SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2014
o Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File Number 1-9065
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York | | 16-0971022 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
| | |
368 Pleasant View Drive | | |
Lancaster, New York | | 14086 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
(716) 684-8060
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | o | | Accelerated filer | o |
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | o | | Smaller reporting company | þ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
At February 28, 2014, 2,645,927 shares of Registrant's Class A Common Stock (par value $.01) and 1,643,773 shares of Class B Common Stock (par value $.01) were outstanding.
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited
| | (Unaudited) | | | (Audited) | |
Assets | | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 8,132,624 | | | $ | 9,444,660 | |
Investment securities available for sale | | | 1,402,486 | | | | 1,463,864 | |
Contract receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments of $5,336,972 and $5,592,800, respectively | | | 41,232,938 | | | | 47,134,007 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 4,383,739 | | | | 4,308,538 | |
Income tax receivable | | | 3,193,874 | | | | 4,355,260 | |
Other current assets | | | 2,620,298 | | | | 1,784,826 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total current assets | | | 60,965,959 | | | | 68,491,155 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Property, building and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $26,470,095 and $24,569,139, respectively | | | 8,838,104 | | | | 10,122,801 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 1,090,061 | | | | 1,089,060 | |
Other assets | | | 1,915,654 | | | | 1,978,668 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 72,809,778 | | | $ | 81,681,684 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 8,436,227 | | | $ | 9,864,138 | |
Lines of credit | | | 2,011,374 | | | | 6,528,691 | |
Accrued payroll costs | | | 6,868,620 | | | | 7,102,910 | |
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | | | 432,586 | | | | 199,658 | |
Billings in excess of revenue | | | 6,170,984 | | | | 6,437,730 | |
Other accrued liabilities | | | 4,381,700 | | | | 4,070,073 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | | | 28,301,491 | | | | 34,203,200 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Income taxes payable | | | 124,793 | | | | 124,793 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 462,787 | | | | 462,787 | |
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations | | | 427,572 | | | | 251,614 | |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share (6,000,000 shares authorized; 2,685,151 shares issued) | | | 26,851 | | | | 26,851 | |
Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share; (10,000,000 shares authorized; 1,708,574 shares issued) | | | 17,087 | | | | 17,087 | |
Capital in excess of par value | | | 17,106,362 | | | | 20,016,873 | |
Retained earnings | | | 23,928,045 | | | | 25,365,853 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | | (352,950 | ) | | | (84,527 | ) |
Treasury stock, at cost (Class A common: 39,224 and 79,110 shares; Class B common: 64,801 shares) | | | (1,223,899 | ) | | | (1,798,233 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Ecology and Environment, Inc. shareholders' equity | | | 39,501,496 | | | | 43,543,904 | |
Noncontrolling interests | | | 3,991,639 | | | | 3,095,386 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total shareholders' equity | | | 43,493,135 | | | | 46,639,290 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 72,809,778 | | | $ | 81,681,684 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Unaudited
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, net | | $ | 29,077,272 | | | $ | 36,151,483 | | | $ | 63,826,563 | | | $ | 72,973,251 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses | | | 10,551,698 | | | | 12,339,950 | | | | 23,120,440 | | | | 25,647,950 | |
Subcontract costs | | | 5,594,999 | | | | 5,411,710 | | | | 11,441,250 | | | | 12,427,068 | |
Administrative and indirect operating expenses | | | 10,169,122 | | | | 11,274,618 | | | | 21,038,365 | | | | 22,341,132 | |
Marketing and related costs | | | 3,043,838 | | | | 3,169,380 | | | | 6,502,453 | | | | 7,043,535 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,048,538 | | | | 600,479 | | | | 2,102,492 | | | | 1,183,767 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Loss) income from operations | | | (1,330,923 | ) | | | 3,355,346 | | | | (378,437 | ) | | | 4,329,799 | |
Interest expense | | | (44,937 | ) | | | (101,356 | ) | | | (94,711 | ) | | | (185,106 | ) |
Interest income | | | 42,764 | | | | 52,692 | | | | 86,239 | | | | 111,112 | |
Other income | | | 29,629 | | | | 19,668 | | | | 149,660 | | | | 13,426 | |
Net foreign exchange gain (loss) | | | 12,916 | | | | (69,619 | ) | | | 2,490 | | | | (114,789 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) provision | | | (1,290,551 | ) | | | 3,256,731 | | | | (234,759 | ) | | | 4,154,442 | |
Income tax (benefit) provision | | | (646,844 | ) | | | 1,325,589 | | | | (106,166 | ) | | | 1,680,204 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | $ | (643,707 | ) | | $ | 1,931,142 | | | $ | (128,593 | ) | | $ | 2,474,238 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | | | (140,941 | ) | | | (20,056 | ) | | | (275,664 | ) | | | (320,625 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income attributable to Ecology and Environment, Inc. | | $ | (784,648 | ) | | $ | 1,911,086 | | | $ | (404,257 | ) | | $ | 2,153,613 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income per common share: basic and diluted | | $ | (0.18 | ) | | $ | 0.45 | | | $ | (0.09 | ) | | $ | 0.51 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding: basic and diluted | | | 4,290,193 | | | | 4,246,371 | | | | 4,278,694 | | | | 4,245,191 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Unaudited
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income including noncontrolling interests | | $ | (643,707 | ) | | $ | 1,931,142 | | | $ | (128,593 | ) | | $ | 2,474,238 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments | | | (601,891 | ) | | | 195,755 | | | | (365,977 | ) | | | 312,747 | |
Unrealized investment (loss) gain, net | | | (1,732 | ) | | | (2,700 | ) | | | (1,966 | ) | | | 37,916 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive (loss) income | | | (1,247,330 | ) | | | 2,124,197 | | | | (496,536 | ) | | | 2,824,901 | |
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | | | (56,951 | ) | | | (44,828 | ) | | | (176,144 | ) | | | (340,225 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Ecology and Environment, Inc. | | $ | (1,304,281 | ) | | $ | 2,079,369 | | | $ | (672,680 | ) | | $ | 2,484,676 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
| | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | $ | (128,593 | ) | | $ | 2,474,238 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 2,102,492 | | | | 1,183,767 | |
(Provision) benefit for deferred income taxes | | | (148,589 | ) | | | (890,374 | ) |
Share based compensation expense | | | 178,100 | | | | 255,985 | |
Tax impact of share-based compensation | | | (31,695 | ) | | | - | |
Gain on sale of assets and investment securities | | | - | | | | (9,100 | ) |
Provisions for contract adjustments and doubtful accounts | | | (245,828 | ) | | | (21,987 | ) |
Decrease (increase) in: | | | | | | | | |
- contract receivables | | | 5,653,165 | | | | 10,292,264 | |
- other current assets | | | (869,757 | ) | | | (1,089,053 | ) |
- income tax receivable | | | 1,161,386 | | | | 2,502,431 | |
- other non-current assets | | | 58,320 | | | | 12,596 | |
(Decrease) increase in: | | | | | | | | |
- accounts payable | | | (1,468,585 | ) | | | (2,107,668 | ) |
- accrued payroll costs | | | (113,580 | ) | | | 343,709 | |
- income taxes payable | | | (2,873 | ) | | | 321,911 | |
- billings in excess of revenue | | | (109,183 | ) | | | (1,694,637 | ) |
- other accrued liabilities | | | 346,888 | | | | (302,702 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 6,381,668 | | | | 11,271,380 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | |
Acquistion of noncontrolling interest of subsidiaries | | | (689,361 | ) | | | (577,272 | ) |
Purchase of property, building and equipment | | | (880,263 | ) | | | (1,336,581 | ) |
Sale (purchase) of investment securities | | | 55,989 | | | | (1,536,550 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (1,513,635 | ) | | | (3,450,403 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
Dividends paid | | | (1,019,955 | ) | | | (2,037,323 | ) |
Proceeds from debt | | | 545,877 | | | | - | |
Repayment of debt and capital lease obligations | | | (654,544 | ) | | | (230,050 | ) |
Net repayments of lines of credit | | | (4,517,317 | ) | | | (5,543,495 | ) |
Distributions to noncontrolling interests | | | (380,048 | ) | | | (808,429 | ) |
Purchase of treasury stock | | | (173,278 | ) | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (6,199,265 | ) | | | (8,619,297 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | 19,196 | | | | 194,040 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (1,312,036 | ) | | | (604,280 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 9,444,660 | | | | 10,467,770 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 8,132,624 | | | $ | 9,863,490 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid during the period for: | | | | | | | | |
- Interest | | $ | 91,769 | | | $ | 179,573 | |
- Income taxes | | | (1,249,299 | ) | | | 284,285 | |
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash items: | | | | | | | | |
Dividends declared and not paid | | | 1,033,551 | | | | - | |
Acquistion of noncontrolling interest of subsidiaries - loan / stock | | | 1,041,824 | | | | 212,401 | |
Change in accounts payable due to equipment purchases | | | 109,701 | | | | 670,678 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Unaudited
| | Class A Common Stock Shares | | | Class A Common Stock Amount | | | Class B Common Stock Shares | | | Class B Common Stock Amount | | | Capital in Excess of Par Value | | | Retained Earnings | | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | | | Treasury Stock Shares | | | Treasury Stock Amount | | | Noncontrolling Interest | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at July 31, 2012 (Audited) | | | 2,685,151 | | | $ | 26,851 | | | | 1,708,574 | | | $ | 17,087 | | | $ | 19,751,992 | | | $ | 29,534,783 | | | $ | 711,842 | | | | 149,531 | | | $ | (1,897,032 | ) | | $ | 4,612,018 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (2,130,434 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 908,386 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (790,464 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (116,171 | ) |
Cash dividends declared ($.48 per share) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (2,038,496 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Unrealized investment loss, net | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (28,675 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Share-based compensation expense | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 507,796 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Tax impact of share based compensation | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (74,429 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,532,912 | ) |
Purchase of additional noncontrolling interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (168,486 | ) | | | - | | | | 22,770 | | | | (7,804 | ) | | | 98,799 | | | | (775,935 | ) |
