others, Mr. Cole's well-rounded experience and exposure in banking and regulatory environments will strengthen the governance function of our board. Additionally, Mr. Cole’s service and experience as chairman for other boards, including active involvement in strategic planning for those companies, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

Terrance C.Z. (Terry) Egger has been a member of our board since August 27, 2015. Mr. Egger serves as publisher and CEO of Philadelphia Media Network, parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com, that region’s largest news company. Mr. Egger oversees all operations of the newspaper and its affiliates. Mr. Egger served as president and CEO of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, Inc., where he led the successful effort for the City of Cleveland to host the 2016 Republican National Convention. In 2013, Mr. Egger retired as chairman of The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. in Cleveland, parent company of The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest paper, where he had served in several executive capacities from 2006. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Egger was the president and publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he supervised all operations, including its website STLtoday.com and Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis. Terry started his newspaper career managing marketing and advertising for papers in Los Angeles, California and Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Egger is a member of the Board of Directors of Medical Mutual of Ohio and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master's degree in speech communication from San Diego State University. Mr. Egger serves on the Company's Compensation Committee.

Our board believes that Mr. Egger’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise, including experience and understanding of business strategy, development, supervision, operations and management add significant value to our board. Additionally, Mr. Egger’s service and experience on other boards, strengthens the governance and functioning of our board.

Jeffrey L. Schwartz has been a member of our board since August 27, 2015. Since 2008, Mr. Schwartz has been a founder and principal of Digital Direct Ventures (DDV), which partners with companies seeking to create a digital presence for their companies. He also started Old Pro Inc. (OPI) which invests in and provides financial and technical consulting to early stage technology companies, including successes like DraftStreet.com and JW Player Incorporated. From 1995 to 2008, Mr. Schwartz was the chief executive officer of Traffix, Inc. and its predecessor, Quintel Communications, Inc., a NASDAQ listed company and leading digital marketer. Mr. Schwartz has been involved in all aspects of web-based and technology commerce, including online and search engine marketing, interactive games, list brokerage and creative services. Mr. Schwartz serves on the Company's Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

Our board believes that Mr. Schwartz’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise, including experience and understanding of business strategy, development and marketing add significant value to our board and the company.

Thomas McKinlay became FutureFuel Corp.’s and FutureFuel Chemical Company’s Chief Operating Officer on January 9, 2017. Mr. McKinlay, is a Chemical Engineer and business operations executive with over 30 years of global experience in the oil and gas industry. He has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry on both sides of the Atlantic. This includes responsibility for large scale refining and trading operations; midstream assets; renewables production and trading; retail; contract negotiation; and mergers and acquisitions.

For over two years prior to his hire by FutureFuel, Mr. McKinlay was the owner and president of Gilrita Consulting Limited, a UK based independent downstream consultancy firm. Prior to Gilrita Consulting Limited, he was Executive Vice President of Murphy Oil Corporation for more than three years, a role which latterly incorporated the role of Managing Director of Murco Petroleum Limited, a UK based oil refining company. Mr. McKinlay was employed for approximately six years by Murphy Oil where he became Executive Vice President of Worldwide Downstream Operations. Mr. McKinlay received a bachelor of science in chemical engineering (with honors) from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK in 1985.

Our board believes the experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise Mr. McKinlay acquired in his past roles in operations add significant, strategic value to the company. Additionally, Mr. McKinlay’s experience with large scale production and trading provides the company with significant understanding in the regional and global biodiesel industry.

Samuel W. Dortch was the vice president - operations services of FutureFuel Chemical Company between July 30, 2007 and October 14, 2007 and senior vice president - operations between October 15, 2007 and August 30, 2010. On August 30, 2010, Mr. Dortch became FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president and general manager. In 1972, Mr. Dortch joined Eastman Chemical Company’s technical services division in Kingsport, Tennessee as a development chemical engineer. He has served in numerous management positions in Kingsport, Batesville and at Eastman Kodak’s Kirby, England facility. In 2004, Mr. Dortch became manager of research and development at the Batesville plant and director of research and development in December 2006.

Our board believes that Mr. Dortch’s experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as the executive vice president and general manager of FutureFuel Chemical Company, and his knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over his nine years of service to us in various roles and his years of service to Eastman Chemical Company, including his knowledge of the chemical business, are of significant value to the company.

Rose M. Sparks has been our principal financial officer, treasurer, and principal accounting officer since November 8, 2012, and our chief financial officer since June 1, 2013. Prior to June 1, 2013, Mrs. Sparks served as the controller of FutureFuel Chemical Company since its acquisition in 2006 and has over twenty years of experience at the Batesville facility. Prior to our acquisition of FutureFuel Chemical Company, Mrs. Sparks worked for Eastman Chemical as the controller at the Batesville plant. Mrs. Sparks is a certified public accountant.

Our board believes that Mrs. Sparks’ experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise acquired as controller of FutureFuel Chemical Company, and her knowledge of our operations and business strategies gained over her years of service in that role, as well as experience as certified public accountant, add significant value to us.

Paul M. Flynn became FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president of business and marketing on September 2, 2014. Mr. Flynn is a veteran business executive with 25 years in the chemical and biotech industries. After joining Monsanto Company in 2008 as Director of Strategic Alliances, he spent six years developing corporate strategy, and recently led its development of a new biologicals growth platform. Prior to Monsanto, Mr. Flynn was global business manager for automotive and electrical products for Eastman Chemical Company. He eventually led the strategy development and execution for transforming Specialty Plastics into a profitable growth division for Eastman. He has extensive global experience, including prior relocations to Japan and Singapore. He received an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and graduated from Athlone Institute in Ireland with a B.S. in Polymer Technology.

