The proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes are to be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Foster Wheeler Ltd. and the following 100% owned companies: Continental Finance Company Ltd., Energy Holdings, Inc., Equipment Consultants, Inc., Financial Services S.a.r.l., Foster Wheeler Holdings, Ltd., Foster Wheeler Asia Limited, Foster Wheeler Capital & Finance Corporation, Foster Wheeler Constructors, Inc., Foster Wheeler Development Corporation, FW Energie B.V., Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, Foster Wheeler Energy Manufacturing, Inc., Foster Wheeler Energy Services, Inc., Foster Wheeler Enviresponse, Inc., Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, Foster Wheeler Europe Limited, Foster Wheeler Facilities Management, Inc., Foster Wheeler Inc., Foster Wheeler Intercontinental Corporation, Foster Wheeler International Corporation, Foster Wheeler International Holdings, Inc., Foster Wheeler Middle East Corporation, Foster Wheeler North America Corp. (“formerly known as Foster Wheeler Power Group, Inc.), Foster Wheeler Power Corporation, Foster Wheeler Power Systems, Inc., Foster Wheeler Pyropower, Inc., Foster Wheeler Real Estate Development Corporation, Foster Wheeler Realty Services, Inc., Foster Wheeler USA Corporation, Foster Wheeler Virgin Islands, Inc., Foster Wheeler Zack, Inc., FW Hungary Licensing Limited Liability Company, FW Mortshal, Inc., HFM International, Inc., PGI Holdings, Inc., Process Consultants, Inc., Pyropower Operating Services Company, Inc. and Perryville III Trust. Each of the guarantees is full and unconditional and joint and several. Foster Wheeler LLC and each of the subsidiary guarantors are 100% owned, directly or indirectly, by Foster Wheeler Ltd. The summarized consolidating financial information is presented in lieu of separate financial statements and other related disclosures of the wholly owned subsidiary guarantors and issuer because management does not believe that such separate financial statements and related disclosures would be material to investors. The following represents summarized condensed consolidating financial information as of March 26, 2004 and December 26, 2003 with respect to the financial position, and for the three months ended March 26, 2004 and March 28, 2003 for results of operations and for cash flows of the Company and its 100% owned and majority-owned subsidiaries.
Back to Contents
FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
6. Consolidating Financial Information — (Continued)
| D. Proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 — (Continued) |
FOSTER WHEELER LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
March 26, 2004
(in thousands of dollars)
| | Foster Wheeler Ltd. | | Foster Wheeler LLC | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |
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ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 70,401 | | $ | 305,213 | | $ | — | | $ | 375,614 | |
Accounts and notes receivable, net | | | — | | | 293,625 | | | 148,063 | | | 704,198 | | | (623,444 | ) | | 522,442 | |
Contracts in process and inventories | | | — | | | — | | | 49,190 | | | 86,840 | | | (8,846 | ) | | 127,184 | |
Investment and advances | | | — | | | — | | | 64,614 | | | — | | | (64,614 | ) | | — | |
Other current assets | | | — | | | — | | | 3,649 | | | 64,107 | | | — | | | 67,756 | |
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Total current assets | | | — | | | 293,625 | | | 335,917 | | | 1,160,358 | | | (696,904 | ) | | 1,092,996 | |
Investments in subsidiaries and others | | | (880,374 | ) | | (934,655 | ) | | 366,294 | | | 129,069 | | | 1,408,452 | | | 88,786 | |
Land, buildings & equipment, net | | | — | | | — | | | 62,427 | | | 241,179 | | | — | | | 303,606 | |
Notes and accounts receivable - long-term | | | 210,000 | | | 575,118 | | | 114,327 | | | 77,009 | | | (970,174 | ) | | 6,280 | |
Intangible assets, net | | | — | | | — | | | 100,993 | | | 20,308 | | | — | | | 121,301 | |
Asbestos-related insurance recovery receivable | | | — | | | 480,786 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 480,786 | |
Other assets | | | — | | | 24,726 | | | 82,449 | | | 218,013 | | | — | | | 325,188 | |
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TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | (670,374 | ) | $ | 439,600 | | $ | 1,062,407 | | $ | 1,845,936 | | $ | (258,626 | ) | $ | 2,418,943 | |
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LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 420 | | $ | 85,473 | | $ | 692,549 | | $ | 439,110 | | $ | (632,290 | ) | $ | 585,262 | |
Estimated costs to complete long-term contracts | | | — | | | — | | | 149,218 | | | 428,831 | | | — | | | 578,049 | |
Other current liabilities | | | (52 | ) | | (1,085 | ) | | 23,276 | | | 127,400 | | | — | | | 149,539 | |
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Total current liabilities | | | 368 | | | 84,388 | | | 865,043 | | | 995,341 | | | (632,290 | ) | | 1,312,850 | |
Corporate and other debt | | | — | | | 326,912 | | | 44,239 | | | 23,492 | | | — | | | 394,643 | |
Special-purpose project debt | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 115,735 | | | — | | | 115,735 | |
Pension, postretirement and other employee benefits | | | — | | | — | | | 219,890 | | | 84,071 | | | — | | | 303,961 | |
Asbestos-related liability | | | — | | | 502,287 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 502,287 | |
Other long-term liabilities and minority interest | | | — | | | 231,312 | | | 701,606 | | | 225,612 | | | (985,324 | ) | | 173,206 | |
Subordinated Robbins obligations | | | — | | | — | | | 112,003 | | | — | | | — | | | 112,003 | |
Convertible subordinated notes | | | 210,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 210,000 | |
Subordinated deferred interest debentures | | | — | | | 175,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 175,000 | |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 210,368 | | | 1,319,899 | | | 1,942,781 | | | 1,444,251 | | | (1,617,614 | ) | | 3,299,685 | |
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Common stock and paid-in capital | | | 242,613 | | | 242,613 | | | 242,613 | | | 441,497 | | | (926,723 | ) | | 242,613 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (815,352 | ) | | (814,909 | ) | | (814,984 | ) | | 158,210 | | | 1,471,683 | | | (815,352 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | (308,003 | ) | | (308,003 | ) | | (308,003 | ) | | (198,022 | ) | | 814,028 | | | (308,003 | ) |
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TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY | | | (880,742 | ) | | (880,299 | ) | | (880,374 | ) | | 401,685 | | | 1,358,988 | | | (880,742 | ) |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY | | $ | (670,374 | ) | $ | 439,600 | | $ | 1,062,407 | | $ | 1,845,936 | | $ | (258,626 | ) | $ | 2,418,943 | |
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49
Back to Contents
FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
6. Consolidating Financial Information — (Continued)
| D. Proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 — (Continued) |
FOSTER WHEELER LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
December 26, 2003
(in thousands of dollars)
| | Foster Wheeler Ltd. | | Foster Wheeler LLC | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |
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ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 33,161 | | $ | 330,934 | | $ | — | | $ | 364,095 | |
Accounts and notes receivable, net | | | — | | | 272,361 | | | 113,559 | | | 777,142 | | | (606,648 | ) | | 556,414 | |
Contracts in process and inventories | | | — | | | — | | | 121,527 | | | 60,876 | | | (9,110 | ) | | 173,293 | |
Investment and advances | | | — | | | — | | | 88,641 | | | — | | | (88,641 | ) | | — | |
Other current assets | | | — | | | — | | | 4,359 | | | 76,215 | | | — | | | 80,574 | |
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Total current assets | | | — | | | 272,361 | | | 361,247 | | | 1,245,167 | | | (704,399 | ) | | 1,174,376 | |
Investments in subsidiaries and others | | | (872,080 | ) | | (919,588 | ) | | 375,116 | | | 138,896 | | | 1,376,307 | | | 98,651 | |
Land, buildings & equipment, net | | | — | | | — | | | 64,315 | | | 245,300 | | | — | | | 309,615 | |
Notes and accounts receivable - long-term | | | 210,000 | | | 575,118 | | | 114,508 | | | 258,490 | | | (1,151,340 | ) | | 6,776 | |
Intangible assets, net | | | — | | | — | | | 101,664 | | | 21,025 | | | — | | | 122,689 | |
Asbestos-related insurance recovery receivable | | | — | | | 495,400 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 495,400 | |
Subordinated debt | | | — | | | 28,478 | | | 83,898 | | | 186,647 | | | — | | | 299,023 | |
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TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | (662,080 | ) | $ | 451,769 | | $ | 1,100,748 | | $ | 2,095,525 | | $ | (479,432 | ) | $ | 2,506,530 | |
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LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 412 | | $ | 78,278 | | $ | 706,397 | | $ | 517,333 | | $ | (615,758 | ) | $ | 686,662 | |
Estimated costs to complete long-term contracts | | | — | | | — | | | 162,168 | | | 390,586 | | | — | | | 552,754 | |
Other current liabilities | | | (52 | ) | | (1,085 | ) | | 14,385 | | | 121,096 | | | — | | | 134,344 | |
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Total current liabilities | | | 360 | | | 77,193 | | | 882,950 | | | 1,029,015 | | | (615,758 | ) | | 1,373,760 | |
Corporate and other debt | | | — | | | 328,163 | | | 44,120 | | | 23,819 | | | — | | | 396,102 | |
Special-purpose project debt | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 119,281 | | | — | | | 119,281 | |
Pension, postretirement and other employee benefits | | | — | | | — | | | 216,281 | | | 78,852 | | | — | | | 295,133 | |
Asbestos-related liability | | | — | | | 526,200 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 526,200 | |
Other long-term liabilities and minority interest | | | — | | | 392,221 | | | 717,888 | | | 228,401 | | | (1,166,605 | ) | | 171,905 | |
Subordinated Robbins obligations | | | — | | | — | | | 111,589 | | | — | | | — | | | 111,589 | |
Convertible subordinated notes | | | 210,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 210,000 | |
Preferred trust securities | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 175,000 | | | — | | | 175,000 | |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 210,360 | | | 1,323,777 | | | 1,972,828 | | | 1,654,368 | | | (1,782,363 | ) | | 3,378,970 | |
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Common stock and paid-in capital | | | 242,613 | | | 242,613 | | | 242,613 | | | 465,451 | | | (950,677 | ) | | 242,613 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (811,054 | ) | | (810,622 | ) | | (810,694 | ) | | 174,312 | | | 1,447,004 | | | (811,054 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | (303,999 | ) | | (303,999 | ) | | (303,999 | ) | | (198,606 | ) | | 806,604 | | | (303,999 | ) |
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TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY | | | (872,440 | ) | | (872,008 | ) | | (872,080 | ) | | 441,157 | | | 1,302,931 | | | (872,440 | ) |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT)/EQUITY | | $ | (662,080 | ) | $ | 451,769 | | $ | 1,100,748 | | $ | 2,095,525 | | $ | (479,432 | ) | $ | 2,506,530 | |
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50
Back to Contents
FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
6. Consolidating Financial Information — (Continued)
| D. Proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 — (Continued) |
FOSTER WHEELER LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Three Months Ended March 26, 2004
(in thousands of dollars)
| | Foster Wheeler Ltd. | | Foster Wheeler LLC | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |
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Operating revenues | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 136,425 | | $ | 553,092 | | $ | (23,158 | ) | $ | 666,359 | |
Other income | | | 3,413 | | | 14,095 | | | 21,634 | | | 25,728 | | | (28,921 | ) | | 35,949 | |
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Total revenues and other income | | | 3,413 | | | 14,095 | | | 158,059 | | | 578,820 | | | (52,079 | ) | | 702,308 | |
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Cost of operating revenues | | | — | | | — | | | 108,478 | | | 505,827 | | | (23,158 | ) | | 591,147 | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | — | | | — | | | 19,974 | | | 37,210 | | | — | | | 57,184 | |
Other deductions and minority interest | | | 2 | | | 88 | | | 13,053 | | | 12,939 | | | (6,683 | ) | | 19,399 | |
Interest expense * | | | 3,419 | | | 17,708 | | | 21,754 | | | 4,789 | | | (22,238 | ) | | 25,432 | |
Equity in net (loss)/earnings of subsidiaries | | | (4,290 | ) | | (586 | ) | | 1,469 | | | — | | | 3,407 | | | — | |
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(Loss)/earnings before income taxes | | | (4,298 | ) | | (4,287 | ) | | (3,731 | ) | | 18,055 | | | 3,407 | | | 9,146 | |
Provision for income taxes | | | — | | | — | | | 559 | | | 12,885 | | | — | | | 13,444 | |
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Net (loss)/earnings | | | (4,298 | ) | | (4,287 | ) | | (4,290 | ) | | 5,170 | | | 3,407 | | | (4,298 | ) |
Other comprehensive (loss)/income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | (4,004 | ) | | (4,004 | ) | | (4,004 | ) | | 584 | | | 7,424 | | | (4,004 | ) |
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Net comprehensive (loss)/income | | $ | (8,302 | ) | $ | (8,291 | ) | $ | (8,294 | ) | $ | 5,754 | | $ | 10,831 | | $ | (8,302 | ) |
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* | Includes interest expense on subordinated deferrable interest debentures of $4,792. |
51
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FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
6. Consolidating Financial Information — (Continued)
| D. Proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 — (Continued) |
FOSTER WHEELER LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Three Months Ended March 28, 2003
(in thousands of dollars)
| | Foster Wheeler Ltd. | | Foster Wheeler LLC | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |
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Operating revenues | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 263,681 | | $ | 544,482 | | $ | (24,071 | ) | $ | 784,092 | |
Other income | | | 3,413 | | | 13,696 | | | 23,137 | | | 16,348 | | | (29,818 | ) | | 26,776 | |
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Total revenues and other income | | | 3,413 | | | 13,696 | | | 286,818 | | | 560,830 | | | (53,889 | ) | | 810,868 | |
Cost of operating revenues | | | — | | | — | | | 257,551 | | | 493,649 | | | (24,071 | ) | | 727,129 | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | — | | | — | | | 25,105 | | | 26,635 | | | — | | | 51,740 | |
Other deductions and minority interest | | | 6 | | | 130 | | | 17,352 | | | 10,826 | | | (5,747 | ) | | 22,567 | |
Interest expense * | | | 3,434 | | | 14,058 | | | 18,328 | | | 10,045 | | | (24,071 | ) | | 21,794 | |
Equity in net loss of subsidiaries | | | (19,793 | ) | | (19,296 | ) | | 12,401 | | | — | | | 26,688 | | | — | |
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(Loss)/earnings before income taxes | | | (19,820 | ) | | (19,788 | ) | | (19,117 | ) | | 19,675 | | | 26,688 | | | (12,362 | ) |
Provision for income taxes | | | — | | | — | | | 676 | | | 6,782 | | | — | | | 7,458 | |
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Net (loss)/earnings | | | (19,820 | ) | | (19,788 | ) | | (19,793 | ) | | 12,893 | | | 26,688 | | | (19,820 | ) |
Other comprehensive loss: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | (815 | ) | | (815 | ) | | (815 | ) | | (2,672 | ) | | 4,302 | | | (815 | ) |
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Net comprehensive (loss)/income | | $ | (20,635 | ) | $ | (20,603 | ) | $ | (20,608 | ) | $ | 10,221 | | $ | 30,990 | | $ | (20,635 | ) |
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* Includes mandatorily redeemable preferred security distributions of subsidiary trust of $4,372. |
52
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FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
6. Consolidating Financial Information — (Continued)
