SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED] For the fiscal year ended:
December 31, 2001
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
For the transition period from_________________to_______________
Commission File No. 000-21724
FUEL-TECH N.V.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Netherlands Antilles N/A
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
of incorporation of organization)
Fuel-Tech N.V. Fuel Tech, Inc.
(Registrant) (U.S. Operating Subsidiary)
Castorweg 22-24 Suite 703, 300 Atlantic Street
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles Stamford, CT 06901
(599) 9-461-3754 (203) 425-9830
(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock $0.01 par value per share The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
(Title of Class) (Name of Exchange on Which Registered)
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 [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K.
Aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant based on the average bid and asked prices of March 20, 2002:
$91,366,000
Indicate number of shares outstanding of each of the registered classes of
Common Stock at March 20, 2002: 19,252,534 shares Common Stock, $0.01 par value.
Documents incorporated by reference:
Certain portions of the Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders
to be held in 2002 described in Parts II, III, and IV hereof are incorporated by
reference in this report.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
Item 1. Business 1
Item 2. Description of Property 5
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 5
Item 4. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders 5
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity
and Related Stockholder Matters 6
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 8
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 9
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 15
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 16
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
and Financial Disclosure 32
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 32
Item 11. Executive Compensation 32
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management 32
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 32
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
on Form 8-K 33
Signatures 35
TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
Term Definition
- ---- ----------
ABC American Bailey Corporation
AES Advanced Engineering Services
CAAA Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
CDT Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.
CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics
Common Shares Shares of the common stock of the Company
Company Fuel-Tech N.V. and its subsidiaries and affiliates
EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
FTI Fuel Tech, Inc.
FUEL CHEM(R) FTI's fuel and flue gas treatment processes, including its
Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection programs for slagging, fouling
and corrosion control and plume abatement
FLGR(TM) Fuel Lean Gas Reburn
Investors The purchasers of Company securities pursuant to a Securities
Purchase Agreement of March 23, 1998
Loan Notes Nil Coupon Non-redeemable Convertible Unsecured Loan Notes of the
Company
NOx Oxides of nitrogen
NOxOUT
CASCADE(R) Combination of NOxOUT and SCR
NOxOUT(R)
Process The Company's SNCR process for the reduction of NOx
NOxOUT SCR(R) Urea used as a catalyst reagent
Rich Reagent An SNCR-type process that broadens the NOx reduction capability
Injection of the NOxOUT Process at a cost similar to NOxOUT. RRI can also
Technology be applied on a stand-alone basis.
(RRI)
SCR Selective Catalytic Reduction
SIP Call State Implementation Plan Rulemaking Procedure
SNCR Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction
SO2 Sulfur dioxide
SOxOUT The Company's process for the reduction of SO2
CASCADE(R)
ULTRA(TM) The Company's process for generating ammonia for use as SCR
reagent
Virtual The Company's advanced visualization services
Vantage(TM)
ii
Fuel-Tech N.V. Subsidiaries and Affiliates
December 31, 2001
-----------
FTNV
Netherlands
------------------- Antilles -----------------------------
| 49% ----------- | 100% | 16%
FTCS | 100% PPI CDT
Germany FTI Delaware Delaware
Massachusetts
|
100%---------100%----------------------|------100%--------100%
| | | |
- ------- ------- ----------- -------
HOLDINGS
FTJL FTL Netherlands Srl
Jamaica Canada Antilles Italy
- ------- ------- ----------- -------
|
|
| 100%
-----------
BV
Netherlands
-----------
|
|
| 100%
-----------
GmbH
Germany
-----------
- --------------------------------------------------------
FTNV - Fuel-Tech N.V.
FTI - Fuel Tech, Inc.
Holdings - Fuel Tech Holdings N.Y.
BV - Fuel Tech BV
GmbH - Fuel Tech GmbH
FTL - Fuel Tech Targeted Injection Chemicals Ltd.
FTJL - Fuel Tech Jamaica Limited
Srl - Fuel Tech Srl
PPI - Platinum Plus, Inc.
CDT - Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.
FTCS - Fuel Tech CS GmbH
- --------------------------------------------------------
iii
PART I
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this Form 10-K which are not historical facts, so-called
"forward-looking statements," are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned
that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including
those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. See "Risk Factors of the Business" in Item 1 and also Item 7
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
The Company
Fuel-Tech N.V., including its subsidiaries (the "Company"), is a
technology company active in the air pollution control and specialty chemical
businesses through its wholly owned subsidiary Fuel Tech, Inc. ("FTI") and its
affiliate Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. ("CDT"). Fuel-Tech N.V., incorporated
in 1987 under the laws of the Netherlands Antilles, is registered at Castorweg
22-24 in Curacao under No. 1334/N.V.
Fuel Tech, Inc.
FTI's special focus is the worldwide marketing of its nitrogen oxide
("NOx") reduction and FUEL CHEM(R) Processes. The NOx reduction technologies,
which include the NOxOUT(R), NOxOUT CASCADE(R), NOxOUT SCR(R), and FLGR(TM)
processes, reduce NOx emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators, furnaces
and other stationary combustion sources. The FUEL CHEM business uses chemical
processes for slagging, fouling, and corrosion control and plume abatement in
furnaces and boilers through the addition of chemicals into the fuel or by
Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection. FTI has a number of other technologies, such as
NOxOUT ULTRA(TM), both commercial and in the development stage, that are for the
most part add-ons to the NOxOUT Process or similar in their technological base.
FTI's business is materially dependent on the continued existence and
enforcement of worldwide air quality regulations.
Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.
CDT, a Delaware corporation, is a specialty chemical company supplying
fuel additives and systems that reduce harmful emissions from internal
combustion engines while improving fuel economy. CDT's two main technology areas
are Platinum Fuel Catalysts ("PFC's") for emission control and fuel economy
improvement in diesel and gasoline-fueled engines and NOx reduction systems for
control of NOx emissions from stationary and mobile diesel engines. CDT was
formed in 1994 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which had conducted
fundamental work regarding the Company's technologies. CDT was spun off by the
Company in a 1995 rights offering. At December 31, 2001, the Company held 16% of
the equity of CDT in the form of CDT common stock. CDT is a public company
registered under the Securities Act of 1934. CDT's technology was in part
acquired by assignment from the Company, which assignment obligates CDT until
2008 to pay to the Company royalties of 2.5% of gross revenues derived from sale
of the PFC's.
American Bailey Corporation
American Bailey Corporation ("ABC") performs management services for
the Company under an Agreement dated April 30, 1998, as amended. Ralph E.
Bailey, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Company,
and Douglas G. Bailey, Managing Director of the Company, are shareholders of
ABC. See the more detailed information relating to this subject under the
caption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" in the Company's Proxy
Statement to be distributed in connection with the Company's 2002 Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders, which information is incorporated by reference. Also,
refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.
NOx Reduction
Regulations and Markets
The domestic U.S. air pollution control market is the primary driver in
the Company's NOx reduction business. The Company estimates the domestic market
to be $2 billion in revenues per year over the next three to four years. This
market is dependant on air pollution regulations and their continued
enforcement. These regulations are based on the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
(the "CAAA") which require reductions in NOx emissions on varying timetables
with respect to various sources of emissions. Under the SIP (State
Implementation Plan ) Call, an extension of Phase II of Title I - Ozone
Non-Attainment (Ozone Transport) of the CAAA (discussed further below) over 1000
utility and large industrial boilers in 19 states are required to achieve
certain NOx reduction targets by May 31, 2004. Under Title III - Air Toxics of
the CAAA, 80 municipal solid waste facilities in the U.S. had to achieve certain
NOx reduction targets by December 2000. Also, in Europe under European Union
Directives, over 100 industrial units must achieve NOx reductions by 2005.
1
In 1994, governors of eleven Northeastern states, known collectively as
the Ozone Transport Region, signed a Memorandum of Understanding requiring
utilities to reduce their NOx emissions by 55% to 65% from 1990 levels by May
1999. In 1998, the EPA announced more stringent regulations. The Ozone Transport
State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call regulation, designed to mitigate the
effects of wind-aided ozone transported from the Midwestern and Southeastern
U.S. into the Northeastern non-attainment areas, requires, following the
litigation described below, 19 states to make even deeper reductions of 85% from
1990 levels by May 31, 2004. Over 1,000 utility and large industrial boilers are
affected by these mandates. Additionally, most other states with non-attainment
areas are also required to meet ambient air quality standards for ozone by 2007.
As noted above, the original SIP Call is the federal mandate introduced
in 1998 to further reduce NOx in 22 states by May 2003. This mandate was an
extension of Phase II of Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA).
On May 14, 1999, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit issued a decision and opinion in American Trucking Association, Inc. et
al v. Environmental Protection Agency et al (No. 97-1440), in which the Court
found that the 1997 EPA adoption of primary and secondary national ambient air
quality standards for particulate matter and ozone involved an unconstitutional
delegation of Congressional power and remanded the case to the EPA for action.
Also, on May 25, 1999 in a separate case, State of Michigan et al v.
Environmental Protection Agency (No. 98-1497), the same Court ordered a partial
stay of implementation of the SIP Call regulation until further order of the
Court. This order was in response to a motion of the plaintiffs to delay
implementation of the SIP Call regulation until resolution of their suit
challenging that regulation. On March 3, 2000, an appellate court of the D.C.
Circuit upheld the validity of the SIP Call for 19 of the 22 states and, on June
22, 2000, the same court made a final ruling upholding the EPA's SIP Call
regulation and denying the appeal of the states and utilities. Subsequent to
this court ruling, the stay in the SIP Call was lifted. Although the NOx
reduction requirement date was moved back one year to May of 2004, 19 states
were required to complete and issue their State Implementation Plans for NOx
reduction by late October of 2000. These plans, which the EPA had until October
2001 to approve, impacted 700 to 800 utility boilers and 400 to 500 industrial
units.
In February 2001, the Federal Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision,
upheld EPA's authority to revise the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for
ozone to 0.080 parts per million averaged through an eight-hour period from the
current 0.120 parts per million for a one-hour period. This more stringent
standard provides clarity and impetus for air pollution control efforts well
beyond the current ozone attainment requirement of 2007. In keeping with this
trend, the Supreme Court, only days later, denied industry's attempt to stay the
SIP Call, effectively exhausting all means of appeal. Based on these regulatory
developments, the Company is enjoying accelerated interest in its programs that
have led to significant project bookings late in 2001 and early in 2002.
Products
The Company's NOxOUT Process is a Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction
("SNCR") process that uses non-hazardous urea as the reagent rather than
ammonia. The NOxOUT Process on its own is capable of reducing NOx by up to 40%
for utilities and by potentially significantly greater amounts for industrial
units in many types of plants with capital costs ranging from $6 - $20/kw for
utility boilers and with annualized operating costs ranging from $1,000 -
$1,500/ton of NOx removed.
