UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 10-QSB

 

(Mark one)

 

x                    QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended

 

February 29, 2008

 

o                       TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                                  to                                     .

 

Commission file number  1-11038

 


 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

(Name of small business issuer in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

41-0857886

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

4201 Woodland Rd

Circle Pines, Minnesota

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

55014

(Zip Code)

 

(763) 225-6600
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes  x   No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2) of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes  o  No  x

 

State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding as of April 11, 2008

Common Stock, $0.02 par value

 

3,723,166

 

Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one):  Yes  o  No  x

 



 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

FORM 10-QSB

February 29, 2008

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Description

 

 

 

Page

 

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 29, 2008 (unaudited) and August 31, 2007 (audited)

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the Three and Six Months Ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007

4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Six Months Ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007

5

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6-11

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation

11-29

 

 

 

Item 3.

Controls and Procedures

29

 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

30

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds and Small Business Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

30

 

 

 

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

30

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

30

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

31

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

32

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

33

 


 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. For more information, see “Part I. Financial Information — Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation  — Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

As used in this report, references to “NTIC,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” unless the context otherwise requires, refer to Northern Technologies International Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries — NTI Facilities, Inc. and Northern Technologies Holding Company, LLC, and its majority-owned subsidiary — React-NTI, LLC, all of which are consolidated on NTIC’s financial statements.

 

All trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this report are the property of their respective owners.

 

2



 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES — CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS as of

February 29, 2008 (Unaudited) and August 31, 2007 (Audited)

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

August 31,
2007

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

461,161

 

$

244,499

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade excluding corporate joint ventures, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $20,000 and $30,000 at February 29, 2008 and August 31, 2007

 

1,615,376

 

1,622,420

 

Trade corporate joint ventures

 

499,731

 

642,518

 

Technical and other services, corporate joint ventures

 

2,104,250

 

1,514,139

 

Income taxes

 

 

29,755

 

Inventories

 

1,776,352

 

1,636,073

 

Prepaid expenses

 

310,568

 

184,407

 

Deferred income taxes

 

562,000

 

562,000

 

Total current assets

 

7,329,438

 

6,435,811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

3,794,127

 

3,792,461

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in corporate joint ventures:

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial chemical

 

14,828,401

 

13,180,576

 

Industrial non-chemical

 

381,305

 

422,266

 

Deferred income taxes

 

779,500

 

779,500

 

Notes receivable

 

163,356

 

32,187

 

Industrial patents and trademarks, net

 

976,949

 

983,206

 

Goodwill

 

304,000

 

304,000

 

Other

 

359,315

 

366,749

 

 

 

17,692,826

 

16,068,484

 

 

 

$

28,916,391

 

$

26,296,756

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of note payable

 

$

30,362

 

$

29,319

 

Accounts payable

 

879,079

 

1,337,443

 

Accrued liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Payroll and related benefits

 

918,829

 

1,025,858

 

Income taxes payable

 

31,386

 

 

Deferred joint venture royalties

 

240,000

 

192,000

 

Other

 

146,227

 

62,414

 

Total current liabilities

 

2,245,883

 

2,647,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE PAYABLE, NET OF CURRENT PORTION

 

1,196,402

 

1,211,528

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

13,988

 

36,133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,723,166 and 3,683,016, respectively

 

74,463

 

73,660

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

5,181,715

 

4,755,146

 

Retained earnings

 

17,436,868

 

16,118,982

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

2,767,072

 

1,454,273

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

25,460,118

 

22,402,061

 

 

 

$

28,916,391

 

$

26,296,756

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2007

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

February 28,
2007

 

February 29,
2008

 

February 28,
2007

 

NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

$

2,762,856

 

$

3,884,895

 

$

6,248,441

 

$

8,502,269

 

Cost of goods sold

 

1,609,954

 

2,459,064

 

3,703,645

 

5,404,119

 

Gross profit

 

1,152,902

 

1,425,831

 

2,544,796

 

3,098,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling

 

754,302

 

810,165

 

1,613,946

 

1,579,204

 

General and administrative

 

894,525

 

804,289

 

1,842,822

 

1,627,172

 

Lab and technical support

 

53,616

 

45,335

 

110,744

 

130,375

 

 

 

1,702,443

 

1,659,789

 

3,567,512

 

3,336,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORTH AMERICAN OPERATING LOSS

 

(549,541

)

(233,958

)

(1,022,716

)

(238,601

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES AND HOLDING COMPANIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in income of industrial chemical corporate joint ventures and holding companies

 

880,777

 

1,002,944

 

1,953,811

 

1,595,934

 

Equity in (loss) income of industrial non-chemical corporate joint ventures and holding companies

 

(67,603

)

(8,429

)

(85,955

)

33,800

 

Gain on sale of industrial chemical corporate joint venture

 

172,767

 

 

172,767

 

 

Fees for technical support and other services provided to corporate joint ventures

 

1,626,632

 

1,213,162

 

3,020,427

 

2,346,003

 

Expenses incurred in support of corporate joint ventures

 

(1,185,509

)

(1,341,052

)

(2,424,684

)

(2,657,301

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM ALL CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES AND HOLDING COMPANIES

 

1,427,064

 

866,625

 

2,636,366

 

1,318,436

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST INCOME

 

424

 

766

 

919

 

1,701

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

(40,592

)

(47,483

)

(72,115

)

(90,364

)

OTHER INCOME

 

6,825

 

6,281

 

14,757

 

8,374

 

GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS

 

4,001

 

1,700

 

5,530

 

726,195

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

507

 

2,272

 

22,145

 

(7,314

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

848,690

 

596,203

 

1,584,886

 

1,718,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

189,000

 

148,000

 

267,000

 

280,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

659,690

 

$

448,203

 

$

1,317,886

 

$

1,438,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.40

 

Diluted

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.35

 

$

0.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES ASSUMED OUTSTANDING:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

3,720,522

 

3,664,248

 

3,694,588

 

3,644,126

 

Diluted

 

3,753,747

 

3,690,260

 

3,732,175

 

3,679,023

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND

SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2008 and FEBRUARY 28, 2007

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 29, 2008

 

February 28, 2007

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,317,886

 

$

1,438,427

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Expensing of fair value of stock options vested

 

47,602

 

60,786

 

Depreciation expense

 

162,369

 

153,996

 

Amortization expense

 

72,468

 

91,696

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

(5,530

)

(726,195

)

Minority interest expense

 

(22,145

)

7,314

 

Equity in income from corporate joint ventures:

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial chemical

 

(1,953,811

)

(1,595,934

)

Industrial non-chemical

 

85,955

 

(33,800

)

Gain on sale of industrial chemical corporate joint venture

 

(172,767

)

 

Deferred joint venture royalties

 

48,000

 

48,000

 

Change in current assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade excluding corporate joint ventures

 

7,044

 

228,975

 

Trade corporate joint ventures

 

142,787

 

(14,251

)

Technical and other services receivables, corporate joint ventures

 

(590,111

)

(86,953

)

Income taxes

 

29,755

 

38,983

 

Inventories

 

(140,279

)

(151,637

)

Prepaid expenses and other

 

(126,161

)

(63,520

)

Income taxes payable

 

31,386

 

 

Accounts payable

 

(458,364

)

(711,293

)

Accrued liabilities

 

311,054

 

(56,217

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(1,212,862

)

(1,371,623

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from the sale of assets

 

6,201

 

850,367

 

Investment in corporate joint ventures

 

(87,950

)

(538,104

)

Dividends received from corporate joint ventures

 

1,470,508

 

1,222,312

 

Proceeds from sale of industrial chemical corporate joint ventures

 

364,000

 

 

Loans made

 

(140,000

)

 

Cash received from notes receivable

 

 

445,469

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(164,704

)

(692,347

)

(Increase) decrease in other assets

 

7,434

 

(27,772

)

Additions to industrial patents

 

(57,382

)

(58,535

)

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

1,398,107

 

1,201,390

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings made on line of credit (repayments)

 

 

178,000

 

Repayment of note payable

 

(14,083

)

(12,955

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

104,772

 

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan

 

45,500

 

 

Bank overdrafts

 

 

(158,147

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

31,417

 

111,670

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

216,662

 

(58,563

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

244,499

 

299,117

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

461,161

 

$

240,554

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


 


NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.                            INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all necessary adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, and present fairly the consolidated financial position of Northern Technologies International Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of February 29, 2008 and the results of their operations for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 and their cash flows for the six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation section appearing in this quarterly report.  Operating results for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.

 

2.                            RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Effective September 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of the FASB Interpretation 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement 109” (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109 and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  Under FIN 48, the impact of an uncertain tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority.  An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.  Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on subsequent derecognition of tax positions, financial statement classification, recognition of interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure and transition rules.  The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

As of August 31, 2007, we had $75,000 of unrecognized tax benefits.  If recognized, $75,000 would have an impact on our effective tax rate.  During the six months ended February 29, 2008, the unrecognized tax benefits have not increased or decreased materially.  It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next 12 months; however we cannot reasonably estimate that change.

 

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of our income tax provision.  This policy will not change as a result of the adoption of FIN 48.  As of September 1, 2007, we recorded a liability of $11,300 for interest and penalties.  The liability for the payment of interest and penalties did not materially change during the six months ended February 29, 2008.

 

We operate in multiple tax jurisdictions, both within the United States and outside the United States.  With certain exceptions, we are no longer subject to examination for tax years prior to 2004.  Our tax filings for the years August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 were examined by the Internal Revenue Service.  The examination has been concluded with the exception of the payroll tax issue discussed within Note 9 to these consolidated financial statements entitled “Commitments and Contingencies.”

 

In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.  SFAS 161 requires additional disclosures related to the use of derivative instruments, the accounting for derivatives and how derivatives impact financial statements. 

 

6



 

SFAS No. 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

3.         INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

August 31,
2007

 

Production materials

 

$

352,128

 

$

183,658

 

Finished goods

 

1,424,224

 

1,452,415

 

 

 

$

1,776,352

 

$

1,636,073

 

 

4.         INVESTMENTS IN CORPORATE JOINT VENTURES

 

Composite financial information from the audited and unaudited financial statements of the Company’s joint ventures carried on the equity basis is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

August 31,
2007

 

Current assets

 

$

46,506,829

 

$

42,767,569

 

Total assets

 

54,161,591

 

49,312,491

 

Current liabilities

 

17,160,559

 

14,939,496

 

Noncurrent liabilities

 

4,890,820

 

4,971,199

 

Joint ventures’ equity

 

32,110,212

 

29,401,796

 

Northern Technologies International Corporation’s share of Corporate Joint Ventures’ equity

 

$

15,209,786

 

$

13,602,842

 

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

February 28,
2007

 

Net sales

 

$

49,091,121

 

$

39,272,049

 

Gross profit

 

22,542,934

 

18,925,025

 

Net income

 

3,259,635

 

3,133,779

 

Northern Technologies International Corporation’s share of equity in income of Corporate Joint Ventures

 

$

1,867,856

 

$

1,629,734

 

 

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign joint ventures are prepared using accounting principles accepted in the joint ventures’ country of domicile.   Amounts related to foreign joint ventures reported in the above tables and the accompanying financial statements have been adjusted to approximate US GAAP in all material respects.