| D. Proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 — (Continued) |
FOSTER WHEELER LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 26, 2004
(in thousands of dollars)
| | Foster Wheeler Ltd. | | Foster Wheeler LLC | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |
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Cash Flows from Operating Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used)/provided by | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Activities | | $ | (8 | ) | $ | 13,583 | | $ | 9,465 | | $ | 25,832 | | $ | (19,304 | ) | $ | 29,568 | |
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in restricted cash | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (20,700 | ) | | — | | | (20,700 | ) |
Capital expenditures | | | — | | | — | | | 605 | | | (2,364 | ) | | — | | | (1,759 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | | | — | | | — | | | (6 | ) | | 133 | | | — | | | 127 | |
(Increase)/decrease in investment and advances | | | — | | | — | | | 24,103 | | | (24,103 | ) | | — | | | — | |
Increase in short-term investments | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8,309 | | | — | | | 8,309 | |
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Net cash provided/(used) by | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investing Activities | | | — | | | — | | | 24,702 | | | (38,725 | ) | | — | | | (14,023 | ) |
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends to shareholders | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (19,304 | ) | | 19,304 | | | — | |
Decrease in short-term debt | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (121 | ) | | — | | | (121 | ) |
Proceeds from long-term debt | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Repayment of long-term debt | | | — | | | (1,252 | ) | | | | | (3,574 | ) | | — | | | (4,826 | ) |
Other | | | 8 | | | (12,331 | ) | | 3,083 | | | 6,577 | | | — | | | (2,663 | ) |
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Net cash provided/(used) by | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financing Activities | | | 8 | | | (13,583 | ) | | 3,083 | | | (16,422 | ) | | 19,304 | | | (7,610 | ) |
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Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | — | | | — | | | (10 | ) | | 3,594 | | | — | | | 3,584 | |
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Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | — | | | — | | | 37,240 | | | (25,721 | ) | | — | | | 11,519 | |
Cash and Cash equivalents, beginning of period | | | — | | | — | | | 33,161 | | | 330,934 | | | — | | | 364,095 | |
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Cash and Cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 70,401 | | $ | 305,213 | | $ | — | | $ | 375,614 | |
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FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
6. Consolidating Financial Information — (Continued)
| D. Proposed 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 — (Continued) |
FOSTER WHEELER LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 28, 2003
(in thousands of dollars)
| | Foster Wheeler Ltd. | | Foster Wheeler LLC | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |
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Cash Flows from Operating Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used)/provided by | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Activities | | $ | (27 | ) | $ | 2,861 | | $ | (25,975 | ) | $ | 15,932 | | $ | (9,761 | ) | $ | (16,970 | ) |
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in restricted cash | | | — | | | — | | | (654 | ) | | (3,043 | ) | | — | | | (3,697 | ) |
Capital expenditures | | | — | | | — | | | (747 | ) | | (2,866 | ) | | — | | | (3,613 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | | | — | | | — | | | 72,580 | | | 338 | | | — | | | 72,918 | |
(Increase)/decrease in investment and advances | | | — | | | — | | | (4,417 | ) | | 2,754 | | | 5,381 | | | 3,718 | |
Increase in short-term investments | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2 | ) | | — | | | (2 | ) |
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Net cash provided/(used) by Investing Activities | | | — | | | — | | | 66,762 | | | (2,819 | ) | | 5,381 | | | 69,324 | |
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends to shareholders | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (8,894 | ) | | 8,894 | | | — | |
Decrease in short-term debt | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (503 | ) | | — | | | (503 | ) |
Proceeds from long-term debt | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 18 | | | — | | | 18 | |
Repayment of long-term debt | | | — | | | (10,000 | ) | | — | | | (3,603 | ) | | — | | | (13,603 | ) |
Other | | | 27 | | | 7,139 | | | 35,691 | | | (41,222 | ) | | (4,514 | ) | | (2,879 | ) |
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Net cash provided/(used) by | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financing Activities | | | 27 | | | (2,861 | ) | | 35,691 | | | (54,204 | ) | | 4,380 | | | (16,967 | ) |
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Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | — | | | — | | | 356 | | | 4,058 | | | — | | | 4,414 | |
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Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | — | | | — | | | 76,834 | | | (37,033 | ) | | — | | | 39,801 | |
Cash and Cash equivalents, beginning of period | | | — | | | — | | | 20,805 | | | 323,500 | | | — | | | 344,305 | |
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Cash and Cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 97,639 | | $ | 286,467 | | $ | — | | $ | 384,106 | |
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FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
7. Equity Interests
The Company owns a non-controlling equity interest in three cogeneration projects and one waste-to-energy project; three of which are located in Italy and one in Chile. Two of the projects in Italy are each 42% owned while the third is 49% owned by the Company. The project in Chile is 85% owned by the Company. The Company does not have a controlling financial interest in the Chilean project. Following is summarized financial information for the Company’s equity affiliates combined, as well as the Company’s interest in the affiliates.
| | March 26, 2004 | | December 26, 2003 | |
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| | Italian Projects | | Chilean Project | | Italian Projects | | Chilean Project | |
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Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current assets | | $ | 103,228 | | $ | 9,920 | | $ | 95,977 | | $ | 23,891 | |
Other assets (primarily buildings and equipment) | | | 383,519 | | | 182,675 | | | 409,267 | | | 185,315 | |
Current liabilities | | | 40,305 | | | 14,086 | | | 32,735 | | | 17,188 | |
Other liabilities (primarily long-term debt) | | | 361,849 | | | 116,874 | | | 385,047 | | | 121,362 | |
Net assets | | | 84,593 | | | 61,635 | | | 87,462 | | | 70,656 | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | |
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| | Italian Projects | | Chilean Project | | Italian Projects | | Chilean Project | |
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Income Statement Data for three months: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 63,050 | | $ | 9,923 | | $ | 48,688 | | $ | 9,560 | |
Gross earnings | | | 15,688 | | | 5,198 | | | 13,792 | | | 5,257 | |
Income before income taxes | | | 11,162 | | | 2,617 | | | 7,492 | | | 2,579 | |
Net earnings | | | 6,754 | | | 2,059 | | | 4,215 | | | 2,141 | |
As of March 26, 2004, the Company’s share of the net earnings and investment in the equity affiliates totaled $4,653 and $88,786 respectively. Dividends of $9,090 and $43 were received during the first three months of 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company has guaranteed certain performance obligations of these projects. The Company’s average contingent obligations under these guarantees are approximately $2,700 per year for the four projects in total. The Company has provided a $10,000 debt service reserve letter of credit providing liquidity should the performance of the Chilean Project be insufficient to cover the debt service payments. No amount has been drawn under the letter of credit.
8. Guarantees and Warranties
The Company has provided indemnifications to third parties relating to businesses and/or assets the Company previously owned. Such indemnifications relate primarily to potential environmental and tax exposures for activities conducted by the Company prior to the sale.
| | Maximum Potential Payment | | Carrying Amount of Liability as of March 26, 2004 | | Carrying Amount of Liability as of March 28, 2003 | |
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Environmental indemnifications | | | No limit | | $ | 5,500 | | $ | 6,400 | |
Tax indemnifications | | | No limit | | $ | 0 | | $ | 0 | |
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FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
8. Guarantees and Warranties — (Continued)
The Company provides for make good/warranty reserves on certain of its long-term contracts. Generally, these reserves are accrued over the life of the contract so that a sufficient balance is maintained to cover the exposures throughout the warranty period.
| | First Quarter 2004 | | First Quarter 2003 | |
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Balance beginning of quarter | | $ | 131,600 | | $ | 81,900 | |
Accruals | | | 5,500 | | | 11,000 | |
Settlements | | | (3,200 | ) | | (2,600 | ) |
Adjustments to provisions | | | (1,300 | ) | | (6,100 | ) |
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Balance end of quarter | | $ | 132,600 | | $ | 84,200 | |
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9. Income Taxes
The difference between the statutory and effective tax rates for the first three months of 2004 and 2003 results predominately from taxable income in certain jurisdictions (primarily non-U.S.) combined with a valuation allowance offsetting other loss benefits in other jurisdictions (primarily non-U.S.).
If the Company completes the proposed exchange offer as discussed in Note 1, it will be subject to substantial limitations on the use of pre-change losses and credits to offset U.S. federal taxable income in any post-change year. Since a valuation allowance has already been reflected to offset these losses and credits, this limitation will not result in a significant write-off by the Company.
10. Sale of Certain Business Assets
On March 7, 2003, the Company sold certain assets of its wholly owned subsidiary, Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, for sales proceeds then approximating $72,000. The Company recognized a gain of $15,300 on the sale, which was recorded in other income in the first quarter of 2003. The Company also retained approximately $8,000 of cash on hand at the time of the asset sale. The sales proceeds were subject to adjustment based on a net worth calculation to be finalized subsequent to the sale. During the third quarter 2003, the Company and the buyer agreed on a final net worth calculation that resulted in the Company returning $4,500 of the sales proceeds to the buyer over a six month time period. A total of $3,000 was returned by year-end 2003 and $1,500 was paid in February 2004. The net worth agreement had no impact on the pretax gain previously disclosed.
On March 31, 2003, the Company sold its interest in a corporate office building for net proceeds of approximately $7,900, which approximated the value of the Company’s investment. With the completion of this transaction, $1,445 of the net proceeds were used to prepay principal outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility in accordance with the terms of the facility as described in Note 1.
The Company entered into an agreement in the first quarter of 2004 to sell a domestic corporate office building for estimated net cash proceeds of $17,000, which approximates carrying value. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $15,100 on this building in the third quarter of 2003 in anticipation of a sale. The carrying value of the building, which is held for sale, is included in land, buildings, and equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The sale closed in the second quarter 2004 and generated net cash proceeds of $16,400. Of this amount, 50% has been repaid to the Senior Credit Facilities’ lenders in the second quarter 2004.
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FOSTER WHEELER LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
10. Sale of Certain Business Assets — (Continued)
In the first quarter of 2004, the Company, through a joint venture company, sold the development rights to a power project in Europe. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of $10,500, which was recorded in other income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
11. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Components of Net Periodic Benefit cost for the three months ended March 26, 2004 and March 28, 2003 are as follows:
| | Pension Benefits | | Other Benefits | |
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| | 2004 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2003 | |
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Service Cost | | $ | 9,553 | | $ | 4,979 | | $ | 106 | | $ | 185 | |
Interest Cost | | | 9,094 | | | 11,480 | | | 1,379 | | | 2,301 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (11,714 | ) | | (9,472 | ) | | — | | | — | |
Amortization of transition assets | | | 19 | | | 17 | | | (3 | ) | | — | |
Amortization of prior service cost | | | 427 | | | 418 | | | (1,186 | ) | | (371 | ) |
Other | | | 5,273 | | | 7,919 | | | 658 | | | (835 | ) |
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SFAS No. 87 - Net periodic pension cost | | $ | 12,652 | | $ | 15,341 | | $ | 954 | | $ | 1,280 | |
SFAS No. 88 - Cost | | | — | | | 277 | | | — | | | — | |
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Total net periodic pension cost | | $ | 12,652 | | $ | 15,618 | | $ | 954 | | $ | 1,280 | |
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The Company disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 26, 2003, that it expected to contribute $64,700 to its foreign and domestic pension plans in the year 2004. The Company currently projects that the expected pension contribution for 2004 for its domestic pension plans now approximates $29,200 as compared to $37,000 included in the estimate at December 26, 2003. The reduction is primarily the result of new pension funding legislation enacted in the United States. As of March 26, 2004, $7,500 of that contribution has been made.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts) |
The following is Management’s Discussion and Analysis of certain significant factors that have affected the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods indicated below. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other sections of this Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s assumptions, expectations and projections about the various industries within which the Company operates. Such forward-looking statements by their nature involve a degree of risk and uncertainty. The Company cautions that a variety of factors, including but not limited to the following, could cause business conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in forward-looking statements such as: changes in the rate of worldwide economic growth in the major international economies; changes in investment by the power, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, chemical/petrochemical and environmental industries; changes in financial condition of customers; changes in regulatory environment; changes in project design or schedules; contract cancellations; changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies worldwide; currency fluctuations; war or terrorist attacks on facilities either owned or where equipment or services are or may be provided; outcomes of pending and future litigation including litigation regarding the Company’s liability for damages and insurance coverage for asbestos exposure; protection and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights and increasing competition by foreign and domestic companies; monetization of certain facilities; and recoverability of claims against customers.