The Company's NOxOUT CASCADE Process provides for the addition of
catalyst as an add-on to the NOxOUT Process to achieve performance similar to
Selective Catalytic Reduction ("SCR"). Based on demonstrations, NOxOUT CASCADE's
capital cost is less than that of SCR, while operating costs are competitive
with those experienced by SCR.
The Company's NOxOUT SCR Process utilizes urea as a catalyst reagent to
achieve NOx reductions of up to 90% from stationary combustion sources with
capital and operating costs competitive with equivalently sized, standard SCR
systems.
Fuel Lean Gas Reburn (FLGR), licensed from the Gas Technology Institute
on a co-exclusive basis, utilizes injection of natural gas to react with and
reduce NOx by 25-40%.
The Company is currently in the process of commercially offering its
NOxOUT ULTRA system. The system is designed to safely and economically convert
urea to ammonia for use as a reagent in the selective catalytic reduction
process (SCR) for NOx reduction. In this fashion, the Company intends to
participate in the SCR segment of the SIP Call driven market. Recent local
hurdles encountered in the ammonia permitting process have raised concerns
regarding the safety of ammonia storage in quantities sufficient to supply SCR.
The Company has recently licensed Rich Reagent Injection Technology
from the Electric Power Research Institute. The technology has been proven in
full-scale field studies on cyclone-fired units to reduce NOx by 25-30%. The
technology is a generic SNCR whose applicability is outside the temperature
range of NOxOUT. The technology is envisioned as an add-on to the Company's
NOxOUT systems, thus potentially broadening the NOx reduction of the combined
system to almost 50% with a minimal additional capital requirement.
Sales of the NOx reduction technologies were $10.4 million, $17.4
million, and $27.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and
1999, respectively.
2
NOx Reduction Competition
Processes competitive with the Company's NOx reduction products may be
expected from combustion modifications, SCR and ammonia SNCR, among others.
Combustion modifications, including low NOx burners, can be fitted to
most types of boilers with cost and effectiveness varying with specific boilers.
Combustion modifications may effect 20-50% NOx reduction economically with
capital costs ranging from $5 - $40/kw and annualized operating costs ranging
from $300 - $1,000/ton of NOx removed. Such companies as ABB Ltd., Foster
Wheeler Corporation, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Steam Sales Corporation, and
Todd Combustion Ltd. are active competitors in the low-NOx burner business.
SCR is an effective and proven method of control for the removal of up
to 90% of NOx. SCR has a high capital cost ranging from $55 - $150/kw on
retrofit coal applications. Such companies as ABB Ltd., The Babcock & Wilcox
Company, Cormetech, Inc., Engelhard Corporation, Foster Wheeler Corporation,
Peerless Manufacturing Company, and the Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
are active SCR system providers.
The use of ammonia as the reagent for the SNCR process was developed by
the ExxonMobil Corporation. The Company understands that the ExxonMobil patents
on this process have expired. This process can reduce NOx by 30% to 70% on
incinerators, but has limited applicability in the utility industry. Ammonia
system capital costs range from $15 - $22/kw, while annualized operating costs
range from $1,000 - $3,000/ton of NOx removed. These systems require the use of
stored ammonia, a hazardous substance.
In addition to or in lieu of using the foregoing processes, certain
customers will elect to close or derate plants, purchase electricity from
third-party sources, switch from higher to lower NOx emitting fuels or purchase
NOx emission allowances.
FUEL CHEM
Product and Markets
The Company's fireside and fuel additive programs, FUEL CHEM, help
improve unit performance and reduce customer operating costs. Through the
program, customers have enjoyed returns on their investments of up to 500%. The
Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection approach, a key FUEL CHEM technology on which two
patents have been issued, is a uniquely engineered and economical solution to
furnace fouling and corrosion problems. Electric utilities, the pulp and paper
industry and municipal solid waste incinerator facilities make up the principal
markets for the program.
Sales of the FUEL CHEM products were $7.2 million, $4.5 million, and
$5.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999,
respectively.
Competition
During 2001, the Company placed a significant focus on penetration of
the coal-fired utility industry. A successful demonstration at a Western U.S.
utility led to the attainment of the first commercial contract in this market.
For the majority of the year, parity existed between the price of oil and
natural gas, which served to support the utilization of Fuel Chem programs
(which are dependent on the utilization of oil). However, favorable natural gas
pricing vis a vis oil, combined with an overall downturn in the economy and
normal maintenance outages, negatively impacted revenues in the latter portion
of the fourth quarter.
Competition for the Company's FUEL CHEM product line includes chemicals
sold by specialty chemical companies, such as Hercules Incorporated, primarily
in the traditional heavy-fuel-oil treatment area. No substantive competition
currently exists for the Company's technology for Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection
of additives for control of slagging, fouling, and corrosion and for plume
abatement, but there can be no assurance that such lack of substantive
competition will continue.
Advanced Engineering Services
The Company's Advanced Engineering Services ("AES") continued in 2001
to support the sale of the Company's NOx reduction and FUEL CHEM systems,
particularly through the use of computational fluid dynamics ("CFD") tools.
These CFD tools assist in the prediction of the behavior of gas flows, thereby
enhancing the implementation of the Company's NOx reduction systems and the
application of its FUEL CHEM slag and corrosion control processes. Also, in
2001, the Company augmented its AES staff and equipment with a view toward not
only better serving the Company's customers but also to seek other applications
for its services. Toward this goal, the Company has made progress in the
commercialization of Virtual Vantage(TM), which allows users to visualize
complex data sets in a virtual reality environment. The Company expects to
release Version 1.0 of this software in the first half of 2002.
Intellectual Property
See Item 2 "Description of Property" for information on the Company's
intellectual property and proprietary position, which are material to its
business.
3
Employees
The Company has 73 full-time employees, 68 in North America and 5 in
Europe. The Company enjoys good relations with its employees and is not a party
to any labor management agreements.
Risk Factors of the Business
Investors in the Company should be mindful of the following risk
factors relative to the Company's business.
(i) Lack of Diversification
The Company is engaged in only one principal business, involving the
marketing of products to reduce air pollution. An adverse development in the
Company's business as a result of competition, technological change, government
regulation, or any other factor could have a significantly greater impact than
if the Company maintained diverse operations.
(ii) Common Shareholders Subordinate to Nil Coupon Loan Note Holders
In the event of a liquidation of the Company, the holders of the Common
Shares of the Company will be subordinate to the prior claims of the holders of
the Company's Nil Coupon Loan Notes in principal amount at the date of this
report of approximately $2.6 million.
(iii) No Dividends
The Company has not to date paid dividends on its common stock and does
not intend to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.
(iv) Possible Volatility of Stock Price
There has been significant volatility in the market prices of publicly
traded shares of emerging growth technology companies. Economic trends and
factors such as announcements of technical developments, establishment of
strategic alliances, changes in governmental regulations, and developments in
patent or proprietary rights may have a significant effect on the market price
of the Company's Common Shares.
(v) Competition
Competition in the NOx control market will come from processes
utilizing low-NOx burners, over-fired air, flue gas recirculation, ammonia SNCR,
SCR and, with respect to particular uses of urea not infringing the Company's
patents, urea (see Item 2 "Description of Property"). Competition will also come
from business practices such as the purchase rather than the generation of
electricity, fuel switching, closure or derating of units, and sale or trade of
pollution credits. Utilization by customers of such processes or business
practices or combinations thereof may adversely affect the Company's pricing and
participation in the Title I, Phase II NOx Control market if customers elect to
comply with regulations by methods other than the Company's NOxOUT, NOxOUT
CASCADE or FLGR processes. See above under this Item I the text under the
captions "Products" and "NOx Reduction Competition."
(vi) Dependence on Regulations and Enforcement
The Company's business is primarily regulatory driven. That business
will be adversely impacted to the extent that regulations are repealed or
amended to significantly reduce the level of required NOx reduction, or to the
extent that regulatory authorities minimize enforcement. See also the text above
under the caption "Regulations and Markets."
(vii) Protection of Patents and Proprietary Rights
The Company holds licenses to or owns a number of patents and has
patents pending. There can be no assurance that pending patent applications will
be granted or that outstanding patents will not be challenged or circumvented by
competitors. Certain critical technology relating to the Company's products is
protected by trademark and trade secret laws and confidentiality and licensing
agreements. There can be no assurance that such protection will prove adequate
or that the Company will have adequate remedies for disclosure of its trade
secrets or violations of its intellectual property rights. See Item 2
"Description of Property."
4
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
The Company's NOxOUT Process is based on the Electric Power Research
Institute (EPRI) urea technology embodied in two patents licensed to the Company
("EPRI patents"). One of these patents expired in 1997 and the other expired in
1999. In addition to these, the Company owns 105 patents worldwide, with 3
patent applications pending in the U.S. and 21 pending in non-U.S.
jurisdictions. These patents cover some 43 inventions, 31 associated with the
NOxOUT Process; 2 associated with FUEL CHEM, 1 associated with Virtual Vantage
and 9 associated with non-commercialized technologies. These inventions
represent significant enhancements of the application and performance of the
technologies. Although the EPRI patents and license have expired, the Company
believes that the protection provided by the numerous claims in the above
referenced patents or patent applications of the Company is substantial and,
regardless of the expired EPRI urea patents, affords the Company a significant
competitive advantage in the SNCR field. Accordingly, any significant reduction
in the protection afforded by these patents or any significant development in
competing technologies could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business.
The Company's most recent NOx reduction technology is Fuel Lean Gas
Reburn (FLGR) which is licensed through November 2003 from the Gas Technology
Institute in Chicago. The Company has an option to extend the agreement for a
seven-year period of time.
Apart from its intellectual property, the property of the Company is
not material.
The Company and its subsidiaries operate from leased office and
engineering facilities in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; Batavia, Illinois;
Stamford, Connecticut; and Milan, Italy.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company has no pending litigation material to its business.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
During the fourth quarter of 2001, no matters were submitted to a vote
of security holders.
5
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market
The Company's Common Shares have been traded since September 1993 on
The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (Small Capitalization) and the Berlin Stock
Exchange.
Prices
The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices during each
calendar quarter since January, 2000.
High Low
---- ---
2001
Fourth Quarter 6.070 2.190
Third Quarter 3.700 2.010
Second Quarter 3.840 2.000
First Quarter 2.781 1.250
2000
Fourth Quarter 2.375 1.250
Third Quarter 2.625 1.875
Second Quarter 2.813 1.844
First Quarter 3.500 1.844
Dividends
The Company has not to date paid dividends on its Common Shares and is
not expected to do so in the foreseeable future.
Restricted Subsidiary Assets
Refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for a
discussion of restrictions between the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary,
FTI.
Holders
Based on information from the Company's Transfer Agent, as of March 15,
2002, there were 408 registered holders of the Company's common stock.
Management believes that, on such date, there were approximately 2,300
beneficial holders of the Company's common stock.
Transfer Agent
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Shares is Mellon
Investor Services, LLC, 85 Challenger Road, Overpeck Centre, Ridgefield Park,
New Jersey 07660.
