Table of Contents



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q


 

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

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED December 31, 20212022

 

OR

 

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

 

FROM THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                     TO                     

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-7521

 


FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 

Texas

74-1504405

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

1121 Judson Road, Suite 124, Longview, Texas 75601

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (903)758-3431

 

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report

 

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, $1 Par Value

 

FRD

 

NYSE American

 


 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

    

Non-accelerated filer

☒  

Smaller reporting company

    
  

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

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

 

At February 14, 2022,9, 2023, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s only class of stock was 6,856,0097,375,588 shares of Common Stock.

 



 

 

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  

Part I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

Item 1. Financial Statements

3

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

1617

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

2122

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

2122

Part II — OTHER INFORMATION

2324

Item 6. Exhibits

2324

SIGNATURES

2425

 

 

2

 

 

 

Part I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS — UNAUDITED

 

 

DECEMBER 31, 2021

  

MARCH 31, 2021

  

DECEMBER 31, 2022

  

MARCH 31, 2022

 

ASSETS

            

CURRENT ASSETS:

          

Cash

 $3,066,427  $8,191,001  $3,544,508  $2,598,102 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for bad debts and cash discounts of $32,834 at December 31, and March 31, 2021

 26,243,498  20,377,967 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for bad debts and cash discounts of $99,819 at December 31, and March 31, 2022

 43,072,920  35,670,657 

Inventories

 84,554,493  36,016,093  97,834,103  67,946,122 

Current portion of derivative assets

 5,408,380 622,400  808,820 4,240,740 

Other current assets

  2,578,235   12,327,174   3,096,007   14,906,194 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 121,851,033  77,534,635  148,356,358  125,361,815 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

          

Land

 1,179,831  1,179,831  1,669,831  1,179,831 

Buildings and yard improvements

 8,581,676  9,199,704  30,664,230  8,581,676 

Machinery and equipment

 30,416,505  35,253,000  48,495,480  30,422,066 

Construction in process

 12,983,850  9,614  832,761  15,925,306 

Less accumulated depreciation

  (25,671,208)  (30,180,893)  (27,882,265)  (26,002,820)
 27,490,654  15,461,256  53,780,037  30,106,059 

OTHER ASSETS:

          

Cash value of officers’ life insurance and other assets

 277,757  148,494  464,892  157,248 

Operating lease right-of-use asset

 1,281,996 113,168 

Deferred income tax asset

  820,568   1,864,424    2,133,295 

Income taxes recoverable

     1,403,485 

TOTAL ASSETS

 $150,440,012  $95,008,809  $203,883,283  $159,275,070 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

            

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

          

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 $37,963,440  $15,185,038  $42,378,677  $44,803,602 

Dividends payable

 138,023  138,117  147,512  137,120 

Contribution to retirement plan

 200,000  50,000  350,000  250,000 

Employee compensation and related expenses

 1,187,753  2,643,538  2,258,823  1,085,676 

Income taxes payable

 1,248,257  1,455,099  2,631,006   

Current portion of financing lease

 104,185  102,689  106,214  104,689 

Current portion of derivative liability

 2,977,140 7,979,380  649,700 14,429,520 

Current portion of Paycheck Protection Program loan

  0   1,518,410 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 43,818,798  29,072,271   48,521,932   60,810,607 

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS

 115,168  108,609  96,535  119,591 

DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITY

 820,960   

OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

 261,541  315,978  1,274,431  221,767 

ASSET BASED LENDING FACILITY

 15,187,824  0  44,510,967  18,436,457 

LONG TERM PORTION OF PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOAN

  0   171,975 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

  59,383,331   29,668,833   95,224,825   79,588,422 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

              

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

          

Common stock, par value $1: Authorized shares — 10,000,000; Issued shares — 8,344,975 shares and 8,334,785 shares at December 31, and March 31, 2021, respectively

 8,344,975  8,334,785 

Common stock, par value $1: Authorized shares — 10,000,000; Issued shares — 8,868,716 shares and 8,344,975 shares at December 31, and March 31, 2022, respectively

 8,868,716  8,344,975 

Additional paid-in capital

 30,369,207  30,003,462  34,926,801  30,442,361 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 (6,858,575) (11,187,841) (846,905) (10,268,509)

Treasury stock at cost (1,443,804 shares and 1,435,248 shares at December 31, and March 31, 2021, respectively)

 (7,305,417) (7,203,342)

Treasury stock at cost (1,493,128 shares and 1,488,966 shares at December 31, and March 31, 2022, respectively)

 (7,777,769) (7,741,197)

Retained earnings

  66,506,491   45,392,912   73,487,615   58,909,018 

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  91,056,681   65,339,976   108,658,458   79,686,648 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 $150,440,012  $95,008,809  $203,883,283  $159,275,070 

 

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

 

3

 

 

FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS — UNAUDITED

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 NINE MONTHS ENDED  

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

NINE MONTHS ENDED

 
 DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,  

DECEMBER 31,

  

DECEMBER 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Net Sales

 $51,655,943  $28,502,049  $210,143,277  $76,888,329  $111,860,093  $51,655,943  $423,355,592  $210,143,277 

Costs and expenses:

  

Costs of products sold

 55,259,964  24,006,200  166,722,381  71,044,629  105,730,259  55,259,964  393,875,438  166,722,381 

Selling, general and administrative

 1,994,242  1,725,143  10,634,407  4,518,785   4,700,850   1,994,242   15,661,476   10,634,407 

Interest expense

  58,385   6,148   153,891   18,356 
  57,312,591   25,737,491   177,510,679   75,581,770   110,431,109   57,254,206   409,536,914   177,356,788 

EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

 (5,656,648) 2,764,558  32,632,598  1,306,559  1,428,984  (5,598,263) 13,818,678  32,786,489 
Interest expense (447,551) (58,385) (1,498,147) (153,891)

Other income (loss), net

  1,727,134   4,339   (4,801,121)  12,987   826,039   1,727,134   7,349,916   (4,801,121)

EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 (3,929,514) 2,768,897  27,831,477  1,319,546  1,807,472  (3,929,514) 19,670,447  27,831,477 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes:

  

Current

 (855,309) 757,097  6,639,198  634,056  447,995  (855,309) 4,686,413  6,639,198 

Deferred

  (112,372)  (117,945)  (335,299)  (335,388)  (16,416)  (112,372)  (47,141)  (335,299)
  (967,681)  639,152   6,303,899   298,668   431,579   (967,681)  4,639,272   6,303,899 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 $(2,961,833) $2,129,745  $21,527,578  $1,020,878  $1,375,893  $(2,961,833) $15,031,175  $21,527,578 
  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

 

Basic

 6,906,891  7,039,736  6,903,306  7,062,628 

Diluted

 6,906,891  7,039,736  6,903,306  7,062,628 

Net earnings (loss) per share:

  

Basic

 $(0.43) $0.30  $3.12  $0.14  $0.19  $(0.45) $2.06  $3.12 

Diluted

 $(0.43) $0.30  $3.12  $0.14  $0.19  $(0.45) $2.06  $3.12 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 $0.02  $0.02  $0.06  $0.06  $0.02  $0.02  $0.06  $0.06 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) — UNAUDITED

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 NINE MONTHS ENDED  

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

NINE MONTHS ENDED

 
 DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,  

DECEMBER 31,

  

DECEMBER 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Net earnings (loss)

 $(2,961,833) $2,129,745  $21,527,578  $1,020,878  $1,375,893  $(2,961,833) $15,031,175  $21,527,578 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

  13,795,418   2,657,923   4,329,266   2,657,923   669,454   13,795,418   9,421,604   4,329,266 
  13,795,418   2,657,923   4,329,266   2,657,923   669,454   13,795,418   9,421,604   4,329,266 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $10,833,585  $4,787,668  $25,856,844  $3,678,801 

Comprehensive income

 $2,045,347  $10,833,585  $24,452,779  $25,856,844 

 

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

 

4

 

 

FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — UNAUDITED

 

 

NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

  

NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

          

Net earnings

 $21,527,578  $1,020,878  $15,031,175  $21,527,578 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

          

Depreciation

 994,209  730,254  1,879,445  994,209 

Deferred taxes

 (335,299) (335,388) (47,141) (335,299)

Compensation expense for restricted stock

 375,935  376,363  224,481  375,935 

Change in postretirement benefits

 6,559  8,900  8,237  6,559 

Lower of cost or net realizable value inventory adjustment

 0  274,093 

Gain recognized on open derivatives not designated for hedge accounting

 (1,238,320) 0  (1,353,520) (1,238,320)

Deferred realized gain (loss) on derivatives - designated for hedge accounting

 (3,393,260) 696,400 

Deferred realized gain (loss) on derivatives

 3,155,821 (3,393,260)

Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan

 (1,706,614) 0   (1,706,614)

Decrease (increase) in operating assets:

     

Decrease (increase) in operating assets, net of amounts acquired in business combination:

     

Accounts receivable

 (5,865,531) (428,031) (7,402,263) (5,865,531)

Inventories

 (48,538,400) 5,263,830  47,658,608  (48,538,400)

Federal income taxes recoverable

 0  448,665  1,403,485   

Other current assets

 (667,196) (793,679) 426,712  (667,196)

Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:

     

Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities, net of amounts acquired in business combination:

     

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 17,415,657  (2,834,970) (20,790,614) 17,415,657 

Income taxes payable

 (206,842) 88,541  2,631,006  (206,842)

Contribution to retirement plan

 150,000  149,750  100,000  150,000 

Employee compensation and related expenses

  (1,455,785)  172,018   1,173,147   (1,455,785)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 (22,937,309) 4,837,624  44,098,579  (22,937,309)

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

          

Plateplus business combination

 (71,720,208)  

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 (7,350,081) (4,228,193) (8,278,891) (7,350,081)

Proceeds from sale of assets

 160,542 0 

Proceeds on sale from assets

  160,542 

Increase in cash surrender value of officers’ life insurance

  (8,686)  (12,970)  (10,389)  (8,686)

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 (7,198,225) (4,241,163) (80,009,488) (7,198,225)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

          

Paycheck Protection Program loan proceeds

 0  1,690,385 

Debt issuance cost

 (328,548)  

Cash dividends paid

 (414,092) (424,780) (442,186) (414,092)

Cash paid for principal portion of finance lease

 (76,831) (75,364) (78,327) (76,831)

Cash paid for share repurchases

 (102,075) (1,143,356) (36,572) (102,075)

Asset based lending facility proceeds

  15,187,824  0   26,074,510  15,187,824 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  14,594,826   46,885   25,188,877   14,594,826 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH

 (15,540,708) 643,346 

DECREASE IN CASH AND RESTRICED CASH

 (10,722,032) (15,540,708)

CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  20,192,486   17,057,751   16,121,518   20,192,486 

CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD

 $4,651,778  $17,701,097  $5,399,486  $4,651,778 

 

Cash and restricted cash at December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 20212022 included $1,585,350$1,854,978 and $12,001,485,$13,523,416, respectively, of cash required to collateralize open derivative positions. These amounts are reported in "Other current assets" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 2021.2022. The Company had $1,215,300$1,585,350 in restricted cash at December 31, 2020.2021. 

 

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

 

 

5

 

FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

 

CONDENSED NOTES TO QUARTERLY REPORT — UNAUDITED

 

 

NOTE A — BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes of Friedman Industries, Incorporated (the “Company”) included in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 20212022.

 

Business Combinations

The results of a business acquired in a business combination are included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition. The Company allocates the purchase price to the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business at their acquisition date fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the amount allocated to the identifiable assets and liabilities, if any, is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to make significant judgments and estimates, including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenue and cash flows, discount rates and selection of comparable companies. Acquisition-related transaction costs are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred. Please refer to Note B for additional discussion of the acquisition completed by the Company during the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Reclassifications

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the previous year may include certain reclassifications to conform to the current presentation. To conform with the current year presentation, “Interest expense” on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations was moved below the calculation of "Earnings (Loss) From Operations". This reclassification had no impact on previously reported net earnings or stockholder's equity.