This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included on this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2003.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis herein are prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company may not, however, be able to continue as a going concern (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional going concern information).
The Company operates through two main business groups – the Engineering & Construction Group (“E & C”), and the Energy Group (“Energy”). The corporate center and certain legacy liabilities (e.g. corporate debt) are included in the Corporate and Finance Group (“C & F”).
The global markets in which the Company operates are largely dependent on overall economic growth and continue to be highly competitive. Consolidated new orders and backlog have declined from recent years, but performance on existing contracts is profitable (see the Energy Group and Engineering & Construction Group discussions for additional details).
Many of the Company’s contracts contain lump-sum prices and management expects that the number of lump-sum contracts and the number of countries where these projects will be executed will increase in the future. Lump-sum contracts are inherently risky because the Company agrees to the selling price at the time it enters into the contracts. Costs and execution schedules are based on estimates, and management assumes substantially all of the risks associated with completing the project as well as the post-completion warranty obligations. For the quarter ended March 26, 2004, a charge of approximately $24,600 was recorded on a lump-sum contract. For the quarter ended March 28, 2003, charges of approximately $16,100 primarily on lump-sum contracts were recorded. The Company established a Project Risk Management Group (“PRMG”) in the second quarter of 2002 to be responsible for reviewing proposals and work that has been contracted to evaluate the levels of risk acceptable to the Company.
During the first quarter of 2004, the Company continued its restructuring activities. On May 4, 2004 the Company filed an amended registration statement for the proposed equity for debt exchange offer. The Company’s goal is to complete the exchange offer by mid- June 2004.
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The Company reported a net loss for the first quarter 2004 of $4,300. The E & C companies and the North American Power business were profitable during the quarter despite the fact that the domestic U.S. power business continues to operate in a depressed power market. Management believes the turnaround of its domestic power business resulted, in part, from changes in the unit’s management team, as well as from the benefits obtained from the 2002 initiatives that focused on cost reductions and the way the Company plans and executes projects in the field. However, the European power business reported a loss largely because of a $24,600 loss on a lump-sum project in Europe.
New orders booked for the quarter increased 32% compared to the first quarter of 2003. Unfilled orders declined as revenues exceeded the new orders booked during the quarter. Increasing the level of new bookings remains one of management’s top priorities for 2004.
The number of new asbestos claims received during the quarter declined from the number received in the fourth quarter 2003 and the Company continued its strategy of settling with asbestos insurance carriers by monetizing policies or arranging coverage in place agreements. Two such settlements occurred in the first quarter of 2004.
The net loss for the quarter included an $11,700 pretax (and after-tax) gain on settlements with asbestos insurance carriers, and a $10,500 pretax gain ($6,600 after-tax) on the sale of development rights for a power project in Italy. While the sale of the power project development rights is recorded as a one-time gain, the business in Italy has historically developed and sold such project rights, and is continuing to actively develop other project rights that are expected to be offered for sale in the future.
Expenses primarily from professional advisors working on the Company’s restructuring continued to be significant during the quarter and are expected to continue until the restructuring is completed. Management expects the level of costs to decline in the second half of the year, but anticipates the need to continue certain advisory services in the third and fourth quarters.
Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash totaled $453,800 at March 26, 2004. This reflects an increase of $23,600 for the first quarter 2004.
The Company continues to carry high levels of debt in the United States, and the total U.S. operations, which include the corporate center, are cash flow negative and are expected to continue to be cash flow negative. The Company’s foreign operations generate positive cash flow and are expected to continue to generate positive cash flow. The Company normally repatriates cash from its foreign operations and expects to continue to need to repatriate cash from its foreign operations in the future. Maintaining adequate domestic liquidity remains one of management’s priorities and its U.S. liquidity forecasts are updated on a weekly basis. These forecasts include, among other analyses, cash flow forecasts, which include cash on hand; cash flows from operations; cash repatriated from non-U.S. subsidiaries; asset sales; collections of receivables and claims recoveries; and working capital needs.
Commercial operations under a retained Environmental contract commenced in January 2004. The Company funded the construction of this project which processes spent nuclear waste for the U.S. Department of Energy. Capital recovery and operating revenues are generated as the plant processes the waste materials. This project successfully processed sufficient quantities of material during the first quarter to recover all the capital recovery originally forecast to be received during the first nine months of 2004.
Management continues to forecast that sufficient cash will be available to fund the Company’s U.S. and foreign working capital needs throughout 2004. As with any forecast, there can be no assurance that the cash amounts realized and/or timing of the cash flows will match the Company’s forecast. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for additional details.
As part of its debt restructuring plan, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries filed an amended registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 12, 2004 and on May 4, 2004, relating to an exchange offer for all of the existing $175,000 trust preferred securities, $210,000 Convertible Subordinated Notes (“Convertible Notes”), $113,700 Subordinated Robbins Exit Funding Obligations (“Robbins Bonds”), and $200,000 2005 Senior Notes (the “Senior Notes”) due 2005.
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On February 5, 2004, the Company announced, in support of its restructuring activities, that a number of institutional investors committed to provide $120,000 of new financing in a private transaction to the Company to replace the current term loan and the revolving credit facility portions of its Senior Credit Facility. This commitment is contingent upon the completion of the proposed exchange offer. Additionally, the Company has discontinued its previously announced plans to divest one of its European operating units.
The total amount of debt and preferred trust securities subject to the proposed exchange offer is approximately $700,000. Interest expense incurred on this debt in 2003 totaled approximately $55,000. The Company expects to offer a mix of equity as well as debt with longer maturities in exchange for these securities. The Company anticipates that both total debt and related interest expense would be significantly reduced upon completion of the debt exchange offer; however, the Company may not complete the exchange offer on acceptable terms, or at all, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operations.
The Company may not be able to complete the restructuring plan on acceptable terms, or at all, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operations.
Three months ended March 26, 2004 compared to the three months ended March 28, 2003
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | |
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Revenues | | $ | 702,300 | | $ | 810,900 | |
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Earnings/(loss) before tax | | $ | 9,100 | | $ | (12,400 | ) |
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Net loss | | $ | (4,300 | ) | $ | (19,800 | ) |
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In the three months ended March 26, 2004 and March 28, 2003, the Company recorded net pretax charges of $12,100 and $19,200, respectively. These charges and (gains) are separately identified below to provide for a better comparison of results.
| | Three months ended March 26, 2004 | | Three months ended March 28, 2003 | |
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| | E & C | | Energy | | C&F | | Total | | E & C | | Energy | | C&F | | Total | |
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1) (Gains) on asbestos settlements | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | (11,700 | ) | $ | (11,700 | ) | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
2) (Gains) on sale of assets | | | (10,500 | ) | | — | | | — | | | (10,500 | ) | | (15,300 | ) | | — | | | — | | | (15,300 | ) |
3) Re-evaluation of contract cost estimates | | | — | | | 24,600 | | | — | | | 24,600 | | | 21,100 | | | (5,000 | ) | | — | | | 16,100 | |
4) Restructuring and credit agreement costs | | | — | | | — | | | 9,300 | | | 9,300 | | | — | | | — | | | 10,400 | | | 10,400 | |
5) Severance cost | | | 400 | | | — | | | — | | | 400 | | | 2,800 | | | 3,300 | | | 100 | | | 6,200 | |
6) Legal settlements and other provisions | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,800 | | | 1,800 | |
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Total | | $ | (10,100 | ) | $ | 24,600 | | $ | (2,400 | ) | $ | 12,100 | | $ | 8,600 | | $ | (1,700 | ) | $ | 12,300 | | $ | 19,200 | |
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(1) | In March 2004, the Company entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves asbestos coverage litigation with two asbestos insurance carriers. The Company recorded a gain on settlement of $11,700, which was recorded in other income. |
(2) | In the first quarter of 2004, the Company, through a joint venture company, sold the development rights to a power project in Europe. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of $10,500, which was recorded in other income. In the first quarter of 2003, the Company sold certain assets of its wholly owned subsidiary, Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, resulting in a net gain of $15,300, which was recorded in other income. |
(3) | The charge in 2004 relates to reserves recorded on a lump-sum project in Europe. The net charge in 2003 relates to reserves recorded on two government contracts retained by Environmental totaling $21,100, partially offset by the reduction of a project reserve of $5,000, which was no longer required in the Energy Group. |
(4) | Costs of $9,300 and $10,400 for the first quarters of 2004 and 2003, respectively, were recorded in other deductions for restructuring activities and credit agreement costs. |
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(5) | Severance costs were recorded in cost of operating revenues for the E&C and Energy Groups and in selling, general and administrative expenses for the C&F Group. |
(6) | The charges represent accruals for legal costs and were recorded in other deductions. |
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Consolidated Operating Revenues |
| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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| | $ | 666,400 | | $ | 784,100 | | $ | (117,700 | ) | | -15.0% | |
The decline in consolidated operating revenues is primarily due to the Energy Group’s North American operating unit where a major project completed in 2003 has not been replaced in 2004. See the individual group discussions for additional details.
Consolidated Gross Earnings from Operations |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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| | $ | 75,200 | | $ | 57,000 | | $ | 18,200 | | | 31.9% | |
Gross earnings are equal to operating revenues minus the cost of operating revenues. The increase in consolidated gross earnings from operations resulted primarily from improved profitability on current projects.
Consolidated Selling, General and Administrative Expenses |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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| | $ | 57,200 | | $ | 51,700 | | $ | 5,500 | | | 10.6% | |
The increase in consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased sales and lump-sum proposal activity in the E&C Group’s U.K. operations and the Energy Group’s Finnish operations.
Consolidated Other Income
| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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| | $ | 35,900 | | $ | 26,800 | | $ | 9,100 | | | 34.0% | |
The increase in consolidated other income is primarily due to the sale of development rights to a power project by the E&C Group’s European operations, and an asbestos settlement in 2004, offset by a $15,300 gain on the sale of certain assets of Environmental in March 2003.
Consolidated Other Deductions |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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| | $ | 18,400 | | $ | 21,200 | | $ | (2,800 | ) | | -13.2% | |
The decrease in consolidated other deductions is primarily due to the changes in certain of the charges detailed at the beginning of this Item 2.
Consolidated other deductions for the three-month period ending March 26, 2004, include charges for restructuring of $9,300, compared to restructuring and other charges of $10,400 and $1,800, respectively, for the same period ending March 28, 2003.
Management expects restructuring costs to continue until the restructuring activities are completed, but anticipates the level of costs to decline in the third and fourth quarters 2004.
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Consolidated Tax Provision |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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| | $ | 13,400 | | $ | 7,500 | | $ | 5,900 | | | 78.7% | |
The provisions of SFAS No. 109 prohibit the Company from recording domestic and certain foreign tax benefits due to the cumulative losses incurred domestically and in certain international tax jurisdictions in the three years ending December 26, 2003. The increase in consolidated tax provision is primarily due to a gain on the sale of development rights to a power project by the E&C Group’s European operations in 2004.
Engineering and Construction Group |
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| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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Operating revenue | | $ | 401,900 | | $ | 459,800 | | $ | (57,900 | ) | | -12.6 | % |
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EBITDA | | $ | 33,100 | | $ | 12,100 | | $ | 21,000 | | | 173.6 | % |
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Management uses several financial metrics to measure the performance of the Company’s business segments. EBITDA, as discussed and defined below, is the primary earnings measure used by the Company’s chief decision makers.
EBITDA is a supplemental, non-GAAP financial measure. EBITDA is defined as earnings/(loss) before taxes (before goodwill charge), interest expense, depreciation and amortization. The Company has presented EBITDA because it believes it is an important supplemental measure of operating performance. EBITDA, adjusted for certain unusual and infrequent items specifically excluded in the terms of the Senior Credit Facility, is also used as a measure for certain covenants under the Senior Credit Facility. The Company believes that the line item on its condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss entitled “net loss” is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to EBITDA. Since EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net loss as an indicator of operating performance. EBITDA, as the Company calculates it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. In addition, this measure does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use, and is not necessarily a measure of the Company’s ability to fund its cash needs. As EBITDA excludes certain financial information compared with net earnings/(loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, users of this financial information should consider the type of events and transactions which are excluded. The Company’s non-GAAP performance measure, EBITDA, has certain material limitations as follows:
| • | It does not include interest expense. Because the Company has borrowed substantial amounts of money to finance some of its operations, interest is a necessary and ongoing part of the Company’s costs and has assisted the Company in generating revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest has material limitations; |
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| • | It does not include taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary and ongoing part of the Company’s operations, any measure that excludes taxes has material limitations; |
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| • | It does not include depreciation. Because the Company must utilize substantial property, plants and equipment in order to generate revenues in its operations, depreciation is a necessary and ongoing part of the Company’s costs. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation has material limitations. |
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A reconciliation of EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net earnings, a GAAP measure, is shown below.
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | |
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EBITDA | | $ | 33,100 | | $ | 12,100 | |
Less: Interest expense | | | 300 | | | (600 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 2,300 | | | 2,900 | |
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Earnings before income taxes | | | 30,500 | | | 9,800 | |
Income taxes | | | 10,100 | | | 3,000 | |
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Net earnings | | $ | 20,400 | | $ | 6,800 | |
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Operating revenues were essentially unchanged for the three months ended March 26, 2004 compared to March 28, 2003 after excluding the Environmental revenues of $62,900 for the three months ended March 28, 2003.
The changes in the charges outlined at the beginning of this Item 2 account for most of the increased EBITDA for the three-month period noted above.