 

During the six months ended February 29, 2008, the Company invested $87,950 in a non-industrial chemical joint venture in Thailand in addition to $143,000 previously invested in December 2006. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in the joint venture entity.  The joint venture entity had no operations prior to the Company’s investment in December 2006.   The total contributions made by both owners of the joint venture were $461,900 as of February 29, 2008.

 

During the six months ended February 29, 2008, the Company sold its 50% interest in its industrial chemical joint venture in Austria for $364,000.  The Company’s industrial chemical joint venture in Germany

 

7



 

purchased the joint venture and has consolidated it into its existing business.  The Company recorded a gain on the sale of $172,767, as the Company has determined its interest in the entity was non-controlling under EITP 02-05.

 

5.                            STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

During the six months ended February 29, 2008, the Company did not purchase or retire any shares of its common stock and no stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised. The Company granted stock bonuses under the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for an aggregate of 33,595 shares of its common stock to various employees during the six months ended February 29, 2008.  The fair value of the shares of the Company’s common stock as of the date of grant of the stock bonuses was $334,270, based on the closing sale price of a share of the Company’s common stock on that date.

 

During the six months ended February 28, 2007, the Company did not purchase or retire any shares of its common stock and no stock options were exercised.  The Company granted stock bonuses under the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan for an aggregate of 37,245 shares of its common stock to various employees during the six months ended February 28, 2007.  The fair value of the shares of the Company’s common stock as of the date of grant of the stock bonuses was $298,330, based on the closing sale price of a share of the Company’s common stock on that date.

 

6.                            TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The Company’s total comprehensive income was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

February 28,
2007

 

February 29,
2008

 

February 28,
2007

 

Net income

 

$

659,690

 

$

448,203

 

$

1,317,886

 

$

1,438,427

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income — foreign currency translation adjustment

 

431,014

 

(67,645

)

1,312,799

 

303,805

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

1,090,704

 

$

380,558

 

$

2,630,685

 

$

1,742,232

 

 

7.                            NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

 

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share assumes the exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method, if dilutive.

 

For the six month period ending February 29, 2008, 35,140 options to purchase shares were excluded from common share equivalents due to exercise prices exceeding average market prices.  No options to purchase shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of common share equivalents as of February 28, 2007, as all stock option exercise prices were less than the average market price of a share of common stock.

 

8.                            STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

 

The company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.” During the six months ended February 29, 2008, options were granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the company’s common stock on the date of grant.  The options vest equally over a three year period and have a five year term. Compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value is recognized for these awards over the vesting period. Total compensation expense for options was $47,602 and 60,786 for the six months ended ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007.

 

8



 

The fair value of each share-based option is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes valuation method that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. The expected life is a significant assumption as it determines the period for which the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield must be applied. The expected life is the average length of time over which the employee is expected to exercise their options. Expected volatilities are based on the movement of the company’s common stock over the most recent historical period equivalent to the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury rate over the expected life at the time of grant. Dividend yield is estimated over the expected life based on the company’s dividend policy, historical dividends paid, expected increase in future cash dividends, and expected increase in the company’s stock price. The following table illustrates the assumptions for options granted in the following fiscal periods.

 

 

 

February 29,
2008

 

February 28,
2007

 

Dividend yield

 

2.00%

 

2.00%

 

Expected volatility

 

42.2%

 

42.9%

 

Expected life of option

 

5 years

 

5 years

 

Average risk-free interest rate

 

3.62%

 

4.67%

 

 

The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the quarters ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 was $3.84 per share and $2.95 per share, respectively.

 

9.         COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

In April 2007, REACT-NTI, LLC (“React LLC”), a company that is 75% owned by the Company, was served with a summons and complaint that was filed by Shamrock Technologies, Inc. (“Shamrock”) in state court in New York.  This case has been removed to the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York.  The lawsuit seeks payment from React LLC of commissions in the approximate amount of $314,500 owed by React LLC under a license agreement between React LLC and Shamrock.  The complaint alleges breach of the license agreement by React LLC and seeks damages in an unspecified amount for such breach as well as damages of approximately $300,000 for the alleged failure of React LLC to purchase from Shamrock certain inventory manufactured for sale to a customer.  React LLC acknowledges that React LLC has not made payment for product in the approximate amount of $300,000 to Shamrock as the invoice for this was only received after Shamrock had already filed its complaint, but denies all of the claims of breach of the license agreement by it and believes that damages caused by Shamrock’s breach of the License Agreement and tortious conduct exceed any amounts owing to Shamrock.  React LLC formally responded to the complaint after removal by moving to dismiss or stay because of Shamrock’s failure to comply with alternative dispute resolution procedures contained in the license agreement.  By court order, the matter is presently stayed so that the parties can attempt mediation.  The parties mediated for one day and were unsuccessful in resolving the matter.  It is unclear at this time whether the parties will attempt additional mediation efforts.  If mediation is unsuccessful, React LLC will both defend against Shamrock’s allegations and pursue counterclaims against Shamrock for breach of the license agreement and for tortious interference.  Because this matter is in the early stage, the Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution.  However, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of the matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

In February 2007, the Company was named as a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Evelyna Cantwell and Jack Cantwell, individually, and also doing business as the principals of Byrd-Walsh International, LLC, in United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida against the Company and its former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman Emeritus, Philip M. Lynch.  The lawsuit alleges causes of action for breach of contract, breach of implied contract, quasi contract, promissory estoppel, equitable estoppel, negligence, wrongful conversion, fraud, constructive fraud,

 

9



 

misappropriation and violation of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. The suit seeks unspecified injunctive relief as well as compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount which, based on the allegations of the complaint, may be claimed by plaintiffs to be in an amount in excess of $45 million.  Based on the allegations in the complaint and the Company’s understanding of relevant facts and circumstances, the Company believes that the claims made by the Cantwells and Byrd-Walsh in this lawsuit are without merit and the Company intends to vigorously defend against them.   Because this matter is in the early stage, the Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution.  The amounts claimed in this lawsuit are substantial, however, and, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of the matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

The Company is involved in a legal action in Finland whereby the Company sued a Finnish company for trademark infringement.  Upon initiation of legal action, the courts seized the inventory of the Finnish company as contraband. The Company won the initial case, but has subsequently lost on appeal.  The Company is currently appealing the latest court decision.  The outcome of the appeal is unknown and any potential loss cannot be estimated at this time; however, the potential judgment or any settlement resulting from the case could have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Company due to claims against the Company related to expiration of inventory seized from the Finnish company.  The Company has obtained a $600,000 stand-by letter of credit to potentially fund the Company’s obligations related to the courts in Finland against the defendant’s products that were seized as contraband.  Advances made under the demand letter of credit will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be due and payable on demand.  Any outstanding unpaid principal balance under the demand letter of credit bears interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  Interest is payable in arrears beginning on January 15, 2007 and on the 15th day of each month thereafter and on demand.  Because the Company believes that it has valid legal grounds for appeal, it has determined that a loss is not probable at this time as defined by SFAS 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.”  However, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of the matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

The Company is involved in various other legal actions arising in the normal course of business.  Management is of the opinion that any judgment or settlement resulting from these pending or threatened actions would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

In June 2007, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service concluded its audit of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for fiscal 2004 and 2005.  As a result of such audit, the Company paid the IRS approximately $25,000 in additional payroll taxes.  The Company also agreed in principle with the IRS to adjustments that will result in the additional payment of approximately $60,000 in income tax and interest.  As a result of the audit, the IRS has also taken the position that the Company failed to withhold and has assessed against the Company approximately $505,000 of payroll taxes and individual income taxes on travel and other expense reimbursements made to Philip M. Lynch, the Company’s former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman Emeritus, and commissions payments made to Inter Alia Holding Co. under that certain former Manufacturer’s Representative Agreement dated as of October 1, 1976 and as subsequently amended thereafter between the Company and Inter Alia, which agreement has since been terminated.  Inter Alia beneficially owns approximately 24.9% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and Philip M. Lynch, the Company’s former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman Emeritus, and G. Patrick Lynch, the Company’s current President and Chief Executive Officer, are shareholders of Inter Alia.   The Company disagrees with the IRS’ position on withholding and is in the process of appealing the matter.  Because the Company believes that it has valid legal grounds for appeal, it has determined that a loss is not probable at this time as defined by SFAS 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.”  However, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of the matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

10



 

On November 16, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the material terms of an annual bonus plan for executive officers and certain employees of the Company for fiscal year ending August 31, 2008, the purpose of which is to align the interests of the Company and its subsidiaries, executive officers and stockholders by providing an incentive for the achievement of key corporate and individual performance measures that are critical to the success of the Company and linking a significant portion of each executive officer’s annual compensation to the achievement of such measures.  The following is a brief summary of the material terms approved by the Board:

 

·                  The total amount available under the bonus plan will be up to 25% of the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes and other income (EBITOI) for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2008;

 

·                  The total amount available under the bonus plan will be $0 if EBITOI, as adjusted to take into account amounts to be paid under the bonus plan, fall below 70% of target EBITOI; and

 

·                  The payment of bonuses under the plan will be made in both cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, the exact amount and percentages of which will be determined by the Board, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, within a reasonable period of time after the completion of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.

 

10.       STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

The Company did not declare or pay any cash dividends during fiscal 2007 and as of April 11, 2008, had not declared or paid any cash dividends during fiscal 2008.

 

The Company issued 33,595 and 37,245 shares of common stock as stock bonuses under its stock incentive plans to various employees to satisfy $334,270 and $298,330 of accrued payroll liability during the quarter ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively.

 

11.                     SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

On April 10, 2008, the Company entered into a Promissory Note Modification Agreement with National City Bank pursuant to which the Company’s demand line of credit was increased to $2,300,000 and its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility was terminated.  Advances made under the demand line of credit will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be due and payable on demand and will terminate on January 31, 2009 unless renewed.  Outstanding amounts under the demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  Interest is payable in arrears on the 15th day of each month and on demand.

 

ITEM 2.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides material historical and prospective disclosures intended to enable investors and other users to assess NTIC’s financial condition and results of operations.  Statements that are not historical are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties discussed under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” appearing elsewhere in this report.  The following discussion of the results of the operations and financial condition of NTIC should be read in conjunction with NTIC’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included under Part I, Item 1 entitled “Financial Statements” of this report.