 

NOTE B — NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTSBUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

InOn December 2019, April 30, 2022, (the FASB“Acquisition Date”), the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of Plateplus, Inc. (“Plateplus”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Metal One, Inc. (“Metal One” or “Seller”), whereby the Company acquired the real estate, buildings, equipment, inventory, and other assets of Plateplus’ East Chicago, IN and Granite City, IL facilities and certain steel inventory at Plateplus’ Loudon, TN and Houston, TX facilities (the “Transaction”). The East Chicago and Granite City facilities are steel coil processing facilities that produce the same type of products as the Company's facilities in Hickman, AR; Decatur, AL and  Sinton, TX. As a result of the Transaction, the Company expanded its footprint and distribution capabilities in the mid-western United States.

The Transaction resulted in the Company acquiring the assets noted above, for a total consideration of $76.5 million, of which $71.7 million was cash consideration and $4.8 million related to 516,041 shares of the Company's common stock issued Accounting Standards Updateto the Seller. The fair value of the 516,041 shares issued was determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on 2019April 29, 2022, -the last trading day prior to the Acquisition Date. At the Acquisition Date, the Transaction was funded with net borrowings of $64.0 million made under the Company's asset-based lending facility ("ABL Facility") provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank. An additional $7.9 million was funded by the ABL Facility during the quarter ended 12,September 30, 2022 to pay the final net working capital adjustment.

The Transaction was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, in accordance with Topic 805, Income Taxes (TopicBusiness Combinations, whereby the consideration transferred and the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair values of these identifiable net assets is recorded as goodwill. The Transaction resulted in no residual goodwill. The estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are provisional and are based on the information that was available as of the Acquisition Date to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Therefore, the provisional measurements of fair value reflected are subject to change and such changes could be significant. The Company expects to finalize its fair value estimates as soon as practicable but 740no): Simplifying later than one year from the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which simplifies accounting for income taxes by revising or clarifying existing guidance in ASC 740,Acquisition Date.

Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed

    

Inventory

 $77,546,000 

Property, plant and equipment

  18,022,000 
Operating lease right-of-use asset  1,237,097 

Accounts payable

  (19,065,000)
Operating lease liability  (1,237,097)

Total

 $76,503,000 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated operating results give effect to the Transaction as wellif it had been completed as removing certain exceptions within ASC 740. We adopted this guidance onof April 1, 2021. These pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Transaction had occurred on such date. The adoptionpro forma adjustments are based on certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable.

  

Three Months Ended December 31,

  

Nine Months Ended December 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Net sales

 $111,860,093  $122,495,733  $442,756,025  $391,652,365 

Earnings (loss) from operations

 $981,433  $(20,068,874) $12,291,240  $14,918,837 

Our consolidated statements of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended December 31, 2022, include net sales of approximately $52.0 million and $175.0 million, respectively, and earnings from operations of approximately $4.6 million and $10.3 million, respectively, attributable to the East Chicago and Granite City facilities acquired from Plateplus. At the Acquisition Date, the Company acquired the inventory on hand at Plateplus' Houston and Loudon facilities and also assumed inventory on order related to these locations. Plateplus provided toll processing services for this guidancematerial for a period of time following the Acquisition Date with these services having concluded by August 31, 2022 resulting in no impact to sales and earnings from operations for the three months ended December 31, 2022. In addition to the East Chicago and Granite City sales and earnings from operations, our consolidated statement of operations for the nine month period ended December 31, 2022, include net sales of approximately $43.4 million and earnings from operations of approximately $300,000 attributable to sales of inventory from Houston and Loudon where the fixed assets were not acquired. The Company did not have any transaction specific costs during the three months ended December 31, 2022. For the nine months ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded transaction specific costs of approximately $1.2 million as a material impactcomponent of "Selling, general and administrative" expenses on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements of Operations. Information about the debt issuance costs associated with the acquisition financing is provided in Note D.

 

6

 

NOTE C — INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consist of prime coil, non-standard coil and tubular materials. Prime coil inventory consists primarily of raw materials, non-standard coil inventory consists primarily of raw materials and tubular inventory consists of both raw materials and finished goods. Cost for prime coil inventory is determined using the average cost method. Cost for non-standard coil inventory is determined using the specific identification method. Cost for tubular inventory is determined using the average cost method. All inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

 

A summary of inventory values by product group follows:

 

 

December 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2022

  

March 31, 2022

 

Prime Coil Inventory

 $64,230,616  $23,079,012  $89,007,944  $50,482,022 

Non-Standard Coil Inventory

 424,179  1,419,055  295,925  1,063,374 

Tubular Raw Material

 13,742,141  2,607,197  4,542,470  9,049,598 

Tubular Finished Goods

  6,157,557   8,910,829   3,987,764   7,351,128 
 $84,554,493  $36,016,093  $97,834,103  $67,946,122 

 

Tubular raw material inventory consists of hot-rolled steel coils that the Company will manufacture into pipe. Tubular finished goods inventory consists of pipe the Company has manufactured and new mill reject pipe the Company has purchased from U.S. Steel Tubular Products, Inc.manufactured.

 

 

NOTE D – DEBT

         

          On June 22, 2021, the Small Business Administration authorized full forgiveness of ourthe Company's Paycheck Protection Program loan. The gain of $1,706,614 from this extinguishment of debt included both principal and interest and is recorded as a component of "Other income (loss), net" on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended Decemberr December 31,2021.

 

On March 8, 2021, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement providing for a $10 million revolving line of credit facility (the "Interim Credit Facility) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"). The term of the Interim Credit Facility had an expiration date of July 15, 2021 because the Company was evaluating options for longer term credit arrangements. On April 12, 2021, 14,2021,the Company executed a first amendment to the Interim Credit Facility that increased the size of the facility from $10 million to $20 million. On May 19, 2021, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("ABL Facility") with the Bank that amendsamended and restatesrestated the Interim Credit Facility and providesprovided for asset-based revolving loans in an aggregate principal amount up to $40 million. On March 11, 2022, the Company executed a first amendment to the ABL Facility which increased the size of the facility from $40 million to $75 million. On April 29, 2022, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to the ABL Facility. The Second Amendment increased the revolving loans available under the ABL facility from an aggregate principal amount of up to $75 million to an aggregate principal amount of up to $150 million. On July 6, 2022, the Company entered into a Third Amendment to the ABL Facility. The Third Amendment to the ABL Facility provided for the syndication of the asset-based revolving loans available thereunder with BMO Harris Bank, N.A. ("BMO") with JPMorgan Chase Bank serving as the arranging agent (the "ABL Facility""Agent"). The Third Amendment also amended provisions of the ABL Facility authorizing the Agent to make protective advances under the ABL Facility and added a covenant requiring each of the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain the Agent as its principal depository bank. In connection with the Third Amendment, the Company also entered into a Revolving Note payable to BMO in a principal amount of up to $50 million establishing BMO as a one-third syndicated participant in the Company's ABL facility. The ABL Facility matures on May 19, 2026 and replaced the Interim Credit Facility in its entirety. The ABL Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The Company andcan elect borrowings bearon a floating rate basis or a term basis. Floating rate borrowings accrue interest at a rate equal to LIBORthe prime rate minus 1% per annum. Term rate borrowings accrue interest at a rate equal to the SOFR rate applicable to the selected term plus 1.7%1.8% per annum. Availability of funds under the ABL Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculation determined as the sum of (a) 85%90% of eligible accounts receivable, plus (b) the product of 85% multiplied by the net orderly liquidating value percentage identified in the most recent inventory appraisal multiplied by eligible inventory and plus (c) a machinery and equipment component that is the lesser of 85% of the net orderly liquidating value of eligible equipment or the machinery and equipment component limit which is initially $5 million and reduces over the term of the facility.inventory. The ABL Facility contains a springing financial covenant restrictingwhereby the financial covenant is only tested when availability falls below the greater of 15% of the revolving commitment or $22.5 million. The financial covenant restricts the Company from allowing its fixed charge coverage ratio to be, as of the end of any calendar month, less than 1.10 to 1.00 for the trailing twelve month-month period then ending. The fixed charge coverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of (a) EBITDA, as defined in the ABL Facility, minus unfinanced capital expenditures to (b) cash interest expense plus scheduled principal payments on indebtedness plus taxes paid in cash plus restricted payments paid in cash plus capital lease obligation payments plus cash contributions to any employee pension benefit plans. The ABL Facility contains other representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants that are usual and customary. If certain conditions precedent are satisfied, the ABL facility may be increased by up to an aggregate of $10$25 million, in minimum increments of $5 million. At December 31, 20212022, the Company had a balance of $15,187,824$44,510,967 under the ABL Facility with an applicable interest rate of 1.80%6.5%. At December 31, 20212022, the Company's applicable borrowing base calculation provided fullsupported access to $99 million of the ABL Facility.

The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $239,887 in connection with the Second Amendment to the ABL Facility and $154,000 in connection with the Company was in compliance with all covenants relatedThird Amendment to the ABL Facility. The Company recorded these debt issuance costs as non-current other assets and will amortize these costs on an equal monthly basis over the remaining term of the ABL facility.

 

 

67

 

 

 NOTE E — LEASES

 

The Company was assigned an operating lease associated with the real property and leasehold improvements for the Granite City, IL facility acquired from Plateplus pursuant to the Transaction disclosed in Note B. The current lease expires August 31, 2023 but contains a 20 year extension option in favor of the Company which the Company expects to exercise. The lease calls for quarterly rental payments of $18,832. The Company recognized an initial right-of-use ("ROU") asset and lease liability of $1,237,097 during the June 30, 2022 quarter related to this lease. The anticipated 20 year extension of this lease is included in the ROU asset and lease liability calculation. The Company’s lease of its office space in Longview, Texas is the only other operating lease included in the Company's right-of-use ("ROU") assetROU assets and lease liability.liabilities. The lease calls for monthly rent payments of $4,878 and expires on April 30, 2024. The Company’s other operating leases for items such as IT equipment and storage space are either short-term in nature or immaterial.

 

In October 2019, the Company received a new heavy-duty forklift under a 5-year finance lease arrangement with a financed amount of $518,616 and a monthly payment of $9,074.

 

The components of expense related to leases for the three and nine months ended December 31, 20212022 and 20202021 are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 December 31, December 31,  

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Finance lease – amortization of ROU asset

 $25,734  $25,243  $76,831  $75,364  $26,235  $25,734  $78,327  $76,831 

Finance lease – interest on lease liability

 1,489  1,981  4,838  6,306  988  1,489  3,342  4,838 

Operating lease expense

  14,634   14,634   43,902   41,652   33,466   14,634   94,120   43,902 
 $41,857  $41,858  $125,571  $123,322  $60,689  $41,857  $175,789  $125,571 

 

The following table illustrates the balance sheet classification for ROU assets and lease liabilities as of December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 2021:2022:

 

 

December 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2021

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

December 31, 2022

  

March 31, 2022

 

Balance Sheet Classification

Assets

            

Operating lease right-of-use asset

 $125,676  $4,850 

Other assets

 $1,281,996  $113,168 

Operating lease right-of-use asset

Finance lease right-of-use asset

  462,431   481,880 

Property, plant & equipment

  436,499   455,948 

Property, plant & equipment

Total right-of-use assets

 $588,107  $486,730   $1,718,495  $569,116  

Liabilities

            

Operating lease liability, current

 $51,366  $4,850 

Accrued expenses

 $100,744  $52,270 

Accrued expenses

Finance lease liability, current

 104,185  102,689 

Current portion of finance lease

 106,214  104,689 

Current portion of finance lease

Operating lease liability, non-current

 74,310  0 

Other non-current liabilities

 1,193,415  60,898 

Other non-current liabilities

Finance lease liability, non-current

  187,231   265,557 

Other non-current liabilities

  81,016   160,869 

Other non-current liabilities

Total lease liabilities

 $417,092  $373,096   $1,481,389  $378,726  

 

As of December 31, 20212022, the weighted-average remaining lease term was 2.3 19.6 years for operating leases and 2.81.7 years for finance leases. The weighted average discount rate was 7%2.7% for operating leases and 1.9% for finance leases.