Our board believes the experience, knowledge, skills, and expertise Mr. Flynn established in Monsanto Company’s corporate strategy division adds significant, strategic value to the company. Additionally, Mr. Flynn’s experience with Eastman’s Specialty Plastics division and as a global business manager provides to the company a fresh perspective and practical insight to the regional and global chemical industry.

Involvement in Legal Proceedings

None of our directors or executive officers were involved within the past ten years in any matter described in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and Forms 4 and amendments thereto furnished to us under the rules of the SEC promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as well as any written representation from a reporting person that no Form 5 is required, we are not aware that any officers, members of our board of directors and/or beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock failed to file on a timely basis, as disclosed in the aforementioned forms, reports required by Section 16 of the Exchange Act during the year ended December 31, 2016, except for a late Form 4 filed by Mr. Lorenzini to report a sale of stock and a late Form 5 filed by Mr. Flynn to reconcile ownership reported in previous proxy with payment of tax liability by withholding of securities incident to the vesting of securities issued in accordance with Rule 16b-3.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We adopted a revised code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees and the employees of our subsidiaries, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of this revised code of business conduct and ethics has been posted on our Internet website and may be accessed at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm. We will provide any person, without charge, a copy of such code of business conduct and ethics upon request to FutureFuel Corp., 8235 Forsyth Blvd., 4th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, attention: Investor Relations.

Nominating Committee

Our board established a nominating/corporate governance committee and adopted a revised charter for such committee. A copy of this revised nominating/corporate governance committee charter is posted on our website and may be accessed at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm. The nominating/corporate governance committee charter contains procedures for Company shareholders to submit recommendations for nomination to our board. The nominating/corporate governance committee charter was attached as an exhibit to our Form 10 Registration Statement filed with the SEC on April 24, 2007 and was last updated on July 16, 2015.

Audit Committee

We have a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, and have adopted a revised audit committee charter. A copy of this revised audit committee charter has been posted on our website and may be accessed at http://ir.futurefuelcorporation.com/governance.cfm. The current members of the audit committee are as follows:

Donald C. Bedell

Dale E. Cole

Paul M. Manheim (Chair)

Audit Committee Expert

Our board of directors determined that each member of our audit committee is an audit committee financial expert. Each such member of our audit committee is independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined in the listing standards applicable to us.

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

General

Our board of directors has established a compensation committee. The compensation committee’s responsibilities include, among other things, determining our policy on remuneration to our (that is, FutureFuel Corp.’s) officers and directors and the executive officers and directors of FutureFuel Chemical Company. Our directors receive an annual stipend of $30, but the stipend is prorated if their service was for less than the full year. Committee heads receive an additional $10 on an annual basis, again prorated if serving as committee chairman for less than the full year. The compensation committee also approved the payment to our directors of $2 for each board and committee meeting attended in person and $1 for each board and committee meeting attended telephonically. During 2016, the compensation committee reviewed and approved this fee schedule as reasonable and appropriate compensation to our directors and has determined to use the same fee structure for 2017. In December 2016, an additional stipend of $25 was approved and paid in January 2017 to our directors.

We determined for 2016 not to pay salaries, bonuses, or other forms of cash compensation to any of our board members that serve as executive officers (in their capacities as such). Executive officer compensation will be monitored during 2017 and set or adjusted as the board deems appropriate.

In 2016, we paid salaries, bonuses, and other forms of compensation to the officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company as described below.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The objectives of our compensation program are to provide a competitive compensation package that rewards sustained financial and operating performance that creates long-term value for our shareholders. Our compensation programs are intended to meet the goals of attracting and retaining qualified personnel; motivating these individuals to achieve short-term and long-term corporate goals without undue risk-taking and to promote equity among executive officer positions, while considering external competitiveness and differences in job responsibilities.

The elements of our compensation program include base salary, bonuses, and certain retirement, insurance, and other benefits generally available to all employees. In addition, our board adopted an Omnibus Incentive Plan (or the “Incentive Plan”) which was approved by our shareholders at our 2007 annual meeting on June 26, 2007. The Incentive Plan provides equity-based compensation to our executive officers and our directors. Our compensation committee, and the company generally, makes decisions with respect to each compensation element paid or payable to our personnel on an individual-by-individual basis and does not necessarily take into account decisions made with respect to other elements of compensation that may be paid to such individual. The overall goal of our compensation program, however, is to achieve the goals described above.

Cash Salaries and Bonuses

We determined not to pay cash salaries or bonuses to Mr. Novelly for 2016. Our chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Novelly, receives compensation from our affiliate, St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP. Mr. Novelly did not receive any increase in salary, bonus, or other income to compensate him for his services to us. As to our other executive officers, the base salary for Mr. Dortch was not materially adjusted in 2016. The base salary for Mrs. Sparks was not materially adjusted in 2016. Mr. Flynn was hired in 2014, with a base salary set largely in line with our other executives at FutureFuel Chemical Company and commensurate with his experience.

