UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-QSB
(Mark one)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
February 29, 2008
o
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
to .
Commission file number 1-11038
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION
(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
|
41-0857886
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
|
|
|
|
4201
Woodland Rd
Circle
Pines, Minnesota
(Address of principal
executive offices)
|
|
55014
(Zip Code)
|
(763) 225-6600
(Issuers telephone number, including area code)
Check
whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports)
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
x
No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2)
of the Exchange Act).
Yes
o
No
x
State the number of
shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common equity, as of the
latest practicable date.
Class
|
|
Outstanding as of April 11, 2008
|
Common Stock,
$0.02 par value
|
|
3,723,166
|
Transitional Small
Business Disclosure Format (check one):
Yes
o
No
x
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-QSB
February 29, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB contains certain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. For
more information, see Part I. Financial Information Item 2.
Managements Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation Forward-Looking Statements.
As used
in this report, references to NTIC, the Company, we, our or us,
unless the context otherwise requires, refer to Northern Technologies
International Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries NTI Facilities, Inc.
and Northern Technologies Holding Company, LLC, and its majority-owned
subsidiary React-NTI, LLC, all of which are consolidated on NTICs financial
statements.
All
trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this report are the
property of their respective owners.
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEETS as of
February 29, 2008 (Unaudited) and August 31, 2007
(Audited)
|
|
February 29
,
2008
|
|
August 31,
2007
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
461,161
|
|
$
|
244,499
|
|
Receivables:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade excluding corporate joint ventures, less allowance for doubtful
accounts of $20,000 and $30,000 at February 29, 2008 and August 31,
2007
|
|
1,615,376
|
|
1,
622,420
|
|
Trade corporate joint ventures
|
|
499,731
|
|
6
42,518
|
|
Technical and other services, corporate joint ventures
|
|
2,104,250
|
|
1,514,139
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
|
29,755
|
|
Inventories
|
|
1,776,352
|
|
1,
636,073
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
310,568
|
|
184,407
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
562,000
|
|
562,000
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
7,329,438
|
|
6,
435,811
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
|
|
3,794,127
|
|
3,792,461
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments in corporate joint ventures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial chemical
|
|
14,828,401
|
|
13,180,576
|
|
Industrial non-chemical
|
|
381,305
|
|
422,266
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
779,500
|
|
779,500
|
|
Notes receivable
|
|
163,356
|
|
32,187
|
|
Industrial patents and trademarks, net
|
|
976,949
|
|
983,206
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
304,000
|
|
304,000
|
|
Other
|
|
359,315
|
|
366,749
|
|
|
|
17,692,826
|
|
1
6,068,484
|
|
|
|
$
|
28,916,391
|
|
$
|
2
6,296,756
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS
EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of note payable
|
|
$
|
30,362
|
|
$
|
2
9,319
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
879,079
|
|
1,337,443
|
|
Accrued liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payroll and related benefits
|
|
918,829
|
|
1,0
25,858
|
|
Income taxes payable
|
|
31,386
|
|
|
|
Deferred joint venture royalties
|
|
240,000
|
|
192,000
|
|
Other
|
|
146,227
|
|
62,414
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
2,245,883
|
|
2,
647,034
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE PAYABLE, NET OF CURRENT PORTION
|
|
1,196,402
|
|
1,21
1,528
|
|
MINORITY INTEREST
|
|
13,988
|
|
36,133
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none issued
and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 10,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding 3,723,166 and 3,683,016, respectively
|
|
74,463
|
|
73,660
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
5,181,715
|
|
4,755,146
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
17,436,868
|
|
16,118,982
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
2,767,072
|
|
1,454,273
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
25,460,118
|
|
22,
402,061
|
|
|
|
$
|
28,916,391
|
|
$
|
26,296,756
|
|
See notes to
consolidated financial statements.
3
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2008 AND
FEBRUARY 28, 2007
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
February 28,
2007
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
February 28,
2007
|
|
NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
$
|
2,762,856
|
|
$
|
3,884,895
|
|
$
|
6,248,441
|
|
$
|
8,502,269
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
1,609,954
|
|
2,459,064
|
|
3,703,645
|
|
5,404,119
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
1,152,902
|
|
1,425,831
|
|
2,544,796
|
|
3,098,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling
|
|
754,302
|
|
810,165
|
|
1,613,946
|
|
1,579,204
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
894,525
|
|
804,289
|
|
1,842,822
|
|
1,627,172
|
|
Lab and technical support
|
|
53,616
|
|
45,335
|
|
110,744
|
|
130,375
|
|
|
|
1,702,443
|
|
1,659,789
|
|
3,567,512
|
|
3,336,751
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NORTH AMERICAN OPERATING
LOSS
|
|
(549,541
|
)
|
(233,958
|
)
|
(1,022,716
|
)
|
(238,601
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES AND HOLDING COMPANIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in income of industrial chemical corporate joint ventures and
holding companies
|
|
880,777
|
|
1,002,944
|
|
1,953,811
|
|
1,595,934
|
|
Equity in (loss) income of industrial non-chemical corporate joint
ventures and holding companies
|
|
(67,603
|
)
|
(8,429
|
)
|
(85,955
|
)
|
33,800
|
|
Gain on sale of industrial chemical corporate joint venture
|
|
172,767
|
|
|
|
172,767
|
|
|
|
Fees for technical support and other services provided to corporate
joint ventures
|
|
1,626,632
|
|
1,213,162
|
|
3,020,427
|
|
2,346,003
|
|
Expenses incurred in support of corporate joint ventures
|
|
(1,185,509
|
)
|
(1,341,052
|
)
|
(2,424,684
|
)
|
(2,657,301
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME FROM ALL CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES AND HOLDING COMPANIES
|
|
1,427,064
|
|
866,625
|
|
2,636,366
|
|
1,318,436
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST INCOME
|
|
424
|
|
766
|
|
919
|
|
1,701
|
|
INTEREST EXPENSE
|
|
(40,592
|
)
|
(47,483
|
)
|
(72,115
|
)
|
(90,364
|
)
|
OTHER INCOME
|
|
6,825
|
|
6,281
|
|
14,757
|
|
8,374
|
|
GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS
|
|
4,001
|
|
1,700
|
|
5,530
|
|
726,195
|
|
MINORITY INTEREST
|
|
507
|
|
2,272
|
|
22,145
|
|
(7,314
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
EXPENSE
|
|
848,690
|
|
596,203
|
|
1,584,886
|
|
1,718,427
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
|
|
189,000
|
|
148,000
|
|
267,000
|
|
280,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME
|
|
$
|
659,690
|
|
$
|
448,203
|
|
$
|
1,317,886
|
|
$
|
1,438,427
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME PER COMMON
SHARE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
$
|
0.12
|
|
$
|
0.36
|
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
$
|
0.12
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES ASSUMED OUTSTANDING:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
3,720,522
|
|
3,664,248
|
|
3,694,588
|
|
3,644,126
|
|
Diluted
|
|
3,753,747
|
|
3,690,260
|
|
3,732,175
|
|
3,679,023
|
|
See
notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2008 and FEBRUARY 28,
2007
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29, 2008
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
1,317,886
|
|
$
|
1,438,427
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expensing of fair value of stock options vested
|
|
47,602
|
|
60,786
|
|
Depreciation expense
|
|
162,369
|
|
153,996
|
|
Amortization expense
|
|
72,468
|
|
91,696
|
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
|
(5,530
|
)
|
(726,195
|
)
|
Minority interest expense
|
|
(22,145
|
)
|
7,314
|
|
Equity in income from corporate joint ventures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial chemical
|
|
(1,953,811
|
)
|
(1,595,934
|
)
|
Industrial non-chemical
|
|
85,955
|
|
(33,800
|
)
|
Gain on sale of industrial chemical corporate joint venture
|
|
(172,767
|
)
|
|
|
Deferred joint venture royalties
|
|
48,000
|
|
48,000
|
|
Change in current assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Receivables:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade excluding corporate joint ventures
|
|
7,044
|
|
228,975
|
|
Trade corporate joint ventures
|
|
142,787
|
|
(14,251
|
)
|
Technical and other services receivables, corporate joint ventures
|
|
(590,111
|
)
|
(86,953
|
)
|
Income taxes
|
|
29,755
|
|
38,983
|
|
Inventories
|
|
(140,279
|
)
|
(151,637
|
)
|
Prepaid expenses and other
|
|
(126,161
|
)
|
(63,520
|
)
|
Income taxes payable
|
|
31,386
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
(458,364
|
)
|
(711,293
|
)
|
Accrued liabilities
|
|
311,054
|
|
(56,217
|
)
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
(1,212,862
|
)
|
(1,371,623
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from the sale of assets
|
|
6,201
|
|
850,367
|
|
Investment in corporate joint ventures
|
|
(87,950
|
)
|
(538,104
|
)
|
Dividends received from corporate joint ventures
|
|
1,470,508
|
|
1,222,312
|
|
Proceeds from sale of industrial chemical corporate joint ventures
|
|
364,000
|
|
|
|
Loans made
|
|
(140,000
|
)
|
|
|
Cash received from notes receivable
|
|
|
|
445,469
|
|
Additions to property and equipment
|
|
(164,704
|
)
|
(692,347
|
)
|
(Increase) decrease in other assets
|
|
7,434
|
|
(27,772
|
)
|
Additions to industrial patents
|
|
(57,382
|
)
|
(58,535
|
)
|
Net cash provided by investing activities
|
|
1,398,107
|
|
1,201,390
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net borrowings made on line of credit (repayments)
|
|
|
|
178,000
|
|
Repayment of note payable
|
|
(14,083
|
)
|
(12,955
|
)
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
|
104,772
|
|
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan
|
|
45,500
|
|
|
|
Bank overdrafts
|
|
|
|
(158,147
|
)
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
31,417
|
|
111,670
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
216,662
|
|
(58,563
|
)
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
|
244,499
|
|
299,117
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
AT END OF PERIOD
|
|
$
|
461,161
|
|
$
|
240,554
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
1.
INTERIM
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In the opinion of management,
the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all
necessary adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, and present
fairly the consolidated financial position of Northern Technologies
International Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of February 29,
2008 and the results of their operations for the three and six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007 and their cash flows for the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
These consolidated financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and related notes contained in the Companys annual report on Form 10-KSB
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and with the Managements
Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation section appearing in this
quarterly report. Operating results for
the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 are not necessarily
indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 31,
2008.
2.
RECENTLY
ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Effective September 1,
2007, we adopted the provisions of the FASB Interpretation 48,
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB
Statement 109
(FIN 48).
FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes
recognized in an entitys financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109
and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial
statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax
return. Under FIN 48, the impact of an
uncertain tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the
largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the
relevant taxing authority. An uncertain
income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood
of being sustained. Additionally, FIN 48
provides guidance on subsequent derecognition of tax positions, financial
statement classification, recognition of interest and penalties, accounting in
interim periods and disclosure and transition rules. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a
material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
As of August 31, 2007, we
had $75,000 of unrecognized tax benefits.
If recognized, $75,000 would have an impact on our effective tax
rate. During the six months ended February 29,
2008, the unrecognized tax benefits have not increased or decreased
materially. It is expected that the amount
of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next 12 months; however we
cannot reasonably estimate that change.
We recognize interest and
penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of our income tax
provision. This policy will not change
as a result of the adoption of FIN 48.
As of September 1, 2007, we recorded a liability of $11,300 for
interest and penalties. The liability
for the payment of interest and penalties did not materially change during the
six months ended February 29, 2008.
We operate in multiple tax
jurisdictions, both within the United States and outside the United
States. With certain exceptions, we are
no longer subject to examination for tax years prior to 2004. Our tax filings for the years August 31,
2004 and August 31, 2005 were examined by the Internal Revenue
Service. The examination has been
concluded with the exception of the payroll tax issue discussed within Note 9
to these consolidated financial statements entitled Commitments and
Contingencies.
In March 2008, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 161,
Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
. SFAS 161 requires additional disclosures
related to the use of derivative instruments, the accounting for derivatives
and how derivatives impact financial statements.
6
SFAS No. 161 is effective
for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.
The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material effect
on the consolidated financial statements.
3. INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following:
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
August 31,
2007
|
|
Production materials
|
|
$
|
352,128
|
|
$
|
183,658
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
1,424,224
|
|
1,
452,415
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,776,352
|
|
$
|
1,
636,073
|
|
4. INVESTMENTS
IN CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES
Composite financial information from the audited and unaudited
financial statements of the Companys joint ventures carried on the equity
basis is summarized as follows:
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
August 31,
2007
|
|
Current assets
|
|
$
|
46,506,829
|
|
$
|
42,767,569
|
|
Total assets
|
|
54,161,591
|
|
49,
312,491
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
17,160,559
|
|
14,939,496
|
|
Noncurrent liabilities
|
|
4,890,820
|
|
4,971,199
|
|
Joint ventures equity
|
|
32,110,212
|
|
29,401,796
|
|
Northern Technologies International Corporations share of Corporate
Joint Ventures equity
|
|
$
|
15,209,786
|
|
$
|
13,602,842
|
|
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
February 28,
2007
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
49,091,121
|
|
$
|
39,272,049
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
22,542,934
|
|
18,925,025
|
|
Net income
|
|
3,259,635
|
|
3,133,779
|
|
Northern Technologies International Corporations share of equity in
income of Corporate Joint Ventures
|
|
$
|
1,867,856
|
|
$
|
1,629,734
|
|
The financial statements of the Companys foreign
joint ventures are prepared using accounting principles accepted in the joint
ventures country of domicile. Amounts
related to foreign joint ventures reported in the above tables and the
accompanying financial statements have been adjusted to approximate US GAAP in
all material respects.
During
the six months ended February 29, 2008, the Company invested $87,950 in a
non-industrial chemical joint venture in Thailand in addition to $143,000
previously invested in December 2006. The Company has a 50% ownership
interest in the joint venture entity.
The joint venture entity had no operations prior to the Companys
investment in December 2006. The
total contributions made by both owners of the joint venture were $461,900 as
of February 29, 2008.
During
the six months ended February 29, 2008, the Company sold its 50% interest
in its industrial chemical joint venture in Austria for $364,000. The Companys industrial chemical joint
venture in Germany
7
purchased
the joint venture and has consolidated it into its existing business. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of
$172,767, as the Company has determined its interest in the entity was
non-controlling under EITP 02-05.
5.
STOCKHOLDERS
EQUITY
During the six months ended February 29,
2008, the Company did not purchase or retire any shares of its common stock and
no stock options to purchase shares of the Companys common stock were
exercised. The Company granted stock bonuses under the Northern Technologies
International Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for an aggregate of 33,595
shares of its common stock to various employees during the six months ended February 29,
2008. The fair value of the shares of
the Companys common stock as of the date of grant of the stock bonuses was $334,270,
based on the closing sale price of a share of the Companys common stock on
that date.
During the six months ended February 28,
2007, the Company did not purchase or retire any shares of its common stock and
no stock options were exercised. The Company
granted stock bonuses under the Northern Technologies International Corporation
2000 Stock Incentive Plan for an aggregate of 37,245 shares of its common stock
to various employees during the six months ended February 28, 2007. The fair value of the shares of the Companys
common stock as of the date of grant of the stock bonuses was $298,330, based
on the closing sale price of a share of the Companys common stock on that
date.
6.
TOTAL
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The Companys total comprehensive income was as
follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
February 28,
2007
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
February 28,
2007
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
659,690
|
|
$
|
448,203
|
|
$
|
1,317,886
|
|
$
|
1,438,427
|
|
Other comprehensive (loss) income foreign currency translation
adjustment
|
|
431,014
|
|
(67,645
|
)
|
1,312,799
|
|
303,805
|
|
Total comprehensive income
|
|
$
|
1,090,704
|
|
$
|
380,558
|
|
$
|
2,630,685
|
|
$
|
1,742,232
|
|
7.
NET INCOME
PER COMMON SHARE
Basic net income per common
share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding. Diluted net
income per share assumes the exercise of stock options using the treasury stock
method, if dilutive.
For the six month period
ending February 29, 2008, 35,140 options to purchase shares were excluded
from common share equivalents due to exercise prices exceeding average market
prices. No options to purchase shares of
common stock were excluded from the computation of common share equivalents as
of February 28, 2007, as all stock option exercise prices were less than
the average market price of a share of common stock.
8.
STOCK
BASED COMPENSATION
The company accounts for
stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based
Payment. During the six months ended February 29, 2008, options were
granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the companys
common stock on the date of grant. The
options vest equally over a three year period and have a five year term.
Compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value is recognized for these
awards over the vesting period. Total compensation expense for options was
$47,602 and 60,786 for the six months ended ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007.
8
The fair value of each
share-based option is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes
valuation method that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. The
expected life is a significant assumption as it determines the period for which
the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield must be applied.
The expected life is the average length of time over which the employee is
expected to exercise their options. Expected volatilities are based on the
movement of the companys common stock over the most recent historical period
equivalent to the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate for
periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury
rate over the expected life at the time of grant. Dividend yield is estimated
over the expected life based on the companys dividend policy, historical
dividends paid, expected increase in future cash dividends, and expected
increase in the companys stock price. The following table illustrates the
assumptions for options granted in the following fiscal periods.
|
|
February 29,
2008
|
|
February 28,
2007
|
|
Dividend yield
|
|
2.00%
|
|
2.00%
|
|
Expected volatility
|
|
42.2%
|
|
42.9%
|
|
Expected life of option
|
|
5
years
|
|
5
years
|
|
Average risk-free interest
rate
|
|
3.62%
|
|
4.67%
|
|
The weighted-average fair
value of options granted during the quarters ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007 was $3.84 per share and $2.95 per share, respectively.
9. COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
In April 2007, REACT-NTI,
LLC (React LLC), a company that is 75% owned by the Company, was served with
a summons and complaint that was filed by Shamrock Technologies, Inc. (Shamrock)
in state court in New York. This case has
been removed to the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New
York. The lawsuit seeks payment from
React LLC of commissions in the approximate amount of $314,500 owed by React
LLC under a license agreement between React LLC and Shamrock. The complaint alleges breach of the license
agreement by React LLC and seeks damages in an unspecified amount for such
breach as well as damages of approximately $300,000 for the alleged failure of
React LLC to purchase from Shamrock certain inventory manufactured for sale to
a customer. React LLC acknowledges that
React LLC has not made payment for product in the approximate amount of
$300,000 to Shamrock as the invoice for this was only received after Shamrock
had already filed its complaint, but denies all of the claims of breach of the
license agreement by it and believes that damages caused by Shamrocks breach
of the License Agreement and tortious conduct exceed any amounts owing to
Shamrock. React LLC formally responded to the complaint after removal by
moving to dismiss or stay because of Shamrocks failure to comply with
alternative dispute resolution procedures contained in the license
agreement. By court order, the matter is presently stayed so that the
parties can attempt mediation. The parties mediated for one day and were
unsuccessful in resolving the matter. It
is unclear at this time whether the parties will attempt additional mediation
efforts. If mediation is unsuccessful,
React LLC will both defend against Shamrocks allegations and pursue counterclaims
against Shamrock for breach of the license agreement and for tortious
interference. Because this matter is in
the early stage, the Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of
loss, if any, associated with its resolution.
However, th
ere can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution
of the matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Companys
business, financial condition or results of operations.
In February 2007, the Company was named as
a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Evelyna Cantwell and Jack Cantwell,
individually, and also doing business as the principals of Byrd-Walsh
International, LLC, in United States Federal District Court for the
Southern District of Florida against the Company and its former Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman Emeritus, Philip M.
Lynch. The lawsuit alleges causes of action for breach of contract,
breach of implied contract, quasi contract, promissory estoppel, equitable
estoppel, negligence, wrongful conversion, fraud, constructive fraud,
9
misappropriation and violation of the Uniform Trade
Secrets Act. The suit seeks unspecified injunctive relief as well as
compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount which,
based on the allegations of the complaint, may be claimed by plaintiffs to be
in an amount in excess of $45 million. Based on the allegations in
the complaint and the Companys understanding of relevant facts and
circumstances, the Company believes that the claims made by the
Cantwells and Byrd-Walsh in this lawsuit are without
merit and the Company intends to vigorously defend against
them. Because this matter is in the early stage, the Company cannot
estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its
resolution. The amounts claimed in this lawsuit are substantial, however,
and, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of the matter will
not result in a material adverse effect on the Companys business, financial
condition or results of operations.
The Company is involved in a legal action in Finland
whereby the Company sued a Finnish company for trademark infringement. Upon initiation of legal action, the courts
seized the inventory of the Finnish company as contraband. The Company won the
initial case, but has subsequently lost on appeal. The Company is currently appealing the latest
court decision. The outcome of the
appeal is unknown and any potential loss cannot be estimated at this time;
however, the potential judgment or any settlement resulting from the case could
have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of
the Company due to claims against the Company related to expiration of
inventory seized from the Finnish company.