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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Operating revenue | | $ | 264,500 | | $ | 322,100 | | $ | (57,600 | ) | | -17.9 | % |
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EBITDA | | $ | 17,000 | | $ | 30,500 | | $ | (13,500 | ) | | -44.3 | % |
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For an explanation about the limitations of using EBITDA as a financial metric, see the notation above under Engineering and Construction Group.
A reconciliation of EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net earnings/(loss) a GAAP measure, is shown below.
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | |
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EBITDA | | $ | 17,000 | | $ | 30,500 | |
Less: Interest expense | | | 4,800 | | | 4,900 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 5,100 | | | 5,800 | |
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Earnings before income taxes | | | 7,100 | | | 19,800 | |
Income taxes | | | 8,000 | | | 6,500 | |
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Net (loss)/earnings | | $ | (900 | ) | $ | 13,300 | |
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The decrease in operating revenues primarily reflects the North American and European unit’s execution and completion in 2003 of significant major projects that were not replaced during the first quarter in 2004, and the delay of a major award in the European operating unit until the fourth quarter of 2004.
The decline in EBITDA and net (loss)/earnings reflects the write-down from a European power project.
As previously disclosed, the Company has reviewed various methods of monetizing selected Power Systems facilities. Based on current economic conditions, management concluded that it would continue to operate the facilities in the normal course of business. Management has reviewed these facilities for impairment on an undiscounted cash flow basis and determined that no adjustment to the carrying amounts is required. If the Company were able to monetize these assets, it is possible that the amounts realized could differ materially from the balances in the financial statements.
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Shareholders’ deficit for the three months ended March 26, 2004 increased by $8,300, due primarily to a net loss for the period of $4,300 and changes in the foreign currency translation adjustment of $4,000.
Cash flows provided by operations were $29,600 for the three months ended March 26, 2004 compared to $17,000 used by operations for the three months ended March 28, 2003. The change in cash provided from operations is primarily due to capital recovery under an Environmental contract. The capital recovery received in the first quarter of 2004 had originally been forecasted for recovery over the first three quarters of 2004.
Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash totaled $453,800 at March 26, 2004, reflecting an increase of $23,600 for the quarter.
During the three months ended March 26, 2004, long-term investments in land, buildings and equipment were $1,800 as compared with $3,600 for the comparable period in 2003. Capital expenditures primarily reflect routine replacement of information technology equipment and replacement of miscellaneous equipment associated with the Energy Group’s European power operations.
Corporate and other debts, including the Senior Credit Facility, are as follows:
| | March 26, 2004 | | December 26, 2003 | |
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Senior Credit Facility (average interest rate 7.14%) | | $ | 126,900 | | $ | 128,200 | |
6.75% Notes due November 15, 2005 | | | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | |
Other | | | 5,400 | | | 5,600 | |
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| | | 332,300 | | | 333,800 | |
Less: Current portion | | | — | | | 100 | |
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| | $ | 332,300 | | $ | 333,700 | |
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Special purpose project debt consists of the debt associated with the build, own, and operate special purpose operating subsidiaries. The operating results of these companies are consolidated within the Energy Group and the debt by company is as follows:
| | March 26, 2004 | | December 26, 2003 | |
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Martinez Cogen Limited Partnership | | $ | 18,600 | | $ | 21,900 | |
Foster Wheeler Coque Verde, L.P. | | | 37,800 | | | 37,800 | |
Camden County Energy Recovery Associates | | | 77,500 | | | 77,500 | |
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| | | 133,900 | | | 137,200 | |
Less: Current portion | | | 18,200 | | | 17,900 | |
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| | $ | 115,700 | | $ | 119,300 | |
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Additionally, the Company held the following debt at the close of each period:
| | March 26, 2004 | | December 26, 2003 | |
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Bank loans | | $ | — | | $ | 100 | |
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Capital lease obligations, net of current portion ($1,100 and $1,300, respectively for 2004 and 2003) | | $ | 62,300 | | $ | 62,400 | |
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Subordinated Robbins exit funding obligations, net of current portion ($1,700 in both 2004 and 2003) | | $ | 112,000 | | $ | 111,600 | |
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Convertible subordinated notes | | $ | 210,000 | | $ | 210,000 | |
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Preferred trust securities | | $ | — | | $ | 175,000 | |
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Subordinated deferrable interest debentures | | $ | 175,000 | | $ | — | |
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Liquidity and Capital Resources |
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company may not, however, be able to continue as a going concern. Realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business are dependent on, among other things, the Company’s ability to return to profitability, to continue to generate cash flows from operations, asset sales and collections of receivables to fund its obligations, as well as the Company maintaining credit facilities and bonding capacity adequate to conduct its business. The Company incurred significant losses for the three months ended March 26, 2004 and in each of the years in the three-year period ended December 26, 2003, and has a shareholder deficit of $880,700 as of March 26, 2004. The Company has substantial debt obligations including its Senior Credit Facility and during 2002, it was unable to comply with certain debt covenants under the previous revolving credit agreement. As described in more detail below, the Company received waivers of covenant violations and ultimately negotiated new credit facilities in August 2002. In November 2002, the new Senior Credit Facility was amended to provide covenant relief of up to $180,000 of gross pretax charges recorded in the third quarter of 2002 and also to provide that up to an additional $63,000 in pretax charges related to specific contingencies could be excluded from the covenant calculation through December 2003, if incurred. In March 2003, the Senior Credit Facility was again amended to provide further covenant relief by modifying certain definitions of financial measures utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and the minimum EBITDA and senior debt ratio. The credit facilities were also amended in July 2003 to provide waivers of the applicable sections of the Senior Credit Facility to permit the exchange offers described elsewhere in this report, other internal restructuring transactions as well as transfers, cancellations, and setoffs of certain intercompany obligations. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to comply with the terms of the Senior Credit Facility, as amended, and other debt agreements during 2004. Management’s current forecast indicates that the Company will be in compliance with the financial covenants throughout 2004. However, there can be no assurance that the actual financial results will match the forecasts or that the Company will not violate the covenants.
The Company’s U.S. operations, which include the corporate functions, are cash flow negative and are expected to continue to generate negative cash flow due to a number of factors including costs related to the Company’s indebtedness, obligations to fund U.S. pension plans, and other expenses related to corporate overhead.
Management closely monitors liquidity and updates its U.S. liquidity forecasts weekly. These forecasts include, among other analyses, cash flow forecasts, which include cash on hand, cash flows from operations, cash repatriations and loans from non-U.S. subsidiaries, asset sales, collections of receivables and claims recoveries, and working capital needs and unused credit line availability. The Company’s cash flow forecasts continue to indicate that sufficient cash will be available to fund the Company’s U.S. and foreign working capital needs throughout 2004. Ensuring adequate domestic liquidity remains a priority for the Company’s management, however, there can be no assurance that the cash amounts realized and/or timing of the cash flows will match the Company’s forecast.
As of March 26, 2004, the Company had aggregate indebtedness of approximately $1,000,000. A breakdown of the debt is provided in the Financial Condition Section. Details about specific debt instruments are also provided later in this section.
The corporate debt must be funded primarily with distributions from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. As of March 26, 2004, the Company had cash and cash equivalents on hand, short-term investments, and restricted cash totaling $453,800 compared to $430,200 as of December 26, 2003. Of the $453,800 total at March 26, 2004, approximately $355,800 was held by foreign subsidiaries. The Company is sometimes required to cash collateralize bonding or certain bank facilities and such amounts are included in restricted cash. The amount of restricted cash at March 26, 2004 was $73,000, of which $61,200 relates to the non-U.S. operations.
The Company also requires cash distributions from its non-U.S. subsidiaries in the normal course of its operations to meet its U.S. operations’ minimum working capital needs. The Company’s current 2004 forecast assumes total cash repatriation from its non-U.S. subsidiaries from royalties, management fees, intercompany
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loans, debt service on intercompany loans, and dividends of approximately $61,000. In 2003, the Company repatriated approximately $100,000 from its non-U.S. subsidiaries.
There can be no assurance that the forecasted foreign cash repatriation will occur as there are significant legal and contractual restrictions on the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from its non-U.S. subsidiaries. These subsidiaries need to keep certain amounts available for working capital purposes, to pay known liabilities, and for other general corporate purposes. Such amounts exceed, and are not directly comparable to, the foreign component of restricted cash previously noted. In addition, certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries are parties to loan and other agreements with covenants, and are subject to statutory minimum capitalization requirements in their jurisdictions of organization that restrict the amount of funds that such subsidiaries may distribute. Distributions in excess of these specified amounts would violate the terms of the agreements or applicable law which could result in civil or criminal penalties. The repatriation of funds may also subject those funds to taxation. As a result of these factors, the Company may not be able to repatriate and utilize funds held by its non-U.S. subsidiaries or future earnings of those subsidiaries in sufficient amounts to fund its U.S. working capital requirements, to repay debt, or to satisfy other obligations of its U.S. operations, which could limit the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Commercial operations under a domestic contract retained by the Company in the Environmental asset sale, as described further under “Sale of Certain Business Assets” in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, commenced in January 2004. The plant processes low-level nuclear waste for the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”). The Company funded the plant’s construction costs and operates the facility. The majority of the Company’s invested capital is recovered during the early stages of processing the waste materials. This project’s performance exceeded expectations during the first quarter and successfully processed sufficient materials to fully recover the 2004 capital recovery amount. The original forecast expected to recover the capital over the first three quarters of 2004. At March 26, 2004 the project generated a year to date net cash flow of approximately $32,400. Net cash flow forecast for 2004 from this project remains in excess of $40,000.
On February 26, 2004, the California Public Utilities Commission approved certain changes to Pacific Gas & Electric’s rates. As relevant to the Company’s subsidiary’s Martinez Project, the E-20T rate has been decreased by approximately 15% retroactive to January 1, 2004, having a negative effect on the subsidiary’s 2004 cash flow and earnings. This rate change has been reflected in the Company’s liquidity forecast.
There can be no assurance that cash amounts realized and/or timing of the cash flows will match the Company’s forecast.
As part of its debt restructuring plan described below, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries filed an amended registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 12, 2004 and on May 4, 2004, relating to an exchange offer for all of the existing $175,000 trust preferred securities, $210,000 Convertible Notes, $113,700 Robbins Bonds, and $200,000 Senior Notes.
On February 5, 2004, the Company announced, in support of its restructuring activities, a number of institutional investors have committed to provide $120,000 of new financing in a private transaction to the Company to replace the current term loan and the revolving credit facility portions of its Senior Credit Facility. This commitment is contingent upon the completion of the proposed exchange offer. Additionally, the Company has discontinued its previously announced plans to divest one of its European operating units.
The total amount of debt and preferred trust securities subject to the proposed exchange offer that is part of the Company’s planned restructuring is approximately $700,000. Interest expense incurred on this debt in 2003 totaled approximately $55,000. The Company expects to offer a mix of equity as well as debt with longer maturities in exchange for these securities. The Company anticipates that both total debt and related interest expense would be significantly reduced upon completion of the debt exchange offer; however, Company may not complete the exchange offer on acceptable terms, or at all.
Failure by the Company to achieve its cash flow forecast or to complete the components of the restructuring plan on acceptable terms would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
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In August 2002, the Company finalized a Senior Credit Facility with its lender group. This facility included a $71,000 term loan, a $69,000 revolving credit facility, and a $149,900 letter of credit facility which expires on April 30, 2005. The Senior Credit Facility is secured by the assets of the domestic subsidiaries, the stock of the domestic subsidiaries, and, in connection with Amendment No. 3 discussed below, 100% of the stock of the first-tier foreign subsidiaries. The Senior Credit Facility has no required repayments prior to maturity on April 30, 2005. The agreement requires prepayments from proceeds of assets sales, the issuance of debt or equity, and from excess cash flow. The Company retained the first $77,000 of such amounts and also retains a 50% share of the balance. With the Company’s sale of the Environmental net assets on March 7, 2003, and an interest in a corporate office building on March 31, 2003, the $77,000 threshold was exceeded. Accordingly, principal prepayments of $1,250 and $11,800 were made on the term loan in the first quarter of 2004 and during the full year of 2003, respectively.
The financial covenants in the Senior Credit Facility include a senior leverage ratio and a minimum EBITDA as defined in the agreement, as amended. Compliance with these covenants is measured quarterly. The EBITDA covenant compares the actual average rolling four quarter EBITDA, as adjusted in the Senior Credit Facility, to minimum EBITDA targets. The senior leverage covenant compares actual average rolling EBITDA, as adjusted in the Senior Credit Facility, to total senior debt. The resultant multiple of debt to EBITDA must be less than maximum amounts specified in the Senior Credit Facility. Management’s current forecast indicates that the Company will be in compliance with these covenants throughout 2004. However, there can be no assurance that the actual results will match to forecasts or that the Company will not violate the covenants.
Amendment No. 1 to the Senior Credit Facility, obtained on November 8, 2002, provides covenant relief of up to $180,000 of gross pretax charges recorded by the Company in the third quarter of 2002. The amendment further provides that up to an additional $63,000 in pretax charges related to specific contingencies may be excluded from the covenant calculation through December 31, 2003, if incurred. By the fourth quarter 2003, $31,000 of the contingency risks were favorably resolved, and additional project reserves were established for $32,000 leaving a contingency balance of $0.
Amendment No. 2 to the Senior Credit Facility, entered into on March 24, 2003, modifies (i) certain definitions of financial measures utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and (ii) the Minimum EBITDA, and Senior Debt Ratio, as specified in section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement. In connection with this amendment of the Credit Agreement, the Company made a prepayment of principal in the aggregate amount of $10,000 in March 2003.