For the year 2016, we established a bonus pool for the employees of our subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company. The total bonus target amount was determined by our chief executive officer in consultation with our other executive officers. Eligible FutureFuel Chemical Company employees hired after January 1, 2016 received $0.25. Eligible employees hired prior to January 1, 2016 received approximately 132 hours of pay at their normal hourly rate. Salaried employees of FutureFuel Chemical Company (other than certain lead executives) received an additional bonus amount ranging from $0 to $92. Bonuses to FutureFuel Chemical Company’s managers other than the lead executive team were determined by Future Fuel Chemical Company’s board of directors. Bonuses in 2016 for Mr. Dortch, Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Sparks, and other lead executives of FutureFuel Chemical Company were recommended by our chief executive officer, then reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee of our Board after considering several factors, including our overall financial performance and comparative information regarding the executive pay practices of our competitors. Such bonus distributions were designed to be sufficient compensation for the services rendered, competitive with market rates for similar services, and sufficient to motivate these individuals to aid in our achievement of short-term and long-term corporate goals.

We expect to establish an annual cash bonus program for fiscal years commencing after 2016 with a target of 10% of after-tax earnings of FutureFuel Chemical Company, subject to certain adjustments, and solely on a discretionary basis. In determining actual bonus payouts for such years, we expect that the compensation committee will consider performance against performance goals to be established by us, as well as individual performance goals. We expect that this annual cash bonus program will apply to certain key employees of FutureFuel Chemical Company in addition to the executives whose compensation is described herein. The actual amount of bonuses, if any, will be determined near the end of our fiscal year.

Omnibus Incentive Plan

Our board of directors adopted the Incentive Plan, which was approved by our shareholders at our 2007 annual shareholder meeting on June 26, 2007. The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to:

	●	encourage share ownership by key personnel whose long-term employment with or engagement by us or our subsidiaries (including FutureFuel Chemical Company) is considered essential to our continued progress and, thereby, encourage recipients to act in our shareholders’ interests and share in our success;
	●	encourage such persons to remain in our employ or in the employ of our subsidiaries; and
	●	provide incentives to persons who are not our employees to promote our success.

The Incentive Plan authorizes us to issue stock options (including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options), stock awards, and stock appreciation rights. To date, options for 1,060,500 shares of stock and awards of 414,800 shares of stock have been made. Please see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of 2016 stock based compensation awards.

Eligible participants in the Incentive Plan include (i) members of our board of directors and our executive officers; (ii) regular, active employees of us or of any of our subsidiaries; and (iii) persons engaged by us or by any of our subsidiaries to render services to us or our subsidiaries as an advisor or consultant.

Awards under the Incentive Plan are limited to shares of our common stock, which may be shares reacquired by us, including shares purchased in the open market, or authorized but un-issued shares. Awards are limited to 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock in the aggregate, or 2,670,000 shares, as of the date of adoption of the Incentive Plan. Taking into account the prior grants of stock options and stock awards, there are 1,194,700 shares remaining to be issued under the Incentive Plan.

The Incentive Plan is administered by our board’s compensation committee (or “Administrator"). The Administrator may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Incentive Plan. The Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Incentive Plan and any of the functions assigned to the Administrator in the Incentive Plan. Such delegation may be revoked at any time. All decisions, determinations, and interpretations by the Administrator regarding the Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions of any award granted thereunder will be final and binding on all participants.

The Administrator may grant a stock option or provide for the grant of a stock option either from time to time in the discretion of the Administrator or automatically upon the occurrence of events specified by the Administrator, including the achievement of performance goals or the satisfaction of an event or condition within the control of the participant or within the control of others. Each option agreement must contain provisions regarding (i) the number of shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the option; (ii) the type of option; (iii) the exercise price of the shares and the means of payment for the shares; (iv) the term of the option; (v) such terms and conditions on the vesting or exercisability of the option as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator; (vi) restrictions on the transfer of the option and forfeiture provisions; and (vii) such further terms and conditions not inconsistent with the plan as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Administrator or otherwise set forth in the Incentive Plan, the vesting of an option will occur only while the participant is employed or rendering services to us or one of our subsidiaries, and all vesting will cease upon a participant’s termination of employment for any reason.

The Administrator may grant annual performance vested options. Performance will be tied to annual cash flow targets (our consolidated income plus depreciation plus amortization) in amounts to be determined. Annual performance vested options will vest 25% for each year that the annual cash flow target is achieved (with provisions for subsequent year catch-ups). Neither our management nor our compensation committee, however, has through the year ended December 31, 2016 made any awards that were contingent upon the achievement of specified performance goals or that were otherwise performance-vested. Rather, through 2016, all grants were made in the discretion of our compensation committee based upon their authority under the Incentive Plan.

The Administrator may grant cumulative performance vested options. Performance will be tied to cumulative cash flow in amounts to be determined for periods to be determined.

The Administrator may issue other options based upon the following performance criteria either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, applied to either us as a whole or to a business unit, subsidiary, or business segment, either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Administrator: (i) cash flow; (ii) earnings (including gross margin, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, and net earnings); (iii) earnings per share; (iv) growth in earnings or earnings per share; (v) stock price; (vi) return on equity or average shareholders’ equity; (vii) total shareholder return; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on assets or net assets; (x) return on investment; (xi) revenue; (xii) income or net income; (xiii) operating income or net operating income; (xiv) operating profit or net operating profit; (xv) operating margin; (xvi) return on operating revenue; (xvii) market share; (xviii) overhead or other expense reduction; (xix) growth in shareholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or a peer group index; (xx) strategic plan development and implementation; and (xxi) any other similar criteria.