Stock award plan forfeitures | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,184 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at July 31, 2013 (Audited) | | | 2,685,151 | | | $ | 26,851 | | | | 1,708,574 | | | $ | 17,087 | | | $ | 20,016,873 | | | $ | 25,365,853 | | | $ | (84,527 | ) | | | 143,911 | | | $ | (1,798,233 | ) | | $ | 3,095,386 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (404,257 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 275,664 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (330,750 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (99,520 | ) |
Cash dividends declared ($.24 per share) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,033,551 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Unrealized investment loss, net | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,966 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Repurchase of Class A common stock | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 16,091 | | | | (173,278 | ) | | | - | |
Issuance of stock under stock award plan | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (194,454 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (16,387 | ) | | | 194,454 | | | | - | |
Share-based compensation expense | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 178,100 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Tax impact of share based compensation | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (31,695 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (380,048 | ) |
Reclassification adjustment for prior period acquisitions of noncontrolling interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (2,256,809 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,256,809 | |
Purchase of additional noncontrolling interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (605,653 | ) | | | - | | | | 64,293 | | | | (44,060 | ) | | | 553,158 | | | | (1,156,652 | ) |
Stock award plan forfeitures | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,470 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at January 31, 2014 (Unaudited) | | | 2,685,151 | | | $ | 26,851 | | | | 1,708,574 | | | $ | 17,087 | | | $ | 17,106,362 | | | $ | 23,928,045 | | | $ | (352,950 | ) | | | 104,025 | | | $ | (1,223,899 | ) | | $ | 3,991,639 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1. | Organization and Basis of Presentation |
Ecology and Environment, Inc., (“EEI” or the “Parent Company”) was incorporated in 1970 as a global broad-based environmental consulting firm whose underlying philosophy is to provide professional services worldwide so that sustainable economic and human development may proceed with acceptable impact on the environment. Together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), EEI has direct and indirect ownership in 19 wholly owned and majority owned operating subsidiaries in 12 countries. The Company’s staff is comprised of individuals representing more than 80 scientific, engineering, health, and social disciplines working together in multidisciplinary teams to provide innovative environmental solutions. The Company has completed more than 50,000 projects for a wide variety of clients in more than 120 countries, providing environmental solutions in nearly every ecosystem on the planet.
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Ecology and Environment, Inc., without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of such information. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The Company follows the same accounting policies in preparation of interim reports. Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures, including a description of significant accounting policies normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for any subsequent period or the entire fiscal year ending July 31, 2014.
Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to the condensed consolidated financial statement presentation for the three months ended January 31, 2014.
2. | Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted as of January 31, 2014
In July 2013, FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The Company intends to adopt the provisions of ASU 2013-11 effective August 1, 2014 and apply its provisions retrospectively. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
3. Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company invests cash in excess of operating requirements in income-producing short-term investments. At January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013, money market funds of $0.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, were included in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
4. | Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
The Company’s financial assets or liabilities are measured using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy. The asset’s or liability’s classification within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company has not elected a fair value option on any assets or liabilities. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:
| Level 1 Inputs – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Generally this includes debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded on an active exchange market (e.g., New York Stock Exchange) as well as certain U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government and agency mortgage-backed securities that are highly liquid and are actively traded in over-the-counter markets. |
Level 2 Inputs – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data. The Company’s investment securities classified as Level 2 are comprised of international and domestic corporate and municipal bonds.
Level 3 Inputs – Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use.
The availability of observable market data is monitored to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another. In such instances, the transfer is reported at the beginning of the reporting period. The Company evaluated the significance of transfers between levels based upon the nature of the financial instrument. There were no transfers in or out of levels 1, 2 or 3, respectively during the three or six months ended January 31, 2014 or the fiscal year ended July 31, 2013.
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is summarized by level within the fair value hierarchy in the following table.
| | Balance at January 31, 2014 | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities available for sale | | $ | 1,402,486 | | | $ | --- | | | $ | --- | | | $ | 1,402,486 | |
| | Balance at July 31, 2013 | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities available for sale | | $ | 1,463,864 | | | $ | --- | | | $ | --- | | | $ | 1,463,864 | |
Investment securities available for sale include mutual funds that are valued at the net asset value (“NAV”) of shares held by the Company at period end. Mutual funds held by the Company are open-end mutual funds that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These funds are required to publish their daily NAV and to transact at that price. The mutual funds held by the Company are deemed to be actively traded.
Reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income from realized gains or losses from investment securities available for sale are included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations within other income (expense).
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximated fair value at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013. These assets were classified as level 1 instruments at both dates. Long-term debt consists of bank loans and capitalized equipment leases. Lines of credit consist of borrowings for working capital requirements. Based on the Company's assessment of the current financial market and corresponding risks associated with the debt and line of credit borrowings, management believes that the carrying amount of these liabilities approximated fair value at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013. These liabilities were classified as level 2 instruments at both dates. There were no financial instruments classified as level 3 at January 31, 2014 or July 31, 2013.
Investment securities available for sale are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses related to investment securities available for sale are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets and condensed consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity. The cost basis of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company had gross unrealized losses of less than $0.1 million recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013.
5. | Revenue and Contract Receivables, net |
Revenue Recognition
Substantially all of the Company's revenue is derived from environmental consulting work. The consulting revenue is principally derived from the sale of labor hours. The consulting work is performed under a mix of fixed price, cost-type, and time and material contracts. Contracts are required from all customers. Revenue is recognized as follows:
Contract Type | | Work Type | | Revenue Recognition Policy |
| | | | |
Time and Materials | | Consulting | | As incurred at contract rates. |
Fixed Price | | Consulting | | Percentage of completion, approximating the ratio of either total costs or Level of Effort (LOE) hours incurred to date to total estimated costs or LOE hours. |
Cost-Type | | Consulting | | Costs as incurred. Fixed fee portion is recognized using percentage of completion determined by the percentage of LOE hours incurred to total LOE hours in the respective contracts. |
Revenues reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of operations represent services rendered for which the Company maintains a primary contractual relationship with its customers. Included in revenues are certain services outside the Company's normal operations which the Company has elected to subcontract to other contractors.
Substantially all of the Company's cost-type work is with federal governmental agencies and, as such, is subject to audits after contract completion. Under these cost-type contracts, provisions for adjustments to accrued revenue are recognized on a quarterly basis and based on past audit settlement history. Government audits have been completed and final rates have been negotiated through fiscal year 2005. The Company records an allowance for project disallowances in other accrued liabilities for potential disallowances resulting from government audits (refer to Note 10 of these condensed consolidated financial statements).
Change orders can occur when changes in scope are made after project work has begun, and can be initiated by either the Company or its clients. Claims are amounts in excess of the agreed contract price which the Company seeks to recover from a client for customer delays and /or errors or unapproved change orders that are in dispute. Costs related to change orders and claims are recognized as incurred. Revenues and profit are recognized on change orders when it is probable that the change order will be approved and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Revenues are recognized only up to the amount of costs incurred on contract claims when realization is probable, estimable and reasonable support from the customer exists.
All bid and proposal and other pre-contract costs are expensed as incurred. Out of pocket expenses such as travel, meals, field supplies, and other costs billed direct to contracts are included in both revenues and cost of professional services. Revenue, the cost of professional services, other direct operating expenses and subcontract costs of the Company’s South American subsidiaries exclude tax assessments by governmental authorities, which are collected by the Company from its customers and then remitted to governmental authorities.