The Company has obtained a $600,000 stand-by letter of credit to
potentially fund the Companys obligations related to the courts in Finland
against the defendants products that were seized as contraband. Advances made under the demand letter of
credit will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be
due and payable on demand. Any
outstanding unpaid principal balance under the demand letter of credit bears
interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%. Interest is payable in arrears beginning on January 15,
2007 and on the 15th day of each month thereafter and on demand. Because the Company believes that it has
valid legal grounds for appeal, it has determined that a loss is not probable
at this time as defined by SFAS 5,
Accounting for
Contingencies
. However, there can be no assurance that
the ultimate resolution of the matter will not result in a material adverse
effect on the Companys business, financial condition or results of operations.
The
Company is involved in various other legal actions arising in the normal course
of business. Management is of the
opinion that any judgment or settlement resulting from these pending or
threatened actions would not have a material adverse effect on the Companys
business, financial condition or results of operations.
In June 2007,
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service concluded its audit of the Companys U.S.
federal income tax returns for fiscal 2004 and 2005. As a result of such
audit, the Company paid the IRS approximately $25,000 in
additional payroll taxes. The Company also agreed
in principle with the IRS to adjustments that will result in the
additional payment of approximately $60,000 in income tax and interest.
As a result of the audit, the IRS has also taken the position that the
Company failed to withhold
and has assessed against the Company
approximately $505,000 of payroll taxes and
individual income taxes on travel and other expense reimbursements made to
Philip M. Lynch, the Companys former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer and current Chairman Emeritus, and commissions payments made to Inter
Alia Holding Co. under that certain former Manufacturers Representative
Agreement dated as of October 1, 1976 and as subsequently amended
thereafter between the Company and Inter Alia, which agreement has since been
terminated. Inter Alia beneficially owns approximately 2
4.9
% of the Companys outstanding common stock, and
Philip M. Lynch, the Companys former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer and current Chairman Emeritus, and G. Patrick Lynch, the Companys
current President and Chief Executive Officer, are shareholders of Inter
Alia. The Company disagrees with the IRS position on withholding
and is in the process of appealing the matter. Because the Company
believes that it has valid legal grounds for appeal, it has determined that a
loss is not probable at this time as defined by SFAS 5,
Accounting
for Contingencies
. However, there can be no assurance that
the ultimate resolution of the matter will not result in a material adverse
effect on the Companys business, financial condition or results of operations.
10
On November 16, 2007, the Companys Board of
Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the
material terms of an annual bonus plan for executive officers and certain
employees of the Company for fiscal year ending August 31, 2008, the
purpose of which is to align the interests of the Company and its subsidiaries,
executive officers and stockholders by providing an incentive for the
achievement of key corporate and individual performance measures that are
critical to the success of the Company and linking a significant portion of each
executive officers annual compensation to the achievement of such
measures. The following is a brief
summary of the material terms approved by the Board:
·
The total
amount available under the bonus plan will be up to 25% of the Companys
earnings before interest, taxes and other income (EBITOI) for the fiscal year
ending August 31, 2008;
·
The total
amount available under the bonus plan will be $0 if EBITOI, as adjusted to take
into account amounts to be paid under the bonus plan, fall below 70% of target
EBITOI; and
·
The payment of
bonuses under the plan will be made in both cash and shares of the Companys
common stock, the exact amount and percentages of which will be determined by
the Board, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, within a
reasonable period of time after the completion of the Companys financial
statements for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.
10. STATEMENTS OF
CASH FLOWS
The
Company did not declare or pay any cash dividends during fiscal 2007 and as of April 11,
2008, had not declared or paid any cash dividends during fiscal 2008.
The Company issued 33,595 and
37,245 shares of common stock as stock bonuses under its stock incentive plans
to various employees to satisfy $334,270 and $298,330 of accrued payroll
liability during the quarter ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007, respectively.
11.
SUBSEQUENT
EVENT
On April 10, 2008, the Company
entered into a Promissory Note Modification Agreement with National City
Bank pursuant to which the Companys demand line of credit was increased to
$2,300,000 and its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility was terminated. Advances made under the demand line of credit
will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be due and
payable on demand and will terminate on January 31, 2009 unless
renewed. Outstanding amounts under the
demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus
2.25%. Interest is payable in arrears on
the 15th day of each month and on demand.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENTS
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION
This Managements Discussion and
Analysis provides material historical and prospective disclosures intended to
enable investors and other users to assess NTICs financial condition and
results of operations. Statements that
are not historical are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties
discussed under the headings Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors
appearing elsewhere in this report. The
following discussion of the results of the operations and financial condition
of NTIC should be read in conjunction with NTICs consolidated financial
statements and the related notes thereto included under Part I, Item 1
entitled Financial Statements
of this report.
11
Business Overview
NTIC focuses on developing,
marketing and selling proprietary environmentally responsible materials science
based products and technical services directly and via a network of independent
distributors, manufacturers representatives and joint ventures in over 50
countries. NTIC manufactures, markets
and sells primarily rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services for
automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical and military applications, sold
under the brand names Zerust® and EXCOR®.
NTIC also offers direct, worldwide on-site technical support on rust and
corrosion issues. In North America, NTIC
markets its technical services and Zerust® products principally to industrial
users by a direct sales force and through a network of independent distributors
and sales representatives. NTICs
technical service representatives work directly with the end users of NTICs
products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their
technical requirements.
In addition to Zerust® products
and services, NTICs consolidated net sales in North America for the six months
ended February 29, 2008 included $102,707 in sales of NTICs Natur-Tec
products, which are part of NTICs new biodegradable and compostable plastics
line. These were the first sales of this
new product line, most of which were initial sales to new customers. Beginning in fiscal 2008, NTIC began to
manufacture and sell a broad range of bio-based and biodegradable (compostable)
polymer resin compounds and products under the Natur-Tec brand. In recent
years, a combination of market drivers such as higher petroleum prices, a
desire to reduce dependence on foreign oil, increased environmental awareness
at the consumer level, and favorable regulations banning the use of regular
plastics, have led to widespread interest in sustainable, renewable resource
based and compostable alternatives to traditional plastics. Natur-Tec biodegradable and compostable polymer
resins and all products made of the resins meet all requirements of
international standards for compostable plastics such as ASTM D6400 (U.S.) and
EN 13432 (Europe), and are certified as 100% compostable by the Biodegradable
Products Institute in the U.S. The finished products include totally
biodegradable compost and trash bags, agricultural film and other single-use
disposable products such as compostable cutlery, food and consumer goods
packaging.
NTIC participates, either directly
or indirectly through holding companies, in 29 corporate joint venture
arrangements in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle
East. Each of these joint ventures
generally manufactures, markets and sells finished products in the geographic
territory that it is assigned. NTICs
joint venture partners are knowledgeable in the applicable environmental,
labor, tax and other requisite regulations and laws of the respective foreign
countries in which they operate, as well as the local customs and business
practices. While most of NTICs joint ventures
currently sell rust and corrosion inhibiting products and custom packaging
systems, NTIC also has joint ventures that manufacture, market and sell or
intend to manufacture, market or sell bio-based additives with both industrial
and personal care applications, machinery that converts waste plastics into
diesel, gasoline and mid-distillates, and electronic sensing instruments. NTIC
categorizes its joint ventures into two principal areas: industrial chemical
and non-industrial chemical.
In an effort to increase net
sales, NTIC is in the process of expanding the application of its corrosion
inhibiting technology to include solutions targeted at the oil and gas
industry, and its product line to include biodegradable and compostable
plastics, and machinery that converts waste plastics into diesel, gasoline and
mid-distillates. During fiscal 2008,
NTIC expects to invest in aggregate between $2,800,000 and $3,100,000 in
additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into
these emerging businesses, product lines and markets. These fees are accounted for in the Expenses
incurred in support of corporate joint ventures section of NTICs consolidated
statements of income. During the first
six months of fiscal 2008, NTIC invested approximately $1,450,720 in additional
research and development and marketing efforts and resources into these
emerging businesses, product lines and markets.
NTIC anticipates additional revenue from these new technologies in
fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.
Although NTIC recognized $102,707 in sales of Natur-Tec for the six
months ended February 29, 2008, no assurance can be provided that such new
businesses will be successful or that NTIC will be successful in obtaining
additional revenue.
12
Financial Overview
NTICs consolidated net sales in
North America decreased 26.5% during the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to the six months ended February 28, 2007, primarily as a
result of the anticipated loss of its React-NTI, LLC subsidiarys most
significant customer, partially offset by an increase in demand for NTICs
Zerust® products and sales of its new Natur-Tec products. As previously disclosed by NTIC, the sales of
React-NTI included in NTICs consolidated net sales historically have consisted
almost entirely of sales by React Inc., a 100% owned subsidiary of React-NTI,
of proprietary ink additives to one customer.
During fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, this single customer notified
React Inc. of the customers intent to purchase Reacts remaining inventory of
ink additives, but that after such inventory was depleted, the customer would
not place any future orders with React Inc.
React-NTI had consolidated sales of $285,444 in the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to sales of $2,785,667 in the six months ended February 28,
2007. The vast majority of such sales
by React-NTI were from React Inc., which had sales of $248,160 during the six
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to sales of $2,750,050 during the
six months ended February 28, 2007.
NTIC anticipates no additional sales for React Inc. after the six months
ended February 29, 2008. Accordingly,
the loss of Reacts sole customer has had and is expected to continue to have a
material adverse impact on NTICs consolidated net sales. However, since the profit on Reacts sales of
the ink additives to this customer was extremely small, the effect on NTICs
net income during the six months ended February 29, 2008 was not material
and NTIC does not expect that the anticipated continued decrease in net sales
by React will have a material adverse effect on NTICs future consolidated net
income.
Despite the decrease in NTICs
consolidated net sales in North America, sales of NTICs rust and corrosion
inhibiting products in North America increased during the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007. Net sales of NTICs Zerust® and Natur-Tec
products increased 4.3% or $246,395 to $5,962,997 during the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $5,716,602 during the six months ended February 28, 2007.
NTICs consolidated net sales in North America during the six months ended February 29,
2008 included $102,707 from sales of NTICs Natur-Tec products.
NTICs international business has
expanded significantly during the past several fiscal years. Total net sales of all of NTICs joint
ventures increased 25.0% to $49,091,121 during the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $39,272,049 during the six months ended February 28,
2007. The profits of NTICs corporate
joint ventures are shared, however, by the respective corporate joint venture
owners in accordance with their respective ownership percentages. In addition, NTICs receipt of funds as a
result of sales by its joint ventures is dependent upon NTICs receipt of
dividend distributions from the joint ventures and NTICs receipt of fees for
technical and other support services that NTIC provides to its joint ventures
based on the revenues of the joint ventures.