Exchange Controls
The Company received a license of unlimited duration from the Central
Bank of the Netherlands Antilles to exempt it from foreign exchange controls in
dealings with parties outside of the Netherlands Antilles or with parties in the
Netherlands Antilles holding a similar license. The Company also received a
business license of unlimited duration that allows the securities of the Company
to be held by non-residents of the Netherlands Antilles. There are no other
restrictions on the rights of such non-residents as shareholders. The books of
the Company are maintained in United States dollars, however, there are
transactions in other currencies.
Taxation
Under the Netherlands Antilles tax code applicable to the Company until
at least the fiscal year 2019, the Company's income taxes in the Netherlands
Antilles, which are based on profits exclusive of Dutch dividends received, are
computed at a rate of 2.4% on the first 100,000 Netherlands Antilles Guilders
(approximately $60,000) and 3% on the excess. Also, capital gains and losses are
not included in the taxable profit of the Company. Based on a tax ruling
received by the Company, Dutch dividends received will be taxed to the Company
at a rate of 5.0% at source, and at 5.5% of the net Dutch dividends in the
Netherlands Antilles until at least the fiscal year 2005. Fuel-Tech N.V. is not
now liable for tax in any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands Antilles. The
subsidiaries of the Company are generally subject to the tax regimes of the
jurisdictions where they are incorporated and conduct operations but not in the
Netherlands Antilles.
6
Dividends paid by the Company to United States persons who are not
engaged in a trade or business through a permanent establishment in the
Netherlands Antilles are currently not subject to tax in the Netherlands
Antilles. Gain or loss derived by a United States person from the sale or
exchange of the Company's Common Shares are exempt from Netherlands Antilles
income tax. The tax treaty between the United States and the Netherlands
Antilles was terminated effective December 31, 1987.
7
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Selected financial data is presented below as of the end of and for
each of the fiscal years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2001. The
selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31,
2001, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations. "
For the years ended December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT of OPERATIONS DATA 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for
share data)
Net sales $ 17,672 $ 21,906 $ 33,325 $ 25,864 $ --
Royalty income from NFT -- -- -- -- 148
Loss from equity interest in joint venture -- -- -- -- 853
Selling, general and administrative and other
costs and expenses 9,873 9,305 9,691 8,927 2,064
Net (loss) income (1,633) 415 3,008 539 (2,571)
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Basic (loss) income per common share $ (0.09) $ 0.02 $ 0.17 $ 0.03 $ (0.21)
Diluted (loss) income per common share $ (0.09) $ 0.02 $ 0.16 $ 0.03 $ (0.21)
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding 18,592,000 18,396,000 17,752,000 15,680,000 12,387,000
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding 18,592,000 19,621,000 19,335,000 17,437,000 12,387,000
December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per
share data)
Working capital $ 8,861 $ 12,542 $ 12,126 $ 9,047 $ 1,766
Total assets 20,328 23,089 24,464 19,153 5,947
Total liabilities 7,193 8,522 10,773 8,837 701
Shareholders' equity 13,135 14,567 13,691 10,316 5,246
Net tangible book value per share $ 0.56 $ 0.59 $ 0.52 $ 0.45 $ 0.37
Notes:
(1) Effective April 30, 1998, Fuel Tech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Fuel-Tech N.V. (the "Company"), purchased Nalco Chemical Company's 50%
interest in the Nalco Fuel Tech (NFT) joint venture. As a result of this
transaction, the Company owns 100% of the assets and liabilities of NFT.
The 1998 operations of NFT have been consolidated with those of the Company
for the entire year. The Company's operating results for 1997 reflect the
Company's 50% share of NFT's operating results on the equity basis of
accounting. Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.
(2) Shareholders' equity includes outstanding nominal nil coupon non-redeemable
perpetual loan notes. See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.
(3) Net tangible book value per share assumes full conversion of the Company's
nil coupon non-redeemable perpetual loan notes into shares of the Company's
common stock.
(4) Effective March 31, 1985, FTI effected a quasi-reorganization and reduced
the value of certain of its assets. Tax benefits resulting from the
utilization of the United States federal tax loss carryforwards existing as
of the date of the quasi-reorganization have been excluded from the results
of operations and credited to additional paid-in capital when realized. Tax
benefits from the utilization of such carryforwards of $722,000 and
$1,363,000 were realized in 1999 and 1998, respectively. As such, a
non-cash charge was recorded as income tax expense, and additional paid-in
capital was increased accordingly for the amounts noted above in both
years. There are no remaining tax loss carryforwards from years prior to
the date of the quasi-reorganization.
8
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Background
Fuel-Tech N.V. (the "Company") operates primarily in the air pollution
control business. It distributes its products through its direct sales force,
licensees and agents. Principal markets for its products are stationary
combustion sources that produce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and other emissions. The
Company sells its fuel treatment chemicals through its direct sales force and
agents to industrial and utility power-generation facilities.
The Company currently generates revenues from the following two product
lines:
Nitrogen Oxide ("NOx") Reduction Technologies
The Company markets several NOx reduction technologies to meet
statutory NOx reduction requirements worldwide. The near-term driver for growth
in this business is the Ozone Transport SIP (State Implementation Plan) Call,
which requires 19 states to decrease their NOx emissions by May 31, 2004. This
regulation impacts 700-800 utility boilers and 400-500 large industrial boilers
(see below for more detail on the SIP Call).
Fuel Treatment Chemicals
The Company's proprietary Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection technology
centers around the unique application of specialty chemicals to improve the
performance of combustion units. Specifically, this technology is used to reduce
slag formation, corrosion and opacity in boilers, furnaces and incinerators. The
Company believes its largest market opportunity for this product line is those
units burning Western coals, many of which have significant operational issues
related to the formation of slag. Fuel Tech first penetrated this market in 2001
through the successful demonstration of this technology on a large utility
boiler burning Western coal and, based on this success, expects to further
penetrate this market in 2002.
2001 versus 2000
Net sales in 2001 totaled $17,672,000 versus net sales of $21,906,000
in 2000, a decline of 19%. This overall decline is due to a $9,100,000 year on
year reduction in domestic NOx reduction industrial project revenues, the basis
of which is discussed further below. This result was partially offset by two
favorable factors. First, the Company experienced a $2,776,000 increase in fuel
treatment chemical revenues in 2001 versus 2000, to a record level of
$7,209,000. Second, the Company realized revenues from temperature mapping and
modeling activities predominantly for the domestic NOx reduction utility project
business in the amount of approximately $1,700,000 in 2001 versus an immaterial
amount in 2000.
The year on year decline in domestic NOx reduction industrial project
revenues is attributable to a NOx reduction regulation, as mandated in Title III
of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA), requiring municipal solid waste
incinerators to significantly reduce their NOx emissions by December 1, 2000.
This regulation had a significant positive impact on industrial project revenues
in 2000, and it was expected that these revenues would not repeat in 2001. NOx
reduction utility revenue had been negatively impacted by the delay in obtaining
a final ruling on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SIP Call
regulation. As discussed further below, the uncertainty regarding this
regulation has been lifted and the Company expects demand for its NOx reduction
technologies to increase significantly during the next few years.
The increase in fuel treatment chemical revenues is attributable to the
Company's success in penetrating the market for utility units burning Western
coals, and to customers' conversion from existing suppliers to Fuel Tech.
Significant focus has been placed on marketing the Company's patented
Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection approach to reducing the operating costs of
customers' units. The succesful penetration of the market for utility units
burning western coals will serve as the primary driver for revenue growth in
this business in the upcoming years.
The "SIP Call" is the federal mandate that, when introduced in 1998,
required 22 states to reduce NOx emissions by May 2003. This mandate was an
extension of Phase II of Title I of the CAAA. In May 1999 a stay was imposed on
this regulation. On March 3, 2000, an appellate court of the D.C. Circuit upheld
the validity of the SIP Call for 19 of the 22 states and, on June 22, 2000, the
same court made a final ruling upholding the EPA's SIP call regulation and
denying the appeal of the states and utilities. Subsequent to this court ruling,
the stay on the SIP Call was lifted. Although the NOx reduction requirement date
was moved back one year to May of 2004, nineteen states were required to
complete and issue their State Implementation Plans for NOx reduction by October
of 2000. These plans, which the EPA had until October 2001 to approve, will
potentially impact 700 to 800 utility boilers and 400 to 500 large industrial
units.
9
In February 2001, the United States Supreme Court, in a unanimous
decision, upheld EPA's authority to revise the National Ambient Air Quality
Standard for ozone to 0.080 parts per million averaged through an eight-hour
period from the current 0.120 parts per million for a one-hour period. This more
stringent standard provides clarity and impetus for air pollution control
efforts well beyond the current ozone attainment requirement of 2007. In keeping
with this trend, the Supreme Court, only days later, denied industry's attempt
to again stay the SIP Call, effectively exhausting all means of appeal.
Based on these regulatory developments, the Company is enjoying
accelerated interest in its programs that have led to significant project
bookings late in 2001 and early 2002.
In 2001, the Company realized approximately $1,700,000 in revenues from
temperature mapping and modeling orders received on 40 boilers predominantly for
the domestic NOx reduction utility project business. The Company's performance
of temperature mapping and modeling work for a customer is the precursor to
performing NOx reduction project installations on the units for which the
mapping and modeling has been performed. It is the Company's belief that project
orders will be received from the majority of customers for whom temperature
mapping and modeling work has been performed.
The gross margin percentage on an overall basis across all products was
49.1% in 2001, compared with 46.3% in 2000. The improvement was realized
primarily due to the increase in revenues in the fuel treatment chemical
business. As NOx reduction revenues from utility companies in the United States
increase due to the above-mentioned regulations, this business will comprise a
much larger percentage of the Company's overall revenues. As a result, the
Company expects that the overall gross margin percentages will decline over the
next several years, reflecting the change in product mix. It should be noted,
however, that gross margin dollars are expected to increase significantly in
2002 due to the expected increase in revenues in both the NOx control and fuel
treatment chemical businesses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $8,708,000 for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2001, an increase of $774,000 from the prior
year. The increase is due primarily to a higher level of selling and service
expenses resulting from the increased agents fees and commissions for the U.S.
fuel treatment chemical business, and to a lesser extent to an increase in
expenses related to the enhancement and expansion of the Company's European
business.
Research and development expenses for the twelve months ended December
31, 2001 and 2000 were $1,165,000 and $843,000, respectively. The Company
continues to aggressively pursue commercial applications for its technologies
outside of its traditional markets, with a particular focus on its NOxOUT
ULTRA(TM) process and its Virtual Vantage(TM) advanced visualization software.
The Company sold its first commercial demonstration of NOxOUT ULTRA late in
2001, and expects additional demonstration orders in 2002. Version 1.0 of the
Virtual Vantage software is expected to be released late in the second quarter
of 2002, but the Company does not expect to realize significant revenues from
this product before 2003.