 

11



 

Business Overview

 

NTIC focuses on developing, marketing and selling proprietary environmentally responsible materials science based products and technical services directly and via a network of independent distributors, manufacturers’ representatives and joint ventures in over 50 countries.  NTIC manufactures, markets and sells primarily rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services for automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical and military applications, sold under the brand names Zerust® and EXCOR®.  NTIC also offers direct, worldwide on-site technical support on rust and corrosion issues.  In North America, NTIC markets its technical services and Zerust® products principally to industrial users by a direct sales force and through a network of independent distributors and sales representatives.  NTIC’s technical service representatives work directly with the end users of NTIC’s products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their technical requirements.

 

In addition to Zerust® products and services, NTIC’s consolidated net sales in North America for the six months ended February 29, 2008 included $102,707 in sales of NTIC’s Natur-Tec™ products, which are part of NTIC’s new biodegradable and compostable plastics line.  These were the first sales of this new product line, most of which were initial sales to new customers.  Beginning in fiscal 2008, NTIC began to manufacture and sell a broad range of bio-based and biodegradable (compostable) polymer resin compounds and products under the Natur-Tec™ brand. In recent years, a combination of market drivers such as higher petroleum prices, a desire to reduce dependence on foreign oil, increased environmental awareness at the consumer level, and favorable regulations banning the use of regular plastics, have led to widespread interest in sustainable, renewable resource based and compostable alternatives to traditional plastics.  Natur-Tec™ biodegradable and compostable polymer resins and all products made of the resins meet all requirements of international standards for compostable plastics such as ASTM D6400 (U.S.) and EN 13432 (Europe), and are certified as 100% compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute in the U.S. The finished products include totally biodegradable compost and trash bags, agricultural film and other single-use disposable products such as compostable cutlery, food and consumer goods packaging.

 

NTIC participates, either directly or indirectly through holding companies, in 29 corporate joint venture arrangements in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  Each of these joint ventures generally manufactures, markets and sells finished products in the geographic territory that it is assigned.  NTIC’s joint venture partners are knowledgeable in the applicable environmental, labor, tax and other requisite regulations and laws of the respective foreign countries in which they operate, as well as the local customs and business practices.  While most of NTIC’s joint ventures currently sell rust and corrosion inhibiting products and custom packaging systems, NTIC also has joint ventures that manufacture, market and sell or intend to manufacture, market or sell bio-based additives with both industrial and personal care applications, machinery that converts waste plastics into diesel, gasoline and mid-distillates, and electronic sensing instruments. NTIC categorizes its joint ventures into two principal areas: industrial chemical and non-industrial chemical.

 

In an effort to increase net sales, NTIC is in the process of expanding the application of its corrosion inhibiting technology to include solutions targeted at the oil and gas industry, and its product line to include biodegradable and compostable plastics, and machinery that converts waste plastics into diesel, gasoline and mid-distillates.  During fiscal 2008, NTIC expects to invest in aggregate between $2,800,000 and $3,100,000 in additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into these emerging businesses, product lines and markets.  These fees are accounted for in the “Expenses incurred in support of corporate joint ventures” section of NTIC’s consolidated statements of income.  During the first six months of fiscal 2008, NTIC invested approximately $1,450,720 in additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into these emerging businesses, product lines and markets.  NTIC anticipates additional revenue from these new technologies in fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.  Although NTIC recognized $102,707 in sales of Natur-Tec™ for the six months ended February 29, 2008, no assurance can be provided that such new businesses will be successful or that NTIC will be successful in obtaining additional revenue.

 

12



 

Financial Overview

 

NTIC’s consolidated net sales in North America decreased 26.5% during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the six months ended February 28, 2007, primarily as a result of the anticipated loss of its React-NTI, LLC subsidiary’s most significant customer, partially offset by an increase in demand for NTIC’s Zerust® products and sales of its new Natur-Tec™ products.  As previously disclosed by NTIC, the sales of React-NTI included in NTIC’s consolidated net sales historically have consisted almost entirely of sales by React Inc., a 100% owned subsidiary of React-NTI, of proprietary ink additives to one customer.  During fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, this single customer notified React Inc. of the customer’s intent to purchase React’s remaining inventory of ink additives, but that after such inventory was depleted, the customer would not place any future orders with React Inc.  React-NTI had consolidated sales of $285,444 in the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to sales of $2,785,667 in the six months ended February 28, 2007.   The vast majority of such sales by React-NTI were from React Inc., which had sales of $248,160 during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to sales of $2,750,050 during the six months ended February 28, 2007.  NTIC anticipates no additional sales for React Inc. after the six months ended February 29, 2008.  Accordingly, the loss of React’s sole customer has had and is expected to continue to have a material adverse impact on NTIC’s consolidated net sales.  However, since the profit on React’s sales of the ink additives to this customer was extremely small, the effect on NTIC’s net income during the six months ended February 29, 2008 was not material and NTIC does not expect that the anticipated continued decrease in net sales by React will have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s future consolidated net income.

 

Despite the decrease in NTIC’s consolidated net sales in North America, sales of NTIC’s rust and corrosion inhibiting products in North America increased during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007.  Net sales of NTIC’s Zerust® and Natur-Tec™ products increased 4.3% or $246,395 to $5,962,997 during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $5,716,602 during the six months ended February 28, 2007. NTIC’s consolidated net sales in North America during the six months ended February 29, 2008 included $102,707 from sales of NTIC’s Natur-Tec™ products.

 

NTIC’s international business has expanded significantly during the past several fiscal years.  Total net sales of all of NTIC’s joint ventures increased 25.0% to $49,091,121 during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $39,272,049 during the six months ended February 28, 2007.  The profits of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures are shared, however, by the respective corporate joint venture owners in accordance with their respective ownership percentages.  In addition, NTIC’s receipt of funds as a result of sales by its joint ventures is dependent upon NTIC’s receipt of dividend distributions from the joint ventures and NTIC’s receipt of fees for technical and other support services that NTIC provides to its joint ventures based on the revenues of the joint ventures.  NTIC typically owns 50% or less of its joint venture entities and thus does not control the decisions of these entities regarding whether and how much to pay dividends in dividends in any given year. NTIC’s income from its corporate joint ventures and holding companies increased 100.0% to $2,636,366 for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,318,436 for the six months ended February 28, 2007.

 

NTIC sold its 50% interest in its industrial chemical joint venture in Austria for a recorded $364,000.  The Company’s industrial chemical joint venture in Germany purchased the joint venture and has consolidated it into its existing business; the German joint venture will service the territory and customers of the former Austrian venture as well.  The Company recorded a gain on the sale of $172,767, as the Company has determined its interest in the entity was non-controlling.

 

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales decreased to 59.3% for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to 63.6% for the six months ended February 28, 2007 primarily as a result of the significant decrease of React Inc. sales during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period during fiscal 2007, which sales were sold at lower margins than NTIC’s Zerust® and Natur-Tec™ products.

 

Net income decreased 8.4% to $1,317,886, or $0.35 per diluted common share, for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,438,427, or $0.39 per diluted common share, for the six months ended

 

13



 

February 28, 2007, primarily as a result of a one-time gain on sale of assets of $724,495 during the first six months of fiscal 2007.

 

NTIC’s working capital was $5,083,555 at February 29, 2008, including $461,161 in cash and cash equivalents.  As of February 29, 2008, NTIC did not have any borrowings under its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility.  Although the revolving credit facility was recently renewed for another year, on April 10, 2008, the revolving credit facility was terminated and NTIC’s demand line of credit was increased to $2,300,000.

 

NTIC elected not to pay a cash dividend to its stockholders in fiscal 2007 or thus far in fiscal 2008 in order to preserve cash and make investments in future operations.  NTIC expects to meet its future liquidity requirements during at least the next 12 months by using its existing cash and cash equivalents, forecasted cash flows from future operations, anticipated distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees to NTIC from its joint venture investments and funds available through existing or anticipated financing arrangements.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth NTIC’s results of operations for the three months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007.

 

 

 

February 29, 2008

 

% of
Net Sales

 

February 28, 2007

 

% of
Net Sales

 

$
Change

 

%
Change

 

Net sales

 

$

2,762,856

 

100.0%

 

$

3,884,895

 

100.0%

 

$

(1,122,039

)

(28.9)%

 

Cost of goods sold

 

1,609,954

 

58.3%

 

2,459,064

 

63.3%

 

(849,110

)

(34.5)%

 

Selling expenses

 

754,302

 

27.3%

 

810,165

 

20.9%

 

(55,863

)

(6.9)%

 

General and administrative expenses

 

894,525

 

32.4%

 

804,289

 

20.7%

 

90,236

 

11.2%

 

Lab and technical support expenses

 

$

53,616

 

1.9%

 

$

45,335

 

1.2%

 

$

8,281

 

18.3%

 

 

The following table sets forth NTIC’s results of operations for the six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
February 29, 2008

 

% of
Net Sales

 

Six Months Ended February 28, 2007

 

% of
Net Sales

 

$
Change

 

%
Change

 

Net sales

 

$

6,248,441

 

100.0%

 

$

8,502,269

 

100.0%

 

$

(2,253,828

)

(26.5)%

 

Cost of goods sold

 

3,703,645

 

59.3%

 

5,404,119

 

63.6%

 

(1,700,474

)

(31.5)%

 

Selling expenses

 

1,613,946

 

25.8%

 

1,579,204

 

18.6%

 

34,742

 

2.2%

 

General and administrative expenses

 

1,842,822

 

29.5%

 

1,627,172

 

19.1%

 

215,650

 

13.3%

 

Lab and technical support expenses

 

$

110,744

 

1.8%

 

$

130,375

 

1.5%

 

$

(19,631

)

(15.1)%

 

 

Net Sales. NTIC’s net sales originating in the United States decreased during the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2007 primarily as a result of the loss of the principal customer of React Inc., partially offset by an increase in demand for Zerust® products sold to existing and new customers and sales of Natur-Tec™ products in the fiscal 2008 periods.

 

Cost of Goods Sold.  Cost of goods sold decreased as a percentage of net sales for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008, compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2007 primarily as a result of the significant decrease in React Inc. sales which were sold at significantly lower margins than NTIC’s Zerust® products.

 

Selling Expenses.  NTIC’s selling expenses decreased for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007 primarily as a result of decreases in travel and related expenses associated with the discontinuation of sales by React Inc as noted above under the heading “Part 1.  Financial Information.  Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation.”. Selling expenses increased for the six months ended February 29, 2008 by a negligible amount, compared tothe same period in

 

14



 

fiscal 2007.  Selling expenses as a percentage of net sales for the three and six month periods increased significantly compared to same respective periods in fiscal 2007 due to the decrease in React Inc. sales.

 

General and Administrative Expenses.  NTIC’s general and administrative expenses increased for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to same respective periods in fiscal 2007.  The increase for the six-month period was primarily a result of increases in (i) audit and tax expense of $104,000 and (ii) salary and benefits expenses of $40,000, partially offset by decreases in (i) insurance expense of $32,000.  The increase for the three-month period was primarily the result of increases in the same types of expenses associated with the six month period. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased significantly compared to same respective periods in fiscal 2007 due to the decrease in React Inc. net sales.

