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Table of Contents
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2011
No. 333-175475
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 4
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
GSE Holding, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 3081 | 77-0619069 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
19103 Gundle Road
Houston, Texas 77073
(281) 443-8564
Mark C. Arnold
President and Chief Executive Officer
GSE Holding, Inc.
19103 Gundle Road
Houston, Texas 77073
(281) 443-8564
(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Gerald T. Nowak, P.C. Theodore A. Peto Kirkland & Ellis LLP 300 North LaSalle Chicago, Illinois 60654 (312) 862-2000 |
Colin J. Diamond White & Case LLP 1155 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 (212) 819-8200 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box: o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer ý (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company o |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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||||||||
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share(2) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2) |
Amount of Registration Fee(3) |
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Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share |
10,350,000 | $15.00 | $155,250,000 | $17,792 | ||||
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information contained in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We and the selling stockholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject To Completion, Dated December 6, 2011
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
9,000,000 Shares
GSE Holding, Inc.
Common Stock
$ per share
We are offering 5,400,000 shares of our common stock and the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus are offering 3,600,000 shares of our common stock. This is our initial public offering and no public market currently exists for our common stock. We expect the initial public offering price to be between $13.00 and $15.00 per share. Our common stock has been approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol "GSE".
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Please read "Risk Factors" beginning on page 18 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Per Share | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Offering Price |
$ | $ | |||||
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions |
$ | $ | |||||
Proceeds to GSE Holding, Inc. before expenses |
$ | $ | |||||
Proceeds to the selling stockholders before expenses |
$ | $ |
Delivery of the shares of common stock is expected to be made on or about , 2011. The selling stockholders have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase an additional 1,350,000 shares of our common stock on the same terms and conditions set forth above solely to cover over-allotments.
Oppenheimer & Co. | FBR |
William Blair & Company | BMO Capital Markets | Macquarie Capital |
The date of this prospectus is , 2011
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, in any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or in any free-writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus is complete and accurate as of the date on the front cover, but the information may have changed since that date.
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We obtained the industry, market and competitive position data throughout this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research and surveys and studies conducted by third parties, including a report by Alvarez & Marsal Private Equity Performance Improvement Group, LLC, or A&M, that we commissioned in July 2011 in connection with the preparation of this prospectus. The information in these sources represents the most recently available data of which we are aware. Industry and general publications, surveys and studies conducted by third parties generally state that they have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. We believe the industry, market and competitive data and our internal company estimates and research included in this prospectus are reliable and the definitions of our market and industry are appropriate. However, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industries in which we operate necessarily involve a high degree of uncertainty and risk and are subject to change based on a variety of factors, including those described under "Risk Factors" in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by third parties and by us.
Trademarks, Service Marks and Trade Names
This prospectus includes our trademarks, service marks and trade names, such as "GSE," our logo, and "Gundle," which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are the property of GSE Holding, Inc. or its subsidiaries. This prospectus also contains trademarks, service marks and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these marks and trade names. Third-party marks and trade names used herein are for informational purposes only and in no way constitute or are intended to be a commercial use of such names and marks. The use of such third-party names and marks in no way constitutes or should be construed to be an approval, endorsement or sponsorship of us, or our products or services, by the owners of such third-party names and marks.
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This summary highlights key information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. For a more complete understanding of us and this offering, you should read and carefully consider the entire prospectus, including the more detailed information set forth under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Some of the statements in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. See "Forward-Looking Statements." Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms "we," "us," "our," "GSE," "GSE Holding," "our business" and "our company" refer to GSE Holding, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries as a combined entity.
Our Business
We are the leading global provider by sales of highly engineered geosynthetic containment solutions for environmental protection and confinement applications. Our products are used in a wide range of infrastructure end markets such as mining, waste management, liquid containment (including water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture), coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. We are one of a few providers with the full suite of products required to deliver customized solutions for complex projects on a worldwide basis, including geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners, or GCLs, nonwoven geotextiles, and specialty products. We sell our products in over 110 countries and a global infrastructure that includes seven manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Germany, Chile, Egypt and Thailand, 18 regional sales offices located in 12 countries and engineers and technical salespeople located on four continents. We generate the majority of our sales outside of North America, including 38% from sales into high-growth emerging and frontier markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Our comprehensive product offering and global infrastructure, along with our extensive relationships with customers and end-users, provide us with access to high-growth markets worldwide, visibility into upcoming projects and the flexibility to serve customers regardless of geographic location.
Geosynthetic lining solutions are mission-critical, and often mandated by regulatory authorities, for the safe containment of materials and groundwater protection across a wide range of applications. Our technologically advanced products are manufactured primarily from polyethylene resins and proprietary additives, and are engineered to high performance specifications such as relative impermeability, structural integrity and resistance to weathering, ultraviolet degradation and extended chemical exposure. Our products are low in cost relative to the total development expenditure of a typical project, as well as to the remediation cost and adverse environmental impact that would result from not using a geosynthetic lining solution. We believe that we derive a pricing premium and margin advantage from our technologically advanced products and our brand name that is well-recognized in the industry for quality, reliability and innovation, each of which are critical factors when purchasing a product that is often required to last in perpetuity.
We are one of a few providers that possess the manufacturing capabilities and product breadth to develop solutions that meet the specific performance and regulatory standards required to supply large, complex projects on a global basis. Our manufacturing facilities have one of the broadest geographic presences in the industry and are strategically located to allow us to serve the fastest growing end markets and geographies, to effectively manage our cost structure and to maintain proximity to our customers and suppliers. In addition, we have a global network of engineers and salespeople that work with customers to provide customized solutions. Our engineers also collaborate with international standards organizations to develop regional specifications and standards for existing and new
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applications; consequently, we help public and private industry engineers to establish the framework of specifications for our industry's products. We believe that our global infrastructure provides us with a competitive advantage, particularly in emerging and frontier markets, as we are well positioned to capture new opportunities from the implementation and enforcement of more stringent environmental regulations driven by increasing environmental awareness globally.
We serve leading mining, waste management and power companies; independent installers and dealers; general contractors and government agencies. Our solutions have been integral components of projects by large, well-established and well-known companies such as Arizona Public Service Company, Inc., Barrick Gold Corp., BHP Billiton plc, the Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd., Newmont Mining Corp., Rio Tinto Limited, Veolia Environnement S.A. and Waste Management, Inc. Our customer base is geographically diversified with 58% of our sales in 2010 generated outside North America including in emerging and frontier markets in Asia (14%), Latin America (11%), Africa (10%) and the Middle East (3%). We define emerging markets as nations with rapid growth in business activity and industrialization, such as China and India, and frontier markets as countries that are earlier in their development cycles but could exhibit similar characteristics in the future, such as Vietnam and many African countries. We serve over 1,300 customers annually, and our largest customer accounted for less than 5% of our sales in 2010. We maintain strong, longstanding relationships with our customer base, with an average tenure of 13 years with our top 10 customers.
Our sales grew by 40% to $443.5 million in the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 from $316.2 million in the twelve months ended September 30, 2010. In the twelve months ended September 30, 2011, we had net income of $4.0 million compared to a net loss of $29.8 million in the same prior year period, a 113% increase. Our Adjusted EBITDA grew by 162% to $44.6 million from $17.0 million in the same prior year period. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Quarterly Financial Information" for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income or loss. Growth in the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 has been driven, in part, by our focus on product innovation and strategic growth initiatives in new markets and applications, as exemplified by the ongoing diversification of our sales. Despite challenging economic conditions in early 2010, we were able to meaningfully streamline our operations and implement successful performance improvements that have enhanced our profitability and provided us with significant operating leverage. As a result of these initiatives, we increased our gross margins by 3% to 15% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from 12% in the same period in the prior year and we believe there is an ongoing opportunity for improvement. Our adjusted gross margins increased by 2% to 17% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from 15% in the same period in the prior year. See note (3) to the table set forth in " Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" for a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin to gross margin. Our recent historical sales have been variable, however, and we recorded a net loss in each of the last three fiscal years. In addition, our sales typically fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to seasonal weather patterns and our long sales cycle. As of September 30, 2011, our total outstanding debt was $197.2 million.
Our Industry
A&M estimates that the market for geosynthetics used in environmental containment applications will be approximately $1.7 billion in 2011, and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 7% to approximately $2.2 billion by 2015. According to A&M, we are the largest market participant with 24% global geomembrane market share, and we are the market leader in several key markets and geographies, as shown by our 40% market share in the mining end market, our 19% market share in the waste management end market, and our 11% market share in the liquid containment end market. Our industry is highly fragmented due to its relevance to a wide variety of products, applications, end markets and geographies. For the most part, other market participants are small, privately held companies that compete on a local or regional basis and offer only one or a few products. Globally,
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demand for geosynthetics is influenced by environmental regulations, particularly those involving heap leach mining, landfills and waste ponds for industrial and energy process by-products. For these markets, some type of geosynthetic is typically required to comply with environmental standards for groundwater protection. In the United States, one example of applicable legislation is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, or RCRA, which provides legal guidelines for the storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste.
We focus primarily on the global mining, waste management and liquid containment end markets, and are developing new end markets such as coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. Although the businesses of many of our customers are, to varying degrees, cyclical and experience periodic upturns and downturns, we believe that there are highly attractive near- to medium-term global macroeconomic trends in each of these sectors.
Mining. In the heap leach extraction process used in the mining industry, geosynthetic systems prevent the leakage of the valuable leachate into which the metal is dissolved, protect the ground and soil from contamination and provide drainage solutions. In all other processes, geosynthetics are used as containment solutions for the tailing ponds in which water borne tailings are stored in order to allow the separation of solid particles from water. The size of the geosynthetic opportunity in mining end markets is directly related to the amount of global mining activity, which is driven by demand for metals and minerals and the need for new mining infrastructure to satisfy this demand. Our products are especially relevant to mining applications focused on copper, gold, silver, uranium and phosphate. According to The Datamonitor Group, or Datamonitor, the global copper industry alone is expected to produce 19.4 million metric tons in 2015, representing an increase of 22.5% over 2010 production levels. The global mining industry is expected to increase annual capital expenditures by 113% to $168 billion in 2018 from $79 billion in 2009, according to the McKinsey Basic Materials Institute.
Waste Management. Geosynthetics are used in the management of municipal solid waste, or MSW, as liners to prevent landfill runoff from entering the surrounding environment and as caps to prevent the escape of greenhouse gases, control odors and limit rainwater infiltration. Key Note Publications, or Key Note, estimates that 2.0 billion tons of MSW were generated worldwide in 2006 and nearly 3.0 billion tons are expected to be generated in 2011, representing annual growth of approximately 8%. While growth in North American and European waste management markets has historically trended with growth in gross domestic product, or GDP, we believe the construction and expansion of landfills for the containment of this waste will drive global geosynthetic demand in emerging markets. According to Key Note, developing nations, such as China and India, represent more than half of global MSW generation and also require the most investment in their waste management infrastructure. We believe that increased wealth, the positive correlation between MSW generation and per capita GDP and heightened environmental regulation will move disposal practices in Asia and other emerging markets away from current open dumping and open burning practices towards landfilling and other more environmentally friendly methods of disposal. China has addressed the need for increased sound waste disposal resources in its twelfth five-year plan, the most recent in a series of economic development initiatives, which mandates the investment of 180 billion Yuan, or approximately $28 billion, in the urban waste disposal sector between 2011 and 2015.
Liquid Containment. Geosynthetic products are used in a wide variety of liquid containment applications in civil engineering and infrastructure end markets such as water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture.
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population expansion and urbanization coupled with water scarcity and pollution will cause investment to outpace global rates.
Coal Ash Containment. Coal-burning power plants produce coal ash, a pollutant that can contaminate soil and groundwater, as a byproduct of the combustion process. In December 2008, a coal ash containment failure at The Tennessee Valley Authority's fossil fuel plant in Kingston, Tennessee resulted in the release of approximately 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash into the Emory River. The clean-up costs and timeline associated with the failure are estimated to be in excess of $1 billion and four years, respectively. Following this incident, between May and November 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, announced plans to regulate the disposal of coal ash generated by coal-fired electric utilities under RCRA, published proposed rules for the regulation and held a public comment period. The EPA's proposed rules may never become enforceable, however, because the United States House of Representatives recently passed legislation that proposes national standards which the states, and not the EPA, will enforce. A companion bill has been introduced in the United States Senate, but has not yet been considered. Based on market research, A&M believes that the coal ash containment market for geosynthetic products in North America is projected to grow from $12 million in 2011 to $74 million in 2015, representing a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 57%. Utilities have already begun capping existing noncompliant disposal facilities and constructing new disposal facilities that meet the requirements of the regulation in advance of it coming into effect.
Shale Oil and Gas. Geosynthetic solutions are used in a number of applications in the drilling and production of shale oil and gas, including to effectively line storage and disposal ponds for both the freshwater required for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and for flowback water, a by-product containing high levels of the salt, down-well chemicals and metals used in the fracking process. According to Spears & Associates, Inc., $1.2 trillion of capital is expected to be spent in onshore oil and gas drilling and completion in the United States between 2011 and 2017. A portion of this capital will be used to develop over 140,000 horizontal wells in this period, the significant majority of which we believe will be in shale plays. We believe that the majority of producing shale wells will ultimately require appropriately lined ponds for the containment of freshwater, fracking chemicals and flowback water. These expenditures will support anticipated growth in domestic shale oil and gas production. While total domestic natural gas production is projected by the Energy Information Administration, or EIA, to grow by 25% to 26.3 trillion cubic feet, or tcf, in 2035 from 21.0 tcf in 2009, shale gas production is expected to grow by over 250% to account for 47% of total natural gas production by 2035 compared to 16% in 2009.
Our Competitive Strengths
Market leader with strong brand recognition. We are the largest producer of polyethylene geomembranes in the world. We believe this market position provides us with a number of competitive advantages, including the ability to attract and retain large multinational customers that rely on our global scale and full product breadth for on-time product delivery, as well as flexibility and economies of scale in manufacturing and raw materials procurement. We believe that our established reputation for quality, reliability and technological innovation is an important factor in our customers' purchasing decisions, and is supported by our 30-year corporate history without a product failure resulting in
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significant liability or environmental damage. Our market position and brand name also create barriers to entry, given the importance of long-term customer relationships, the necessity of meeting the global logistical needs of customers, and the significant investment that would be required to replicate our existing footprint.
Global infrastructure provides key competitive advantages. Our network of manufacturing facilities and sales and engineering personnel strategically located around the world positions us well to:
Mission-critical solutions customized from broad product offering. Reliable geosynthetic solutions are critical to the safe and profitable operation of our customers' facilities. In addition, remediation cost and environmental impact of a product failure can be significant relative to the cost of our solutions. We believe we are able to command premium pricing relative to the industry due to the quality and reliability of our products and the significance that our customers place on these factors when purchasing geosynthetics. In addition, we are among a limited number of geosynthetic providers with the product breadth to provide solutions that can be customized for each application. Our ability to create a tailored solution for each project that achieves the necessary physical characteristics using layers of geomembranes, drainage products, GCLs and nonwoven geotextiles provides us with a competitive advantage against regional competitors that have more limited product offerings.
Innovation-driven culture with a history of new product and application development and commercialization. We believe we are the pioneer in the industry as the first company to have
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developed lining systems from high-density polyethylene. We have continued our tradition of innovation through our 30-year history. We believe we act as the primary innovator in the industry by applying our global engineering expertise to originate new, proprietary products, develop new applications for our products and work with customers to tailor solutions to their requirements. We have a portfolio of over 35 patents worldwide that have been developed by our in-house engineering personnel. Our engineers work closely with customers and end-users to develop new applications and end markets for our products, and with international standards development organizations to gain acceptance for these uses by these parties. We are a leader in the national and international standards setting process for the geosynthetics industry and hold leadership positions on numerous industry standards development organizations.
Highly experienced management team. Our senior management team averages over 25 years of experience in geosynthetics and related industries and is responsible for the operational transformation and strategic realignment that was undertaken during 2009 and 2010 to more effectively serve our global customer base, improve our profitability and further diversify our end markets. See "Business Our History" and "Business Supply Chain Management" for additional information on our rationalized global infrastructure and strategically repositioned manufacturing capacity. Our new executive management team has instilled a pervasive culture based on innovation, customer service and profitability. Acting as a cohesive global group, our management team is well-equipped to execute on our strategic growth and profitability initiatives.
Our Growth Strategy
Leverage global infrastructure to expand market share in certain geographies and end markets. We are focused on continuing to utilize our international presence to improve our penetration of high-growth emerging markets, where we generated 38% of our sales in 2010. We are particularly focused on pursuing attractive growth opportunities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. We plan to expand sales and engineering coverage in certain of these regions and evaluate the deployment of manufacturing lines so that regional production capacity and market opportunities are aligned to address these regions. In addition, we seek to continue expanding our share in key end markets by further developing our targeted product offering for these markets and continuing to grow relationships with existing and new customers globally. By pursuing these strategies, we believe we can improve our access to high-growth regions and markets, enhance our operational flexibility and continue to target high-value projects globally.
Focus on continued sales and operational excellence. We believe we have a clear strategy for ongoing improvement in our profitability by focusing on both higher-margin products and end markets, as well as continued operational improvement. We anticipate that as our product mix continues to shift towards higher-value proprietary products, our pricing power and profitability will continue to improve. We also expect that our core product strategy of matching product specifications with the application will have a positive impact on our profitability. In addition, we expect to continue to see the benefits of the operational transformation we implemented in 2010. Among other initiatives, we diversified our resin sources on a global basis, implemented margin management and pricing programs, eliminated two high-cost manufacturing locations, sold a non-core labor-intensive installation business and permanently reduced our headcount by approximately 38% since December 2008. We believe that as our volumes increase, the operating leverage we have created through facility and business line rationalizations will continue to have a positive impact on our profitability. Finally, we expect our margin management and supply chain diversification initiatives to become increasingly effective as they continue to become refined.
Accelerate new product development. We plan to continue to expand the breadth of our product offering, which allows us to customize products for specific applications and deepen our relevance to
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key end markets. Through our extensive global engineering and product development capabilities, we plan to enhance our core products as well as develop new higher-margin proprietary products and solutions. While our higher-margin proprietary products and solutions are currently only manufactured at our Houston facility, we plan to expand our production capabilities for these products globally. With respect to our core products, our strategy focuses on developing tiers of products that are fit-for-purpose, so that product specifications are determined by the application, thereby maximizing our overall customer value proposition. For instance, heap leach mining applications, in which valuable metals dissolved in harsh chemicals need to be contained require different geosynthetic products than aquaculture applications, where water needs to be contained. With respect to our new products, our strategy involves developing solutions engineered to resolve common problems in our end markets and applications. These next generation products often provide higher technical capabilities and higher margins. For instance, we offer our customers a lining solution that allows for leak detection during installation and throughout the project lifecycle, thereby reducing the risk of long-term environmental damage and providing a liability management tool for the end-user.
Continue to develop new end markets and applications for our products. As environmental regulations continue to be adopted in our domestic and international end markets, we will continue to respond to these regulations by cultivating new applications for our products. We believe we are well-positioned to develop new addressable markets as a result of our position as the innovator in the industry, our strong engineering and product development capabilities, our deep relationships with customers and end-users and our experience working with relevant governmental agencies. For instance, we are developing a proprietary product that effectively addresses the requirements of the emerging domestic coal ash containment market. We have been proactively working with coal-fired electric utilities that must ultimately comply with pending coal ash regulation to discuss the merits of this proprietary product and form partnerships to address this market. We have developed a similar approach to address the increasing demand for our products in the shale oil and gas end markets. As a result of these efforts, we anticipate having the critical first-mover advantage in these important high-growth, high-margin markets.
Selectively pursue investment and acquisition opportunities. We plan to pursue strategic investment opportunities, both organic and acquisitive in nature. In an effort to ensure we have manufacturing capacity located where it would be most advantageous, we intend to make capital investments in our facilities that serve the Asian, Middle Eastern and African markets, as well as in our facilities which we expect will serve the domestic coal ash containment markets. In addition, given the fragmented nature of the geosynthetics industry, we believe that there may be opportunities to pursue value-added acquisitions at attractive valuations in the future, which may augment our geographic footprint, broaden our product offerings, expand our technological capabilities and capitalize on potential operating synergies.
Risk Factors
Investing in shares of our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 18 of this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our common stock. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects would likely be materially and adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our common stock would likely decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Below is a summary of some of the principal risks related to our business.
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Our Principal Stockholder
Our principal stockholder, CHS Capital LLC, or CHS, acquired its interest in us on May 18, 2004, which we refer to as the Acquisition. CHS beneficially owns substantially all of our outstanding shares of common stock. CHS is a Chicago-based private equity firm with 23 years of experience investing in the middle market. Targeting well-managed companies with enterprise values between $75 million and $500 million, CHS partners with management teams to focus on accelerating growth and enhancing capabilities and resources. CHS has specialized expertise in the consumer and business services; distribution; and industrial, infrastructure and energy sectors and has completed 74 platform investments and 235 add-on investments. Founded in 1988, CHS has formed five private equity funds and has $2.9 billion of committed capital in active investment funds. CHS currently manages 15 portfolio investments with combined annual revenues in excess of $4.5 billion.
Our Corporate Information
We are incorporated in Delaware and our corporate offices are located at 19103 Gundle Road, Houston, Texas 77073. Our telephone number is (281) 443-8564. Our website address is www.gseworld.com. None of the information on our website or any other website identified herein is part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
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Common stock offered by us |
5,400,000 shares. | |
Common stock offered by the selling stockholders |
3,600,000 shares (4,950,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment in full). | |
Common stock outstanding after this offering |
17,012,045 shares. | |
Use of proceeds |
We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $68.3 million, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds to us from this offering: | |
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to repay $40.3 million of borrowings under our Second Lien Term Loan and $18.0 million of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility; |
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to pay a one-time fee of $3.0 million to Code Hennessy & Simmons IV LP, or CHS IV, in consideration for the termination of the management agreement between us and CHS IV; and |
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for working capital and general corporate purposes. |
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See "Use of Proceeds" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources." | |
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We will not receive any proceeds from the shares sold by the selling stockholders. | |
Dividend policy |
We have no current plans to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. See "Dividend Policy." | |
Risk factors |
See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. | |
New York Stock Exchange symbol |
"GSE" |
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding following this offering is based on (i) 10,809,987 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2011, (ii) 5,400,000 shares of our common stock to be issued and sold by us in this offering, (iii) 464,715 shares of our common stock to be issued to certain of our executive officers pursuant to bonus letter agreements and (iv) 337,343 shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to the exercise of vested options by certain selling stockholders for the purpose of selling such shares in this offering. In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, the number of shares of common stock outstanding and the other information based thereon does not reflect 4,276,703 shares of common stock that have been reserved for issuance under our Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan, or our 2004 Stock Option Plan, and our 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, or our 2011 Plan (excluding shares of common stock to be issued to certain selling stockholders as described above), under which, as of September 30, 2011, options to purchase 1,771,248 shares of common stock had been granted at a weighted average exercise price of $2.58 per share.
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Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus:
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Summary Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
The following tables set forth our summary historical consolidated financial and operating data and our summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. Our summary historical consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our summary historical consolidated financial data as of September 30, 2011 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this prospectus and contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that management considers necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
The following summary historical consolidated financial data have been restated for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. See note 3, "Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The following summary historical consolidated financial data have been retrospectively reclassified to exclude discontinued operations for all periods presented. In March 2008, we exited the synthetic turf business, which operated as GSE GeoSport Surfaces, or GeoSport. In April 2010, we sold our 75.5% interest in GSE Bentoliner (Canada), Inc., or Bentoliner. In June 2010, we divested our United States Installation Business, or U.S. Installation. In July 2010, we closed GSE Lining Technology Limited, or GSE UK, our manufacturing facility located in the United Kingdom. See note 4, "Discontinued Operations," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data for the year ended December 31, 2010 and as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 have been derived from our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements set forth under "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements." Our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 give effect to (i) the Refinancing Transactions (as defined below), (ii) this offering and the use of proceeds therefrom as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" and (iii) the issuance of shares pursuant to bonus letter agreements and the exercise of vested options (see "Capitalization"), in each case as if they had occurred on January 1, 2010. Our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 gives effect to (i) this offering and the use of proceeds therefrom as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" and (ii) the issuance of shares and payment of cash bonuses pursuant to bonus letter agreements and the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise of vested options (see "Capitalization"), in each case as if they had occurred on September 30, 2011.
For a description of the assumptions used in preparing the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, see "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements." The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended to represent or be indicative of the consolidated results of operations or financial position that we would have reported had the Refinancing Transactions or this offering been completed as of the dates and for the periods presented, and should not be taken as representative of our consolidated results of operations or financial condition following the completion of this offering.