The Company recorded a net loss from its equity interest in affiliates
during the year 2001 of $342,000. This amount consists of a $250,000 loss
recognized on its equity investment in Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (CDT),
and a $92,000 loss on its investment in Fuel Tech CS GmbH. The Company has a 16%
common stock ownership interest in CDT as of December 31, 2001, while the
Company has a 49% ownership interest in Fuel Tech CS GmbH as noted above. Please
refer to Note 9 of the consolidated financial statements for a further
discussion of related party transactions.
Interest expense decreased to $245,000 for the twelve-month period
ended December 31, 2001 from $354,000 for the same period in 2000. The favorable
variance is due solely to the decrease in the average outstanding principal debt
balance during the year, and to a decrease in short-term interest rates.
Other income and expense for the twelve-month period ended December 31,
2001 was $37,000 versus $82,000 for the same period in 2000. The decrease is due
to a lower level of interest income that was driven by the decrease in
short-term interest rates noted above, and to the write down of impaired assets.
Partially offsetting these factors was a gain in the amount of approximately
$180,000 related to the dissolution of the wholly owned subsidiaries in Poland
and Taiwan. The entity in Poland has not been operational since 1997, and the
entity in Taiwan operated only as a sales agency office.
The Company recorded a tax benefit of $114,000 in 2001 related to the
Italian subsidiary. There were no domestic income taxes recorded in 2001 as the
Company recorded a net loss for the year. The Company has $39.9 million in
United States federal income tax loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2001, the
deferred tax benefit of which has been offset by a valuation allowance in the
Company's balance sheet.
In the opinion of management, the Company's expected near-term revenue
growth in its NOx reduction business will be directly related to the
implementation of the requirements of the CAAA. The Company's implementor and
alliance strategies will enable the Company to provide the NOxOUT Process to an
increasing number of customers without significantly adding technical and
support staff. Customers purchase the NOxOUT Process and related technologies
from either the Company or its implementors. If customers purchase the NOxOUT
Process from implementors, the per contract revenues to the Company may be
lower, but more installations may be handled.
10
2000 versus 1999
Net sales in 2000 totaled $21,906,000 versus net sales of $33,325,000
in 1999, a decline of 34%. This overall decline was due primarily to a
$13,337,000 year on year reduction in domestic NOx reduction project revenue
from utilities. This result was somewhat offset by a 28% increase in domestic
NOx reduction industrial project revenue, as particular emphasis was placed on
this market segment while awaiting resolution of litigation concerning
regulations affecting the domestic utility segment. International NOx reduction
industrial project revenues in 2000 were behind 1999 by 51%, with the decline
being attributable to the closure of Fuel Tech GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company (discussed further below) and to the completion of a major
project in Asia in 1999. International project revenues were, however, supported
by the continued maturation of the Western European market, with new business
attained in France and Italy. Lastly, revenues derived from the sale of fuel
treatment chemicals domestically and internationally fell short of 1999 levels
by 9% and 58%, respectively. Domestically, the negative impact of high crude oil
prices early in the year could not be completely overcome by year-end gains
resulting from the high price of natural gas (causing boiler operators to switch
fuels back to oil), and the penetration of the Company's patented
Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection technology. The decline in International fuel
treatment chemical revenues was primarily attributable to a large customer's
change in fuels, thus eliminating their requirement for treatment chemicals.
The Company believes that the delay in obtaining a final ruling on the
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SIP Call regulation, as discussed
previously, was the primary reason for the decline in domestic NOx reduction
utility project revenue experienced in 2000.
As noted above, sales in the domestic fuel treatment chemical segment
increased during the latter part of 2000, which resulted from the increase in
the cost of natural gas that has caused customers to switch back to using fuel
oil. Additionally, significant effort was being expended to further penetrate
and enter the potentially lucrative pulp and paper and Western coals markets.
The Company directed its sales and marketing efforts toward the penetration of
its patented Targeted-In-Furnace-Injection technology into these segments of the
market, where the return on investment to the Company's customers can reach in
excess of 500% per year.
The gross margin percentage on an overall basis across all products was
46.3% in 2000, compared with 43.6% in 1999. The improvement was realized
primarily due to the reduction in revenues realized from lower margin NOx
reduction utility projects in the United States in 2000 versus 1999, and to the
improved margin performance on NOx reduction industrial projects.
The Company's net income on a consolidated basis for the 12 months
ended December 31, 2000 included a net charge of $490,000 related to the
restructure of its European operations in an effort to consolidate its business
and enhance profitability. In the second quarter of 2000, the Company announced
that it would concentrate its European resources in its Italian company, Fuel
Tech Srl, and shut down Fuel Tech GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary, in Germany.
The restructuring consisted of the following transactions, which were recorded
at June 30, 2000:
- Fuel Tech GmbH's NOxOUT chemical business was sold to a new
entity in Germany (Fuel Tech CS GmbH) in which the Company
holds a 49% ownership interest that was acquired for
$116,000. The selling price is dependent on future results
of the chemical business, but will not be less than
1,250,000 deutsche marks (approximately $600,000), paid out
over three years. A gain on this transaction of $269,000 was
recorded in other income and expense in the consolidated
statement of operations.
- Fuel Tech GmbH recorded a charge of $528,000 related to the
closure of the entity. The charge included accruals of
$343,000 primarily for severance obligations for four
employees, lease termination costs and other costs related
to the closure of the entity. This charge was recorded as a
reduction to operating income in the consolidated statement
of operations. As of December 31, 2001, the Company made
payments of approximately $311,000 related to this charge.
- The cumulative foreign currency translation loss related to
Fuel Tech GmbH of $231,000 was recognized as other income
and expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
Selling, general and administrative costs decreased by $953,000 from
1999. The decrease is due primarily to a reduction in revenue-based expenses,
such as sales commissions to employees and agents, and to a lesser extent, to
reductions in controllable expenses.
The Company recorded a net loss from its equity interest in affiliates
during the year 2000 of $195,000. This amount consists of a $225,000 loss
recognized on its equity investment in Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (CDT),
offset by a $30,000 gain on its investment in Fuel Tech CS GmbH. The Company had
a 21.6% common stock ownership interest in CDT as of December 31, 2000, while
the Company had a 49% ownership interest in Fuel Tech CS GmbH as noted above.
Please refer to Note 9 of the consolidated financial statements for a further
discussion of related party transactions.
11
Interest expense increased to $354,000 for the twelve-month period
ended December 31, 2000 from $309,000 for the same period in 1999. The
unfavorable variance is due solely to the increase in the average outstanding
principal debt balance during the year. A $4.5 million term loan was received on
September 1, 1999, and was used to retire a note held by Nalco Chemical Company
("Nalco"), the Company's former joint venture partner in Nalco Fuel Tech
("NFT"), with a remaining principal balance of $2.5 million and for the buyout
of a contingent payment obligation held by Nalco which had a maximum remaining
obligation of $5.4 million. Both obligations relate to the Company's purchase of
Nalco's interest in NFT in April 1998.
Other income and expense for the twelve-month period ended December 31,
2000 was favorable versus the prior year by $333,000. Higher levels of interest
income driven by favorable cash balances and higher interest rates, as well as
the impact of the German transactions discussed above provided the positive
variance.
The Company did not record the impact of income taxes in 2000, while
income tax expense of $1,299,000 was recorded in 1999. The Company had $46.0
million in United States federal income tax loss carryforwards as of December
31, 2000 (the deferred tax benefit of which has been offset by a valuation
allowance in the Company's balance sheet). There was no income tax impact
recorded in the 2000 results primarily due to recording the benefit of the net
operating losses generated in prior years, which were carried forward and
applied at the state level.
12
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's cash and cash equivalents were approximately $9.3 million
at December 31, 2001 versus $9.0 million at December 31, 2000. Operating
activities, which provided $2.1 million of cash in 2001, were driven by the
continued improvement in working capital management. Investing activities, which
used cash of $1.1 million during the year, were primarily comprised of a loan to
CDT of $125,000 and to the continued investment in equipment and intellectual
property of $1,016,000. Financing activities, which used cash of $534,000 during
the year, were comprised primarily of debt repayments of $900,000, which were
offset by cash received from the exercise of stock options.
Historically, the Company has financed its operations principally
through the private placement of its Common Shares and the private placement of
nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes (the "Loan Notes").
The Loan Notes are convertible at any time into the Company's common stock. They
bear no interest, have no maturity date and are repayable generally only in the
event of the winding up of the Company. The Company has therefore classified the
Loan Notes within shareholders' equity in its balance sheet.
At December 31, 2001, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of
$9,338,000 and working capital of $8,861,000 versus $8,987,000 and $12,542,000
at the end of 2000, respectively.
On September 1, 1999, FTI entered into a $3.0 million revolving credit
facility expiring August 31, 2002, which is collateralized by all personal
property owned by FTI. FTI can use this facility for cash advances and standby
letters of credit. Cash advances under this facility bear interest at the bank's
prime rate, or at an optional rate that can be selected by FTI which is based on
the bank's Interbank Offering Rate plus 2.25%.
Also, on September 1, 1999, FTI entered into a term loan agreement with
the same bank for a total principal balance of $4.5 million. The principal
balance was to be repaid in quarterly installments of $225,000 commencing on
December 31, 1999, with a final principal payment of $2,025,000 due on August
31, 2002. Further, FTI entered into an interest rate swap transaction that fixes
the rate of interest at 8.91% on approximately 50% of the outstanding principal
balance during the term of the loan. The remaining principal balance bears
interest at the bank's prime rate, or at an optional rate that can be selected
by FTI which is based on the bank's Interbank Offering Rate plus 2.25%. The
borrowings under this facility are collateralized by all personal property owned
by FTI.
In 2001, amendments to this debt agreement were approved to increase
the line of credit to $6,000,000, and to extend the expiration date of both the
line of credit and the term loan to January 31, 2003. Further, on March 7, 2002
an additional amendment to the agreement required FTI to maintain a $6,500,000
compensating balance in support of the debt facility, so long as credit is
available and until the bank is repaid in full. At December 31, 2001, the full
outstanding balance of the term loan is classified as short term to reflect the
FTI's intent to repay or refinance this balance during the first six months of
2002 on favorable terms to the Company, and also, uncertainty concerning FTI's
ability to comply with a debt covenant at September 30, 2002. The covenant for
the period ended September 30, 2002 and beyond, which was negotiated in 1999,
does not reflect the deferral in NOx reduction revenues the Company experienced
due to the delay in obtaining a final ruling on the SIP Call regulation.
Under the terms of this agreement, FTI is not allowed to make loans or
advances, or remit annual dividends in excess of $900,000 to the Company as long
as the facility is outstanding. At December 31, 2001, FTI net assets subject to
this restriction are $13,264,000. This restriction does not adversely impact the
Company's ability to meet its cash obligations.
At December 31, 2001, the bank had provided standby letters of credit,
predominantly to customers, totaling approximately $1,423,000 in connection with
contracts in process. The Company is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank
for any payments made by the bank under these letters of credit. At December 31,
2001, there were no cash borrowings against this facility and approximately
$4,577,000 was available for utilization.