 

Maturities of lease liabilities as of December 31, 20212022 were as follows:

 

 

Operating Leases

  

Finance Leases

  

Operating Leases

  

Finance Leases

 

Fiscal 2022 (remainder of fiscal year)

 14,634  27,223 

Fiscal 2023

 58,536  108,892 

Fiscal 2023 (remainder of fiscal year)

 33,466  27,223 

Fiscal 2024

 58,536  108,892  133,863  108,892 

Fiscal 2025

  4,878   54,446   80,205   54,446 

Fiscal 2026

  0 �� 0  75,327   

Fiscal 2027 and beyond

  1,311,941    

Total undiscounted lease payments

 $136,584  $299,453  $1,634,802  $190,561 

Less: imputed interest

  (10,908)  (8,037)  (340,643)  (3,331)

Present value of lease liability

 $125,676  $291,416  $1,294,159  $187,230 

 

78

 
 

NOTE F — PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

On May 25, 2021, the Company announced plans for a new facility in Sinton, Texas that willwould be part of the coil product segment. The new facility will beis on the campus of Steel Dynamics, Inc.'s ("SDI") new flat roll steel mill currently under construction in Sinton, Texas. The Company's new location will consistconsists of an approximately 70,000 square foot building located on approximately 26.5 acres leased from SDI under a 99-year agreement with an annual rental payment of $1. The Company has selected Red Bud Industries to buildfacility is equipped with a stretcher leveler cut-to-length line for the facility that is capable of handling material up to 1” thick, widths up to 96” and yields exceeding 100,000 psi. The Company expectsput the location to commence operations infacility into service at the end of AugOctober 2022 ust 2022and estimates the total cost of the project to be $21approximately $22.3 million. The Company previously expected the facility to commence operations in April 2022 but has received notification from the electricity provider that the electrical infrastructure necessary to operate the facility is not expected to be complete until July 2022. At December 31, 2021the Company's construction in process related to the Sinton project was $12,983,850 consisting of $7,383,850 in cash payments and $5,600,000 of accrued capital expenditures.

During the nine months ended December 31, 20212022, the Company wrote off fully depreciated fixed assets that werehad paid approximately $14,826,000 related to the project and accrued approximately $7,448,000 to be paid during the no longer in use with an original cost and accumulated depreciation of approximately $2,060,226. During the ninethree months endedending DecemberMarch 31, 20212023., the Company disposed of the temper mill that was taken out of the Decatur facility prior to the new stretcher leveler coil processing line being installed. The Company received $160,542 in proceeds from the disposal of the equipment which had an original cost of $3,604,209 and accumulated depreciation of $3,447,465.

 

 

NOTE G — STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company maintains the Friedman Industries, Incorporated 2016 Restricted Stock Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and continues indefinitely until terminated by the Board or until all shares allowed by the Plan have been awarded and earned. The aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock eligible for award under the Plan is 500,000 shares. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select the employees, directors or consultants to whom awards will be granted and shall determine the amount and applicable restrictions of each award. Restricted awards entitle recipients to vote and receive non-forfeitable dividends during the restriction period. Because dividends are non-forfeitable, they are reflected in retained earnings. Forfeitures are accounted for upon their occurrence. Because the Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur, the non-forfeitable dividends are reclassified from retained earnings to additional stock compensation for the actual forfeitures that occurred.

 

The following table summarizes the activity related to restricted stock awardsunits ("RSUs") for the nine months ended December 31, 20212022:

 

    

Weighted Average

     

Weighted Average

 
 

Number of Shares

  

Grant Date Fair Value Per Share

  

Number of Shares

  

Grant Date Fair Value Per Share

 

Unvested at March 31, 2021

 339,625  $6.07 

Unvested at March 31, 2022

 139,523  $5.96 

Cancelled or forfeited

 0  0     

Granted

 10,190  12.56  7,700  9.10 

Vested

  (50,292)  5.11   (46,857)  7.65 

Unvested at December 31, 2021

  299,523  $6.45 

Unvested at December 31, 2022

  100,366  $5.41 

 

The Company measures compensation expense for RSUs at the market price of the common stock as of the grant date. Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period applicable to each award. The Company recorded compensation expense oexpenf $375,935se of $224,481 and $376,363$375,935 in the nine months ended December 31, 20212022 and 20202021, respectively, relating to the stock awardsRSUs issued under the Plan. As of December 31, 20212022, unrecognized compensation expense related to stock awardsunvested RSUs was approximatelappry $618,714,oximately $391,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.4 1.5 ye years.ars. As of December 31, 20212022, a total of 130,185122,485 shares were still available to be issued under the Plan.

 

 

NOTE H — DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

In June 2020, the Company implemented its first commodity price risk management activities by transacting hot-rolled coil futures. From time to time, we expect to use derivative financial instruments to minimize our exposure to commodity price risk that is inherent in our business. At the time derivative contracts are entered into, we assess whether the nature of the instrument qualifies for hedge accounting treatment according to the requirements of ASC 815 – Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). By using derivatives, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. The Company’s exposure to credit risk includes the counterparty’s failure to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of the derivative contract. The Company attempts to minimize its credit risk by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties and uses exchange-traded derivatives when available. Market risk is the risk that the value of the financial instrument might be adversely affected by a change in commodity prices. The Company manages market risk by continually monitoring exposure within its risk management strategy and portfolio. For those transactions designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, we document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the various hedge transactions. We also assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or fair value of hedged items.

 

8

From time to time, derivatives designated for hedge accounting may be closed prior to contract expiration. The accounting treatment of closed positions depends on whether the closure occurred due to the hedged transaction occurring early or if the hedged transaction is still expected to occur as originally forecasted. For hedged transactions that occur early, the closure results in the realized gain or loss from closure being recognized in the same period the accelerated hedged transaction affects earnings. For hedged transactions that are still expected to occur as originally forecasted, the closure results in the realized gain or loss being deferred until the hedged transaction affects earnings.

 

If it is determined that hedged transactions associated with cash flow hedges are no longer probable of occurring, the gain or loss associated with the instrument is recognized immediately into earnings. 

 

From time to time, we may have derivative financial instruments for which we do not elect hedge accounting. 

 

The Company has forward physical purchase supply agreements in place with some of its suppliers for a portion of its monthly physical steel needs. These supply agreements are not subject to mark-to-market accounting due to the Company electing the normal purchase normal sale exclusion provided in ASC 815. 

 

9

At December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 20212022, the Company held hot-rolled coil futures contracts which were designated as hedging instruments and classified as cash flow hedges, either as hedges of variable purchase prices or as hedges of variable sales prices. Accordingly, realized and unrealized gains and losses associated with the instruments are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings during the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2021, some of the Company's cash flow hedges were closed prior to expiration but the hedged transactions were still expected to occur as originally forecasted resulting in the realized gain or loss being deferred in other comprehensive income until the hedged transactions occur and affect earnings. At September 30, 2021, the Company removed some derivative instruments from hedge accounting due to the hedged transactions no longer being expected to occur. This was the result of the Company reducing its forecasted sales for the quarter ending December 31, 2021 due to anticipated customer reaction to plateauing and declining steel prices. Since these hedged sales were no longer expected to occur, a loss of $9,930,720 associated with these instruments was immediately recognized into earnings for the September 30, 2021 quarter and reported as a component of “Other income (loss), net”. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 20212022, the Company also entered into hot-rolled coil futures contracts that were not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Accordingly, the change in fair value related to these instruments was immediately recognized in earnings.  

 

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the respective line in which they were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 20212022:

 

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

 
 

Balance Sheet

    

Balance Sheet

    

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging sales

Current portion of derivative assets

 $3,539,300 

Current portion of derivative liability

 $2,342,780 
           

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

          

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

Current portion of derivative assets

 $1,869,080 

Current portion of derivative liability

 $634,360 

All derivatives are presented on a gross basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

 
 

Balance Sheet

    

Balance Sheet

    

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging sales

Current portion of derivative assets

 $22,100     
           

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

        

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

Current portion of derivative assets

 $786,720 

Current portion of derivative liability

 $649,700 
           

 

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the respective line in which they were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 20212022:

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

 

Balance Sheet

   

Balance Sheet

   

Balance Sheet

   

Balance Sheet

   

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging purchases

Current portion of derivative assets

 $530,640     

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging sales

Current portion of derivative assets

 $91,760 

Current portion of derivative liability

 $7,890,700 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts hedging sales

    

Other non-current liabilities

 $50,420     

Current portion of derivative liability

 $8,905,500 
                

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

                

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

    

Current portion of derivative liability

 $88,680 

Current portion of derivative assets

 $4,240,740 

Current portion of derivative liability

 $5,524,020 

 

All derivatives are presented on a gross basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.Sheets.

 

At December 31, 2021 and March 31, 20212022, the Company reported $280,220 and $501,360, respectively,$933,200 in "Accounts payable and accrued expenses""Other current assets" on its Consolidated Balance SheetsSheet related to futures contracts which were closed but were pending cash settlement. At December 31, 2022, the Company did not have any closed futures contracts pending cash settlement.

 

The notional amounts (quantities)amount (quantity) of our cash flow hedges outstanding at December 31, 20212022 consisted of 34,0202,080 tons hedging sales with maturity dates ranging from January 2022February 2023 to December 2022.March 2023.

 

9

The following table summarizes the pre-tax gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income and the gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings for derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges for the periods presented:

 

 

Pre-Tax Gain (Loss)

 

Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified

 

Pre- Tax Gain (Loss) Reclassified from

  

Pre-Tax Gain (Loss)

 

Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified

 

Pre- Tax Gain (Loss) Reclassified from

 
 

Recognized in OCI

 

from AOCI into Net Earnings

 

AOCI into Net Earnings

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2022:

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

 $22,100 

Sales

 $(860,620)

Total

 $22,100   $(860,620)
 

Recognized in OCI

 

from AOCI into Net Earnings

 

AOCI into Net Earnings

  

For the three months ended December 31, 2021:

  

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

 $3,473,300 

Sales

 $(14,766,060) $3,473,300 

Sales

 $(14,766,060)
    

Costs of goods sold

  49,200 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

   

Costs of goods sold

 49,200 

Total

 $3,473,300   $(14,716,860) $3,473,300   $(14,716,860)
  

For the three months ended December 31, 2020:

 

For the nine months ended December 31, 2022:

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

 $3,364,460 

Costs of goods sold

 $396,720  $9,445,840 

Sales

 $(2,977,160)

Total

 $3,364,460   $396,720  $9,445,840   $(2,977,160)
  

For the nine months ended December 31, 2021:

  

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

 $(6,609,540)

Sales

 $(22,950,860) $(6,609,540)

Sales

 $(22,950,860)
    

Costs of goods sold

  10,632,900 

Total

 $(6,609,540)  $(12,317,960)
 

For the nine months ended December 31, 2020:

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

 $3,364,460 

Costs of goods sold

 $396,720    

Costs of goods sold

 10,632,900 

Total

 $3,364,460   $396,720  $(6,609,540)  $(12,317,960)

 

The estimated amount of net losses recognized in AOCI at December 31, 20212022 expected to be reclassified into net earnings (loss) within the succeeding twelve months is $9,220,880.$1,116,700. This amount consists of $9,952,400$1,138,800 in realized losses associated with closed hedges and net$22,100 in unrealized gains of $731,520 associated with open hedges that was computed using the fair value of the cash flow hedges as of December 31, 20212022 and is subject to change before actual reclassification from AOCI to net earnings (loss).

