MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF SCHUFF
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the other exhibits in this current report on Form 8-K, including “Business”, as well as the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this current report on Form 8-K, including the notes thereto. The statements in this discussion and analysis regarding industry outlook, our expectations regarding our future performance and our liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied in any forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in “Risk Factors.”
Overview
Schuff International, Inc. is a fully integrated fabricator and erector of structural steel and heavy steel plate. Schuff fabricates and erects structural steel for commercial and industrial construction projects such as high- and low-rise buildings and office complexes, hotels and casinos, convention centers, sports arenas, shopping malls, hospitals, dams, bridges, mines and power plants. Schuff also fabricates trusses and girders as well as specializes in the fabrication and erection of large-diameter water pipe, water storage tanks, pollution control scrubbers, tunnel liners, pressure vessels, strainers, filters, separators and a variety of customized products.
Schuff seeks to differentiate its operations by offering complete, turnkey steel construction services featuring design-build consultation, engineering, detailing, shop fabrication and field erection. By offering an integrated package of steel construction services from a single source, Schuff believes it is able to respond more efficiently to the design and construction challenges associated with large, complex, “fast track” construction projects.
Schuff currently operates primarily in the U.S. Southwest Midwest and Southeast with a concentration in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Kansas and California. Schuff also owns 49% of Schuff Hopsa Engineering, Inc. (“SHE”), a Panamanian joint venture providing steel fabrication services in Panama. As provided in the operating agreement, Schuff controls the operations of SHE. Therefore, the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of SHE are included in its consolidated financial statements.
Schuff offers its integrated steel construction services primarily to general contractors and engineering firms that specialize in a wide variety of projects, including the following: hotels and casinos, office complexes, hospitals, manufacturing plants, shopping malls and centers, sports stadiums, power plants, restaurants, convention facilities, entertainment complexes, airports, schools, churches and warehouses.
Schuff obtains contracts through competitive bidding or negotiation, which generally are either fixed price, cost-plus or unit cost arrangements. Most of its revenues are derived from projects performed pursuant to fixed price contracts. In bidding or negotiating contracts, Schuff must estimate its costs, including projected increases in labor, material, and service costs. Projects typically last from one to 12 months or more. Projects in backlog at June 29, 2014 had estimated completion dates from one to approximately 20 months in the future.
Schuff considers backlog to be an important indicator of its operating condition because its engineering, detailing, fabrication and erection services are characterized by long lead times for projects and orders. Schuff defines its backlog of contract commitments, letters of intent, notices to proceed and purchase orders as the potential future revenues to be recognized upon performance of contracts and potential contracts. Backlog at June 29, 2014 was $386.9 million ($366.9 million under contracts or purchase orders and $20.0 million under letters of intent). At December 29, 2013, its backlog was $426.9 million ($370.1 million under contracts or purchase orders and $56.8 million under letters of intent). Backlog at December 30, 2012 was $186.2 million ($167.3 million under contracts or purchase orders and $18.9 million under letters of intent).
Recent Events
On January 4, 2014, Schuff purchased its Phoenix, Arizona facility from a partnership owned by its former majority shareholder and his family and terminated the related lease. The Phoenix facility is approximately 400,000 square feet and includes a fabrication shop and operations office buildings.