Amendment No. 3 to the Senior Credit Facility, entered into on July 14, 2003, modified certain affirmative and negative covenants to permit the exchange offer described elsewhere in this report, other internal restructuring transactions as well as transfers, cancellations and setoffs of certain intercompany obligations. The terms of the amendment called for the Company to pay a fee equal to 5% of the lenders’ credit exposure since it had not made a required prepayment of principal under the Senior Credit Facility of $100,000 on or before March 31, 2004. The Company paid the required fee of $13,600 on March 31, 2004. The annual interest rate on borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility has increased and will continue to increase an additional 0.5% each quarter until the Company repays $100,000 of indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility. The fee was included in Foster Wheeler’s liquidity forecast for 2004.
Holders of the Company’s Senior Notes due November 15, 2005 have a security interest in the stock and debt of certain of Foster Wheeler LLC’s subsidiaries and on facilities owned by Foster Wheeler LLC or its subsidiaries that exceed 1% of consolidated net tangible assets, in each case to the extent such stock, debt and facilities secure obligations under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility. The Term Loan and the obligations under the letter of credit facility (collectively approximating $155,200 as of March 26, 2004) have priority to the Senior Notes in these assets while the security interest of the Senior Notes ranks equally and ratably with $69,000 of revolving credit borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility.
The Company finalized a sale/leaseback arrangement in the third quarter of 2002 for an office building at its corporate headquarters. This capital lease arrangement leases the facility to the Company for an initial non-cancelable period of 20 years. The proceeds from the sale/leaseback were sufficient to repay the balance outstanding under a previous operating lease arrangement of $33,000 for a second corporate office building.
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The long-term capital lease obligation of $44,200 as of March 26, 2004 is included in capital lease obligations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Company entered into a binding agreement in the first quarter 2004 to sell the second corporate office building previously noted. The sale closed in the second quarter 2004 and generated net cash proceeds of $16,400. Of this amount, 50% has been repaid to the Senior Credit Facilities’ lenders in the second quarter 2004.
In the third quarter of 2002, the Company also entered into a receivables financing arrangement of up to $40,000. The funding available to the Company is dependent on the amount and characteristics of the domestic receivables. The amount available to the Company fluctuates daily, but the Company estimates that approximately $10,000 will be available during 2004. This financing arrangement expires in August 2005 and is subject to covenant compliance. The financial covenants commenced at the end of the first quarter of 2003 and include a senior leverage ratio and a minimum EBITDA level. Noncompliance with the financial covenants allows the lender to terminate the arrangement and accelerate any amounts then outstanding. As of March 26, 2004 and December 26, 2003, the Company had $0 borrowings outstanding under this facility.
On January 26, 2004, subsidiaries in the U.K. entered into a two-year revolving credit facility with Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V. in the Netherlands. The facility provides for up to $45,000 of additional revolving loans available to provide working capital, which may be required by these subsidiaries as they seek to grow the business by pursuing a larger volume of lump sum EPC contracts. The facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of these subsidiaries. The facility is subject to covenant compliance. Such covenants include a minimum EBITDA level and a loan to EBITDA ratio. As of March 26, 2004, the facility remained undrawn.
Since January 15, 2002, the Company has exercised its right to defer payments on the junior subordinated debentures underlying the 9.00% Preferred Capital Trust I securities and, as a result, to defer payments on those securities. The aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Trust Securities is currently $175,000. The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, requires the Company to defer the payment of the dividends on the preferred trust securities and no dividends were paid during the first quarter 2004.
The Senior Credit Facility, the sale/leaseback arrangement, and the receivables financing arrangement have quarterly debt covenant requirements. Management’s forecast indicates that the Company will be in compliance with the debt covenants throughout 2004. However, there can be no assurance that the actual results will match the forecasts or that the Company will not violate the covenants. If the Company violates a covenant under the Senior Credit Facility, the sale/leaseback arrangement or the receivables financing arrangement, repayment of amounts borrowed under such agreements could be accelerated. Acceleration of these facilities would result in a default under the following agreements: the Senior Notes, the Convertible Notes, the Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, the Subordinated Robbins Facility Exit Funding Obligations, and certain of the special-purpose project debt facilities, which would allow such debt to be accelerated as well. The total amount of Foster Wheeler Ltd. debt that could be accelerated, including the amount outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility, is $915,000 as of March 26, 2004.
The debt covenants and the potential payment acceleration requirements raise substantial doubts about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The Company’s operations generated cash of approximately $29,600 during the first quarter 2004. The net cash generated in the first quarter 2004 was primarily due to recovery of working capital from the DOE project previously noted. During the twelve months ended December 26, 2003 the Company used cash for operations of $62,100. Management had previously forecasted that much of positive cash flow generated in 2002 would reverse in 2003 due to the timing flows for several major projects.
The Company’s working capital varies from period to period depending on the mix, stage of completion and commercial terms and conditions of the Company’s contracts. Working capital needs increased in prior years as a result of the Company’s satisfying requests from its customers for more favorable payment terms under contracts. Such requests generally include reduced advance payments and less favorable payment schedules to the Company. As previously noted, Management forecasts that there will be sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s operating requirement throughout 2004.
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Restricted cash at March 26, 2004 consists of approximately $13,200 held primarily by special purpose entities and restricted for debt service payments, approximately $54,500 that was required to collateralize letters of credit and bank guarantees, and approximately $5,300 of client escrow funds. Domestic restricted cash totals approximately $11,800, which relates to funds held primarily by special purpose entities and restricted for debt service payments and client escrow funds. Foreign restricted cash totals approximately $61,200 and is comprised of cash collateralized letters of credit and bank guarantees and client escrow funds.
During the first quarter of 2004, the E&C’s Italian business unit, through a joint venture with a third party, sold the development rights to a power project in Italy. The Company’s share of the proceeds from the sale in the first quarter of 2004, prior to repaying any borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility, approximated $10,500. While the sale of the power project development rights is recorded as a one-time gain, the business in Italy has historically developed and sold such project rights, and is continuing to actively develop other project rights that are expected to be offered for sale in the future. The Company is a minority shareholder in the joint venture and does not have immediate access to the funds. Management forecasts that the sales proceeds will be distributed to the joint venture owners in the second quarter of 2004.
The Company retained from the Environmental sale, as further discussed in “Sale of Certain Business Assets” in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, a long-term contract with a government agency that is to be completed in four phases. The first phase was for the design, permitting and licensing of a spent fuel facility. This phase was completed for a price of $66,700. The first phase of this project was profitable, but the close out of this phase resulted in increased costs. An $11,900 charge was recorded in 2003. Approximately $7,900 and $2,000 of this charge was expended in 2003 and the first quarter 2004 and the remaining $2,000 of the charge will be expended throughout the balance of 2004. The Company is in the process of submitting requests for equitable adjustment related to this contract and, at March 26, 2004 and December 26, 2003, the Company’s financial statements reflect anticipated collection of $0 from these requests for equitable adjustment.
The second phase of the contract is billed on a cost plus fee basis and is expected to conclude in 2004. In this phase, the Company must respond to any questions regarding the initial design included in phase one. Phase three, which is for the construction, start-up and testing of the facility for a fixed price of $114,000, subject to escalation, is scheduled to commence in late 2004. This phase will begin with the purchase of long lead items followed in 2005 by the construction activities. Construction is expected to last two years and requires that a subsidiary of the Company fund the construction cost. Foster Wheeler USA Corporation, the parent company of Environmental, provided a performance guarantee on the project. In addition, a surety bond for the full contract price is required. The cost of the facility is expected to be recovered in the first nine months of operations under phase four, during which a subsidiary of the Company will operate the facility at fixed rates, subject to escalation, for approximately four years. The Company and the government agency have commenced discussions about possibly restructuring or terminating subsequent phases of the contract. If the project were to proceed, the Company intends to seek third party financing to fund the majority of the construction costs, but there can be no assurance that the Company will secure such financing on acceptable terms, or at all. There also can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the required surety bond. If the Company cannot obtain third party financing or the required surety bond, the Company’s participation would be uncertain. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow. No claims have been raised by the government agency against the Company. The ultimate potential liability to the Company would arise in the event that the government agency terminates the contract (for example, due to the Company’s inability to continue with the contract) and re-bids the contract under its exact terms and the resulting cost to the government agency is greater than it would have been under the existing terms with the Company. The Company does not believe a claim is probable and is unable to estimate the possible loss that could occur as a result of any claims. Additionally, the Company believes that it has good legal defenses should the government agency decide to pursue an action.
During the first quarter of 2004, the Company settled several domestic contract disputes and was required to pay portions of settlements finalized in 2003. Net settlement proceeds of $9,000 were collected by the Company in the first quarter of 2004. During 2003, the Company collected approximately $39,000 in net
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proceeds from domestic contract dispute settlements. An additional $3,000 will be paid by the Company over the balance of 2004 under terms of the 2003 settlement agreements.
In July 2003, several subsidiaries of the Company and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty Mutual”), one of their insurers, entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves the coverage litigation between the subsidiaries and Liberty Mutual in both state courts in New York and New Jersey. The agreement provides for a buy-back of insurance policies and the settlement of all disputes between the subsidiaries and Liberty Mutual with respect to asbestos-related claims. The agreement requires Liberty Mutual to make payments over a nineteen-year period, subject to annual caps, which payments decline over time, into a special account, established to pay the subsidiaries’ indemnity and defense costs for asbestos claims. These payments, however, would not be available to fund the subsidiaries’ required contributions to any national settlement trust that may be established by future federal legislation. In July 2003, the subsidiaries received an initial payment under the agreement of approximately $6,000, which was used to pay asbestos-related defense and indemnity costs.
In September 2003, the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves coverage litigation between them and certain London Market and North River Insurers. This agreement provides for a cash payment of $5,900, which has been received by the subsidiaries, and additional amounts which have been deposited in a trust for use by the subsidiaries for defense and indemnity of asbestos claims.
The Company recorded a charge of $68,100 in the fourth quarter 2003 to increase the valuation allowance for insurance claims receivable. The 2003 non-cash asbestos charge was due to the Company receiving a somewhat larger number of claims in 2003 than had been expected, which resulted in an increase in the projected liability related to asbestos. This charge was recorded in other deductions in the consolidated statement of operations.
In January 2004, the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves coverage litigation between them and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company and certain of its affiliates. This agreement provides for a cash payment of $5,000, which has been received by the subsidiaries, an additional amount which has been deposited in a trust for use by the subsidiaries and a further amount to be deposited in that trust in 2005.
In March 2004, the Company’s subsidiaries and two asbestos insurance carriers entered into settlement and release agreements that resolve coverage litigation between the subsidiaries and the insurance carriers. The agreements provide for a buy-back of insurance policies and the settlement of all disputes between the subsidiaries and the insurance carriers with respect to asbestos-related claims. The agreements resulted in the insurance carriers making payments into a trust, established to pay the subsidiaries’ indemnity and defense costs for asbestos claims. As a result of these settlements, the Company reversed $11,700 of the $68,100 non-cash charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003. The Company projects that it will not be required to fund any asbestos liabilities from its cash flow for at least six years.
It is customary in the industries in which the Company operates to provide letters of credit, bank guarantees or performance bonds in favor of clients to secure obligations under contracts. The Company traditionally obtained letters of credit or bank guarantees from its banks, or performance bonds from a surety on an unsecured basis. Due to the Company’s financial condition and current credit ratings, as well as changes in the bank and surety markets, the Company is now required in certain circumstances to provide security to banks and the surety to obtain new letters of credit, bank guarantees and performance bonds. (Refer to Note 2, “Restricted Cash”) If the Company is unable to provide sufficient collateral to secure the letters of credit, bank guarantees and performance bonds, its ability to enter into new contracts could be materially limited. Providing collateral increases working capital needs and limits the ability to repatriate funds from operating subsidiaries.
On April 10, 2003, the Board of Directors approved changes to the Company’s domestic employee benefits program, including the pension, postretirement medical, and 401(k) plans. The changes were made following an independent review of the Company’s domestic employee benefits which assessed the Company’s benefit program against that of the marketplace and its competitors. The principal changes consist
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of the following: the U.S. pension plan was frozen as of May 31, 2003, which means participants will not be able to increase the amount earned under the terms of the plan; the number of employees eligible for the postretirement medical plan will be reduced; and the 401(k) plan will be enhanced to increase the level of employer matching contribution. The net effect of these changes is expected to positively impact the financial condition of the Company through reduced costs and reduced cash outflow. The Company anticipates a savings in expenses over what would have been paid if the plans were not amended of approximately $10,000 per year. The savings commenced in 2004. The Company froze the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (“SERP”) and in April 2003 issued accreting letters of credit to certain employees. At March 26, 2004, letters of credit totaling $1,500 were outstanding under the SERP curtailment.
The Company maintains several defined benefit pension plans in its North American, United Kingdom, South African, and Canadian operations. Funding requirements for these plans are dependent, in part, on the performance of global equity markets and the discount rates used to calculate the present value of the liability. The poor performance of the global equity markets during recent years and low interest rates are expected to significantly increase the funding requirements for these plans in 2004 and 2005. The non-U.S. plans are funded from the local operating cash flows while funding for the U.S. plans is included within the U.S. working capital requirements previously noted. The U.S. pension plans are frozen and the United Kingdom’s plan is now closed to new entrants. The South African and Canadian plans are relatively immaterial in size. The liability interest rate used to calculate the U.S. funding requirement is established by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Congress previously passed legislation that temporarily increased the liability interest rate and thereby reduced the present value liability and corresponding funding requirements. This increased liability interest rate expired at the end of 2003. The U.S. Congress recently passed legislation amending the funding requirements. The funding requirement for the U.S. plans will approximate $29,200 in 2004 and $21,400 in 2005, versus $13,800 in 2003. The new legislation reduced the 2004 and 2005 funding requirements by approximately $7,800 and $12,600, respectively. The funding amounts incorporate the savings achieved through the modification of the Company’s domestic pension plans discussed above, but are subject to change as the performance of the plans’ investments and the liability interest rates fluctuate, and as the Company’s workforce demographics change. The next update will occur no later than the first quarter 2005.