 

10

The following table summarizes the gain (loss)gains recognized in earnings for derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments during the three and nine months ended December 31, 20212022:

   

Gain Recognized in Earnings

 
 

Location of Gain

 

for the Three Months Ended

 
 

Recognized in Earnings

 December 31, 2022 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

Other income (loss), net

 $822,200 

   

Gain Recognized in Earnings

 
 

Location of Gain

 

for the Nine Months Ended

 
 

Recognized in Earnings

 

December 31, 2022

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

Other income (loss), net

 $7,325,860 

The following table summarizes the losses recognized in earnings for derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2021:

 

   

Gain Recognized in Earnings

 
 

Location of Gain

 

for the Three Months Ended

 
 

Recognized in Earnings

 

December 31, 2021

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

Other income (loss), net

 $1,721,700 

 

   

Loss Recognized in Earnings

 
 

Location of Loss

 

for the Nine Months Ended

 
 

Recognized in Earnings

 

December 31, 2021

 

Hot-rolled coil steel contracts

Other income (loss), net

 $(6,498,040)

 

The notional amount (quantity) of our derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments at December 31, 20212022 consisted of 16,860 tons of long positions with maturity dates ranging from January 2022 to August 2022 and 21,38035,040 tons of short positions with maturity dates ranging from January 20222023 to December 2022.2023.

 

The Company did not have any derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2020.

10

The following table reflects the change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the periodperiods presented:

 

  

Gain (Loss) on

 
  

Derivatives

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 $(11,187,841)

Other comprehensive loss, net of income, before reclassification

  (5,012,675)

Total loss reclassified from AOCI (1)

  9,341,941 

Net current period other comprehensive income

  4,329,266 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 $(6,858,575)
  

Gain (Loss) on

 
  

Derivatives

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 $(10,268,509)

Other comprehensive income, net of loss, before reclassification

  7,163,726 

Total loss reclassified from AOCI (1)

  2,257,878 

Net current period other comprehensive income

  9,421,604 

Balance at December 31, 2022

 $(846,905)

 

(1) The loss reclassified from AOCI is presented net of tax benefits of $2,976,019$719,282 which are included in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 20212022..

 

  

Gain (Loss) on

 
  

Derivatives

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

 $0 

Other comprehensive income, before reclassification

  2,971,332 

Total gain reclassified from AOCI (1)

  (313,409)

Net current period other comprehensive income

  2,657,923 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 $2,657,923 
  

Gain (Loss) on

 
  

Derivatives

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 $(11,187,841)

Other comprehensive loss, net of income, before reclassification

  (5,012,675)

Total loss reclassified from AOCI (1)

  9,341,941 

Net current period other comprehensive income

  4,329,266 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 $(6,858,575)

 

(1) The gainloss reclassified from AOCI is presented net of taxestax benefits of $83,311$2,976,019 which are included in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 20202021..

 

At December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 20212022, cash of $1,585,350$1,854,978 and $12,001,485,$13,523,416, respectively, was held by our clearing agent to collateralize our open derivative positions. These cash requirements are included in "Other current assets" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 20212022.

 

11

 

NOTE I — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

Accounting standards provide a comprehensive framework for measuring fair value and sets forth a definition of fair value and establishes a hierarchy prioritizing the inputs to valuation techniques, giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable value inputs. Levels within the hierarchy are defined as follows:

 

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

 

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets and liabilities, either directly or indirectly.

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

At December 31, 20212022, our financial assets, net, measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

 

 

Quoted Prices

          

Quoted Prices

         
 

in Active

 

Significant

       

in Active

 

Significant

      
 

Markets for

 

Other

 

Significant

    

Markets for

 

Other

 

Significant

   
 

Identical

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

    

Identical

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

   
 

Assets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

    

Assets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

   
 

(Level 1)

  

(Level 2)

  

(Level 3)

  

Total

  

(Level 1)

  

(Level 2)

  

(Level 3)

  

Total

 

Commodity futures – financial assets, net

 $2,431,240  $  $  $2,431,240  $159,120  $  $  $159,120 

Total

 $2,431,240  $  $  $2,431,240  $159,120  $  $  $159,120 

 

At March 31, 20212022, our financial liabilities, net, measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

 

 

Quoted Prices

          

Quoted Prices

         
 

in Active

 

Significant

       

in Active

 

Significant

      
 

Markets for

 

Other

 

Significant

    

Markets for

 

Other

 

Significant

   
 

Identical

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

    

Identical

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

   
 

Assets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

    

Assets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

   
 

(Level 1)

  

(Level 2)

  

(Level 3)

  

Total

  

(Level 1)

  

(Level 2)

  

(Level 3)

  

Total

 

Commodity futures – financial liabilities, net

 $(7,407,400) $  $  $(7,407,400) $(10,188,780) $  $  $(10,188,780)

Total

 $(7,407,400) $  $  $(7,407,400) $(10,188,780) $  $  $(10,188,780)

 

At December 31, 20212022 and March 31, 20212022, the Company did not have any fair value measurements on a non-recurring basis.

 

1112

 

 

NOTE J — SEGMENT INFORMATION (in thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 

December 31,

  

December 31,

  

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Net sales

  

Coil

 $41,795  $21,672  $172,814  $55,561  $100,231  $41,795  $372,830  $172,814 

Tubular

  9,861   6,830   37,329   21,327   11,629   9,861   50,526   37,329 

Total net sales

 $51,656  $28,502  $210,143  $76,888  $111,860  $51,656  $423,356  $210,143 
  

Operating profit (loss)

  

Coil

 $(4,032) $3,238  $33,497  $3,529  $3,259  $(4,032) $15,684  $33,497 

Tubular

  (647)  269   3,951   (16)  692   (647)  6,136   3,951 

Total operating profit (loss)

 (4,679) 3,507  37,448  3,513  3,951  (4,679) 21,820  37,448 

General corporate expenses

 920  736  4,662  2,188  2,522  920  8,002  4,662 

Interest expense

 58  6  154  18  448  58  1,498  154 

Other income (loss), net

  1,727   4   (4,801)  13   826   1,727   7,350   (4,801)

Total earnings (loss) before income taxes

 $(3,930) $2,769  $27,831  $1,320  $1,807  $(3,930) $19,670  $27,831 

 

 

 

December 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2022

  

March 31, 2022

 

Segment assets

  

Coil

 $119,705  $56,670  $185,210  $115,232 

Tubular

  25,708   17,884   12,651   24,017 
 145,413  74,554   197,861   139,249 

Corporate assets

  5,027   20,455   6,022   20,026 
 $150,440  $95,009  $203,883  $159,275 

 

Operating profit is total net sales less operating expenses, excluding general corporate expenses, interest expense and other income (loss). General corporate expenses reflect general and administrative expenses not directly associated with segment operations and consist primarily of corporate and accounting salaries, professional fees and services, bad debts, retirement plan contribution expense, corporate insurance expenses, restricted stock plan compensation expense and office supplies. Other income (loss) for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2022 consisted primarily of gains related to derivatives not designated for hedge accounting of $822,200 and $7,325,860, respectively. Other income (loss) for the threemonths ended December 31, 2021 consisted primarily of a $1,721,700 gain related to derivatives not designated for hedge accounting. Other income (loss) for the nine months ended December 31, 2021consisted primarily of a $6,498,040 loss related to derivatives not designated for hedge accounting partially offset by a $1,706,614$1,706,614 gain from the PPP Loan forgiveness. Corporate assets consist primarily of cash, restricted cash and the cash value of officers’ life insurance. Although inventory is transferred at cost between product groups, there are no sales between product groups.

 

1213

 

 

NOTE K — REVENUE

 

Revenue is generated primarily from contracts to manufacture or process steel products. Most of the Company’s revenue is generated by sales of material out of the Company’s inventory, but a portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from processing or storage of customer owned material. Generally, the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied, control of our products is transferred, and revenue is recognized at a single point in time, when title transfers to our customer for product shipped or when services are provided. Revenues are recorded net of any sales incentives. Shipping and other transportation costs charged to customers are treated as fulfillment activities and are recorded in both revenue and cost of sales at the time control is transferred to the customer. Costs related to obtaining sales contracts are incidental and expensed when incurred. Because customers are invoiced at the time title transfers and the Company’s rights to consideration are unconditional at that time, the Company does not maintain contract asset balances. Additionally, the Company does not maintain contract liability balances, as performance obligations are satisfied prior to customer payment for product. The Company offers industry standard payment terms.

 

The Company has 2two reportable segments: Coil and Tubular. Coil primarily generates revenue from cutting to length hot-rolled steel coils. Coil segment revenue consists of three main product types: Prime Coil, Non-Standard Coil and Customer Owned Coil. Tubular primarily generates revenue from the manufacture, distributionmanufacturing and processing ofdistributing steel pipe. Tubular segment revenue consistshas consisted of threetwo main product or service types: Manufactured Pipe and Mill Reject Pipe and Pipe Finishing Services.Pipe. In March 2020, U.S. Steel announced the idling of their Lone Star Tubular Operations which was the Company's sole supplier of mill reject pipe. U.S. Steel's facility was idled as announced and the Company's receipts of mill reject pipe ceased in August 2020. At June 30, 2022December 31, 2021, the Company had approximately 3,000 tonswas sold out of mill reject inventory and believespipe so manufactured pipe was the balance will be substantially sold withinsole revenue stream for the tubular segment for the 6three months. months ended December 31, 2022. The Company expectshas expanded its focus on manufactured pipe sales to counteract the idling to have a negative impact on operations asof mill reject pipe inventory is sold out.revenue concluding. The Company did not generate any revenue from pipe finishing services during either of the three month or nine month periods ended December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020. The pipe finishing facility is currently idled due to market conditions. The following table disaggregates our revenue by product for each of our reportable business segments for the three and nine months ended December 31, 20212022 and 20202021, respectively:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 Nine Months Ended  

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 
 December 31, December 31,  

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Coil Segment:

                

Prime Coil

 $39,588,438  $19,541,188  $164,096,180  $49,897,886  $99,100,019  $39,588,438  $368,583,106  $164,096,180 

Non-standard Coil

 1,852,272  1,886,099  7,704,262  5,028,237  796,112  1,852,272  3,219,043  7,704,262 

Customer Owned Coil

  

354,876

   244,860   1,013,801   634,894   334,870   354,876   1,028,037   1,013,801 
 $41,795,586  $21,672,147  $172,814,243  $55,561,017  $100,231,001  $41,795,586  $372,830,186  $172,814,243 

Tubular Segment:

                

Manufactured Pipe

 $6,906,450  $5,082,314  $27,889,886  $17,540,498  $11,629,092  $6,906,450  $50,071,386  $27,889,886 

Mill Reject Pipe

  2,953,907   1,747,588   9,439,148   3,786,814      2,953,907   454,020   9,439,148 
 $9,860,357  $6,829,902  $37,329,034  $21,327,312  $11,629,092  $9,860,357  $50,525,406  $37,329,034 

 

 

NOTE L — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

The following tables reflect the changes in stockholders’ equity for each of the nine month periodsmonths ended December 31, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021:

 

      

Accumulated

                 
      

Other

                 
      

Comprehensive

  

Additional

             
  

Common

  

Income (Loss),

  

Paid-In

  

Treasury

  

Retained

     
  

Stock

  

Net of Tax

  

Capital

  

Stock

  

Earnings

  

Total

 

BALANCE AT MARCH 31, 2021

 $8,334,785   (11,187,841) $30,003,462  $(7,203,342) $45,392,912  $65,339,976 

Net earnings

              11,311,797   11,311,797 

Other comprehensive loss

     (13,693,337)           (13,693,337)

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        121,704         121,704 

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (137,865)  (137,865)

BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2021

 $8,334,785  $(24,881,178) $30,125,166  $(7,203,342) $56,566,844  $62,942,275 

Net earnings

              13,177,614   13,177,614 

Other comprehensive income

     4,227,185            4,227,185 

Issuance of restricted stock

  6,000      (6,000)        0 

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        126,037         126,037 

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (138,110)  (138,110)

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

 $8,340,785  $(20,653,993) $30,245,203  $(7,203,342) $69,606,348  $80,335,001 

Net loss

  0   0   0   0   (2,961,833)  (2,961,833)

Other comprehensive income

  0   13,795,418   0   0   0   13,795,418 

Issuance of restricted stock

  4,190   0   (4,190)  0   0   0 

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

  0   0   128,194   0   0   128,194 

Repurchase of shares

  0   0   0   (102,075)  0   (102,075)