Billed contract receivables represent amounts billed to clients in accordance with contracted terms, which have not been collected from clients as of the end of the reporting period. Billed contract receivables may include: (i) amounts billed for revenues from incurred costs and fees that have been earned in accordance with contractual terms; and (ii) progress billings in accordance with contractual terms that include revenue not yet earned as of the end of the reporting period.
Unbilled contract receivables result from: (i) revenues from incurred costs and fees which have been earned, but are not billed as of period-end; and (ii) differences between year-to-date provisional billings and year-to-date actual contract costs incurred.
The Company reduces contract receivables by recording an allowance for doubtful accounts to account for the estimated impact of collection issues resulting from a client’s inability or unwillingness to pay valid obligations to the Company. The resulting provision for bad debts is recorded within administrative and indirect operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company also reduces contract receivables by establishing an allowance for billed and earned contract revenues that have become unrealizable, or may become unrealizable in the future. Management reviews contract receivables and determines allowance amounts based on historical experience, geopolitical considerations, client acknowledgment of the amount owed, client ability to pay, relationship history with the client and the probability of payment. Such contract adjustments are recorded as direct adjustments to revenue in the consolidated statements of operations.
Contract Receivables, Net
Contract receivables, net are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
Contract Receivables: | | | | | | |
Billed | | $ | 27,644,990 | | | $ | 36,284,950 | |
Unbilled | | | 18,924,920 | | | | 16,441,857 | |
| | | 46,569,910 | | | | 52,726,807 | |
Allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments | | | (5,336,972 | ) | | | (5,592,800 | ) |
Total contract receivables, net | | $ | 41,232,938 | | | $ | 47,134,007 | |
Billed contract receivables did not include any contractual retainage balances at January 31, 2014 or July 31, 2013. Management anticipates that the unbilled receivables outstanding at January 31, 2014 will be substantially billed and collected within one year.
Contract Receivable Concentrations
Significant concentrations of contract receivables and the allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at January 31, 2014 | | | Balance at July 31, 2013 | |
Region | | Contract Receivables | | | Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Contract Adjustments | | | Contract Receivables | | | Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Contract Adjustments | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
United States, Canada and South America | | $ | 38,407,797 | | | $ | 1,672,238 | | | $ | 41,302,180 | | | $ | 1,576,746 | |
Middle East and Africa | | | 7,831,384 | | | | 3,535,188 | | | | 10,876,151 | | | | 3,886,508 | |
Asia | | | 330,729 | | | | 129,546 | | | | 548,476 | | | | 129,546 | |
Totals | | $ | 46,569,910 | | | $ | 5,336,972 | | | $ | 52,726,807 | | | $ | 5,592,800 | |
Combined contract receivables related to projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia represented 18% and 22% of total contract receivables at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013, respectively, while the combined allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments related to these projects represented 69% and 72%, respectively, of the total allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments at those same period end dates. These allowance percentages highlight the Company’s experience of heightened operating risks (i.e., political, regulatory and cultural risks) within these foreign regions in comparison with similar risks in the United States, Canada and South America. These heightened operating risks have resulted in increased collection risks and the Company expending resources that it may not recover for several months, or at all.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Contract Adjustments
Activity within the allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments is summarized in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 5,639,291 | | | $ | 11,322,000 | | | $ | 5,592,800 | | | $ | 10,238,391 | |
Net increase (decrease) due to adjustments in the allowance for: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contract adjustments (1) | | | (288,131 | ) | | | (836,024 | ) | | | (258,403 | ) | | | 236,067 | |
Doubtful accounts (2) | | | (11,688 | ) | | | (269,072 | ) | | | 12,575 | | | | (258,054 | ) |
Transfer of reserves to allowance for project disallowances (3) | | | (2,500 | ) | | | (500 | ) | | | (10,000 | ) | | | --- | |
Balance at end of period | | $ | 5,336,972 | | | $ | 10,216,404 | | | $ | 5,336,972 | | | $ | 10,216,404 | |
| (1) | Increases (decreases) to the allowance for contract adjustments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets are recorded as (decreases) increases to revenue on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. |
| (2) | Increases (decreases) to the allowance for doubtful accounts on the condensed consolidated balance sheets are recorded as increases (decreases) to administrative and other indirect operating expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. |
| (3) | Refer to Note 10 of these condensed consolidated financial statements for a summary of the allowance for project disallowances. |
As of January 31, 2013, the Company recorded $7.0 million of contract receivables and $2.1 million of allowance for contract adjustments related to projects in China. All contract receivables associated with these projects in China were fully reserved and written off during the quarter ended July 31, 2013.
As of October 31, 2012, the Company recorded $20.3 million of contract receivables and $7.4 million of allowance for contract adjustments related to projects in the Middle East and Africa. During the quarter ended January 31, 2013, the Company received $7.1 million of cash and reduced its allowance for contract adjustments by $1.7 million related to contract receivables from a client in the Middle East. During the quarter ended January 31, 2014, the Company received $2.4 million of cash and reduced its allowance for contract adjustments by $0.6 million related to contract receivables from a client in the Middle East.
As of January 31, 2013, $3.4 million of aged contract receivables related to projects in the Middle East and Africa were fully reserved. All contract receivables associated with these projects were written off during the quarter ended July 31, 2013, resulting in corresponding decreases in contract receivables and the allowance for contract adjustments during that quarter.
6. | Property, Building and Equipment, net |
Capitalized software costs are recorded in fixed assets, net of accumulated amortization, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company capitalizes acquisition and development costs for internal use software, including costs related to software design, configuration, coding, installation, testing and parallel processing. Capitalized software development costs generally include:
| · | external direct costs of materials and services consumed to obtain or develop software for internal use; |
| · | payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to the project, to the extent of time spent directly on the project; |
| · | costs to obtain or develop software that allows for access or conversion of old data by new systems; |
| · | costs of upgrades and/or enhancements that result in additional functionality for existing software; and |
| · | interest costs incurred while developing internal-use software that could have been avoided if the expenditures had not been made. |
In November 2013, after an extensive assessment process, management decided to abandon its existing operating and financial software system and migrate to new system software. The Company plans to acquire and develop the new software during fiscal year 2014, with a target go-live date of August 1, 2014 for the Company’s U.S. operations. The total capitalized cost of the new software system, when fully developed, is expected to range from $1.5 million to $2.0 million for the Company’s U.S. operations. The process to evaluate and select new operating and financial software systems for the Company’s foreign operations was initiated in January 2014. The Company recorded software development costs of $0.5 million in property, plant and equipment during the three months ended January 31, 2014.
The Company will continue to utilize the current software system until the new system go-live date, at which time the current system will be abandoned. As a result, amortization of software development costs previously capitalized for the current system is accelerated so that unamortized costs of $2.7 million at July 31, 2013 will be completely amortized by July 31, 2014. Total software amortization expense related to our current operating system was $1.3 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Unsecured lines of credit are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Outstanding cash draws, recorded as lines of credit on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets | | $ | 2,011,374 | | | $ | 6,528,691 | |
Outstanding letters of credit to support operations | | | 3,075,171 | | | | 3,080,938 | |
Total amounts used under lines of credit | | | 5,086,545 | | | | 9,609,629 | |
Remaining amounts available under lines of credit | | | 29,282,455 | | | | 24,759,371 | |
Total approved unsecured lines of credit | | $ | 34,369,000 | | | $ | 34,369,000 | |
Contractual interest rates ranged from 2.5% to 5.0% at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013. The Company’s lenders have reaffirmed the lines of credit within the past twelve months.
8. | Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |
Debt and capital lease obligations are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Various bank loans and advances at interest rates ranging from 3.25% to 14% | | $ | 697,332 | | | $ | 276,934 | |
Capital lease obligations at varying interest rates averaging 11% | | | 162,826 | | | | 174,338 | |
| | | 860,158 | | | | 451,272 | |
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | | | (432,586 | ) | | | (199,658 | ) |
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations | | $ | 427,572 | | | $ | 251,614 | |
The aggregate maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations as of January 31, 2014 are summarized in the following table.
February 2014 – January 2015 | | $ | 432,586 | |
February 2015 – January 2016 | | | 379,302 | |
February 2016 – January 2017 | | | 25,842 | |
February 2017 – January 2018 | | | 22,428 | |
February 2018 – January 2019 | | | --- | |
Thereafter | | | --- | |
Total | | $ | 860,158 | |
The estimated effective tax rate was 45.2% and 40.4% for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase was mainly a result of the recognition of permanent tax differences, which had a greater impact on the effective rate for the six months ended January 31, 2014 due to lower forecasted income from domestic operations. The impact of permanent tax differences was partially offset by higher forecasted income from foreign operations, where effective tax rates are generally lower than in the U.S., as a percentage of consolidated forecasted taxable income.