NTIC typically owns 50% or less of its joint venture entities and thus
does not control the decisions of these entities regarding whether and how much
to pay dividends in dividends in any given year. NTICs income from its
corporate joint ventures and holding companies increased 100.0% to $2,636,366
for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,318,436 for the
six months ended February 28, 2007.
NTIC sold its 50% interest in its
industrial chemical joint venture in Austria for a recorded $364,000. The Companys industrial chemical joint
venture in Germany purchased the joint venture and has consolidated it into its
existing business; the German joint venture will service the territory and
customers of the former Austrian venture as well. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of
$172,767, as the Company has determined its interest in the entity was
non-controlling.
Cost of sales as a percentage of
net sales decreased to 59.3% for the six months ended February 29, 2008
compared to 63.6% for the six months ended February 28, 2007 primarily as
a result of the significant decrease of React Inc. sales during the six months
ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period during fiscal
2007, which
sales were sold at lower margins than NTICs
Zerust® and Natur-Tec products.
Net income decreased 8.4% to
$1,317,886, or $0.35 per diluted common share, for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $1,438,427, or $0.39 per diluted common share, for the six
months ended
13
February 28, 2007, primarily
as a result of a one-time gain on sale of assets of $724,495 during the first
six months of fiscal 2007.
NTICs working capital was
$5,083,555 at February 29, 2008, including $461,161 in cash and cash
equivalents. As of February 29,
2008, NTIC did not have any borrowings under its $1,500,000 revolving credit
facility. Although the revolving credit
facility was recently renewed for another year, on April 10, 2008, the
revolving credit facility was terminated and NTICs demand line of credit was
increased to $2,300,000.
NTIC elected not to pay a cash
dividend to its stockholders in fiscal 2007 or thus far in fiscal 2008 in order
to preserve cash and make investments in future operations. NTIC expects to meet its future liquidity
requirements during at least the next 12 months by using its existing cash and
cash equivalents, forecasted cash flows from future operations, anticipated
distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees to NTIC from its joint
venture investments and funds available through existing or anticipated
financing arrangements.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth NTICs results of
operations for the three months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007.
|
|
February 29, 2008
|
|
% of
Net Sales
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
% of
Net Sales
|
|
$
Change
|
|
%
Change
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
2,762,856
|
|
100.0%
|
|
$
|
3,884,895
|
|
100.0%
|
|
$
|
(1,122,039
|
)
|
(28.9)%
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
1,609,954
|
|
58.3%
|
|
2,459,064
|
|
63.3%
|
|
(849,110
|
)
|
(34.5)%
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
754,302
|
|
27.3%
|
|
810,165
|
|
20.9%
|
|
(55,863
|
)
|
(6.9)%
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
894,525
|
|
32.4%
|
|
804,289
|
|
20.7%
|
|
90,236
|
|
11.2%
|
|
Lab and technical support expenses
|
|
$
|
53,616
|
|
1.9%
|
|
$
|
45,335
|
|
1.2%
|
|
$
|
8,281
|
|
18.3%
|
|
The
following table sets forth
NTICs results of operations for the six months ended
February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007.
|
|
Six Months Ended
February 29, 2008
|
|
% of
Net Sales
|
|
Six Months Ended February 28, 2007
|
|
% of
Net Sales
|
|
$
Change
|
|
%
Change
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
6,248,441
|
|
100.0%
|
|
$
|
8,502,269
|
|
100.0%
|
|
$
|
(2,253,828
|
)
|
(26.5)%
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
3,703,645
|
|
59.3%
|
|
5,404,119
|
|
63.6%
|
|
(1,700,474
|
)
|
(31.5)%
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
1,613,946
|
|
25.8%
|
|
1,579,204
|
|
18.6%
|
|
34,742
|
|
2.2%
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
1,842,822
|
|
29.5%
|
|
1,627,172
|
|
19.1%
|
|
215,650
|
|
13.3%
|
|
Lab and technical support expenses
|
|
$
|
110,744
|
|
1.8%
|
|
$
|
130,375
|
|
1.5%
|
|
$
|
(19,631
|
)
|
(15.1)%
|
|
Net Sales
.
NTICs net
sales originating in the United States decreased during the three and six
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same respective periods in
fiscal 2007 primarily as a result of the loss of the principal customer of
React Inc., partially offset by an
increase in demand for Zerust® products sold to existing and new customers and
sales of Natur-Tec products in the fiscal 2008
periods.
Cost of Goods Sold
. Cost of goods sold decreased as a percentage
of net sales for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008, compared to the same respective periods in
fiscal 2007 primarily as a result of the
significant decrease in React Inc. sales
which were sold at significantly lower margins than NTICs Zerust® products.
Selling Expenses
. NTICs selling expenses decreased for the
three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal
2007 primarily as a result of decreases in travel and related expenses
associated with the discontinuation of sales by React Inc as noted above under
the heading Part 1. Financial
Information. Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis or Plan
of Operation.. Selling expenses increased for the six months ended February 29, 2008 by a negligible amount, compared
tothe same period in
14
fiscal 2007.
Selling expenses as a percentage of net sales for the three and six
month periods increased significantly compared to same respective periods in
fiscal 2007 due to the decrease in React Inc. sales.
General and Administrative
Expenses
. NTICs
general and administrative expenses increased for the three and six months
ended February 29, 2008 compared to same respective periods in fiscal
2007. The increase for the six-month
period was primarily a result of increases in (i) audit and tax expense of
$104,000 and (ii) salary and benefits expenses of $40,000, partially
offset by decreases in (i) insurance expense of $32,000.
The increase for the
three-month period was
primarily the result of increases in the same types
of
expenses associated with the six month period.
As a
percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased
significantly compared to same respective periods in fiscal 2007 due to the
decrease in React Inc. net sales.
NTIC includes expenses in general and administrative
expenses that provide benefit to the various joint ventures in addition to
providing benefit to NTICs North American operations, including specifically,
expenses associated with information technology, general insurance, salary and
benefits, building expenses, audit and tax and directors fees.
Lab and Technical Support Expenses
. NTICs lab and technical support expenses
increased by a negligible amount for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007 and decreased for the six
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007. As a
percentage of net sales, lab and technical support expenses increased
slightly during the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 compared
to same periods in fiscal 2007.
International Corporate Joint
Ventures and Holding Companies
. Net sales of NTICs corporate joint ventures
for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007, excluding React-NTI LLC, were as follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29, 2008
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
February 29, 2008
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
Industrial chemical
|
|
$
|
24,850,908
|
|
$
|
20,082,233
|
|
$
|
48,477,356
|
|
$
|
38,402,886
|
|
Non-industrial chemical
|
|
296,098
|
|
310,383
|
|
613,765
|
|
869,163
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
25,147,006
|
|
$
|
20,
392,616
|
|
$
|
49,091,121
|
|
$
|
39,272,049
|
|
NTIC had equity in income of corporate joint
ventures and holding companies of $813,174 and $1,867,856 for the three and six
months ended February 29, 2008, respectively, and $994,515 and $1,629,734
for the three and six months ended February 28, 2007, respectively
. The increase in the six-month comparison was
due to the increase in revenue and profitability due to the growth of corporate
joint ventures as a whole.
NTIC receives fees for technical and other support
to NTICs corporate joint ventures based on the revenues of the individual
corporate joint ventures.
NTIC recognized
fee income for such support in the amounts of $1,626,632 and $3,020,427 for the
three and six months ended February 29, 2008, respectively, and $1,213,162
and $2,346,003 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2007,
respectively.
These increases
in fees for technical and other support to its corporate joint ventures were
due to the increase in revenues and profitability from the corporate joint
ventures as a whole.
NTIC sold its 50% interest in its industrial
chemical joint venture in Austria for a recorded $364,000. The Companys industrial chemical joint
venture in Germany purchased the joint venture and has consolidated it into its
existing business; the German joint venture will service the territory and
customers of the former Austrian venture as well. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of
$172,767 related to the sale, as the Company has determined its interest in the
entity was non-controlling.
NTIC sponsors a worldwide corporate joint venture
conference approximately every three to four years in which all of its
corporate joint ventures are invited to participate. NTIC defers a portion of its technical and
15
other support fees received from its corporate joint
ventures in each accounting period leading up to the next conference,
reflecting that NTIC has not fully earned the payments received during that
period. The next corporate joint venture
conference is scheduled to be held in the summer of 2009. There was $240,000 of deferred income
recorded within other accrued liabilities at
February 29, 2008
related to
this future conference. The costs
associated with these joint venture conferences are offset against the deferral
as incurred, generally in the period in which the conference is held and
immediately before.
NTIC incurred direct expenses related to its
corporate joint ventures and the holding companies of $1,164,432 and $2,403,607
for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to
$1,341,052 and $2,657,301 for the three and six months ended February 28,
2007.
These expenses include:
product and business development, consulting, travel, technical and marketing
services to existing joint ventures, legal fees regarding the establishment of
new joint ventures, registration and promotion and legal defense of worldwide
trademarks and legal fees incurred in the filing of patent applications for new
technologies to which NTIC acquired certain rights. The decreases in direct expenses incurred
relating to NTICs corporate joint ventures and holding companies for the six
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007
were attributable to decreases of (i) lab testing and lab supplies of
$31,000, (ii) consulting expense of $31,000, (iii) legal expense of
$123,000, partially offset by increases in (i) expenses related to
employee wages of $79,000, (ii) travel and related expenses of $30,000,
and (iv) miscellaneous expenses of $36,000.
The decrease for the three
months ended February 28, 2007 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007
was
a result of decrease in the same types of
expenses associated with the
six-month period.
As a percentage
of net sales, direct expenses incurred relating to NTICs corporate
joint ventures and holding companies increased significantly due to the
decrease in React Inc. net sales for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to same period in fiscal 2007.
Interest Income
. NTICs interest income decreased to $424 for
the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $766 for the same
period in fiscal 2007 and decreased to $919 for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $1,701 for the same period in fiscal 2007 due to lower average
invested cash balances during the fiscal 2008 periods.
Interest Expense
. NTICs interest expense decreased to $40,592
for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $47,483 for the
same period in fiscal 2007 and decreased to $72,115 for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $90,364 for the same period in fiscal 2007 due to lower
average outstanding debt levels and decreases in interest rates during the
fiscal 2008 periods.
Gain on Sale of Assets
. NTIC recognized a gain on sale of assets of
$4,001 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to a gain on
sale of assets of $1,700 for the same period in fiscal 2007. NTIC recognized a gain on sale of assets of
$5,530 during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to a gain on
sale of assets of $726,195 for the same period in fiscal 2007, $724,495 of
which was due to the sale of land, building and equipment that previously
served as NTICs corporate headquarters.