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

  0   0   0   0   (138,024)  (138,024)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2021

 $8,344,975  $(6,858,575) $30,369,207  $(7,305,417) $66,506,491  $91,056,681 

13

 
      

Accumulated

                 
      Other                 
      

Comprehensive

  

Additional

             
  

Common

  

Income (Loss),

  

Paid-In

  

Treasury

  

Retained

     
  

Stock

  

Net of Tax

  

Capital

  

Stock

  

Earnings

  

Total

 

BALANCE AT MARCH 31, 2020

 $8,295,160     $29,565,416  $(5,525,964) $34,530,755  $66,865,367 

Net loss

              (858,862)  (858,862)

Issuance of restricted stock

  11,000      (11,000)        0 

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        110,814         110,814 

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (143,229)  (143,229)

BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2020

 $8,306,160  $  $29,665,230  $(5,525,964) $33,528,664  $65,974,090 

Net loss

              (250,005)  (250,005)

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        110,813         110,813 

Repurchase of shares

           (410,221)     (410,221)

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

           0   (143,181)  (143,181)

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 $8,306,160  $  $29,776,043  $(5,936,185) $33,135,478  $65,281,496 

Net earnings

  0   0   0   0   2,129,745   2,129,745 

Other comprehensive income

  0   2,657,923   0   0   0   2,657,923 

Issuance of restricted stock

  28,625   0   (28,625)  50,000   0   50,000 

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

  0   0   104,736   0   0   104,736 

Repurchase of shares

  0   0   0   (733,135)  0   (733,135)

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

  0   0   0   0   (137,867)  (137,867)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2020

 $8,334,785  $2,657,923  $29,852,154  $(6,619,320) $35,127,356  $69,352,898 
      

Accumulated

                 
      

Other

                 
      

Comprehensive

  

Additional

             
  

Common

  

Income,

  

Paid-In

  

Treasury

  

Retained

     
  

Stock

  

Net of Tax

  

Capital

  

Stock

  

Earnings

  

Total

 

BALANCE AT MARCH 31, 2022

 $8,344,975  $(10,268,509) $30,442,361  $(7,741,197) $58,909,018  $79,686,648 

Net earnings

              11,184,374   11,184,374 

Other comprehensive income

     7,174,117            7,174,117 

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        73,153         73,153 

Shares issued – Plateplus business combination

  516,041      4,267,659         4,783,700 

Repurchase of shares

           (29,268)     (29,268)

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (157,694)  (157,694)

BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2022

 $8,861,016  $(3,094,392) $34,783,173  $(7,770,465) $69,935,698  $102,715,030 

Net earnings

              2,470,908   2,470,908 

Other comprehensive income

     1,578,033            1,578,033 

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        73,153         73,153 

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (147,372)  (147,372)

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

 $8,861,016  $(1,516,359) $34,856,326  $(7,770,465) $72,259,234  $106,689,752 

Net earnings

              1,375,893   1,375,893 

Other comprehensive income

     669,454            669,454 

Issuance of restricted stock

  7,700      (7,700)         

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        78,175         78,175 

Repurchase of shares

           (7,304)     (7,304)

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (147,512)  (147,512)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2022

 $8,868,716  $(846,905) $34,926,801  $(7,777,769) $73,487,615  $108,658,458 

 

14

 
      

Accumulated

                 
      Other                 
      

Comprehensive

  

Additional

             
  

Common

  

Income,

  

Paid-In

  

Treasury

  

Retained

     
  

Stock

  

Net of Tax

  

Capital

  

Stock

  

Earnings

  

Total

 

BALANCE AT MARCH 31, 2021

 $8,334,785  $(11,187,841) $30,003,462  $(7,203,342) $45,392,912  $65,339,976 

Net earnings

              11,311,797   11,311,797 

Other comprehensive loss

     (13,693,337)           (13,693,337)

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        121,704         121,704 

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (137,865)  (137,865)

BALANCE AT JUNE 30, 2021

 $8,334,785  $(24,881,178) $30,125,166  $(7,203,342) $56,566,844  $62,942,275 

Net earnings

              13,177,614   13,177,614 

Other comprehensive income

     4,227,185            4,227,185 

Issuance of restricted stock

  6,000      (6,000)         

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        126,037         126,037 

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (138,110)  (138,110)

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

 $8,340,785  $(20,653,993) $30,245,203  $(7,203,342) $69,606,348  $80,335,001 

Net loss

              (2,961,833)  (2,961,833)

Other comprehensive income

     13,795,418            13,795,418 

Issuance of restricted stock

  4,190      (4,190)         

Paid in capital – restricted stock awards

        128,194         128,194 

Repurchase of shares

           (102,075)     (102,075)

Cash dividends ($0.02 per share)

              (138,024)  (138,024)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2021

 $8,344,975  $(6,858,575) $30,369,207  $(7,305,417) $66,506,491  $91,056,681 

 

NOTE M — OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The following table summarizes the tax effects on each component of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the periods presented:

 

  

Three Months Ended December 31, 2022

 
  

Before-Tax

  

Tax

  

Net-of-Tax

 
             

Cash flow hedges

 $882,720  $(213,266) $669,454 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 $882,720  $(213,266) $669,454 

  

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021

 
  

Before-Tax

  

Tax

  

Net-of-Tax

 
             

Cash flow hedges

 $18,190,160  $(4,394,742) $13,795,418 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 $18,190,160  $(4,394,742) $13,795,418 

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 2020

  

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2022

 
 

Before-Tax

  

Tax

  

Net-of-Tax

  

Before-Tax

  

Tax

  

Net-of-Tax

 
  

Cash flow hedges

 $3,364,460  $(706,537) $2,657,923  $12,423,000  $(3,001,396) $9,421,604 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 $3,364,460  $(706,537) $2,657,923  $12,423,000  $(3,001,396) $9,421,604 

 

  

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2021

 
  

Before-Tax

  

Tax

  

Net-of-Tax

 
             

Cash flow hedges

 $5,708,420  $(1,379,154) $4,329,266 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 $5,708,420  $(1,379,154) $4,329,266 

 

  

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2020

 
  

Before-Tax

  

Tax

  

Net-of-Tax

 
             

Cash flow hedges

 $3,364,460  $(706,537) $2,657,923 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 $3,364,460  $(706,537) $2,657,923 
15

NOTE N — EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic and dilutive net earnings per share is computed based on the following information:

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Numerator (basic and diluted)

                

Net earnings (loss)

 $1,375,893  $(2,961,833) $15,031,175  $21,527,578 

Less: Allocation to unvested restricted stock units

  18,656   5,992   240,482   966,761 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 $1,357,237  $(2,967,825) $14,790,693  $20,560,817 
                 

Denominator (basic and diluted)

                

Weighted average common shares outstanding

  7,275,212   6,610,204   7,196,452   6,593,343 

For the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company allocated dividends and undistributed earnings to the unvested restricted stock units. 

As the restricted stock qualifies as participating securities, the following restricted stock units were not accounted in the computation of weighted average diluted common shares outstanding under the two-class method:

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

December 31,

  

December 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Restricted Stock Units

  56,621   239,485   48,510   232,601 

 

 

NOTE NO — SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

The Company paid interest ofof approximately $1,316,000 during the nine months ended December 31, 2022 and $154,000 during the nine months ended December 31, 2021 and $6,000. The Company paid income taxes of approximately $428,000 during the nine months ended December 31, 20202022. The Company and paid income taxes of approximately $7,487,000, net of a tax refund of approximately $423,000, during the nine months ended December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2022, the “Machinery and paid income taxesequipment” balance on the Consolidated Balance Sheet includes non-cash investing activities of approximately $10,000 during$7,448,000 in accrued capital expenditures for the balance due related to the new Sinton, Texas facility. During the nine months ended December 31, 20202022. At , the Company issued 516,041 shares of common stock as part of the Plateplus business combination resulting in non-cash investing activity of $4,783,700. During the three months ended December 31, 20212022, ,there was a non-cash transaction of approximately $31,000 for the “Construction in process” balancetransfer of $12,983,850 consistedownership of $5,600,000 of accrued capital expenditures for which cash outlay had not occurred.a life insurance policy maintained by the Company with respect to an officer from the Company to such officer upon his retirement.

 

 

NOTE OP — INCOME TAXES

 

For the nine months ended December 31, 20212022, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $6,303,899,$4,639,272, or 22.7%23.6% of earnings before income taxes, compared to an income tax provision of $298,668,$6,303,899, or 22.6%22.7% of earnings before income taxes for the nine months ended December 31, 20202021Typically,For the Company’snine months ended December 31, 2022, the effective tax rate differsdiffered from the federal statutory rate due primarily to the inclusion of state tax expenses or benefits in the provision. However, forFor the nine months ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s effective tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate due to a combination of the inclusion of state tax expenses in the provision and the exclusion of the non-taxable gain associated with forgiveness of the Company’s PPP Loan from the provision. For the nine months ended December 31, 2020, the effective tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate due primarily to the inclusion of state tax benefits in the provision.

 

1516

 
 

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

 

Overview

 

Friedman Industries, Incorporated is a manufacturer and processor of steel products and operates in two reportable segments; coil products and tubular products.

 

The coil product segment includes the operation of twofive hot-rolled coil processing facilities; onefacilities located in Hickman, ArkansasAR; Decatur, AL; Granite City, IL; East Chicago, IN and Sinton, TX. The facilities in Granite City and East Chicago were acquired on April 30, 2022 from Plateplus, Inc ("Plateplus"). More information about the otherPlateplus transaction can be found in Decatur, Alabama.Note B to the Company's Financial Statements. The facility in Sinton is a newly constructed facility that commenced operations during October 2022. The Hickman, facility operates aGranite City and East Chicago facilities operate temper millmills and a cut-to-length line.lines. The temper millDecatur and Sinton facilities operate stretcher leveler cut-to-length lines. The equipment at all locations improves the flatness and surface qualitiesquality of the coils and the cut-to-length line levels the steel and cuts the coils into sheet and plate of prescribed lengths. The Hickman facility isOn a combined basis, the facilities are capable of cutting sheet and plate with thicknesses ranging from 1416 gauge to ½”1” thick in widths ranging from 36” wide to 72”96” wide. The Decatur facility underwent an equipment replacement project during our fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and now operates a stretcher leveler cut-to-length line that was placed into service in March 2021. This new equipment expands the coil segment’s processing capabilities to include material up to 96” wide and material of higher grades and allows the Decatur facility to cut material that is up to ½” thick compared to the previous equipment’s capability of 5/16” thick. In addition, sheet and plate that has been stretcher leveled is preferable to some customers and applications compared to material that has been leveled through the temper mill process. The coil product segment sells its prime grade inventory under the Friedman Industries name but also maintains an inventory of non-standard coil products, consisting primarily of mill secondary and excess prime coils, which are sold through the Company’s XSCP division. The coil product segment also processes customer-owned coils on a fee basis. 

 

On May 25, 2021,As discussed above, the Company announced plans for the construction of acommenced operations at its new facility in Sinton, Texas that will bein October 2022 which is part of the coil product segment. The new facility will beis on the campus of Steel Dynamics, Inc.'s ("SDI") new flat roll steel mill currently under construction in Sinton, Texas. The Company's new location will consistconsists of an approximately 70,000 square foot building located on approximately 26.5 acres leased from SDI under a 99-year agreement. The lease agreement calls for an annual rental payment of $1. The Company has selected Red Bud Industries to buildfacility is equipped with one of the world’s largest stretcher leveler cut-to-length lines, capable of handling material up to 1” thick, widths up to 96” and yields exceeding 100,000 psi. The Company expects the location to commence operations in August 2022 and estimates the total cost of the project is estimated to be $21approximately $22.3 million. The Company previously expected the facility to commence operations in April 2022 but has received notification from the electricity provider that electrical infrastructure necessary to operate the facility is not expected to be complete until July 2022. At December 31, 2021,2022, the Company's construction in processCompany had paid approximately $14,826,000 related to the Sinton project was $12,983,850 consisting of $7,383,850 in cash payments and $5,600,000 of accrued capital expenditures.approximately $7,448,000 to be paid during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company expects to fund the remainder of the Sinton capital expenditure through a combination of cash generated from operations and funds drawn under the ABL Facility. After an initialThe Company expects the remainder of fiscal 2023 to be a ramp up period for the Companyfacility and then expects the facility’s annual shipments could be in the range of 110,000 tons to 140,000 tons for fiscal 2024.