On November 14, 2003, the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) de-listed the Company’s common stock as well as its related security, 9.00% FW Preferred Capital Trust I based on the Company’s inability to meet its listing criteria. The common stock and the 9.00% FW Preferred Capital Trust I securities are quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”).
Under Bermuda law, the consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”) is required prior to the transfer by non-residents of Bermuda of a Bermuda company’s shares. Since becoming a Bermuda company, Foster Wheeler has relied on an exemption from this rule provided to NYSE-listed companies. Due to the Company’s de-listing, this exemption was no longer available. To address this issue, the Company obtained the consent of the BMA to transfers between non-residents for so long as the Company’s shares continue to be quoted in the Pink Sheets or on the OTCBB. The Company believes that this consent will continue to be available.
The Board of Directors of the Company discontinued the common stock dividend in July 2001. The Company is currently prohibited from paying dividends under the Senior Credit Facility, as amended. Accordingly, the Company paid no dividends on common shares during the first quarter 2004 and does not expect to pay dividends on the common shares for the foreseeable future.
Backlog and New Orders Booked |
The elapsed time from the award of a contract to completion of performance may be up to four years. The dollar amount of backlog is not necessarily indicative of the future earnings of the Company related to the performance of such work. The backlog of unfilled orders includes amounts based on signed contracts as well as agreed letters of intent which management has determined are likely to be performed. Although backlog represents only business that is considered firm, cancellations or scope adjustments may occur. Due to factors outside the Company’s control, such as changes in project schedules or project cancellations, the
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Company cannot predict with certainty the portion of backlog to be performed in a given year. Backlog is adjusted to reflect project cancellations, deferrals, sale of subsidiaries and revised project scope and cost.
CONSOLIDATED DATA
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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Backlog | | $ | 2,138,200 | | $ | 3,530,200 | | $ | (1,392,000 | ) | | -39.4 | % |
New orders | | $ | 629,900 | | $ | 476,300 | | $ | 153,600 | | | 32.2 | % |
As of March 26, 2004, approximately $1,109,000 or 48% of the consolidated backlog was from lump-sum work. As of March 28, 2003, approximately $1,736,000 or 45% of the consolidated backlog was from lump-sum work. Approximately $636,000 or 57% of the 2004 lump-sum backlog is attributable to the Energy Group. This compares to $1,118,000 or 64% as of March 28, 2003.
The reduction in backlog is attributable to both the E&C and Energy Groups’ operations as the level of operating revenues exceeded new orders.
A total of 77% of first quarter 2004 new orders were for projects awarded to the Company’s subsidiaries located outside of the United States compared to 63% in first quarter 2003. Approximately 37% of first quarter 2004 new orders are lump sum contracts compared to 26% in first quarter 2003. Key geographic regions contributing to new orders awarded in 2004 were Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East. The increase in new orders was primarily due to the winning of two larger E&C awards in Europe, and one in the USA. Additional information is included in the group discussions below.
New order levels remain an operating concern as management believes the financial condition of the Company is having an increasingly negative impact with some clients. The Company established new, formalized internal reporting requirements in the second quarter of 2003 that closely monitors E&C man-hours in backlog and a new metric, Foster Wheeler scope.
Foster Wheeler scope is defined as the dollar value of backlog excluding costs incurred by Foster Wheeler as agent or as principal on a reimbursable basis (i.e., flow-through costs). Foster Wheeler scope measures the component of backlog with mark-up, and corresponds to Foster Wheeler services plus fees for reimbursable contracts, and total selling price for lump-sum contracts.
CONSOLIDATED DATA
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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E&C manhours in quarter-end backlog (in thousands)* | | | 4,050 | | | 5,060 | | | (1,010 | ) | | -20.0 | % |
Foster Wheeler scope in quarter-end backlog ** | | $ | 1,042,200 | | $ | 1,940,900 | | $ | (898,700 | ) | | -46.3 | % |
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* | Excludes retained Foster Wheeler Environmental processing facility. |
** | Excludes Foster Wheeler Power Systems and Foster Wheeler Environmental processing facilities. |
The decline in E&C man-hours is attributable primarily to operations in Europe. The decline in Foster Wheeler scope is attributable to both the Energy and E&C Groups.
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Additional information is included in the group discussions below.
Engineering and Construction Group (E&C) |
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| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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Backlog | | $ | 1,328,500 | | $ | 2,195,700 | | $ | (867,200 | ) | | -39.5 | % |
New orders | | $ | 473,500 | | $ | 262,800 | | $ | 210,700 | | | 80.2 | % |
E&C manhours in quarter-end backlog (in thousands)* | | | 4,050 | | | 5,060 | | | (1,010 | ) | | -20.0 | % |
Foster Wheeler scope in quarter-end backlog * | | $ | 330,200 | | $ | 696,200 | | $ | (366,000 | ) | | -52.6 | % |
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* | Excludes retained Foster Wheeler Environmental processing facility. |
Overall, the level of bookings rose significantly compared to 2003. Approximately 68% of E&C backlog at March 26, 2004 and 72% of first quarter 2004 new orders were from cost reimbursable plus fee contracts. This compares to 75% and 88% for the corresponding period of 2003, respectively. Approximately 88% of E&C backlog at March 26, 2004 and 88% of first quarter 2004 new orders are for projects located outside North America. This compares to 86% and 93% for the corresponding period of 2003, respectively.
The decline in E&C man-hours is attributable primarily to the operations in Europe and result from project execution efforts exceeding new awards.
The Company believes higher expectations for world economic growth in 2004, in particular in the U.S. and Asia, did generally boost the confidence of oil, gas and chemical companies. Although new orders increased, the Company’s results for the first quarter of 2004 continue to reflect the residual effects of weak investment over the last several years in many of the market sectors served by the E&C Group. Depressed oil refining margins discouraged investment in 2003 and this has impacted new orders in the first quarter of 2004, although the Company continued to win business for environmentally mandated clean fuels projects. The refinery market was most active in the United States and Europe; however, refinery owners in the Middle East were awarding contracts in the second half of 2003 and are expected to continue doing so in 2004.
The Company believes that the ongoing economic recovery in the United States has boosted prospects for growth in global trade, especially in Asia, in 2004. Growth in global trade is expected to impact the E&C industry in which the Company operates by, among other things, firming up the demand for oil and gas which management believes will help sustain higher energy prices and correspondingly drive demand for the Company’s business. Additionally, the Company believes gas to liquids plants may be planned for construction in Qatar. The Company anticipates this will encourage investment in oil and gas production facilities in the mid to later part of 2004 in many parts of the world, notably the Middle East, Russia and the Caspian region. The liquid natural gas industry (“LNG”) continues to evidence intentions to develop the infrastructure to increase LNG imports to the United States. In addition, the ongoing economic recovery is also expected to increase demand for petrochemical products. The Company anticipates investment in new capacity to continue and be heavily concentrated in the Middle East and China, although the latter country’s demand for imports may encourage some investment in other parts of Asia. The Company anticipates increased petrochemical investment in 2005. As the Company previously anticipated, there appears to be a slowing of clean fuels projects at refineries in Europe and the U.S. as legislative demands are met. However, several Middle East countries have begun planning large investment programs to upgrade their refineries in order to meet the demands of clean fuels export markets. This follows a period of low refinery investment in that region. The pharmaceutical industry continues to invest but at a reduced level owing to excess production capacity following a series of mergers. In general, the Company believes the underlying growth in demand for pharmaceutical products should result in increased investment in the latter part of 2005 and 2006, and that the most significant investment will likely be spread across the U.S., Europe and Singapore. The Company presently expects that the growth in new orders resulting from these improved economic conditions will be realized in 2005 rather than in 2004.
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Many of the target markets noted above require lump-sum contracts and the Company expects to increase the number of lump-sum contracts in the future and the number of countries where it is willing to execute lump-sum contracts.
On March 11, 2004, our subsidiary in the U.K. was awarded a contract by the Coalition Provisional Authority to undertake oil sector program management support services in Iraq. Mobilization of personnel to Iraq has been minimized until the security situation in Iraq improves.
| | Three Months Ended | |
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| | March 26, 2004 | | March 28, 2003 | | $ Change | | % Change | |
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Backlog | | $ | 812,600 | | $ | 1,341,700 | | $ | (529,100 | ) | | -39.4 | % |
New orders | | $ | 156,300 | | $ | 210,100 | | $ | (53,800 | ) | | -25.6 | % |
Foster Wheeler scope in quarter-end backlog* | | $ | 712,000 | | $ | 1,244,700 | | $ | (532,700 | ) | | -42.8 | % |
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* | Excludes Foster Wheeler Power Systems. |
The Energy Group’s backlog decreased $529,100 at March 26, 2004, representing a 39% decrease from March 28, 2003. Several large Heat Recovery Steam Generators and Selective Catalytic Reduction contracts were not replaced in 2003, thereby decreasing backlog in 2004. In addition, the supply and erect portions of a major contract anticipated to be released to the Finnish operation in the first quarter 2004 were delayed and are now anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2004. The preliminary engineering for this project was completed.
The decline in new orders for the first quarter 2004 of $53,800 or 26% is primarily a result of the depressed power market in North America. Approximately 76% of Energy backlog at March 26, 2004 and 65% of new orders for the first quarter 2004 were from lump- sum projects as compared to 77% and 44% in the corresponding period of 2003, respectively. Approximately 56% of Energy backlog at March 26, 2004, and 44% of new orders for the first quarter 2004, were for projects located outside North America as compared to 64% and 26% in the corresponding period of 2003, respectively. The decrease in the relative percentage of business outside North America reflects the slow worldwide economy in the power sector and the client perceptions towards the Company’s financial condition.
Foster Wheeler scope declined $532,700 or 43%, as of March 26, 2004 as compared to March 28, 2003 and as expected is in line with the 39% decrease in backlog.
The North American power market continues to suffer from relatively slow economic growth, over capacity, and the financial difficulties of independent power producers. In 2004, maintenance and service contracts will continue to be the growth opportunities in the North American power market. Supply opportunities for new equipment associated with solid fuel boiler contracts are expected to be limited in the short term except for growth opportunities in circulating fluidized bed boilers which are expected to continue in certain European and Asian markets. Selected opportunities in environmental retrofits are expected to continue.
The ultimate legal and financial liability of the Company in respect to all claims, lawsuits and proceedings cannot be estimated with certainty. As additional information concerning the estimates used by the Company becomes known, the Company reassesses its position both with respect to gain contingencies and accrued liabilities and other potential exposures. Estimates that are particularly sensitive to future change relate to legal matters that are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the administration and litigation processes. The Company adjusted its estimates on several contracts during the quarter resulting in both increases and decreases to final estimated profits on contracts.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries enter into contracts providing for assessment of damages for nonperformance or delays in completion. Suits and claims have been or may be
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brought against the Company by customers alleging deficiencies in either equipment design or plant construction. Based on its knowledge of the facts and circumstances relating to the Company’s liabilities, if any, and to its insurance coverage, management of the Company believes that the disposition of such suits will not result in charges materially in excess of amounts provided in the accounts.
The effect of inflation on the Company’s revenues and earnings is minimal. Although a majority of the Company’s revenues are realized under long-term contracts, the selling prices of such contracts, established for deliveries in the future, generally reflect estimated costs to complete in these future periods. In addition, some contracts provide for price adjustments through escalation clauses.
Application of Critical Accounting Estimates |
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approve the critical accounting policies.
Highlighted below are the accounting policies that management considers significant to the understanding and operations of the Company’s business as well as key estimates that are used in implementing the policies.
Revenues and profits on long-term fixed-price contracts are recorded under the percentage-of-completion method. Progress towards completion is measured using physical completion of individual tasks for all contracts with a value of $5,000 or greater. Progress toward completion of fixed-priced contracts with a value under $5,000 is measured using the cost-to-cost method.
Revenues and profits on cost reimbursable contracts are recorded as the costs are incurred. The Company includes flow-through costs consisting of materials, equipment and subcontractor costs as revenue on cost-reimbursable contracts when the Company is responsible for the engineering specifications and procurement for such costs.
Contracts in progress are stated at cost, increased for profits recorded on the completed effort, or decreased for estimated losses, less billings to the customer and progress payments on uncompleted contracts. Negative balances are presented as “estimated costs to complete long-term contracts.”
The percentage-of-completion method is the preferable method of revenue recognition as set forth in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position 81-1, “Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts.”
The Company has thousands of projects in both reporting segments that are in various stages of completion. Such contracts require estimates to determine the appropriate final estimated cost (“FEC”), profits, revenue recognition, and the percentage complete. In determining the FEC, the Company uses significant estimates to forecast quantities to be expended (i.e. man-hours, materials and equipment), the costs for those quantities (including exchange rate fluctuations), and the schedule to execute the scope of work including allowances for weather, labor and civil unrest. Many of these estimates cannot be based on historical data as most contracts are unique, specifically designed facilities. In determining the revenues, the Company must estimate the percentage complete, the likelihood of the client paying for the work performed, and the cash to be received net of any taxes ultimately due or withheld in the country where the work is performed. Projects are reviewed on an individual basis and the estimates used are tailored to the specific circumstances. Significant judgment is exercised by management in establishing these estimates as all possible risks cannot be specifically quantified.
The percentage-of-completion method requires that adjustments or revaluations to estimated project revenues and costs, including estimated claim recoveries, be recognized on a cumulative basis, as changes to the estimates are identified. Revisions to project estimates are made on an individual project basis as additional information becomes available throughout the life cycle of contracts. If the FEC to complete long-
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term contracts indicates a loss, provision is made immediately for the total loss anticipated. Profits are accrued throughout the life of the project based on the percentage complete. The project life cycle, including the warranty commitments, can be up to six years in duration.