10. | Other Accrued Liabilities |
Other accrued liabilities are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Allowance for project disallowances | | $ | 2,673,351 | | | $ | 2,663,351 | |
Other | | | 1,708,349 | | | | 1,406,722 | |
Total other accrued liabilities | | $ | 4,381,700 | | | $ | 4,070,073 | |
The allowance for project disallowances represents potential disallowances of amounts billed and collected resulting from contract close-outs and government audits. Allowances for project disallowances are recorded when the amounts are estimable. Activity within the allowance for project disallowances is summarized in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 2,670,851 | | | $ | 2,723,974 | | | $ | 2,663,351 | | | $ | 2,724,474 | |
Net change during the period, recorded as a transfer of reserves from allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments | | | 2,500 | | | | 500 | | | | 10,000 | | | | --- | |
Balance at end of period | | $ | 2,673,351 | | | $ | 2,724,474 | | | $ | 2,673,351 | | | $ | 2,724,474 | |
Ecology and Environment, Inc. adopted the 1998 Stock Award Plan effective March 16, 1998 (the “1998 Plan”). To supplement the 1998 Plan, the 2003 Stock Award Plan (the “2003 Plan”) was approved by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting held in January 2004 and the 2007 Stock Award Plan (the “2007 Plan”) was approved by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting held in January of 2008. The 1998 Plan, 2003 Plan and the 2007 Plan are collectively referred to as the “Award Plan”. The 2003 Plan was approved retroactive to October 16, 2003 and terminated on October 15, 2008. The 2007 Plan was approved retroactive to October 18, 2007 and terminated on October 17, 2012.
The Company awarded 62,099 Class A shares valued at $0.9 million in October 2011 and 16,387 Class A shares valued at $0.2 million in July 2013 pursuant to the Award Plan. These awards have a three year vesting period. Total gross compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. The Company recorded $0.2 million and $0.3 million of non-cash compensation expense during the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in connection with outstanding stock compensation awards. Unrecognized compensation expense associated with outstanding stock compensation awards was $0.3 million at January 31, 2014.
The "pool" of excess tax benefits accumulated in Capital in Excess of Par Value was $0.2 million at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013.
Class A and Class B Common Stock
The relative rights, preferences and limitations of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock are summarized as follows: Holders of Class A shares are entitled to elect 25% of the Board of Directors so long as the number of outstanding Class A shares is at least 10% of the combined total number of outstanding Class A and Class B common shares. Holders of Class A common shares have one-tenth the voting power of Class B common shares with respect to most other matters.
In addition, Class A shares are eligible to receive dividends in excess of (and not less than) those paid to holders of Class B shares. Holders of Class B shares have the option to convert at any time, each share of Class B common stock into one share of Class A common stock. Upon sale or transfer, shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, except that sales or transfers of Class B common stock to an existing holder of Class B common stock or to an immediate family member will not cause such shares to automatically convert into Class A common stock.
Restrictive Shareholder Agreement
Messrs. Gerhard J. Neumaier (deceased), Frank B. Silvestro, Ronald L. Frank, and Gerald A. Strobel entered into a Stockholders’ Agreement dated May 12, 1970, as amended January 24, 2011, which governs the sale of certain shares of Ecology and Environment, Inc. common stock (now classified as Class B Common Stock) owned by them, certain children of those individuals and any such shares subsequently transferred to their spouses and/or children outright or in trust for their benefit upon the demise of a signatory to the Agreement (“Permitted Transferees”). The Agreement provides that prior to accepting a bona fide offer to purchase some or all of their shares of Class B Common Stock governed by the Agreement, that the selling party must first allow the other signatories to the Agreement (not including any Permitted Transferee) the opportunity to acquire on a pro rata basis, with right of over-allotment, all of such shares covered by the offer on the same terms and conditions proposed by the offer.
Cash Dividends
The Company declared and accrued $1.0 million of cash dividends during the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, which were paid in February 2014 and December 2012, respectively. The Company paid dividends of $1.0 million in August 2013 and 2012 that were declared and accrued in prior periods.
Stock Repurchase
In August 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a program for repurchase of 200,000 shares of Class A common stock. The Company acquired 16,091 shares of Class A stock under this program during the six months ended January 31, 2014 for a total acquisition cost of approximately $0.2 million. As of January 31, 2014, 122,918 Class A shares were repurchased and 77,082 shares had yet to be repurchased under this program.
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests are disclosed as a separate component of consolidated shareholders’ equity on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Earnings and other comprehensive (loss) income are separately attributed to both the controlling and noncontrolling interests. Earnings per share is calculated based on net (loss) income attributable to the Company’s controlling interests.
Transactions to acquire ownership interest from noncontrolling shareholders during the six months ended January 31, 2014 and during fiscal year 2013, which were recorded at amounts that approximated fair value, are summarized in the following table.
| | Six Months Ended January 31, 2014 | | | Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2013 | |
Purchases of noncontrolling interests: | | | | | | |
Purchase of 344 Walsh common shares (1) | | $ | 5,653 | | | $ | --- | |
Purchase of 3,705 Walsh common shares (2) | | | 1,120,749 | | | | --- | |
Purchase of 100 Walsh common shares (3) | | | 30,250 | | | | --- | |
Purchase of 50 Walsh common shares (4) | | | --- | | | | 18,316 | |
Purchase of 25 Lowham common shares (5) | | | --- | | | | 8,737 | |
Purchase of 495 Walsh common shares (6) | | | --- | | | | 243,653 | |
Purchase of 2,800 Gustavson common shares (7) | | | --- | | | | 293,102 | |
Purchase of 370 Walsh common shares (8) | | | --- | | | | 182,125 | |
Purchase of 75 Lowham common shares (9) | | | --- | | | | 30,002 | |
Total purchases of additional noncontrolling interests (10) | | $ | 1,156,652 | | | $ | 775,935 | |
| (1) | In January 2014, EEI purchased an additional 0.9% of Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC (“Walsh”) from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.1 million in cash. Walsh became a wholly-owned subsidiary of EEI as a result of these transactions. |
| (2) | In October 2013, EEI purchased an additional 9.4% of Walsh for $1.6 million. The purchase price was paid as follows: (i) one third in cash payable on the transaction consummation date; (ii) one third payable with EEI Common Stock on the transaction consummation date; and (iii) one third payable with a promissory note payable in two annual installments of one half the principal plus interest accrued at 3.25% per annum. |
| (3) | In October 2013, EEI purchased an additional 0.2% of Walsh for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (4) | In April 2013, EEI purchased an additional 0.1% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (5) | In March 2013, Lowham-Walsh Engineering & Environment Services LLC (“Lowham”), a subsidiary of Walsh, purchased shares from noncontrolling shareholders for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (6) | In January 2013, EEI purchased an additional 1.3% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.2 million. Two thirds of the purchase price was paid in cash while the remaining one third was paid for with EEI stock. |
| (7) | In December 2012, Gustavson Associates, LLC (“Gustavson”) purchased an additional 6.7% of its shares from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.4 million. Half of the purchase price was paid in cash and Gustavson issued a three year note for the other half. |
| (8) | In December 2012, EEI purchased an additional 0.9% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.2 million in cash. |
| (9) | During the three months ending October 31, 2012, Lowham purchased shares from noncontrolling shareholders for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (10) | Purchases of additional noncontrolling interests are recorded as reductions of shareholders’ equity on the condensed consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity. |
After consideration of all the rights and privileges of the Class A and Class B stockholders summarized in Note 12, in particular the right of the holders of the Class B common stock to elect no less than 75% of the Board of Directors making it highly unlikely that the Company will pay a dividend on Class A common stock in excess of Class B common stock, the Company allocates undistributed earnings between the classes on a one-to-one basis when computing earnings per share. As a result, basic and fully diluted earnings per Class A and Class B share are equal amounts.
The Company has determined that its unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities. These securities shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The resulting impact was to include unvested restricted shares in the weighted average shares outstanding calculation.
The computation of earnings per share is included in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Net (loss) income attributable to Ecology and Environment, Inc. | | $ | (784,648 | ) | | $ | 1,911,086 | | | $ | (404,257 | ) | | $ | 2,153,613 | |
Dividends declared | | | (1,033,551 | ) | | | (1,018,540 | ) | | | (1,033,551 | ) | | | (1,018,540 | ) |
Balance at end of period | | $ | (1,818,199 | ) | | $ | 892,546 | | | $ | (1,437,808 | ) | | $ | 1,135,073 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) | | | 4,290,193 | | | | 4,246,371 | | | | 4,278,694 | | | | 4,245,191 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributed earnings per share | | $ | 0.24 | | | $ | 0.24 | | | $ | 0.24 | | | $ | 0.24 | |
Undistributed earnings per share | | | (0.42 | ) | | | 0.21 | | | | (0.33 | ) | | | 0.27 | |
Total earnings per share | | $ | (0.18 | ) | | $ | 0.45 | | | $ | (0.09 | ) | | $ | 0.51 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Company reports segment information based on the geographic location of its customers (for revenues) and the location of its offices (for long-lived assets). Revenue and long-lived assets by business segment are summarized in the following tables.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, net by geographic location: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
United States | | $ | 18,512,418 | | | $ | 21,888,483 | | | $ | 41,607,364 | | | $ | 45,978,251 | |
Foreign countries (1) | | | 10,564,854 | | | | 14,263,000 | | | | 22,219,199 | | | | 26,995,000 | |
| (1) | Significant foreign revenues included revenues in Peru ($4.1 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $8.5 million and $5.8 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively), Brazil ($2.6 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $6.6 million and $7.8 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively) and Chile ($2.4 million and $3.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $4.8 million and $5.8 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively). |
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
Long-Lived Assets by geographic location: | | | | | | |
United States | | $ | 30,165,443 | | | $ | 29,508,055 | |
Foreign countries | | | 5,142,756 | | | | 5,183,885 | |
15. | Commitments and Contingencies |
From time to time, the Company is a named defendant in legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceeding, the resolution of which the management believes will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or to any other pending legal proceedings other than ordinary, routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company maintains liability insurance against risks arising out of the normal course of business.