The carrying amount of debt approximates fair value at December 31,
2001. The fair value of the interest rate swap, based on quoted market prices,
is a liability of $42,000 at December 31, 2001. The notional value of the swap
is $1,350,000 at December 31, 2001.
As a result of the aforementioned transactions, the pending regulatory
deadlines in the United States and the current cash and working capital
positions, the Company believes that it will have sufficient resources to fund
its growth and operations going forward.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which
require the Company to make estimates and assumptions. The Company believes that
of its significant accounting policies (see Note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements), the following involves a higher degree of judgment and complexity:
13
The Company uses the percentage of completion method of accounting for
certain long-term equipment construction and license contracts. Under the
percentage of completion method, sales and gross profit are recognized as work
is performed based on the relationship between actual engineering hours and
equipment construction costs incurred and total estimated hours and costs at
completion. Since the financial reporting of these contracts depends on
estimates, which are assessed continually during the term of the contract,
recognized sales and profit are subject to revisions as the contract progresses
to completion. Revisions in profit estimates are reflected in the period in
which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
From time to time, information provided by the Company, statements made
by its employees or information included in its filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (including this Annual Report) may contain statements that
are not historical facts, so-called "forward-looking statements." These
forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's actual
future results may differ significantly from those stated in any forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, product demand, pricing, market
acceptance, litigation, risk of dependence on significant customers, third-party
suppliers and intellectual property rights, risks in product and technology
development and other risk factors detailed in this Annual Report and in the
Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
14
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company's earnings and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to
changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not enter into
foreign currency forward contracts or into foreign currency option contracts to
manage this risk due to the immaterial nature of the transactions involved.
The Company is also exposed to changes in interest rates primarily due
to its long-term debt arrangement (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial
statements). The Company uses an interest rate derivative instrument (an
interest rate swap) to manage exposure to interest rate changes. The Company has
entered into an interest rate swap transaction that fixes the rate of interest
at 8.91% on approximately 50% of the outstanding principal balance during the
term of the loan. A hypothetical 100 basis point adverse move in interest rates
along the entire interest rate yield curve would not have a materially adverse
effect on interest expense during the upcoming year ended December 31, 2001.
15
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FUEL-TECH N.V.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fuel-Tech N.V.
as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, cash flows and shareholders' equity for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2001. These consolidated financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Fuel-Tech N.V. at December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the consolidated results of
its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective
January 1, 2001, the Company changed its method of accounting for derivative
financial instruments to conform with SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities."
Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 22, 2002, except for Note 8 as to which the date is March 7, 2002
16
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data)
2001 2000
-------- --------
December 31
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,338 $ 8,987
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful
accounts of $162 and $192, respectively 5,368 7,550
Inventories 274 162
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 583 1,019
-------- --------
Total current assets 15,563 17,718
Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,222 and
$4,489, respectively 1,756 1,584
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $924 and $590,
respectively 2,126 2,450
Other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $786
and $809, respectively 411 458
Other assets 472 879
-------- --------
Total assets $ 20,328 $ 23,089
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of note payable $ 2,700 $ 900
Accounts payable 1,978 2,480
Accrued liabilities:
Employee compensation 513 714
Deferred revenue 319 --
Other accrued liabilities 1,192 1,082
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 6,702 5,176
Note payable -- 2,700
Other liabilities 491 646
-------- --------
Total liabilities 7,193 8,522
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized,
18,984,097 and 18,526,972 shares issued, respectively 190 185
Additional paid-in capital 87,720 86,097
Accumulated deficit (76,207) (74,574)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (68) 97
Treasury stock (1,098) (1,058)
Nil coupon perpetual loan notes 2,598 3,820
-------- --------
Total shareholders' equity 13,135 14,567
-------- --------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 20,328 $ 23,089
======== ========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
17
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data)
2001 2000 1999
------------ ------------ ------------
For the years ended December 31
Net revenues $ 17,672 $ 21,906 $ 33,325
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales 8,996 11,757 18,805
Selling, general and administrative 8,708 7,934 8,887
Research and development 1,165 843 804
Closing costs of German subsidiary -- 528 --
------------ ------------ ------------
18,869 21,062 28,496
------------ ------------ ------------
Operating (loss) income (1,197) 844 4,829
Loss from equity interest in affiliates (342) (195) --
Interest expense (245) (354) (309)
Other income (expense):
Gain on sale of German subsidiary chemical business -- 269 --
Cumulative translation loss of German subsidiary -- (231) --
Other income (expense), net 37 82 (213)
------------ ------------ ------------
(Loss) income before taxes (1,747) 415 4,307
Income tax benefit (expense) 114 -- (1,299)
------------ ------------ ------------
Net (loss) income $ (1,633) $ 415 $ 3,008
============ ============ ============
Net (loss) income per common share
Basic $ (0.09) $ 0.02 $ 0.17
Diluted (0.09) 0.02 0.16
Average number of common shares outstanding
Basic 18,592,000 18,396,000 17,752,000
Diluted 18,592,000 19,621,000 19,335,000
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
18
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data in thousands)
Accumulated
Common Stock Additional Other Treasury Stock Nil Coupon
-------------- Paid-in Accumulated Comprehensive -------------- Perpetual
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Income (Loss) Shares Amount Loan Notes Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at January 1, 1999 17,236 $ 172 $ 71,898 $ (77,997) $ 52 94 $(1,058) $ 17,249 $ 10,316
Comprehensive income:
Net income 3,008 3,008
Foreign currency
translation adjustments (77) (77)
----------
Comprehensive income 2,931
----------
Conversion of nil coupon
perpetual loan notes
into common stock 963 10 10,372 (10,382) --
Purchase of nil coupon
perpetual Loan notes 2,535 (2,979) (444)
Tax benefit from years
prior to quasi-reorganization 722 722
Exercise of stock options 129 1 211 212
Other (46) (46)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1999 18,328 $ 183 $ 85,692 $ (74,989) $ (25) 94 $(1,058) $ 3,888 $ 13,691
Comprehensive income:
Net income 415 415
Foreign currency
translation adjustments 122 122
----------
Comprehensive income 537
----------
Conversion of nil coupon
perpetual loan notes
into common stock 7 -- 68 (68) --
Exercise of stock options 192 2 337 339
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2000 18,527 $ 185 $ 86,097 $ (74,574) $ 97 94 $(1,058) $ 3,820 $ 14,567
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss (1,633) (1,633)
Adjustment for fair (42) (42)
value of derivative
Foreign currency
translation adjustments (123) (123)
----------
Comprehensive loss (1,798)
----------
Conversion of nil coupon
perpetual loan notes
into common stock 200 2 1,220 (1,222) --
Exercise of stock options 216 3 403 406
Other 41 (30) (40) (40)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2001 18,984 $ 190 $ 87,720 $ (76,207) $ (68) 64 $(1,098) $ 2,598 $ 13,135
=================================================================================================
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
19
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
For the years ended December 31
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income $(1,633) $ 415 $ 3,008
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation 769 601 519
Amortization 375 382 261
Provision for doubtful accounts 44 233 134
Loss on equipment disposals/impaired assets 156 82 246
Loss from equity interest in affiliates 342 195 --
Income taxes -- -- 722
Closing reserve for German subsidiary -- 528 --
Cash payments against German subsidiary closing reserve (26) (277) --
Gain on sale of German subsidiary chemical business -- (269) --
Cumulative translation (gain) loss (90) 231 --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable 2,110 1,758 (759)
Inventories, prepaid expenses, other current assets
and other noncurrent assets 422 (334) 139
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, deferred
revenue and other noncurrent liabilities (417) (1,957) 661
Other 8 3 69
------- ------- -------
Net cash provided by operating activities 2,060 1,591 5,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in and loans to CDT (125) (350) --
Investment in Fuel Tech CS GmbH -- (116) --
Proceeds from sale of German subsidiary's chemical -- 122 --
business
Purchase of 50% of NFT Joint Venture -- -- (1,958)
Purchases of equipment and patents (1,016) (774) (795)
------- ------- -------
Net cash used in investing activities (1,141) (1,118) (2,753)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of common shares -- -- (46)
Exercise of stock options 406 339 212
Purchase and retirement of nil coupon loan notes -- -- (444)
Purchase of treasury shares (40) -- --
Repayment of borrowings (900) (675) (3,225)
Proceeds from borrowings -- -- 4,500
------- ------- -------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (534) (336) 997
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash (34) (109) (77)
------- ------- -------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 351 28 3,167
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 8,987 8,959 5,792
------- ------- -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 9,338 $ 8,987 $ 8,959
======= ======= =======
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
20
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
Fuel-Tech N.V. (the "Company") is a holding company active in the
business of air pollution control. The Company's primary focus, through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Fuel Tech, Inc. (FTI), is on the worldwide marketing
and sale of its NOxOUT(R) Process and related technologies as well as its FUEL
CHEM fuel treatment chemical product line. The NOxOUT Process reduces nitrogen
oxide ("NOx") emissions from boilers, furnaces and other stationary combustion
sources. FUEL CHEM is based on the Company's proprietary Targeted-In-Furnace-
Injection technology in the unique application of specialty chemicals to
improve the performance of combustion units. The Company's business is
materially dependent on the continued existence and enforcement of air quality
regulations, particularly in the United States. The Company has expended
significant resources in the research and development of new technologies in
building its proprietary portfolio of air pollution control, fuel treatment
chemicals, computer modeling and advanced visualization technologies.
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, 25%, 20%, and
25% of the Company's revenues, respectively, were derived from international
markets, principally in Europe and Asia.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have
been eliminated. As discussed in Note 9, effective as of June 30, 2000, the
Company sold its German chemicals business to Fuel Tech CS GmbH, an entity in
which the Company holds a 49% ownership interest that is accounted for using the
equity method. In 2001, the Company completely dissolved the following wholly
owned subsidiaries: Fuel Tech Poland Sp.zo.o and Fuel Tech BV Taiwan Branch. The
entity in Poland has not been operational since 1997, and the entity in Taiwan
operated only as a sales agency office.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts included in prior year financial statements have been
reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency for the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the
respective local currency. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are translated
into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are
translated using average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.
Adjustments resulting from translation of financial statements denominated in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar are included in accumulated other
comprehensive income or loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are
included in the determination of net income.
Cash Equivalents and Financial Instruments
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At December 31,
2001, substantially all of the Company's cash and cash equivalents are on
deposit with three financial institutions. All financial instruments are
reflected in the accompanying balance sheets at amounts that approximate fair
market value.
21
Derivative Financial Instruments
Effective January 1, 2001, the Company adopted SFAS 133, which
establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments,
including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for
hedging activities. All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships
or not, are required to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the
derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of
the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are
recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge,
the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are
recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, and are recognized
in the income statement when the hedged item affects earnings. Ineffective
portions of changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges are recognized in
earnings.