The summary financial and operating data presented below should be read together with "Capitalization," "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements," "Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
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Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Years Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
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(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Unaudited) |
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(in thousands, except per share data) |
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Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: |
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Sales |
$ | 408,995 | $ | 291,199 | $ | 342,783 | $ | 253,038 | $ | 353,791 | ||||||||
Cost of products |
357,010 | 258,037 | 298,900 | 222,836 | 300,925 | |||||||||||||
Gross profit |
51,985 | 33,162 | 43,883 | 30,202 | 52,866 | |||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
27,407 | 31,776 | 40,078 | 31,064 | 31,499 | |||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
3,044 |
2,619 |
2,284 |
1,710 |
1,057 |
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Operating income (loss) |
21,534 | (1,233 | ) | 1,521 | (2,572 | ) | 20,310 | |||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
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Interest expense, net of interest income |
20,819 | 19,188 | 19,454 | 14,531 | 14,978 | |||||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
(413 | ) | 375 | (1,386 | ) | (718 | ) | 36 | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
(2,682 | ) | 210 | 59 | 59 | | ||||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
| | | | 2,016 | |||||||||||||
Other income, net |
(690 | ) | (3,031 | ) | (2,193 | ) | (1,457 | ) | (928 | ) | ||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
4,500 | (17,975 | ) | (14,413 | ) | (14,987 | ) | 4,208 | ||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
6,414 | (4,537 | ) | (2,069 | ) | (322 | ) | 2,401 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
(1,914 | ) | (13,438 | ) | (12,344 | ) | (14,665 | ) | 1,807 | |||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
(746 | ) | (2,846 | ) | (4,428 | ) | (4,220 | ) | 83 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) |
(2,660 |
) |
(16,284 |
) |
(16,772 |
) |
(18,885 |
) |
1,890 |
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Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary |
14 | (51 | ) | 25 | 25 | | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
$ | (2,646 | ) | $ | (16,335 | ) | $ | (16,747 | ) | $ | (18,860 | ) | $ | 1,890 | ||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations per share: |
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Basic |
$ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (1.24 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (1.36 | ) | $ | 0.17 | ||||
Diluted(1) |
$ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (1.24 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (1.36 | ) | $ | 0.15 | ||||
Net income (loss) per common share: |
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Basic |
$ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | $ | (1.55 | ) | $ | (1.75 | ) | $ | 0.17 | ||||
Diluted(1) |
$ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | $ | (1.55 | ) | $ | (1.75 | ) | $ | 0.16 | ||||
Weighted average common shares used in computing net income (loss) per share (in thousands): |
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Basic |
10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | |||||||||||||
Diluted |
10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 11,830 |
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Years Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
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(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Unaudited) |
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(in thousands, except per share data) |
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Pro Forma Statement of Operations Data(2): |
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Pro forma income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (5,477 | ) | $ | 8,167 | |||||||||||||
Pro forma net income (loss) per common share from continuing operations: |
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Basic |
$ | (0.33 | ) | $ | 0.50 | |||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | (0.33 | ) | $ | 0.47 | |||||||||||||
Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
16,472 | 16,472 | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
16,472 | 17,242 | ||||||||||||||||
Other Financial Data (unaudited): |
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Adjusted gross margin(3) |
15.0 | % | 14.5 | % | 15.5 | % | 14.6 | % | 16.9 | % | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(4) |
38,399 | 19,151 | 28,064 | 19,127 | 35,710 | |||||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
5,836 | 2,842 | 3,337 | 1,887 | 7,713 | |||||||||||||
Operating Data (unaudited): |
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Volume shipped (thousands of pounds)(5) |
339,251 | 298,620 | 337,811 | 249,570 | 288,169 | |||||||||||||
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As of September 30, 2011 | ||||||||||||||
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Actual | As Adjusted(6) | |||||||||||||
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(Unaudited) |
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(in thousands) |
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Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 8,720 | $ | 11,771 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
97,052 | 97,052 | ||||||||||||||||
Inventories, net |
54,652 | 54,652 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
303,062 | 310,227 | ||||||||||||||||
Total debt, including current portion |
197,246 | 139,734 | ||||||||||||||||
Total stockholders' equity |
34,420 | 99,097 |
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prospectus of adjusted gross margin, which is a "non-GAAP financial measure," as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe this measure is helpful in understanding our past performance as a supplement to gross margin and other performance measures calculated in conformity with GAAP.
We believe this measure is meaningful to our investors because it provides a measure of operating performance that is unaffected by non-cash accounting measures. Adjusted gross margin has limitations as an analytical tool because it excludes the impact of depreciation expense included in cost of products, and it should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP such as gross margin. Our calculation of adjusted gross margin may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following table reconciles gross margin to adjusted gross margin for the periods presented in this table and elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
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(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
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Gross margin |
12.7 | % | 11.4 | % | 12.8 | % | 11.9 | % | 14.9 | % | |||||||
Depreciation expense (as a percentage of sales) |
2.3 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted gross margin |
15.0 | % | 14.5 | % | 15.5 | % | 14.6 | % | 16.9 | % | |||||||
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comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following table reconciles net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented in this table and elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
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2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||
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(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
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(in thousands) |
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Net income (loss) attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
$ | (2,646 | ) | $ | (16,335 | ) | $ | (16,747 | ) | $ | (18,860 | ) | $ | 1,890 | ||
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
746 | 2,846 | 4,428 | 4,220 | (83 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest rate swap |
20,398 | 18,005 | 18,935 | 14,025 | 14,983 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
6,414 | (4,537 | ) | (2,069 | ) | (322 | ) | 2,401 | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
13,219 | 12,703 | 12,700 | 9,486 | 9,340 | |||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives(a) |
(2,682 | ) | 210 | 59 | 59 | | ||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss(b) |
(413 | ) | 375 | (1,386 | ) | (718 | ) | 36 | ||||||||
Restructuring expense(c) |
| 1,444 | 1,096 | 1,183 | 381 | |||||||||||
Professional fees(d) |
262 | 1,436 | 8,904 | 8,462 | 3,143 | |||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense(e) |
450 | 28 | 67 | 14 | 75 | |||||||||||
Management fees(f) |
2,004 | 2,004 | 2,019 | 1,519 | 1,520 | |||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt(g) |
| | | | 2,016 | |||||||||||
Other(h) |
647 | 972 | 58 | 59 | 8 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 38,399 | $ | 19,151 | $ | 28,064 | $ | 19,127 | $ | 35,710 | ||||||
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This offering and an investment in our common stock involve a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with the financial and other information contained in this prospectus, before you decide to purchase shares of our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment in our common stock.
Risks related to our business
Our business depends on the levels of capital investment expenditures by our customers, which are affected by factors such as the state of domestic and global economies, the cyclical nature of our customers' markets, our customers' liquidity and the condition of global credit and capital markets.
Our products are generally integrated into complex, large-scale projects undertaken by our customers. As such, demand for most of our products depends on the levels of new capital investment expenditures by our customers. The levels of capital expenditures by our customers, in turn, depend on general economic conditions, availability of credit, economic conditions within their respective industries and geographies and expectations of future market behavior. The ability of our customers to finance capital investment may also be affected by factors independent of the conditions in their industry, such as the condition of global credit and capital markets.
The businesses of many of our customers, particularly mining, waste management and liquid containment companies are, to varying degrees, cyclical and have experienced periodic downturns that may adversely impact our sales in the future as they have in the past. The demand for our products by these customers depends, in part, on overall levels of industrial production and construction, general economic conditions and business confidence levels. During economic downturns, our customers in these industries have historically tended to delay large capital projects, as they did during the global recession in 2007 through 2009, which had a negative effect on our results of operations. Additionally, fluctuating energy demand forecasts and lingering uncertainty concerning commodity pricing can cause our customers to be more conservative in their capital planning, which may also reduce demand for our products. Significant fluctuations or reductions in copper, gold and silver prices, for example, generally depress the level of mining activity and result in a corresponding decline in the demand for our products among mining customers, as occurred during 2007 through 2009. Reduced demand for our products could result in the delay or cancellation of existing orders or lead to excess manufacturing capacity, which unfavorably impacts our absorption of fixed manufacturing costs. Any of these outcomes could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
While growth in North American and European markets have historically trended with GDP growth, emerging markets present significant growth opportunities. If we are not successful in shifting sales to the growing emerging and frontier markets, the growth in our sales could moderate. Additionally, some of our customers may delay capital investment even during favorable conditions in their markets. Lingering effects of global financial markets and banking systems disruptions experienced in 2007 through 2009 continue to make credit and capital markets difficult for some companies to access. Difficulties in accessing these markets and the associated costs can have a negative effect on investment in large capital projects, even during favorable market conditions. In addition, the liquidity and financial position of our customers could impact their ability to pay in full or on a timely basis. Any of
18
these factors, whether individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our customers and, in turn, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our future sales depend, in part, on our ability to bid and win new orders. Our failure to effectively obtain future orders could adversely affect our profitability.
Our future sales and overall results of operations require us to successfully bid on new orders that are frequently subject to competitive bidding processes. For example, in 2010, the substantial majority of our sales consisted of supplying products for projects pursuant to competitive bids. Our sales from major projects depend, in part, on the level of capital expenditures in our principal end markets, including the mining, waste management, liquid containment, coal ash containment and shale oil and gas industries. The number of such projects we win in any particular year fluctuates, and is dependent on the number of projects available and our ability to bid successfully for such projects. Proposals and negotiations are complex and frequently involve a lengthy bidding and selection process, which is affected by a number of factors, such as competitive position, market conditions, financing arrangements and required governmental approvals. If negative market conditions arise, or if we fail to secure adequate financial arrangements or required governmental approvals, we may not be able to pursue particular projects, which could adversely affect our profitability.
Increases in prices or disruptions in supply of our raw materials could adversely impact our financial condition.
Pricing for our products is driven to a large extent by the costs of polyethylene resin and other raw materials, which significantly impact our operating results. In 2010, raw materials cost represented 80% of our cost of products. Our principal raw material, polyethylene resin, is occasionally in short supply and subject to price fluctuation in response to availability of manufacturing capacity, market demand and the price of feedstocks, including crude oil and natural gas. In recent months, for example, the industrywide price of polyethylene resin has increased from $0.78 per pound in June 2010 to $0.96 per pound in May 2011 based on publicly available data from Chemical Data LLC, or CDI. Our performance depends, in part, on our ability to reflect changes in resin costs in the selling prices for our products. In the past we have generally been successful in managing increased raw material costs and have increased selling prices only when necessary, but we may not be able to do so in the future.
We do not enter into long-term purchase orders for the delivery of raw materials. Our orders with suppliers are flexible and do not contain minimum purchase volumes or fixed prices. Accordingly, our suppliers may change their prices and other purchase terms on a monthly basis. We believe we have improved our raw material purchasing practices over recent years with the implementation of advanced pricing and forecasting tools, more centralized procurement and additional sourcing relationships, which has decreased our raw material costs. However, competitive market conditions in our industry and contractual arrangements with certain of our customers may limit our ability to pass the full cost of higher resin or other raw material pricing through to our customers promptly or completely. Even in cases in which our contractual arrangements with our customers permit us to pass on the cost of higher resin, enforcing such provisions may have a negative effect on our relationships with our customers. For example, in early 2010, we sought to enforce re-pricing provisions against a number of our customers to offset a dramatic increase in resin prices. As a result, we experienced a slower customer order rate for several months following the re-pricing, which adversely affected our results of operations. Raw material shortages or significant increases in the price of raw materials increase our costs and may reduce our operating income if we are not able to pass through all of the increases to our customers.
Additionally, if any of our key polyethylene resin suppliers were unable to deliver resin to us for an extended period of time, or if we were no longer able to purchase resin at competitively advantageous
19
prices, we may not be able to satisfy our resin requirements through other suppliers on competitive terms, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Increases in resin prices or a significant interruption in resin supply could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We do not currently enter into derivative instruments to offset the impact of resin price fluctuations and do not intend to do so for the foreseeable future.
Our future growth depends, in part, on developing new applications and end markets for our products.
Changes in legislative, regulatory or industry requirements or competitive technologies may render certain of our products obsolete. We place a high priority on developing new products, as well as enhancing our existing products, and our success depends on our ability to anticipate changes in regulatory and technology standards and to cultivate new applications for our products as the geosynthetics industry evolves. If we are unable to develop and introduce new applications and new addressable markets for our products in response to changes in environmental regulations, changing market conditions or customer requirements or demands, our competitiveness could be materially and adversely affected. For example, we have spent considerable resources developing higher-value products that are currently only sold in the North American market. If we are unable to introduce these products to other markets, our margin growth may be moderated. Furthermore, we cannot be certain that any new or enhanced product will generate sufficient sales to justify the expenses and resources devoted to such product diversification effort.
Unexpected equipment failures or significant damage to one or more of our manufacturing facilities would increase our costs and reduce our sales due to production curtailments or shutdowns.
We operate seven manufacturing facilities on five continents. Our operations have been centrally managed and coordinated from our facility in Houston, Texas since 2010. An interruption or suspension of production capabilities at these facilities, or significant damage to one or more of our facilities, as a result of equipment failure, fire, explosions, long-term mechanical breakdowns, violent weather conditions or other natural disasters, work stoppages, power outages, war, terrorist activities, political conflict or other hostilities or any other cause, could result in our inability to manufacture our products, which would reduce our sales and earnings for the affected period, affect our relationships with our most significant customers and distributors and cause us to lose future sales. For example, our facility in Houston, Texas was impacted by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and had to be shut down for a period of 12 days. A similar natural disaster in the future could have a material adverse effect on our global operations. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses from a natural disaster, in which case our reimbursed losses could be substantial.
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
We sell our products in a very competitive marketplace that is characterized by a small number of large, global producers, including Agru Kunststofftechnik GmbH and a large number of small, local or regional producers. The principal resin types that we use in our products are high-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene. We compete both with companies that use the same raw materials that we do and with companies that use different raw materials. Additionally, companies that manufacture geosynthetic products that are not currently competing with us may decide to do so in the future. Competition is primarily based on product performance, quality and pricing. Pricing remains very competitive on a regional basis, with excess capacity in the industry impacting margins. Moreover, our current and potential competitors may have substantially greater financial resources, name recognition, research and development, marketing and human resources than we have. In addition, our
20
competitors may succeed in developing new or enhanced products that are better than our products. These companies may also prove to be more successful than we are in marketing and selling these products. We may not be able to compete successfully with any of these companies. Increased competition as to any of our products could result in price reductions, reduced margins and loss of market share, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
We may not be able to manage our expansion of operations effectively.
We anticipate continued expansion of our business to address growth in demand for our products, as well as to capture new market opportunities. To manage the potential growth of our operations, we will be required to improve our operational and financial systems, procedures and controls, increase manufacturing capacity and output and expand, train and manage our internal personnel. For example, we currently manufacture our higher-margin proprietary products only in Houston, but plan to manufacture these products globally in the future. Furthermore, we will need to maintain and expand our relationships with our customers, suppliers and other third parties. We cannot assure you that our current and planned operations, personnel, systems or internal procedures and controls will be adequate to support our future growth. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may not be able to take advantage of market opportunities, execute our business strategies or respond to competitive pressures.
Our inability to deliver our products on time could affect our future sales and profitability and our relationships with our customers.
Our ability to meet customer delivery schedules for our products is dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, access to the raw materials required for production, an adequately trained and capable workforce, project engineering expertise for certain large projects, sufficient manufacturing plant capacity and appropriate planning and scheduling of manufacturing resources. Our failure to deliver in accordance with customer expectations may result in damage to existing customer relationships and result in the loss of future business. Any such loss of future business could negatively impact our financial performance and cause adverse changes in the market price of our common stock.
We are subject to certain risks associated with our international operations that could harm our revenues and profitability.
We have significant international operations, and we intend to increase our international manufacturing and distribution capacity in the future. Certain risks are inherent in international operations, including:
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In addition, foreign operations involve uncertainties arising from local business practices, cultural considerations and international political and trade tensions. For example, our operations in Egypt were briefly suspended earlier this year due to political unrest in that country. As we continue to expand our business globally, our success will be dependent, in part, on our ability to anticipate and effectively manage these and other risks. We cannot assure you that we will be able to manage effectively these risks or that these and other factors will not have a material adverse effect on our international operations or our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our international operations are subject to political and economic risks for conducting business in corrupt environments.
Although a portion of our international business is currently in regions where the risk level and established legal systems are similar to those in the United States, we also conduct business in developing countries. We are focusing on increasing our sales in regions such as South America, Southeast Asia, India, China and the Middle East, which are less developed, have less stable legal systems and financial markets and are generally recognized as potentially more corrupt business environments than the United States and thus present greater political, economic and operational risks. We emphasize compliance with the law and have various internal policies and procedures in place and conduct ongoing training of employees with regard to business ethics and key legal requirements such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and similar anti-corruption laws and regulations in other jurisdictions. These laws and regulations generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or securing an improper business advantage. Despite such policies and procedures and the FCPA training we provide to our employees, we cannot guarantee that our employees will adhere to our code of business conduct, other company policies or the anti-corruption laws of a particular nation. If we are found to be liable for FCPA or similar anti-corruption law or regulatory violations, whether due to our or others' actions or inadvertence, we could be subject to civil and criminal penalties or other sanctions and could incur significant costs for investigation, litigation, fees, settlements and judgments, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Currency exchange rate fluctuations could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.
We generate a significant portion of our sales, and incur a significant portion of our expenses, in currencies other than U.S. dollars. In 2010 and the nine months ended September 30, 2011, 34% and 31% of our sales, respectively, were denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, and as of September 30, 2011, 26% of our assets and 12% of our liabilities were denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar. To the extent that we are unable to match sales received in foreign currencies with costs paid in the same currency, exchange rate fluctuations in any such currency could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our reported sales from our international operations will be reduced because the applicable local currency will be translated into fewer U.S. dollars. We do not currently enter into derivative instruments to
22
offset the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations and do not intend to do so for the foreseeable future.
Our operating results may be subject to quarterly fluctuations due to the possible delayed recognition of large orders in our financial statements.
Our sales efforts for many of our products involve discussions with the end-users during the planning phase of projects. The planning, designing and manufacturing process can be lengthy. The typical planning and design phase for our projects ranges from six months to four years. As a result, there is often a delay between the investment of resources in developing and supplying a product and the recognition in our financial statements of the sales of the product. Our long sales cycle and the unpredictable period of time between the placement of an order and our ability to recognize the sales associated with the order make sales predictions difficult, particularly on a quarterly basis, and can cause our operating results to fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter.
The costs and difficulties of acquiring and integrating complementary businesses and technologies could impede our future growth and adversely affect our competitiveness.
As part of our growth strategy, we will consider acquiring complementary businesses. Future acquisitions could result in the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Risks we could face with respect to acquisitions include:
If we are unable to retain key executives and other personnel, our growth may be hindered.
Our success largely depends on maintaining our staff of qualified professionals, many of whom have numerous years of experience and specialized expertise in our business. The market for qualified professionals is competitive, and we may not continue to be successful in our efforts to attract and retain these professionals. In particular, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark C. Arnold, has considerable industry experience and would be difficult to replace. As such, our future operations could be harmed if any of our senior executives or other key personnel ceased working for us. Our future operations could also be harmed if we are unable to attract, hire, train and retain qualified managerial, sales, operations, engineering and other technical personnel.
Although we have employment and non-competition agreements with certain of our key employees, those agreements may not assure the retention of our employees, and we may not be able to enforce all of the provisions in any employment or non-competition agreement. In addition, we do not have key
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person insurance on any of our senior executives or other key personnel. The loss of any member of our senior management team or other key employee could damage critical customer relationships, result in the loss of vital knowledge, experience and expertise, lead to unanticipated recruitment and training costs and make it more difficult to successfully operate our business and execute our business strategy.
We may be adversely affected by environmental and health and safety regulations to which we are subject.
We are required to comply with a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws governing the protection of the environment, the exposure of persons and property to hazardous substances and occupational health and safety. These laws regulate, among other things, the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of hazardous materials; the disposal and release of wastes and other substances into soil, air or water; and our obligations relating to the health and safety of our workers and the public. We are also required to obtain and comply with environmental permits and licenses for certain operations. We cannot assure you that we are at all times in full compliance with all environmental laws, permits or licenses. If we violate or fail to comply with these requirements, we could be subject to private party or governmental claims, the issuance of administrative, civil and criminal fines or penalties, the denial, modification or revocation of permits, licenses or other authorizations, the imposition of injunctive obligations or other limitations on our operations, including the cessation of operations, and requirements to perform site investigatory, remedial or other corrective action. In some instances, such actions could be material and could result in adverse impacts on our operations and financial condition. Certain environmental requirements, and the interpretation of those requirements by regulators and courts, change frequently and might also become more stringent over time. We therefore cannot assure you that we will not incur material costs or liabilities related to our future compliance with these requirements. We have made and will continue to make capital and other expenditures to comply with environmental requirements. Because of the nature of our business, changes in environmental laws and the costs associated with complying with such requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are also subject to laws governing the cleanup of contaminated property. Under these laws, we could be held liable for costs and damages relating to contamination of our past or present facilities and at third-party sites to which our facilities sent wastes or hazardous substances. The amount of such liability could be material. We cannot assure you that we will not have liability for any such contamination, nor can we assure you that we will not experience an accident or become liable for any other contamination that may have occurred in the past (including such liability to buyers of properties or businesses that we have sold).
Product liability and indemnification claims could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Our ability to maintain insurance may be limited, and our coverage may not be sufficient for all claims.
Our products are used in, among other things, containment systems for the prevention of groundwater contamination. Our products are also used in significant public works projects. Accordingly, we face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims (including claims for strict liability and negligence) and claims for breach of contract in the event that the failure of our products or their installation results, or is alleged to result, in property damage, damage to the environment or personal injury. We agree in most cases to indemnify the site owner, general contractor and others for certain damages resulting from our negligence and that of our employees. We cannot assure you that we will not incur significant costs to defend product liability and breach of contract claims or that we will not experience any material product liability losses or indemnification obligations in the future. Such costs,
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losses and obligations may have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Although we maintain insurance within ranges of coverage consistent with industry practice, this insurance may not be available at economically feasible premiums and may not be sufficient to cover all such losses. In addition, our insurance policies are subject to large deductibles. An unsuccessful outcome in legal actions and claims against us may have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Even if we are successful in defending against a claim relating to our products, claims of this nature could cause our customers to lose confidence in our products and our company.
We may experience significant warranty claims that increase our costs.
We provide our customers of geosynthetic products with limited material product warranties. Our limited product warranties are typically five years but occasionally extend up to 20 years. These warranties are generally limited to repair or replacement of defective products or workmanship, often on a prorated basis, up to the dollar amount of the original order. In some foreign orders, we may be required to provide the customer with specified contractual limited warranties as to material quality. Our product warranty liability in many foreign countries is dictated by local laws in addition to the warranty specified in the orders. Failure of our products to operate properly or to meet specifications may increase our costs by requiring additional engineering resources, product replacement or monetary reimbursement to a customer. We have received warranty claims in the past, and we expect to continue to receive them in the future. Warranty claims are not covered by insurance, and substantial warranty claims in any period could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as well as on our reputation.
A significant portion of our business is conducted through foreign subsidiaries and our failure to generate sufficient cash flow from these subsidiaries, or otherwise repatriate or receive cash from these subsidiaries, could result in our inability to repay our indebtedness.
In 2010, 58% of our sales were generated outside of North America. As of December 31, 2010, 62%, or $9.3 million, of our cash was held outside of the United States, including $3.3 million in Europe.
In general, when an entity in a foreign jurisdiction repatriates cash to the United States, the amount of such cash is treated as a dividend taxable at current U.S. tax rates. Accordingly, upon the distribution of cash to us from our non-U.S. subsidiaries, we will be subject to U.S. income taxes. Although foreign tax credits may be available to reduce the amount of the additional tax liability, these credits may be limited based on our tax attributes. The U.S. tax effects of potential dividends and related foreign tax credits associated with earnings indefinitely reinvested have not been realized pursuant to ASC-740-10.
While we have been able to meet the regular interest payment obligations on our indebtedness to date from cash generated through our U.S. operations, we may not be able to do so in the future or may seek to repatriate cash for other uses, and our ability to withdraw cash from foreign subsidiaries will depend upon the results of operations of these subsidiaries and may be subject to legal, contractual or other restrictions and other business considerations. Our foreign subsidiaries may enter into financing arrangements that limit their ability to make loans or other payments to fund payments of our debt. In particular, to the extent our foreign subsidiaries incur additional indebtedness, the ability of our foreign subsidiaries to provide us with cash may be limited. In addition, dividend and interest payments to us from our foreign subsidiaries may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which could reduce the amount of funds we receive from our foreign subsidiaries. Dividends and other distributions from our foreign subsidiaries may also be subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and legal and other
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restrictions on repatriation, which could further reduce the amount of funds we receive from our foreign subsidiaries.
Our substantial level of indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. After giving effect to this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, as of September 30, 2011, we would have had approximately $139.7 million of total indebtedness. Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences to you, including the following:
In addition, we may incur more debt. Our term loan facilities and Revolving Credit Facility, or our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, do not completely prohibit us from incurring additional debt, and the payment of payment in kind, or PIK, interest on our Second Lien Term Loan increases our outstanding debt by the amount of such PIK payments. This could increase the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness described above.
We expect to utilize borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and other financing arrangements and cash flow from operations, if any, to pay our expenses. Our ability to pay our expenses thus depends, in part, on our future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic and other factors. We will not be able to control many of these factors, such as economic conditions in the markets where we operate and pressure from competitors. We cannot be certain that our borrowing capacity or future cash flows will be sufficient to allow us to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness and meet our other obligations. We did not generate cash flow from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2008, although we did for the year ended December 31, 2009. If we fail to generate cash flow in the future and do not have enough liquidity to pay our obligations, we may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets or borrow more money. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In addition, the terms of our existing or future debt agreements, including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, may restrict us from pursuing any of these alternatives.
Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities impose significant operating and financial restrictions, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities and taking certain corporate actions.
Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities impose, and any future financing agreements that we may enter into will likely impose, significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions may limit our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in, expand or pursue our business activities, including our ability to:
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In addition, our Senior Secured Credit Facilities require us to meet certain financial ratios and financial condition tests. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness." Events beyond our control could affect our ability to meet these financial ratios and financial condition tests. Our failure to comply with these obligations could cause an event of default under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities. If an event of default occurs, our lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, including accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable; the lenders could foreclose upon the assets securing our Senior Secured Credit Facilities; and the lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility could terminate their commitments to lend us money, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.
Our product deliveries have traditionally fluctuated seasonally and such fluctuations could affect our stock price.
Due to the significant amount of our projects in the northern hemisphere (North America, Europe and portions of Asia), our operating results are impacted by seasonal weather patterns in those markets. In the northern hemisphere, the greatest volume of geosynthetic product deliveries typically occurs during the summer and fall of each year due to milder weather, which results in seasonal fluctuations of sales. As a result, our sales in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year have historically been lower than sales in the second and third quarters. We may not be able to use our manufacturing capacity at our various locations to mitigate the impact of seasonal fluctuations on our manufacturing and delivery schedules. Changes in our quarterly operating results due to seasonal fluctuations could negatively affect our stock price.
We rely primarily on trade secrets and contractual restrictions, and not patents, to protect our proprietary rights. Failure to protect our intellectual property rights may undermine our competitive position, and protecting our rights or defending against third-party allegations of infringement may be costly.