 

The tubular product segment consists of the Company’s Texas Tubular Products division (“TTP”) located in Lone Star, Texas. TTP operates two electric resistance welded pipe mills with a combined outside diameter (“OD”) size range of 2 3/8” OD to 8 5/8” OD. Both pipe mills are American Petroleum Institute (“API”) licensed to manufacture line pipe and oil country pipe and also manufacture pipe for structural purposes that meets other recognized industry standards. TTP has an API licenseda pipe finishing facility thatcapable of applying threads and couplescouplings to oil country tubular goods and performsperforming other services that are customary in the pipe finishing process. The pipe finishing facility is currently idled due to market conditions.idled. TTP’s inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods. Raw material inventory consists of hot-rolled steel coils that TTP will manufacture into pipe. Finished goods inventory consists of pipe TTP has manufactured and new mill reject pipe that TTP purchased from U.S. Steel Tubular Products, Inc.manufactured.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Nine Months Ended December 31, 20212022 Compared to Nine Months Ended December 31, 20202021

 

During the nine months ended December 31, 2021 2022(the (the 2021 2022period”), sales and costs of goods sold increased $213,212,315 and $227,153,057, respectively, and gross profit increased $133,254,948, $95,677,752 and $37,577,196, respectively, decreased $13,940,742 compared to the amounts recorded during the nine months ended December 31, 2020 2021(the (the 2020 2021period”). The increase in sales was primarily related to both an increase in the average per ton selling price and an increase in tons sold. Tons sold increased from approximately 125,000147,500 tons forin the 2020 2021period to approximately 147,500 tons for335,000 tons in the 2021 2022period. Sales volume for the 2020 period was negatively impacted by both the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the removal of the processing equipment at the Decatur, AL facility for an equipment replacement project. For the 2021 period,The significant growth in sales volume recovered wellwas primarily related to the acquisition of facilities and inventory from Plateplus, Inc. which is discussed in more detail in Note B to the initial pandemic decline and because the new Decatur equipment was operational.Company's Financial Statements. Discussion of the change in sales is expanded upon at the segment level in the following paragraphs. Gross profit increaseddecreased from $5,843,700 for the 2020 period to $43,420,896 for the 2021 period to $29,480,154 for the 2022 period. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increaseddecreased from approximately 7.6% for the 2020 period to approximately 20.7% for the 2021 period to approximately 7.0% for the 2022period. Gross profit for the 2022 period included $2,977,160 in recognized losses related to hedging activities while gross profit for the 2021 period included $12,317,960 ofin recognized net losses associated with hedging activities while the 2020 period included $396,720 of recognized net gains associated withrelated to hedging activities. Excluding the effect ofrecognized hedging activities,losses, gross profit related to physical material as a percentage of sales was approximately 7.6% for the 2022 period compared to approximately 23.9% for the 2021 period and approximately 7.1% for the 2020 period.

Our operating results are significantly impacted by the market price of hot-rolled steel coil.coil ("HRC"). The improved results forCompany experienced significant volatility in steel price during both the 2022 period and the 2021period. HRC prices were driven byon a historic rise in steel prices with prices forentering the 2021 period beingthat continued until reaching an all-time high of approximately 200% higher than$1,950 per ton at the end of August 2021. These circumstances created a high margin environment during the 2021 period in a period of historically high steel prices. From September 2021 to February 2022, HRC prices declined approximately 52% until the Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered a sharp and abrupt increase. HRC prices increased approximately 60% from the beginning of March 2022 to the end of April 2022 and then declined approximately 60% until the middle of December 2022. In late November 2022 and December 2022, domestic steel producers announced price increases which caused HRC prices to increase at the end of the 2022 period. These circumstances created strong margins to start the 2022 period and then margin compression for the 2020 period. The impactremainder of this risethe 2022 period due to the prevailing downward trend in steel prices on each of our segments is discussed further in the following paragraphs.

HRC price.

 

Coil Segment

 

Coil product segment sales for the 2021 2022period totaled $172,814,243  $372,830,186 compared to $55,561,017$172,814,243 for the 2020 2021period. For a more complete understanding of the average selling prices of goods sold, it is helpful to exclude any hedging related gains or losses that are captured in sales and any sales generated from processing of customer owned material. Coil segment sales for the 2022 period were reduced by $2,977,160 for the recognition of hedging related losses. Coil segment sales for the 2021 period were reduced by $20,920,640 for the recognition of hedging related losses. Coil segment sales for the 2020 period were not impacted by any hedging related gains or losses. Sales generated from processing of customer owned material totaled $1,028,037 for the 2022 period compared to $1,013,801 for the 2021period compared to $634,894 for the 2020 period. Sales generated from coil segment inventory, excluding the impact of any hedging related gains or losses, totaled $374,779,309 for the 2022 period compared to $192,721,082 for the 2021period compared to $54,926,123 for the 2020 period. The average per ton selling price related to these shipments increased decreased from approximately $594 per ton for the 2020 period to approximately $1,737 per ton forin the 2021 period to approximately $1,222 per ton in the 2022period. Inventory tons sold increased from approximately 92,500 tons in the 2020 period to approximately 111,000 tons in the 2021 period to approximately 306,500 tons in the 2022period. Sales volume for the 2020 period was significantly impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with volume for the 2020 period being down approximately 19% compared to pre-pandemic average volumes for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 ("fiscal 2020"). Volume for the 2021 period was approximately 3% lower than pre-pandemic average volumes for fiscal 2020. Volume for the 2021 period benefitted from the new equipment at the Decatur facility being placed into serviceThe significant increase in March 2021. The prior equipment at the Decatur facility was removed during the 2020 period for the equipment replacement project. We have been pleased with the initial customer response to Decatur's new capabilities. Sales volume for the Decatur plant averaged approximately 2,550 tons per month for the 2021 period. Based on prior years with the prior equipment in place, the Decatur plant's average monthly sales volume was primarily attributable to the facilities and inventory acquired from Plateplus which account for approximately 1,700 tons. The Decatur plant is currently staffed to operate a single shift with a monthly processing capability170,000 tons of approximately 5,500the 306,500 tons based on operating a single shift.sold in the 2022 period. Coil segment operations recorded an operating profitprofits of approximately$15,684,000 and $33,497,000 for the 2021 2022 period compared to anand 2021 period, respectively. The operating profit of approximately $3,529,000 for the 2020 period. Operating results for the 2021 period benefitted from a significant increase in steel prices and associated improvement in our margins. Operating profit for the 2021 2022period includes recognized net losses on hedging activities of $2,977,160 while the 2021 period operating profit included recognized net losses on hedging activities of $10,511,300. Operating profit for the 2020 period included net gains on hedging activities of $396,720.  The 2020 period experienced declining steel prices for the first two quarters of the period with low margins associated followed by steel prices starting to increase during the last quarter of the period leading to margin improvement.

 

The Company’s coil segment purchases its inventory from a limited number of suppliers. Loss of any of these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

Tubular Segment

 

Tubular product segment sales for the 2021 2022period totaled $37,329,034$50,525,406 compared to $21,327,312$37,329,034 for the 2020 2021period. Sales increased due to both an increase in the volume sold and an increase in the average selling price per ton.ton, partially offset by a decline in the volume sold. For a more complete understanding of the average selling prices of goods sold, it is helpful to exclude any hedging related gains or losses that are captured in sales. Tubular segment sales for the 2022 period were not impacted by any hedging related gains or losses. Tubular segment sales for the 2021 period were reduced by $2,030,220 for the recognition of hedging related losses. Tubular segment sales for the 2020 period were not impacted by any hedging related gains or losses. Sales generated from tubular segment inventory, excluding the impact of any hedging related gains or losses, totaled $50,525,406 for the 2022 period compared to $39,359,254 for the 2021period compared to $21,327,312 for the 2020 period. The average per ton selling price related to these shipments increased from approximately $658 per ton in the 2020 period to approximately $1,074 per ton in the 2021 period to approximately $1,785 per ton in the 2022period. Tons sold increaseddecreased from approximately 32,500 tons in the 2020 period to approximately 36,500 tons in the 2021 period to approximately 28,500 tons in the 2022period. SalesThe decline in sales volume was primarily related to a decline in mill reject pipe sales partially offset by an increase in manufactured pipe sales. U.S. Steel's Lone Star Tubular Operations was the Company's sole source of supply for mill reject pipe. With U.S. Steel's idling of their Lone Star Operations, the Company's receipts of mill reject pipe ceased in August 2020 and the inventory balance started to decline steadily each quarter. The Company sold out of mill reject pipe during the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Mill reject pipe sales volume was approximately 1,000 tons for the 20202022 period was significantly impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with volume for the 2020 period being down approximately 25% compared to pre-pandemic average volumes for fiscal 2020. Volumeapproximately 19,500 tons for the 2021 periodperiod. Manufactured pipe sales volume was approximately 11% lower27,500 tons for the 2022 period compared to approximately 17,000 tons for the 2021 period. The average selling price increase was also primarily related to this shift in sales mix between manufactured pipe and mill reject pipe. The selling price associated with manufactured pipe is typically much higher than pre-pandemic average volumes for fiscal 2020.the selling prices associated with mill reject pipe. The Company will continue to focus on the expansion of its manufactured pipe operations to counteract the impact of mill reject pipe sales ending. The tubular segment operations recorded operating profitprofits of approximately$6,136,000 and $3,951,000 for the 2021 2022period compared to anand 2021 period, respectively. The operating loss of approximately $16,000 for the 2020 period. Operating results for the 2021 period benefitted from a significant increase in steel prices and associated improvement in our margins but sales volume was challenged by energy industry conditions which showed signs of improvement late in the period. Operating profit for the 2021period includesincluded recognized net losses on hedging activities of $1,806,660 while the Company did not have any significant hedging related gains or losses affecting operating results for the 2020 2022period. The 2020 period was negatively impacted by low margins associated with declines in hot-rolled steel prices and weak energy industry conditions.

 

The tubular segment purchases its inventory from a limited number of suppliers. Loss of any of these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. In March 2020, U.S. Steel announced the idling of their Lone Star Tubular Operations which was our sole supplier of mill reject pipe. U.S. Steel's facility was idled as announced and the Company's receipts of mill reject pipe ceased in August 2020. At December 31, 2021 , we had approximately 3,000 tons of mill reject inventory and believe the balance will be substantially sold within 6 months. We expect the idling to have a negative impact on our operations as we sell out of mill reject pipe inventory. For the 2021 period, sales of mill reject pipe totaled approximately $9,439,000 and accounted for approximately $3,532,000 of the tubular segment's operating profit for the period with approximately $1,175,000 of allocated operating, administrative and selling expenses included in the calculation of operating profit related to mill reject pipe. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, sales of mill reject pipe totaled approximately $5,283,645 and accounted for approximately $1,313,000 of the tubular segment's operating profit for the period with approximately $802,000 of allocated operating, administrative and selling expenses included in the calculation of operating profit related to mill reject pipe. The Company plans to expand its manufactured pipe sales to counteract the impact of mill reject sales ending in the near future. With this objective, the tubular segment increased its volume of hot-rolled coil inventory at the end of the 2021 period to support a higher level of pipe manufacturing during the quarter ending March 31, 2022.