Interest Rate Risk Management:
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk due to its long-term debt
arrangement. The Company uses an interest rate derivative instrument (an
interest rate swap) to manage exposure to interest rate changes. The Company has
entered into an interest rate swap transaction that fixes the rate of interest
at 8.91% on approximately 50% of the outstanding principal balance during the
term of the loan. The term of the swap is from October 22, 1999 until October
22, 2002. At the date of adoption, January 1, 2001, the Company recorded the
fair value of the interest rate swap, a credit of approximately $20,000, as an
"other liability" with a corresponding decrease to "accumulated other
comprehensive income. During 2001, the fair value of the interest rate swap
changed by approximately $22,000, thus increasing the "other liability" with a
corresponding decrease to "accumulated other comprehensive income" for this
amount. The impact of the ineffectiveness calculation was immaterial.
Foreign Currency Risk Management:
The Company's earnings and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to
changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not enter into
foreign currency forward contracts or into foreign currency option contracts to
manage this risk due to the immaterial nature of the transactions involved.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable includes unbilled receivables, representing costs
and estimated earnings in excess of billings on contracts under the percentage
of completion method. At December 31, 2001 and 2000, unbilled receivables were
approximately $2,057,000 and $2,256,000, respectively.
Goodwill and Other Intangibles
The goodwill recognized as a result of the transactions described in
Note 2 has been amortized by the straight-line method over periods of nine and
ten years, which represent the estimated remaining useful life of the Company's
intellectual property. Effective January 1, 2002, the Company will adopt FASB
(Financial Accounting Standards Board) Statement No. 142, "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets" which was approved on September 29, 2001. Under the guidance
of this statement, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets will no
longer be amortized but will be reviewed annually, or more frequently if
indicators arise, for impairment. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2001
and 2000, the Company recorded goodwill amortization of $334,000. During 2002,
the Company will perform the first of the newly-required impairment tests of
goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of January 1, 2002 and has
not yet determined the effects these tests will have, if any, on earnings and
financial position.
Other intangibles consist principally of third-party costs related to
the development of patent rights. These costs are being amortized by the
straight-line method over a period of 10 years from the date of patent issuance.
Patent maintenance fees are charged to operations as incurred.
Equipment
Equipment is stated on the basis of cost. Provisions for depreciation
are computed by the straight-line method, using estimated useful lives as
follows:
Laboratory equipment ..................................... 5-10 years
Furniture and fixtures ................................... 3-10 years
Computer equipment and software .......................... 3-5 years
Field equipment .......................................... 3-4 years
Vehicles ................................................. 3 years
22
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets and certain intangible assets for
impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount
of an asset may not be recoverable. In the event the sum of the expected
undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset is less than
the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the
asset's carrying value over its fair value is recorded. The impact of such
losses on the Company was $139,000 and $82,000 for the years ended December 31,
2001 and 2000, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
The Company uses the percentage of completion method of accounting for
certain long-term equipment construction and license contracts. Under the
percentage of completion method, sales and gross profit are recognized as work
is performed based on the relationship between actual engineering hours and
equipment construction costs incurred and total estimated hours and costs at
completion. Sales and gross profit are adjusted for revisions in completion
estimates and contract values in the period in which the facts giving rise to
the revisions become known. Revenues from the sales of chemical products are
recorded when title transfers, either at the point of shipment or at the point
of destination, depending on the contract with the customer.
Distribution Costs
The Company classifies shipping and handling costs in cost of sales in
the consolidated statement of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock option grants in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued
to Employees." Under the Company's current plans, options may be granted at not
less than the fair market value on the date of grant, and therefore, no
compensation expense is recognized for the stock options granted.
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
Basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of stock options
and of the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes (see Note
5). Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of the nil coupon
non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes and of stock options and
warrants. The following table sets forth the weighted-average shares used at
December 31 in calculating earnings per share (in thousands):
2001 2000 1999
------ ------ ------
Basic weighted-average shares 18,592 18,396 17,752
Conversion of unsecured loan note -- 483 591
Unexercised options and warrants -- 742 992
------ ------ ------
Diluted weighted-average shares 18,592 19,621 19,335
====== ====== ======
2. THE NALCO AND AMERICAN BAILEY CORPORATION TRANSACTIONS
Effective April 30, 1998, FTI purchased Nalco's 50% interest in NFT for
$1.1 million cash, the issuance of a $3.0 million note and up to $5.5 million in
contingent payments based upon FTI's future earnings. The acquisition was
accounted for as a purchase. The notes bore interest at 10% per annum, payable
quarterly, with principal payments of $250,000, payable quarterly, beginning on
March 31, 1999. The note and contingent payment obligations were secured by
substantially all of the Company's assets. Goodwill, net of amortization,
resulting from this acquisition totaled $1,025,000, including the contingent
payment obligation, at December 31, 1998.
Simultaneously with this transaction, principals of American Bailey
Corporation (ABC) invested $3.35 million in the Company in exchange for 4.75
million shares of the Company's common stock, and warrants to purchase an
additional 3.0 million shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price
of $1.75. The warrants expire on April 30, 2008. Such shares (and shares
underlying the warrants) were restricted from sale by the holders for a period
of three years from the date of transaction, and give the holders certain
registration rights.
On September 1, 1999, the Company satisfied its remaining obligations
to Nalco by paying Nalco approximately $4.5 million, representing the $2.5
million remaining balance on the note, plus accrued interest, and a buyout of
the balance of the contingent payment obligation for approximately $2.0 million.
At the time of the transaction, a maximum of approximately $5.4 million remained
outstanding under the contingent payment obligation. This transaction was
financed by a $4.5 million term loan from the Company's existing bank (see Note
8 to the consolidated financial statements). As a result of this transaction,
the Company recorded approximately $2.0 million of additional goodwill.
23
3. TAXATION
At December 31, 2001, FTI had tax losses available for offset against
future years' earnings of approximately $39.9 million in the United States. For
financial statement purposes, a valuation allowance has been recorded to offset
the tax benefit of these carryforwards. Under the provisions of the United
States Tax Reform Act of 1986, utilization of the Company's United States
federal income tax loss carryforwards may be limited should ownership changes
exceed 50% within a three-year period. The United States federal tax loss
carryforwards expire as follows (in thousands):
2002 $ 7,520
2003 14,925
2004 4,639
2005 5,467
2006 1,987
2007 2,325
2008 1,480
2009 220
2010 309
2011 884
2012 40
2016 122
-------
$39,918
=======
The components of (loss) income before taxes for the years ended
December 31 are as follows (in thousands):
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
United States of America $ (9) $ 1,211 $ 5,167
Foreign (1,738) (796) (860)
------- ------- -------
(Loss) income before taxes $(1,747) $ 415 $ 4,307
======= ======= =======
A reconciliation between the (benefit) provision for income taxes
calculated at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the consolidated
(benefit) provision in the consolidated statements of operations for the years
ended December 31 is as follows (in thousands):
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
(Benefit) provision at the U.S. $ (611) $ 145 $ 1,507
federal statutory rate
Foreign losses without tax benefit 608 444 301
Valuation allowance adjustment -- (424) (1,052)
State income taxes -- (207) 576
Foreign (benefit) income taxes (114) 25 --
Other 3 17 (33)
------- ------- -------
(Benefit) provision for income taxes $ (114) $ -- $ 1,299
======= ======= =======
The Company recorded a tax benefit of $114,000 in 2001 related to its
Italian subsidiary. There were no domestic income taxes recorded in 2001 as the
Company recorded a taxable loss for the year.
The reduction in the valuation allowance in 2000 and 1999 results
primarily from the utilization of tax loss carryforwards where a valuation
allowance had previously been provided. The state income tax credit in 2000
results from recording the benefit of net operating losses generated in prior
years, which were carried forward and applied at the state level.
Temporary differences arising from treating income and expense items
for financial reporting purposes differently than for tax return purposes are
not material.
Effective March 31, 1985, FTI effected a quasi-reorganization and
reduced the value of certain of its assets. Tax benefits resulting from the
utilization of the U.S. federal tax loss carryforwards existing as of the date
of the quasi-reorganization have been excluded from the results of operations
and credited to additional paid-in capital when realized. A tax benefit of
$722,000 was realized in 1999. As such, a non-cash charge was recorded as
deferred income tax expense, and additional paid-in capital was increased
accordingly for the amounts noted above in both years. There are no remaining
tax loss carryforwards from years prior to the date of the quasi-reorganization.
24
4. COMMON STOCK
At December 31, 2001, the Company had 18,984,097 Common Shares
outstanding, with an additional 270,724 shares reserved for issuance upon
conversion of the nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured loan notes
(see Note 5) and 2,155,500 shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
stock options, 1,086,250 of which are currently exercisable (see Note 6).
5. NIL COUPON NON-REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE UNSECURED LOAN NOTES
At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company had $2,658,500 and
$3,958,500 principal amount of nil coupon non-redeemable convertible unsecured
perpetual loan notes (the "Loan Notes") outstanding, respectively. The Loan
Notes are convertible at any time into shares of the Company's common stock at
rates of $6.50 or $11.43 per share. The Loan Notes bear no interest and have no
maturity date. They are generally repayable only in the event of the Company's
dissolution and, accordingly, have been classified within shareholders' equity
in the accompanying balance sheet. In 1989 and 1993, the Company incurred
approximately $1.1 million and $100,000, respectively, in expenses related to
Loan Note issuances. The Loan Notes are shown net of the residual portion of
these expenses, which approximates $59,000 and $137,000 at December 31, 2001 and
2000, respectively.
During 2001 and 2000, approximately $1,300,000 and $72,000 principal
amount of Loan Notes were converted into 200,000 and 6,299 shares of the
Company's common stock, respectively.
6. STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
The Company has granted stock options under the 1993 Incentive Plan
("1993 Plan"). Under the 1993 Plan, awards may be granted to participants in the
form of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock, Performance Awards, Bonuses or other forms of
share-based or non-share-based awards or combinations thereof. Participants in
the 1993 Plan may be such of the Company's directors, officers, employees,
consultants or advisors (except consultants or advisors in capital-raising
transactions) as the directors determine are key to the success of the Company's
business. The amount of shares that may be issued or reserved for awards to
participants under a 1998 amendment to the 1993 Plan is 12.5% of outstanding
shares. In 2001, 2000 and 1999, 472,500, 406,000 and 513,500 options,
respectively, were granted to employees and directors.
If compensation expense for the Company's plans had been determined
based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under its plans,
consistent with the method described in SFAS No. 123, the Company's net income
(loss) and income (loss) per share would have been adjusted as follows for the
years ended December 31:
2001 2000 1999
--------------------------------
Net (loss) income (in thousands):
As reported $ (1,633) $ 415 $ 3,008
As adjusted (2,329) (103) 2,714
Basic and diluted (loss) income per share:
Basic--
As reported $ (.09) $ .02 $ .17
As adjusted (.13) (.01) .15
Diluted--
As reported $ (.09) $ .02 $ .16
As adjusted (.13) (.01) .14
25
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the "As adjusted"
disclosures include only the effect of stock options granted after 1994. The
application of the "As adjusted" disclosures presented above are not
representative of the effects SFAS No. 123 may have on such operating results in
future years due to the timing of stock option grants and considering that
options vest over a period of immediately to five years.