This $724,495 in gain was the result of a one-time sale and no
additional gain was recognized or is anticipated to be recognized relating to
NTICs former corporate headquarters in the future.
Income Before Income Tax Expense
. Income before income tax expense increased to
$848,690 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $596,203
for the same period in fiscal 2007.
Income before income tax expense decreased $133,541 to $1,584,886 for
the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,718,427 for the same
period in fiscal 2007.
Income Tax Expense
. Income tax expense
increased to $189,000 for the three months ended February 29, 2008
compared to $148,000 for the same period in fiscal 2007. Income tax expense decreased to $267,000 for
the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $280,000 for the same
period in fiscal 2007. Income tax
expense for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007, respectively, was calculated based on managements estimate of NTICs
annual effective income tax rate. NTICs
annual effective income tax rate during the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28,
16
2007
was lower than the statutory rate primarily due to NTICs equity in income of
corporate joint ventures being recognized based on after-tax earnings of these
entities. To the extent joint ventures
undistributed earnings are distributed to NTIC, it is not expected to result in
any material additional income tax liability after the application of foreign
tax credits.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Sources of Cash and Working Capital
. As of February 29, 2008, NTICs working capital was $5,083,555, including
$461,161 in cash and cash equivalents, compared to working capital of
$3,788,777, including $244,499 in cash and cash equivalents, as of August 31,
2007.
NTIC had a revolving credit facility of $1,500,000
that was renewed on January 30, 2008. As described in more detail below,
subsequent to the end of NTICs second fiscal quarter, NTIC terminated the
revolving credit facility and increased the amount available under its demand
line of credit with National City Bank to $2,300,000. Outstanding amounts under the revolving
credit facility bore interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%. As of February 29, 2008, the interest
rate was 7.49% and the average interest rate over the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007 was 7.43% and 7.58%, respectively. Amounts
borrowed under the facility were collateralized by a lien on substantially all
of NTICs assets, excluding its corporate joint venture interests, intellectual
property rights and its Circle Pines headquarters. The credit documents contained other terms and provisions (including representations,
covenants and conditions) customary for transactions of this type. Significant
financial covenants included the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage
ratio of 1.0 to 1.0. Other covenants included a prohibition
on any merger or consolidation without prior consent of the lender and
restrictions on future credit extensions and non-equity investments and the
incurrence of additional indebtedness without the lenders prior consent.
During the six months ended February 29, 2008, NTIC was in compliance with
all covenants under the revolving credit facility. The facility contained
customary events of default, including nonpayment of principal or other amounts
when due; breach of covenants; inaccuracy of representations and warranties;
cross-default and/or cross-acceleration to other indebtedness; non-compliance
with laws; certain voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy events; judgments
entered against NTIC; and a sale of material assets. If an event of default
were to occur and was continuing, the lender had the right, among other things,
to terminate its obligations thereunder and require NTIC to repay all amounts
thereunder. As of February 29, 2008, there was no outstanding
balance under the facility. The line of
credit was subject to a borrowing base calculation and at February 29,
2008, NTIC had $1,500,000 available.
NTIC also had a demand line of
credit in the amount of $800,000 with National City Bank. NTIC obtained the demand line of credit in December 2006
to fund NTICs obligations related to a required deposit of $445,469 with the
courts in Finland in connection with NTICs legal action in Finland.
On April 10, 2008, NTIC
entered into a Promissory Note Modification
Agreement with National City Bank pursuant to which NTICs demand line of
credit was increased to $2,300,000 and its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility
was terminated. Advances made under the
demand line of credit will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank
and will be due and payable on demand.
Outstanding amounts under the demand line of credit bear interest at an
annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.
As of February 29, 2008, the interest rate was
7.49%
. Interest is payable in arrears
on the 15th day of each month and on demand.
There was no outstanding
balance under this facility as of February 29, 2008; however, $600,000 was
committed from the demand line to cover a letter of credit
NTIC believes that a combination of its
existing cash and cash equivalents, forecasted cash flows from future
operations, anticipated distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees
to NTIC from its joint venture investments and funds available through existing
or anticipated financing arrangements, will continue to be adequate to fund its
operations, capital expenditures, debt repayments and any stock repurchases for
at least the next 12 months. In an
effort to increase net sales, NTIC is in the process of expanding the
application of its corrosion inhibiting technology into the oil and gas
industry and its product line to include biodegradable and compostable plastics
and machinery that converts waste plastics into diesel, gasoline and
mid-distillates.
17
During the remainder of fiscal 2008, NTIC
expects to invest additional research and development and marketing efforts and
resources into these emerging businesses, product lines and markets. During the first six months of fiscal 2008,
NTIC invested approximately $1,450,720 in additional research and development
and marketing efforts and resources into these emerging businesses, product
lines and markets. In order to take
advantage of such new product and market opportunities to expand its business
and increase its revenues, NTIC may decide to finance such opportunities by
increasing borrowings under its line of credit or raising additional financing
through the issuance of debt or equity securities. There is no assurance that any financing
transaction will be available on terms acceptable to NTIC or at all, or that
any financing transaction will not be dilutive to NTICs current stockholders.
Uses of Cash and Cash Flows
. Cash flows used in operations for the six
months ended February 29, 2008 was $1,212,862, which resulted principally
from the equity income of corporate joint ventures, increases in technical and
other services receivables, inventories and prepaid expenses and decreases in
accounts payable being offset by net income, depreciation and amortization
expense, decreases in trade receivables and increases in accrued
liabilities. Cash flows used in
operations for the six months ended February 28, 2007 were $1,371,623,
which resulted principally from equity in income from corporate joint ventures,
gain on sale of assets, decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
and increases in inventories and prepaid expenses, offset by net income,
depreciation and amortization expense, and decreases in trade and income tax
receivables.
Net cash provided by investing activities for the
six months ended February 29, 2008 was $1,398,107 which was comprised of
dividends received from corporate joint ventures and the sale of a joint
venture, offset by additions to property and equipment, loans made and investment
in joint ventures. Net cash provided by
investing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2007 was
$1,201,390, which resulted from dividends received from corporate joint
ventures, proceeds from the sale of assets and cash received from loans and
deposits, offset by additions to property and equipment and investment in joint
ventures.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the
six months ended February 29, 2008 was $31,417, which resulted primarily
from proceeds from the employee stock purchase plan offset by principal
payments on the bank loan for NTICs corporate headquarter building. Net cash provided by financing activities for
the six months ended February 28, 2007 was $111,670, which resulted
primarily from borrowings on NTICs line of credit and proceeds from the
exercise of stock options, offset by bank overdrafts.
Capital Expenditures and Commitments
. NTIC had no material lease commitments as of February 29,
2008, except a lease agreement entered into by NTI Facilities, Inc., a
subsidiary of NTIC, for approximately 16,994 square feet of office,
manufacturing, laboratory and warehouse space in Beachwood, Ohio, requiring
monthly payments of $17,500, which are adjusted annually according to the
annual consumer price index, through November 2014.
NTIC moved its corporate headquarters in September 2006. NTIC purchased the real estate and 40,000
square feet building in which its new corporate headquarters is located
pursuant to a like-kind exchange transaction within the meaning of Section 1031
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for a purchase price of
$1,475,000. To finance the transaction, NTIC obtained a secured term loan in
the principal amount of $1,275,000. The
term loan matures on May 1, 2011, bears interest at a fixed rate of 8.01%
and is payable in 59 monthly installments equal to approximately $10,776
(inclusive of principal and interest) commencing June 1, 2006. All of the remaining unpaid principal and
accrued interest is due and payable on the May 1, 2011 maturity date. The loan is secured by a first lien on the
real estate and building.
NTIC sold the real property and building in which
NTICs former Lino Lakes corporate headquarters was located for a purchase
price of $870,000 on September 8, 2006.
The net book value of the building held for sale was $89,636 and the
closing costs and fees associated with the sale of the property was
$46,571. The gain on sale of the property
was $724,495.
18
NTIC has no post-retirement benefit plan and does
not anticipate establishing any post-retirement benefit program.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
NTIC does not have any relationships with
unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often
referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have
been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet financial
arrangements. As such, NTIC is not materially exposed to any financing,
liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if NTIC had engaged in such
arrangements.
In fiscal 1999, a subsidiary of NTIC, NTI Facilities, Inc.,
acquired a one-third ownership of Omni-Northern Ltd., which owns and operates a
rental property located at 23205 Mercantile Road, Beachwood, Ohio. The property has an approximate value of
$2,205,000, based upon the cash-to-mortgage acquisition price of the property
paid in fiscal 2000. NTIC has guaranteed up to $329,082 of Omni-Northern
Ltd.s $1,903,571 mortgage obligation with National City Bank, Cleveland,
Ohio. The building is fully leased at present.
Inflation and
Seasonality
Inflation in the U.S. and abroad historically has
had little effect on NTICs business, results of operations or financial
condition. NTICs business has not
historically been seasonal.
Market Risk
NTIC is exposed to some market risk stemming from
changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest
rates.
NTIC is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate
risk arising from its investments in its foreign corporate joint ventures and
holding companies since NTICs fees for technical support and other services
and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in foreign
currencies. NTICs principal exchange rate exposure is with the Euro, the
Japanese yen, Korean won and the English pound against the U.S. dollar.
NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Since NTICs investments in its corporate joint ventures and holding companies
are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency
exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment
and would not change the equity in income of joint ventures and holding
companies reflected in NTICs consolidated statement of income.
Some raw materials used in NTICs products are
exposed to commodity price changes. The primary commodity price exposures
are with a variety of plastic resins.
NTICs demand line of credit bears interest at a
rate based on LIBOR and thus may subject NTIC to some market risk on interest
rates. There was no outstanding balance
under this facility as of February 29, 2008, however, $600,000 was
committed from the demand line to cover a letter of credit.
Related Party
Transactions
There we no new related party transactions to be
disclosed.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The preparation of NTICs consolidated financial
statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the
reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Securities and Exchange
Commission has defined a companys most critical accounting policies as those
that are most important to the portrayal of its financial condition and
19
results of operations, and which require the company
to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the
need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this
definition, NTIC has identified the following critical accounting policies.
Although NTIC believes that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they
are based upon information available when they are made. Actual results may differ
significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Investments in Corporate Joint
Ventures
NTICs investments in corporate joint ventures are accounted for using
the equity method, except for React-NTI LLC which has been fully consolidated,
due to the adoption of FIN 46R.
Periodically, NTIC evaluates the investments for any impairment and
assesses the future cash flow projections to determine if there are any going
concern issues. If an investment were
determined to be impaired, then a reserve would be created to reflect the
impairment on the financial results of NTIC.
