Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsResults of OperationsSix Months ended November 30, 2000 Compared to Six Months ended November 30, 1999The Company’s total sales decreased 3.3% or $312,753 to $9,173,415 for the six months ended November 30, 2000 from $9,486,168 for the same period of the prior year. The oil and gas industry is beginning to show signs of a turnaround as the price if oil stabilized at higher levels. Improvement is most evident in the upstream process segment of this industry, which is defined as drilling, exploration and pipeline. This segment is beginning to increase its expenditures on our type of products. The downstream process segment, which is defined as the petrochemical processing plants, while operating at full capacity, is negatively affected in its profitability by the higher price of oil. Once oil stabilizes in the mid $20’s/barrel range, the downstream processing segment should begin to increase its MRO (maintenance, repair and operation) spending and some plant expansion. As the upstream and downstream business climate improves, so should that of their supply chain, which is one of our primary customer categories. Areas of concern and of which we should be cautious are the impact of e-commerce, vendor consolidation, integrated supplier contracts and margin pressure created by a low inflation economy. We are in the process of developing our Internet strategy, expanding our product lines to compete in the integrated supply market and reducing our exposure to vendor consolidation. As for margin pressure, we are continually monitoring our costs and improving our productivity in order to compete effectively. Sales and marketing costs during the six months of fiscal year 2001 decreased 3.3% or $47,129 compared with the same period of the previous year. General and administrative costs increased 4.4% or $50,926 during the six months ending November 30, 2000 as compared with the same period of fiscal year 2000. Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital ResourcesCash and cash equivalents were $485,469 and $632,970 at November 30, 2000 and May 31, 2000, respectively. At November 30, 2000 the maximum available borrowings under the revolving credit facility amounted to $500,000. The Company’s current assets exceeded its current liabilities at November 30, 2000 and May 31, 2000 by $2,788,813 and $2,948,024, respectively. The Company’s funding requirements during the quarter were met through cash on hand and exercise of warrants by a major shareholder of the Company. On September 23, 1999, the Company secured a new agreement with Bank One, Texas, N.A. for a one-year revolving credit facility of up to $500,000. The credit line provides for borrowings based on the value of the Company’s receivables, at the bank’s prime rate plus one per cent and is secured by receivables and inventory. The Company has no material commitment for capital expenditures as of November 30, 2000.
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