The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in
estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions
and are fully transferable. In addition, option-pricing models require the input
of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility.
Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly
different from those of traded options and because changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's
opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of its stock options.
The fair value of each option grant, for "As adjusted" disclosure
purposes, was estimated on the date of grant using the modified Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
2001 2000 1999
-------------------------------------
Expected dividend yield 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Risk-free interest rate 4.40% 5.10% 6.68%
Expected volatility 115.1% 96.2% 108.4%
Expected life of option 4 years 4 years 4 years
The following table presents a summary of the Company's stock option
activity and related information for the years ended December 31:
2001 2000 1999
Weighted- Weighted- Weighted-
Number of Average Number of Average Number of Average
Options Exercise Price Options Exercise Price Options Exercise Price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at beginning of year 2,052,000 $ 2.34 1,874,500 $ 2.39 1,728,493 $ 3.18
Granted 472,500 2.15 406,000 2.10 513,500 2.13
Exercised (215,500) 1.89 (192,000) 1.75 (129,085) 1.63
Expired or forfeited (153,500) 2.71 (36,500) 5.38 (238,408) 7.48
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at end of year 2,155,500 $ 2.34 2,052,000 $ 2.34 1,874,500 $ 2.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercisable at end of year 1,086,250 $ 2.66 965,500 $ 2.73 802,000 $ 3.05
Weighted -average fair value of
options granted during the year $ 1.66 $ 1.47 $ 1.59
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
December 31, 2001:
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-Average Weighted- Weighted-
Range of Number of Remaining Average Number of Average
Exercise Prices Options Contractual Life Exercise Price Options Exercise Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1.375 - $3.38 1,920,500 6.97 years $ 1.93 881,250 $ 2.00
$3.595 - $8.00 235,000 4.80 years $ 5.37 205,000 $ 5.49
--------- ---------
$1.375 - $8.00 2,155,500 6.74 years $ 2.31 1,086,250 $ 2.66
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lastly, as mentioned in Note 2, the principals of ABC were issued
warrants to purchase an additional 3.0 million shares of the Company's common
stock at an exercise price of $1.75. The warrants expire on April 30, 2008.
26
7. COMMITMENTS
Operating Leases
The Company leases office space, autos and certain equipment under
agreements expiring on various dates through 2009. Future minimum lease payments
at December 31, 2001, are as follows (in thousands):
2002 $344
2003 341
2004 245
2005 182
2006 186
Thereafter 404
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, rent expense
approximated $581,000, $556,000 and $493,000, respectively.
Performance Guarantees
The Company's long-term equipment construction and license contracts
typically contain performance guarantees. The Company has outstanding
performance guarantees of $288,000 for projects that have not completed their
final acceptance test or that are still operating under a warranty period.
Management of the Company believes that these projects will be successfully
completed and that there will not be a materially adverse impact on the
Company's operations from these guarantees.
8. DEBT FINANCING
On September 1, 1999, FTI entered into a $3.0 million revolving credit
facility expiring August 31, 2002, which is collateralized by all personal
property owned by FTI. FTI can use this facility for cash advances and standby
letters of credit. Cash advances under this facility bear interest at the bank's
prime rate, or at an optional rate that can be selected by FTI which is based on
the bank's Interbank Offering Rate plus 2.25%.
Also, on September 1, 1999, FTI entered into a term loan agreement with
the same bank for a total principal balance of $4.5 million. The principal
balance was to be repaid in quarterly installments of $225,000 commencing on
December 31, 1999, with a final principal payment of $2,025,000 due on August
31, 2002. Further, FTI entered into an interest rate swap transaction that fixes
the rate of interest at 8.91% on approximately 50% of the outstanding principal
balance during the term of the loan. The remaining principal balance bears
interest at the bank's prime rate, or an optional rate that can be selected by
FTI, and is based on the bank's Interbank Offering Rate plus 2.25%. The
borrowings under this facility are collateralized by all personal property owned
by FTI.
In 2001, amendments to this debt agreement were approved to increase the
line of credit to $6,000,000, and to extend the expiration date of both the line
of credit and the term loan to January 31, 2003. Further, on March 7, 2002 an
additional amendment to the agreement required FTI to maintain a $6,500,000
compensating balance in support of the debt facility, so long as credit is
available and until the bank is repaid in full. At December 31, 2001, the full
outstanding balance of the term loan is classified as short term to reflect the
FTI's intent to repay or refinance this balance during the first six months of
2002 on favorable terms to the Company, and also, uncertainty concerning FTI's
ability to comply with a debt covenant at September 30, 2002. The covenant for
the period ended September 30, 2002 and beyond, negotiated in 1999, does not
reflect the deferral in NOx reduction revenues the Company experienced due to
the delay in obtaining a final ruling on the SIP Call regulation.
Under the terms of this agreement, FTI is not allowed to make loans or
advances, or remit annual dividends in excess of $900,000 to the Company as long
as the facility is outstanding. At December 31, 2001, FTI net assets subject to
this restriction are $13,264,000.
At December 31, 2001, the bank had provided standby letters of credit,
predominantly to customers, totaling approximately $1,423,000 in connection with
contracts in process. FTI is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank for any
payments made by the bank under these letters of credit. At December 31, 2001,
there were no cash borrowings against this facility and approximately $4,577,000
was available for utilization.
The carrying amount of debt approximates fair value at December 31,
2001. The fair value of the interest rate swap, based on quoted market prices,
is a liability of $42,000 at December 31, 2001. The notional value of the swap
is $1,350,000 at December 31, 2001.
Interest payments were $250,000, $373,000 and $327,000 for the years
ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
27
9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company has a 16% common stock ownership interest in Clean Diesel
Technologies, Inc. (CDT), at December 31, 2001. The Company is precluded from
selling its interest in CDT except pursuant to a registration statement in an
exempt private placement or within the limitations of Rule 144 of the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
On August 3, 1995, the Company signed a Management and Services
Agreement with CDT. According to the agreement, CDT is to reimburse the Company
for management, services and administrative expenses incurred by the Company on
behalf of CDT. Additionally, the Company charges CDT an additional 3% of such
costs annually.
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, $73,000, $78,000
and $106,000, respectively, was charged to CDT as a management fee.
On November 11, 1998, a pre-existing $495,000 demand note, with interest at 8%,
and the $500,000 bridge loan and interest thereon of $20,000 were converted into
2,029 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred stock in CDT. Each preferred
share is convertible into 333.33 shares of CDT common stock. In April of 2000,
the Company purchased 300 additional convertible preferred shares of CDT for
$225,000, which have the same convertible provisions noted above. As a result of
the continuing losses incurred by CDT, the Company recorded a loss of $225,000
in 2000 based on its pro-rata share of CDT's operating results for the year. The
CDT common and preferred stock has no carrying value in the Company's balance
sheet as of December 31, 2001 and 2000.
In November 2000, the Company committed to lend CDT $250,000 as part of
a $1.0 million loan facility between CDT, the Company and other entities. In
December 2000, the Company loaned CDT $125,000 as its share of the first
$500,000 draw down under the terms of the loan facility. This amount was
included in the prepaid expenses and other current assets line item on the
consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2000. In March 2001, the Company
loaned CDT $125,000 as its share of the second $500,000 draw down under the
terms of the loan facility. The principal balance on both loan installments,
with accrued interest at 10% per annum, is payable on May 14, 2002. For its
participation in the loan facility and for its $250,000 contribution, the
Company received 25,000 warrants to purchase CDT common stock. The warrants have
an exercise price of $2.00 and can be exercised on or before November 14, 2010.
The value assigned to these warrants on the consolidated balance sheet at
December 31, 2001, is not significant. Because of the continuing losses incurred
by CDT, the carrying value of the loans was reduced to $0 as of December 31,
2001 based on the Company's pro-rata share of the losses incurred. Consequently,
a $250,000 loss was recorded during 2001. Subsequent to December 31, 2001, CDT
repaid the entire amount of the loans plus interest. The $250,000 principal
value of the loan will be recorded as income in the first quarter of 2002, along
with the interest.
CDT's summary financial information for the years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999 is as follows:
2001 2000 1999
-----------------------------------
Current assets $ 4,612 $ 965 $ 1,311
Other assets 46 92 35
Current liabilities 808 400 494
Long-term debt -- 500 --
Net revenues 1,600 582 $ 142
Loss from operations (936) (2,036) (2,485)
Net loss attributable to (3,003) (2,713) (4,584)
common shareholders
Pursuant to an assignment agreement of certain technology to CDT, the
Company is due royalties from CDT of 2.5% of CDT's annual revenue from sales of
CDT's Platinum Fuel Catalyst, commencing in 1998. The royalty obligation expires
in 2008. CDT may terminate the royalty obligation to the Company by payment of
$12 million commencing in 1998 and declining annually to $1,090,910 in 2008. CDT
as assignee and owner will maintain the technology at its own expense. To date,
the Company has received approximately $6,000 in royalties. The report of
independent auditors pertaining to CDT's financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2001 was unqualified, while the years 2000 and 1999 contained a
going concern qualification. The Company intends to record royalties from CDT on
a cash basis.
On April 30, 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with American
Bailey Corporation for it to provide certain management and consulting services
to the Company. Principals of ABC currently own 25% of the Company's Common
Shares and also own warrants to purchase an additional 3.0 million shares, which
expire on April 30, 2008. No fees were to be payable under the agreement for the
first 24 months. This agreement was amended in 1999 to extend its term to April
30, 2002, and provide for the payment of a management fee of $10,417 per month
commencing September 1, 1999, through May 1, 2000, and $20,833 per month until
the termination of the agreement. Ralph Bailey, Chairman and CEO of the Company,
is Chairman of ABC.
As noted previously, in the second quarter of 2000 the Company
announced that it would concentrate its European resources in its Italian
company, Fuel Tech Srl, and shut down Fuel Tech GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary,
in Germany. As part of the restructure, Fuel Tech GmbH's NOxOUT chemical
business was sold to a new entity in Germany (Fuel Tech CS GmbH) in which the
Company holds a 49% ownership interest that was acquired for $116,000. The
selling price is dependent on the future results of the chemical business, but
will not be less than 1,250,000 Deutchmarks (approximately $600,000), paid out
over three years. A gain on this transaction of $269,000 was recorded in other
income and expense in the 2000 consolidated statement of operations.
28
Also as part of the restructure, Fuel Tech GmbH recorded a charge in
2000 of $528,000 related to the closure of the entity. The charge included
accruals of $343,000 primarily for severance obligations for four employees,
lease termination costs and other costs related to the closure of the entity.