Our commercial success depends on our proprietary information and technologies. We rely primarily on a combination of know-how, trade secrets, trademarks and contractual restrictions to protect our intellectual property rights. We own several patents addressing limited aspects of our products. The measures we take to protect our intellectual property rights may be insufficient. Failure to protect, monitor and control the use of our existing intellectual property rights could cause us to lose our competitive advantage and incur significant expenses. Although we enter into confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements with our employees, consultants, advisors and partners to protect our intellectual property rights, these agreements could be breached and may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets. It is possible that our competitors or others could independently develop the same or similar technologies or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technologies. In such cases, our trade secrets would not prevent third parties from competing with us. As a result, our results of operations may be adversely affected. Furthermore, third parties or employees may infringe or misappropriate our proprietary technologies or other intellectual property rights, which could also harm our business and results of operations. From time to time, we may discover such violations of our intellectual property rights. For example, we are aware of third-party use of our trademarks and designs, and there may be other third parties using trademarks or names similar to ours of whom we
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are unaware. Monitoring unauthorized use of intellectual property rights can be difficult and expensive, and adequate remedies may not be available. Moreover, the laws of certain foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
In addition, third parties may claim that our products infringe or otherwise violate their patents or other proprietary rights and seek corresponding damages or injunctive relief. Defending ourselves against such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming and result in costly litigation. An adverse outcome in any such litigation could subject us to significant liability to third parties (potentially including treble damages) or temporary or permanent injunctions prohibiting the manufacture or sale of our products, the use of our technologies or the conduct of our business. Any adverse outcome could also require us to seek licenses from third parties (which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all) or make substantial one-time or ongoing royalty payments. Protracted litigation could also result in our customers or potential customers deferring or limiting their purchase or use of our products until such litigation is resolved. In addition, we may not have insurance coverage in connection with such litigation and may have to bear all costs arising from any such litigation to the extent we are unable to recover them from other parties. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.
Although we make efforts to develop and protect our intellectual property, the validity, enforceability and commercial value of our intellectual property rights may be reduced or eliminated by the discovery of prior inventions by third parties, the discovery of similar marks previously used by third parties, non-use or non-enforcement by us, the successful independent development by third parties of the same or similar confidential or proprietary innovations or changes in the supply or distribution chains that render our rights obsolete. We have in the past and may in the future be subject to opposition proceedings with respect to applications for registrations of our intellectual property, including but not limited to our trade names and trademarks. As we rely in part on brand names and trademark protection to enforce our intellectual property rights, barriers to our registration of our brand names and trademarks in various countries may restrict our ability to promote and maintain a cohesive brand through our key markets.
We are dependent on information systems and information technology, and a major interruption could adversely impact our operations and financial results.
We use critical information systems to operate, monitor and manage business on a day-to-day basis. Any disruption to these information systems could adversely impact operations and result in increased costs and an inability to maintain financial controls or issue financial reports. Information systems could be interrupted, delayed or damaged by any number of factors, including natural disasters, telecommunications failures, power loss, acts of war or terrorism, computer viruses or physical or electronic security breaches. These or other events could cause loss of critical data, or prevent us from meeting our operating and financial commitments. Although we have business continuity plans in place to reduce the negative impact of information technology system failures on our operation, these plans may not be completely effective.
Our tax returns and positions are subject to review and audit by federal, state and local taxing authorities and adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our federal income tax returns for 2008 are currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service. While we do not expect any material adverse tax treatment to derive from this audit, the potential financial statement impact cannot be estimated at this time. An unfavorable outcome from any tax audit could result in higher tax costs, penalties and interest, thereby negatively and adversely impacting financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
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Risks related to this offering and ownership of our common stock
An active public market for our common stock may not develop following this offering, which could limit your ability to sell your shares of our common stock at an attractive price, or at all.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will lead to the development of an active trading market in our common stock or how liquid that market might become. An active public market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained after the offering. If an active public market does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of our common stock at a price that is attractive to you, or at all.
Our existing stockholders will exert significant influence over us after the consummation of this offering, and their interests may not coincide with yours.
After this offering, CHS and its affiliates will own, in the aggregate, 44.1% of our outstanding common stock (or 36.6% if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). As a result, CHS and its affiliates could control substantially all matters requiring stockholder approval for the foreseeable future, including approval of significant corporate transactions. In addition, following this offering, pursuant to the terms of our Stockholders Agreement (as described below in "Management Stockholders Agreement"), CHS will continue to have the ability to designate one member of our Board of Directors and to require all other parties to the Stockholders Agreement to sell their respective shares of our common stock, on substantially the same terms and conditions as CHS is selling its shares, in the event that CHS approves a sale of us. In addition, CHS will have the ability to designate a non-voting observer reasonably acceptable to us to attend any meetings of our Board of Directors. After giving effect to this offering, the parties to the Stockholders Agreement, other than CHS, will own in the aggregate 2.8% of our outstanding common stock (also 2.8% if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). The interests of these stockholders may not always coincide with our interests as a company or the interests of other stockholders, including you. In addition, this concentration of ownership may delay or prevent a change in control of our company, even if that change in control would benefit our stockholders. This significant concentration of stock ownership and voting power may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock due to investors' perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders" and "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" for further information about the equity interests held by CHS and its affiliates.
Moreover, our certificate of incorporation contains a provision renouncing our interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may from time to time be presented to CHS or its affiliates (other than us), subsidiaries, officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners and employees and that may be a business opportunity for any such person, even if the opportunity is one that we might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. Neither CHS nor any of its affiliates (other than us) has any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us. See "Description of Capital Stock Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Our Bylaws and Delaware Law Corporate Opportunity."
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Our stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price.
After this offering, the market price for our common stock is likely to be volatile, in part because our shares have not been traded publicly. In addition, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which we cannot control, including:
Numerous factors affect our business and cause variations in our operating results and affect our sales, including overall economic trends; our ability to identify and respond effectively to changing legislative, regulatory or industry requirements; actions by competitors; pricing; our ability to source and distribute products effectively; changes in environmental and safety laws and regulations; and weather conditions.
The initial public offering price of our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters based on a number of factors and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail following the consummation of this offering. Volatility in the market price of our common stock may prevent investors from being able to sell their common stock at or above the initial public offering price. As a result, you may suffer a loss on your investment.
In addition, stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many industrial companies. In the past, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were involved in securities litigation, we could incur substantial costs and our resources and the attention of management could be diverted from our business.
Future sales of our common stock, or the perception in the public markets that these sales may occur, may depress our stock price.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales may occur, could adversely affect the price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional shares. Upon consummation of this offering, we will have 17,012,045 shares of common stock outstanding. The 9,000,000 shares of our common stock offered pursuant to this offering, including the 3,600,000 shares of our common stock offered by the selling stockholders, will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, except for any shares of our common stock that may be held or acquired by our directors, executive officers and other affiliates, as that term is defined in the
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Securities Act, which will be subject to the resale restrictions imposed by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
We expect that the remaining 8,012,045 shares, representing 47% of our total outstanding shares of common stock following this offering, will become available for resale in the public market as shown in the chart below. We, each of our directors and executive officers, substantially all of our stockholders and participants in the directed share program have signed lock-up agreements for a period of 180 days following the date of this prospectus, subject to extension in the case of an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. may, in its sole discretion, release all or any portion of the shares of common stock subject to lock-up agreements. As restrictions on resale end, the market price of our shares of common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our shares of common stock or other securities.
Number of Shares and % of Total Outstanding | Date Available for Sale Into Public Market | ||
---|---|---|---|
0 shares or 0% | On the date of this prospectus | ||
0 shares or 0% | Up to and including 180 days after the date of this prospectus | ||
8,012,045 shares or 47% | More than 180 days after the date of this prospectus, of which 7,973,797 shares, or 99%, are subject to volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144. |
Following this offering, we intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of our common stock subject to outstanding options under our existing option plan as well as all shares of our common stock that may be covered by additional options and other awards granted under our new 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis Equity Incentives 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan." Once these shares are registered, they can be sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to restrictions under the securities laws applicable to resales by affiliates.
In addition, commencing 180 days following this offering, CHS will have the right, subject to certain exceptions and conditions, to require us to register their 7,496,948 shares of our common stock under the Securities Act, and holders of an additional 44,347 shares of our common stock will have the right to participate in future registrations of securities by us. Registration of any of these outstanding shares of common stock would result in such shares becoming freely tradable without compliance with Rule 144 upon effectiveness of the registration statement. See "Shares Available for Future Sale."
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law might discourage or delay acquisition attempts for us that you might consider favorable.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may make the acquisition of our company more difficult without the approval of our Board of Directors. These provisions, which in some cases do not apply to CHS unless it holds less than 10% of our outstanding common stock, among other things:
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These provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of our company or changes in our management.
As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, which may impair a takeover attempt that our stockholders may find beneficial. Any provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.
If you purchase shares of our common stock sold in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution.
If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the amount of $12.15 per share, assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), because the initial public offering price per share is substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock. This dilution is due in large part to the fact that our earlier investors paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they purchased their shares. In addition, you may also experience additional dilution upon future equity issuances or the exercise of stock options to purchase our common stock granted to our employees, consultants and directors under our stock option and equity incentive plans. See "Dilution."
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our company, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. If we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage and if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.
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We do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future.
We do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon results of operations, capital requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. Additionally, our operating subsidiaries are currently restricted from paying cash dividends by the agreements governing their indebtedness, and we expect these restrictions to continue in the future. Accordingly, if you purchase shares in this offering, realization of a gain on your investment will depend on the appreciation of the price of our common stock, which may never occur. Investors seeking cash dividends in the foreseeable future should not purchase our common stock. See "Dividend Policy."
We will incur increased costs as a result of becoming a public company.
As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting, insurance and other expenses that we have not incurred as a private company, including costs associated with public company reporting requirements. We also have incurred and will incur costs associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules implemented by the SEC and the NYSE. The expenses incurred by public companies generally for reporting and corporate governance purposes have been increasing. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly, although we are currently unable to estimate these costs with any degree of certainty. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult or costly for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our Board of Directors, our board committees or as our executive officers. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of our common stock, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potentially civil litigation.
Compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require significant expenditures and effort by management, and if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified attestation report on our internal controls, our stock price could be adversely affected.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules and regulations and beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2012, our management will be required to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The rules governing the standards that must be met for management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation. We are currently in the process of reviewing, documenting and testing our internal control over financial reporting. We may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any changes necessary to make a favorable assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, in connection with the attestation process by our independent registered public accounting firm, we may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any requested improvements and receiving a favorable attestation. If we cannot favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified
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attestation report on our internal controls, investors could lose confidence in our financial information and our stock price could decline.
Although we do not plan to take advantage of the NYSE's "controlled company" exemption from certain NYSE corporate governance requirements even if we are eligible to do so, if we elect to do so in the future, our stockholders will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
Under the NYSE rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by another person or group of persons acting together is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain NYSE corporate governance requirements. We may be eligible to take advantage of the "controlled company" exception in light of the collective voting power of CHS and its affiliates after giving effect to this offering. We currently do not intend to rely on this exception even if we are so eligible, but may elect to do so in the future. If we were to elect to be treated as a "controlled company" in the future, we would be exempt from certain NYSE corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that our Board of Directors consist of a majority of independent directors and that we have compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees comprised entirely of independent directors, and our stockholders would not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.
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This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "may," "will," "should," "can have," "likely" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. The statements we make regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, or cautionary statements, are disclosed in "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in this prospectus. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements as well as other cautionary statements that are made from time to time in our other SEC filings and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this prospectus in the context of these risks and uncertainties.
We cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
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Based upon an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), we estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $68.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders, including any shares sold by the selling stockholders in connection with the exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds to us from this offering:
A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share would increase or decrease the net proceeds we receive from this offering by approximately $5.0 million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
As of November 29, 2011, we had $157.4 million in outstanding borrowings under our First Lien Credit Facility, consisting of $134.7 million under our First Lien Term Loan and $22.7 million under our Revolving Credit Facility, which matures in May 2016 and accrues interest at either (x) the Base Rate, as defined in our First Lien Credit Facility, plus four and one-half percent (4.50%) per annum or (y) the LIBOR Rate plus five and one-half percent (5.50%) per annum. As of November 29, 2011, we had $40.3 million outstanding under our Second Lien Term Loan, which matures in November 2016 and accrues interest at either (x) the Base Rate, as defined in our Second Lien Term Loan, plus eight and one-half percent (8.50%) per annum or (y) the LIBOR Rate plus nine and one-half percent (9.50%) per annum. In addition, our Second Lien Term Loan accrues PIK interest of two percent (2.00%) per annum. We entered into our Senior Secured Credit Facilities in May 2011 and used a portion of the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repay in full our old revolving credit facility, to fund the repurchase of our 11% Senior Notes due 2012, or our Senior Notes, and to pay related fees and expenses. In this prospectus, we refer to the foregoing transactions collectively as the "Refinancing Transactions."
36
Since the consummation of the Acquisition on May 18, 2004, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon results of operations, capital requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. In particular, our operating subsidiaries are currently restricted from paying cash dividends by the agreements governing their indebtedness, and we expect these restrictions to continue for the foreseeable future. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
37
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of September 30, 2011:
You should read the following table together with "Use of Proceeds," "Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
38
Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
As of September 30, 2011 |
||||||||
|
Actual | As Adjusted for This Offering |
|||||||
|
(Unaudited) (in thousands, except share data) |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents(1) |
$ | 8,720 | $ | 10,547 | |||||
Debt, including current portion: |
|||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility(2) |
$ | 17,998 | $ | | |||||
First Lien Term Loan |
134,663 | 134,663 | |||||||
Second Lien Term Loan(3) |
40,280 | | |||||||
Original issue discount on term loans(4) |
(2,790 | ) | (2,024 | ) | |||||
Other debt |
2,274 | 2,274 | |||||||
Total long-term debt, including current portion |
192,425 | 134,913 | |||||||
Stockholders' equity: |
|||||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 13,397,700 shares authorized, 10,809,987 shares issued and outstanding, actual; $.01 par value per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 17,012,045 shares issued and outstanding, on an as adjusted basis(1) |
108 | 170 | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital(1) |
61,407 | 136,484 | |||||||
Accumulated deficit(1) |
(28,519 | ) | (44,615 | ) | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,424 | 1,424 | |||||||
Total stockholders' equity |
34,420 | 93,463 | |||||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 218,125 | $ | 217,829 | |||||
|
Cash | Common Stock |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actual |
$ | 8,720 | $ | 108 | $ | 61,407 | $ | (28,519 | ) | |||||
Net proceeds from this offering(a) |
68,308 | 54 | 68,254 | | ||||||||||
Redemption of debt(b) |
(60,302 | ) | | | (800 | ) | ||||||||
Bonus letter agreements(c) |
(3,504 | ) | 5 | 6,501 | (10,010 | ) | ||||||||
Shares issued pursuant to exercise of options(d) |
325 | 3 | 322 | | ||||||||||
Management agreement termination fee(e) |
(3,000 | ) | | | (3,000 | ) | ||||||||
Write-off of deferred debt issuance costs(f) |
| | | (1,520 | ) | |||||||||
Write-off of unamortized discount(g) |
| | | (766 | ) | |||||||||
As Adjusted for This Offering |
$ | 10,547 | $ | 170 | $ | 136,484 | $ | (44,615 | ) | |||||
39
shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. See "Use of Proceeds."
40
If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the per share offering price of the common stock is substantially in excess of the book value per share attributable to the existing stockholders for the presently outstanding stock.
Our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2011 was approximately $(30.7) million, or approximately $(2.65) per share. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less the amount of our total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2011, after giving effect to our issuance of 464,715 shares of our common stock and the payment of $3.5 million cash bonuses to certain of our executive officers pursuant to bonus letter agreements, and our issuance of 337,343 shares of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of vested options by certain selling stockholders for the purpose of selling such shares in this offering.
After giving effect to the sale of 5,400,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2011 would have been approximately $31.5 million, or $1.85 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share of $4.50 to existing stockholders and immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share of $12.15 to new investors purchasing shares in this offering at the initial public offering price. The following table illustrates this per share dilution to new investors:
Assumed initial public offering price per share |
$ | 14.00 | |||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2011 |
(2.65 | ) | |||||||
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering |
4.50 | ||||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2011 as adjusted for this offering |
1.85 | ||||||||
Dilution per share to new investors |
$ | 12.15 | |||||||
The following table summarizes on the same pro forma basis as of September 30, 2011, the number of shares of our common stock purchased from us, the aggregate cash consideration paid to us and the average price per share paid to us by existing stockholders and by new investors purchasing shares in this offering. The table assumes an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering:
|
Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | |
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Average Price Per Share |
||||||||||||||||
|
Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | |||||||||||||
Existing stockholders |
11,612,045 | 68 | % | $ | 55,553,765 | 42 | % | $ | 4.78 | ||||||||
New investors |
5,400,000 | 32 | 75,600,000 | 58 | 14.00 | ||||||||||||
Total |
17,012,045 | 100 | % | $ | 131,153,765 | 100 | % | 7.71 | |||||||||
41
A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $14.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase or decrease our pro forma net tangible book value by $5.0 million, or $0.30 per share, and result in dilution in net tangible book value per share to investors in this offering of $12.45 or $11.85 per share, respectively, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. The as adjusted information is illustrative only, and following the consummation of this offering, will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
Except as otherwise indicated, the discussion and tables above assume no exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, no exercise of any outstanding options and no sale of common stock by the selling stockholders. The sale of 3,600,000 shares of common stock to be sold by the selling stockholders in this offering will reduce the number of shares held by existing stockholders to 8,012,045, or 47% of the total shares outstanding, and will increase the number of shares held by investors participating in this offering to 9,000,000, or 53% of the total shares outstanding. If the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the number of shares of common stock held by existing stockholders will be further reduced to 6,662,045, or 39% of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding upon the closing of this offering, and the number of shares of common stock held by investors participating in this offering will be further increased to 10,350,000 shares or 61% of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding upon the closing of this offering.
The tables and calculations above are based on 10,809,987 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011, and give effect to our issuance of 464,715 shares of our common stock to certain of our executive officers pursuant to bonus letter agreements and of 337,343 shares of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of vested options by certain selling stockholders for the purpose of selling such shares in this offering. The tables and calculations above do not reflect 4,276,703 shares of common stock that have been reserved for issuance under our 2004 Stock Option Plan and 2011 Plan (excluding shares of common stock to be issued to certain selling stockholders as described above).
42
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
We have derived the following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements by applying pro forma adjustments to our historical consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 give effect to (i) the Refinancing Transactions, (ii) this offering and the use of proceeds therefrom as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" and (iii) the issuance of shares pursuant to bonus letter agreements and the exercise of vested options (see "Capitalization"), in each case as if they had occurred on January 1, 2010. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 gives effect to (i) this offering and the use of proceeds therefrom as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" and (ii) the issuance of shares and payment of cash bonuses pursuant to bonus letter agreements and the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise of vested options (see "Capitalization"), in each case as if they had occurred on September 30, 2011. The effect of the Refinancing Transactions is already reflected on that balance sheet. The adjustments necessary to fairly present this pro forma financial information are described in the accompanying notes.
We believe that the assumptions used to derive the unaudited pro forma financial information are reasonable given the information available; however, such assumptions are subject to change and the effect of any such change could be material. The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements should be read together with "Use of Proceeds," "Capitalization," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited pro forma financial statements are presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of the consolidated results of operations or financial position that we would have reported had the Refinancing Transactions or this offering been completed as of the dates and for the periods presented, and should not be taken as representative of our consolidated results of operations or financial condition following the completion of this offering.
43
GSE Holding, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 2011
|
Historical(1) | Offering Adjustments(3) |
Pro Forma | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||
Assets |
|||||||||||||
Current assets: |
|||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 8,720 | $ | 1,827 | (a) | $ | 10,547 | ||||||
Accounts receivable: |
|||||||||||||
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,456 |
97,052 | | 97,052 | ||||||||||
Other |
5,031 | | 5,031 | ||||||||||
Inventory, net |
54,652 | | 54,652 | ||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
1,368 | | 1,368 | ||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
7,404 | | 7,404 | ||||||||||
Income taxes receivable |
577 | | 577 | ||||||||||
Total current assets |
174,804 | 1,827 | 176,631 | ||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
56,785 | | 56,785 | ||||||||||
Goodwill |
58,895 | | 58,895 | ||||||||||
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization |
3,076 | | 3,076 | ||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,352 | | 2,352 | ||||||||||
Other assets |
7,150 | (1,520 | )(b) | 5,630 | |||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 303,062 | $ | 307 | $ | 303,369 | |||||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
|||||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
|||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 43,340 | $ | | $ | 43,340 | |||||||
Accrued liabilities and other |
23,721 | (1,224 | )(c) | 22,497 | |||||||||
Income taxes payable |
589 | | 589 | ||||||||||
Short-term debt |
4,821 | | 4,821 | ||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
3,066 | | 3,066 | ||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
242 | | 242 | ||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
75,779 | (1,224 | ) | 74,555 | |||||||||
Other liabilities |
1,066 | | 1,066 | ||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,438 | | 2,438 | ||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of current portion |
189,359 | (57,512 | )(d) | 131,847 | |||||||||
Total liabilities |
268,642 | (58,736 | ) | 209,906 | |||||||||
Stockholders' equity: |
|||||||||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value, 13,397,700 shares authorized, 10,809,987 shares issued and outstanding, historical; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 17,012,045 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma |
108 | 62 | (a) | 170 | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
61,407 | 75,077 | (a) | 136,484 | |||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(28,519 | ) | (16,096 | )(a) | (44,615 | ) | |||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,424 | | 1,424 | ||||||||||
Total stockholders' equity |
34,420 | 59,043 | 93,463 | ||||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
$ | 303,062 | $ | 307 | $ | 303,369 | |||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements.
44
GSE Holding, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2010
|
Historical(1) | Refinancing Transactions Adjustments(2) |
Offering Adjustments(3) |
Pro Forma | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(Restated) |
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except per share data) |
|||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 342,783 | $ | | $ | | $ | 342,783 | ||||||
Cost of products |
298,900 | | | 298,900 | ||||||||||
Gross profit |
43,883 | | | 43,883 | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
40,078 | | (2,019 | )(e) | 38,059 | |||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
2,284 | | | 2,284 | ||||||||||
Operating income |
1,521 | | 2,019 | 3,540 | ||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
19,454 | (1,885 | )(a) | (6,661 | )(f) | 10,908 | ||||||||
Foreign currency transaction gain |
(1,386 | ) | | | (1,386 | ) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
59 | | | 59 | ||||||||||
Other income, net |
(2,193 | ) | | | (2,193 | ) | ||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |
(14,413 | ) | 1,885 | 8,680 | (3,848 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax benefit |
(2,069 | ) | 660 | (c) | 3,038 | (g) | 1,629 | |||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (12,344 | ) | $ | 1,225 | $ | 5,642 | $ | (5,477 | ) | ||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share from continuing operations(4) |
||||||||||||||
Net loss per common share |
$ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (0.33 | ) | ||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
10,810 | 16,472 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements.
45
GSE Holding, Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
|
Historical(1) | Refinancing Transactions Adjustments(2) |
Offering Adjustments(3) |
Pro Forma | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands, except per share data) |
|||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 353,791 | $ | | $ | | $ | 353,791 | ||||||
Cost of products |
300,925 | | | 300,925 | ||||||||||
Gross profit |
52,866 | | | 52,866 | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
31,499 | | (1,500 | )(e) | 29,999 | |||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
1,057 | | | 1,057 | ||||||||||
Operating income |
20,310 | | 1,500 | 21,810 | ||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
14,978 | (1,273 | )(a) | (4,996 | )(f) | 8,709 | ||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
2,016 | (2,016 | )(b) | | | |||||||||
Foreign currency transaction loss |
36 | | | 36 | ||||||||||
Other income, net |
(928 | ) | | | (928 | ) | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
4,208 | 3,289 | 6,496 | 13,993 | ||||||||||
Income tax expense |
2,401 | 1,151 | (c) | 2,274 | (g) | 5,826 | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ | 1,807 | $ | 2,138 | $ | 4,222 | $ | 8,167 | ||||||
Basic net income per common share from continuing operations(4) |
||||||||||||||
Net income per common share |
$ | 0.17 | $ | 0.50 | ||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
10,810 | 16,472 | ||||||||||||
Diluted net income per common share from continuing operations(4) |
||||||||||||||
Net income per common share |
$ | 0.15 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
11,830 | 17,242 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements.
46
Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year ended December 31, 2010 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 |
||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Interest expense on First Lien Term Loan(i) |
$ | 9,450 | $ | 3,832 | ||||
Interest expense on Second Lien Term |
5,200 | 2,108 | ||||||
Interest expense on Revolving Credit Facility(iii) |
797 | 323 | ||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discounts related to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities(iv) |
1,658 | 672 | ||||||
Pro forma additional interest expense(v) |
17,105 | 6,935 | ||||||
Elimination of historical interest expense(vi) |
18,990 | 8,208 | ||||||
Net adjustment to interest expense |
$ | (1,885 | ) | $ | (1,273 | ) | ||
47
|
Cash | Common Stock |
Additional Paid-In Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||||
Net proceeds from this offering(i) |
$ | 68,308 | $ | 54 | $ | 68,254 | $ | | ||||||
Redemption of debt(ii) |
(60,302 | ) | | | (800 | ) | ||||||||
Bonus letter agreements(iii) |
(3,504 | ) | 5 | 6,501 | (10,010 | ) | ||||||||
Shares issued pursuant to exercise of options(iv) |
325 | 3 | 322 | | ||||||||||
Management agreement termination fee(v) |
(3,000 | ) | | | (3,000 | ) | ||||||||
Partial write-off of deferred debt issuance costs(vi) |
| | | (1,520 | ) | |||||||||
Partial write-off of unamortized discount(vii) |
| | | (766 | ) | |||||||||
Total adjustment |
$ | 1,827 | $ | 62 | $ | 75,077 | $ | (16,096 | ) | |||||
|
(in thousands) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Use of net proceeds from this offering to repay debt, including premiums |
$ |
(59,078 |
) |
||
Call premiums associated with repayment of debt |
800 | ||||
Write-off of unamorized discount associated with repayment of debt |
766 | ||||
Net change in book value of debt |
$ | (57,512 | ) | ||
48
time cash charge of $3.5 million and a one-time non-cash charge of $6.5 million related to bonuses in the form of stock, which are not reflected in the pro forma statements of operations because they are non-recurring. See "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Bonus Letter Agreements."
|
Revolving Credit Facility |
Second Lien Term Loan |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Principal redeemed |
$ | 17,998 | $ | 40,280 | ||||
Current interest rate |
7.0 | % | 13.0 | % | ||||
Decrease in interest expense |
1,260 | 5,236 | ||||||
Decrease in amortization of discounts and debt issuance costs |
| 300 | ||||||
Increase in unused line fees (0.75% on Revolving Credit Facility) |
(135 | ) | | |||||
Annual decrease in interest expense |
$ | 1,125 | 5,536 | |||||
In connection with this offering, we will also incur one-time non-cash charges of $1.5 million and $0.8 million related to the partial write-off of deferred debt issuance costs and unamortized discount associated with the debt repaid, respectively, which are not reflected in the pro forma statements of operations because they are non-recurring.