Certain contracts contain termination provisions under which the customer may, without penalty, terminate the contracts upon written notice to the Company. In the event of termination, the Company would be paid only termination costs in accordance with the particular contract. Generally, termination costs include unpaid costs incurred to date, earned fees and any additional costs directly allocable to the termination.
On September 21, 2012, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the "Department") issued a proposed Compliance Order on Consent (the " Proposed Consent Order") to the City and County of Denver ("Denver") and to Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC (“Walsh”). On the date that the Proposed Consent Order was issued, Walsh was a majority-owned subsidiary of Ecology and Environment, Inc. The Proposed Consent Order concerns construction improvement activities of certain property owned by Denver which was the subject of asbestos remediation. Denver had entered into a contract with Walsh for Walsh to provide certain environmental consulting services (asbestos monitoring services) in connection with the asbestos containment and/or removal performed by other contractors at Denver's real property. Without admitting liability or the Department’s version of the underlying facts, Walsh on February 13, 2013 entered into a Compliance Order on Consent with the Department and paid a penalty of less than $0.1 million and paid for a Supplemental Environmental Project to benefit the public at large in an amount less than $0.1 million. Denver was served with a final Compliance Order and Assessment of Administrative Penalty against Denver alone for approximately $0.2 million. Under Walsh's environmental consulting contract with Denver, Walsh has agreed to indemnify Denver for certain liabilities where Walsh could potentially be held responsible for a portion of the penalty imposed upon Denver. Walsh has put its professional liability and general liability carriers on notice of this indemnification claim by Denver. The Company believes that this administrative proceeding involving Walsh will not have an adverse material effect on the operations of the Company.
On February 4, 2011, the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity Conservation of Brazil (the “Institute”) issued a Notice of Infraction to E & E Brasil. E&E Brasil is a majority-owned subsidiary of Ecology and Environment, Inc. The Notice of Infraction concerns the taking and collecting species of wild animal specimens without authorization by the competent authority and imposes a fine of 520,000 Reais, which has a value of approximately $0.2 million at January 31, 2014. No claim has been made against Ecology and Environment, Inc. The Institute has also filed Notices of Infraction against four employees of E&E Brasil alleging the same claims and has imposed fines against those individuals that, in the aggregate, are equal to the fine imposed against E&E Brasil. E&E Brasil has filed administrative responses with the Institute for itself and its employees that: (a) denies the jurisdiction of the Institute, (b) states that the Notice of Infraction is constitutionally vague and (c) affirmatively stated that E&E Brasil had obtained the necessary permits for the surveys and collections of specimens under applicable Brazilian regulations and that the protected conservation area is not clearly marked to show its boundaries. At this time, E&E Brasil has attended one meeting where depositions were taken. The Company believes that these administrative proceedings in Brazil will not have an adverse material effect on the operations of the Company.
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) to “EEI” refer to Ecology and Environment, Inc., a New York corporation. References to “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms refer to EEI together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
Executive Overview
For the second quarter of fiscal year 2014, our loss before income tax benefit was $1.3 million, which represented a $4.6 million decrease from income of $3.3 million for the same period in the previous fiscal year. For the first six months of fiscal 2014, our net loss before income tax benefit was $0.2 million, which was $4.3 million less than net income before income tax provision of $4.1 million for the same period in the prior fiscal year.
Revenue less subcontract costs, which is a key performance measurement for our business, decreased $6.7 million (22%) for the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 and $8.7 million (14%) for the first half of fiscal year 2014 due mainly to two factors:
| · | Lower revenue from projects in the Middle East and China for which the Company has not had any project activity during fiscal year 2014; and |
| · | lower project work volumes during fiscal year 2014 in government, energy, mining and asbestos inspection sectors within our domestic and certain of our foreign markets. |
In November 2013, after an extensive assessment process, management decided to abandon its existing operating and financial software system and migrate to new system software. The Company plans to acquire and develop the new software during fiscal year 2014, with a target go-live date of August 1, 2014. The Company will continue to utilize the current software system until the new system go-live date, at which time the current system will be abandoned. Unamortized software development costs for the current system of $2.7 million as of July 31, 2013 will be completely amortized by July 31, 2014. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.9 million (78%) during the first six months of 2014 as a result of accelerated amortization of our existing software system.
Lower revenue less subcontract costs and higher depreciation and amortization expense during the three and six months ended January 31, 2014 more than offset:
| · | lower professional service costs and other direct project expenses due to lower project work volumes and other managed reductions in technical staff levels; and |
| · | lower indirect expenses due to managed reductions of staff levels in various administrative, marketing and other indirect departments. |
Recent Developments
In May 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) awarded us a START contract to provide technical support to EPA Region 9 which covers the four state area of California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and U.S. territories in the Pacific. This was a combination time and materials/cost plus contract with a two year base period and two 18 month option periods which were exercised through 2013. This contract was extended for an additional 6 month period beyond the original contract term, which expired on November 15, 2013. In September 2013, as a result of a competitive bid and proposal process, we were notified by the EPA that we were not selected for renewal of the START contract for EPA Region 9. In October 2013, we filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (the “GAO”) requesting reconsideration of the award process and conclusion. Although we cannot predict the outcome of the protest process, the EPA has extended our previous START 9 contract through November 2014 to allow adequate time for the GAO to complete its review. We recognized $2.6 million of revenue under this contract during the six months ended January 31, 2014.
During the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, we collected $2.4 million and $7.1 million, respectively, of cash related to aged accounts receivable from a client in the Middle East for project work that we performed in years prior to fiscal year 2013. As of January 31, 2014 $5.2 million of contract receivables remained outstanding from this client, against which we recorded an allowance for contract adjustments of $2.7 million. In February, 2014, we received an additional $0.4 million of cash from this client.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents decreased $1.4 million during the first half of 2014, primarily due to non-operating expenditures of $1.0 million for dividend payments to shareholders and $0.2 million for purchases of treasury stock, both of which were approved on a discretionary basis by the Board of Directors. Net cash generated from operations of $6.3 million during the first six months of fiscal year 2014 was adequate to fund investing and financing activities required to maintain our current operations and to reduce our outstanding lines of credit by $4.5 million during the period.
We believe that cash flows from U.S. operations, available cash and cash equivalent balances in our domestic subsidiaries and remaining amounts available under lines of credit will be sufficient to cover working capital requirements of our U.S. operations during the next twelve months and the foreseeable future. Our foreign subsidiaries generate adequate cash flow to fund their operations. We intend to reinvest net cash generated from undistributed foreign earnings into opportunities outside the U.S. If the foreign cash and cash equivalents were needed to fund domestic operations, we would be required to accrue and pay taxes on any amounts repatriated.