 

NTIC includes expenses in general and administrative expenses that provide benefit to the various joint ventures in addition to providing benefit to NTIC’s North American operations, including specifically, expenses associated with information technology, general insurance, salary and benefits, building expenses, audit and tax and directors fees.

 

Lab and Technical Support Expenses.  NTIC’s lab and technical support expenses increased by a negligible amount for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007 and decreased for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007.  As a percentage of net sales, lab and technical support expenses increased slightly during the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to same periods in fiscal 2007.

 

International Corporate Joint Ventures and Holding Companies.  Net sales of NTIC’s corporate joint ventures for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, excluding React-NTI LLC, were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 29, 2008

 

February 28, 2007

 

February 29, 2008

 

February 28, 2007

 

Industrial chemical

 

$

24,850,908

 

$

20,082,233

 

$

48,477,356

 

$

38,402,886

 

Non-industrial chemical

 

296,098

 

310,383

 

613,765

 

869,163

 

Total

 

$

25,147,006

 

$

20, 392,616

 

$

49,091,121

 

$

39,272,049

 

 

NTIC had equity in income of corporate joint ventures and holding companies of $813,174 and $1,867,856 for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008, respectively, and $994,515 and $1,629,734 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2007, respectively.  The increase in the six-month comparison was due to the increase in revenue and profitability due to the growth of corporate joint ventures as a whole.

 

NTIC receives fees for technical and other support to NTIC’s corporate joint ventures based on the revenues of the individual corporate joint ventures.  NTIC recognized fee income for such support in the amounts of $1,626,632 and $3,020,427 for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008, respectively, and $1,213,162 and $2,346,003 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2007, respectively.  These increases in fees for technical and other support to its corporate joint ventures were due to the increase in revenues and profitability from the corporate joint ventures as a whole.

 

NTIC sold its 50% interest in its industrial chemical joint venture in Austria for a recorded $364,000.  The Company’s industrial chemical joint venture in Germany purchased the joint venture and has consolidated it into its existing business; the German joint venture will service the territory and customers of the former Austrian venture as well.  The Company recorded a gain on the sale of $172,767 related to the sale, as the Company has determined its interest in the entity was non-controlling.

 

NTIC sponsors a worldwide corporate joint venture conference approximately every three to four years in which all of its corporate joint ventures are invited to participate.  NTIC defers a portion of its technical and

 

15



 

other support fees received from its corporate joint ventures in each accounting period leading up to the next conference, reflecting that NTIC has not fully earned the payments received during that period.  The next corporate joint venture conference is scheduled to be held in the summer of 2009.  There was $240,000 of deferred income recorded within other accrued liabilities at February 29, 2008 related to this future conference.  The costs associated with these joint venture conferences are offset against the deferral as incurred, generally in the period in which the conference is held and immediately before.

 

NTIC incurred direct expenses related to its corporate joint ventures and the holding companies of $1,164,432 and $2,403,607 for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,341,052 and $2,657,301 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2007.  These expenses include: product and business development, consulting, travel, technical and marketing services to existing joint ventures, legal fees regarding the establishment of new joint ventures, registration and promotion and legal defense of worldwide trademarks and legal fees incurred in the filing of patent applications for new technologies to which NTIC acquired certain rights.  The decreases in direct expenses incurred relating to NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and holding companies for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007 were attributable to decreases of (i) lab testing and lab supplies of $31,000, (ii) consulting expense of $31,000, (iii) legal expense of $123,000, partially offset by increases in (i) expenses related to employee wages of $79,000, (ii) travel and related expenses of $30,000, and (iv) miscellaneous expenses of $36,000.  The decrease for the three months ended February 28, 2007 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007 was a result of decrease in the same types of expenses associated with the six-month period. As a percentage of net sales, direct expenses incurred relating to NTIC’s corporate joint ventures and holding companies increased significantly due to the decrease in React Inc. net sales for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to same period in fiscal 2007.

 

Interest Income.  NTIC’s interest income decreased to $424 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $766 for the same period in fiscal 2007 and decreased to $919 for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,701 for the same period in fiscal 2007 due to lower average invested cash balances during the fiscal 2008 periods.

 

Interest Expense.  NTIC’s interest expense decreased to $40,592 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $47,483 for the same period in fiscal 2007 and decreased to $72,115 for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $90,364 for the same period in fiscal 2007 due to lower average outstanding debt levels and decreases in interest rates during the fiscal 2008 periods.

 

Gain on Sale of Assets.  NTIC recognized a gain on sale of assets of $4,001 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to a gain on sale of assets of $1,700 for the same period in fiscal 2007.  NTIC recognized a gain on sale of assets of $5,530 during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to a gain on sale of assets of $726,195 for the same period in fiscal 2007, $724,495 of which was due to the sale of land, building and equipment that previously served as NTIC’s corporate headquarters.  This $724,495 in gain was the result of a one-time sale and no additional gain was recognized or is anticipated to be recognized relating to NTIC’s former corporate headquarters in the future.

 

Income Before Income Tax Expense.  Income before income tax expense increased to $848,690 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $596,203 for the same period in fiscal 2007.  Income before income tax expense decreased $133,541 to $1,584,886 for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $1,718,427 for the same period in fiscal 2007.

 

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense increased to $189,000 for the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $148,000 for the same period in fiscal 2007.  Income tax expense decreased to $267,000 for the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to $280,000 for the same period in fiscal 2007.  Income tax expense for the three and six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively, was calculated based on management’s estimate of NTIC’s annual effective income tax rate.  NTIC’s annual effective income tax rate during the six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,

 

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2007 was lower than the statutory rate primarily due to NTIC’s equity in income of corporate joint ventures being recognized based on after-tax earnings of these entities.  To the extent joint ventures’ undistributed earnings are distributed to NTIC, it is not expected to result in any material additional income tax liability after the application of foreign tax credits.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Sources of Cash and Working Capital.  As of February 29, 2008, NTIC’s working capital was $5,083,555, including $461,161 in cash and cash equivalents, compared to working capital of $3,788,777, including $244,499 in cash and cash equivalents, as of August 31, 2007.

 

NTIC had a revolving credit facility of $1,500,000 that was renewed on January 30, 2008. As described in more detail below, subsequent to the end of NTIC’s second fiscal quarter, NTIC terminated the revolving credit facility and increased the amount available under its demand line of credit with National City Bank to $2,300,000.  Outstanding amounts under the revolving credit facility bore interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  As of February 29, 2008, the interest rate was 7.49% and the average interest rate over the six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 was 7.43% and 7.58%, respectively. Amounts borrowed under the facility were collateralized by a lien on substantially all of NTIC’s assets, excluding its corporate joint venture interests, intellectual property rights and its Circle Pines headquarters.  The credit documents contained other terms and provisions (including representations, covenants and conditions) customary for transactions of this type. Significant financial covenants included the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0.  Other covenants included a prohibition on any merger or consolidation without prior consent of the lender and restrictions on future credit extensions and non-equity investments and the incurrence of additional indebtedness without the lender’s prior consent. During the six months ended February 29, 2008, NTIC was in compliance with all covenants under the revolving credit facility.  The facility contained customary events of default, including nonpayment of principal or other amounts when due; breach of covenants; inaccuracy of representations and warranties; cross-default and/or cross-acceleration to other indebtedness; non-compliance with laws; certain voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy events; judgments entered against NTIC; and a sale of material assets. If an event of default were to occur and was continuing, the lender had the right, among other things, to terminate its obligations thereunder and require NTIC to repay all amounts thereunder.  As of February 29, 2008, there was no outstanding balance under the facility.  The line of credit was subject to a borrowing base calculation and at February 29, 2008, NTIC had $1,500,000 available.

 

NTIC also had a demand line of credit in the amount of $800,000 with National City Bank.  NTIC obtained the demand line of credit in December 2006 to fund NTIC’s obligations related to a required deposit of $445,469 with the courts in Finland in connection with NTIC’s legal action in Finland.  On April 10, 2008, NTIC entered into a Promissory Note Modification Agreement with National City Bank pursuant to which NTIC’s demand line of credit was increased to $2,300,000 and its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility was terminated.  Advances made under the demand line of credit will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be due and payable on demand.  Outstanding amounts under the demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  As of February 29, 2008, the interest rate was 7.49%.  Interest is payable in arrears on the 15th day of each month and on demand. There was no outstanding balance under this facility as of February 29, 2008; however, $600,000 was committed from the demand line to cover a letter of credit

 

NTIC believes that a combination of its existing cash and cash equivalents, forecasted cash flows from future operations, anticipated distributions of earnings and technical assistance fees to NTIC from its joint venture investments and funds available through existing or anticipated financing arrangements, will continue to be adequate to fund its operations, capital expenditures, debt repayments and any stock repurchases for at least the next 12 months.  In an effort to increase net sales, NTIC is in the process of expanding the application of its corrosion inhibiting technology into the oil and gas industry and its product line to include biodegradable and compostable plastics and machinery that converts waste plastics into diesel, gasoline and mid-distillates.

 

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During the remainder of fiscal 2008, NTIC expects to invest additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into these emerging businesses, product lines and markets.  During the first six months of fiscal 2008, NTIC invested approximately $1,450,720 in additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into these emerging businesses, product lines and markets.  In order to take advantage of such new product and market opportunities to expand its business and increase its revenues, NTIC may decide to finance such opportunities by increasing borrowings under its line of credit or raising additional financing through the issuance of debt or equity securities.  There is no assurance that any financing transaction will be available on terms acceptable to NTIC or at all, or that any financing transaction will not be dilutive to NTIC’s current stockholders.

 

Uses of Cash and Cash Flows.  Cash flows used in operations for the six months ended February 29, 2008 was $1,212,862, which resulted principally from the equity income of corporate joint ventures, increases in technical and other services receivables, inventories and prepaid expenses and decreases in accounts payable being offset by net income, depreciation and amortization expense, decreases in trade receivables and increases in accrued liabilities.  Cash flows used in operations for the six months ended February 28, 2007 were $1,371,623, which resulted principally from equity in income from corporate joint ventures, gain on sale of assets, decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and increases in inventories and prepaid expenses, offset by net income, depreciation and amortization expense, and decreases in trade and income tax receivables.

 

Net cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended February 29, 2008 was $1,398,107 which was comprised of dividends received from corporate joint ventures and the sale of a joint venture, offset by additions to property and equipment, loans made and investment in joint ventures.   Net cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2007 was $1,201,390, which resulted from dividends received from corporate joint ventures, proceeds from the sale of assets and cash received from loans and deposits, offset by additions to property and equipment and investment in joint ventures.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended February 29, 2008 was $31,417, which resulted primarily from proceeds from the employee stock purchase plan offset by principal payments on the bank loan for NTIC’s corporate headquarter building.  Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2007 was $111,670, which resulted primarily from borrowings on NTIC’s line of credit and proceeds from the exercise of stock options, offset by bank overdrafts.