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Historical basic |
10,810 | ||||
Shares issued in connection with this offering |
5,400 | ||||
Shares issued pursuant to bonus letter agreements |
465 | ||||
Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of vested options |
337 | ||||
Shares used for general corporate purposes |
(540 | ) | |||
Pro forma basic |
16,472 | ||||
Dilutive effect of stock options |
770 | ||||
Pro forma diluted |
17,242 |
49
Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
The following tables set forth our selected historical consolidated financial and operating data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. Our selected historical consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our selected historical consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2008 and as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, that are not included in this prospectus. The selected historical consolidated financial data as of September 30, 2011 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this prospectus and contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that management considers necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
The following selected historical consolidated financial data have been restated for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. See note 3, "Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The following selected historical consolidated financial data have been retrospectively reclassified to exclude discontinued operations. In March 2008, we exited GeoSport. In April 2010, we sold our 75.5% interest in Bentoliner. In June 2010, we divested U.S. Installation. In July 2010, we closed GSE UK. The presentation of our results includes a reclassification of the financial results of GeoSport, Bentoliner, U.S. Installation and GSE UK to discontinued operations for all periods presented. See note 4, "Discontinued Operations," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The selected historical consolidated financial and operating data provided below should be read together with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
50
Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
Years Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Unaudited) |
|||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except per share and volume data) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 317,284 | $ | 345,647 | $ | 408,995 | $ | 291,199 | $ | 342,783 | $ | 253,038 | $ | 353,791 | |||||||||
Cost of products | 268,675 | 289,905 | 357,010 | 258,037 | 298,900 | 222,836 | 300,925 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 48,609 | 55,742 | 51,985 | 33,162 | 43,883 | 30,202 | 52,866 | ||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 27,797 | 27,258 | 27,407 | 31,776 | 40,078 | 31,064 | 31,499 | ||||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 5,247 | 3,564 | 3,044 | 2,619 | 2,284 | 1,710 | 1,057 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 15,565 | 24,920 | 21,534 | (1,233 | ) | 1,521 | (2,572 | ) | 20,310 | ||||||||||||||
Other expenses (income): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income | 20,913 | 23,298 | 20,819 | 19,188 | 19,454 | 14,531 | 14,978 | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss | (190 | ) | 1,013 | (413 | ) | 375 | (1,386 | ) | (718 | ) | 36 | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives | 223 | (2,922 | ) | (2,682 | ) | 210 | 59 | 59 | | ||||||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | | | | | | 2,016 | ||||||||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (408 | ) | 2,301 | (690 | ) | (3,031 | ) | (2,193 | ) | (1,457 | ) | (928 | ) | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | (4,973 | ) | 1,230 | 4,500 | (17,975 | ) | (14,413 | ) | (14,987 | ) | 4,208 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 411 | 4,357 | 6,414 | (4,537 | ) | (2,069 | ) | (322 | ) | 2,401 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations | (5,384 | ) | (3,127 | ) | (1,914 | ) | (13,438 | ) | (12,344 | ) | (14,665 | ) | 1,807 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | 2,871 | 2,397 | (746 | ) | (2,846 | ) | (4,428 | ) | (4,220 | ) | 83 | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | (2,513 | ) | (730 | ) | (2,660 | ) | (16,284 | ) | (16,772 | ) | (18,885 | ) | 1,890 | ||||||||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary | | (109 | ) | 14 | (51 | ) | 25 | 25 | | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. | $ | (2,513 | ) | $ | (839 | ) | $ | (2,646 | ) | $ | (16,335 | ) | $ | (16,747 | ) | $ | (18,860 | ) | $ | 1,890 | |||
Income (loss) from continuing operations per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (1.24 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (1.36 | ) | $ | 0.17 | |||
Diluted(1) | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (1.24 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (1.36 | ) | $ | 0.15 | |||
Net income (loss) per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | (0.23 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | $ | (1.55 | ) | $ | (1.75 | ) | $ | 0.17 | |||
Diluted(1) | $ | (0.23 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | $ | (1.55 | ) | $ | (1.75 | ) | $ | 0.16 | |||
Weighted average number of shares of common stock used in computing net income (loss) per shares: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | 11,830 | ||||||||||||||||
Other Financial Data (unaudited): |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted gross margin(2) | 18.0 | % | 18.6 | % | 15.0 | % | 14.5 | % | 15.5 | % | 14.6 | % | 16.9 | % | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(3) | $ | 36,170 | $ | 41,220 | $ | 38,399 | $ | 19,151 | $ | 28,064 | $ | 19,127 | $ | 35,710 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | 7,037 | 6,973 | 5,836 | 2,842 | 3,337 | 1,887 | 7,713 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating Data (unaudited): |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Volume shipped (thousands of pounds)(4) | 310,489 | 331,952 | 339,251 | 298,620 | 337,811 | 249,570 | 288,169 |
|
As of December 31, | As of September 30, 2011 |
||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Actual | As Adjusted(5) | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 13,691 | $ | 13,386 | $ | 6,740 | $ | 20,814 | $ | 15,184 | $ | 8,720 | $ | 11,771 | ||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 79,495 | 81,849 | 68,397 | 48,822 | 69,661 | 97,052 | 97,052 | |||||||||||||||
Inventories, net | 40,323 | 50,359 | 67,023 | 35,625 | 53,876 | 54,652 | 54,652 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | 330,954 | 333,624 | 319,042 | 254,358 | 276,307 | 303,062 | 310,227 | |||||||||||||||
Total debt, including current portion | 179,875 | 185,767 | 189,959 | 155,849 | 182,329 | 197,246 | 139,734 | |||||||||||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 71,525 | 76,384 | 69,024 | 54,607 | 32,766 | 34,420 | 99,097 |
51
per share was equal to basic net loss per share in each of the periods presented excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
|
Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Gross margin | 15.3 | % | 16.1 | % | 12.7 | % | 11.4 | % | 12.8 | % | 11.9 | % | 14.9 | % | |||||||||
Depreciation expense (as a percentage of sales) | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Adjusted gross margin | 18.0 | % | 18.6 | % | 15.0 | % | 14.5 | % | 15.5 | % | 14.6 | % | 16.9 | % | |||||||||
52
The following table reconciles net loss from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented in this table and elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. | $ | (2,513 | ) | $ | (839 | ) | $ | (2,646 | ) | $ | (16,335 | ) | $ | (16,747 | ) | $ | (18,860 | ) | $ | 1,890 | |||
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | (2,871 | ) | (2,397 | ) | 746 | 2,846 | 4,428 | 4,220 | (83 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest rate swap | 22,638 | 24,641 | 20,398 | 18,005 | 18,935 | 14,025 | 14,983 | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 411 | 4,357 | 6,414 | (4,537 | ) | (2,069 | ) | (322 | ) | 2,401 | |||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 14,495 | 13,016 | 13,219 | 12,703 | 12,700 | 9,486 | 9,340 | ||||||||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives(a) | 223 | (2,922 | ) | (2,682 | ) | 210 | 59 | 59 | | ||||||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss(b) | (190 | ) | 1,013 | (413 | ) | 375 | (1,386 | ) | (718 | ) | 36 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring expense(c) | 344 | | | 1,444 | 1,096 | 1,183 | 381 | ||||||||||||||||
Professional fees(d) | | 655 | 262 | 1,436 | 8,904 | 8,462 | 3,143 | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense(e) | 223 | 200 | 450 | 28 | 67 | 14 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||
Management fees(f) | 2,147 | 2,001 | 2,004 | 2,004 | 2,019 | 1,519 | 1,520 | ||||||||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt(g) | | | | | 2,016 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other(h) | 1,263 | 1,495 | 647 | 972 | 58 | 59 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 36,170 | $ | 41,220 | $ | 38,399 | $ | 19,151 | $ | 28,064 | $ | 19,127 | $ | 35,710 | |||||||||
53
Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read this discussion together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly in "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors." The Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations gives effect to the restatement as discussed below and in note 3, "Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
We are the leading global provider by sales of highly engineered geosynthetic containment solutions for environmental protection and confinement applications. Our products are used in a wide range of infrastructure end markets such as mining, waste management, liquid containment (including water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture), coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. We are one of the few providers with the full suite of products required to deliver customized solutions for complex projects on a global basis, including geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners, or GCLs, nonwoven geotextiles, and specialty products. We have a global infrastructure that includes seven manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Germany, Chile, Egypt and Thailand, 18 regional sales offices located in 12 countries and engineers and technical salespeople located on four continents. We generate the majority of our sales outside of North America, including high-growth emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Our comprehensive product offering and global infrastructure, along with our extensive relationships with customers and end-users, provide us with access to high-growth markets worldwide and the flexibility to serve customers regardless of geographic location.
Sales
We derive our sales from selling innovative and reliable geosynthetic solutions that have been customized from our broad product offering, including geomembranes, drainage products, GCLs, nonwoven geotextiles and specialty products. We focus primarily on the global mining, waste management and liquid containment end markets, and are developing new end markets such as coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. Our products are used in a variety of material containment and environmental protection applications by end-users in these industries, including some of the largest mining, waste management, power and other civil and industrial infrastructure companies in the world. In 2010, we served over 1,300 customers and no single customer generated more than 5% of our total sales.
Depending on the size and complexity of the application, we may identify opportunities for new projects years before we ultimately deliver our products. During this time, the project owners typically conduct feasibility analyses and arrange funding for the project while our engineering and sales personnel work with the project's design engineers to advise on the technical details of the geosynthetic solution required for the project. Before construction commences, our customers may issue requests for proposals, or RFPs, which establish certain specifications for the desired geosynthetic products,
54
including design and performance criteria based on our advice. We respond to these RFPs by proposing product specifications for our geosynthetic solutions, providing details regarding production and anticipated delivery schedules and stipulating contractual terms such as product pricing. By leveraging our customer relationships, reputation for quality and innovation, full product breadth and engineering capabilities to work with end-users during the planning phase of these large and complex projects, our products are often specified for a project prior to the issuance of a RFP. This means that our customers often indicate in their RFPs that only GSE products may be used for a particular application, whether by identifying characteristics of our products that our competitors cannot manufacture or by expressly specifying our brand name. Similarly, in many instances our customers choose to work exclusively with us on a particular application, by-passing the RFP process altogether.
Our sales from major projects depend, in part, on the level of capital expenditures in our principal end markets. The number of such projects we win in any particular year fluctuates, and is dependent on the number of projects available and our ability to bid successfully for such projects. Negotiations with our customers are complex and frequently involve a lengthy bidding and selection process, which is affected by a number of factors, such as competitive position (including the timing of our introduction to a project and our relationships to those involved in the project), market conditions, financing arrangements and required governmental approvals. We do not typically enter into long-term contracts with our customers; rather, we receive orders from our customers that contractually govern our participation in a project.
In North America during 2010, an average order represented $152,000 of sales for us and required between two and four weeks to deliver, though our largest order in 2010 represented $2.7 million of sales.
Cost of Products
Cost of products is our primary operating expense, accounting for 87.3%, 88.6% and 87.2% of our sales for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Cost of products includes primarily the direct cost of raw materials and labor used in the manufacture of our products as well as indirect costs such as labor, depreciation, insurance, supplies, tools, repairs and shipping and handling. Cost of products also includes all but a de minimis amount of procurement expenses incurred to purchase, receive, store and maintain our inventories. Our principal products are manufactured primarily from specially formulated high-grade polyethylene resins with chemical additives that enable the end product to better resist weathering, ultraviolet degradation, and chemical exposure. High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is our primary raw material. We also use linear low density polyethylene, or LLDPE, polypropylene and blow molding resin. Raw material costs represented 82.4%, 79.7% and 80.2% of our total cost of products for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, illustrating the importance of effectively managing material costs to maintaining stable levels of profitability.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses represent overhead costs associated with support functions such as finance, human resources, legal, information technology and sales and marketing costs. Primary drivers of SG&A expenses include personnel costs, severance costs and sales force commissions. SG&A expenses were 6.7%, 10.9% and 11.7% of sales for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 were impacted by professional fees and restructuring costs.
55
Discontinued Operations
The discussion below of our results of operations excludes the impact of the following discontinued operations for all periods presented:
The presentation of our results for 2008 includes a reclassification of the financial results of GeoSport, Bentoliner, U.S. Installation and GSE UK to discontinued operations. The presentation of our results for 2009, 2010 and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes a reclassification of the financial results of Bentoliner, U.S. Installation and GSE UK to discontinued operations. See note 4, "Discontinued Operations," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Segment Data
We have organized our operations into five principal reporting segments: North America, Europe Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East. We generate a greater proportion of our gross profit, as compared to our sales, in our North America segment, which consists of the United States, Canada and Mexico, because our product mix in this segment is focused on higher-margin products. We expect the percentage of total gross profit derived from outside North America to continue to increase in future periods as we continue to focus on selling these higher-value products in our other segments. We also expect the percentage of sales derived from outside North America to increase in future periods as we continue to expand globally. See note 18, "Segment Information," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
56
The following table presents our sales, by segment for the periods presented, as well as gross profit and gross profit as a percentage of sales from each segment:
|
North America |
Europe Africa |
Asia Pacific |
Latin America |
Middle East |
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2008 |
|||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 183,743 | $ | 105,111 | $ | 58,658 | $ | 45,931 | $ | 15,552 | |||||||
Gross profit |
26,782 | 14,799 | 4,542 | 3,340 | 2,522 | ||||||||||||
Gross margin |
14.6 | % | 14.1 | % | 7.7 | % | 7.3 | % | 16.2 | % | |||||||
Year ended December 31, 2009 |
|||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 137,504 | $ | 82,278 | $ | 37,754 | $ | 23,613 | $ | 10,050 | |||||||
Gross profit |
25,377 | 6,654 | 1,220 | (1,389 | ) | 1,300 | |||||||||||
Gross margin |
18.5 | % | 8.1 | % | 3.2 | % | (5.9 | )% | 12.9 | % | |||||||
Year ended December 31, 2010 |
|||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 142,956 | $ | 104,506 | $ | 49,370 | $ | 36,120 | $ | 9,831 | |||||||
Gross profit |
24,005 | 10,506 | 4,301 | 3,855 | 1,216 | ||||||||||||
Gross margin |
16.8 | % | 10.1 | % | 8.7 | % | 10.7 | % | 12.4 | % | |||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 |
|||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 106,383 | $ | 83,771 | $ | 33,342 | $ | 23,353 | $ | 6,189 | |||||||
Gross profit |
17,023 | 7,627 | 2,163 | 2,636 | 753 | ||||||||||||
Gross margin |
16.0 | % | 9.1 | % | 6.5 | % | 11.3 | % | 12.2 | % | |||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 |
|||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 155,579 | $ | 103,730 | $ | 56,772 | $ | 30,643 | $ | 7,067 | |||||||
Gross profit |
33,300 | 7,763 | 7,742 | 3,441 | 620 | ||||||||||||
Gross margin |
21.4 | % | 7.5 | % | 13.6 | % | 11.2 | % | 8.8 | % |
The following table presents our sales from each segment, as a percentage of total sales:
|
Year Ended December 31, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
North America |
45.0 | % | 47.1 | % | 41.7 | % | 42.1 | % | 44.0 | % | |||||||
Europe Africa |
25.7 | 28.3 | 30.5 | 33.1 | 29.3 | ||||||||||||
Asia Pacific |
14.3 | 13.0 | 14.4 | 13.2 | 16.0 | ||||||||||||
Latin America |
11.2 | 8.1 | 10.5 | 9.2 | 8.7 | ||||||||||||
Middle East |
3.8 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||
Total |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||
North America
North America sales increased $49.2 million, or 46.2%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $155.6 million from $106.4 million in the first nine months of 2010. Increases in sales prices contributed $27.3 million in additional sales and increased volume shipped contributed $21.9 million to the increase in sales. North America sales increased due to improved market share in high end products, higher volume requirements from existing large customers and increases in solid waste, mining and liquid containment markets. North America sales were also positively affected by increased sales of specialty products.
57
North America gross profit increased $16.3 million, or 95.9%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $33.3 million from $17.0 million in the first nine months of 2010. North America gross profit increased $9.0 million due to increased sales prices, changes in product mix and the pursuit of higher-margin projects, and $7.3 million due to an increase in volumes shipped.
North America sales increased $5.5 million or 4.0%, during 2010 to $143.0 million from $137.5 million in 2009, primarily due to increases in sales prices. During 2010, increased sales in the mining and coal ash markets were partially offset by declines in the solid waste market.
North America gross profit decreased $1.4 million during 2010 to $24.0 million from $25.4 million in 2009, primarily due to an increase in resin prices and a lag in corresponding price increases during the first half of 2010.
North America sales decreased $46.2 million, or 25.1%, during 2009 to $137.5 million from $183.7 million in 2008. Declining sales prices reduced sales by $25.7 million and reduced volumes shipped decreased sales $20.5 million. The North America decrease in sales volumes was primarily due to Mexico, where there is a higher than average exposure to large mining projects and a lower than average exposure to landfill projects.
North America gross profit decreased $1.4 million during 2009 to $25.4 million from $26.8 million in 2008. Decreased resin prices increased gross profit by approximately $7.4 million, and decreased volumes shipped and increased manufacturing cost decreased gross profit by $8.8 million.
Europe Africa
Europe Africa sales increased $19.9 million, or 23.7%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $103.7 million from $83.8 million in the first nine months of 2010. Sales increased $10.4 million due to increases in sales prices and $0.4 million due to increases in volume shipped. These increases were primarily due to higher volume sold into Europe, primarily within the solid waste market. Europe Africa sales were also positively affected by approximately $9.1 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Europe Africa gross profit increased $0.1 million to $7.7 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared to $7.6 million in the first nine months of 2010 due to increased sales prices and favorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which were partially offset by increased manufacturing costs.
Europe Africa sales increased $22.2 million, or 27.0%, during 2010 to $104.5 million from $82.3 million in 2009 due to increased activity in Africa. Sales increased $23.9 million due to increases in volumes shipped and $6.1 million due to increased sales prices. These increases were partially offset by approximately $7.8 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Europe Africa gross profit increased $3.8 million to $10.5 million in 2010 compared to $6.7 million in 2009. Increased volumes shipped contributed $5.5 million to the increase in gross profit, which was partially offset by approximately $1.3 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and increased manufacturing expense of $0.8 million.
Europe Africa sales decreased $22.8 million, or 21.7%, during 2009 to $82.3 million from $105.1 million in 2008. Sales decreased $21.4 million due to decreases in sales prices and approximately $4.6 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by an increase in sales of $3.2 million due to increased volumes shipped.
Europe Africa gross profit decreased $8.1 million to $6.7 million in 2009 compared to $14.8 million in 2008. Gross profit decreased $5.7 million due to decreased sales prices and $3.0 million due to
58
increased manufacturing expenses. Gross profit in Europe Africa was also affected by a decrease of approximately $0.2 million in foreign currency exchange rates.
Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific sales increased $23.5 million, or 70.6%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $56.8 million from $33.3 million in the first nine months of 2010. Increases in volumes shipped contributed $17.1 million to additional sales and increases in sales prices contributed $6.4 million. Asia Pacific sales increased due to higher volumes sold into China, Australia and India.
Asia Pacific gross profit increased $5.6 million, or 266.7%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $7.7 million from $2.1 million in the first nine months of 2010. Gross Profit increased $8.3 million due to an increase in volumes shipped, partially offset by higher raw material costs and increased manufacturing costs.
Asia Pacific sales increased $11.6 million, or 30.7%, during 2010 to $49.4 million from $37.8 million when compared to 2009 due to increased activity in China. Increases in volumes shipped contributed $7.7 million to additional sales and increases in sales prices contributed $3.9 million.
Asia Pacific gross profit increased $3.1 million during 2010 to $4.3 million from $1.2 million in 2009 due to increased volumes shipped and increased sales prices, partially offset by increased manufacturing costs.
Asia Pacific sales decreased $20.9 million, or 35.6%, during 2009 to $37.8 million from $58.7 million in 2008. Decreases in volumes shipped contributed $11.1 million to reduced sales and lower sales prices contributed $9.8 million.
Asia Pacific gross profit decreased $3.3 million during 2009 to $1.2 million from $4.5 million in 2008. Gross profit decreased primarily due to decreased volumes shipped and decreased sales prices, partially offset by decreased manufacturing costs.
Latin America
Latin America sales increased $7.3 million, or 31.3%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $30.6 million from $23.3 million in the first nine months of 2010. Increases in volumes shipped contributed $5.7 million in additional sales and increased sales prices increased sales by $1.6 million.
Latin America gross profit increased $0.8 million, or 30.8%, during the first nine months of 2011 to $3.4 million from $2.6 million in the first nine months of 2010. Gross profit increased $1.6 million due to an increase in volumes shipped partially offset by an increase in manufacturing costs.
Latin America sales increased $12.5 million, or 53.0% during 2010 to $36.1 million from $23.6 million in 2009 due to improved demand in the mining industry. Increases in volumes shipped contributed $8.8 million in additional sales and increased sales prices increased sales by $3.7 million.
Latin America gross profit increased $5.3 million during 2010 to $3.9 million from a loss of $1.4 million in 2009 due to increased volumes shipped and an increase in sales prices.
Latin America sales decreased $22.3 million, or 48.6%, during 2009 to $23.6 million from $45.9 million in 2008. Decreases in volumes shipped reduced sales by $14.0 million and decreased sales prices decreased sales by $8.3 million.
Latin America gross profit decreased $4.7 million during 2009 to a loss of $1.4 million from $3.3 million in 2008 due to decreased volumes shipped and decreases in sales prices.
59
Middle East
Middle East sales increased $0.9 million, or 14.5% to $7.1 million during the first nine months of 2011 from $6.2 million in the first nine months of 2010 primarily due to an increase in volumes shipped.
Middle East gross profit decreased $0.1 million to $0.6 million in the first nine months of 2011 from $0.7 million in the first nine months of 2010. This decrease was due to increased manufacturing expenses and increased raw material costs, partially offset by an increase in sales volumes.
Middle East sales decreased $0.2 million or 2.0%, to $9.8 million during 2010 from $10.0 million in 2009. Decreased sales prices reduced sales by $0.6 million and changes in foreign currency exchange rates decreased sales by $0.2 million, which were partially offset by an increase in volumes shipped.
Middle East gross profit decreased $0.1 million to $1.2 million in 2010 from $1.3 million in 2009. This decrease was due to increased manufacturing expenses and increased raw material costs, partially offset by an increase in sales volumes.
Middle East sales decreased $5.5 million or 35.5%, to $10.0 million during 2009 from $15.5 million in 2008. Decreased volumes shipped reduced sales by $3.6 million, decreased sales prices reduced sales by $1.7 million, and changes in foreign currency exchange rates decreased sales by $0.2 million.
Middle East gross profit decreased $1.2 million to $1.3 million in 2009 from $2.5 million in 2008. This decrease was primarily due to decreased volumes shipped.
Background on Restatement
We have restated our previously issued consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The restatements reflect adjustments to correct discrepancies identified in our Chilean subsidiary's records during the implementation of our Enterprise Resource Planning System, or ERP system, in 2011.
|
Year Ended December 31, 2010 | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Previously Reported |
Adjustments | Restated | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Inventory |
$ | 56,020 | $ | (2,144 | ) | $ | 53,876 | ||||
Accounts payable |
30,698 | 1,868 | 32,566 | ||||||||
Stockholders equity |
36,778 | (4,012 | ) | 32,766 | |||||||
Cost of products |
298,540 | 360 | 298,900 | ||||||||
|
Year Ended December 31, 2009 |
||||||||||
|
Previously Reported |
Adjustments | Restated | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Inventory |
$ | 39,277 | $ | (3,652 | ) | $ | 35,625 | ||||
Stockholders equity |
57,000 | (3,652 | ) | 53,348 | |||||||
Cost of products |
255,442 | 2,595 | 258,037 | ||||||||
|
Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
||||||||||
|
Previously Reported |
Adjustments | Restated | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Cost of products |
$ | 356,281 | $ | 729 | $ | 357,010 |
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Key Drivers
The following are the key drivers of our business:
Timing of Projects. Our financial results are influenced by the timing of projects that are developed and constructed by the end-users of our products in our primary end markets, including mining, waste management and liquid containment.
Mining projects and associated capital expenditures are driven by global commodity supply and demand factors. Our products are used primarily in metal mining, including copper, silver, uranium and gold. Metal mining projects are typically characterized by long lead times and large capital investment by the owners of the projects. In addition, these projects are often located in remote geographies with limited infrastructure, such as power and roads, creating complex logistics management requirements and long supplier lead times.
In our waste management end market, landfill construction and expansion projects are driven by waste volume generation and the need for additional municipal solid waste disposal resources. In developed markets, landfill construction and expansion projects are influenced by economic factors, particularly retail sales and consumer spending, housing starts and commercial and infrastructure construction. In emerging markets, waste management projects are also driven primarily by increased per capita GDP, which is positively correlated with waste generation, as well as by increasing environmental awareness and regulation, as discussed further below.
Finally, projects in our liquid containment end markets, including water management infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture and industrial wastewater treatment applications, are driven by investment in civil and industrial infrastructure globally. This global spending is influenced by increased urbanization, increased wealth and protein-rich diets in developing economies necessitating higher levels of food production, population growth and other secular and economic factors, in both developed and emerging markets.