Such options will vest and expire (including on a pro rata basis) on such terms as may be determined by the Administrator from time to time consistent with the terms of the Incentive Plan.

The Administrator may award our common stock to participants. The grant, issuance, retention, or vesting of each stock award may be subject to such performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria as the Administrator determines, which criteria may be based on financial performance, personal performance evaluations, or completion of service by the participant. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, upon the participant’s termination of employment other than due to death or retirement, the unvested portions of the stock award and the shares of our common stock subject thereto will generally be forfeited. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a participant’s termination of employment is due to death or retirement, all outstanding stock awards will continue to vest provided certain conditions to be determined are met. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a participant’s termination of employment is due to his death, a portion of each outstanding stock award granted to such participant will immediately vest and all forfeiture provisions and repurchase rights will lapse as to a prorated number of shares of common stock determined by dividing the number of whole months since the grant date by the number of whole months between the grant date and the date that the stock award would have fully vested.

The Administrator may grant stock appreciation rights either alone or in conjunction with other awards. The Administrator will determine the number of shares of common stock to be subject to each award of stock appreciation rights. The award of stock appreciation rights will not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant except as the Administrator may otherwise determine in the event of death, disability, retirement, or voluntary termination of employment of the participant. Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, the award of stock appreciation rights will not be exercisable unless the person exercising the award of stock appreciation rights has been at all times during the period beginning with the date of the grant thereof and ending on the date of such exercise, employed by or otherwise performing services for us or one of our subsidiaries.

In the event there is a change in control of the Company, as determined by our board, our board may, in its discretion: (i) provide for the assumption or substitution of, or adjustment to, each outstanding award; (ii) accelerate the vesting of awards and terminate any restrictions on cash awards or stock awards; and (iii) provide for the cancellation of awards for a cash payment to the participant.

Retirement Benefits

We adopted a 401(k) plan for FutureFuel Chemical Company which is generally available to all of its employees.

Founder’s Grant

Certain of our executive officers were granted founders shares as described herein. Please refer to the discussion under “Item 12. - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters - Founding Shares Owned by the Founding Shareholders” below.

Life Insurance and Other Employee Benefits

Our executive officers other than Mr. Novelly participate in employee welfare plans (life insurance, medical insurance, disability insurance, vacation pay, and the like) maintained by FutureFuel Chemical Company for all of its employees.

The Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee currently consists of Donald C. Bedell (Chair), Edwin A. Levy, and Terrance C.Z. Egger. Each of these individuals is an “independent director” under the rules of the NYSE, a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and an “outside director” within the meaning of §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Recommendations from Management

Our chairman and chief executive officer makes recommendations to the compensation committee regarding salaries and bonuses for executive officers, as well as awards under the Incentive Plan. The compensation committee takes these recommendations into consideration in approving all such salaries, bonuses, and awards.

Summary Compensation Table

Our executive officers were paid the following compensation for the three-year period ended December 31, 2016.

Summary Compensation Table

(Dollars in thousands)


						Stock		Option		All Other
Person	Year	Salary		Bonus		Awards (d)		Awards (d)			Compensation	Total
Paul A. Novelly	2016	$	0	$	0	$	999	$	0	$	0	$	999
Chairman and Chief executive	2015	$	0	$	0	$	995	$	0	$	33	$	1,028
officer FutureFuel Corp.	2014	$	0	$	0	$	903	$	0	$	35	$	938
Samuel W. Dortch (a)	2016	$	203	$	100	$	0	$	0	$	19	$	322
Executive vice president and general manager,	2015	$	220	$	92	$	0	$	0	$	19	$	331
FutureFuel Chemical Company	2014	$	209	$	70	$	0	$	42	$	18	$	339
Rose M. Sparks (a)	2016	$	161	$	100	$	0	$	0	$	17	$	278
Chief financial officer, principal financial	2015	$	170	$	75	$	0	$	0	$	17	$	261
officer, and treasurer, FutureFuel Corp.	2014	$	146	$	70	$	0	$	42	$	14	$	272
Paul M. Flynn (a) (c)	2016	$	218	$	100	$	292	$	0	$	14	$	624
Executive vice president of business and marketing, FutureFuel Chemical Company	2015	$	218	$	92	$	245	$	0	$	19	$	573
	2014	$	59	$	31	$	349	$	0	$	1	$	440

(a)	Executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company for the years indicated.

(b)

For Mr. Novelly, includes $33 in director fees in 2015 and $35 in director fees for 2014. For executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company, includes our contributions (including accrued contributions) to vested and unvested defined contribution plans, HSA matching contributions, and the dollar value of any insurance premiums paid by, or on behalf of, us during or for the covered fiscal year with respect to life and disability insurance for the benefit of the named person. The above amounts do not include travel expenses reimbursed pursuant to Company policy.

(c)	Mr. Flynn became FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president of business and marketing effective September 2, 2014. He was awarded 125,000 shares of our common stock, of which 25,000 vested immediately and 25,000 are to vest in each of the following four years.

(d)

Represents the grant date valuation of the awards under FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used for determining the value of option awards reported here are set forth in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. Mr. Novelly’s prior year stock awards amount restated to conform with current year presentation.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

No stock ptions or stock awards were granted under a plan to executive officers in 2016.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised options, stock awards that have not vested, and equity incentive plan awards as of December 31, 2016 with respect to our executive officers.