 

Capital Expenditures and Commitments.  NTIC had no material lease commitments as of February 29, 2008, except a lease agreement entered into by NTI Facilities, Inc., a subsidiary of NTIC, for approximately 16,994 square feet of office, manufacturing, laboratory and warehouse space in Beachwood, Ohio, requiring monthly payments of $17,500, which are adjusted annually according to the annual consumer price index, through November 2014.

 

NTIC moved its corporate headquarters in September 2006.  NTIC purchased the real estate and 40,000 square feet building in which its new corporate headquarters is located pursuant to a like-kind exchange transaction within the meaning of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for a purchase price of $1,475,000. To finance the transaction, NTIC obtained a secured term loan in the principal amount of $1,275,000.  The term loan matures on May 1, 2011, bears interest at a fixed rate of 8.01% and is payable in 59 monthly installments equal to approximately $10,776 (inclusive of principal and interest) commencing June 1, 2006.  All of the remaining unpaid principal and accrued interest is due and payable on the May 1, 2011 maturity date.  The loan is secured by a first lien on the real estate and building.

 

NTIC sold the real property and building in which NTIC’s former Lino Lakes corporate headquarters was located for a purchase price of $870,000 on September 8, 2006.  The net book value of the building held for sale was $89,636 and the closing costs and fees associated with the sale of the property was $46,571.  The gain on sale of the property was $724,495.

 

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NTIC has no post-retirement benefit plan and does not anticipate establishing any post-retirement benefit program.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

NTIC does not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet financial arrangements. As such, NTIC is not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if NTIC had engaged in such arrangements.

 

In fiscal 1999, a subsidiary of NTIC, NTI Facilities, Inc., acquired a one-third ownership of Omni-Northern Ltd., which owns and operates a rental property located at 23205 Mercantile Road, Beachwood, Ohio.  The property has an approximate value of $2,205,000, based upon the cash-to-mortgage acquisition price of the property paid in fiscal 2000.  NTIC has guaranteed up to $329,082 of Omni-Northern Ltd.’s $1,903,571 mortgage obligation with National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio.  The building is fully leased at present.

 

Inflation and Seasonality

 

Inflation in the U.S. and abroad historically has had little effect on NTIC’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  NTIC’s business has not historically been seasonal.

 

Market Risk

 

NTIC is exposed to some market risk stemming from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates.

 

NTIC is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from its investments in its foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies since NTIC’s fees for technical support and other services and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in foreign currencies.  NTIC’s principal exchange rate exposure is with the Euro, the Japanese yen, Korean won and the English pound against the U.S. dollar.  NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency exchange rate risk.  Since NTIC’s investments in its corporate joint ventures and holding companies are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would not change the equity in income of joint ventures and holding companies reflected in NTIC’s consolidated statement of income.

 

Some raw materials used in NTIC’s products are exposed to commodity price changes.  The primary commodity price exposures are with a variety of plastic resins.

 

NTIC’s demand line of credit bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR and thus may subject NTIC to some market risk on interest rates.  There was no outstanding balance under this facility as of February 29, 2008, however, $600,000 was committed from the demand line to cover a letter of credit.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

There we no new related party transactions to be disclosed.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of NTIC’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Securities and Exchange Commission has defined a company’s most critical accounting policies as those that are most important to the portrayal of its financial condition and

 

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results of operations, and which require the company to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this definition, NTIC has identified the following critical accounting policies. Although NTIC believes that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are based upon information available when they are made. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Investments in Corporate Joint Ventures

 

NTIC’s investments in corporate joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, except for React-NTI LLC which has been fully consolidated, due to the adoption of FIN 46R.  Periodically, NTIC evaluates the investments for any impairment and assesses the future cash flow projections to determine if there are any going concern issues.  If an investment were determined to be impaired, then a reserve would be created to reflect the impairment on the financial results of NTIC.  NTIC’s evaluation of its investments in corporate joint ventures requires NTIC to make assumptions about future cash flows of its corporate joint ventures.  These assumptions require significant judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or estimated amounts.  NTIC’s investments in corporate joint ventures were $15,209,705 and $13,602,842 as of February 29, 2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

NTIC’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Northern Technologies International Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries, NTI Facilities, Inc. and Northern Technologies Holding Company, LLC, and its 75% owned subsidiary, React-NTI LLC.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Accounts and Notes Receivable

 

NTIC values accounts and notes receivable, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Each quarter, NTIC prepares an analysis of its ability to collect outstanding receivables that provides a basis for an allowance estimate for doubtful accounts.  In doing so, NTIC evaluates the age of its receivables, past collection history, current financial conditions of key customers and economic conditions. Based on this evaluation, NTIC establishes a reserve for specific accounts and notes receivable that it believes are uncollectible, as well as an estimate of uncollectible receivables not specifically known.  Deterioration in the financial condition of any key customer or a significant slowdown in the economy could have a material negative impact on NTIC’s ability to collect a portion or all of the accounts and notes receivable. NTIC believes that an analysis of historical trends and its current knowledge of potential collection problems provide NTIC with sufficient information to establish a reasonable estimate for an allowance for doubtful accounts. However, since NTIC cannot predict with certainty future changes in the financial stability of its customers, NTIC’s actual future losses from uncollectible accounts may differ from its estimates. In the event NTIC determined that a smaller or larger uncollectible accounts reserve is appropriate, NTIC would record a credit or charge to selling expense in the period that it made such a determination. Accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for uncollectible accounts of $20,000 and $30,000 at February 29, 2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

In recognizing revenue, NTIC applies the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition.  NTIC recognizes revenue from the sale of its products when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered, the price is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.  These criteria are met at the time of shipment when risk of loss and title pass to the customer or distributor.

 

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Foreign Currency Translation (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income)

 

The functional currency of each international corporate joint venture is the applicable local currency.  The translation of the applicable foreign currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using an average monthly exchange rate.  Translation gains or losses are reported as an element of accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

NTIC conducts all foreign transactions based on the U.S. dollar, except for its investments in various foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies.  The exchange rate differential relating to investments in foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies is accounted for under the requirements of SFAS No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation.”  Since NTIC’s investments in its corporate joint ventures and holding companies are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would not change the equity in income of joint ventures and holding companies reflected in NTIC’s consolidated statement of income.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

In December 2004, FASB published FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.”  FAS 123(R) requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in financial statements.  That cost will be measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued.  FAS 123(R) covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and employee share purchase plans.  FAS 123(R) is a replacement of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and its related interpretive guidance.  The effect of FAS 123(R) is to require entities to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for stock options based on the grant-date fair value of the award, and to recognize the cost over the period the employee is required to provide services for the award.  FAS 123(R) permits entities to use any option-pricing model that meets the fair value objective in FAS 123(R).  NTIC implemented FAS 123(R) on September 1, 2006, using the modified prospective transition method.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains not only historical information, but also forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections.  In addition, NTIC or others on its behalf may make forward-looking statements from time to time in oral presentations, including telephone conferences and/or web casts open to the public, in press releases or reports, on NTIC’s Internet web sites or otherwise.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report that address activities, events or developments that NTIC expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements including, in particular, the statements about NTIC’s plans, objectives, strategies and prospects regarding, among other things, its financial condition, results of operations and business.  NTIC has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words like “believe,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “forecast,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximate” or “continue” and other words and terms of similar meaning.  These forward-looking statements may be contained in the notes to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements and elsewhere in this report, including under the heading “Part 1.  Financial Information.  Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation.”

 

NTIC wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated.  Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” below, as well as others that NTIC may consider immaterial or does not anticipate at

 

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this time. Although NTIC believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, NTIC does not know whether its expectations will prove correct.  NTIC’s expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions NTIC might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those described below under the heading “Risk Factors.”  The risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” below are not exclusive and further information concerning NTIC and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect its financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time.  NTIC assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements.  NTIC advises you, however, to consult any further disclosures it may make on related subjects in its Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB and Current Reports on Form 8-K that NTIC files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Risk Factors

 

The following are the most significant factors known to NTIC that could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition or operating results.

 

A significant portion of NTIC’s historical consolidated net sales were dependent upon a single React Inc. customer, which has indicated a desire not to purchase any future products from NTIC or its subsidiaries. As a result, NTIC’s fiscal 2008 have been materially harmed and NTIC’s future consolidated net sales will continue to be materially harmed.

 

A customer of NTIC’s React-NTI, LLC joint venture accounted for, in the aggregate, approximately 28.0% and 26.6% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and 2006.  As described in more detail under the heading “Part I. Financial Information. Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation—Financial Overview,” during fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, this customer notified React that it would place future orders for React’s remaining inventory of ink additives, but that after such inventory was purchased, the customer would not place any future orders.  The loss of this customer has had a material adverse impact on NTIC’s consolidated net sales for fiscal 2008 and NTIC anticipates that the loss of this customer will continue to have a material adverse impact on NTIC’s consolidated net sales thereafter.  However, since the margins on React’s sales of the ink additives to this customer were extremely small, the loss of this customer did not have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s consolidated net income for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2008 and NTIC does not expect that the anticipated continued decrease in net sales by React will have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s future consolidated net income. No assurance can be provided, however, that the loss of this customer will not have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s future consolidated net income.

 

The automotive industry in the United States has experienced contraction in recent years thus resulting in decreased demand for NTIC’s Zerust® products in the United States, which has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect NTIC’s net sales from North American operations and net income.

 

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 and during the six months ended February 29, 2008, over 70% and 82.1%, respectively, of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from the sales of Zerust® rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products and services.  Most of these products and services were sold to customers in the automotive industry and to a lesser extent to customers in the electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets.  The automotive industry in the United States has experienced contraction in recent years and is not expected to improve in the foreseeable future, which may result in a continued adverse effect on NTIC’s net sales from North American operations and net income.  While NTIC intends to increase marketing efforts of its Zerust® products and services to customers in other target industries, no assurance can be provided that NTIC will be successful in doing so or will recognize increased sales from such new target markets.

 

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NTIC intends to invest additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources to expand its existing product lines and the distribution of its products into new target markets, such as the oil and gas industry.  No assurance can be provided, however, that NTIC’s investments in such new products and markets will be successful and result in additional revenue.

 

In an effort to increase net sales, NTIC is expanding its corrosion solution products into new markets, such as the oil and gas industry, and expanding its product lines to include other products, such as biodegradable and compostable plastics, plastic recycling technology and corrosion solutions in the oil and gas industry.  During fiscal 2008, NTIC expects to make additional research and development and marketing efforts and invest additional resources into these new product lines and markets.  During the first six months of fiscal 2008, NTIC invested approximately $1,450,720 in additional research and development and marketing efforts and resources into these emerging businesses, product lines and markets.  NTIC anticipates additional revenue from these new technologies in fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.  Although NTIC recognized $102,707 in sales of Natur-Tec™ for the six months ended February 29, 2008, no assurance can be provided that such new businesses will be successful or that NTIC will be successful in obtaining additional revenue.