NTICs evaluation of its investments in corporate joint ventures
requires NTIC to make assumptions about future cash flows of its corporate
joint ventures. These assumptions
require significant judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or
estimated amounts. NTICs investments in
corporate joint ventures were $15,209,705 and $13,602,842 as of February 29,
2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively.
Principles of
Consolidation
NTICs consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Northern Technologies International Corporation, its wholly owned
subsidiaries, NTI Facilities, Inc. and Northern Technologies Holding
Company, LLC, and its 75% owned subsidiary, React-NTI LLC. All significant intercompany transactions and
balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Accounts and
Notes Receivable
NTIC values accounts and notes receivable, net of an
allowance for doubtful accounts. Each quarter, NTIC prepares an analysis of its
ability to collect outstanding receivables that provides a basis for an
allowance estimate for doubtful accounts.
In doing so, NTIC evaluates the age of its receivables, past collection
history, current financial conditions of key customers and economic conditions.
Based on this evaluation, NTIC establishes a reserve for specific accounts and
notes receivable that it believes are uncollectible, as well as an estimate of
uncollectible receivables not specifically known. Deterioration in the financial condition of
any key customer or a significant slowdown in the economy could have a material
negative impact on NTICs ability to collect a portion or all of the accounts
and notes receivable. NTIC believes that an analysis of historical trends and
its current knowledge of potential collection problems provide NTIC with
sufficient information to establish a reasonable estimate for an allowance for
doubtful accounts. However, since NTIC cannot predict with certainty future changes
in the financial stability of its customers, NTICs actual future losses from
uncollectible accounts may differ from its estimates. In the event NTIC
determined that a smaller or larger uncollectible accounts reserve is
appropriate, NTIC would record a credit or charge to selling expense in the
period that it made such a determination. Accounts receivable have been reduced
by an allowance for uncollectible accounts of $20,000 and $30,000 at February 29,
2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
In recognizing revenue, NTIC applies the provisions
of the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104,
Revenue Recognition. NTIC recognizes
revenue from the sale of its products when persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, the product has been delivered, the price is fixed and determinable and
collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. These criteria are met at the time of
shipment when risk of loss and title pass to the customer or distributor.
20
Foreign Currency
Translation (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income)
The functional currency of each international
corporate joint venture is the applicable local currency. The translation of the applicable foreign
currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using
current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and
expense accounts using an average monthly exchange rate. Translation gains or losses are reported as
an element of accumulated other comprehensive income.
NTIC conducts all foreign
transactions based on the U.S. dollar, except for its investments in various
foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies. The exchange rate differential relating to
investments in foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies is
accounted for under the requirements of SFAS No. 52,
Foreign
Currency Translation
. Since
NTICs investments in its corporate joint ventures and holding companies are
accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange
rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would
not change the equity in income of joint ventures and holding companies
reflected in NTICs consolidated statement of income.
Stock-Based
Compensation
In December 2004, FASB published FASB Statement
No. 123 (revised 2004),
Share-Based Payment
.
FAS 123(R) requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based
payment transactions, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized
in financial statements. That cost will be measured based on the fair
value of the equity or liability instruments issued. FAS 123(R) covers
a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options,
restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and
employee share purchase plans. FAS 123(R) is a replacement of FASB
Statement No. 123,
Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation
, and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25,
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees
, and its related
interpretive guidance. The effect of FAS 123(R) is to require
entities to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for
stock options based on the grant-date fair value of the award, and to recognize
the cost over the period the employee is required to provide services for the
award. FAS 123(R) permits entities to use any option-pricing model
that meets the fair value objective in FAS 123(R). NTIC implemented FAS
123(R) on September 1, 2006, using the modified prospective
transition method.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This report contains not only historical
information, but also forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor
created by those sections. In addition,
NTIC or others on its behalf may make forward-looking statements from time to
time in oral presentations, including telephone conferences and/or web casts
open to the public, in press releases or reports, on NTICs Internet web sites
or otherwise. All statements other than
statements of historical facts included in this report that address activities,
events or developments that NTIC expects, believes or anticipates will or may
occur in the future are forward-looking statements including, in particular,
the statements about NTICs plans, objectives, strategies and prospects
regarding, among other things, its financial condition, results of operations
and business. NTIC has identified some
of these forward-looking statements with words like believe, may, could, might,
forecast, possible, potential, project, will, should, expect, intend,
plan, predict, anticipate, estimate, approximate or continue and
other words and terms of similar meaning.
These forward-looking statements may be contained in the notes to NTICs
consolidated financial statements and elsewhere in this report, including under
the heading Part 1. Financial
Information. Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis or Plan
of Operation.
NTIC wishes to caution readers not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made
and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future
results, which may not occur as anticipated.
Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the risks and
uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors below, as well as
others that NTIC may consider immaterial or does not anticipate at
21
this time. Although NTIC believes that the
expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, NTIC
does not know whether its expectations will prove correct. NTICs expectations reflected in its
forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions NTIC might
make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those described
below under the heading Risk Factors.
The risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors
below are not exclusive and further information concerning NTIC and its
business, including factors that potentially could materially affect its
financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time. NTIC assumes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or
assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. NTIC advises you, however, to consult any
further disclosures it may make on related subjects in its Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB and Current Reports on Form 8-K that
NTIC files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Risk Factors
The following are the most significant factors known to NTIC that could
materially adversely affect its business, financial condition or operating
results.
A significant portion of NTICs historical consolidated net sales were
dependent upon a single React Inc. customer, which has indicated a desire not
to purchase any future products from NTIC or its subsidiaries. As a result,
NTICs fiscal 2008 have been materially harmed and NTICs future consolidated
net sales will continue to be materially harmed.
A customer of NTICs React-NTI, LLC joint venture
accounted for, in the aggregate, approximately 28.0% and 26.6% of NTICs
consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and
2006. As described in more detail under
the heading Part I. Financial Information. Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis or Plan
of OperationFinancial Overview, during fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, this
customer notified React that it would place future orders for Reacts remaining
inventory of ink additives, but that after such inventory was purchased, the
customer would not place any future orders.
The loss of this customer has had a material adverse impact on NTICs
consolidated net sales for fiscal 2008 and NTIC anticipates that the loss of
this customer will continue to have a material adverse impact on NTICs
consolidated net sales thereafter.
However, since the margins on Reacts sales of the ink additives to this
customer were extremely small, the loss of this customer did not have a
material adverse effect on NTICs consolidated net income for the first and
second quarters of fiscal 2008 and NTIC does not expect that the anticipated
continued decrease in net sales by React will have a material adverse effect on
NTICs future consolidated net income.
No assurance
can be provided, however, that the loss of this customer will not have a
material adverse effect on NTICs future consolidated net income.
The automotive industry in the
United States has experienced contraction in recent years thus resulting in
decreased demand for NTICs Zerust
®
products in the United States, which has adversely affected and may continue to
adversely affect NTICs net sales from North American operations and net
income.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007
and during the six months ended February 29, 2008, over 70% and 82.1%,
respectively, of NTICs consolidated net sales were derived from the sales of
Zerust
®
rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products and
services. Most of these products and
services were sold to customers in the automotive industry and to a lesser
extent to customers in the electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and
retail consumer markets. The automotive
industry in the United States has experienced contraction in recent years and
is not expected to improve in the foreseeable future, which may result in a
continued adverse effect on NTICs net sales from North American operations and
net income. While NTIC intends to
increase marketing efforts of its Zerust
®
products and services to
customers in other target industries, no assurance can be provided that NTIC
will be successful in doing so or will recognize increased sales from such new
target markets.
22
NTIC intends to invest
additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources to
expand its existing product lines and the distribution of its products into new
target markets, such as the oil and gas industry. No assurance can be provided, however, that
NTICs investments in such new products and markets will be successful and
result in additional revenue.
In an effort to increase net sales, NTIC is
expanding its corrosion solution products into new markets, such as the oil and
gas industry, and expanding its product lines to include other products, such
as biodegradable and compostable plastics, plastic recycling technology and
corrosion solutions in the oil and gas industry. During fiscal 2008, NTIC expects to make
additional research and development and marketing efforts and invest additional
resources into these new product lines and markets. During the
first six months of fiscal 2008, NTIC invested approximately $1,450,720 in
additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into
these emerging businesses, product lines and markets. NTIC anticipates additional revenue from
these new technologies in fiscal year ending August 31, 2008. Although NTIC recognized $102,707 in sales of
Natur-Tec for the six months ended February 29, 2008, no assurance can be
provided that such new businesses will be successful or that NTIC will be
successful in obtaining additional revenue.
NTICs emerging new
businesses are risky and may not prove to be successful, which could harm NTICs
operating results and financial condition.
NTIC is in the process of expanding its technologies
into other applications and businesses.
NTIC is undertaking these new businesses either directly or through
joint ventures. Such new businesses are
risky and subject to all of the risks inherent in the establishment of a new
business enterprise, including:
·
the absence of an operating
history;
·
the lack of commercialized
products;
·
insufficient capital and
other resources;
·
expected substantial and
continual losses for such businesses for the foreseeable future;
·
the lack of manufacturing
experience and limited marketing experience;
·
an expected reliance on
third parties for the commercialization of some of the proposed products;
·
a competitive environment
characterized by numerous, well-established and well-capitalized competitors;
and
·
reliance on key personnel.
A significant portion of NTICs
consolidated net sales, including corporate joint venture sales, are generated
outside of the U.S. and NTIC intends to continue to expand its international
operations. NTICs international
operations require management attention and financial resources and expose NTIC
to difficulties and risks presented by international economic, political,
legal, accounting and business factors.
NTIC
offers direct on-site technical support on rust and corrosion issues in over 50
countries, and operates a marketing, distribution, and technical network
through joint ventures in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the
Middle East. NTICs consolidated net
sales, including the corporate joint venture sales, outside the United States
were 25.8% and 20.8% of its total consolidated net sales for the six months
ended February 29, 2008 and for the fiscal year ended August 31,
2007, respectively. One of NTICs
strategic objectives is to expand its international operations. NTIC has recently entered into joint ventures
in Indonesia, the Ukraine, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The expansion of NTICs existing
international operations and entry into additional international markets
requires management attention and financial resources. Many of the countries in
which NTIC sells its products directly or indirectly through its corporate
joint ventures, are, to some degree, subject to political, economic and/or
social instability. NTICs international
operations expose NTIC and its joint venture partners, representatives, agents
and distributors to risks inherent in operating in foreign jurisdictions. These risks include:
23
·
difficulties in managing and
staffing international operations and the required infrastructure costs
including legal, tax, accounting, information technology;
·
the imposition of additional
U.S. and foreign governmental controls or regulations, new trade restrictions
and restrictions on the activities of foreign agents, representatives and
distributors, the imposition of costly and lengthy export licensing
requirements and changes in duties and tariffs, license obligations and other
non-tariff barriers to trade;
·
the imposition of U.S.
and/or international sanctions against a country, company, person or entity
with whom NTIC does business that would restrict or prohibit continued business
with the sanctioned country, company, person or entity;
·
pricing pressure that NTIC
or its corporate joint ventures may experience internationally;
·
laws and business practices
favoring local companies;
·
currency exchange rate
fluctuations;
·
longer payment cycles and
difficulties in enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain
foreign legal systems;
·
difficulties in enforcing or
defending intellectual property rights; and
·
multiple, changing and often
inconsistent enforcement of laws and regulations.