Cash and cash equivalents activity and balances are summarized in the following table.
| | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2012 | |
Cash provided by (used in): | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | $ | 6,381,668 | | | $ | 11,271,380 | |
Investing activities | | | (1,513,635 | ) | | | (3,450,403 | ) |
Financing activities | | | (6,199,265 | ) | | | (8,619,297 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | 19,196 | | | | 194,040 | |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | $ | (1,312,036 | ) | | $ | (604,280 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents, by location: | | | | | | | | |
U.S. operations | | $ | 5,769,539 | | | $ | 5,450,048 | |
Foreign operations | | | 2,363,085 | | | | 4,413,442 | |
Total cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 8,132,624 | | | $ | 9,863,490 | |
For the six months ended January 31, 2014, cash provided by operations resulted from the following net activity:
| · | Net income (after adjustment for non-cash items) provided $1.7 million of operating cash; |
| · | Net collections of contract receivables provided $5.7 million of operating cash; and |
| · | Other working capital activity resulted in a net use of $1.0 million of operating cash, due primarily to lower project work volume and to general reductions of current liabilities as a result of an improved liquidity position at the Parent Company. |
Net cash used in investment activities during the six months ended January 31, 2014 resulted mainly from the following activity:
| · | Purchases of property, building and equipment resulted in a $0.9 million use of cash; and |
| · | Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in Walsh Environmental Scientists & Engineers, LLC (“Walsh”) by EEI resulted in a $0.6 million use of cash. |
Net cash used in financing activities during the quarter ended January 31, 2014 resulted from the following net activity:
| · | Dividend payments to common shareholders resulted in a $1.0 million use of cash; |
| · | Net repayment of borrowings against our lines of credit resulted in a $4.5 million use of cash; |
| · | Proceeds from debt resulted in a $0.5 million source of cash; |
| · | Repayment of debt and capital lease obligations resulted in a $0.6 million use of cash; |
| · | Distributions to non-controlling interests resulted in a $0.4 million use of cash; and |
| · | Purchases of treasury stock resulted in a $0.2 million use of cash. |
We maintain unsecured lines of credit available for working capital and letters of credit. Contractual interest rates ranged from 2.5% to 5% at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013. Our lenders have reaffirmed the lines of credit within the past twelve months. Our lines of credit are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Outstanding cash draws, recorded as lines of credit on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets | | $ | 2,011,374 | | | $ | 6,528,691 | |
Outstanding letters of credit to support operations | | | 3,075,171 | | | | 3,080,938 | |
Total amounts used under lines of credit | | | 5,086,545 | | | | 9,609,629 | |
Remaining amounts available under lines of credit | | | 29,282,455 | | | | 24,759,371 | |
Total approved unsecured lines of credit | | $ | 34,369,000 | | | $ | 34,369,000 | |
Balance Sheets
Contract Receivables, net
Contract receivables, net are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at | |
| | January 31, 2014 | | | July 31, 2013 | |
Contract Receivables: | | | | | | |
Billed | | $ | 27,644,990 | | | $ | 36,284,950 | |
Unbilled | | | 18,924,920 | | | | 16,441,857 | |
| | | 46,569,910 | | | | 52,726,807 | |
Allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments | | | (5,336,972 | ) | | | (5,592,800 | ) |
Total contract receivables, net | | $ | 41,232,938 | | | $ | 47,134,007 | |
Significant concentrations of contract receivables and the allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments are summarized in the following table.
| | Balance at January 31, 2014 | | | Balance at July 31, 2013 | |
Region | | Contract Receivables | | | Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Contract Adjustments | | | Contract Receivables | | | Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Contract Adjustments | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
United States, Canada and South America | | $ | 38,407,797 | | | $ | 1,672,238 | | | $ | 41,302,180 | | | $ | 1,576,746 | |
Middle East and Africa | | | 7,831,384 | | | | 3,535,188 | | | | 10,876,151 | | | | 3,886,508 | |
Asia | | | 330,729 | | | | 129,546 | | | | 548,476 | | | | 129,546 | |
Totals | | $ | 46,569,910 | | | $ | 5,336,972 | | | $ | 52,726,807 | | | $ | 5,592,800 | |
Combined contract receivables related to projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia represented 18% and 22% of total contract receivables at January 31, 2014 and July 31, 2013, respectively, while the combined allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments related to these projects represented 69% and 72%, respectively, of the total allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments at those same period end dates. These allowance percentages highlight the Company’s experience of heightened operating risks (i.e., political, regulatory and cultural risks) within these foreign regions in comparison with similar risks in the United States, Canada and South America. These heightened operating risks have resulted in increased collection risks and the Company expending of resources that it may not recover for several months, or at all.
Activity within the allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments is summarized in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | |
Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 5,639,291 | | | $ | 11,322,000 | | | $ | 5,592,800 | | | $ | 10,238,391 | |
Net increase (decrease) due to adjustments in the allowance for: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contract adjustments (1) | | | (288,131 | ) | | | (836,024 | ) | | | (258,403 | ) | | | 236,067 | |
Doubtful accounts (2) | | | (11,688 | ) | | | (269,072 | ) | | | 12,575 | | | | (258,054 | ) |
Transfer of reserves to allowance for project disallowances | | | (2,500 | ) | | | (500 | ) | | | (10,000 | ) | | | --- | |
Balance at end of period | | $ | 5,336,972 | | | $ | 10,216,404 | | | $ | 5,336,972 | | | $ | 10,216,404 | |
| (1) | Increases (decreases) to the allowance for contract adjustments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets are recorded as (decreases) increases to revenue on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. |
| (2) | Increases (decreases) to the allowance for doubtful accounts on the condensed consolidated balance sheets are recorded as increases (decreases) to administrative and other indirect operating expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. |
As of January 31, 2013, the Company recorded $7.0 million of contract receivables and $2.6 million of allowance for contract adjustments related to projects in China. The Company suspended all project activity related to these projects during fiscal year 2013.�� All contract receivables associated with these projects in China were fully reserved and written off during the quarter ended July 31, 2013.
As of October 31, 2012, the Company recorded $20.3 million of contract receivables and $7.4 million of allowance for contract adjustments related to projects in the Middle East and Africa. During the quarter ended January 31, 2013, we received $7.1 million of cash and reduced our allowance for contract adjustments by $1.7 million related to contract receivables from a client in the Middle East. During the six months ended January 31, 2014, we received $2.4 million of cash and reduced our allowance for contract adjustments by $0.6 million related to contract receivables from a client in the Middle East, which was partially offset by $0.3 million of contract adjustments related to other contracts in the Middle East and Africa.
As of January 31, 2013, $3.5 million of aged contract receivables related to projects in the Middle East and Africa were fully reserved. All contract receivables associated with these projects were written off during the quarter ended July 31, 2013, resulting in corresponding decreases in contract receivables and the allowance for contract adjustments during that quarter.
Property, Building and Equipment, net
In November 2013, after an extensive assessment process, management decided to abandon its existing operating and financial software system and migrate to new system software. The Company plans to acquire and develop the new software during fiscal year 2014, with a target go-live date of August 1, 2014 for the Company’s U.S. operations. The total capitalized cost of the new software system, when fully developed, is expected to range from $1.5 million to $2.0 million for the Company’s U.S. operations. The process to evaluate and select new operating and financial software systems for the Company’s foreign operations was initiated in January 2014. The Company recorded software development costs of $0.5 million in property, plant and equipment during the six months ended January 31, 2014.
The Company will continue to utilize the current software system until the new system go-live date, at which time the current system will be abandoned. As a result, amortization of software development costs previously capitalized for the current system is accelerated so that unamortized costs of $2.7 million at July 31, 2013 will be completely amortized by July 31, 2014. Total software amortization expense related to our current operating system was $1.3 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Results of Operations
Revenue, net
Our revenues are derived primarily from the professional and technical services performed by its employees or, in certain cases, by subcontractors engaged to perform on under contracts entered into with our clients. The revenues recognized, therefore, are derived from our ability to charge clients for those services under the contracts. Revenue, the cost of professional services, other direct operating expenses and subcontract costs of our South American subsidiaries exclude tax assessments by governmental authorities, which are collected by us from its customers and then remitted to governmental authorities.
Substantially all of our revenue is derived from environmental consulting work. The consulting revenue is principally derived from the sale of labor hours. The consulting work is performed under a mix of fixed price, cost-type, and time and material contracts. Contracts are required from all customers. Revenue is recognized as follows:
Contract Type | | Work Type | | Revenue Recognition Policy |
| | | | |
Time and materials | | Consulting | | As incurred at contract rates. |
Fixed price | | Consulting | | Percentage of completion, approximating the ratio of either total costs or Level of Effort (LOE) hours incurred to date to total estimated costs or LOE hours. |
Cost-plus | | Consulting | | Costs as incurred. Fixed fee portion is recognized using percentage of completion determined by the percentage of LOE hours incurred to total LOE hours in the respective contracts. |
Revenue, net associated with these contract types are summarized in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Time and materials | | $ | 15,049,972 | | | $ | 15,841,401 | | | $ | 33,851,150 | | | $ | 35,161,482 | |
Fixed price | | | 11,928,615 | | | | 17,459,737 | | | | 25,149,175 | | | | 31,638,790 | |
Cost-plus | | | 2,098,685 | | | | 2,850,345 | | | | 4,826,238 | | | | 6,172,979 | |
Total revenue by contract type | | $ | 29,077,272 | | | $ | 36,151,483 | | | $ | 63,826,563 | | | $ | 72,973,251 | |
Revenue, net by business entity is summarized in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue, net by entity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EEI and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries | | $ | 14,746,620 | | | $ | 20,318,560 | | | $ | 34,583,099 | | | $ | 42,367,105 | |
EEI’s majority-owned subsidiaries: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Walsh | | | 7,971,338 | | | | 6,778,023 | | | | 15,609,378 | | | | 14,509,316 | |
Ecology & Environment do Brasil, Ltda (“E&E Brasil”) | | | 2,645,991 | | | | 3,721,836 | | | | 6,604,781 | | | | 7,841,149 | |
Gestion Ambiental Consultores S.A. (“GAC”) | | | 2,399,150 | | | | 3,239,061 | | | | 4,755,780 | | | | 5,774,671 | |
ECSI, LLC (“ECSI”) | | | 1,026,042 | | | | 1,257,979 | | | | 2,015,122 | | | | 2,717,077 | |
| | | 28,789,141 | | | | 35,315,459 | | | | 63,568,160 | | | | 73,209,318 | |
Less: Net contract adjustments recorded during the period | | | 288,131 | | | | 836,024 | | | | 258,403 | | | | (236,067 | ) |
Revenue, net per consolidated statements of income | | $ | 29,077,272 | | | $ | 36,151,483 | | | $ | 63,826,563 | | | $ | 72,973,251 | |
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, we received $7.1 million in cash related to aged receivables from a client in the Middle East, which resulted in recognition of approximately $1.6 million of gross revenue that previously had been recorded as billings in excess of revenue on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. All work related to these projects was completed prior to fiscal year 2013, and we did not record any gross revenue related to these projects during the first six months of fiscal year 2014.