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name

Number of

Securities Underlying Unexercised

Options (#) Exercisable

Number of

Securities Underlying Unexercised

Options (#) Unexercisable

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Number of

Securities Unexercised Unearned

Options (#)

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

Option
Expiration
Date

Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested (#)

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)

Paul A.

83,334

1,162

Novelly (a)

Sam W.

5,000

11.34

12/02/19

Dortch (b)

Rose M.

5,000

11.34

12/02/19

Sparks (b ) (c)

Paul M.

50,000

698

Flynn (a ) (d)

(a)

The company issued restricted stock awards to Messrs. Novelly and Flynn on May 9, 2014 and September 2, 2014, respectively. Mr. Novelly’s 250,000 share award vests in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the reward was $4,195 and will be recognized into expense equally over those three years. 20% of the 125,000 shares awarded to Mr. Flynn vested immediately, with the remaining 100,000 shares vesting equally over four years. The total expense for the reward was $2,136, with 20% recognized immediately.

(b)

The option awards to Mrs. Sparks and Mr. Dortch that expire on December 2, 2019 vest annually over three years and have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for the company’s common stock as of the grant date. For a discussion of assumptions to estimate fair value, see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

(c)

Ms. Sparks became our Chief Financial Officer and treasurer effective June 1, 2013.

(d)

Mr. Flynn became our Executive Vice President of business and marketing effective September 2, 2014.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table sets forth the number of options exercised by each of our executive officers in 2016 and stock awards that vested in 2016.

	Option Awards				Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)		Value Realized on Exercise ($)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)		Value Realized on Vesting ($)
Paul A. Novelly (a)		0		0		83,333		938
Samuel W. Dortch (b)		20,000		72
Rose M. Sparks (c)		30,000		87
Paul M. Flynn (a) (d)		0		0		25,000		292

	(a)	The company issued restricted stock awards to Messrs. Novelly and Flynn on May 9, 2014 and September 2, 2014, respectively. Mr. Novelly’s 250,000 share award vests in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the reward was $4,195 and will be recognized into expense equally over those three years. 20% of the 125,000 shares awarded to Mr. Flynn vested immediately, with the remaining 100,000 shares vesting equally over four years. The total expense for the reward was $2,136, with 20% recognized immediately.
	(b)	In 2016, 16,598 shares were withheld in payment of tax liability for a net exercise of 3,402 shares.
	(c)	In 2016, 26,308 shares were withheld in payment of tax liability for a net exercise of 3,692 shares.
	(d)	Pursuant to Mr. Flynn’s restricted stock award, 25,000 shares vested. In 2016, no shares were withheld in payment of tax liability.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

Restricted Stock Agreement with Paul A. Novelly

Paul A. Novelly, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is party to a Restricted Stock Agreement dated May 9, 2014 under which he received 250,000 shares of restricted stock which vest in equal increments on the first through third anniversaries of the agreement. The agreement provides that all unvested shares automatically vest in the event (i) his employment is terminated by reason of his disability; (ii) his employment is terminated by reason of his death; or (iii) a change of control occurs. The triggering events are each as defined in the Incentive Plan.

Assuming one of the triggering events occurred on December 31, 2016, Mr. Novelly would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $1,162 based on the closing price of our shares of $13.95 on January 3, 2017 (the next trading day).

Employment Agreement with Paul M. Flynn

Paul M. Flynn, FutureFuel Chemical Company’s executive vice president of business and marketing is party to an Employment Agreement dated July 2, 2014, which provides that Mr. Flynn would be entitled to certain payments or benefits, as applicable, upon the occurrence of a triggering event. The receipt of each of these payments or benefits is contingent upon Mr. Flynn executing and delivering to the Company a general release.

Upon a termination of Mr. Flynn’s employment for death or disability, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to an immediate full vesting of his remaining unvested restricted shares. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2016, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $698 based on the closing price of our shares of $13.95 on January 3, 2017 (the next trading day).

Upon a termination of Mr. Flynn’s employment by Mr. Flynn for good reason, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to (i) an immediate full vesting of his remaining unvested restricted shares; (ii) payment of his base salary for a period of six months; and (iii) to the extent eligible, reimbursement of COBRA premiums for a period of six months. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2016, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $698 based on the closing price of our shares of $13.95 on January 3, 2017 (the next trading day), $109 as payment of his base salary for a period of six months, and $6 as reimbursement for COBRA premiums for a period of six months.

Upon the Company's voluntary termination of Mr. Flynn’s employment, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to (i) an immediate vesting of 50% of the balance of his remaining unvested restricted shares; (ii) payment of his base salary for a period of six months; and (iii) to the extent eligible, reimbursement of COBRA premiums for a period of six months. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2016, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $349 based on the closing price of our shares of $13.95 on January 3, 2017 (the next trading day), $109 as payment of his base salary for a period of six months, and $6 as reimbursement for COBRA premiums for a period of six months.

Upon a change of control, as defined in the employment agreement, Mr. Flynn would be entitled to an immediate full vesting of his remaining unvested restricted shares plus payment of the amount, if any, by which $2,500 exceeds the value of the restricted shares at the time of the change in control. Had such a termination occurred on December 31, 2016, Mr. Flynn would have been able to receive accelerated vesting of restricted shares worth $698 based on the closing price of our shares of $13.95 on January 3, 2017 (the next trading day), plus a cash payment of $916.