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General, Selling and Administrative Costs

 

During the 2021 2022period, general, selling and administrative costs increased $6,115,622$5,027,069 compared to the 2020 2021period. TheThis increase was relatedis primarily to incentive compensation associated with costs associated with the Plateplus transaction and increased earningspersonnel but partially offset by less incentive based compensation expense for the 2022 period. Cost for the 2022 period includes approximately $1.2 million of one-time expenses related to the Plateplus transaction. Cost for the 2022 period includes approximately $2.9 million of general, selling and professional fees.administrative costs associated with the East Chicago and Granite City locations acquired from Plateplus and  approximately $1.4 million in personnel costs for additional sales, accounting, IT and corporate employees hired during the 2022 period.

 

Other Income

 

DuringFor the 2022 period, the Company reported other income of $7,349,916. This income consists primarily of a $7,325,860 gain on derivative instruments not designated for hedge accounting. For the 2021period, the Company reported other loss of $4,801,121. This loss consists primarily of a loss of $6,498,040 on derivative instruments not designated for hedge accounting partially offset by a $1,706,614 gain associated with the forgiveness of the Company's Paycheck Protection Program loan.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes increaseddecreased from a provision for the 2020 2021period of $298,668$6,303,899 to a provision for the 2021 2022 period of $6,303,899.$4,639,272. This increasedecrease was primarily related primarily to the increasedlower earnings before income tax duringfor the historical market increases seen over2022 period but partially offset by the non-taxable treatment of the Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness which was recognized as part of earnings before income taxes for the 2021 period.

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 20212022 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 20202021

 

During the three months ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 quarter”), sales, costs of goods sold and gross profit increased $60,204,150, $50,470,295 and $9,733,855, respectively, compared to the amounts recorded during the three months ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 quarter”), sales and costs of goods sold increased $23,153,894 and $31,253,764, respectively, while gross profit decreased $8,099,870, compared to the amounts recorded during the three months ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 quarter”). The increase in sales was primarily related to an increase in the average per ton selling price, offset by a slight decrease in tons sold. Tons sold decreasedincreased from approximately 43,000 tons in the 2020 quarter to approximately 39,000 tons in the 2021 quarter to approximately 113,000 tons in the 2022quarter. SalesThe significant growth in sales volume forwas related to the 2021 quarter was negatively impacted by customer reactionacquisition of facilities and inventory from Plateplus, Inc. which is discussed in more detail in Note B to steel prices peaking at a historic level in September 2021 and then declining significantly through the 2021 quarter.Company's Financial Statements. Discussion of the change in sales is expanded upon at the segment level in the following paragraphs. Gross margin decreasedimproved from a profit of $4,495,849 for the 2020 quarter to a loss of $3,604,021 for the 2021 quarter to a profit of $6,129,834 for the 2022 quarter. Gross margin as a percentage of sales improved from a negative margin of approximately 7.0% for the 2021 quarter to a positive margin of approximately 5.5% for the 2022 quarter. Gross margin for the 2022 quarter included $860,620 in recognized losses related to hedging activities while gross margin for the 2021 quarter included $14,716,860 in recognized net losses associated with hedging activities while the 2020 quarter included $396,720 in recognized net gains associated withrelated to hedging activities. Excluding the impact ofrecognized hedging activities,gains and losses, gross profit related to physical material as a percentage of sales was approximately 6.2% for the 2022 quarter compared to approximately 16.7% for the 2021 quarter compared to 14.4% for the 2020 quarter.

Our operating results are significantly impacted by the market price of hot-rolled steel coil.coil ("HRC"). Entering the 2022 quarter, HRC prices had seen an overall declining trend since April 2022. The 2020downward trend continued until December 2022 when HRC prices stabilized and started increasing in response to price increase announcements from various domestic steel producers. The Company experienced lower physical margins during the 2022 quarter wasdue to the initial period of increasing steel prices in a historic cycle that saw steel prices increase approximately 350% and reach a peak in September 2021. At the end ofdeclining HRC price environment. Physical margins for the 2021 quarter steelwere declining after HRC prices hadreached an all-time high in August 2021 but were still at a historically higher level because margins declined approximately 22% from the peak of the price cycle. Physical margins for both the 2021 and 2020 quarters were higher than historical averages due primarily to the effects of the historic increase in steel price. The impact of these circumstances on each of our segments is discussed further in the following paragraphs.all-time high levels.

 

Coil Segment

 

Coil product segment sales for the 20212022 quarter totaled $41,795,586 $100,231,001 compared to $21,672,147$41,795,586 for the 20202021 quarter. For a more complete understanding of the average selling prices of goods sold, it is helpful to exclude any hedging related gains or losses that are captured in sales and any sales generated from processing of customer owned material. Coil segment sales for the 2022 quarter were reduced by $860,620 for the recognition of hedging related losses. Coil segment sales for the 2021 quarter were reduced by $13,169,420 for the recognition of hedging related losses. Coil segment sales for the 2020 quarter were not impacted by any hedging related gains or losses. Sales generated from processing of customer owned material totaled $334,870 for the 2022 quarter compared to $354,876 for the 2021 quarter compared to $244,860 for the 2020 quarter. Sales generated from coil segment inventory, excluding the impact of any hedging related gains or losses, totaled $100,756,751 for the 2022 quarter compared to $54,610,130 for the 2021 quarter compared to $21,427,287 for the 2020 quarter. The average per ton selling price related to these shipments increaseddecreased from approximately $665 per ton in the 2020 quarter to approximately $1,899 per ton in the 2021 quarter to approximately $949 per ton in the 2022quarter. Inventory tons sold decreasedincreased from approximately 32,000 tons in the 2020 quarter to approximately 29,000 tons in the 2021 quarter to approximately 106,000 tons in the 2022quarter. SalesThe significant increase in sales volume was primarily attributable to the facilities acquired from Plateplus which account for approximately 51,500 tons of the 2021 quarter was negatively impacted by customer reaction to steel prices peaking at a historic level106,000 tons sold in September 2021 and then declining significantly through the 20212022 quarter. Coil segment operations recorded an operating profit of approximately $3,259,000 for the 2022 quarter compared to an operating loss of approximately $4,032,000 for the 2021 quarter compared to an operating profit of approximately $3,238,000 for the 2020quarter. The operating lossprofit for the 20212022 quarter includes recognized net losses on hedging activities of $13,120,220$860,620 while the 20202021 quarter operating profitloss included recognized net gainslosses on hedging activities of $396,720.$13,120,220.

 

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The Company’s coil segment purchases its inventory from a limited number of suppliers. Loss of any of these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

Tubular Segment

 

Tubular product segment sales for the 20212022 quarter totaled $9,860,357 $11,629,092 compared to $6,829,902$9,860,357 for the 20202021 quarter. Sales increased due to an increase in the average selling price per ton, offset by a slight decrease in tons sold. For a more complete understanding of the average selling prices of goods sold, it is helpful to exclude any hedging related gains or losses that are captured in sales. Tubular segment sales for the 2022 quarter were not impacted by any hedging related gains or losses. Tubular segment sales for the 2021 quarter were reduced by $1,596,640 for the recognition of hedging related losses. Tubular segment sales for the 2020 quarter were not impacted by any hedging related gains or losses. Sales generated from tubular segment inventory, excluding the impact of any hedging related gains or losses, totaled $11,629,092 for the 2022 quarter compared to $11,456,997 for the 2021 quarter compared to $6,829,902 for the 2020 quarter. The average per ton selling price related to these shipments increased from approximately $616 per ton in the 2020 quarter to approximately $1,111 per ton in the 2021 quarter to approximately $1,648 per ton in the 2022quarter. Tons sold decreased from approximately 11,000 tons in the 2020 quarter to approximately 10,500 tons in the 2021 quarter to approximately 7,000 tons in the 2022quarter. SalesThe decline in sales volume was primarily related to a decline in mill reject pipe sales partially offset by an increase in manufactured pipe sales. U.S. Steel's Lone Star Tubular Operations was the Company's sole source of supply for bothmill reject pipe. With U.S. Steel's idling of their Lone Star Operations, the 2021Company's receipts of mill reject pipe ceased in August 2020 and 2020 quarters was challenged by energy industry conditions which showed signsthe inventory balance started to decline steadily each quarter. The Company sold out of improvement late inmill reject pipe during the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Mill reject pipe sales were approximately 6,000 tons for the 2021 quarter. All of the 2022 quarter's sales volume of approximately 7,000 tons was from manufactured pipe sales compared to approximately 4,500 tons for the 2021 period. The average selling price increase was also primarily related to this shift in sales mix between manufactured pipe and mill reject pipe. The selling price associated with manufactured pipe is typically much higher than the selling prices associated with mill reject pipe. The Company will continue to focus on the expansion of its manufactured pipe operations to counteract the impact of mill reject pipe sales ending. The tubular segment recorded operating profit of approximately $692,000 for the 2022 quarter compared to an operating loss of approximately $647,000$647,000 for the 2021 quarter compared to an operating profit of approximately $269,000 for the 2020 quarter. The operating loss for the 2021 quarter includesincluded recognized net losses on hedging activities of $1,596,640 while the Company did not have any significant hedging related gains or losses affecting operating results for the 20202022 quarter.

 

The tubular segment purchases its inventory from a limited number of suppliers. Loss of any of these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. As disclosed previously, the Company is no longer supplied with mill reject pipe from U.S. Steel's Lone Star Tubular Operations due to the idling of that facility. At December 31, 2021, we had approximately 3,000 tons of mill reject inventory and believe the balance will be substantially sold within 6 months. We expect the idling to have a negative impact on our operations as we eventually sell out of mill reject pipe inventory. 

 

General, Selling and Administrative Costs

 

During the 20212022 quarter, general, selling and administrative costs increased $269,099 compared $2,706,608 compared to the 20202021 quarter. TheThis increase was relatedis due primarily to increased payroll expenses travelassociated with the additional sales, purchasing and administrative personnel that converted to Friedman employment after the Plateplus transaction, increased professional fees, increased insurance expenses, increased IT expenses and professional fees.increased incentive related compensation. Approximately $600,000 of the increase is associated with the East Chicago and Granite City locations acquired from Plateplus and approximately $900,000 of the increase is associated with other additional sales, accounting, IT and corporate personnel employed during the 2022 quarter. In addition to these amounts, accrued incentive based compensation was approximately $400,000 higher for the 2022 quarter compared to the 2021 quarter.

 

Other Income

 

DuringFor the 2022 quarter, the Company reported other income of $826,039. This income consists primarily of a $822,200 gain on derivative instruments not designated for hedge accounting. For the 2021 quarter, the Company reported other income of $1,727,134. This income consists primarily of a $1,721,700 gain on derivative instruments not designated for hedge accounting.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes decreasedincreased from a provision for the 2020 quarter of $639,152 to a benefit for the 2021 quarter of $967,681. This decrease was related$967,681 to a provision for the 2022 quarter of $431,579. The increase in the provision for income taxes is primarily toassociated with the shift fromhigher earnings before income before taxes for the 2020 quarter to having a loss before tax for the 20212022 quarter.

 

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FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company’s current ratio was 2.83.1 at December 31, 20212022 and 2.72.1 at March 31, 20212022. Working capital was $78,032,235$99,834,426 at December 31, 20212022 and $48,462,364$64,551,208 at March 31, 20212022.

 

During the nine months ended December 31, 2021,2022, the Company maintained assets and liabilities at levels it believed were commensurate with operations. Changes in balance sheet amounts occurred in the ordinary course of business.business and due to the transaction with Plateplus described in Note B. Accounts receivable inventories and accounts payableinventories increased significantly due primarily to the significant increase in steel prices. InventoriesPlateplus transaction. Cash and accounts payable also increasedrestricted cash decreased primarily due to the Decatur facility's higher operating level post equipment replacement, the tubular segment's plans to expand manufactured pipe production and the timing of inventory shipments with the December 31, 2021 inventory amount consisting of approximately $14,364,000 of material in-transit to the Company. Cash decreased primarilyPlateplus acquisition investing activities partially offset by cash generated from the Company's operating activities and from the purchase of property, plant and equipment partially offset by cash provided from the Company's credit facility. TheThe Company expects to continue to monitor, evaluate and manage balance sheet components depending on changes in market conditions and the Company’s operations.