Environmental Regulations. Our business is influenced by international levels of environmental regulation and mandated geosynthetics specifications, which vary across jurisdictions and by end market. For example, China has addressed the need for increased environmentally sound, solid waste disposal resources in its twelfth five-year plan, the most recent in a series of economic development initiatives, which mandates the investment of 180 billion Yuan, or approximately $28 billion, in the urban waste disposal sector between 2011 and 2015. Environmental regulations often require the use of geosynthetic products to contain materials and protect groundwater in various types of projects. In emerging markets, waste management and water infrastructure projects are driven by an ongoing increase in environmental awareness and regulation that has developed through the continued urbanization and increased affluence of these economies.
Although environmental regulations may not be as stringent or may not be enforced in emerging markets, we believe these regulations will continue to develop and to be enforced more diligently. In developed markets, existing regulations, which often specify our products, tend to be highly specific and stringently enforced. As a result, regulatory changes in developed markets tend to impact new end markets, such as coal ash containment in the United States.
Seasonality. Due to the significant amount of our projects in the northern hemisphere (North America and Europe), our operating results are impacted by seasonal weather patterns in these markets. Our sales in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year have historically been lower than sales in the second and third quarters. This is primarily due to lower activity levels in our primary end markets during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. The impact of this seasonality is partially mitigated by our mining and liquid containment end markets, which are located predominantly in the southern hemisphere. As our mining end market becomes a greater source of our sales, we expect seasonality to be further mitigated.
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Resin Cost Volatility. Resin-based material, derived from crude petroleum and natural gas, accounted for 82.4%, 79.7% and 80.2% of our cost of products for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Our ability to both manage the cost of our resin purchases as well as pass fluctuations in the cost of resin through to our customers is critical to our profitability. Fluctuations in the price of crude oil impact the cost of resin. In addition, planned and unplanned outages in facilities that produce polyethylene and its feedstock materials have historically impacted the cost of resin. In 2010, we implemented successful performance initiatives that focused on reducing the risk of volatility in resin costs on our profitability. We have developed policies, procedures, tools and organizational training procedures to enable better resin cost management and facilitate the efficient pass through of increases in our resin costs to our customers. These initiatives included diversifying our resin sources, hiring a polyethylene expert to lead procurement, implementing pricing tools that account for projected resin pricing, institutionalizing a bid approval process, creating a plant sourcing decision model, and running a large project tracking process. As a result of these policies, we successfully managed volatile resin prices between June 2010 and May 2011, when polyethylene resin prices fluctuated 23.1% between $0.78 per pound and $0.96 per pound, according to publicly available CDI data. While the significant majority of our products are sold under orders that include 30-day re-pricing provisions at our option, and while we have taken advantage of this option in the past, the policies, processes, tools and organizational training procedures described above allow us to limit the need to re-price projects already under contract. This, in turn, helps us better manage our relationships with our customers. We believe that managing the risks associated with volatility in resin costs is now among our critical and core competencies.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the components of our consolidated statements of operations as a percentage of sales for the periods indicated.
|
Year Ended December 31, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
Sales |
100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||
Cost of products |
87 | 89 | 87 | 88 | 85 | |||||||||||||
Gross profit |
13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 15 | |||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
7 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | |||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | |||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
5 | | | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||||||
Foreign exchange (gain) loss |
| | | | | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
(1 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
| | | | 1 | |||||||||||||
Other income, net |
| (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
1 | (6 | ) | (4 | ) | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
1 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | | 1 | |||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
| (5 | ) | (3 | ) | 6 | |
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Period over Period Change |
||||||||||||||
|
2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
|
(unaudited) (in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 253,038 | $ | 353,791 | $ | 100,753 | 40 | % | |||||||
Costs of products |
222,836 | 300,925 | 78,089 | 35 | |||||||||||
Gross profit |
30,202 | 52,866 | 22,664 | 75 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
31,064 | 31,499 | 435 | 1 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
1,710 | 1,057 | (653 | ) | (38 | ) | |||||||||
Operating (loss) income |
(2,572 | ) | 20,310 | 22,882 | 890 | ||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
|||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
14,531 | 14,978 | 447 | 3 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
(718 | ) | 36 | 754 | 105 | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
59 | | (59 | ) | 100 | ||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
| 2,016 | 2,016 | (100 | ) | ||||||||||
Other income, net |
(1,457 | ) | (928 | ) | 529 | 36 | |||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
(14,987 | ) | 4,208 | 19,195 | 128 | ||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense |
(322 | ) | 2,401 | 2,723 | 846 | ||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (14,665 | ) | $ | 1,807 | $ | 16,472 | 112 | |||||||
Sales
Consolidated sales increased $100.8 million, or 39.8%, to $353.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $253.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Volume shipped increased 19.2% year over year. Volume increases contributed approximately $46.2 million to the increase in sales. Increases in sales prices, due primarily to higher raw material costs and a favorable change in product mix, contributed $45.9 million to the increase in sales. Sales were also positively affected by approximately $8.7 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally the Euro in the Europe Africa region.
Cost of Products
Cost of products increased $78.1 million, or 35.0%, to $300.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $222.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in raw material costs contributed approximately 39%, or $30.2 million, to the increase; the increase in volume shipped, coupled with increased manufacturing costs, contributed approximately 61%, or $47.8 million, to the increase.
Gross Profit
Consolidated gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $22.7 million, or 75.0%, to $52.9 million compared to $30.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
63
Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 14.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared with 11.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Gross profit increased $11.4 million due to increased volume and $10.4 million due to increased sales prices, change in product mix and the pursuit of higher-margin projects. During 2010, we hired a highly experienced polyethylene expert to lead our global procurement effort, implement best practices in global resin purchasing and better forecast our resin costs. Also during 2010, we implemented a margin management tool which significantly improved the pricing of our products in relation to market conditions and raw material prices. These practices contributed in part to the increase in our gross profit and our gross profit as a percentage of sales. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally the Euro, positively affected gross profit by $0.9 million. We currently expect our full year 2011 gross profit as a percentage of sales to be slightly below our first nine months of the year.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $31.5 million compared to $31.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $0.4 million, or 1.4%. SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 include professional fees of $3.1 million, management incentive program costs of $2.8 million, sales force commissions of $1.1 million and severance costs of $0.4 million. SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 include professional fees of $8.5 million, management incentive program costs of $1.1 million, and severance costs of $1.0 million related to the restructuring and productivity improvement programs we adopted during the fourth quarter of 2009. Professional fees of $8.5 million include $7.9 million related to the engagement of an independent consulting firm that specializes in performance improvement. This firm was an integral part of our detailed productivity and efficiency review and assessment of our operations.
SG&A as a percentage of sales was 8.9% and 12.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Amortization of intangibles was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease was related primarily to the normal decline in amortization, calculated using an accelerated method, which results in less amortization expense in the later stages of the useful lives.
Other Expenses (Income)
Interest expense was $15.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $14.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The $0.5 million increase in interest expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was due primarily to the write off of $0.5 million of unamortized loss on the interest rate swap in connection with the refinancing of our Senior Notes and old revolving credit facility as described in " Liquidity and Capital Resources The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness." The weighted average debt balance outstanding was $185.5 million and $167.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively; weighted average effective interest rates were 9.23% and 10.47% for September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Foreign currency transaction loss was less than $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to a foreign currency transaction gain of approximately $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The $0.8 million decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was due to unfavorable currency exchange rates, primarily related to the Euro, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
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There was no change in the fair value of derivatives during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as a result of the counterparty to our interest rate swap exercising its optional early termination provision of the agreement during the second quarter of 2010.
Loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 relates to the refinancing of our Senior Notes and old revolving credit facility as described in " Liquidity and Capital Resources The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness."
Other income was $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 includes $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively, related to discounts offered by our vendors for early payments. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 also includes $0.5 million of net interest income related to the interest rate swap. See note 11, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $2.4 million compared to an income tax benefit of $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Our provision for income taxes is recorded at the estimated annual effective tax rates for each tax jurisdiction based on fiscal year to date results. Our effective tax rates were 57% and (2)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The difference in the effective tax rate compared with the U.S. federal statutory rate is due to the mix of the international jurisdictional rates and the changes in valuation allowance. Our North America operations had a loss from continuing operations before income taxes during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and it is not certain the existing net operating losses will be used in future periods to offset taxable income. Therefore, there was no income tax benefit recorded for the North America operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA from continuing operations increased $19.9 million, or 231.4%, to $28.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $8.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in EBITDA was primarily related to an increase in our operating income of $22.9 million, partially offset by an increase in foreign exchange losses of $0.8 million and the loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $35.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of $16.6 million, or 86.9%, from $19.1 million during 2010. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the increase in operating income of $22.9 million which was partially offset by decreases in our professional services and severance add backs of $5.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
65
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Period over Period Change |
||||||||||||||
|
2009 | 2010 | |||||||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 291,199 | $ | 342,783 | $ | 51,584 | 18 | % | |||||||
Cost of products |
258,037 | 298,900 | 40,863 | 16 | |||||||||||
Gross profit |
33,162 | 43,883 | 10,721 | 32 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
31,776 | 40,078 | 8,302 | 26 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
2,619 | 2,284 | (335 | ) | 13 | ||||||||||
Operating (loss) income |
(1,233 | ) | 1,521 | 2,754 | 223 | ||||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
|||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
19,188 | 19,454 | 266 | 1 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
375 | (1,386 | ) | (1,761 | ) | 470 | |||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
210 | 59 | (151 | ) | 72 | ||||||||||
Other (income), net |
(3,031 | ) | (2,193 | ) | 838 | 28 | |||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |
(17,975 | ) | (14,413 | ) | 3,562 | 20 | |||||||||
Income tax (benefit) |
(4,537 | ) | (2,069 | ) | 2,468 | 54 | |||||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (13,438 | ) | $ | (12,344 | ) | $ | 1,094 | 8 | % | |||||
Sales
Consolidated sales increased $51.6 million, or 17.7%, to $342.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $291.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Volume shipped increased 14.4% year over year. Volume increases contributed approximately $40.8 million to the increase in sales. Many projects that were delayed in 2009 began manufacturing and shipping in 2010. Increases in sales prices, primarily related to higher raw material costs, contributed $18.9 million to the year over year sales increase. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $8.1 million due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally the Euro in the Europe Africa region.
Cost of Products
Cost of products increased $40.9 million, or 15.8%, to $298.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $258.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in raw material costs contributed approximately 28% of the increase, and the increase in volume shipped, coupled with increased manufacturing costs, contributed approximately 72% of the increase.
Gross Profit
Consolidated gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased $10.7 million, or 32.3%, to $43.9 million compared to $33.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The improvement in gross profit was due to increased sales volumes, an increase in sales price and improved margins. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 12.8% for 2010, compared to 11.4% for 2009. During 2010, we implemented a margin management tool which significantly improved the pricing of our products in
66
relation to market conditions and raw material prices. Gross profit increased during 2010 due to an increase in sales prices and improved margins in the second half of 2010, which were partially offset by higher raw material costs resulting in increased cost of products. Gross profit was negatively affected by a decrease of $1.3 million related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally the Euro.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $40.1 million compared to $31.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 million, an increase of $8.3 million or 26.1%. SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 include professional fees of $8.9 million and severance costs of $1.0 million related to the restructuring and productivity improvement programs adopted during the fourth quarter of 2009. SG&A expenses also include $1.5 million management incentive program costs and an increase of approximately $0.9 million in sales force commissions relating to the introduction of the 2010 commission compensation program. Professional fees of $8.9 million include $8.3 million related to the engagement of an independent consulting firm, which specializes in performance improvement. This firm was an integral part of our detailed productivity and efficiency review and assessment of our operations.
SG&A expenses for 2009 included an additional provision for doubtful accounts of $1.7 million related to uncertainty of collections in the economic downturn, professional fees of $1.7 million related to the restructuring and productivity improvement programs, severance related costs of $1.4 million and $1.0 million related to the death benefits payable to the estate of our former President and Chief Executive Officer, who passed away in 2009.
SG&A expenses were 11.7% and 10.9% of sales for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Amortization of intangibles was $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease during 2010 was related primarily to the normal decline in amortization, calculated using an accelerated method, which results in less amortization expense in the later stages of the original estimated useful lives.
Other Expenses (Income)
Interest expense was $19.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $19.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The $0.3 million increase in interest expense during 2010 was due to increased interest expense relating to our old revolving credit facility having higher balances outstanding during 2010 compared to 2009. The weighted average debt balance outstanding was $169.8 million and $168.6 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The weighted average effective interest rates were 11.5% and 11.4% for 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Gains from foreign currency transactions were $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to losses of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The $1.8 million change was due to favorable currency exchange rates, primarily related to the Euro, during 2010 compared to 2009.
The change in the fair value of derivatives was an expense of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 due to the net change in the mark-to-market value of our interest rate swap.
Other income was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Other income for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 includes $1.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to discounts offered by our vendors for early
67
payments, and $0.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, related to the interest rate swap. Other income in 2009 also includes $0.8 million of business interruption insurance proceeds.
Income Tax Benefit
Income tax benefit from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $2.1 million compared to $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our provision for income taxes is recorded at statutory rates for each tax jurisdiction based on total fiscal year to date results, adjusted for certain permanent differences. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, our effective income tax rates were 14.7% and 29.5%, respectively. Our 2010 effective tax rate was lower than our 2009 effective tax rate primarily because of valuation allowances recorded in 2010, changes in the mix of foreign and domestic income, and a prior year tax benefit recorded in 2009. The difference in the effective tax rate compared with the U.S. federal statutory rate was due to the mix of the international jurisdictional rates and the increase in the valuation allowance on our foreign tax credit and net operating loss carryforward.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA from continuing operations was $17.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $12.7 million during 2009, an increase of $4.5 million, or 35.4%. The increase in EBITDA was primarily related to an increase in our operating income of $2.8 million and an increase in foreign exchange income of $1.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $28.1 million during year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of $8.9 million, or 46.4%, from $19.2 million during 2009. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the increase in operating income of $2.8 million and increase in our professional services add back of $7.1 million, partially offset by $1.2 million related to death benefits paid to our former CEO and a decline in severance costs year over year.
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Period over Period Change |
||||||||||||||
|
2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 408,995 | $ | 291,199 | $ | (117,796 | ) | 29 | % | ||||||
Cost of products |
357,010 | 258,037 | (98,973 | ) | 28 | ||||||||||
Gross profit |
51,985 | 33,162 | (18,823 | ) | 36 | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
27,407 | 31,776 | 4,369 | 16 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
3,044 | 2,619 | (425 | ) | 14 | ||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
21,534 | (1,233 | ) | (22,767 | ) | 106 | |||||||||
Other expenses (income): |
|||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
20,819 | 19,188 | (1,631 | ) | 8 | ||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
(413 | ) | 375 | 788 | 191 | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
(2,682 | ) | 210 | 2,892 | 108 | ||||||||||
Other income, net |
(690 | ) | (3,031 | ) | (2,341 | ) | 339 | ||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |
4,500 | (17,975 | ) | (22,475 | ) | 499 | |||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
6,414 | (4,537 | ) | (10,951 | ) | 171 | |||||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (1,914 | ) | $ | (13,438 | ) | $ | (11,524 | ) | 602 | % | ||||
68
Sales
Consolidated sales decreased $117.8 million, or 28.8%, to $291.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $409.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Volume shipped decreased 12.2% year over year. Volume decreases accounted for approximately $46.1 million of the decline in sales, due primarily to the global economic recession which curtailed spending dramatically in all regions of the world. Decreases in sales prices, related primarily to lower raw material costs, accounted for approximately $66.9 million of the decline in sales. Sales were also negatively impacted by approximately $4.8 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally the Euro.
Cost of Products
Costs of products decreased $99.0 million, or 27.7%, to $258.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $357.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The lower raw material costs contributed approximately 66% of the decrease, and the decrease in volume shipped, coupled with lower manufacturing costs, contributed approximately 34% of the decrease.
Gross Profit
Consolidated gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2009 decreased $18.8 million, or 36.2%, to $33.2 million compared to $52.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 11.4% for 2009, compared to 12.7% for 2008. Raw material prices dramatically fell at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008 and throughout the first quarter of 2009. Due to the weighted average cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out method of accounting for inventory, raw material costs lag prevailing market prices by approximately two months. This resulted in high raw material costs in the first quarter of 2009, as higher cost inventory was consumed. The sharp fall in raw material costs was realized in the second quarter of 2009, which led to a quarter with abnormally high gross margins. Raw material prices (and costs) increased slightly in the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Gross profit was also affected by a decrease of approximately $0.3 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally the Euro.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $31.8 million compared to $27.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $4.4 million or 15.9%. SG&A increased during 2009 due to an additional provision for doubtful accounts of $1.7 million, professional fees of $1.7 million related to the restructuring and productivity improvement programs, severance related costs of $1.4 million and $1.0 million related to the death benefits payable to the estate of our former President and Chief Executive Officer, who passed away in 2009. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.4 million due to the weakening of the functional currencies of the foreign operations against the U.S. dollar and a decrease of $0.4 million in North America operations related to stock-based compensation when compared to 2008. Excluding the aforementioned items from our calculations for the 2009 period, ongoing SG&A costs decreased $0.4 million during 2009 compared to 2008.
SG&A expenses were 10.9% and 6.7% of sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Amortization of intangibles was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease during 2009 was related primarily to
69
the normal decline in amortization, calculated using an accelerated method, which results in less amortization expense in the later stages of the original estimated useful lives.
Other Expenses (Income)
Interest expense was $19.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $20.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The $1.6 million decrease in interest expense during 2009 was due to reduced interest expense relating to our old revolving credit facility having lower balances outstanding coupled with lower effective interest rates during 2009 and a decrease in interest expense for international operations due to reduced borrowings on credit facilities.
Foreign currency transaction loss was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to a $0.4 million foreign exchange gain for the year ended December 31, 2008. The $0.8 million change was due to unfavorable currency exchange rates during 2009 compared to the prior period.
Losses from the change in the fair value of derivatives were $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to gains of $2.7 million during the prior period due to the net change in the mark-to-market value of the interest rate swap. See note 10, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments," to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for additional information.
Other income was $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to other income of $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Other income for 2009 includes $1.2 million of income related to the interest rate swap, $0.9 million of business interruption insurance proceeds and other income of $0.9 million including discounts. Other income for 2008 included income related to the interest rate swap.
Income Tax (Benefit)
Income tax benefit from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $4.5 million compared to an income tax provision of $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Our provision for income taxes is recorded at statutory rates for each tax jurisdiction based on total fiscal year to date results, adjusted for certain permanent differences. The difference in the effective rate compared with the U.S. federal statutory rate is due primarily to the mix of the international jurisdictional rates. The unusually high effective tax rate of 123% for the year ended December 31, 2008 was due to foreign earnings deemed repatriated and an increase in the valuation allowance on our foreign tax credit and net operating loss carryforward.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA from continuing operations was $12.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $38.1 million during 2008, a decrease of $25.4 million, or 66.7%. The decrease in EBITDA was primarily related to a decrease in our operating income of $22.8 million and the change in fair value of derivatives of $2.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $19.2 million during year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of $19.2 million, or 50.0%, from $38.4 million during 2008. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the decrease in operating income of $22.8 million, partially offset by an increase in our professional services and severance add backs of $0.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
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Quarterly Financial Information
The following tables set forth certain historical unaudited consolidated quarterly income statement data for each of the eleven quarters ended September 30, 2011. This unaudited information has been prepared on a basis consistent with our annual financial statements and includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair presentation of the unaudited quarterly data. This information should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results that we may achieve for any subsequent periods.
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Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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March 31, 2009 |
June 30, 2009 |
September 30, 2009 |
December 31, 2009 |
March 31, 2010 |
June 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2010 |
March 31, 2011 |
June 30, 2011 |
September 30, 2011 |
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(in thousands, except percentage data) |
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Selected Quarterly Financial Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 66,036 | $ | 78,114 | $ | 83,848 | $ | 63,201 | $ | 55,923 | $ | 98,012 | $ | 99,103 | $ | 89,745 | $ | 88,462 | $ | 118,487 | $ | 146,842 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of Products | 64,156 | 62,097 | 70,488 | 61,296 | 53,064 | 86,138 | 83,634 | 76,064 | 74,008 | 100,911 | 126,006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | 1,880 | 16,017 | 13,360 | 1,905 | 2,859 | 11,874 | 15,469 | 13,681 | 14,454 | 17,576 | 20,836 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) | (6,737 | ) | 8,996 | 5,532 | (9,024 | ) | (5,507 | ) | (661 | ) | 3,596 | 4,093 | 4,717 | 7,847 | 7,746 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | (1,584 | ) | 12,624 | 10,199 | (2,088 | ) | (290 | ) | 8,437 | 10,980 | 8,937 | 9,775 | 12,409 | 13,526 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As a percentage of sales: |
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Sales | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | 2.8 | % | 20.5 | % | 15.9 | % | 3.0 | % | 5.1 | % | 12.1 | % | 15.6 | % | 15.2 | % | 16.3 | % | 14.8 | % | 14.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | (2.4 | )% | 16.2 | % | 12.2 | % | (3.3 | )% | (0.5 | )% | 8.6 | % | 11.1 | % | 10.0 | % | 11.0 | % | 10.5 | % | 9.2 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA represents net income or loss before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization of intangibles, change in the fair value of derivatives, loss (gain) on foreign currency transactions, restructuring expenses, extraordinary and non-recurring professional fees, stock-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on asset sales, loss on extinguishment of debt and management fees paid to CHS. Disclosure in this prospectus of Adjusted EBITDA, which is a "non-GAAP financial measure," as defined under the rules of the SEC, is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from continuing operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
We believe this measure is meaningful to our investors to enhance their understanding of our financial performance. Although Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs, we understand that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance and to compare our performance with the performance of other companies that report Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income, income from continuing operations and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following table
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reconciles net loss from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented in this table and elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
March 31, 2009 |
June 30, 2009 |
September 30, 2009 |
December 31, 2009 |
March 31, 2010 |
June 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2010 |
March 31, 2011 |
June 30, 2011 |
September 30, 2011 |
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(in thousands) |
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Net (loss) income attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
$ | (9,146 | ) | $ | 2,760 | $ | 1,001 | $ | (10,950 | ) | $ | (12,674 | ) | $ | (3,264 | ) | $ | (2,922 | ) | $ | 2,113 | $ | (731 | ) | $ | (1,183 | ) | $ | 3,804 | ||||||||||||||
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax |
790 | (963 | ) | 273 | 2,746 | 4,129 | 231 | (140 | ) | 208 | (386 | ) | 379 | (76 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest rate swap |
4,553 | 5,956 | 4,379 | 3,117 | 4,395 | 4,695 | 4,935 | 4,910 | 4,841 | 5,480 | 4,662 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
(1,235 | ) | (222 | ) | (72 | ) | (3,008 | ) | 37 | (432 | ) | 73 | (1,746 | ) | 127 | 1,074 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
3,129 | 3,092 | 3,103 | 3,379 | 3,181 | 3,148 | 3,157 | 3,214 | 3,045 | 3,127 | 3,168 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives(a) |
133 | 622 | (509 | ) | (36 | ) | (65 | ) | 124 | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange (gain) loss(b) |
(808 | ) | 1,067 | 335 | (219 | ) | (970 | ) | (1,601 | ) | 1,853 | (668 | ) | 1,290 | 363 | (1,617 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense(c) |
400 | | 66 | 978 | 268 | 841 | 74 | | 355 | | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Professional fees(d) |
133 | 69 | 105 | 1,379 | 894 | 4,120 | 3,448 | 355 | 651 | 649 | 1,843 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense(e) |
| | | 28 | 14 | | | 53 | 75 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Management fees(f) |
501 | 501 | 501 | 501 | 501 | 500 | 518 | 500 | 500 | 504 | 516 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt(g) |
| | | | | | | | | 2,016 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other(h) |
(34 | ) | (258 | ) | 1,017 | (3 | ) | | 75 | (16 | ) | (2 | ) | 8 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | (1,584 | ) | $ | 12,624 | $ | 10,199 | $ | (2,088 | ) | $ | (290 | ) | $ | 8,437 | $ | 10,980 | $ | 8,937 | $ | 9,775 | $ | 12,409 | $ | 13,526 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
We rely on borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and other financing arrangements as our primary source of liquidity. See " The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness" for a description of our long-term debt. Our cash flow from operations serves as an additional source of liquidity to the extent available. We generally have positive cash flow from operations in the third quarter of the fiscal year due to increased sales during the summer months. Our primary liquidity needs are to finance working capital, capital expenditures and debt service. The most
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significant components of our working capital are cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventories, accounts payable and other current liabilities. Our working capital position has benefited from growth in sales and Adjusted EBITDA, improvements in gross margin, increases in backlog and orders and low annual maintenance and capital expenditure requirements.
We believe that our cash on hand, together with the availability of borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and other financing arrangements and cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures and scheduled interest payments on our indebtedness for at least the next twelve months. We are not dependent on this offering to meet our liquidity needs during that period. We are repaying a portion of our outstanding indebtedness with the proceeds from this offering. See "Use of Proceeds."
Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of September 30, 2011, we had $8.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $6.5 million from December 31, 2010 cash and cash equivalents of $15.2 million. This decrease was primarily related to net cash used in operating activities of $6.2 million. We maintain cash and cash equivalents at various financial institutions located in the United States, Germany, Thailand, Egypt and Chile. $1.7 million, or 19.5%, was held in domestic accounts with various institutions and approximately $7.0 million, or 80.5%, was held in accounts outside of the United States with various financial institutions.
In general, when an entity in a foreign jurisdiction repatriates cash to the United States, the amount of such cash is treated as a dividend taxable at current U.S. tax rates. We have not historically repatriated the earnings of any of our foreign subsidiaries, and we currently have no intention of repatriating foreign earnings. If we were to repatriate earnings from our foreign subsidiaries in the future, we would be subject to U.S. income taxes upon the distribution of cash to us from our non-U.S. subsidiaries. Although foreign tax credits may be available to reduce the amount of the additional tax liability, these credits may be limited based on our tax attributes. The U.S. tax effects of potential dividends and related foreign tax credits associated with earnings indefinitely reinvested have not been realized pursuant to ASC-740-10. Upon distribution we will be subject to U.S. income taxes pursuant to ASC-740-10.
Accounts Receivable
As of September 30, 2011, we had $97.1 million in trade accounts receivable. We evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers on at least an annual basis and from time to time require customers to provide letters of credit to guarantee payments. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010.