The recent financial results and the resultant intervention actions initiated by management evidence the fact that the estimates can be significantly different from the actual results. When these adjustments are identified near or at the end of a project, the full impact of the change in estimate would be recognized as a change in the margin on the contract in that period. This can result in a material impact on our results for a single reporting period.
It is extremely difficult to calculate sensitivities on the above estimates given the thousands of individual contracts that exist at any point in time and because the estimates are project-specific rather than broad-based percentages.
Claims are amounts in excess of the agreed contract price (or amounts not included in the original contract price) that a contractor seeks to collect from clients or others for delays, errors in specifications and designs, contract terminations, change orders in dispute or unapproved as to both scope and price or other causes of unanticipated additional costs. The Company records claims in accordance with paragraph 65 of the AICPA Statement of Position 81-1, “Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts.” This statement of position states that recognition of amounts as additional contract revenue related to claims is appropriate only if it is probable that the claims will result in additional contract revenue and if the amount can be reliably estimated. Those two requirements are satisfied by management’s determination of the existence of all of the following conditions: the contract or other evidence provides a legal basis for the claim; additional costs are caused by circumstances that were unforeseen at the contract date and are not the result of deficiencies in the contractor’s performance; costs associated with the claim are identifiable or otherwise determinable and are reasonable in view of the work performed; and the evidence supporting the claim is objective and verifiable. If such requirements are met, revenue from a claim is recorded to the extent that contract costs relating to the claim have been incurred. The amounts recorded, if material, are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Costs attributable to claims are treated as costs of contract performance as incurred.
In 2002, the Company revised its estimates of claim revenues to reflect recent adverse recovery experience due to management’s desire to monetize claims, and the poor economic conditions impacting the markets served by the Company. As a result, pretax charges approximating $136,200 were recorded in 2002. As claims are settled, differences between the claim specific amounts reflected in the financial statements and the settlements are recorded as gains or losses. The Company continues to actively pursue these claims and, in 2003 recoveries of $1,500 were recognized as income when collected. At December 26, 2003, the Company had no claims and no requests for equitable adjustment recorded. Company policy requires all new claims in excess of $500 to be formally reviewed and approved by the corporate chief financial officer prior to being recorded in the financial results.
The Company has recorded assets of $540,800 relating to probable insurance recoveries of which approximately $60,000 is recorded in accounts and notes receivables, and $480,800 is recorded as long-term. The total liability recorded is comprised of an estimated liability relating to open (outstanding) claims of approximately $348,300 and an estimated liability relating to future unasserted claims of approximately $214,000. Of the total, $60,000 is recorded in accrued expenses and $502,300 is recorded in asbestos related liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The liability is an estimate of future asbestos-related defense costs and indemnity payments that are based upon assumed average claim resolution costs applied against currently pending and estimated future claims. The asset is an estimate of recoveries from insurers based upon assumptions relating to cost allocation and resolution of pending litigation with certain insurers. The defense costs and indemnity payments are expected to be incurred over the next fifteen years.
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As of March 26, 2004, approximately $257,500 was contested by the Company’s subsidiaries’ insurers in ongoing litigation. The litigation relates to the proper allocation of the coverage liability among the subsidiaries’ various insurers and the subsidiaries as self- insurers. The Company believes that any amounts that its subsidiaries might be allocated as self-insurers would be immaterial. Based on the nature of the litigation and the opinions received from outside counsel, the Company believes that the possibility of not recovering the full amount of the asset is remote.
In July 2003, several subsidiaries of the Company and Liberty Mutual, one of their insurers, entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves the coverage litigation between the subsidiaries and Liberty Mutual in both state courts in New York and New Jersey. The agreement provides for a buy-back of insurance policies and the settlement of all disputes between the subsidiaries and Liberty Mutual with respect to asbestos-related claims. The agreement requires Liberty Mutual to make payments over a nineteen-year period, subject to annual caps, which payments decline over time, into a special account, established to pay the subsidiaries’ indemnity and defense costs for asbestos claims. These payments, however, would not be available to fund the subsidiaries’ required contributions to any national settlement trust that may be established by future federal legislation. In July 2003, the subsidiaries received an initial payment under the agreement of approximately $6,000, which was used to pay asbestos-related defense and indemnity costs.
In September 2003, the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves coverage litigation between them and certain London Market and North River Insurers. This agreement provides for a cash payment of $5,900, which has been received by the subsidiaries, and additional amounts which have been deposited in a trust for use by the subsidiaries for defense and indemnity of asbestos claims.
The Company recorded a charge of $68,100 in the fourth quarter 2003 to increase the valuation allowance for insurance claims receivable. The 2003 non-cash asbestos charge was due to the Company receiving a somewhat larger number of claims in 2003 than had been expected, which resulted in an increase in the projected liability related to asbestos and because of the insolvency of an insurance carrier in the fourth quarter of 2003. This charge was recorded in other deductions in the consolidated statement of operations.
In January 2004, the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a settlement and release agreement that resolves coverage litigation between them and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company and certain of its affiliates. This agreement provides for a cash payment of $5,000, which has been received by the subsidiaries, an additional amount which has been deposited in a trust for use by the subsidiaries and a further amount to be deposited in that trust in 2005.
In March 2004, the Company’s subsidiaries and two asbestos insurance carriers entered into settlement and release agreements that resolve coverage litigation between the subsidiaries and the insurance carriers. The agreements provide for a buy-back of insurance policies and the settlement of all disputes between the subsidiaries and the insurance carriers with respect to asbestos-related claims. The agreements resulted in the insurance carriers making payments into a trust, established to pay the subsidiaries’ indemnity and defense costs for asbestos claims. As a result of these settlements, the Company reversed $11,700 of the $68,100 non-cash charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003.
Management of the Company has considered the asbestos litigation and the financial viability and legal obligations of its subsidiaries’ insurance carriers and believes that except for those insurers which have become or may become insolvent for which a reserve has been provided, the insurers or their guarantors will continue to adequately fund claims and defense costs relating to asbestos litigation. The average cost per closed claims since 1993 is $1.9.
It should be noted that the estimates of the assets and liabilities related to asbestos claims and recovery are subject to a number of uncertainties that may result in significant changes in the current estimates. Among these are uncertainties as to the ultimate number of claims filed, the amounts of claim costs, the impact of bankruptcies of other companies currently involved in litigation, the Company’s subsidiaries’ ability to recover from their insurers, uncertainties surrounding the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and from case to case, as well as potential legislative changes. If the number of claims received in the future exceeds the Company’s estimate, it is likely that the costs of defense and indemnity will similarly exceed the
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Company’s estimates. These factors are beyond the Company’s control and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
The Company’s subsidiaries have been effective in managing the asbestos litigation in part because (1) the Company’s subsidiaries have access to historical project documents and other business records going back more than 50 years, allowing them to defend themselves by determining if they were present at the location that is the cause of the alleged asbestos claim and, if so, the timing and extent of their presence, (2) the Company’s subsidiaries maintain good records on insurance policies and have identified policies issued since 1952, and (3) the Company’s subsidiaries have consistently and vigorously defended these claims which has resulted in dismissal of claims that are without merit or settlement of claims at amounts that are considered reasonable.
The calculations of pension liability, annual service cost, and cash contributions required rely heavily on estimates about future events often extending decades into the future. Management is responsible for establishing the estimates used and major estimates include:
| • | The expected percentage of annual salary increases |
| | |
| • | The annual inflation percentage |
| | |
| • | The discount rate used to present value the future obligations |
| | |
| • | The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets |
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| • | The selection of the actuarial mortality tables |
Management utilizes its business judgment in establishing these estimates. The estimates can vary significantly from the actual results and management cannot provide any assurance that the estimates used to calculate the pension liabilities included herein will approximate actual results. The volatility between the assumptions and actual results can be significant. For example, the performance by the global equity markets during 2000-2002 was significantly worse than estimated, while the equity markets in 2003 were better than expected. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is developed using a weighted-average methodology, blending the expected returns on each class of investment in the plans’ portfolio. The expected returns by asset class are developed considering both past performance and future considerations. The long-term rate of return is reviewed annually by the Company for its funded plans and adjusted, if required. The weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets has declined from 9.3% to 7.9% over the past three years. Returns on the Company’s pension plan assets in the United States from 2000 through 2002 were less than the estimates by approximately $100,000. A reduction in the U.S. interest rate serving as the basis for the discount rate assumptions during the same three years accounted for an approximate $40,000 increase in the Company’s calculated liability.
Pension liability calculations are normally updated annually at each year end, but may be updated in interim periods if any major plan amendments or curtailments occur. The Company’s liability calculation is reflected in the financial statements herein.
Long-Lived Asset Accounting |
The Company accounts for its long-lived assets, including those that it may consider monetizing, as assets to be held and used. Management periodically reviews subsidiaries for impairment as required under SFAS No. 144 using an undiscounted cash flow analysis. These reviews require estimating the costs to operate and maintain the facilities over an extended period that could approximate 25 years or more. Estimates are made regarding the costs to maintain and replace equipment throughout the facilities, period operating costs, the production quantities and revenues, and the ability by clients to financially meet their obligations. If a formal decision is made by management to sell an asset, a discounted cash flow methodology is utilized for such assessment.
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Certain special-purpose subsidiaries in the Energy Group are reimbursed by customers for their costs, including amounts related to principal repayments of non-recourse project debt, for building and operating certain facilities over the lives of the non-cancelable service contracts. The Company records revenues relating to debt repayment obligations on these contracts on a straight-line basis over the lives of the service contracts, and records depreciation of the facilities on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the facilities, after consideration of the estimated residual value.
Deferred income taxes are provided on a liability method whereby deferred tax assets/liabilities are established for the difference between the financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.
Investment tax credits are accounted for by the flow-through method whereby they reduce income taxes currently payable and the provision for income taxes in the period the assets giving rise to such credits are placed in service. To the extent such credits are not currently utilized on the Company’s tax return, deferred tax assets, subject to considerations about the need for a valuation allowance, are recognized for the carryforward amounts.
In the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company established a valuation allowance of $194,600, primarily for domestic deferred tax assets under the provisions of SFAS No. 109. Such action was required due to the losses from domestic operations experienced in the three most recent fiscal years. For statutory purposes, the majority of the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance was provided do not begin to expire until 2020 and beyond, based on the current tax laws. Based on the establishment of the valuation allowance, the Company does not anticipate recognizing a provision for federal income taxes on domestic operations until some time subsequent to the successful completion of the proposed restructuring.
If the Company completes the exchange offer as discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, it will be subject to substantial limitations on the use of pre-change losses and credits to offset U.S. federal taxable income in any post-change year. Since a valuation allowance has already been reflected to offset these losses and credits, this limitation will not result in a significant write-off by the Company.
Performance Improvement Intervention |
In March 2002, the Company initiated a comprehensive plan to enhance cash generation and to improve profitability. The operating performance portion of the plan concentrated on the quality and quantity of backlog, the execution of projects in order to achieve or exceed the profit and cash targets and the optimization of all non-project related cash sources and uses, including cost reductions. In connection with this plan, a group of outside consultants was hired for the purpose of carrying out a performance improvement intervention. The tactical portion of the performance improvement intervention concentrates on booking current projects, and generating incremental cash from high leverage opportunities such as overhead reductions, procurement, and accounts receivable. The systemic portion of the performance improvement intervention concentrates on sales effectiveness, estimating, bidding, and project execution procedures. Management believes the turnaround of the Energy Group’s North American operating unit is in large part the result of the intervention activities.
The Company maintains a code of ethics for all employees, including executive management. No exceptions or waivers were made to the code of ethics during the first quarter of 2004.
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In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” This interpretation requires consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities which have one or both of the following characteristics:
| • | The equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, which is provided through other interest that will absorb some or all of the expected losses of the entity; and |
| | |
| • | The equity investors lack one or more of the following essential characteristics of a controlling financial interest: a) the direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting rights or similar rights; b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity if they occur, which makes it possible for the entity to finance its activities; and c) the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity if they occur, which is the compensation for the risk of absorbing the expected loss. |
FIN 46 applied immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. On October 9, 2003, the effective date of FIN 46 for variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003 was deferred until the end of the first interim or annual period ending after March 15, 2004.
The Company adopted the provisions of this interpretation in the first quarter of 2004. The adoption did not result in the consolidation of any previously unconsolidated variable interest entities. However, the adoption did result in the de-consolidation of a subsidiary trust which issued mandatorily redeemable preferred securities. This had no impact on the Company’s consolidated debt as the intercompany debt to the subsidiary became third party debt upon de-consolidation.
In December 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 132R “Employer’s Disclosure about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” SFAS No. 132R requires the following disclosures: (1) the dates on which plan’s assets and obligations are measured, (2) reporting entities must segregate data on the market values of plan assets into broad asset categories, (3) a narrative description of the investment policy of plan assets, (4) a narrative description for the basis for the development of the expected long-term rate of return of plan assets, (5) expected contributions to be made to the plan on a cash basis over the next fiscal year and (6) expected benefit payments for each of the next ten fiscal years. These changes are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003, with the exception of (1) expected benefit payments and (2) foreign plans which are delayed until fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. SFAS No. 132R requires disclosure of two items in quarterly interim reports. These requirements are the net benefit cost and contribution made during the fiscal year. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of this standard, including the foreign plans.