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In June 2021, the Small Business Administration authorized full forgiveness of the Company's Paycheck Protection Program loan.

 

On March 8, 2021,April 29, 2022, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement providing for a $10 million revolving line of creditSecond Amendment to its asset-based lending facility (the "Interim Credit Facility) with("ABL Facility") provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"). The term of the Interim Credit Facility had an expiration date of July 15, 2021 because the Company was evaluating options for longer term credit arrangements. On April 12, 2021, the Company executed a first amendment to the Interim Credit Facility thatSecond Amendment increased the size of the facility from $10 million to $20 million. On May 19, 2021, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with the Bank that amends and restates the Interim Credit Facility and provides for asset-based revolving loans inavailable under the ABL facility from an aggregate principal amount of up to $40$75 million (the "ABL Facility").to an aggregate principal amount of up to $150 million. The ABL Facility matures on May 19, 2026 and replaced the Interim Credit Facility. The ABL Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The Company andcan elect borrowings on a floating rate basis or a term basis. Floating rate borrowings accrue interest shall accrue on outstanding borrowings at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.7%the prime rate minus 1% per annum. More details regardingTerm rate borrowings accrue interest at a rate equal to the SOFR rate applicable to the selected term plus 1.8% per annum. Availability of funds under the ABL Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculation determined as the sum of (a) 90% of eligible accounts receivable, plus (b) the product of 85% multiplied by the net orderly liquidating value percentage identified in the most recent inventory appraisal multiplied by eligible inventory. The ABL Facility contains a springing financial covenant whereby the financial covenant is only tested when availability falls below the greater of 15% of the revolving commitment or $22.5 million. The financial covenant restricts the Company from allowing its fixed charge coverage ratio to be, as of the end of any calendar month, less than 1.10 to 1.00 for the trailing twelve month period then ending. The fixed charge coverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of (a) EBITDA, as defined in the ABL Facility, minus unfinanced capital expenditures to (b) cash interest expense plus scheduled principal payments on indebtedness plus taxes paid in cash plus restricted payments paid in cash plus capital lease obligation payments plus cash contributions to any employee pension benefit plans. The ABL Facility contains other representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants that are usual and customary. If certain conditions precedent are satisfied, the ABL facility may be foundincreased by up to an aggregate of $25 million, in minimum increments of $5 million. On July 6, 2022, the Company entered into a Third Amendment to the ABL Facility. The Third Amendment to the ABL Facility provides for the syndication of the asset based revolving loans available thereunder with BMO Harris Bank, N.A. ("BMO") with JPMorgan Chase Bank serving as the arranging agent (the "Agent"). The Third Amendment also amends provisions of the ABL Facility authorizing the Agent to make protective advances under the ABL Facility and adds a covenant requiring each of the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain the Agent as its principal depository bank. In connection with the Third Amendment, the Company also entered into a Revolving Note D.payable to BMO in a principal amount of up to $50 million establishing BMO as a one-third syndicated participant in the Company's ABL facility. At December 31, 2022, the Company had a balance of $44,510,967 under the ABL Facility with an applicable interest rate of 6.5%. At December 31, 2022, the Company's applicable borrowing base calculation supported access to approximately $99 million of the ABL Facility. As of the filing date of this Form 10-Q, the Company had borrowings of $20,768,425approximately $44 million outstanding under the ABL Facility and the Company had fullCompany's most recent borrowing base calculation provided access to approximately $100 million of the ABL Facility.

 

The Company believes that its current cash position along with cash flows from operations and borrowing capability due to its financial position are adequate to fund its expected cash requirements for the next 12 months.

 

DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

 

From time to time, the Company may use futures contracts to partially manage exposure to commodity price risk. The Company elects hedge accounting for some of its derivatives and classifies the transactions as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. All of the derivatives designated for hedge accounting during the three month and nine month periods ended December 31, 2021 were classified as cash flow hedges. From time to time, the Company may also transact futures contracts where hedge accounting is not elected. The Company recognized net losses related to derivatives designated for hedge accounting of $14,716,860$860,620 and $12,317,960$2,977,160 for the three month and nine month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively.2022. For derivatives not designated for hedge accounting, the Company recognized a gaingains of $1,721,700$822,200 and a loss of $6,498,040$7,325,860 for the three month and nine month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively.2022. See Note H for further information.

 

OUTLOOK

 

The Company expects overall physical marginssales volume of approximately 115,000 tons to decline slightly during125,000 tons for its fiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2022of fiscal 2023. The fourth quarter volume expectation is higher than the third quarter due primarily to continued decline in steel prices but to remainincreasing sales volume at a level above historical average margins.the new Sinton, Texas facility and the third quarter volume being impacted by holidays and fewer shipping days. The Company expects margin improvement during the fourth quarter sales volume for both thequarter. From November 2022 to February 2023, four rounds of hot-rolled coil segment and tubular segment to increase slightly compared to the third quarter sales volumes. At the end of the third quarter, the Company’s hedging positions with income statement recognition deferred under hedge accounting consisted of total losses of approximately $10,200,000 associated with closed hedging positions and total gains of approximately $1,200,000 associated with open hedging positions.price increases were announced by multiple domestic steel producers. The Company expects to reclassify approximately $9,000,000 of these hedging losses into earningsmargin improvement during the fourth quarter.quarter due to the rising price environment.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The more significant estimates and judgements include forecasted purchases of hot-rolled coil and forecasted sales of prime coil inventory and manufactured pipe inventory in relation to hedging activities and the fair value of the pipe-finishing facility, when impaired. From time to time, the Company hedges these forecasted purchases and sales and may designate those transactions for hedge accounting. If the original forecasts are subsequently reduced, it could result in the Company’s hedged positions exceeding revised forecasts, thus warranting immediate recognition in earnings of previously deferred hedge income or losses associated with excess hedges. A pattern of missed forecasts could call into question the Company’s ability to accurately predict forecasted transactions and the propriety of using hedge accounting in the future for similar forecasted transactions. To mitigate against the negative consequences of missing forecasts we have set an internal policy to designate hedging instruments for accounting purposes only up to 75% of forecasted sales or purchases. Determination of forecasted purchases of hot-rolled coil and forecasted sales of prime coil inventory and manufactured pipe inventory require the Company to make assumptions related to customer demand and the volume and timing of inventory purchases. The pipe-finishing facility impairment analysis requires assumptions related to future operations of the facility and estimates related to the replacement cost and value in exchange for the assets. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

2021

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

From time to time, the Company may make certain statements that contain forward-looking information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996, as amended) and that involve risk and uncertainty. Such statements may include those risks disclosed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of this report, including the adequacy of cash and expectations as to future sales, prices and margins and our expectations for the construction and performance of our new Sinton, TX facility. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, future changes in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, future production capacity, product quality and proposed expansion plans. Forward-looking statements may be made by management orally or in writing including, but not limited to, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or including the words “will,” “expect,” “intended,” “anticipated,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “propose,” “plan,” “estimate,” “enable,” and similar expressions, including, for example, statements about our business strategy, our industry, our future profitability, growth in the industry sectors we serve, our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects and assumptions, and estimates and projections of future activity and trends in the oil and natural gas industry. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on management’s expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements reflect our current beliefs, reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual results and trends in the future may differ materially depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, changes in the demand for and prices of the Company’s products, changes in government policy regarding steel, changes in the demand for steel and steel products in general and the Company’s success in executing its internal operating plans, changes in and availability of raw materials, unplanned shutdowns of our production facilities due to equipment failures or other issues, increased competition from alternative materials and risks concerning innovation, new technologies, products and increasing customer requirements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except to the extent law requires.

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not required

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). We have established disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission and that any material information relating to us is recorded, processed, summarized and reported to our management including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving desired control objectives. In reaching a reasonable level of assurance, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based upon our evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting wasdisclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q because the Company has not yet completed its remediation of the material weaknessweaknesses previously identified and disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.2022 and because the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and Form 10-Q's for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and the three and six months ended September 30, 2022 were not filed timely.

 

Notwithstanding the identified material weakness,weaknesses, the Company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly present in all material respects our financial condition and results of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended December 31, 20212022 and 20202021 in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

 

Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

During the audit process related to our fiscal year ended March 31, 2021,2022, management, in connection with our independent auditors, identified athe following material weakness in our controls related to the review of the annual income tax provision prepared by a third-party firm. Specifically, weweaknesses:

-  The Company did not maintain effectivedesign relevant control activities necessary to address all identified risks of material misstatement or in some circumstances, controls were designed appropriately but were implemented late in the fiscal year not allowing a sufficient period of time to sufficiently review theevidence operating effectiveness.

-  The Company did not design and implement control activities to ensure completeness and accuracy of key reports used in the annual tax provision.performance of certain controls.

-  Management review were not designed to operate at a level of precision sufficient to identify all potential material errors.

-  Certain controls were not executed or performed or were performed without sufficient documentation supporting the execution of the controls.

-  The Company had inadequate segregation of duties for certain business transactions.

 

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Plan for Remediation of Material Weakness

 

OurThe Company has determined that the number of accounting personnel and the limited utilization of information technology in its control structure are the primary contributing factors to the material weaknesses identified. As a part of the transaction with Plateplus, the Company had eight additional accounting personnel convert from Plateplus employment to Friedman employment with five of these individuals becoming Friedman employees on September 1, 2022 and the remaining three individuals becoming Friedman employees on October 1, 2022. The Company also hired an individual with an internal audit and SOX internal control background during September 2022. Additionally, as part of the Plateplus transaction, the Company transferred the enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system that was in place at Plateplus to Friedman at the end of August 2022. The Company is relatively small with101 employees ascurrently working to integrate all of its operations into the transferred ERP system. The Company expects the additional accounting personnel to allow for improved segregation of duties and consistent execution of controls. The Company expects the new ERP system to allow for many of the filing date of this Quarter Report on Form 10-Q. Our accountingCompany’s current manual controls and finance team consisted of two degreed accountants as of March 31, 2021. Leading upmissing controls to be performed by the design and during the financial statement audit period, considerable time was expended by our accounting and finance team to finalize the ABL facility and to select our general contractor and equipment manufacturer related to our planned new facility in Sinton, Texas and to finalize contracts with such parties. This resulted in the Company falling behind in the timeline necessary to complete the audit process and regulatory filings in a timely manner. In an effort to meet regulatory deadlines, the Company did not perform a sufficient review of third-party materials. The Company concludes that the best remediationcapabilities of the material weakness is an investment inERP system rather than relying on manual human capital that will allow it to meet its regulatory requirements and growth objectives. On May 24, 2021, the Company hired an additional degreed accountant. The timing of this hire in relation to the audit process made it difficult for the hire to have a beneficial impact on the process related to our fiscal year end March 31, 2021. However, the Company believes the investment in human capital will provide sufficient remediation in future periods and the Company will continue to evaluate the appropriate level of staffing to ensure the controls over financial reporting are adhered to and the Company can meet its regulatory requirements in a timely manner.execution.

 

We will continue to monitor the design and effectiveness of these procedures and controls and make any further changes the Company determines appropriate. We believe the additional investment in human capital and technology described above will remediate the material weaknessweaknesses the Company has identified. However, thisthe material weaknessweaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable remedial actions operate effectively for a sufficient period of time.

 

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

Except as discussed above, there were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 20212022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

 

2223

 

FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

Three Months Ended December 31, 20212022

 

Part II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibits

 

 

   

  3.1

Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on December 21, 2016).

   

  3.2

Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as filed with the Texas Secretary of State on September 22, 1987 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on December 21, 2016).

   

  3.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended on November 8, 2021. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on November 19, 2021).

   

  31.1

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by Michael J. Taylor.

   

  31.2

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by Alex LaRue.

   

  32.1

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

   

  32.2

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

   

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document.

   

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document.

   

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.

   

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.

   

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document.

   

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.

   
104Cover Page Interactive File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

2324

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

    

Date: February 14, 20229, 2023

 

By

/s/    ALEX LARUE        

 

 

 

Alex LaRue, Chief Financial Officer – Secretary and

Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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