 

NTIC’s emerging new businesses are risky and may not prove to be successful, which could harm NTIC’s operating results and financial condition.

 

NTIC is in the process of expanding its technologies into other applications and businesses.  NTIC is undertaking these new businesses either directly or through joint ventures.  Such new businesses are risky and subject to all of the risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise, including:

 

·                  the absence of an operating history;

 

·                  the lack of commercialized products;

 

·                  insufficient capital and other resources;

 

·                  expected substantial and continual losses for such businesses for the foreseeable future;

 

·                  the lack of manufacturing experience and limited marketing experience;

 

·                  an expected reliance on third parties for the commercialization of some of the proposed products;

 

·                  a competitive environment characterized by numerous, well-established and well-capitalized competitors; and

 

·                  reliance on key personnel.

 

A significant portion of NTIC’s consolidated net sales, including corporate joint venture sales, are generated outside of the U.S. and NTIC intends to continue to expand its international operations.  NTIC’s international operations require management attention and financial resources and expose NTIC to difficulties and risks presented by international economic, political, legal, accounting and business factors.

 

NTIC offers direct on-site technical support on rust and corrosion issues in over 50 countries, and operates a marketing, distribution, and technical network through joint ventures in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  NTIC’s consolidated net sales, including the corporate joint venture sales, outside the United States were 25.8% and 20.8% of its total consolidated net sales for the six months ended February 29, 2008 and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, respectively.  One of NTIC’s strategic objectives is to expand its international operations.  NTIC has recently entered into joint ventures in Indonesia, the Ukraine, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.  The expansion of NTIC’s existing international operations and entry into additional international markets requires management attention and financial resources. Many of the countries in which NTIC sells its products directly or indirectly through its corporate joint ventures, are, to some degree, subject to political, economic and/or social instability.  NTIC’s international operations expose NTIC and its joint venture partners, representatives, agents and distributors to risks inherent in operating in foreign jurisdictions.  These risks include:

 

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·                  difficulties in managing and staffing international operations and the required infrastructure costs including legal, tax, accounting, information technology;

 

·                  the imposition of additional U.S. and foreign governmental controls or regulations, new trade restrictions and restrictions on the activities of foreign agents, representatives and distributors, the imposition of costly and lengthy export licensing requirements and changes in duties and tariffs, license obligations and other non-tariff barriers to trade;

 

·                  the imposition of U.S. and/or international sanctions against a country, company, person or entity with whom NTIC does business that would restrict or prohibit continued business with the sanctioned country, company, person or entity;

 

·                  pricing pressure that NTIC or its corporate joint ventures may experience internationally;

 

·                  laws and business practices favoring local companies;

 

·                  currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

·                  longer payment cycles and difficulties in enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain foreign legal systems;

 

·                  difficulties in enforcing or defending intellectual property rights; and

 

·                  multiple, changing and often inconsistent enforcement of laws and regulations.

 

NTIC cannot assure you that one or more of the factors listed above will not harm its business.  Any material decrease in NTIC’s international sales could adversely affect NTIC’s operating results.

 

NTIC’s liquidity and financial position rely on dividend distributions from its corporate joint ventures, which if such dividends cease or are reduced could adversely affect NTIC’s liquidity and financial position.

 

NTIC’s liquidity and financial position rely on dividend distributions from its corporate joint ventures.  During the six months ended February 29, 2008 and the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, NTIC received approximately $1,470,508 and $1,643,000, respectively, in dividends from its corporate joint ventures.  Because NTIC typically owns only 50% or less of its joint venture entities, NTIC does not control the decisions of these entities regarding whether to pay dividends and how much in dividends should be paid in any given year.  Thus, NTIC cannot guarantee that any of its joint ventures will pay dividends in any given year.  The failure of NTIC’s joint ventures to declare dividends in amounts typically expected by NTIC could adversely affect NTIC’s liquidity and financial position.

 

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could result in declines in NTIC’s reported consolidated net sales and net income.

 

Because the functional currency of NTIC’s foreign operations and investments in its foreign corporate joint ventures and holding companies is the applicable local currency, NTIC is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the normal course of business since NTIC’s fees for technical support and other services and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in foreign currencies.  NTIC’s reported consolidated net sales and net income are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.  NTIC’s principal exchange rate exposure is with the Euro, the Japanese yen, Korean won and the English pound against the U.S. dollar.  NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency exchange rate risk.  Since NTIC’s investments in its corporate joint ventures and holding companies are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would not change the equity in income of joint ventures and holding companies reflected in NTIC’s consolidated statements of income.

 

NTIC’s compliance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and any changes in such principles might adversely affect NTIC’s operating results and financial condition.  Any requirement to consolidate NTIC’s corporate joint ventures or subject them to compliance with the internal control provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could adversely affect NTIC’s operating results and financial condition.

 

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NTIC adopted accounting policy FASB Interpretation No. 46R (FIN 46R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, a revision of FIN 46” effective as of February 28, 2005.  As a result of FIN 46R, NTIC consolidated React-NTI LLC, one of its corporate joint ventures that is 75% owned by NTIC.  If the interpretation of FIN 46R were to change and NTIC were required to fully consolidate the remaining 28 of its corporate joint ventures or if NTIC’s corporate joint ventures otherwise would be required to be in compliance with the internal control provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, NTIC would incur significant additional costs.  NTIC estimates that the costs for each of its corporate joint ventures to become Sarbanes-Oxley compliant would range between $150,000 to $500,000 and that annual maintenance expenses would range from $50,000 to $100,000 per year per corporate joint venture thereafter.  In addition, other accounting pronouncements issued in the future could have a material cost associated with NTIC’s implementation of such new accounting pronouncements.

 

One of NTIC’s principal stockholders beneficially owns 24.9% of NTIC’s outstanding common stock and is affiliated with NTIC’s President and Chief Executive Officer and thus may be able influence matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, and could discourage or otherwise impede a transaction in which a third party wishes to purchase NTIC’s outstanding shares at a premium.

 

As of April 10, 2007, Inter Alia Holding Company beneficially owned approximately 24.5% of NTIC’s outstanding common stock.  Inter Alia is an entity owned by, among others, G. Patrick Lynch, NTIC’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a director, and Philip M. Lynch, NTIC’s former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman Emeritus.  G. Patrick Lynch is the son of Philip M. Lynch.  Messrs. G.P. Lynch and P.M. Lynch share voting and dispositive power of shares of NTIC’s common stock held by Inter Alia Holding Company.  As a result of his share ownership through Inter Alia and his position as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of NTIC, Mr. G.P. Lynch may be able to influence the affairs and actions of NTIC, including matters requiring stockholder approval, such as the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions.  The interests of Inter Alia may differ from the interests of NTIC’s other stockholders.  This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of NTIC, could deprive NTIC’s stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale or merger of NTIC and may negatively affect the market price of NTIC’s common stock.  Transactions that could be affected by this concentration of ownership include proxy contests, tender offers, mergers or other purchases of common stock that could give stockholders the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price for shares of NTIC’s common stock.

 

NTIC is currently involved in litigation over its trademark on the use of the color Yellow in corrosion inhibiting packaging, the loss of which could adversely affect NTIC’s business.

 

One of NTIC’s important trademarks for its business is the trademark for the color Yellow.  NTIC is currently involved in litigation against a competitor over this trademark.  NTIC has also in the past successfully prosecuted infringement claims against other competitors and third parties for their use of the color Yellow.  If NTIC were to lose this current or any future litigation over its trademark for the color Yellow, NTIC could be in a more difficult position to enforce its rights to this trademark in other countries and against other third parties.  NTIC believes that the loss of its trademark for the color Yellow could have an adverse effect on NTIC’s business.

 

NTIC’s business, properties and products are subject to governmental regulation and taxes with which compliance may require NTIC to incur expenses or modify its products or operations and may expose NTIC to penalties for non-compliance. Governmental regulation may also adversely affect the demand for some of NTIC’s products and NTIC’s operating results.

 

NTIC’s business, properties and products are subject to a wide variety of international, federal, state and local laws, rules, taxes and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, natural resources, and worker health and safety and the use, management, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes and

 

25



 

other regulated materials. These laws, rules and regulations may affect the way NTIC conducts its operations, and the failure to comply with these regulations could lead to fines and other penalties. Because NTIC owns and operates real property, various environmental laws also may impose liability on NTIC for the costs of cleaning up and responding to hazardous substances that may have been released on NTIC’s property, including releases unknown to NTIC. These environmental laws and regulations also could require NTIC to pay for environmental remediation and response costs at third-party locations where NTIC disposed of or recycled hazardous substances. NTIC’s future costs of complying with the various environmental requirements, as they now exist or may be altered in the future, could adversely affect NTIC’s financial condition and operating results. NTIC is also subject to other international, federal and state laws, rules and regulations, the future non-compliance of which may harm NTIC’s business or may adversely affect the demand for some of its products.  Changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting standards and taxation changes, including tax rate changes, new tax laws, revised tax law interpretations, also may adversely affect NTIC’s operating results.

 

NTIC intends to grow its business through additional joint ventures, alliances and acquisitions, which could be risky and harm its business.

 

One of NTIC’s growth strategies is to expand its business by entering into additional joint ventures and alliances and acquiring businesses, technologies and products that complement or augment NTIC’s existing products.  The benefits of a joint venture, alliance or acquisition may take more time than expected to develop, and NTIC cannot guarantee that any future joint ventures, alliances or acquisitions will in fact produce the intended benefits. In addition, joint ventures, alliances and acquisitions involve a number of risks, including:

 

·                  diversion of management’s attention;

 

·                  difficulties in assimilating the operations and products of an acquired business or in realizing projected efficiencies, cost savings and revenue synergies;

 

·                  potential loss of key employees or customers of the acquired businesses or adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;

 

·                  adverse impact on overall profitability if acquired businesses do not achieve the financial results projected in NTIC’s valuation models;

 

·                  reallocation of amounts of capital from other operating initiatives and/or an increase in NTIC’s leverage and debt service requirements to pay the acquisition purchase prices, which could in turn restrict NTIC’s ability to access additional capital when needed or to pursue other important elements of NTIC’s business strategy;

 

·                  inaccurate assessment of undisclosed, contingent or other liabilities or problems and unanticipated costs associated with the acquisition; and

 

·                  incorrect estimates made in the accounting for acquisitions, incurrence of non-recurring charges and write-off of significant amounts of goodwill that could adversely affect NTIC’s operating results.

 

NTIC’s ability to grow through joint ventures, alliances and acquisitions will depend, in part, on the availability of suitable opportunities at an acceptable cost, NTIC’s ability to compete effectively for these opportunities and the availability of capital to complete such transactions.