In addition, we recorded $1.8 million and $3.8 million of gross revenue related to projects in Asia during the second quarter and the first six months of fiscal year 2013, respectively. All project activity related to these contracts was suspended during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, and no revenue related to these projects was recorded during the first half of fiscal year 2014.
Gross revenue less subcontract costs by business entity is summarized in the following table.
Gross revenue less subcontract costs, by entity: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EEI and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries | | $ | 12,586,999 | | | $ | 18,022,131 | | | $ | 30,375,478 | | | $ | 36,779,051 | |
EEI’s majority-owned subsidiaries: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Walsh | | | 5,163,502 | | | | 5,040,069 | | | | 10,116,354 | | | | 10,588,364 | |
E&E Brasil | | | 2,422,932 | | | | 3,504,014 | | | | 5,850,176 | | | | 7,304,578 | |
GAC | | | 2,037,854 | | | | 2,123,876 | | | | 3,824,994 | | | | 3,538,038 | |
ECSI | | | 982,855 | | | | 1,213,659 | | | | 1,959,908 | | | | 2,572,219 | |
Total | | $ | 23,194,142 | | | $ | 29,903,749 | | | $ | 52,126,910 | | | $ | 60,782,250 | |
Excluding the reductions in gross revenue from the clients in the Middle East and Asia noted above, the remaining decrease in consolidated gross revenue less subcontract costs for the three months and six months ended January 31, 2014 primarily resulted from the net impact of the following activity:
| · | Lower Parent Company and wholly-owned subsidiary revenue resulted primarily from lower sales volume, particularly within domestic state and federal government markets. |
| · | Lower Walsh revenue primarily resulted from lower sales volume from asbestos inspection, energy and mining sectors in the U.S., which was partially offset by higher energy sector revenues from South American operations. |
| · | Lower E&E Brasil revenue was primarily due to lower sales volumes in the energy transmission sector and weakening of the local currency (Reais) against the U.S. dollar. |
| · | Lower utilization of subcontracted labor at GAC, particularly during the current quarter, which was partially offset by a decline in the value of the Chilean Peso against the U.S. dollar throughout the six month period. |
| · | Lower ECSI revenue primarily resulted from lower sales volume in the mining sector, as mining projects completed during fiscal year 2013 were not renewed or replaced. |
Net contract adjustments recorded as an addition (reduction) of revenue are summarized by region in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net contract recoveries (adjustments) recorded as additions to (reductions from) revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
United States, Canada and South America | | $ | 288,131 | | | $ | (412,393 | ) | | $ | (92,917 | ) | | $ | (388,560 | ) |
Middle East/Africa | | | --- | | | | 1,280,917 | | | | 351,320 | | | | 1,272,493 | |
Asia | | | --- | | | | (32,500 | ) | | | --- | | | | (1,120,000 | ) |
Totals | | $ | 288,131 | | | $ | 836,024 | | | $ | 258,403 | | | | (236,067 | ) |
Net contract recoveries from projects in the Middle East and Africa included $0.4 million and $1.3 million of recovery of reserves recorded during the three months ended October 31, 2013 and January 31, 2013, respectively, resulting from collection of cash related to aged and partially reserved contract receivables.
Net contract adjustments from projects in Asia for the six months ended January 31, 2013 included $1.1 million of contract adjustments related to projects in China. All project activity related to these contracts was suspended during fiscal year 2013, and all contract receivables associated with these projects were fully reserved and written off during the quarter ended July 31, 2013.
Operating Expenses
The cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses represents labor and other direct costs of providing services to our clients under our project agreements. These costs, and fluctuations in these costs, generally correlate directly with related project revenues. The cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses, by business entity, are summarized in the following table.
| | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total professional services and other direct operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EEI and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries | | $ | 5,872,807 | | | $ | 6,931,320 | | | $ | 13,481,467 | | | $ | 15,012,725 | |
EEI’s majority-owned subsidiaries: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Walsh | | | 1,436,740 | | | | 1,504,619 | | | | 2,830,239 | | | | 3,107,806 | |
E&E Brasil | | | 1,412,206 | | | | 1,826,056 | | | | 3,360,885 | | | | 3,980,634 | |
GAC | | | 1,473,698 | | | | 1,647,996 | | | | 2,759,494 | | | | 2,636,961 | |
ECSI | | | 356,247 | | | | 429,959 | | | | 688,355 | | | | 909,824 | |
Total cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses | | $ | 10,551,698 | | | $ | 12,339,950 | | | $ | 23,120,440 | | | $ | 25,647,950 | |
The cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses decreased $1.8 million (14%) and $2.5 million (10%) during the first three months and six months of fiscal year 2014, respectively, as compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. These net decreases were primarily due to lower consolidated revenues, which resulted from lower service levels provided during the current year, and to managed reductions in technical staff levels in U.S. operations. Expense reductions in the U.S. were partially offset by a higher volume of project activity and related expenses in certain South American subsidiaries.
Indirect operating expenses include administrative and indirect operating expenses, as well as marketing and related costs. Combined indirect operating expenses by business entity, excluding depreciation and amortization expenses, are summarized in the following table.
�� | | Three Months Ended January 31, | | | Six Months Ended January 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total indirect operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EEI and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries | | $ | 7,919,151 | | | $ | 8,425,488 | | | $ | 17,056,063 | | | $ | 17,770,136 | |
EEI’s majority-owned subsidiaries: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Walsh | | | 3,052,615 | | | | 3,408,757 | | | | 6,140,075 | | | | 6,655,329 | |
E&E Brasil | | | 1,284,561 | | | | 1,584,733 | | | | 2,398,866 | | | | 2,987,066 | |
GAC | | | 360,433 | | | | 234,502 | | | | 641,564 | | | | 490,398 | |
ECSI | | | 596,200 | | | | 790,518 | | | | 1,304,250 | | | | 1,481,738 | |
Total cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses | | $ | 13,212,960 | | | $ | 14,443,998 | | | $ | 27,540,818 | | | $ | 29,384,667 | |
During fiscal year 2013, management at EEI and our U.S. subsidiaries critically reviewed technical and indirect staffing levels, other expenses necessary to support current project work levels and key administrative processes, particularly in our domestic subsidiaries and operations. As a result of this review, the number of full time employees in various technical and indirect departments at EEI and its U.S. subsidiaries decreased by a combined 10% during fiscal year 2013. Utilization of contracted services was also reviewed and reduced at EEI. Management continues to critically evaluate its organizational and cost structure to identify ways to operate more efficiently and cost effectively.
Consolidated indirect operating expenses decreased $1.2 million (9%) and $1.8 million (6%) during the first three months and six months of fiscal year 2014, respectively, as compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year. During the second half of fiscal year 2013 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, management at EEI and its U.S. subsidiaries critically reviewed key administrative processes, reduced indirect staffing levels, and reduced utilization of contracted services in certain indirect departments. These cost reductions in the U.S. were partially offset by higher indirect expenses to support growth in South American subsidiaries.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.4 million (75%) and $0.9 million (78%) the first three months and six months of fiscal year 2014, respectively, due to accelerated amortization of the Company’s principal operating software, which we plan to abandon at the end of fiscal year 2014 in favor of a new software system.