On January 12, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 106-1, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” FSP No. 106-1 permitted employers that sponsor postretirement benefit plans that provide prescription drug benefits to retirees to make a one-time election to defer accounting for any effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”). Without FSP No. 106-1, plan sponsors would have been required under SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions,” to account for the effects of the Act in the fiscal period that includes December 8, 2003, the date President Bush signed the Act into law. On March 12, 2004, the FASB issued proposed FSP No. 106-b, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” Proposed FSP No. 106-b would supercede FSP No. 106-1. In accordance with proposed FSP No. 106-b, the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (“APBO”) or net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the condensed consolidated financial statements or accompanying notes do not reflect any amounts associated with the subsidy because the Company is unable to conclude whether the benefits provided by the plan are actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D under the Act. The provisions of proposed FSP No. 106-b would be effective for the Company’s first interim period
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ending September 30, 2004. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the Act and whether its postretirement plan should be amended in consideration of the new legislation.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK
(in thousands of dollars)
Management’s strategy for managing transaction risks associated with currency fluctuations is for each operating unit to enter into derivative transactions, such as forward foreign exchange agreements, to hedge its exposure on contracts into the operating unit’s functional currency. The Company utilizes all such financial instruments solely for hedging. Corporate policy prohibits the speculative use of such instruments. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counter parties to such financial instruments. To minimize this risk, the Company enters into these financial instruments with financial institutions that are primarily rated A or better by Standard & Poor’s or A2 or better by Moody’s. The geographical diversity of the Company’s operations mitigates to some extent the effects of the currency translation exposure. However, the Company maintains substantial operations in Europe and is subject to translation risk for the Euro and the pound Sterling. No significant unhedged assets or liabilities are maintained outside the functional currency of the operating subsidiaries. Accordingly, translation exposure is not hedged.
Interest Rate Risk — The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of its borrowings under its Revolving Credit Agreement and its variable rate project debt. If market rates average 1% more in 2004 than in 2003, the Company’s interest expense for the next twelve months would increase, and income before tax would decrease by approximately $1,400. This amount has been determined by considering the impact of the hypothetical interest rates on the Company’s variable-rate balances as of March 26, 2004. In the event of a significant change in interest rates, management would likely take action to further mitigate its exposure to the change. However, due to uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, the sensitivity analysis assumes no changes in the Company’s financial structure.
Foreign Currency Risk — The Company has significant overseas operations. Generally, all significant activities of the overseas affiliates are recorded in their functional currency, which is generally the currency of the country of domicile of the affiliate. This results in a mitigation of the potential impact of earnings fluctuations as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates. In addition, in order to further mitigate risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations, the affiliates of the Company enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge the exposed contract value back to their functional currency. As of March 26, 2004, the Company had approximately $67,200 of foreign exchange contracts outstanding. These contracts mature in 2004. The contracts have been established by various international subsidiaries to sell a variety of currencies and either receive their respective functional currency or other currencies for which they have payment obligations to third parties. The Company does not enter into foreign currency contracts for speculative purposes.
The effect of inflation on the Company’s revenues and earnings is minimal. Although a majority of the Company’s revenues are made under long-term contracts, the selling prices of such contracts, established for deliveries in the future, generally reflect estimated costs to complete in these future periods. In addition, some contracts provide for price adjustments through escalation clauses.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Included as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 are the Certifications that are required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This section of the Report contains information concerning the controls evaluation referred to in the Section 302 Certifications and the information contained herein should be read in conjunction with the Certifications.
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The Company’s internal controls are designed with the objective of ensuring that assets are safeguarded, transactions are authorized, and financial reports are prepared on a timely basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to comply with the regulations established by the SEC.
Internal controls, no matter how designed, have limitations. It is the Company’s intent that the internal controls be conceived to provide adequate, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the controls are met on a consistent basis. Management plans to continue its review of internal controls and disclosure procedures on an ongoing basis.
The Company initiated a detailed review of internal controls in the third and fourth quarters of 2002. The review included evaluation of the Company’s contracting policies and procedures relating to bidding and estimating practices. Among other things, these reviews included evaluation of the Company’s reserving practices for bad debts and uncollectible accounts receivables, warranty costs, change orders and claims. Management, with approval of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, enhanced its policies and established more formalized and higher level approvals for setting and releasing project contingencies and reserves, establishing claims and change orders, and requires that all claims to be recorded in excess of $500 be reviewed and approved in advance by the corporate chief financial officer.
Management strengthened the Company’s financial controls and supplemented its financial and management expertise in 2002 and 2003. This included expanding the scope of the audit function, both internally and externally.
The Company outsourced its internal audit function to Deloitte & Touche LLP in the fourth quarter of 2002. Outsourcing internal audit allowed access to a world-class organization with skilled professionals and the latest information technology audit resources. Key objectives of the revised internal audit function include:
| • | Focusing resources on improving operational and financial performance in areas of highest risk; |
| | |
| • | Reviewing and strengthening existing internal controls; |
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| • | Mitigating the risk of internal control failures; and |
| | |
| • | Ensuring best practices are implemented across all business units. |
The Company formed a disclosure review committee in the first quarter of 2003. The purpose of the committee is to evaluate, review and modify as necessary the disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s periodic reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately in all material respects within the time periods required by the SEC’s rules and forms.
Management also amended the composition of the boards of directors of the major operating companies to include at least three corporate executives. One of the corporate executives is also chairman of the disclosure committee. The Company believes that these changes in corporate governance will enhance the disclosure controls because critical operating information and strategic actions authorized will now involve the chairman of the disclosure committee. Internal controls are expected to be enhanced by these corporate governance changes.
Management began the formal documentation of the Company’s worldwide internal controls in 2003 as part of the new requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation. This process will continue throughout 2004.
Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a- 14(c) and 15d-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) were effective as of March 26, 2004 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
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During 2003, the Company’s financial reporting requirements increased significantly in connection with the 2002 10-K filing. The increased financial reporting stemmed from the SEC requirements relating to the security interest granted to the Senior Note holders in August 2002, and from the financial reporting requirements relating to the proposed exchange offer and restructuring process. Nine additional sets of audited financial statements for subsidiary companies (including three years comparable results) were required for 2002 and the first nine months of 2003. The Company’s permanent corporate accounting staff was not structured to address this increased workload under the deadlines required. The Company hired temporary professional personnel to assist with the process. Because the temporary personnel were unfamiliar with the Company’s operations, this resulted in inefficiencies in the financial reporting process. The external auditors notified the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on December 16, 2003 that they believed the insufficient staffing levels in the corporate accounting department represented a “material weakness” in the preparation of the subsidiary financial statements, but noted that this did not constitute a material weakness for the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. A material weakness is defined as “a condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that misstatements caused by error or fraud in amounts that would be material in relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions.” The Company has assigned the highest priority to the assessment of this internal control deficiency and is working together with the Audit Committee to resolve the issue. The Company is currently seeking to add additional permanent staff to replace the temporary personnel at its corporate headquarters. In the second quarter of 2004, two managers were hired in the Corporate Controller’s Department and more permanent hires are expected shortly.
The initiatives associated with implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation are also likely to require the Company to increase the quantity and quality of its financial professionals throughout the world. This is a management objective for 2004.
On March 3, 2004, the Company’s external auditors notified the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors that they believed the lack of formal process in place for senior financial management to review assumptions and check calculations on a timely basis relating to the Company’s asbestos liability and asset balances represented a “material weakness” in the internal controls for the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for 2003. In order to meet the accelerated deadline for filing its 10-K, in connection with the preparation of its 2003 consolidated financial statements, the Company submitted its calculations and assumptions relating to asbestos liability and related assets to the external auditors for their review prior to being fully reviewed by senior management. As a result, the external auditors noted a proposed change in an assumption used to calculate liability that had not been approved by senior management and also noted a mechanical error in calculating the number of open claims. In response, the Company corrected the mechanical error in its calculation and determined not to make the proposed change in the assumption.
Estimating the Company’s obligations arising from asbestos litigation, and the amounts of related insurance recoveries is a complex process involving many different assumptions about future events extending well into the future. These assumptions are developed by management together with its internal and external asbestos litigation team based on historical data regarding asbestos claims made against the Company, recoveries sought and settlement and trial resolution data. As these factors vary over any given period, the assumptions about future periods used to calculate the Company’s asbestos liabilities are adjusted correspondingly. In their March 3, 2004 letter, the external auditors recommended that the assumptions and calculations prepared by members of the Company’s asbestos litigation team be reviewed carefully by the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and that all significant assumptions and estimates, including changes thereof, be approved by the Chief Financial and Chief Executive Officers of the Company prior to the asbestos calculations being submitted to the external auditor for review. The Company agreed with these suggestions and has adopted them both in connection with the 2003 audit and going forward. All asbestos estimates and assumptions included in the accompanying financial statements have been subjected to appropriate review by senior management.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, other sections of this Report on Form 10-Q and other reports and oral statements made by representatives of the Company from time to time may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s assumptions, expectations and projections about the Company and the various industries within which the Company operates. These include statements regarding the Company’s expectation regarding revenues (including as expressed by its backlog), its liquidity, the outcome of litigation and legal proceedings and recoveries from customers for claims, and the costs of current and future asbestos claims and the amount and timing of insurance recoveries. Such forward-looking statements by their nature involve a degree of risk and uncertainty. The Company cautions that a variety of important factors could cause business conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:
| • | changes in the rate of economic growth in the United States and other major international economies; |
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| • | changes in investment by the power, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, chemical/petrochemical and environmental industries; |
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| • | changes in the financial condition of our customers; |
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| • | changes in regulatory environment; |
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| • | changes in project design or schedules; |
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| • | changes in estimates made by the Company of costs to complete projects; |
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| • | changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies worldwide; |
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| • | war and/or terrorist attacks on facilities either owned or where equipment or services are or may be provided; |
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| • | outcomes of pending and future litigation, including litigation regarding the Company’s liability for damages and insurance coverage for asbestos exposure; |
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| • | protection and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights; |
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| • | increasing competition by foreign and domestic companies; |
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| • | compliance with debt covenants; |
| | |
| • | monetization of certain Power System facilities; |
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| • | implementation of its restructuring plan; |
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| • | recoverability of claims against customers; and |
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| • | changes in estimates used in its critical accounting policies. |
Other factors and assumptions not identified above were also involved in the formation of these forward-looking statements and the failure of such other assumptions to be realized as well as other factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the control of the Company. The reader should consider the areas of risk described above in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made by the Company.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The reader is advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures the Company makes in proxy statements, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
Refer to Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements presented in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of legal proceedings, which is incorporated by reference in this Part II.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K |
Exhibit No. | | Exhibits | |
| |
| |
| | | |
10.1 | | Financing Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2004, between by and among the parties therein referred to as Borrowers, the parties therein referred to as Guarantors, the other parties named therein, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto referred to therein as lenders, Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V., as collateral agent for the Lenders, Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V., as administrative agent for the Lenders. (Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.2 | | Deed of Charge, dated as of January 26, 2004, between Foster Wheeler (QLD) Pty Limited and Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V. (Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.3 | | Deed of Charge, dated as of January 26, 2004, between Foster Wheeler (QLD) Pty Limited and Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V. (Filed as Exhibit 99.3 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.4 | | Security Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2004, between the companies identified therein in Schedule 1 and Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V. (Filed as Exhibit 99.4 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.5 | | Standard Security Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2004, between Foster Wheeler Energy Limited and Saberasu Japan Investments II B.V. (Filed as Exhibit 99.6 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.6 | | Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Ltd. and John T. La Duc dated as of April 14, 2004. (Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.7 | | Change of Control Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Inc. and John T. La Duc dated as of April 14, 2004. (Filed as Exhibit 99.3 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.8 | | Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Ltd. and Brian K. Ferraioli dated as of April 27, 2004 and effective as of December 1, 2003. (Filed as Exhibit 10.8 to Foster Wheeler Ltd.’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 26, 2004, filed on May 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
| | | |
10.9 | | Change of Control Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Inc. and Brian K. Ferraioli effective as of December 1, 2003. (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to Foster Wheeler Ltd’s. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 26, 2004, filed on May 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference). | |
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12.1 | | Statement of Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. | |
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31.1 | | Section 302 Certification of Raymond J. Milchovich. | |
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31.2 | | Section 302 Certification of John T. La Duc. | |
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32.1 | | Certification of Raymond J. Milchovich Pursuant to 18 U.S. C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
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32.2 | | Certification of John T. La Duc Pursuant to 18 U.S. C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
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Report Date | | Description | |
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| | | |
January 26, 2004 | | Certain subsidiaries of the Company executed financing and security agreements (Items 5 and 7). | |
| | | |
January 28, 2004 | | The Company announced the appointment of principal financial positions, including Acting Chief Financial Officer and Vice President and Treasurer (Items 5 and 7). | |
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February 5, 2004 | | The Company announced a commitment to provide $120 million of new financing from institutional investors and the discontinuance of a plan to divest European assets (Items 5 and 7). | |
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March 15, 2004 | | The Company announced its financial results for the Fourth Quarter of 2003 (Items 7, 9, and 12). | |
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March 16, 2004 | | The Company posted its Fourth Quarter 2003 conference call script (Items 7, 9, and 12). | |
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April 9, 2004 | | The Company, filed in contemplation of its proposed exchange offer and related registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-107054), revised financial statements due to Foster Wheeler LLC’s plans to issue 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2011, Series A (Item 5). | |
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April 14, 2004 | | The Company announced that its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders would be held later in the year, pending consummation of the Company’s recently announced proposed equity for debt exchange offer (Items 5 and 7). | |
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April 14, 2004 | | The Company announced the appointment of John T. La Duc as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and filed an Employment and Change of Control Agreement (Items 5 and 7). | |
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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.
| | FOSTER WHEELER LTD. (Registrant) |
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Date: May 5, 2004 | | BY: /s/ RAYMOND J. MILCHOVICH |
| | Raymond J. Milchovich Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: May 5, 2004 | | BY: /s/ JOHN T. LA Duc
John T. La Duc Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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