 

NTIC relies on its independent distributors, manufacturer’s sales representatives and corporate joint ventures to market and sell its products.

 

In addition to its direct sales force, NTIC relies on its independent distributors, manufacturer’s sales representatives and corporate joint ventures to market and sell its products in the United States and internationally.  NTIC’s independent distributors, manufacturer’s sales representatives and joint venture partners might terminate their relationship with NTIC, or devote insufficient sales efforts to NTIC’s products.  NTIC does not control its independent distributors, manufacturer’s sales representatives and joint ventures and they may not be successful in implementing NTIC’s marketing plans. NTIC’s failure to

 

26



 

maintain its existing relationships with its independent distributors, manufacturer’s sales representatives and joint ventures, or its failure to recruit and retain additional skilled independent distributors, manufacturer’s sales representatives and joint venture partners could have an adverse effect on NTIC’s operations.

 

NTIC has very limited staffing and will continue to be dependent upon key employees.

 

NTIC’s success is dependent upon the efforts of a small management team and staff.  NTIC’s future success will also depend in large part on its ability to retain these individuals and identify, attract and retain other highly qualified managerial, technical, sales and marketing and customer service personnel. Competition for these individuals is intense, especially in the markets in which NTIC operates.  NTIC may not succeed in identifying, attracting and retaining these personnel.  The current management, other than the President and Chief Executive Officer, do not have any material stock ownership in NTIC or any contractual obligation to maintain their employment with us.  The loss or interruption of services of any of NTIC’s key personnel, the inability to identify, attract or retain qualified personnel in the future, delays in hiring qualified personnel, or any employee slowdowns, strikes or similar actions could make it difficult for NTIC to manage its business and meet key objectives, which could harm NTIC’s business, financial condition and operating results.

 

NTIC relies on its management information systems for inventory management, distribution and other functions.  If these information systems fail to adequately perform these functions or if NTIC experiences an interruption in their operation, NTIC’s business and operating results could be adversely affected.

 

The efficient operation of NTIC’s business is dependent on its management information systems.  NTIC relies on its management information systems to effectively manage accounting and financial functions; manage order entry, order fulfillment and inventory replenishment processes; and to maintain its research and development data.  The failure of management information systems to perform as anticipated could disrupt NTIC’s business and product development and could result in decreased sales, causing NTIC’s business and operating results to suffer.  In addition, NTIC’s management information systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural or man-made disasters, terrorist attacks and attacks by computer viruses or hackers, or power loss or computer systems, Internet, telecommunications or data network failure.  Any such interruption could adversely affect NTIC’s business and operating results.

 

NTIC’s reliance upon patents, trademark laws, trade secrets and contractual provisions to protect its proprietary rights may not be sufficient to protect its intellectual property from others who may sell similar products.

 

NTIC holds patents relating to various aspects of its products and believes that proprietary technical know-how is critical to many of its products.  Proprietary rights relating to NTIC’s products are protected from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that they are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are maintained in confidence as trade secrets.  NTIC cannot be certain that it will be issued any patents from any pending or future patent applications owned by or licensed to NTIC or that the claims allowed under any issued patents will be sufficiently broad to protect its technology.  In the absence of patent protection, NTIC may be vulnerable to competitors who attempt to copy NTIC’s products or gain access to its trade secrets and know-how.  NTIC’s competitors may initiate litigation to challenge the validity of NTIC’s patents, or they may use their resources to design comparable products that do not infringe NTIC’s patents.  NTIC may incur substantial costs if its competitors initiate litigation to challenge the validity of its patents or if it initiates any proceedings to protect its proprietary rights and if the outcome of any such litigation is unfavorable to NTIC, its business and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

 

In addition, NTIC relies on trade secrets and proprietary know-how that it seeks to protect, in part, by confidentiality agreements with its employees, and consultants.  These agreements may be breached and NTIC may not have adequate remedies for any such breach.  Even if these confidentiality agreements are not breached, NTIC’s trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors.

 

27


 


If NTIC is unable to continue to enhance existing products and develop and market new products that respond to customer needs and achieve market acceptance, NTIC may experience a decrease in demand for its products, and its business could suffer.

 

One of NTIC’s strategies is to enhance its existing products and develop and market new products that respond to customer needs.  NTIC may not be able to compete effectively with its competitors unless NTIC can keep up with existing or new products in the markets in which it competes.  Product development requires significant financial and other resources. Although in the past NTIC has implemented lean manufacturing and other productivity improvement initiatives to provide investment funding for new products, NTIC cannot assure you that it will be able to continue to do so in the future.  Product improvements and new product introductions also require significant planning, design, development and testing at the technological, product, and manufacturing process levels and NTIC may not be able to timely develop product improvements or new products.  NTIC’s competitors’ new products may beat NTIC’s products to market, may be more effective or less expensive than NTIC’s products or render NTIC’s products obsolete.  Any new products that NTIC may develop may not receive market acceptance or otherwise generate any meaningful net sales or profits for NTIC relative to its expectations, based on, among other things, existing and anticipated investments in manufacturing capacity and commitments to fund advertising, marketing, promotional programs, and research and development.

 

NTIC faces intense competition in almost all of its product lines, including from competitors that have substantially greater resources than NTIC does.  NTIC cannot assure you it will be able to compete effectively, which would harm its business and operating results.

 

NTIC’s products are sold in highly competitive markets throughout the world.  The principal competitive factors in NTIC’s markets are pricing, product innovation, quality and reliability, product support and customer service and reputation.  NTIC often competes with numerous manufacturers, many of who have substantially greater financial, marketing, and other resources than NTIC does. As a result, they may be able to adapt more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements, or to devote greater resources to the promotion and sale of their products than NTIC can.  In addition, competition could increase if new companies enter the market or if existing competitors expand their product lines or intensify efforts within existing product lines.  NTIC’s current products, products under development and its ability to develop new and improved products may be insufficient to enable NTIC to compete effectively with its competitors. NTIC cannot assure you that it will be able to compete effectively, which would harm its business and operating results.

 

NTIC is currently involved in several litigation matters and an audit matter with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, which are costly to defend and the resolution of which could have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s operating results and financial position.

 

NTIC is party to several litigation matters and an audit matter with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as described in more detail in Note 9 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements.  Such litigation and audit matter are costly and may adversely affect NTIC’s operating results and financial condition.  In addition, the resolution of such matters may also have a material adverse effect on NTIC’s operating results and financial condition.

 

NTIC is exposed to risks relating to its evaluation of its internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related and other recent regulations implemented by the SEC and The American Stock Exchange, are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming.  NTIC will be evaluating its internal controls systems to allow management to report on, and its independent registered public accounting firm to

 

28



 

attest to, NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting.  NTIC will be performing the system and process evaluation and testing (and any necessary remediation) required to comply with the management certification and auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  NTIC cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of its evaluation, testing and remediation actions or the impact of the same on its operations since there is presently no precedent available by which to measure compliance adequacy.  If NTIC is not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, NTIC may be subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities, including the SEC or The American Stock Exchange.  This type of action could adversely affect NTIC’s financial results or investors’ confidence in NTIC, and could cause NTIC’s stock price to decline.  In addition, the controls and procedures that NTIC may implement may not comply with all of the relevant rules and regulations of the SEC and The American Stock Exchange.  If NTIC fails to develop and maintain effective controls and procedures, it may be unable to provide the required financial information in a timely and reliable manner.  In addition, NTIC’s efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations regarding its assessment of its internal control over financial reporting and its independent registered public accounting firm’s report on that assessment will require the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources.

 

ITEM 3.           CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

NTIC maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed by NTIC in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to NTIC’s management, including NTIC’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  In designing and evaluating NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures, NTIC recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and NTIC necessarily is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.  NTIC’s management evaluated, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered in this report.  Based on that evaluation, NTIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in NTIC’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that material information relating to NTIC and its consolidated subsidiaries is made known to management, including NTIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, particularly during the period when NTIC’s periodic reports are being prepared.

 

NTIC’s management is aware, however, that there is a lack of segregation of duties due to the small number of employees of NTIC dealing with general administrative and financial matters. However, NTIC’s management has decided that considering the employees involved and the control procedures in place, risks associated with such lack of segregation are minimal and the potential benefits of adding employees to clearly segregate duties do not at this time justify the expenses associated with such increases.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There was no change in NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended February 29, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.           LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

A description of NTIC’s legal proceedings in Note 9 of NTIC’s consolidated financial statements included within this report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 2.           UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS AND SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

 

During the three months ended February 29, 2008, NTIC did not issue any shares of its common stock or other equity securities of NTIC that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Small Business Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

During the three months ended February 29, 2008, NTIC did not purchase any shares of its common stock or other equity securities of NTIC.

 

On November 13, 2003, the Board of Directors of NTIC authorized Matthew Wolsfeld, Chief Financial Officer of NTIC, to repurchase on behalf of NTIC, up to 100,000 shares of NTIC’s common stock from time to time in accordance with applicable rules governing issuer stock repurchases.  Since being authorized, NTIC has repurchased and retired an aggregate of 44,200 shares of its common stock.

 

ITEM 4.           SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

(a)        The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NTIC was held on January 24, 2008.

 

(b)        The results of the stockholder votes were as follows:

 

 

 


For

 

Against/
Withheld

 


Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Vote

 

1. Election of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pierre Chenu

 

3,044,307

 

8,050

 

0

 

0

 

G. Patrick Lynch

 

3,048,857

 

3,500

 

0

 

0

 

Dr. Donald A. Kubik

 

3,042,969

 

9,388

 

0

 

0

 

Mark J. Stone

 

3,049,057

 

3,300

 

0

 

0

 

Dr. Sunggyu Lee

 

3,043,057

 

9,300

 

0

 

0

 

Dr. Ramani Narayan

 

3,043,057

 

9,300

 

0

 

0

 

Mark M. Mayers

 

2,062,015

 

990,342

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Ratification of Appointment of independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

3,044,100

 

385

 

7,871

 

0

 

 

ITEM 5.           OTHER INFORMATION

 

On April 10, 2008, NTIC entered into a Promissory Note Modification Agreement with National City Bank pursuant to which NTIC’s demand line of credit was increased to $2,300,000 and its $1,500,000 revolving credit facility was terminated.  Advances made under the demand line of credit will be made at the sole discretion of National City Bank and will be due and payable on demand.  Outstanding amounts under the demand line of credit bear interest at an annual rate based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  Interest is payable in arrears on the 15th day of each month and on demand.  As of April 10, 2008, no amounts had been borrowed by NTIC under the demand line of credit.  A copy of the Promissory Note Modification Agreement has been filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this report and is incorporated herein by this reference.

 

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ITEM 6.           EXHIBITS

 

The following exhibits are being filed or furnished with this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

10.1

 

Promissory Note Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Promissory Note Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Promissory Note Modification Agreement dated April 10, 2008 between Northern Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

31



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

 

 

Date: April 14, 2008

Matthew C. Wolsfeld, CPA

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized to Sign on Behalf of the Registrant)

 

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NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-QSB
EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 
No.