NTIC
cannot assure you that one or more of the factors listed above will not harm
its business. Any material decrease in
NTICs international sales could adversely affect NTICs operating results.
NTICs liquidity
and financial position rely on dividend distributions from its corporate joint
ventures, which if such dividends cease or are reduced could adversely affect
NTICs liquidity and financial position.
NTICs liquidity and financial position rely on
dividend distributions from its corporate joint ventures. During the six months ended February 29,
2008 and the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, NTIC received
approximately $1,470,508 and $1,643,000, respectively, in dividends from its
corporate joint ventures. Because NTIC
typically owns only 50% or less of its joint venture entities, NTIC does not
control the decisions of these entities regarding whether to pay dividends and
how much in dividends should be paid in any given year. Thus, NTIC cannot guarantee that any of its
joint ventures will pay dividends in any given year. The failure of NTICs joint ventures to
declare dividends in amounts typically expected by NTIC could adversely affect
NTICs liquidity and financial position.
Fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates could result in declines in NTICs reported
consolidated net sales and net income.
Because the functional
currency of NTICs foreign operations and investments in its foreign corporate
joint ventures and holding companies is the applicable local currency, NTIC is
exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the
normal course of business since NTICs fees for technical support and other
services and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in
foreign currencies. NTICs reported
consolidated net sales and net income are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange
rates. NTICs principal exchange rate
exposure is with the Euro, the Japanese yen, Korean won and the English pound
against the U.S. dollar. NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency
exchange rate risk. Since NTICs investments in its corporate joint
ventures and holding companies are accounted for using the equity method, any
changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign
currency translation adjustment and would not change the equity in income of
joint ventures and holding companies reflected in NTICs consolidated
statements of income.
NTICs compliance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles and any changes in such principles might
adversely affect NTICs operating results and financial condition. Any requirement to consolidate NTICs
corporate joint ventures or subject them to compliance with the internal
control provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could adversely affect
NTICs operating results and financial condition.
24
NTIC
adopted accounting policy FASB Interpretation No. 46R (FIN 46R),
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
,
a revision of FIN 46
effective
as of February 28, 2005. As a
result of FIN 46R, NTIC consolidated React-NTI LLC, one of its corporate joint
ventures that is 75% owned by NTIC. If the interpretation of FIN 46R were
to change and NTIC were required to fully consolidate the remaining 28 of its
corporate joint ventures or if NTICs corporate joint ventures otherwise would
be required to be in compliance with the internal control provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, NTIC would incur significant additional costs.
NTIC estimates that the costs for each of its corporate joint ventures to
become Sarbanes-Oxley compliant would range between $150,000 to $500,000 and
that annual maintenance expenses would range from $50,000 to $100,000 per year
per corporate joint venture thereafter. In addition, other accounting
pronouncements issued in the future could have a material cost associated with
NTICs implementation of such new accounting pronouncements.
One of NTICs
principal stockholders beneficially owns 24.9% of NTICs outstanding common
stock and is affiliated with NTICs President and Chief Executive Officer and
thus may be able influence matters requiring stockholder approval, including
the election of directors, and could discourage or otherwise impede a
transaction in which a third party wishes to purchase NTICs outstanding shares
at a premium.
As of April 10, 2007, Inter Alia Holding
Company beneficially owned approximately 24.5% of NTICs outstanding common
stock. Inter Alia is an entity owned by,
among others, G. Patrick Lynch, NTICs President and Chief Executive Officer
and a director, and Philip M. Lynch, NTICs former Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman Emeritus. G. Patrick Lynch is the son of Philip M.
Lynch. Messrs. G.P. Lynch and P.M.
Lynch share voting and dispositive power of shares of NTICs common stock held
by Inter Alia Holding Company. As a
result of his share ownership through Inter Alia and his position as President
and Chief Executive Officer and a director of NTIC, Mr. G.P. Lynch may be
able to influence the affairs and actions of NTIC, including matters requiring
stockholder approval, such as the election of directors and approval of
significant corporate transactions. The
interests of Inter Alia may differ from the interests of NTICs other
stockholders. This concentration of
ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in
control of NTIC, could deprive NTICs stockholders of an opportunity to receive
a premium for their common stock as part of a sale or merger of NTIC and may
negatively affect the market price of NTICs common stock. Transactions that could be affected by this
concentration of ownership include proxy contests, tender offers, mergers or
other purchases of common stock that could give stockholders the opportunity to
realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price for shares of NTICs
common stock.
NTIC is currently involved in
litigation over its trademark on the use of the color Yellow in corrosion
inhibiting packaging, the loss of which could adversely affect NTICs business.
One of NTICs important trademarks for its business
is the trademark for the color Yellow.
NTIC is currently involved in litigation against a competitor over this
trademark. NTIC has also in the past
successfully prosecuted infringement claims against other competitors and third
parties for their use of the color Yellow.
If NTIC were to lose this current or any future litigation over its
trademark for the color Yellow, NTIC could be in a more difficult position to
enforce its rights to this trademark in other countries and against other third
parties. NTIC believes that the loss of
its trademark for the color Yellow could have an adverse effect on NTICs
business.
NTICs business, properties and products are subject to governmental
regulation and taxes with which compliance may require NTIC to incur expenses
or modify its products or operations and may expose NTIC to penalties for
non-compliance. Governmental regulation may also adversely affect the demand
for some of NTICs products and NTICs operating results.
NTICs business, properties
and products are subject to a wide variety of international, federal, state and
local laws, rules, taxes and regulations relating to the protection of the
environment, natural resources, and worker health and safety and the use,
management, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes and
25
other regulated materials.
These laws, rules and regulations may affect the way NTIC conducts its
operations, and the failure to comply with these regulations could lead to
fines and other penalties. Because NTIC owns and operates real property,
various environmental laws also may impose liability on NTIC for the costs of
cleaning up and responding to hazardous substances that may have been released
on NTICs property, including releases unknown to NTIC. These environmental
laws and regulations also could require NTIC to pay for environmental
remediation and response costs at third-party locations where NTIC disposed of
or recycled hazardous substances. NTICs future costs of complying with the
various environmental requirements, as they now exist or may be altered in the
future, could adversely affect NTICs financial condition and operating
results. NTIC is also subject to other international, federal and state laws, rules and
regulations, the future non-compliance of which may harm NTICs business or may
adversely affect the demand for some of its products. Changes in laws and regulations, including
changes in accounting standards and taxation changes, including tax rate
changes, new tax laws, revised tax law interpretations, also may adversely
affect NTICs operating results.
NTIC intends to grow its
business through additional joint ventures, alliances and acquisitions, which
could be risky and harm its business.
One
of NTICs growth strategies is to expand its business by entering into
additional joint ventures and alliances and acquiring businesses, technologies
and products that complement or augment NTICs existing products. The benefits of a joint venture, alliance or
acquisition may take more time than expected to develop, and NTIC cannot
guarantee that any future joint ventures, alliances or acquisitions will in
fact produce the intended benefits. In addition, joint ventures, alliances and
acquisitions involve a number of risks, including:
·
diversion
of managements attention;
·
difficulties in assimilating the
operations and products of an acquired business or in realizing projected
efficiencies, cost savings a
nd revenue synergies;
·
potential loss of key employees or
customers of the acquired businesses or adverse effects on existing business
relationships with suppliers and customers;
·
adverse
impact
on overall profitability if acquired
businesses do not achieve the financial results projected in NTICs valuation
models;
·
reallocation of amounts of capital from
other operating initiatives and/or an increase in NTICs leverage and debt
service requirements to pay the acquisition purchase prices, which could in
turn restrict NTICs ability to access additional capital when needed or to
pursue other important elements of NTICs business strategy;
·
inaccurate assessment of undisclosed,
contingent or other liabilities or problems and unanticipated costs associated
with the acquisition; and
·
incorrect estimates made in the
accounting for acquisitions, incurrence of non-recurring charges and write-off
of significant amounts of
goodwill
that could adversely affect NTICs operating results.
NTICs
ability to grow through joint ventures, alliances and acquisitions will depend,
in part, on the availability of suitable opportunities at an acceptable cost,
NTICs ability to compete effectively for these opportunities and the
availability of capital to complete such transactions.
NTIC relies on
its independent distributors, manufacturers sales representatives and
corporate joint ventures to market and sell its products.
In addition to its direct sales force, NTIC relies
on its independent distributors, manufacturers sales representatives and
corporate joint ventures to market and sell its products in the United States
and internationally. NTICs independent
distributors, manufacturers sales representatives and joint venture partners
might terminate their relationship with NTIC, or devote insufficient sales
efforts to NTICs products. NTIC does
not control its independent distributors, manufacturers sales representatives
and joint ventures and they may not be successful in implementing NTICs
marketing plans. NTICs failure to
26
maintain its existing relationships with its
independent distributors, manufacturers sales representatives and joint
ventures, or its failure to recruit and retain additional skilled independent distributors,
manufacturers sales representatives and joint venture partners could have an
adverse effect on NTICs operations.
NTIC has very limited staffing and
will continue to be dependent upon key employees.
NTICs success is dependent upon the efforts of a
small management team and staff. NTICs
future success will also depend in large part on its ability to retain these
individuals and identify, attract and retain other highly qualified managerial,
technical, sales and marketing and customer service personnel. Competition for
these individuals is intense, especially in the markets in which NTIC
operates. NTIC may not succeed in
identifying, attracting and retaining these personnel. The current management, other than the
President and Chief Executive Officer, do not have any material stock ownership
in NTIC or any contractual obligation to maintain their employment with
us. The loss or interruption of services
of any of NTICs key personnel, the inability to identify, attract or retain
qualified personnel in the future, delays in hiring qualified personnel, or any
employee slowdowns, strikes or similar actions could make it difficult for NTIC
to manage its business and meet key objectives, which could harm NTICs
business, financial condition and operating results.