The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing receivables. The allowance is reviewed monthly and we establish reserves for doubtful accounts on a case-by-case basis when it is believed that the required payment of specific amounts owed to us is unlikely to occur.
Inventory
As of September 30, 2011, we had $54.7 million in inventory. Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market. Cost, which includes material, labor and overhead, is determined by the weighted average cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out cost method. See note 3, "Inventory," to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for additional information.
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Other Current Liabilities
As of September 30, 2011, we had $67.1 million in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Approximately 65% of this balance, or $43.3 million, was attributable to trade accounts payable, primarily from the purchase of raw material, including polyethylene resins. We currently purchase raw materials from at least two significant suppliers at each of our manufacturing locations. Polyethylene resins are occasionally in short supply and are subject to price fluctuation in response to market demand. We have not encountered any significant prolonged difficulty to date in obtaining raw materials in sufficient quantities to support our operations at current or expected near-term levels. However, any disruption in raw material supply or abrupt increases in raw material prices could have an adverse effect upon our operations.
The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness
First Lien Credit Facility
On May 27, 2011, we entered into a five-year, $160.0 million first lien senior secured credit facility with General Electric Capital Corporation, Jefferies Finance LLC and the other financial institutions party thereto, consisting of $135.0 million of term loan commitments, or the First Lien Term Loan, and $25.0 million of revolving loan commitments, or the Revolving Credit Facility, which is collectively referred to as the "First Lien Credit Facility." On October 18, 2011, the Revolving Credit Facility was amended to increase the aggregate revolving loan commitments from $25.0 million to $35.0 million. Increased capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is anticipated to be used to meet our current liquidity requirements, including for working capital, and to fund our continued growth. The First Lien Credit Facility will mature in May 2016. Borrowings under the First Lien Credit Facility incur interest expense that is variable in relation to the LIBOR (and/or Prime) rate. In addition to paying interest on outstanding borrowings under the First Lien Credit Facility, we are required to pay a 0.75% per annum commitment fee to the lenders in respect of the unutilized commitments, and letter of credit fees equal to the LIBOR margin on the undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit. As of September 30, 2011, there was $152.7 million outstanding under the First Lien Credit Facility consisting of $134.7 million in term loans and $18.0 million in revolving loans, and the interest rate on such loans was 7.0%. We had $5.0 million of capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility after taking into account outstanding loan advances and letters of credit.
Second Lien Term Loan
On May 27, 2011, we also entered into a 5.5 year, $40.0 million second lien senior secured credit facility with Jefferies Finance LLC and the other financial institutions party thereto, consisting of $40.0 million of term loan commitments, or the Second Lien Term Loan, which is collectively referred to with the First Lien Credit Facility as the "Senior Secured Credit Facilities." The Second Lien Term Loan will mature in November 2016. All borrowings under the Second Lien Term Loan will incur interest expense that is variable in relation to the LIBOR (and/or Prime) rate. Additionally, the term loan accrues PIK interest of 2.0% per annum, which is added to the principal balance of the term loan and becomes due at maturity, rather than being paid out by us periodically in cash. As of September 30, 2011, there was $40.3 million, including PIK interest, outstanding under the Second Lien Term Loan and the interest rate on the Second Lien Term Loan was 13.0%, including 2.0% PIK interest.
Guarantees; Security. The obligations under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by GSE Holding and each of its and our existing and future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, other than GSE International, Inc. and any other excluded subsidiaries. The obligations under our First Lien Credit Facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of our and the guarantors' assets, subject to certain exceptions, permitted liens and permitted encumbrances under our First Lien Credit Facility. The obligations under our Second Lien
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Term Loan are also secured by liens on substantially all of our and the guarantors' assets, subject to certain exceptions, permitted liens and permitted encumbrances; provided, however, that the liens granted under our Second Lien Term Loan are contractually subordinated to the liens that secure our First Lien Credit Facility.
Restrictive Covenants. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain various restrictive covenants that include, among other things, restrictions or limitations on our ability to incur additional indebtedness or issue disqualified capital stock unless certain financial tests are satisfied; pay dividends, redeem subordinated debt or make other restricted payments; make certain loans, investments or acquisitions; issue stock of subsidiaries; grant or permit certain liens on assets; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; merge, consolidate or transfer substantially all of assets; incur dividend or other payment restrictions affecting certain subsidiaries; transfer or sell assets including, but not limited to, capital stock of subsidiaries; and change the business we conduct. However, all of these covenants are subject to exceptions. Beginning with the twelve months ended September 30, 2011, we were subject to a Total Leverage Ratio not to exceed 6.15:1.00 and an Interest Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.80:1.00. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we will be subject to a maximum Capital Expenditure Limitation of $17.5 million.
As of September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. In connection with this offering, we are seeking an amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities which would, among other matters, amend the definition of "Change of Control" to reduce CHS' current specified ownership percentage of 35% following the consummation of this offering.
For all periods presented prior to September 30, 2011, we were not subject to any restrictive financial covenants and were in compliance with all debt covenants under the existing agreements.
Senior Notes and Revolving Credit Facility
We issued, pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 18, 2004, as amended, between us, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 11% Senior Notes due 2012.
On May 27, 2011, we used a portion of the net proceeds from our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, together with cash on hand, to fund the repayment of all outstanding indebtedness under our Senior Notes and refinanced $27 million in borrowings under our old revolving credit facility. We also purchased approximately $132.4 million aggregate principal amount of the notes pursuant to a tender offer on May 27, 2011. We redeemed the remaining outstanding notes on July 11, 2011. In connection with the refinancing of our Senior Notes and our old revolving credit facility, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.0 million, primarily related to the write off of debt issuance costs.
Non-Dollar Denominated Debt
As of September 30, 2011, we had five local international credit facilities.
We have credit facilities with two German banks in the amount of EUR 6.4 million ($8.6 million). As of September 30, 2011, we had EUR 1.6 million ($2.1 million) available under these credit facilities with EUR 1.5 million ($2.0 million) of bank guarantees outstanding and EUR 3.3 million ($4.5 million) outstanding under the line of credit. These credit facilities are secured by a corporate guarantee and bear interest at various market rates. These credit facilities are used primarily for performance guarantees, warranties and temporary working capital requirements.
We have two credit facilities with Egyptian banks in the amount of EGP 15.0 million ($2.5 million). These credit facilities bear interest at various market rates and are primarily for cash management purposes. We had EGP 11.4 million ($1.9 million) available under these credit facilities with EGP 2.7 million ($0.5 million) of bank guarantees outstanding with and EGP 0.9 million ($0.1 million) outstanding under the credit facilities as of September 30, 2011.
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On March 6, 2009, we entered into a BAHT 50.0 million ($1.6 million) revolving credit facility with Export-Import Bank of Thailand, or EXIM, which has a termination date at EXIM's or our discretion. This revolving credit facility bears interest at EXIM prime rate less 0.75% for BAHT borrowings and at London Interbank Offer Rates (LIBOR) plus 3.5% for U.S. dollar borrowings. Repayments of principal are required within 90 days from the date of each draw down borrowing and interest is payable once a month on the last day of the month. The credit facility is secured by a BAHT 15.0 million ($0.5 million) mortgage on land, building and equipment. We had BAHT 18.8 million ($0.6 million) available under these credit facilities with BAHT 25.0 million ($0.8 million) of letters of credit outstanding with BAHT 6.2 million ($0.2 million) outstanding under the credit facility as of September 30, 2011.
For purposes of presenting in U.S. dollars, the amounts outstanding and the amounts available for borrowing under our non-dollar denominated debt, in each case as of September 30, 2011, we have used the U.S. dollar foreign currency exchange rates in late New York trading on September 30, 2011 as quoted in The Wall Street Journal of EUR 1.00 to $1.339, EGP 1.00 to $0.1670 and BAHT 1.00 to $0.03130.
Other Debt
In conjunction with the acquisition of SL Limitada, we entered into a five year installment obligation with the seller of SL Limitada for $4.5 million, secured by a share pledge agreement for 30% of the equity of GSE Lining Technology Chile, S.A., our indirect wholly owned subsidiary. The installment obligation bore interest at 5% for the first two years, converting to a variable rate based on LIBOR for the remaining term. Payments were in five annual principal and interest amounts beginning on January 1, 2007. There was no balance outstanding on September 30, 2011 as the final installment of $0.9 million was paid in January 2011.
In connection with the acquisition of ProGreen Sport Surfaces, which became our GeoSport business, we entered into a three-year unsecured promissory note in the original principal amount of $2.7 million. The note bore interest at the rate of 5.13% per annum and was payable in three equal annual principal payments of $0.9 million plus accrued interest commencing October 13, 2007. We elected to not make the final installment of $0.9 million on the note payable, plus accrued interest, to the former owners of ProGreen during the fourth quarter of 2009, as we were in dispute with ProGreen over $1.3 million in warranty claims. ProGreen filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas to recover the $0.9 million outstanding balance plus interest and attorneys' fees from us. In April 2011, we and ProGreen entered into a settlement agreement to jointly dismiss the lawsuit filed by ProGreen. As part of that settlement we agreed to pay ProGreen $0.65 million and ProGreen forgave the $0.35 million remaining balance of the note payable plus accrued interest.
We have a BAHT 225.7 million ($7.2 million) term loan with a Thailand bank, bearing interest at the bank's Minimum Lending Rate, or MLR, less 1.00% for the first two years and MLR less 0.50%, thereafter, which is secured by equipment, building and lease rights of the property where the equipment and building are located. As of September 30, 2011, the bank's MLR was 7.25%. The promissory note required monthly payments of interest only for the first six months beginning in October 2007 with monthly payments of BAHT 1.4 million ($46 thousand) plus interest beginning April 2008, increasing to BAHT 3.5 million ($0.1 million) in July 2008, and finally increasing to BAHT 3.8 million ($0.1 million) beginning in December 2008 and maturing in May 2013. The term loan has a balance outstanding on September 30, 2011 of BAHT 46.1 million ($1.5 million).
In April 2011, the Company entered into a EUR 0.7 million ($0.94 million) term loan with a German bank, bearing interest at 5.15%, which is secured by equipment. The loan requires monthly payments of principal and interest totaling EUR 21,000 ($28,000) beginning April 2011 and maturing in March 2014. The term loan has a balance outstanding on September 30, 2011 of EUR 0.6 million ($0.8 million).
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Foreign Earnings
Undistributed retained earnings of our foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $25.8 million at September 30, 2011. Provision for U.S. federal and state income taxes has not been provided for certain earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested. Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, we would be subject to both U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax asset/liability, if any, for the temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration is not practicable.
Cash Flow Analysis
A summary of operating, investing and financing activities are shown in the following table:
|
Year Ended December 31, | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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|
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities continuing operations |
$ | (5,400 | ) | $ | 45,250 | $ | (26,541 | ) | $ | (16,364 | ) | $ | (11,329 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities discontinued operations |
(171 | ) | 4,053 | (3,219 | ) | (4,370 | ) | 5,087 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities continuing operations |
(5,706 | ) | (2,697 | ) | (3,337 | ) | (1,887 | ) | (7,713 | ) | |||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities discontinued operations |
(259 | ) | 75 | 2,284 | 2,284 | | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities continuing operations |
5,454 | (32,691 | ) | 25,691 | 15,774 | 7,847 | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities discontinued operations |
(1,170 | ) | | | | (650 | ) | ||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash continuing operations |
272 | (59 | ) | (228 | ) | (113 | ) | 312 | |||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash discontinued operations |
334 | 143 | (280 | ) | (255 | ) | (18 | ) | |||||||||
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(6,646 | ) | 14,074 | (5,630 | ) | (4,931 | ) | (6,464 | ) | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
6,740 | 20,814 | 15,184 | 15,883 | 8,720 |
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities consists primarily of net loss adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, and the effect of changes in working capital.
Net cash used in operating activities was $11.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $16.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The $5.1 million decrease in cash used in operating activities was due primarily to generating operating income as a result of the restructuring and productivity improvement programs we initiated following a detailed review during the fourth quarter of 2009. See note 2, "Discontinued Operations," to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This increase in net income was partially offset by a decrease in accrued liabilities when compared to the prior year period. A significant improvement in accounts receivable collections and a decrease in inventory, partially offset
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by an increase in accounts payable, contributed to the decrease in cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
Net cash used in operating activities was $26.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $45.3 million in 2009. The $71.8 million decrease was related primarily to the increased accounts receivable and inventory levels, partially offset by the increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $45.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $5.4 million in 2008. The $50.7 million increase in cash provided by operating activities was due primarily to the reduction in inventory levels and the collection of accounts receivable.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities consists primarily of:
Net cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $7.7 million, compared to $1.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Capital expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 consisted of $1.4 million of growth expenditures, $2.6 million of maintenance expenditures and $3.7 million related to improving the functionality of our ERP system. Capital expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 consisted of $1.6 million of maintenance expenditures and $0.3 million of growth expenditures.
We currently anticipate total 2011 capital expenditures to be approximately $11.0 million, which includes $6.0 million of growth capital expenditures and $5.0 million of maintenance expenditures, including $3.0 million related to adding global functionality to the existing ERP system. We expect to fund capital expenditures with cash on hand. There are currently no material contractual obligations or commitments related to these planned capital expenditures.
Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2010 was $3.3 million compared to $2.7 million in 2009. Capital expenditures during 2010 were $3.3 million, which included $0.8 million in growth capital expenditures, $2.0 million of maintenance expenditures and $0.5 million related to improving the functionality of our ERP system. Capital expenditures during 2009 included $1.6 million of maintenance expenditures and $1.2 million related to improving the functionality of our ERP system.
Net cash used in investing activities was $5.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2008, principally from the purchase of plant, property and equipment.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net Cash provided by (used in) financing activities consist primarily of borrowings and repayments related to our credit facilities and fees and expenses paid in connection with our credit facilities.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $7.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $15.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This change was attributable primarily to the refinancing of our old revolving credit facility and Senior Notes with a
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portion of the net proceeds from our Senior Secured Credit Facilities. See " The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness."
Net cash provided by financing activities was $25.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $32.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2010 was a result of $27.9 million of net proceeds from credit lines, reduced by long-term debt repayments of $2.2 million. Net cash used in financing activities during 2009 was a result of $32.5 million of net repayments on credit lines and long-term debt repayments of $2.3 million partially offset by $2.1 million of proceeds resulting from the early termination of our interest rate swap.
Net cash used in financing activities was $32.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $5.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2008. Proceeds from lines of credit and repayments of lines of credit were the principal drivers of net cash provided by financing activities during 2008 totaling $154.5 million and $148.3 million, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2011, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements. In addition, we do not have any interest in entities referred to as variable interest entities, which includes special purposes entities and other structured finance entities.
Contractual Obligations
Contractual Obligations as of December 31, 2010
The following table represents a summary of our estimated future payments under material contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2010, prior to the Refinancing Transactions.
Changes in our business needs, cancellation provisions, changing interest rates and other factors may result in actual payments differing from these estimates. We cannot provide certainty regarding the timing and amounts of payments.
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Payments Due by Period |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total | Less than 1 Year |
1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | More than 5 Years |
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|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Debt(1) |
$ | 178,571 | $ | 3,317 | $ | 175,254 | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Interest Payments(2) |
24,724 | 17,459 | 7,265 | | | ||||||||||||||
Operating Leases(3) |
2,112 | 487 | 473 | 268 | 884 | ||||||||||||||
Consulting Obligation(4) |
5,000 | 5,000 | | | | ||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 210,407 | $ | 26,263 | $ | 182,992 | $ | 268 | $ | 884 | |||||||||
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Pro Forma Contractual Obligations as of December 31, 2010
The following table represents a summary of our estimated future payments under material contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2010, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Refinancing Transactions, termination of our management agreement with CHS IV and our receipt of the net proceeds from our sale of common stock in this offering, as if those transactions had occurred as of December 31, 2010.
Changes in our business needs, cancellation provisions, changing interest rates and other factors may result in actual payments differing from these estimates. We cannot provide certainty regarding the timing and amounts of payments.
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Payments Due by Period |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total | Less than 1 Year |
1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | More than 5 Years |
||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations: |
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Long-Term Debt(1) |
189,217 | 4,667 | 2,503 | 142,047 | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
Interest Payments(2) |
79,846 | 14,645 | 29,085 | 29,040 | 7,076 | ||||||||||||
Operating Leases(3) |
2,112 | 487 | 473 | 268 | 884 | ||||||||||||
Consulting Obligation(4) |
3,000 | 3,000 | | | | ||||||||||||
Total |
274,175 | 22,799 | 32,061 | 171,355 | 47,960 | ||||||||||||
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Contingencies
We are involved in various legal and administrative proceedings and disputes that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of doing business. Some of these proceedings may result in fines, penalties or judgments being assessed against us, which, from time to time, may adversely affect our financial results. See note 16, "Commitments and Contingencies," to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 15, "Concentration of Credit and Other Risks," to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have considered these proceedings and disputes in determining the necessity of any reserves for losses that are probable and reasonably estimable. Our recorded reserves are based on estimates developed with consideration given to the potential merits of claims or quantification of any performance obligations. In doing so, we take into account our history of claims, the limitations of any insurance coverage, advice from outside counsel, the possible range of outcomes to such claims and obligations and their associated financial impact (if known and reasonably estimable), and management's strategy with regard to the settlement or defense of such claims and obligations. While the ultimate outcome of those claims, lawsuits or performance obligations cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe, based on our understanding of the facts of these claims and performance obligations, that adequate provisions have been recorded in the accounts where required. In addition, we believe it is not reasonably possible that resolution of these legal actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. It is possible, however, that charges related to these matters could be significant to our results or cash flows in any single accounting period.
In addition, we provide our customers limited material product warranties. Our limited product warranties are typically five years but occasionally extend up to 20 years. These warranties are generally limited to repair or replacement of defective products or workmanship, often on a prorated basis, up to the dollar amount of the original order. In some foreign orders, we may be required to provide the customer with specified contractual limited warranties as to material quality. Our product warranty liability in many foreign countries is dictated by local laws in addition to the warranty specified in the orders. Failure of our products to operate properly or to meet specifications may increase our costs by requiring additional engineering resources, product replacement or monetary reimbursement to a customer. We have received warranty claims in the past, and we expect to continue to receive them in the future. Warranty claims are not covered by insurance, and substantial warranty claims in any period could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as well as on our reputation. See note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 7, "Warranty Reserves," to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Furthermore, in certain direct sales and raw material acquisition situations, we are required to post performance bonds or bank guarantees as part of the contractual guarantee for performance. The performance bonds or bank guarantees can be in the full amount of the orders. To date we have not received any claims against any of the posted securities, most of which terminate at the final completion date of the orders. As of September 30, 2011, we had $5.3 million of bonds outstanding and $5.6 million of guarantees issued under bank lines. See note 16, "Commitments and Contingencies," to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13, "Commitments and Contingencies," to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets,
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liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other information and data that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. The results of our analysis form the basis for making assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policies involve areas that require significant judgments and estimates on the part of management in the course of preparing of our financial statements.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized and represent the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We record a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some of our net deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for valuation allowances, we consider our projected future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies. In the case of our net operating loss carryforwards, we have provided deferred income tax benefits only to the extent we believe we will be able to utilize them in future tax filings. If in the future we determine that we will be able to realize more of the related net deferred tax assets, we will make an adjustment to the allowance, which would increase our income in the period that such a determination is made.
We operate in various tax jurisdictions and are subject to audit by various tax authorities. We are currently being audited by the United States Internal Revenue Service for the 2008 taxable year. We recognize the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained following an examination. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon effective settlement. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable from our customers in connection with sales transactions are recorded at the invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. We record an allowance for doubtful accounts, which reflects our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing receivables. The allowance is reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, on at least a quarterly basis. In addition, we establish reserves for doubtful accounts on a case-by-case basis when we believe that the required payment of specific amounts owed to us is unlikely to occur.
We have receivables from customers in various countries, and generally do not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables unless credit capacity is not evident. In the case where credit capacity does not exist or cannot be appropriately determined, unsecured exposure security instruments such as upfront cash payments, down payments, credit cards, letters of credit, standby letters of credit, bank guarantees or personal guarantees are required. In addition, in the U.S., in cases when a customer's project is state or federally sponsored or owned, a payment or security bond is required by law in most jurisdictions. If the customers' financial condition was to deteriorate or their access to freely convertible currency was restricted, resulting in impairment of their ability to make the required payments, additional allowances may be required. In the event of a default by a U.S. customer, we may also have the option to file liens against property owners to the extent permissible under applicable state laws.
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Inventories
Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost, which includes materials, labor and overhead, is determined by the weighted average cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out cost method.
We perform an analysis of our inventory levels and resulting valuation on at least a quarterly basis, or more frequently if circumstances dictate. As a result of this analysis we may record or adjust existing provisions, as appropriate, to write-down slow-moving, excess or obsolete inventory to estimated net realizable value. The process for evaluating inventory often requires us to make subjective judgments and estimates concerning anticipated customer demand and future sales levels, as well as the quantities and prices at which such inventories will be able to be sold in the normal course of business. If actual conditions are less favorable than those reflected in our estimates, additional inventory write-downs to market value may be required and future periods' gross margin rates may be unfavorably or favorably affected.
Goodwill
We review goodwill to determine potential impairment annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The goodwill impairment analysis is comprised of two steps. The first step requires the comparison of the fair value of the applicable reporting unit to its respective carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and we would not be required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then we must perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference.
Our reporting units are the same as our operating segments: Europe Africa, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. Goodwill allocated to Europe Africa, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East represents approximately 45%, 39%, 9%, 7% and 0%, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. The fair value exceeds the carrying value of net assets by approximately 24%, 33%, 10% and 154% for Europe Africa, North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America, respectively, as of December 1, 2010, the date of our last impairment analyses.
In performing the annual goodwill impairment test we considered three generally accepted approaches for valuing a business: the income, market and cost approaches. Based on the nature of our business, and the current and expected financial performance, we determined that the market and income approaches were the most appropriate methods for estimating the fair value of each reporting unit. For the income approach we used the discounted cash flow method, and considered such factors as sales, depreciation, amortization, capital expenditures, incremental working capital requirements, tax rate and discount rate. Consideration of these factors inherently involves a significant amount of judgment, and significant movements in sales or changes in the underlying assumptions may result in fluctuations of estimated fair value.
For the market approach we used both the guidelines public company and the comparable transaction methods. We considered such factors as appropriate guideline companies, appropriate comparable transactions and control premiums.
In determining the value of Europe Africa, North America and Latin America, we did not have any basis to determine that either the income approach or market approach provided a better indication of value. As such, we weighted the two approaches equally. Given the differences in comparable entities and transactions selected for the market approach to estimate the value of Asia Pacific, we determined
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that the income approach provided a better indication of value than the market approach. As such, we gave a 70% weighting to the income approach and a 30% weighting to the market approach in estimating the value of Asia Pacific. We used the discounted cash flow method to determine the fair value of our reporting units in 2009. The change from a single valuation technique to weighting the results of two valuation techniques did not have a significant impact on our goodwill impairment analysis.
Erosion in capital markets, material reductions in our expected cash flow forecasts, significant reductions in our market capitalization or a significant decline in economic conditions, in addition to changes to the underlying assumptions used in our valuation approach described above, could all lead to future impairment of goodwill.
Stock-Based Compensation
Historically, we have issued only a de minimis number of stock-based compensation awards and the amount of stock-based compensation expense we have recognized has not been material to our results of operations. We expect that we will make more stock awards following this offering and the amount of stock-based compensation will therefore increase.
All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are measured at their respective grant date calculated values, and expensed in our consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service period (generally the grant's vesting period). We use a calculated value to measure the compensation expense for share-based awards made to employees, as we have concluded that it is impracticable to determine the expected volatility of our share price, given the lack of historical stock trading activity. Instead, we use an industry measure of volatility in calculating this value.
The value of each option award is estimated on its respective grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The application of the Black-Scholes option pricing model valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and sensitive, which affects compensation expense related to these awards, including the value of our common stock, the risk-free interest rate, expected option life, expected volatility and expected dividend yield. The expected option life is based on our best estimate of the anticipated exercise activity for the grants, taking into consideration historical exercise patterns for previous grants to the extent we believe that such information is predictive. The specific industry measure we use to calculate expected volatility is the Dow Jones Building and Material Index fund, which includes public companies that we believe are most comparable to our business.
In estimating the value of our common stock, we calculate a business enterprise value based upon the anticipated value of cash flows that the business can be expected to generate in the future. This approach employs a discounted cash flow analysis using our weighted average cost of capital, which is calculated by weighting the required return on equity capital and interest-bearing debt in proportion to their estimated percentages in our capital structure. Our discounted cash flow analysis is comprised of the following steps:
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We recognize compensation expense for all stock-based awards with graded vesting on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award. While the applicable guidance requires that we consider the impact of estimated forfeitures in recognizing the associated compensation expense, there has been no impact on the vast majority of our option awards, as they were fully vested upon the grant date.
The following table presents the grant dates and related exercise prices of stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2010 and, through the date of this prospectus, during 2011.
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Number of Shares |
Exercise Price |
Estimated Fair Market Value of Common Stock |
Per Share Calculated Value of Options |
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October 28, 2010 |
43,452 | $ | 6.15 | $ | 5.51 | $ | 0.69 | |||||||
January 1, 2011 |
36,210 | $ | 5.11 | $ | 4.76 | $ | 0.65 | |||||||
January 17, 2011 |
72,420 | $ | 5.11 | $ | 4.76 | $ | 0.65 |
We have historically granted stock options at exercise prices at, or slightly higher than, the estimated fair value of our common stock.
Our Board of Directors performed valuations in the fourth quarter of 2010 with respect to the October 28, 2010 grant and in the first quarter of 2011 with respect to the January 1, 2011 and January 17, 2011 grants. The assumptions underlying our estimated future cash flows between these two valuations did not change, however, the risk free interest rate which was based on a 20-year treasury bond increased by over 0.5% resulting in an increase in our weighted average cost of capital and a corresponding decrease in our terminal value for the purpose of the discount cash flow model. There was also a decrease of $4.0 million in our cash on hand. These two factors are the primary reasons for the decrease in the estimated fair market value of our underlying common stock between October 28, 2010 and January 2011.