Compensation of Directors

Our directors receive an annual stipend of $30, but prorated if their service was less than the full year. Committee heads receive an additional $10 on an annual basis, again prorated if serving as committee chairman for less than the full year. The compensation committee approved payment to our directors of $2 for each board and committee meeting attended in person and $1 for each board and committee meeting attended telephonically. During 2016, the compensation committee reviewed and approved this fee schedule as reasonable and appropriate compensation to our directors and has determined to use the same fee structure for 2017. In December 2016, an additional stipend of $25 for each director was approved and paid in January 2017.

The following is the compensation our directors earned for 2016.

Director	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)		Stock Awards ($)		Option Awards ($)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)		Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)		All Other Compensation ($)		Total ($)
Paul A. Novelly (a)		0		999		0		0		0		0		999
Edwin A. Levy		69		0		0		0		0		0		69
Paul G. Lorenzini		58		0		0		0		0		0		58
Donald C. Bedell		72		0		0		0		0		0		72
Paul M. Manheim		72		0		0		0		0		0		72
Dale E. Cole		61		0		0		0		0		0		61
Terrance C.Z. Egger		59		0		0		0		0		0		59
Jeffrey L. Schwartz		58		0		0		0		0		0		58

(a)

The company issued 250,000 restricted stock awards to Mr. Novelly on May 9, 2014. Mr. Novelly’s 250,000 share award vests in three annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date as service to the company is fulfilled. The total expense for the reward was $4,195 and will be recognized into expense equally over those three years.

The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised options, stock awards that have not vested, and equity incentive plan awards as of December 31, 2016 with respect to our directors.

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Name

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (# ) Unexercisable

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Unexercised Unearned Options (#)

Option Exercise Price ($)

Option Expiration Date

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)

Paul A.

83,334

1,167

Novelly

Dale E.

10,000

13.99

12/18/20

Cole (a)

Terrance

10,000

13.99

12/18/20

C.Z. Egger (a)

Jeffrey L.

10,000

13.99

12/18/20

Schwartz (a)

(a)

In December 2015, we granted a total of 30,000 stock options to our new board members. The options awarded have an exercise price equal to the mean between the highest and lowest quoted sales prices for FutureFuel’s common stock as of the grant date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. The options awarded vested immediately and expire on December 18, 2020. Please see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the company’s plan-based awards.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The members of our compensation committee during 2016 were Donald C. Bedell, Terrance C.Z. Egger, and Edwin A. Levy. The committee was chaired by Mr. Bedell. None of such individuals are or have been an officer or employee of the Company, nor did we enter into any transactions with such individuals during 2016 (other than the payment of directors' fees and other compensation, as noted above, solely in their capacity as directors).

Mr. Novelly, Mr. Levy (one of our directors and a member of our compensation committee), Mr. Bedell (one of our directors and the chair of our compensation committee), and Mr. Manheim (one of our directors and the chair of the audit committee) are directors of WPT GP, LLC, the board of directors of which performs the function of a compensation committee. Messrs Novelly, Levy and Bedell are directors of World Point Terminals, Inc.; World Point Terminals, Inc. does not have a separate compensation committee.

Compensation Committee Report

The compensation committee of our board has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above with our management. Based on this review and discussions, the compensation committee recommended to our board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this annual report on Form 10-K.

Donald C. Bedell (chair), Terrance C.Z. Egger, and Edwin A. Levy

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

Our board of directors adopted the Incentive Plan, which was approved by our shareholders at our 2007 annual shareholder meeting on June 26, 2007. We do not have any other equity compensation plan or individual equity compensation arrangement. Under this plan, we are authorized to issue 2,670,000 shares of our common stock. The shares to be issued under the plan were registered with the SEC on a Form S-8 filed on April 29, 2008. Through December 31, 2016, we issued options to purchase 1,060,500 shares of our common stock and awarded an additional 414,800 shares to participants under the plan. The following additional information regarding this plan is as of December 31, 2016.

Plan Category

Securities to be

issued upon exercise

of outstanding

options, warrants,

and rights

Weighted-average exercise

price of outstanding

options, warrants, and

rights

Securities available

for future issuance

under equity

compensation plans –

excluding column (a)

(a)

(b)

(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

70,000

12.48

1,194,700

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

As of the date of this report, 43,749,970 shares of our common stock are issued and outstanding, and we have no other securities issued and outstanding. The shares of common stock are our only voting securities issued and outstanding. The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of common stock owned by all persons known by us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of shares of our common stock as of March 15, 2017.

	Amount of		Percent of
	Beneficial		Common
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner	Ownership		Stock
Paul A. Novelly, 8235 Forsyth Blvd., 4th Floor, Clayton, MO 63105 (a)		17,725,100		40.5	%

(a)

Includes 17,078,450 shares of common stock held by St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, 375,000 shares of common stock held by Apex Holding Co., and 271,650 shares of common stock held by Mr. Novelly personally. Mr. Novelly is the chief executive officer of both named entities and thereby has voting and investment power over such shares, but he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of a minor pecuniary interest.

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Security Ownership of Management

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this report by each of our directors and executive officers and the executive officers of FutureFuel Chemical Company. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and none of such shares have been pledged as security.