NTIC relies on its management
information systems for inventory management, distribution and other
functions. If these information systems
fail to adequately perform these functions or if NTIC experiences an interruption
in their operation, NTICs business and operating results could be adversely
affected.
The efficient operation of NTICs business is
dependent on its management information systems. NTIC relies on its management information
systems to effectively manage accounting and financial functions; manage order
entry, order fulfillment and inventory replenishment processes; and to maintain
its research and development data. The
failure of management information systems to perform as anticipated could
disrupt NTICs business and product development and could result in decreased
sales, causing NTICs business and operating results to suffer. In addition, NTICs management information
systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural or man-made
disasters, terrorist attacks and attacks by computer viruses or hackers, or
power loss or computer systems, Internet, telecommunications or data network
failure. Any such interruption could
adversely affect NTICs business and operating results.
NTICs reliance
upon patents, trademark laws, trade secrets and contractual provisions to
protect its proprietary rights may not be sufficient to protect its
intellectual property from others who may sell similar products.
NTIC holds patents relating to various aspects of
its products and believes that proprietary technical know-how is critical to
many of its products. Proprietary rights relating to NTICs products are
protected from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that they
are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are maintained in confidence as
trade secrets. NTIC cannot be certain that it will be issued any patents
from any pending or future patent applications owned by or licensed to NTIC or
that the claims allowed under any issued patents will be sufficiently broad to
protect its technology. In the absence of patent protection, NTIC may be
vulnerable to competitors who attempt to copy NTICs products or gain access to
its trade secrets and know-how. NTICs competitors may initiate
litigation to challenge the validity of NTICs patents, or they may use their
resources to design comparable products that do not infringe NTICs
patents. NTIC may incur substantial costs if its competitors initiate
litigation to challenge the validity of its patents or if it initiates any
proceedings to protect its proprietary rights and if the outcome of any such
litigation is unfavorable to NTIC, its business and operating results could be
materially adversely affected.
In addition, NTIC relies on trade secrets and
proprietary know-how that it seeks to protect, in part, by confidentiality
agreements with its employees, and consultants. These agreements may be
breached and NTIC may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. Even
if these confidentiality agreements are not breached, NTICs trade secrets may
otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors.
27
If NTIC is unable
to continue to enhance existing products and develop and market new products
that respond to customer needs and achieve market acceptance, NTIC may
experience a decrease in demand for its products, and its business could
suffer.
One of NTICs strategies is to enhance its existing
products and develop and market new products that respond to customer
needs. NTIC may not be able to compete
effectively with its competitors unless NTIC can keep up with existing or new
products in the markets in which it competes.
Product development requires significant financial and other resources.
Although in the past NTIC has implemented lean manufacturing and other
productivity improvement initiatives to provide investment funding for new
products, NTIC cannot assure you that it will be able to continue to do so in
the future. Product improvements and new
product introductions also require significant planning, design, development
and testing at the technological, product, and manufacturing process levels and
NTIC may not be able to timely develop product improvements or new
products. NTICs competitors new products may beat NTICs products to
market, may be more effective or less expensive than NTICs products or render
NTICs products obsolete. Any new
products that NTIC may develop may not receive market acceptance or otherwise
generate any meaningful net sales or profits for NTIC relative to its
expectations, based on, among other things, existing and anticipated
investments in manufacturing capacity and commitments to fund advertising,
marketing, promotional programs, and research and development.
NTIC faces
intense competition in almost all of its product lines, including from
competitors that have substantially greater resources than NTIC does. NTIC cannot assure you it will be able to
compete effectively, which would harm its business and operating results.
NTICs products are sold in
highly competitive markets throughout the world. The principal competitive factors in NTICs
markets are pricing, product innovation, quality and reliability, product
support and customer service and reputation.
NTIC often competes with numerous manufacturers, many of who have
substantially greater financial, marketing, and other resources than NTIC does.
As a result, they may be able to adapt more quickly to new or emerging
technologies and changes in customer requirements, or to devote greater
resources to the promotion and sale of their products than NTIC can. In
addition, competition could increase if new companies enter the market or if
existing competitors expand their product lines or intensify efforts within
existing product lines. NTICs current products, products under
development and its ability to develop new and improved products may be
insufficient to enable NTIC to compete effectively with its competitors. NTIC
cannot assure you that it will be able to compete effectively, which would harm
its business and operating results.
NTIC is currently involved in
several litigation matters and an audit matter with the U.S. Internal Revenue
Service, which are costly to defend and the resolution of which could have a
material adverse effect on NTICs operating results and financial position.
NTIC is party to several litigation matters and an
audit matter with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as described in more detail
in Note 9 to NTICs consolidated financial statements. Such litigation and audit matter are costly
and may adversely affect NTICs operating results and financial condition. In addition, the resolution of such matters
may also have a material adverse effect on NTICs operating results and
financial condition.
NTIC is exposed
to risks relating to its evaluation of its internal control over financial
reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Changing laws, regulations
and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related and other recent regulations
implemented by the SEC and The American Stock Exchange, are creating
uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance
costs and making some activities more time consuming. NTIC will be evaluating its internal controls
systems to allow management to report on, and its independent registered public
accounting firm to
28
attest to, NTICs internal
control over financial reporting. NTIC
will be performing the system and process evaluation and testing (and any
necessary remediation) required to comply with the management certification and
auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act. NTIC cannot be certain as to the
timing of completion of its evaluation, testing and remediation actions or the
impact of the same on its operations since there is presently no precedent
available by which to measure compliance adequacy. If NTIC is not able to implement the
requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or with adequate
compliance, NTIC may be subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory
authorities, including the SEC or The American Stock Exchange. This type of action could adversely affect
NTICs financial results or investors confidence in NTIC, and could cause NTICs
stock price to decline. In addition, the
controls and procedures that NTIC may implement may not comply with all of the
relevant rules and regulations of the SEC and The American Stock
Exchange. If NTIC fails to develop and
maintain effective controls and procedures, it may be unable to provide the
required financial information in a timely and reliable manner. In addition, NTICs efforts to comply with Section 404
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations regarding its
assessment of its internal control over financial reporting and its independent
registered public accounting firms report on that assessment will require the
commitment of significant financial and managerial resources.
ITEM 3. CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
NTIC maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are designed to
reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed by NTIC in the
reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time
periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and
forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to NTICs
management, including NTICs principal executive and principal financial
officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In designing and evaluating NTICs disclosure controls and procedures,
NTIC recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed
and operated can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired
control objectives and NTIC necessarily is required to apply its judgment in
evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and
procedures. NTICs management evaluated,
with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial
Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of NTICs disclosure
controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered in this
report. Based on that evaluation, NTICs
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that NTICs
disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period
to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in
NTICs Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported
within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms, and that
material information relating to NTIC and its consolidated subsidiaries is made
known to management, including NTICs Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, particularly during the period when NTICs periodic reports
are being prepared.
NTICs
management is aware, however, that there is a lack of segregation of duties due
to the small number of employees of NTIC dealing with general administrative
and financial matters. However, NTICs management has decided that considering
the employees involved and the control procedures in place, risks associated
with such lack of segregation are minimal and the potential benefits of adding
employees to clearly segregate duties do not at this time justify the expenses
associated with such increases.
Changes in
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
was no change in NTICs internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the quarter ended February 29, 2008 that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially affect NTICs internal control over
financial reporting.
29
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
A
description of NTICs legal proceedings in Note 9 of NTICs consolidated
financial statements included within this report is incorporated herein by
reference.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED
SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS AND SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES
OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity
Securities
During the three months
ended February 29, 2008, NTIC did not issue any shares of its common stock
or other equity securities of NTIC that were not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933.
Small Business Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
During
the three months ended February 29, 2008, NTIC did not purchase any shares
of its common stock or other equity securities of NTIC.
On
November 13, 2003, the Board of Directors of NTIC authorized Matthew
Wolsfeld, Chief Financial Officer of NTIC, to repurchase on behalf of NTIC, up
to 100,000 shares of NTICs common stock from time to time in accordance with
applicable rules governing issuer stock repurchases. Since being authorized, NTIC has repurchased
and retired an aggregate of 44,200 shares of its common stock.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF
MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
(a) The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
NTIC was held on January 24, 2008.
(b) The results of the stockholder votes
were as follows:
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|
|
Against/
Withheld
|
|
Abstain
|
|
Broker
Non-Vote
|
|
1. Election of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pierre Chenu
|
|
3,044,307
|
|
8,050
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
G. Patrick Lynch
|
|
3,048,857
|
|
3,500
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Dr. Donald A. Kubik
|
|
3,042,969
|
|
9,388
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Mark J. Stone
|
|
3,049,057
|
|
3,300
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Dr. Sunggyu Lee
|
|
3,043,057
|
|
9,300
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Dr. Ramani Narayan
|
|
3,043,057
|
|
9,300
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Mark M. Mayers
|
|
2,062,015
|
|
990,342
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Ratification of Appointment of independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
3,044,100
|
|
385
|
|
7,871
|
|
0
|
|
ITEM 5. OTHER
INFORMATION
On April 10, 2008, NTIC
entered into a Promissory Note Modification Agreement with National City Bank
pursuant to which NTICs demand line of credit was increased to $2,300,000 and
its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility was terminated. Advances made under the demand line of credit
will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be due and
payable on demand. Outstanding amounts
under the demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR
plus 2.25%. Interest is payable in
arrears on the 15th day of each month and on demand. As of April 10, 2008, no amounts had
been borrowed by NTIC under the demand line of credit. A copy of the Promissory Note Modification
Agreement has been filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this report and is
incorporated herein by this reference.
30
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are
being filed or furnished with this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB:
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
10.1
|
|
Promissory Note
Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern
Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Promissory Note
Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern
Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Promissory Note
Modification Agreement dated April 10, 2008 between Northern
Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Certification of Chief
Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.2
|
|
Certification of Chief
Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
Certification of Chief
Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.2
|
|
Certification of Chief
Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
31
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
|
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
Date:
April 14, 2008
|
Matthew
C. Wolsfeld, CPA
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly
Authorized to Sign on Behalf of the Registrant)
|
|
|
|
32
NORTHERN
TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-QSB
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
Method of Filing
|
10.1
|
|
Promissory
Note Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern
Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank
|
|
Filed herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Promissory
Note Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern
Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank
|
|
Filed herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Promissory
Note Modification Agreement dated April 10, 2008 between Northern
Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank
|
|
Filed herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
|
|
Filed herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
|
|
Filed herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
Furnished herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.2
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
Furnished herewith
|
33
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