We believe that the primary reason for the increase in the fair value of our common stock of $4.76 from January 17, 2011 to $14.00, the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, is continued improvement in our financial performance from 2010 through 2011.
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working capital to grow our business. Deleveraging was not considered in the January 2011 valuation. Finally, we believe that the illiquidity discount associated with being a private company will no longer apply after this offering, and is reflected in an increase in the fair market value per share of our common stock.
Notwithstanding these developments that management believes led to the recent increase in the value of our common stock, we cannot assure you that we will succeed in implementing our business strategy in the future and that our business will continue to grow. In addition, we have in the past experienced, and expect to continue to experience in the future, substantial fluctuations in our quarterly operating results. These and other factors may result in substantial fluctuations in our stock price and valuation.
Revenue Recognition
GAAP guidance establishes the following four criteria that must be met in order for revenue to be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) product delivery has occurred, (3) the sales price to the customer is fixed or determinable and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. Specifically, for our direct sales of products to customers, we recognize revenues when products are shipped (as this is the point that title and risk of loss pass to the customer), we have no further obligation to the customer with respect to the delivered products, and collectability of the amount billed is reasonably assured.
We recognize revenue relating to contracts for the design and installation of geosynthetic containment solutions using the percentage of completion method. The use of this method is based on our experience and history of being able to prepare reasonably dependable estimates of the cost to complete our projects. Under this method, we estimate profit as the difference between the total estimated revenue and total estimated cost of a contract. Profit is recognized over the life of the contract based on costs incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated costs. We routinely review estimates related to the corresponding contracts, and revisions to profitability are reflected in the quarterly and annual earnings. If a current estimate of total contract cost exceeds the current estimate of total contract revenue, which indicates a loss on a contract, the projected loss is recognized in full at that time. Revenue recognized under the percentage of completion method was $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-08, IntangiblesGoodwill and Other: Testing Goodwill for Impairment, to allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under these amendments, an entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments include a number of events and circumstances for an entity to consider in conducting the qualitative assessment. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. As the amendments only impact the process of assessing goodwill for impairment, and not the recognition or measurement of an impairment charge, the adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income: Presentation of Comprehensive Income, to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is
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required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The amendments do not change the guidance regarding the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The amendments should be applied retrospectively, and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This ASU represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the IASB on fair value measurement, and results in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term "fair value." These amendments change some of the terminology used to describe many of the existing requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments should be applied prospectively, and they are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, consolidated financial position or cash flows.
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-28, Intangibles Goodwill and Other: When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts. The amendments in this ASU modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing event or circumstance-driven guidance related to goodwill impairment testing between annual tests. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, consolidated financial position or cash flows.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies certain existing disclosure requirements in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, as well as requires disclosures related to significant transfers between each level and additional information about Level 3 activity. ASU 2010-06 begins phasing in the first fiscal period after December 15, 2009. We did not make nor do we anticipate a significant transfer between each level as of December 31, 2010. As such, we do not believe this ASU will have a material impact on our results of operations, consolidated financial position or cash flows.
In September 2009, FASB issued ASC 105, formerly FASB Statement No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) A Replacement of FASB Statement No. 162. ASC 105 establishes the Codification as the single source of authoritative GAAP in the United States, other than rules and interpretive releases issued by the SEC. The Codification is a reorganization of current GAAP into a topical format that eliminates the current GAAP hierarchy and establishes instead two levels of guidance authoritative and non-authoritative. All non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature that is not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative. The Codification was effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. As the Codification was not intended to change or alter existing GAAP, it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
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In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855-10, Subsequent Events, which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-09, which provided amended guidance on subsequent events. Under this amended guidance, SEC filers are no longer required to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in originally issued and revised financial statements. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are subject to various market risks, primarily related to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and raw material supply prices. Our financial position, results of operations or cash flows may be negatively impacted in the event of adverse movements in the respective market rates or prices in each of these risk categories. Our exposure in each category is limited to those risks that arise in the normal course of business, as we do not engage in speculative, non-operating transactions, nor do we utilize financial instruments for trading purposes.
Interest Rate Risk
In order to manage both interest rates and underlying borrowing costs, we use a combination of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt instruments. In certain circumstances, we may use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, as a further means to manage the level of our exposure to variable interest rate risk. Generally, such derivatives are executed with major reputable financial or lending institutions with investment grade credit ratings, with the objective of reducing counterparty credit risk.
At both December 31, 2010 and 2009, we had $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes outstanding, bearing interest at a fixed rate of 11.0% per annum. In addition, we had $24.1 million in variable rate borrowings outstanding under our old revolving credit facility at December 31, 2010, bearing interest at various rates, reflecting either a base rate or LIBOR plus a spread of up to 200 basis points. There were no borrowings outstanding under our old revolving credit facility at December 31, 2009. We also had amounts outstanding at both December 31, 2010 and 2009 under various international term loans and credit facilities used to provide international operations with local access to funds for cash management and temporary working capital needs.
We had one interest rate swap in place at December 31, 2010, which was a €1.0 million ($1.3 million, based on December 31, 2010 exchange rate) notional pay fixed-receive floating swap used to hedge the exposure to variable interest rates for a portion of one of our international credit facilities. At December 31, 2009, we had a $75.0 million notional value pay floating-receive fixed interest rate swap in place, which effectively converted $75.0 million of our fixed-rate Senior Notes to variable-rate debt, with an underlying benchmark rate based on LIBOR. This swap was terminated effective May 15, 2010.
The fair value of our Senior Notes at December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $142.2 million and $148.5 million, respectively. These fair values reflect the application of current interest rates offered for debt with similar remaining terms and maturities as of the respective measurement dates. The fair value of our Senior Notes was subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in the applicable market interest rates, the Senior Notes have since been repaid in connection with the Refinancing Transactions discussed below.
In May 2011, we refinanced our Senior Notes as well as $27 million in borrowings under our old revolving credit facility, with a portion of the proceeds from the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. See " The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness" above. Borrowings under each of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities bears interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR or Prime,
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at our option. At September 30, 2011, we had $152.7 million in outstanding borrowings under these new facilities consisting of $134.7 million in term loans and $18.0 million in revolving loans at a weighted average interest rate of 7.0%. See note 19, "Subsequent Events," to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further discussion of this refinancing.
Our results of operations and cash flows would be affected by changes in the applicable underlying benchmark interest rates due to the impact such changes would have on the interest payable on variable-rate debt outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and, to the extent applicable, our interest rate-related derivative instruments. Holding other variables constant, including levels of indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, a 50 basis point increase in interest rates would result in an increase of approximately $0.9 million in annual interest expense.
The hypothetical changes and assumptions may be different from actual changes and events in the future, and the computations do not take into account management's possible actions if such changes actually occurred over time. Considering these limitations, actual effects on future earnings could differ from those calculated above.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We maintain operations in countries outside of the United States, including Germany, Chile, Thailand and Egypt, some of which use the respective local foreign currency as their functional currency. Each foreign operation may enter into contractual arrangements with customers or vendors that are denominated in currencies other than its respective functional currency. As a result, our results of operations may be affected by exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and economic conditions in the regions in which we purchase raw material inventory or sell and distribute our products. Exposure to variability in foreign currency exchange rates from these transactions is managed, to the extent possible, through the use of natural hedges which result from purchases and sales occurring in the same foreign currency within a similar period of time, thereby offsetting each other to varying degrees.
In addition, we also execute intercompany lending transactions, and a foreign subsidiary may pay dividends to its respective parent, or ultimately, the United States parent. These transactions are denominated in various foreign currencies which results in exposure to exchange rate risk that could impact our results of operations.
The total foreign currency transaction gains (losses), attributable to non-functional currency purchases and sales, and intercompany loans and dividends was $1.4 million and $(0.4) million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, representing less than 0.5% of sales and cost of products. In addition, the loss attributable to these foreign currency transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was less than $0.1 million. Given the relative size of these gains and losses, we do not believe that any reasonable near-term changes in applicable rates would have a material impact on our result of operations.
We did not enter into any foreign currency hedging transactions in the nine month period ended September 30, 2011 or the year ended December 31, 2010, nor do we anticipate using derivative instruments to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk in the foreseeable future.
In addition to the transaction-related gains or losses that are reflected within the results of operations, we are subject to foreign currency translation risk, as the financial statements for our foreign subsidiaries are measured and recorded in the respective subsidiary's functional currency and then translated into U.S. Dollars for consolidated financial reporting purposes. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders' equity, on the consolidated balance sheet.
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Raw Material Supply and Price Risk
Our primary raw materials used in the production of our products are polyethylene resins. As these resins are petroleum-based materials, changes in the price of feedstocks, such as crude oil or natural gas, as well as changes in market supply and demand may cause the cost of these resins to fluctuate significantly. During 2010, raw material cost accounted for approximately 80% of our cost of products. Given the significance of these costs and the inherent volatility in supplier pricing, our ability to reflect changes in the cost of resins in our products' selling prices in an efficient manner, passing the increase on to our customers, contributes to the management of our overall supply price risk and its potential impact on our results of operations.
We have not historically entered, nor do we intend to enter, into long-term purchase orders for the delivery of raw materials. Our orders with suppliers are flexible and do not contain minimum purchase volumes or fixed prices. Accordingly, our suppliers may change their selling prices or other relevant terms on a monthly basis, exposing us to pricing risk. Our recent implementation of advanced pricing and forecasting tools, more centralized procurement and additional sources of supply have increased our focus on product margins and resulted in overall lower supply costs.
Holding all other variables constant, a 1.0% increase in resin prices would have increased cost of products by approximately $2.8 million, based on our consolidated 2010 sales volume.
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Our Business
We are the leading global provider by sales of highly engineered geosynthetic containment solutions for environmental protection and confinement applications. Our products are used in a wide range of infrastructure end markets such as mining, waste management, liquid containment (including water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture), coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. We are one of a few providers with the full suite of products required to deliver customized solutions for complex projects on a worldwide basis, including geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners, or GCLs, nonwoven geotextiles, and specialty products. We sell our products in over 110 countries and a global infrastructure that includes seven manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Germany, Chile, Egypt and Thailand, 18 regional sales offices located in 12 countries and engineers and technical salespeople located on four continents. We generate the majority of our sales outside of North America, including 38% from sales into high-growth emerging and frontier markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Our comprehensive product offering and global infrastructure, along with our extensive relationships with customers and end-users, provide us with access to high-growth markets worldwide, visibility into upcoming projects and the flexibility to serve customers regardless of geographic location.
Geosynthetic lining solutions are mission-critical, and often mandated by regulatory authorities, for the safe containment of materials and groundwater protection across a wide range of applications. Our technologically advanced products are manufactured primarily from polyethylene resins and proprietary additives, and are engineered to high performance specifications such as relative impermeability, structural integrity and resistance to weathering, ultraviolet degradation and extended chemical exposure. Our products are low in cost relative to the total development expenditure of a typical project, as well as to the remediation cost and adverse environmental impact that would result from not using a geosynthetic lining solution. We believe that we derive a pricing premium and margin advantage from our technologically advanced products and our brand name that is well-recognized in the industry for quality, reliability and innovation, each of which are critical factors when purchasing a product that is often required to last in perpetuity.
We are one of a few providers that possess the manufacturing capabilities and product breadth to develop solutions that meet the specific performance and regulatory standards required to supply large, complex projects on a global basis. Our manufacturing facilities have one of the broadest geographic presences in the industry and are strategically located to allow us to serve the fastest growing end markets and geographies, to effectively manage our cost structure and to maintain proximity to our customers and suppliers. In addition, we have a global network of engineers and salespeople that work with customers to provide customized solutions. Our engineers also collaborate with international standards organizations to develop regional specifications and standards for existing and new applications; consequently, we help public and private industry engineers to establish the framework of specifications for our industry's products. We believe that our global infrastructure provides us with a competitive advantage, particularly in emerging and frontier markets, as we are well positioned to capture new opportunities from the implementation and enforcement of more stringent environmental regulations driven by increasing environmental awareness globally.
We serve leading mining, waste management and power companies; independent installers and dealers; general contractors and government agencies. Our solutions have been integral components of projects by large, well-established and well-known companies such as Arizona Public Service Company, Inc., Barrick Gold Corp., BHP Billiton plc, the Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd., Newmont Mining Corp., Rio Tinto Limited, Veolia Environnement S.A. and Waste Management, Inc. Our customer base is
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geographically diversified with 58% of our sales in 2010 generated outside North America including emerging and frontier markets in Asia (14%), Latin America (11%), Africa (10%) and the Middle East (3%). We define emerging markets as nations with rapid growth in business activity and industrialization, such as China and India, and frontier markets as countries that are earlier in their development cycles but could exhibit similar characteristics in the future, such as Vietnam and many African countries. We serve over 1,300 customers annually, and our largest customer accounted for less than 5% of our sales in 2010. We maintain strong, longstanding relationships with our customer base, with an average tenure of 13 years with our top 10 customers.
Our sales grew by 40% to $443.5 million in the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 from $316.2 million in the twelve months ended September 30, 2010. In the twelve months ended September 30, 2011, we had net income of $4.0 million compared to a net loss of $29.8 million in the same prior year period, a 113% increase. Our Adjusted EBITDA grew by 162% to $44.6 million from $17.0 million in the same prior year period. See "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Quarterly Financial Information" for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income or loss. Growth in the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 has been driven, in part, by our focus on product innovation and strategic growth initiatives in new markets and applications, as exemplified by the ongoing diversification of our sales. Despite challenging economic conditions in early 2010, we were able to meaningfully streamline our operations and implement successful performance improvements that have enhanced our profitability and provided us with significant operating leverage. As a result of these initiatives, we increased our gross margins by 3% to 15% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from 12% in the same period in the prior year and we believe there is an ongoing opportunity for improvement. Our adjusted gross margins increased by 2% to 17% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from 15% in the same period in the prior year. See note (3) to the table set forth in " Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" for a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin to gross margin. Our recent historical sales have been variable, however, and we recorded a net loss in each of the last three fiscal years. In addition, our sales typically flutuate from quarter to quarter due to seasonal weather patterns and our long sales cycle. As of September 30, 2011, our total outstanding debt was $197.2 million.
Our Industry
A&M estimates that the market for geosynthetics used in environmental containment applications will be approximately $1.7 billion in 2011, and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 7% to approximately $2.2 billion by 2015. According to A&M, we are the largest market participant with 24% global geomembrane market share, and we are the market leader in several key markets and geographies, as shown by our 40% market share in the mining end market, our 19% market share in the waste management end market, and our 11% market share in the liquid containment end market. Our industry is highly fragmented due to its relevance to a wide variety of products, applications, end markets and geographies. For the most part, other market participants are small, privately held companies that compete on a local or regional basis and offer only one or a few products. Globally, demand for geosynthetics is influenced by environmental regulations, particularly those involving heap leach mining, landfills and waste ponds for industrial and energy process by-products. For these markets, some type of geosynthetic is typically required to comply with environmental standards for groundwater protection. In the United States, one example of applicable legislation is RCRA, which provides legal guidelines for the storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste.
We focus primarily on the global mining, waste management and liquid containment end markets, and are developing new end markets such as coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. Although the businesses of many of our customers are, to varying degrees, cyclical and experience periodic upturns
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and downturns, we believe that there are highly attractive near- to medium-term global macroeconomic trends in each of these sectors.
Mining. In the heap leach extraction process used in the mining industry, geosynthetic systems prevent the leakage of the valuable leachate into which the metal is dissolved, protect the ground and soil from contamination and provide drainage solutions. In all other processes, geosynthetics are used as containment solutions for the tailing ponds in which water borne tailings are stored in order to allow the separation of solid particles from water. The size of the geosynthetic opportunity in mining end markets is directly related to the amount of global mining activity, which is driven by demand for metals and minerals and the need for new mining infrastructure to satisfy this demand. Our products are especially relevant to mining applications focused on copper, gold, silver, uranium and phosphate. According to Datamonitor, the global copper industry alone is expected to produce 19.4 million metric tons in 2015, representing an increase of 22.5% over 2010 production levels. The global mining industry is expected to increase annual capital expenditures by 113% to $168 billion in 2018 from $79 billion in 2009, according to the McKinsey Basic Materials Institute.
Waste Management. Geosynthetics are used in the management of MSW as liners to prevent landfill runoff from entering the surrounding environment and as caps to prevent the escape of greenhouse gases, control odors and limit rainwater infiltration. Key Note estimates that 2.0 billion tons of MSW were generated worldwide in 2006 and nearly 3.0 billion tons are expected to be generated in 2011, representing annual growth of approximately 8%. While growth in North American and European waste management markets has historically trended with GDP growth, we believe the construction and expansion of landfills for the containment of this waste will drive global geosynthetic demand in emerging markets. According to Key Note, developing nations, such as China and India, represent more than half of global MSW generation and also require the most investment in their waste management infrastructure. We believe that increased wealth, the positive correlation between MSW generation and per capita GDP and heightened environmental regulation will move disposal practices in Asia and other emerging markets away from current open dumping and open burning practices towards landfilling and other more environmentally friendly methods of disposal. China has addressed the need for increased sound waste disposal resources in its twelfth five-year plan, the most recent in a series of economic development initiatives, which mandates the investment of 180 billion Yuan, or approximately $28 billion, in the urban waste disposal sector between 2011 and 2015.
Liquid Containment. Geosynthetic products are used in a wide variety of liquid containment applications in civil engineering and infrastructure end markets such as water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture.
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Coal Ash Containment. Coal-burning power plants produce coal ash, a pollutant that can contaminate soil and groundwater, as a byproduct of the combustion process. In December 2008, a coal ash containment failure at The Tennessee Valley Authority's fossil fuel plant in Kingston, Tennessee resulted in the release of approximately 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash into the Emory River. The clean-up costs and timeline associated with the failure are estimated to be in excess of $1 billion and four years, respectively. Following this incident, between May and November 2010, the EPA announced plans to regulate the disposal of coal ash generated by coal-fired electric utilities under RCRA, published proposed rules for the regulation and held a public comment period. The EPA's proposed rules may never become enforceable, however, because the United States House of Representatives recently passed legislation that proposes national standards which the states, and not the EPA, will enforce. A companion bill has been introduced in the United States Senate, but has not yet been considered. Based on market research, A&M believes that the coal ash containment market for geosynthetic products in North America is projected to grow from $12 million in 2011 to $74 million in 2015, representing a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 57%. Utilities have already begun capping existing non-compliant disposal facilities and constructing new disposal facilities that meet the requirements of the regulation in advance of it coming into effect.
Shale Oil and Gas. Geosynthetic solutions are used in a number of applications in the drilling and production of shale oil and gas, including to effectively line storage and disposal ponds for both the freshwater required for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and for flowback water, a by-product containing high levels of the salt, down-well chemicals and metals used in the fracking process. According to Spears & Associates, Inc., $1.2 trillion of capital is expected to be spent in onshore oil and gas drilling and completion in the United States between 2011 and 2017. A portion of this capital will be used to develop over 140,000 horizontal wells in this period, the significant majority of which we believe will be in shale plays. We believe that the majority of producing shale wells will ultimately require appropriately lined ponds for the containment of freshwater, fracking chemicals and flowback water. These expenditures will support anticipated growth in domestic shale oil and gas production. While total domestic natural gas production is projected by the EIA, to grow by 25% to 26.3 trillion cubic feet, or tcf, in 2035 from 21.0 tcf in 2009, shale gas production is expected to grow by over 250% to account for 47% of total natural gas production by 2035 compared to 16% in 2009.
Our Competitive Strengths
Market leader with strong brand recognition. We are the largest producer of polyethylene geomembranes in the world. We believe this market position provides us with a number of competitive advantages, including the ability to attract and retain large multinational customers that rely on our global scale and full product breadth for on-time product delivery, as well as flexibility and economies of scale in manufacturing and raw materials procurement. We believe that our established reputation for quality, reliability and technological innovation is an important factor in our customers' purchasing decisions, and is supported by our 30-year corporate history without a product failure resulting in significant liability or environmental damage. Our market position and brand name also create barriers to entry, given the importance of long-term customer relationships, the necessity of meeting the global logistical needs of customers, and the significant investment that would be required to replicate our existing footprint.
Global infrastructure provides key competitive advantages. Our network of manufacturing facilities and sales and engineering personnel strategically located around the world positions us well to:
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China and Indonesia. In addition, we believe that continued urbanization, GDP growth and increasing environmental regulation will create ongoing demand for environmentally sound waste management infrastructure in China and India. We have a strong, established local presence in the regions where each of these opportunities is located.
Mission-critical solutions customized from broad product offering. Reliable geosynthetic solutions are critical to the safe and profitable operation of our customers' facilities. In addition, remediation cost and environmental impact of a product failure can be significant relative to the cost of our solutions. We believe we are able to command premium pricing relative to the industry due to the quality and reliability of our products and the significance that our customers place on these factors when purchasing geosynthetics. In addition, we are among a limited number of geosynthetic providers with the product breadth to provide solutions that can be customized for each application. Our ability to create a tailored solution for each project that achieves the necessary physical characteristics using layers of geomembranes, drainage products, GCLs and nonwoven geotextiles provides us with a competitive advantage against regional competitors that have more limited product offerings.
Innovation-driven culture with a history of new product and application development and commercialization. We believe we are the pioneer in the industry as the first company to have developed lining systems from high-density polyethylene. We have continued our tradition of innovation through our 30-year history. We believe we act as the primary innovator in the industry by applying our global engineering expertise to originate new, proprietary products, develop new applications for our products and work with customers to tailor solutions to their requirements. We have a portfolio of over 35 patents worldwide that have been developed by our in-house engineering personnel. Our engineers work closely with customers and end-users to develop new applications and end markets for our products, and with international standards development organizations to gain acceptance for these uses by these parties. We are a leader in the national and international standards setting process for the
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geosynthetics industry and hold leadership positions on numerous industry standards development organizations.
Highly experienced management team. Our senior management team averages over 25 years of experience in geosynthetics and related industries and is responsible for the operational transformation and strategic realignment that was undertaken during 2009 and 2010 to more effectively serve our global customer base, improve our profitability and further diversify our end markets. See "Business Our History" and "Business Supply Chain Management" for additional information on our rationalized global infrastructure and strategically positioned manufacturing capacity. Our new executive management team has instilled a pervasive culture based on innovation, customer service and profitability. Acting as a cohesive global group, our management team is well-equipped to execute on our strategic growth and profitability initiatives.
Our Growth Strategy
Leverage global infrastructure to expand market share in certain geographies and end markets. We are focused on continuing to utilize our international presence to improve our penetration of high-growth emerging markets, where we generated 38% of our sales in 2010. We are particularly focused on pursuing attractive growth opportunities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. We plan to expand sales and engineering coverage in certain of these regions and evaluate the deployment of manufacturing lines so that regional production capacity and market opportunities are aligned to address these regions. In addition, we seek to continue expanding our share in key end markets by further developing our targeted product offering for these markets and continuing to grow relationships with existing and new customers globally. By pursuing these strategies, we believe we can improve our access to high-growth regions and markets, enhance our operational flexibility and continue to target high-value projects globally.
Focus on continued sales and operational excellence. We believe we have a clear strategy for ongoing improvement in our profitability by focusing on both higher-margin products and end markets, as well as continued operational improvement. We anticipate that as our product mix continues to shift towards higher-value proprietary products, our pricing power and profitability will continue to improve. We also expect that our core product strategy of matching product specifications with the application will have a positive impact on our profitability. In addition, we expect to continue to see the benefits of the operational transformation we implemented in 2010. Among other initiatives, we diversified our resin sources on a global basis, implemented margin management and pricing programs, eliminated two high-cost manufacturing locations, sold a non-core labor-intensive installation business and permanently reduced our headcount by approximately 38% since December 2008. We believe that as our volumes increase, the operating leverage we have created through facility and business line rationalizations will continue to have a positive impact on our profitability. Finally, we expect our margin management and supply chain diversification initiatives to become increasingly effective as they continue to become refined.
Accelerate new product development. We plan to continue to expand the breadth of our product offering, which allows us to customize products for specific applications and deepen our relevance to key end markets. Through our extensive global engineering and product development capabilities, we plan to enhance our core products as well as develop new higher-margin proprietary products and solutions. While our higher-margin proprietary products and solutions are currently only manufactured at our Houston facility, we plan to expand our production capabilities for these products globally. With respect to our core products, our strategy focuses on developing tiers of products that are fit-for-purpose, so that product specifications are determined by the application, thereby maximizing our overall customer value proposition. For instance, heap leach mining applications, in which valuable
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metals dissolved in harsh chemicals need to be contained require different geosynthetic products than aquaculture applications, where water needs to be contained. With respect to our new products, our strategy involves developing solutions engineered to resolve common problems in our end markets and applications. These next generation products often provide higher technical capabilities and higher margins. For instance, we offer our customers a lining solution that allows for leak detection during installation and throughout the project lifecycle, thereby reducing the risk of long-term environmental damage and providing a liability management tool for the end-user.
Continue to develop new end markets and applications for our products. As environmental regulations continue to be adopted in our domestic and international end markets, we will continue to respond to these regulations by cultivating new applications for our products. We believe we are well-positioned to develop new addressable markets as a result of our position as the innovator in the industry, our strong engineering and product development capabilities, our deep relationships with customers and end-users and our experience working with relevant governmental agencies. For instance, we are developing a proprietary product that effectively addresses the requirements of the emerging domestic coal ash containment market. We have been proactively working with coal-fired electric utilities that must ultimately comply with pending coal ash regulation to discuss the merits of this proprietary product and form partnerships to address this market. We have developed a similar approach to address the increasing demand for our products in the shale oil and gas end markets. As a result of these efforts, we anticipate having the critical first-mover advantage in these important high-growth, high-margin markets.
Selectively pursue investment and acquisition opportunities. We plan to pursue strategic investment opportunities, both organic and acquisitive in nature. In an effort to ensure we have manufacturing capacity located where it would be most advantageous, we intend to make capital investments in our facilities that serve the Asian, Middle Eastern and African markets, as well as in our facilities which we expect will serve the domestic coal ash containment markets. In addition, given the fragmented nature of the geosynthetics industry, we believe that there may be opportunities to pursue value-added acquisitions at attractive valuations in the future, which may augment our geographic footprint, broaden our product offerings, expand our technological capabilities and capitalize on potential operating synergies.