This charge was recorded as a reduction to operating income in the consolidated
statement of operations. As of December 31, 2001, the Company made payments of
approximately $311,000 related to this charge. The remaining amount is expected
to be paid during the first quarter of 2002.
The Company has an option to require the majority shareholder of Fuel
Tech CS GmbH to purchase up to 35% of Fuel Tech CS GmbH from the Company at fair
value between three and five years from the date of the purchase agreement.
During 2001 the Company completely dissolved the following wholly owned
entities: Fuel Tech Poland Sp.zo.o and Fuel Tech BV Taiwan Branch. The entity in
Poland has not been operational since 1997, and the entity in Taiwan operated as
a sales agency office. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $180,000
related to the dissolution of these entities.
10. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
The Company has a retirement savings plan available for all U.S.
employees who have met minimum length-of-service requirements. The Company's
contributions are determined based upon amounts contributed by the Company's
employees with additional contributions made at the discretion of the Company's
Board of Directors. Costs related to this plan were $150,000, $289,000 and
$276,000 in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
11. BUSINESS SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHIC AND QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
BUSINESS SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA
The Company's business is organized into one operating segment
providing air pollution control chemicals and equipment.
Information concerning the Company's operations by geographic area is
provided below. Operating earnings represent sales less cost of products sold
and operating expenses. Foreign operating expenses include direct expenses
incurred outside of the United States of foreign corporations controlled by the
Company plus an allocation of domestic selling and general expenses directly
related to the foreign operations. Assets are those directly associated with
operations of the geographic area.
For the years ended December 31 2001 2000 1999
Revenues:
Domestic $ 13,246,000 $ 17,550,000 $ 25,127,000
Foreign 4,426,000 4,356,000 8,198,000
------------ ------------ ------------
$ 17,672,000 $ 21,906,000 $ 33,325,000
============ ============ ============
Operating (Loss) Earnings:
Domestic $ (1,143,000) $ 1,506,000 $ 4,017,000
Foreign (54,000) (662,000) 812,000
------------ ------------ ------------
$ (1,197,000) $ 844,000 $ 4,829,000
============ ============ ============
December 31 2001 2000 1999
Assets:
Domestic $ 18,952,000 $ 19,640,000 $ 22,020,000
Foreign 1,376,000 3,449,000 2,444,000
------------ ------------ ------------
$ 20,328,000 $ 23,089,000 $ 24,464,000
============ ============ ============
29
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
Set forth below is the unaudited quarterly financial data for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2001 and 2000.
For the quarter ended: March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31
(in thousands, except share data)
2001:
Net sales $ 3,155 $ 4,741 $ 4,194 $ 5,582
Cost of sales 1,717 2,225 1,984 3,070
Net (loss) income (1,042) 71 (256) (406)
Net (loss) income per common share:
Basic $ (.06) $ -- $ (.01) $ (.02)
Diluted $ (.06) $ -- $ (.01) $ (.02)
2000:
Net sales $ 4,455 $ 5,851 $ 5,981 $ 5,619
Cost of sales 2,777 3,271 2,944 2,765
Net (loss) income (296) (325) 753 283
Net (loss) income per common share:
Basic $ (.02) $ (.02) $ .04 $ .02
Diluted $ (.02) $ (.02) $ .04 $ .01
30
12. PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Balance Sheets (at December 31) 2001 2000
------------ ------------
Assets:
Receivable and other current assets $ 34,000 $ 226,000
Investments in subsidiaries 13,319,000 14,539,000
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 13,353,000 $ 14,765,000
============ ============
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 218,000 198,000
Shareholders' equity 13,135,000 14,567,000
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 13,353,000 $ 14,765,000
============ ============
Statements of Operations (for the years ended December 31) 2001 2000 1999
------------ ------------ ------------
Loss from operations $ (952,000) $ (750,000) $ (524,000)
Interest and other income, net 129,000 -- --
(Loss) income from equity investment in subsidiary (810,000) 335,000 3,532,000
============ ============ ============
Net (loss) income $ (1,633,000) $ (415,000) $ 3,008,000
============ ============ ============
Statements of Cash Flow (for the years ended December 31) 2001 2000 1999
------------ ------------ ------------
Operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities $ (521,000) $ (511,000) $ (551,000)
------------ ------------ ------------
Investing activities:
Investment in and loans to CDT (125,000) (350,000) --
Investment in Fuel Tech CS GmbH -- (116,000) --
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash used in investing activities (125,000) (466,000) --
Financing activities:
Dividend from FTI 280,000 638,000 825,000
Exercise of stock options 406,000 339,000 212,000
Purchase of treasury stock/other (40,000) -- (46,000)
Purchase and retirement of nil coupon loan notes -- -- (444,000)
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by investing activities 646,000 977,000 547,000
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents -- -- (4,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period -- -- 4,000
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ -- $ -- $ --
============ ============ ============
Basis of Presentation:
In the parent company financial statements, the Company's investment in
subsidiaries is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of
subsidiaries since the date of acquisition. The Company's share of net income of
its unconsolidated subsidiaries is included in consolidated income using the
equity method. The parent company financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements.
31
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information required by this Item will be set forth under the captions
"Election of Directors" and "Directors and Executive Officers of the Company" in
the Company's Proxy Statement related to the 2002 Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders (the "Proxy Statement") and is incorporated by reference.
Although discussed further in the Company's Proxy Statement, the
following directors resigned subsequent to the balance sheet date: John A. de
Havilland, Jeremy D. Peter-Hoblyn and James M. Valentine.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this Item will be set forth under the caption
"Executive Compensation" in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference
excluding, however, the information under the captions "Report of the Board of
Directors on Executive Compensation" and "Performance Graph," which is not
incorporated by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information required by this Item will be set forth under the caption
"Principal Shareholders and Stock Ownership of Management" in the Proxy
Statement and is incorporated by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information required by this Item will be set forth under the captions
"Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" and "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions" in the Proxy Statement and is
incorporated by reference.
32
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) (1) Financial Statements
The financial statements identified below and required by Part II, Item
8 of this Form 10-K are set forth above.
Report of Independent Auditors
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2001 and 2000
Consolidated Statements of Operations for Years Ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years
Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted because of the absence of the conditions
under which they are required or because the required information where material
is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
+ 1.0 Articles of Association of Fuel-Tech N.V. (in Dutch and English)
as amended through April 27, 1998
* 2.1 Instrument Constituting US $19,200,000 Nil Coupon Non-Redeemable
Convertible Unsecured Loan Notes of Fuel-Tech N.V., dated
December 21, 1989
* 2.2 First Supplemental Instrument Constituting US $3,000,000 Nil
Coupon Non-Redeemable Convertible Unsecured Loan Notes of
Fuel-Tech N.V., dated July 10, 1990
** 2.3 Instrument Constituting US $6,000,000 Nil Coupon Non-Redeemable
Convertible Unsecured Loan Notes of Fuel-Tech N.V., dated March
12, 1993
** 2.4 Form of Warrants issued April 30, 1998 evidencing right to
purchase 3 million shares of Fuel-Tech N.V. common stock.
* 3.1 Form of Indemnity Agreement between Fuel-Tech N.V. and directors
and officers
* 3.2 Fuel Tech, Inc. Form of 1992 Substitute Stock Option Agreement
* 3.3 Fuel-Tech N.V. Form of 1992 Substitute Stock Option Agreement
* 3.4 Fuel-Tech N.V. Form of 1993 Stock Option Agreement as amended
through August 3, 1999
& 3.5 The 1993 Incentive Plan of Fuel-Tech N.V. as amended through
August 3, 1999
* 3.6 License Implementation Agreement dated June 10, 1991 among NFT,
Nalco Fuel Tech, B.V., and Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
* 3.7 License Implementation Agreement dated April 23, 1991 among NFT,
Nalco Fuel Tech, B.V., and R-C Environmental Services &
Technologies, a division of Research Cottrell, Inc.
* 3.8 License Implementation Agreement dated December 20, 1990 between
NFT and RJM Corporation
* 3.9 License Implementation Agreement dated May 22, 1991 among NFT,
Nalco Fuel Tech, B.V., and Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control,
Inc.
* 3.10 Agreement dated July 3, 1990 between NFT and Arcadian Corporation
* 3.11 License Agreement dated September 12, 1991 between NFT and BP
Chemicals Inc.,
* 3.12 Agreement dated November 5, 1990 between NFT and Cargill,
Incorporated
* 3.13 Agreement dated August 30, 1990 between NFT and Nitrochem, Inc.
* 3.14 License Agreement dated December 27, 1990 between NFT and Union
Oil Company of California dba Unocal
* 3.15 Agreement dated September 30, 1990 between NFT and W.H. Shurtleff
Company
** 3.16 Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 1998, between
Fuel-Tech N.V., and the several Investors signatory thereto,
including exhibits.
** 3.17 Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 1998, between Nalco FT,
Inc., Nalco Chemical Company and Fuel Tech, Inc., including
exhibits
#& 3.18 License Agreement dated November 18, 1998 between The Gas
Technology Institute and Fuel Tech, Inc. relating to the FLGR
Process
#& 3.19 License Agreement dated December 8, 1998 between The Gas
Technology Institute and Fuel Tech, Inc. relating to the AEFLGR
Process
#& 3.20 Amendment No. 1, dated February 28, 2000, to License Agreement of
November 18, 1998 between The Gas Technology Institute and Fuel
Tech, Inc.
oo 19.2 Those portions of the Proxy Statement to be distributed to
Shareholders of the Company for the 2002 Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders of Fuel-Tech N.V. specifically incorporated by
reference into this Annual Report on Form10-K.
o 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
33
* Filed with Registration Statement on Form 20-F, No. 000-21724 of August 26,
1993, as amended
** Filed with Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of March 1998
+ Filed with Registrant's Report on Form 20-F for the year 1997
o Filed herewith
oo To be filed with the Registrant's definitive proxy material for its 2002
Annual General Meeting
# Confidential information removed and filed separately
& Filed with Registrant's report on Form 10-K for the year 1999
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the fourth
quarter of 2001.
34
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, Fuel-Tech N.V. has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FUEL-TECH N.V.
Dated: March 26, 2002 By: Ralph E. Bailey
------------------------
Ralph E. Bailey
Chairman, Managing Director
and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of
Fuel-Tech N.V. and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
/s/ Ralph E. Bailey Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive
- ----------------------- Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Ralph E. Bailey
/s/ Scott M. Schecter Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and
- ----------------------- Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting
Scott M. Schecter Officer)
/s/ Douglas G. Bailey Managing Director
- -----------------------
Douglas G. Bailey
/s/ Charles W. Grinnell Managing Director, Vice President, General Counsel
- ----------------------- and Corporate Secretary
Charles W. Grinnell
/s/ John R. Selby Managing Director
- -----------------------
John R. Selby
Tarma Trust Management N.V. Managing Director
By: /s/ Robert W. Huyzen
- -------------------------
Robert W. Huyzen
Managing Director
35