Income Taxes
The estimated effective tax rate was 45.2% and 40.4% for the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase was mainly a result of the recognition of permanent tax differences, which had a greater impact on the effective rate for the six months ended January 31, 2014 due to lower forecasted income from domestic operations. The impact of permanent tax differences was partially offset by higher forecasted income from foreign operations, where effective tax rates are generally lower than in the U.S., as a percentage of consolidated forecasted taxable income.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations discuss the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, income taxes, impairment of long-lived assets and contingencies. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year end July 31, 2013 for a description of our critical accounting policies.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted as of January 31, 2014
In July 2013, FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The Company intends to adopt the provisions of ASU 2013-11 effective August 1, 2014 and apply its provisions retrospectively. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Changes in Corporate Entities
Noncontrolling interests are disclosed as a separate component of consolidated shareholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. Earnings and other comprehensive (loss) income are separately attributed to both the controlling and noncontrolling interests. Earnings per share is calculated based on net (loss) income attributable to the Company’s controlling interests. Transactions to acquire ownership interest from noncontrolling shareholders are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value.
Transactions with noncontrolling shareholders for fiscal years 2014 and 2013, and the resulting effects on shareholders’ equity resulting from changes in EEI’s ownership interest in its subsidiaries, are summarized in the following table.
| | Six Months Ended January 31, 2014 | | | Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2013 | |
Purchases of noncontrolling interests: | | | | | | |
Purchase of 344 Walsh common shares (1) | | $ | 5,653 | | | $ | --- | |
Purchase of 3,705 Walsh common shares (2) | | | 1,120,749 | | | | --- | |
Purchase of 100 Walsh common shares (3) | | | 30,250 | | | | --- | |
Purchase of 50 Walsh common shares (4) | | | --- | | | | 18,316 | |
Purchase of 25 Lowham common shares (5) | | | --- | | | | 8,737 | |
Purchase of 495 Walsh common shares (6) | | | --- | | | | 243,653 | |
Purchase of 2,800 Gustavson common shares (7) | | | --- | | | | 293,102 | |
Purchase of 370 Walsh common shares (8) | | | --- | | | | 182,125 | |
Purchase of 75 Lowham common shares (9) | | | --- | | | | 30,002 | |
Total purchases of additional noncontrolling interests (10) | | $ | 1,156,652 | | | $ | 775,935 | |
| (1) | In January 2014, EEI purchased an additional 0.9% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.1 million in cash. Walsh became a wholly-owned subsidiary of EEI as a result of these transactions. |
| (2) | In October 2013, EEI purchased an additional 9.4% of Walsh for $1.6 million. The purchase price was paid as follows: (i) one third in cash payable on the transaction consummation date; (ii) one third payable with EEI Common Stock on the transaction consummation date; and (iii) one third payable with a promissory note payable in two annual installments of one half the principal plus interest accrued at 3.25% per annum. |
| (3) | In October 2013, EEI purchased an additional 0.2% of Walsh for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (4) | In April 2013, EEI purchased an additional 0.1% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (5) | In March 2013, Lowham-Walsh Engineering & Environment Services LLC (“Lowham”), a subsidiary of Walsh, purchased shares from noncontrolling shareholders for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (6) | In January 2013, EEI purchased an additional 1.3% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.2 million. Two thirds of the purchase price was paid in cash while the remaining one third was paid for with EEI stock. |
| (7) | In December 2012, Gustavson Associates, LLC (“Gustavson”) purchased an additional 6.7% of its shares from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.4 million. Half of the purchase price was paid in cash and Gustavson issued a three year note for the other half. |
| (8) | In December 2012, EEI purchased an additional 0.9% of Walsh from noncontrolling shareholders for $0.2 million in cash. |
| (9) | During the three months ending October 31, 2012, Lowham purchased shares from noncontrolling shareholders for less than $0.1 million in cash. |
| (10) | Purchases of additional noncontrolling interests are recorded as reductions of shareholders’ equity on the condensed consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity. |
Inflation
During the six months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013, inflation did not have a material impact on our business because a significant amount of our contracts are either cost based or contain commercial rates for services that are adjusted annually.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of January 31, 2014 or July 31, 2013.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based upon this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were (1) designed to ensure that material information relating to our Company is accumulated and made known to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, in a timely manner, particularly during the period in which this report was being prepared, and (2) effective, in that they provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Management believes, however, that a controls system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a Company have been detected.
Internal Controls
No significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the six months ended January 31, 2014 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
From time to time, the Company is a named defendant in legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceeding, the resolution of which the management believes will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or to any other pending legal proceedings other than ordinary, routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company maintains liability insurance against risks arising out of the normal course of business.
Certain contracts contain termination provisions under which the customer may, without penalty, terminate the contracts upon written notice to the Company. In the event of termination, the Company would be paid only termination costs in accordance with the particular contract. Generally, termination costs include unpaid costs incurred to date, earned fees and any additional costs directly allocable to the termination.
On September 21, 2012, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the "Department") issued a proposed Compliance Order on Consent (the " Proposed Consent Order") to the City and County of Denver ("Denver") and to Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC (“Walsh”). On the date that the Proposed Consent Order was issued, Walsh was a majority-owned subsidiary of Ecology and Environment, Inc. The Proposed Consent Order concerns construction improvement activities of certain property owned by Denver which was the subject of asbestos remediation. Denver had entered into a contract with Walsh for Walsh to provide certain environmental consulting services (asbestos monitoring services) in connection with the asbestos containment and/or removal performed by other contractors at Denver's real property. Without admitting liability or the Department’s version of the underlying facts, Walsh on February 13, 2013 entered into a Compliance Order on Consent with the Department and paid a penalty of less than $0.1 million and paid for a Supplemental Environmental Project to benefit the public at large in an amount less than $0.1 million. Denver was served with a final Compliance Order and Assessment of Administrative Penalty against Denver alone for approximately $0.2 million. Under Walsh's environmental consulting contract with Denver, Walsh has agreed to indemnify Denver for certain liabilities where Walsh could potentially be held responsible for a portion of the penalty imposed upon Denver. Walsh has put its professional liability and general liability carriers on notice of this indemnification claim by Denver. The Company believes that this administrative proceeding involving Walsh will not have an adverse material effect on the operations of the Company.
On February 4, 2011, the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity Conservation of Brazil (the “Institute”) issued a Notice of Infraction to E & E Brasil. E&E Brasil is a majority-owned subsidiary of Ecology and Environment, Inc. The Notice of Infraction concerns the taking and collecting species of wild animal specimens without authorization by the competent authority and imposes a fine of 520,000 Reais, which has a value of approximately $0.2 million at January 31, 2014. No claim has been made against Ecology and Environment, Inc. The Institute has also filed Notices of Infraction against four employees of E&E Brasil alleging the same claims and has imposed fines against those individuals that, in the aggregate, are equal to the fine imposed against E&E Brasil. E&E Brasil has filed administrative responses with the Institute for itself and its employees that: (a) denies the jurisdiction of the Institute, (b) states that the Notice of Infraction is constitutionally vague and (c) affirmatively stated that E&E Brasil had obtained the necessary permits for the surveys and collections of specimens under applicable Brazilian regulations and that the protected conservation area is not clearly marked to show its boundaries. At this time, E&E Brasil has attended one meeting where depositions were taken. The Company believes that these administrative proceedings in Brazil will not have an adverse material effect on the operations of the Company.
Item 2. | Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds |
(e) Purchased Equity Securities. In August 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 200,000 share repurchase program. The following table summarizes the Company’s purchases of its common stock during the six months ended January 31, 2014 under this share repurchase program:
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | | Average Price Paid Per Share | | | Total Number of Share Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | | Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
August 2013 | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | 93,173 | |
September 2013 | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | 93,173 | |
October 2013 | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | 93,173 | |
November 2013 | | | 16,091 | | | $ | 10.77 | | | | --- | | | | 77,082 | |
December 2013 | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | 77,082 | |
January 2014 | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | 77,082 | |
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None.
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
None.
Due to an extended absence, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, H. John Mye III, was unable to sign this Form 10-Q or provide the quarterly certifications included in Exhibits 31.2 and 32.2. Ronald L. Frank was designated as Acting Chief Financial Officer for the purpose of providing such signatures for this Form 10-Q. Mr. Frank previously served as Chief Financial Officer until 2008, and currently serves as an Executive Vice President, Secretary and a Director of Company.
Item 6. | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K |
| (a) | 31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | 31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | 32.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | 32.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | |
| (b) | Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on August 22, 2013 to announce the appointment of certain officers of the Registrant and amendment of the Registrant’s By-Laws. |
| | |
| (c) | Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on September 13, 2013 to announce the departure of a Director from the Registrant’s Board of Directors. |
| | |
| (d) | Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on January 21, 2014 to report: (i) appointment and departure of certain officers, and compensation arrangements of certain officers; and (ii) submission of matters to a vote of shareholders at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on January 16, 2014, at which stockholders elected two (2) Class A nominees and five (5) Class B nominees for election as Directors of the Company. |
SIGNATURE
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.
| | Ecology and Environment, Inc. |
| | |
Date: March 17, 2014 | By: | /s/ Ronald L. Frank |
| | Ronald L. Frank |
| | Executive Vice President and Acting Chief Financial Officer – Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
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