Name of Beneficial Owner	Amount of Beneficial Ownership		Percent of Common Stock
Paul A. Novelly (a)		17,725,100		40.5	%
Paul G. Lorenzini (b)		714,877		1.6	%
Edwin A. Levy (c)		288,750		*
Paul M. Flynn		98,771		*
Sam W. Dortch ( d )		60,056		*
Donald C. Bedell (e)		58,650		*
Rose M. Sparks		13,124		*
Paul M. Manheim		13,103		*
Terrance C.Z. Egger		2,000		*
Dale E. Cole		350		*
Jeffrey L. Schwartz		0		*
Tom McKinlay		0		*
All directors and executive officers		18,974,781		43.4	%

(a)

(b)

Includes 55,000 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Lorenzini’s spouse; Mr. Lorenzini disclaims beneficial ownership thereof. Includes 5,000 shares owned by the Lorenzini Friends and Family Gift Trust, a trust established by Mr. Lorenzini and his spouse, as to which Mr. Lorenzini and his spouse are the trustees but not the beneficiaries; Mr. Lorenzini disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares of our common stock held by this trust.

(c)

Does not include 1,275 shares of our common stock owned by The Edwin A. Levy Charitable Foundation, Inc., a New York not-for-profit corporation as to which Mr. Levy is a founder and director but not a beneficiary. Mr. Levy disclaims beneficial ownership of shares owned by the Foundation.

(d)

Includes 49,247 shares of common stock held in an IRA established by Mr. Dortch.

(e)

Includes 2,400 shares of common stock owned by the Alexandra Nicole Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his granddaughter as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. Includes 2,453 shares of common stock owned by the Ashlyn Tate Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his granddaughter as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. Includes 2,400 shares of common stock owned by the Hailey Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his granddaughter as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust. Includes 51,197 shares of our common stock held by the Africa Exempt Trust, of which Mr. Bedell is a beneficiary. Includes 200 shares of common stock owned by the Charlie Cash Bedell Trust, a trust established by Mr. Bedell for his grandson as to which Mr. Bedell serves as trustee but holds no pecuniary interest; Mr. Bedell disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of our common stock held by this trust.

Founding Shares Owned by the Founding Shareholders

Prior to our July 2006 offering, there were 5,625,000 shares of our common stock (our founding shares) issued to our founding shareholders.

Change in Control

We are not aware of any arrangement the operation of which may at a date subsequent to the date of this report result in a change of control of our company.

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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Transactions with Related Persons

From time to time, we may sell to Apex Oil Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates biofuels (including biodiesel) produced by us, and Apex Oil Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates may sell to us, or we may sell to them, diesel fuel, gasoline, natural gas, and other petroleum products in our biofuels business. Such sales will be at then posted prices for comparable products plus or minus applicable geographical differentials. The dollar amounts of such transactions and other related party transactions are detailed in Note 19 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein.

Review, Approval, or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

Any transaction in which we (or one of our subsidiaries) are a participant, the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120 or 1% of our net income, total assets, or total capital, and in which any party related to us has or will have a direct or indirect material interest must be approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our board of directors as fair to us and our shareholders. This policy was adopted by our board on January 8, 2007 and amended on February 2, 2011, and can be found through the “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance” section of our website (http://www.FutureFuelCorporation.com). All of the agreements described above in this Item 13 have been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our board of directors.

In addition, we adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which sets forth legal and ethical standards of conduct for our directors, officers, and employees and the directors, officers, and employees of our subsidiaries. This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote: (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by us; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to appropriate persons identified in this Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to this Code. This Code was adopted by our board on November 30, 2005 and was amended on February 3, 2011 and January 1, 2016, is in writing, and can be found through the “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance” section of our website (http://www.FutureFuelCorporation.com). Each of the transactions described above (under the caption “Transactions with Related Persons”) was undertaken in compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our board of directors.

102

Director Independence

The SEC has promulgated Rule 10A-3, which sets forth the independence requirements for members of an audit committee. The following members of our board of directors are independent under the SEC’s definitions of independence:

Edwin A. Levy

Donald C. Bedell

Paul M. Manheim

Terrance C.Z. Egger

Dale E. Cole

Jeffrey L. Schwartz

In addition, each member of our board of directors’ compensation, audit, and nominating/corporate governance committees are comprised of directors who are independent under such definitions.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Audit Fees

During fiscal 2016 and 2015, we incurred $270 and $270, respectively for audit and financial statement review services from RubinBrown LLP.

Audit-Related Fees

During fiscal 2016 and 2015, we incurred $12 and $12, respectively, for each year’s employee benefit plan audit procedures from RubinBrown LLP.

Tax Fees

During fiscal 2016 and 2015, we incurred fees of $0 and $0, respectively, for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services from RubinBrown LLP.

All Other Fees

We did not incur any other fees for other services from RubinBrown LLP during fiscal 2016 or 2015.

Pre-Approval Policies

Our audit committee approves the engagement of our independent auditors prior to their rendering audit or non-audit services and sets their compensation. Pursuant to SEC regulations, our audit committee approves all fees payable to the independent auditors for all routine and non-routine services provided. Our audit committee considers and approves the budget for the annual audit and financial statement review services prior to the initiation of the work. Non-routine services in the ordinary course of business, which are not prohibited under SEC regulation, such as tax planning, tax compliance, and other services are generally pre-approved on a case-by-case basis.