 

Description

 

Method of Filing

10.1

 

Promissory Note Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Promissory Note Modification Agreement dated January 31, 2008 between Northern Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Promissory Note Modification Agreement dated April 10, 2008 between Northern Technologies International Corporation and National City Bank

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Furnished herewith

 

 

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Furnished herewith

 

33


 

Exhibit 10.1

 

PROMISSORY NOTE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Modification”) is made and entered into on January 31, 2008 by and among Northern Technologies International Corporation (collectively “Borrower”) and NATIONAL CITY BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION (“Bank”).

 

WHEREAS, Bank agreed to lend to Borrower an amount not to exceed the sum of Six Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($600,000.00) (“Loan”), which Loan was evidenced by a certain Commercial Note: Demand Line of Credit dated December 14, 2006 in the face amount of Six Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($600,000.00) (as extended, amended or otherwise modified to date, the “Note”) (the said Note and any other instrument or document given in connection with or to secure the Loan being collectively referred to as “Loan Documents”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to modify the Note as hereinafter provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing promises and the covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Liability of Borrower. Borrower hereby ratifies and reconfirms Borrower’s obligations and all liability to Bank under the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and acknowledges that Borrower has no defenses to or rights of set-off against Borrower’s obligations and all liability to Bank thereunder. Borrower further acknowledges that Bank has performed all of Bank’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

Modification. The Note is hereby modified to provide that, effective as of January 31, 2008 the face amount of the Note shall be permanently increased to the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($800,000.00).

 

The next payment is due February 15, 2008 and monthly thereafter as set forth in the above mentioned note. Payments prior to the first scheduled payment above have been made as evidenced by the books and records of Bank.

 

Ratification of Loan Documents. The Loan Documents are in all respects ratified and confirmed by the parties hereto and incorporated by reference herein, and each of the Loan Documents and this Modification shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Note. In the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Modification and the terms and provisions of the Note, the terms and provisions of this Modification shall control. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OR INFERENCE TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE NOTE IS A DEMAND NOTE AND THAT BANK SHALL CONTINUE TO HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO EXTEND ANY CREDIT TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF BORROWER BY REASON OF THE NOTE.

 

Confession of Judgment. Borrower hereby authorizes any attorney at law to appear in any state or federal court of record in the United States of America after the maturity hereof (whether occurring by lapse of time or acceleration), to waive the issuance and service of process, to admit the maturity of the Note and the amount then appearing due, to confess judgment against Borrower in favor of the holder hereof for the amount then appearing due, together with interest and costs of suit, and thereupon to release all errors and to waive all rights of appeal and stay of execution. No judgment shall bar any subsequent judgment. Should any judgment be vacated for any reason, this warrant of attorney nevertheless may thereafter be used for obtaining additional judgments.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Modification to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

WARNING-BY SIGNING THIS PAPER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO NOTICE AND COURT TRIAL.  IF YOU DO NOT PAY ON TIME A COURT JUDGMENT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWERS OF A COURT CAN BE USED TO COLLECT FROM YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CREDITOR WHETHER FOR RETURNED GOODS, FAULTY GOODS, FAILURE ON HIS PART TO COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE.

 

 

By:

Matthew Wolsfeld

 

Its: CFO

 

 

 

NATIONAL CITY BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION

 

By

Joseph McMullen, Jr.

 

Its: VP

 

 

1


 

Exhibit 10.2

 

PROMISSORY NOTE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Modification”) is made and entered into on January 30, 2008 but is effective as of January 31, 2008 by and among Northern Technologies International Corporation (collectively “Borrower”) and NATIONAL CITY BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION (“Bank”).

 

WHEREAS, Bank agreed to lend to Borrower an amount not to exceed the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,500,000.00) (“Loan”), which Loan was evidenced by a certain Commercial Note: Revolving Credit dated August 6, 2004 in the face amount of Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) (as extended, amended or otherwise modified to date, the “Note”) (the said Note and any other instrument or document given in connection with or to secure the Loan being collectively referred to as “Loan Documents”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to modify the Note as hereinafter provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing promises and the covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Liability of Borrower.  Borrower hereby ratifies and reconfirms Borrower’s obligations and all liability to Bank under the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and acknowledges that Borrower has no defenses to or rights of set-off against Borrower’s obligations and all liability to Bank thereunder. Borrower further acknowledges that Bank has performed all of Bank’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

Modification. The Note is hereby modified to extend the expiration date from January 31, 2008 to January 31, 2009.

 

The next payment is due February 1, 2008 and monthly thereafter as set forth in the above mentioned note. Payments prior to the first scheduled payment above have been made as evidenced by the books and records of Bank.

 

Ratification of Loan Documents. The Loan Documents are in all respects ratified and confirmed by the parties hereto and incorporated by reference herein, and each of the Loan Documents and this Modification shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Note. In the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Modification and the terms and provisions of the Note, the terms and provisions of this Modification shall control.

 

Confession of Judgment. Borrower hereby authorizes any attorney at law to appear in any state or federal court of record in the United States of America after the maturity hereof (whether occurring by lapse of time or acceleration), to waive the issuance and service of process, to admit the maturity of the Note and the amount then appearing due, to confess judgment against Borrower in favor of the holder hereof for the amount then appearing due, together with interest and costs of suit, and thereupon to release all errors and to waive all rights of appeal and stay of execution. No judgment shall bar any subsequent judgment. Should any judgment be vacated for any reason, this warrant of attorney nevertheless may thereafter be used for obtaining additional judgments.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Modification to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

WARNING-BY SIGNING THIS PAPER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO NOTICE AND COURT TRIAL. IF YOU DO NOT PAY ON TIME A COURT JUDGMENT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWERS OF A COURT CAN BE USED TO COLLECT FROM YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CREDITOR WHETHER FOR RETURNED GOODS, FAULTY GOODS, FAILURE ON HIS PART TO COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE. NTIC

 

 

By:

Matthew Wolsfeld

 

Its: CFO

 

 

 

NATIONAL CITY BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION

 

By

Joseph McMullen, Jr.

 

Its: VP

 

 

1


Exhibit 10.3

 

PROMISSORY NOTE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Modification”) is made and entered into on April 10, 2008 by and among Northern Technologies International Corporation (collectively “Borrower”) and NATIONAL CITY BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION (“Bank”).

 

WHEREAS, Bank agreed to lend to Borrower an amount not to exceed the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($800,000.00) (“Loan”), which Loan was evidenced by a certain Commercial Note: Demand Line of Credit dated December 14, 2006 in the face amount of Six Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($600,000.00) (as extended, amended or otherwise modified to date, the “Note”) (the said Note and any other instrument or document given in connection with or to secure the Loan being collectively referred to as “Loan Documents”) .

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to modify the Note as hereinafter provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing promises and the covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Liability of Borrower. Borrower hereby ratifies and reconfirms Borrower’s obligations and all liability to Bank under the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and acknowledges that Borrower has no defenses to or rights of set-off against Borrower’s obligations and all liability to Bank thereunder. Borrower further acknowledges that Bank has performed all of Bank’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

Modification. The Note is hereby modified to provide that, effective as of April 10, 2008 the face amount of the Note shall be permanently increased to the sum of Two Million Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($2,300,000.00).

 

Prior payments have been made as evidenced by the books and records of Bank.

 

Ratification of Loan Documents. The Loan Documents are in all respects ratified and confirmed by the parties hereto and incorporated by reference herein, and each of the Loan Documents and this Modification shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Note. In the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Modification and the terms and provisions of the Note, the terms and provisions of this Modification shall control. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OR INFERENCE TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE NOTE IS A DEMAND NOTE AND THAT BANK SHALL CONTINUE TO HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO EXTEND ANY CREDIT TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF BORROWER BY REASON OF THE NOTE.

 

Confession of Judgment. Borrower hereby authorizes any attorney at law to appear in any state or federal court of record in the United States of America after the maturity hereof (whether occurring by lapse of time or acceleration), to waive the issuance and service of process, to admit the maturity of the Note and the amount then appearing due, to confess judgment against Borrower in favor of the holder hereof for the amount then appearing due, together with interest and costs of suit, and thereupon to release all errors and to waive all rights of appeal and stay of execution. No judgment shall bar any subsequent judgment. Should any judgment be vacated for any reason, this warrant of attorney nevertheless may thereafter be used for obtaining additional judgments.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Modification to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

WARNING-BY SIGNING THIS PAPER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO NOTICE AND COURT TRIAL.  IF YOU DO NOT PAY ON TIME A COURT JUDGMENT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWERS OF A COURT CAN BE USED TO COLLECT FROM YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CREDITOR WHETHER FOR RETURNED GOODS, FAULTY GOODS, FAILURE ON HIS PART TO COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE.

 

 

NTIC

 

By:

Matthew Wolsfeld

 

Its: CFO

 

 

 

NATIONAL CITY BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION

 

By

Joseph McMullen, Jr.

 

Its: VP

 

 

1


Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302(a) OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, G. Patrick Lynch, certify that:

 

1.                             I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of Northern Technologies International Corporation;

 

2.                             Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                             Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the small business issuer as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                             The small business issuer’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the small business issuer and have:

 

(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the small business issuer, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)       Evaluated the effectiveness of the small business issuer’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(c)        Disclosed in this report any change in the small business issuer’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the small business issuer’s fourth quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the small business issuer’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                             The small business issuer’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting, to the small business issuer’s auditors and the audit committee of the small business issuer’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the small business issuer’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the small business issuer’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: April 14, 2008

 

G. Patrick Lynch

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

1


 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302(a) OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Matthew C. Wolsfeld, certify that:

 

1.                                 I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of Northern Technologies International Corporation;

 

2.                             Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                             Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the small business issuer as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                             The small business issuer’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the small business issuer and have:

 

(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the small business issuer, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)       Evaluated the effectiveness of the small business issuer’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(c)        Disclosed in this report any change in the small business issuer’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the small business issuer’s fourth quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the small business issuer’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                             The small business issuer’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting, to the small business issuer’s auditors and the audit committee of the small business issuer’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the small business issuer’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the small business issuer’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: April 14, 2008

Matthew C. Wolsfeld, CPA

 

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

 

1


 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Northern Technologies International Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-QSB for the period ending February 29, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, G. Patrick Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge and belief:

 

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

G. Patrick. Lynch

President and Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

 

Circle Pines, Minnesota

 

 

Date : April 14, 2008

 

 

1


 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Northern Technologies International Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-QSB for the period ending February 29, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Matthew C. Wolsfeld, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge and belief:

 

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Matthew C. Wolsfeld, CPA

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

(principal financial officer and principal accounting

officer)

 

Circle Pines, Minnesota

 

 

Date : April 14, 2008

 

 

1