Percentage of Hours Expended

N/A

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This report, and the documents incorporated by reference into this report, contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements deal with our 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 we or our 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 we make with the SEC, or in press releases, or in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized executive officers.

103

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” beginning at page 15 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” beginning at page 30 and in our future filings made with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this report which reflect our management’s opinions only as of their respective dates. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties described in this report and in subsequent filings with the SEC are not the only ones we face. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. There may be additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial to our business. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our 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, our business, operating results, liquidity, and financial condition could be materially affected in an adverse manner. You should consult any additional disclosures we have made or will make in our 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 us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this report.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)	List separately all financial statements filed as part of this report.

FutureFuel Corp.’s audited consolidated Balance Sheets as at December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the related consolidated Statements of Operations, Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, and Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

(b)	Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

3.1.

Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.3.f to Amendment No. 2 to Form 10 filed February 29, 2008)

3.2.

FutureFuel Corp.’s Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.2.a to Form 10 filed April 24, 2007)

4.1.

Registration Rights Agreement dated July 12, 2006 among FutureFuel Corp., St. Albans Global Management, Limited Partnership, LLLP, Lee E. Mikles as Trustee of the Lee E. Mikles Gift Trust dated October 6, 1999, Lee E. Mikles as Trustee of the Lee E. Mikles Revocable Trust dated March 26, 1996, Douglas D. Hommert as Trustee of the Douglas D. Hommert Revocable Trust, Edwin A. Levy, Joe C. Leach, Mark R. Miller, RAS LLC, Edwin L. Wahl, Jeffery H. Call and Ken Fenton (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.5 to Form 10 filed April 24, 2007)

10.1.

Registrar Agreement dated June 27, 2008 between FutureFuel Corp. and Computershare Investor Services (Channel Islands) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.2 to Form 10-K filed March 16, 2009)

10.2.

Storage and Thruput Agreement dated November 1, 2006 between FutureFuel Chemical Company and Center Point Terminal Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10. to Form 10 filed April 24, 2007)

10.3.

Commodity Trading Advisor Agreement dated November 1, 2006 between FutureFuel Chemical Company and Apex Oil Company, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.5 to Form 10 filed April 24, 2007 and Exhibit No. 10.3 to Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2015)

10.4.

Service Agreement dated November 1, 2006 between FutureFuel Corp. and Pinnacle Consulting, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.6 to Form 10 filed April 24, 2007)

10.5.

Credit Agreement dated April 16, 2015 between FutureFuel Corp. and FutureFuel Chemical Company as borrowers, and certain of FutureFuel’s other subsidiaries, as guarantors, and the lenders party thereto, Regions Bank as administrative agent and collateral agent, and PNC Bank, N.A., as syndication agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 20.1 to Form 10 filed May 11, 2015)

10.6.

Pledge and Security Agreement dated April 16, 2015 between FutureFuel Corp. and its subsidiaries and Regions Bank as collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 20.2 to Form 10 filed May 11, 2015)

10.7.

Time Sharing Agreement dated April 18, 2007 between Apex Oil Company, Inc. and FutureFuel Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.15 to Form 10 filed April 24, 2007)

10.8.

Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.16 to Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 filed June 26, 2007)

10.9.

Assistance Agreement effective June 16, 2010 between FutureFuel Chemical Company and the U.S. Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory (portions of exhibit omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.15 to Form 10-K filed March 16, 2011)

10.10.

At-The-Market Equity Offering Sales Agreement, dated May 10, 2011, between FutureFuel Corp. and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Form 8-K filed May 10, 2011)

10.11.1

Employment Agreement dated July 2, 2014 between FutureFuel Chemical Company and Paul M. Flynn (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19.1 to Form 10-Q filed November 6, 2014)

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10.11.2

Amendment to Employment Agreement dated July 2, 2014 between FutureFuel Chemical Company and Paul M. Flynn (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19.2 to Form 10-Q filed November 6, 2014)

11.

Statement re Computation of per Share Earnings

14.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 14 to Form 10-K filed March 16, 2011)

21.

Subsidiaries of FutureFuel Corp.

22.

Published report regarding matters submitted to vote of security holders (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed July 19, 2011)

23.

Consent of RubinBrown LLP

31(a).

Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of chief executive officer

31(b).

Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of principal financial officer

32.

Section 1350 Certification of chief executive officer and principal financial officer

101

Interactive Data Files**

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files in Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

Item 16. Summary

Registrants may voluntarily include a summary of information required by Form 10-K under this Item 16. The Company has elected not to include such summary information.

106

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

FUTUREFUEL CORP.

By:

/s/ Rose M. Sparks

Rose M. Sparks, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer

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

/s/ Paul A. Novelly

Paul A. Novelly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

By:

/s/ Rose M. Sparks

Rose M. Sparks, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer

/s/ Paul G. Lorenzini

Paul G. Lorenzini, Director

/s/ Edwin A. Levy

Edwin A. Levy, Director

/s/ Donald C. Bedell

Donald C. Bedell, Director

/s/ Paul M. Manheim

Paul M. Manheim, Director

/s/ Dale E. Cole

Dale E. Cole, Director

/s/ Terrance C.Z. Egger

Terrance C.Z. Egger, Director

/s/ Jeffrey L. Schwartz

Jeffrey L. Schwartz, Director

Date: March 16, 2017

107

Building & building equipment (years)

Machinery and equipment (years)

Transportation equipment (years)

Other (years)