Our History
We were founded in 1981 by Clifford Gundle under the name Gundle Corporation, and we believe we were the first company to develop lining systems from high-density polyethylene. We grew significantly, and in 1986, an affiliate of Odyssey acquired a majority ownership interest in us and we completed an initial public offering and our shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Between 1995 and 2002, we completed a series of acquisitions that broadened our global reach, added manufacturing capabilities, expanded our distribution network and enhanced our product offering. These included the two transformational acquisitions of SLT Environmental, Inc. and Serrot International, Inc., each of which significantly improved our global scale and the latter of which established us as the global leader in geosynthetic containment solutions.
In May 2004, CHS acquired a majority ownership interest in us and our shares ceased to be publicly traded. In the seven years following our acquisition by CHS, we strategically diversified our end market and geographic exposure, and in December 2005 we completed the acquisition of the operating assets of SL Limitada, which improved our penetration of the South American and mining markets. In 2009 and 2010, we undertook a restructuring initiative that streamlined our business and implemented successful performance improvements, including the following.
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Products
We develop, manufacture and market a broad array of geosynthetic products used in the environmental containment and management of solids, liquids and gases for organizations engaged in mining, waste management, liquid containment, coal ash containment, shale oil and gas and other industrial and civil applications. Our product breadth enables us to fully meet the needs of our customers by providing all products required in geosynthetic lining systems. We categorize our products into geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners, or GCLs, nonwoven geotextiles and specialty products, each of which can be used on a stand-alone basis or packaged into solutions to serve a range of applications.
Geomembranes
Geomembranes are synthetic polymeric lining materials used as barriers in geotechnical engineering applications in end markets that include mining, solid waste containment and liquid containment. Geomembranes are manufactured from polyethylene and polypropylene resins with additives designed to resist weathering, ultraviolet degradation and chemical exposure for extended time periods. Our geomembrane liners are available in thicknesses of 20 mil to 240 mil, where 1 mil is equivalent to 1/1000th of an inch, and seamless widths of up to 34.5 feet. We provide an extensive product offering with a range of geomembrane liners to meet the needs of specific applications. Some of our most popular types of geomembranes include:
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conditions. These liners maximize the volume of material that can be contained within the geomembrane. Common applications for GSE Textured liners include landfill liners and mining heap leach pads located on steeper slopes.
Drainage Products
Drainage products, such as geonets and geocomposites, typically are installed along with geomembranes in a liner system to keep liquids from accumulating on the liners. These drainage products provide the transmission avenues for liquid and gas collection and leak detection systems. Our primary drainage products are GSE HyperNet and GSE FabriNet.
Geosynthetic Clay Liners
GCLs are synthetic clay liners that typically are installed as the bottom layer of a liner system. They are constructed of sodium bentonite clay, which is a highly impermeable substance and often replaces the thick layers of compacted natural clay that are sometimes used as a subgrade layer. We offer two varieties of GCLs:
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Nonwoven Geotextiles
Nonwoven geotextiles are synthetic, staple fiber, nonwoven needle-punched fabrics used in environmental and other industrial applications that include filtration, soil stabilization, separation, drainage and gas transmission, cushion and liner protection applications. Our nonwoven geotextile products are available in many weights and thicknesses to meet specific product requirements. They are used primarily internally to manufacture our geocomposite and Bentoliner products. Sales of nonwoven geotextiles represented 3% of our total product sales in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Specialty Products
We offer other specialty polysynthetic products that were developed for unique solutions and do not fall under the above categories. Examples include:
End Markets and Applications
Our broad selection of geosynthetic products are used in a variety of end markets and applications. End markets for our products include mining, solid waste containment, liquid containment, coal ash containment, shale oil and gas and other industrial and civil applications.
Mining
Our products are used in heap leach mining processes and other mining processes. Heap leach mining enables the low-cost extraction of metals from low-grade ores. Heap leaching entails placing mined ore on a large geosynthetic leach pad and pouring an acid leachate over the ore to dissolve the ore, separating targeted minerals or metals in the process. The use of geosynthetic materials prevents the contamination of the soil and groundwater by these chemical solutions and contains the valuable dissolved ore in the leachate, ensuring its recovery. Geomembranes, drainage products and geosynthetic clay liners are used to line the soil, drain the leachate and recapture and recycle the solutions along with the extracted precious metals.
In other mining processes, geosynthetics are used as containment solutions for the tailing ponds in which water-borne tailings, or the materials left over from separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction of an ore, are stored in order to allow the separation of solid particles from water. As a result of the potentially environmentally hazardous composition of tailing, modern-day mining procedures make tailings areas environmentally safe after closure, as the storage and disposal facilities for tailings, typically a dam or pond, is often the most important environmental liability for a mining
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project. Geosynthetic solutions are used to appropriately line tailing ponds for the confinement of tailings and groundwater protection purposes.
Solid Waste Containment
One of the primary applications for our products is the construction of landfill liner systems for solid waste containment. Geomembranes function as drainage products and liners to prevent landfill runoff from entering the surrounding environment and as caps to prevent the escape of greenhouse gases, to control odors and to limit rainwater infiltration. Our suite of products and wide industry expertise allows a customer to employ us as its single-source provider for the numerous landfill liner products needed to construct a landfill liner system. The primary purpose of a liner in a landfill is to protect the soil and groundwater from contamination. Liners can also be used upon the closing of a landfill, when a landfill cap is installed on top of the waste to prevent the degrading waste gas from escaping into the atmosphere.
Liquid Containment
Our geosynthetic products are also used globally in a wide variety of liquid containment applications. Water treatment facilities, canals, irrigation waterways, reservoirs, dams, tunnels and other civil engineering and nonbuilding construction projects require geosynthetic products for liquid containment. Geomembranes are used in agriculture, aquaculture and other water management applications to contain water, a scarce resource in certain climates, protect against the leakage of environmentally contaminated substances, retain the structural integrity of canals and ponds and protect against soil erosion and weed growth.
Coal Ash Containment
Our products are used in the ponds, landfills and surface impoundments which are used to contain the ash that is produced as a byproduct of the coal combustion process. Because coal ash is a contaminant which contains the same metals and other components as the coal which is burned, geosynthetic solutions are used in groundwater protection applications by electric utilities and other non-utility, industrial coal burning sites.
Shale Oil and Gas
Our geosynthetic solutions are used in a number of applications in the drilling and production of shale oil and gas, including to effectively line storage and disposal ponds for both the freshwater required for fracking and for flowback water, a by-product containing high levels of the salt, down-well chemicals and metals used in the fracking process.
Supply Chain Management
Resin-based material, derived from crude petroleum and natural gas, accounted for 82%, 80% and 80% of our cost of products in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Our ability to both manage the cost of our resin purchases as well as pass fluctuations in the cost of our raw materials through to our customers is critical to our profitability. In early 2010 we implemented successful performance initiatives that focused on reducing the risk of volatility in resin costs on our profitability. We have developed the policies, processes, tools and organizational training procedures listed below to enable better resin cost management and facilitate the efficient pass through of increases in our resin costs to our customers.
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As a result of these policies, we successfully managed volatile resin prices between June 2010 and May 2011, when polyethylene resin prices fluctuated 23.1% between $0.78 per pound and $0.96 per pound, according to publicly available CDI data.
While the significant majority of our products are sold under contracts that provide for 30-day re-pricing provisions at our option, and while we have taken advantage of this option in the past, the policies, processes, tools and organizational training procedures described above allow us to limit the need to re-price projects already under contract. This in turn helps us better manage our relationships with our customers. We believe that managing the risks associated with volatility in resin costs is now among our critical and core competencies.
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Manufacturing, Quality Control and Safety
We manufacture our products to standards or special project specifications through different processes, resulting in a broad array of products for liner systems. The following table summarizes the different processes we use:
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Manufacturing Process |
Products | Description | |||
Round Die | Geomembranes | Blended polymer foundation is extruded vertically from a round die through two concentric die lips, then cut, flattened and rolled onto the take-up core. | |||
Flat Cast | Geomembranes | Blended polymer foundation is extruded horizontally between two flat die lips and rolled onto the take-up core. | |||
Texturing | Geomembranes | Molten polymer is sprayed onto previously extruded sheet creating a textured surface. | |||
Geonet and Geocomposite |
Drainage Products | Blended polymer formulation is extruded downward to form a net, which is cut and formed into rolls. The geocomposite is produced by attaching nonwoven geotextile to the geonet. | |||
GundSeal GCL | GCLs | Geomembrane is fed through rollers and applied with a bentonite clay and adhesive mix. | |||
Needle-punched Blanket GCL |
GCLs | Bentonite clay is sealed between two layers of nonwoven geotextiles through a stitch bonding process. | |||
Needle-punched Nonwoven |
Nonwoven Geotextile | Synthetic fibers are carded into a web, which is interlocked by repeatedly passing barbed felting needles in and out of the web. |
Our capabilities in round die and flat cast manufacturing provide us with significant competitive advantages by enhancing the depth and variety of our geomembrane product line. Round die manufacturing allows us to produce liners with multiple layers, which is necessary in the production of certain specialized products, such as GSE White. Additionally, the round die process offers co-extrusion capabilities that allow for the simultaneous texturing and production of the liner. The flat cast manufacturing process allows us to precisely control the thickness of geomembranes. In addition, we are able to produce HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes at a low cost through flat cast manufacturing.
The size, cost and sophistication of our manufacturing lines create a competitive advantage in the markets in which we operate. In addition, the sophistication of the manufacturing process requires an operational expertise that we have developed over 30 years. The production line must be sensitively calibrated to ensure that the speed of the line and the rate of extrusion produce a finished good that meets requirements for integrity and width. Our experienced production engineers are a valuable asset to us because of their ability to efficiently and effectively manage the manufacturing processes.
Our global manufacturing quality assurance program establishes rigorous quality control standards for the manufacture of geosynthetic products. Quality assurance laboratories at each manufacturing facility oversee all quality control initiatives. All raw materials, including polyethylene resin, are subject to tests
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that must comply with our specifications before entering the manufacturing process. Finished products are also tested; the quality assurance laboratories test a strip from every finished product to ensure that it complies with product specifications. The laboratories catalog every strip in the event the integrity of a product in the field is ever questioned. In addition, thickness readings are taken continuously over the length and width of the roll to ensure product consistency.
Our operations are centrally managed and coordinated. Our central organizational structure was implemented in 2010 and has resulted in the ability to improve performance through a common set of metrics and the sharing of best practices across our global infrastructure. Centralized engineering direction and product specifications create a network that can manufacture our products to our specifications on a global basis. Additionally, global customer inquiries are evaluated using a sourcing model that compares delivered cost from various manufacturing locations to arrive at the optimal cost equation for serving global demand.
Safety is also coordinated on a global basis by a Global Safety Director based in Houston. This effort is developing a strong safety culture across our company. Safety awareness is driven through global training initiatives supported by employee involvement in building our safety culture. The results of these programs are manifested in a 2010 global OSHA incidence rate of 2.68 versus the plastics process industry average of 4.10 in the United States. Through the first nine months of 2011, we have achieved a global OSHA incidence rate of 4.31.
Facilities
We own manufacturing facilities at seven locations around the world, providing access to diversified end markets and geographies. Our facilities are strategically located to enable us to serve the fastest growing markets and to effectively manage our cost structure. Our global operating infrastructure has proven to be a valuable competitive advantage in marketing our products to international markets and controlling manufacturing and distribution costs. We maintain the broadest global reach among our competitors in the geosynthetics industry who have a narrower geographic or product focus. The following table provides the plant location and number of personnel at our manufacturing facilities:
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Location |
Personnel | ||||
Houston, Texas (Headquarters) (Richey) | 182 | ||||
Kingstree, South Carolina | 41 | ||||
Spearfish, South Dakota | 22 | ||||
Hamburg, Germany (Rechlin) | 134 | ||||
6th of October City, Egypt | 50 | ||||
Bangkok, Thailand (Rayong) | 99 | ||||
Santiago, Chile (Antofagasta) | 53 |
Our global manufacturing infrastructure enables us to shift our manufacturing capacity among our worldwide locations to best meet changing global geosynthetic demand and to optimize our supply chain based on regional resin price fluctuations and transportation costs. In addition, we maintain 18 regional sales offices located in 12 countries.
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Sales and Marketing
Our sales and marketing efforts are conducted through a global network of sales professionals in more than 30 countries who facilitate sales to end markets in approximately 90 countries. Our engineering and technical sales personnel have, on average, ten years of experience in our industry. Our sales efforts are targeted primarily at national or regional waste management companies, independent installers of geosynthetic liners and mining, power and industrial companies. Our product sales consist primarily of sales to general contractors, independent installers of geosynthetic liners and facility owners who are responsible for product specifications and the design and awarding of orders.
Our customer relationships enable us to capture greater market share. By leveraging customer relationships to work with end-users in the planning phase of projects, our products are often specified prior to the issuance of a request for proposal. Our products are typically sold through responsiveness to customers' proposals that establish the design and performance criteria for the desired products. We are able to favorably leverage our product breadth, engineering capabilities and customer and end-user relationships in order to generate orders.
We provide customers with limited material warranties on products, typically from one to five years. These warranties are generally limited to repair or replacement of defective products or workmanship, often on a prorated basis, up to the dollar amount of the original order.
Environmental Legislation
The enactment of numerous environmental laws and corresponding regulations has enhanced the market for our geosynthetic products.
In the United States, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, or RCRA, provides the legal framework for the storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. Of particular importance to us has been the impact of Subtitle D of RCRA, which regulates the disposal of municipal solid waste, or MSW, at roughly 2,300 U.S. landfills. State regulations adopted under this title impose stringent compliance standards with regard to groundwater protections, which is what our products are designed to provide. Subtitle D regulations specify the use of a composite liner system consisting of highly impermeable clay and a geomembrane liner. The liner must be at least 30 mils thick. In addition, amendments to RCRA require all new hazardous waste landfills to use liner systems composed of two or more liners, with leachate collection and drainage systems above and between the liners. These same amendments require double liners for surface impoundments or ponds used in the containment of certain hazardous liquids.
Also of importance to our business, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or Superfund, enacted in 1980, governs cleanup of abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Our products are used in cleanup work at these sites. For example, the EPA has published a presumptive remedy requiring the use of a "liner cap" in closed municipal solid waste landfills. This liner cap is designed to prevent groundwater contamination and assist in the containment of subterranean liquid waste plumes. Our products have been installed in landfills throughout the United States.
In 1993, the State of Florida published regulations requiring gypsum waste generated as a by-product of phosphate mining to be stored on composite liners with a synthetic component. Our liners meet the specifications set forth in the Florida regulations.
In May 2010 the EPA proposed regulating coal ash as a form of waste under RCRA, which is expected to result in coal ash containment being regulated similar to other wastes (although the specific waste classification of coal ash is yet to be determined). Although these regulations would likely apply only to
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coal-burning electric utilities, such utilities account for 60% of all coal ash produced. The EPA has announced that it is developing federal standards for the disposal of coal ash that will require the use of synthetic liner systems similar to those required by solid waste landfill regulations. These standards may never become enforceable, however, because the United States House of Representatives passed legislation in October 2011 that, if enacted, would mandate standards for the disposal of coal ash that the states, instead of the EPA, would enforce. Under the measure, states will be required to develop enforcement programs that regulate coal ash disposal similar to the programs states currently use to enforce the disposal of municipal solid waste, for example, by requiring the use of landfills and geosynthetic liners. A companion bill has been introduced in the United States Senate, but has not yet been considered. The enactment of either federal or state standards represents a significant growth opportunity for us, and we are already experiencing increased sales in our coal ash containment end market as customers anticipate and preemptively prepare for the potential new regulations.
Environmental laws and regulations in the United States, and in other countries, particularly in the European Community and Japan, have increased the demand for our geosynthetic products. In particular, activities that have an impact on groundwater quality have been the subject of increasing scrutiny by regulators, and may be the subject of future changes to existing laws and regulations. These activities include agricultural irrigation, animal feedlots and compounds, aquaculture facilities, industrial storm water runoff containment areas, canals, mining leach pads and tunnels.
Customers
We have developed strong customer relationships through our history of providing high-quality products. We serve over 1,300 customers worldwide that include primarily municipal and private companies engaged in mining, solid waste management, liquid containment, coal ash containment, shale oil and gas and other industrial and civil applications, as well as the independent installers, distributors and engineering and civil works construction companies serving these end-users. We have solidified relationships with this customer group through our product breadth, high levels of product performance and geographic reach. Our strong and diverse customer base spans a number of end markets in six continents; thus we are not overly dependent on any one customer or group of customers. In 2010, our top ten customers represented 25.6% of our total sales, with no customer representing more than 5% of our total sales.
We estimate that approximately 85% of our customer base in 2010 represented repeat customers, or customers that have purchased products from us at least once previously, including independent installers of our products. We have developed longstanding relationships with our repeat customers, and our top ten customers have an average relationship tenure with us of 13 years. Independent installers have consistently been among our top ten customers, but they vary year-to-year based on their respective success in winning orders. We also serve smaller customers that may only have a one-time need for a geosynthetic product. Our diverse customer base across a range of end markets and geographies helps support stable demand for our products.
Suppliers
Our principal products are manufactured primarily from specially formulated high grade polyethylene resins with chemical additives that enable the end product to resist weathering, ultraviolet degradation and chemical exposure. We maintain close, longstanding relationships with our suppliers to ensure supply and quality of resins. We maintain at least two primary suppliers for each manufacturing location in order to protect against potential supply shortages and to avoid reliance on a single supplier. We believe that because of our scale and manufacturing locations, we are able to negotiate resin prices less than or equal to any of our competitors. With seven manufacturing facilities on five
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continents and a global network of distributors, we are also able to optimize freight costs by reducing shipping distances and negotiating attractive rates with local distributors.
Competition
The geosynthetics industry is relatively fragmented due to the wide variety of products, functions, markets and geographies. We are one of the few companies that offer multiple types of geosynthetic products. We estimate that over 150 companies produce geosynthetics and that there are approximately 30 companies that compete in the production of geomembranes, which is our largest product type. The majority of competitors in the geomembrane market are small and medium-sized, privately held companies that offer only one or a few product types or lack a global market reach. We maintain a significant competitive advantage as the only industry participant with both (i) the ability to supply our customers with a complete geosynthetic lining solution, including composite liners and drainage products and (ii) the geographic reach to effectively serve a global market and respond to demand internationally. We have also leveraged our global presence by centralizing purchasing to ensure raw materials are purchased at the most economical prices, thereby taking advantage of economies of scale to which smaller competitors do not have access. Other competitive factors include the performance of our lining systems, quality and pricing. We lead the global geomembrane market with 24% market share.
Our primary competitor in North America and Europe is Agru Kunststofftechnik GmbH, or Agru, a family-owned company based in Austria, which focuses primarily on piping systems. This company's American affiliate, Agru America, produces geomembranes and other geosynthetics primarily for lining applications to protect against leaching wastes and fluids from reservoirs. Agru has facilities in Austria, Germany and the United States.
In less developed regions of the world, the competitive landscape is more fragmented than in the United States and European markets. Many competitors in these developing regions are low-cost geosynthetic manufacturers that lack the product quality and consistency to compete in more mature markets. As international regulations become increasingly stringent, greater importance will be placed on manufacturers such as us that have the technical expertise and industry certifications required to supply geosynthetic products that comply with these regulations.
Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property portfolio is one of the means by which we attempt to protect our competitive position. We rely primarily on a combination of know-how, trade secrets, trademarks and contractual restrictions to protect our products. We also own several patents addressing limited aspects of our products. We are constantly seeking ways to protect our intellectual property through registrations in relevant jurisdictions. We have actively monitored and challenged violations of our intellectual property rights in the past, and we intend to continue to actively protect our intellectual property rights in the future to the fullest extent possible.
We have received patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO. Some of these patents have been issued in select foreign countries and certain patent applications are being prosecuted in such jurisdictions. We have registered our trademark and logo with the USPTO, and have registered our trademark in select foreign countries. Although in the aggregate our patents are important in the operation of our business, we do not believe the loss, by expiration or otherwise, of any one patent or group of patents would materially affect our business.
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Employees
As of December 31, 2010, we employed 525 employees worldwide, of whom 208 were located in the United States. Given the seasonal nature of our business, we shift our total labor force throughout the year to accommodate for peak manufacturing periods and to lower costs through off-season periods. The shifts in our labor force are not material. Except for approximately 27 of our employees at our facility in Chile, none of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Our workforces in certain foreign countries, such as Germany, have worker representative committees or work councils with which we maintain strong relationships. We believe our employee relations are good.
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of our business, we have been involved in various disputes and litigation. Although the outcome of any such disputes and litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that there are any pending or threatened actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting us which, if determined adversely to us, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Regulation
We are required to comply with a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws governing the protection of the environment, the exposure of persons and property to wastes and occupational health and safety. These laws regulate, among other things, the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of waste materials; the disposal and release of wastes and other substances into soil, air or water; and our obligations relating to the health and safety of our workers and the public. We are also required to obtain and comply with environmental permits and licenses for certain operations. If we violate or fail to comply with these requirements, we could be subject to private party or governmental claims, the issuance of administrative, civil and criminal fines or penalties, the denial, modification or revocation of permits, licenses or other authorizations, the imposition of injunctive obligations or other limitations on our operations, including the cessation of operations, and requirements to perform site investigatory, remedial or other corrective action. In some instances, such actions could be material and could result in adverse impacts on our operations and financial condition. Certain environmental requirements, and the interpretation of those requirements by regulators and courts, change frequently and might also become more stringent over time. We may incur material costs or liabilities related to our future compliance with those requirements. We have made and will continue to make capital and other expenditures to comply with environmental requirements. Because of the nature of our business, changes in environmental laws and the costs associated with complying with such requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are also subject to laws governing the cleanup of contaminated property. Under these laws, we could be held liable for costs and damages relating to contamination of our past or present facilities (including liability to buyers of properties or businesses that we have sold) and at third-party sites to which our facilities sent wastes. The amount of such liability could be material.
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The following table sets forth certain information about our executive officers and directors as of the date of this prospectus.
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Name |
Age | Position | |||
Executive Officers |
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Mark C. Arnold |
52 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | |||
William F. Lacey |
54 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Peter R. McCourt |
51 | Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing | |||
Jeffery D. Nigh |
49 | Executive Vice President of Global Operations | |||
Edward Zimmel |
49 | Vice President of Engineering | |||
Gregg Taylor |
51 | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | |||
Directors |
|||||
Daniel J. Hennessy(1) |
53 | Non-executive Director, Chairman of the Board | |||
Michael G. Evans(2)(3)(4) |
56 | Independent Director, Chairman of the Compensation Committee | |||
Marcus J. George |
41 | Non-executive Director | |||
Richard E. Goodrich(2)(3)(4) |
67 | Independent Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee | |||
Robert C. Griffin(3)(4)(5) |
63 | Independent Director | |||
Charles A. Sorrentino(2)(3)(4) |
66 | Independent Director, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Our Executive Officers
Mark C. Arnold. Mr. Arnold has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2009. Prior to joining GSE, Mr. Arnold was Vice President and General Manager at the Lubrizol Corporation from 2007-2009. In addition, Mr. Arnold brings to GSE over 15 years of experience in the global civil construction markets at Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., or ADS, the leading manufacturer of polyethylene pipe. Mr. Arnold's assignments at ADS from 1993-2007 included: Vice President of International Operations, Vice President of Sales Engineering and Market Development and Director of Distribution Operations. Prior to ADS, Mr. Arnold worked for General Electric from 1983 to 1993. Mr. Arnold's GE career began in GE's Manufacturing Management Program, and was followed by assignments in GE's Aircraft Engines business as a Process Engineer, Quality Manager, Engine Program Manager and Manager of Technical Marketing and Sales Engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Ohio University, a Masters of Business Administration from Cleveland State University and a Masters of Science in International Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Mr. Arnold is also a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army Reserve.
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William F. Lacey. Mr. Lacey joined GSE as Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer in August 2011. Mr. Lacey began his finance career with Bethea/National Corporation in the accounting department. Mr. Lacey has over 31 years of experience in finance and ten years of public company CFO leadership experience within the manufacturing and distribution sectors. Prior to joining GSE, Mr. Lacey served since 2003 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Animal Health International, Inc. Prior to Animal Health, Mr. Lacey was with Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He has also held Chief Financial Officer positions with Collins Signs, Inc., Pak-Lite, Inc. and RDM Sports Group, Inc. Mr. Lacey holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama.
Peter R. McCourt. Mr. McCourt joined GSE as Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing in July 2010. Mr. McCourt is in charge of leading our global sales and marketing efforts, while building and maintaining customer relationships and strategic partnerships. Mr. McCourt has spent over 20 years in international sales and marketing leadership roles. Most recently, Mr. McCourt was a Vice President of Sales for eight years with ERICO International in Solon, Ohio from 2001 to 2010. Prior to joining ERICO, he was at the Hilti Corporation in Schaan, Liechtenstein for 13 years from 1988 to 2001, where he held several major positions, including President and General Manager, Director of Sales, Director of Marketing and Product Manager and Regional Sales Manager. As an employee of global companies that operate in the non-residential construction and civil engineering markets, Mr. McCourt gained exposure to many different business practices and cultures by having sales management experience in Europe, Asia and North America.
Jeffery D. Nigh. Mr. Nigh joined GSE as Executive Vice President of Global Operations in October 2010. Mr. Nigh is responsible for leading all manufacturing, logistics and purchasing activities worldwide. Mr. Nigh began his career at Union Camp Corporation from 1990 to 1996 as a Process Engineer. He subsequently held the position of Assistant Plant Manager for a large paper mill, where he was later promoted to Manufacturing Engineering Manager and Plant Manager. After graduating from Harvard Business School, Mr. Nigh joined the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company in Atlanta. After a successful consulting assignment at Springs Industries, the leading manufacturer of textile home furnishings, he joined Springs in 1999 as President of its Basic Bedding Division and remained at Springs until 2010. Mr. Nigh was subsequently promoted to implement a new ERP information system for Springs Industries' global manufacturing. Following that multinational assignment, Mr. Nigh was subsequently promoted to several senior roles at Springs, including Vice President and General Manager of global Bedding business, Executive Vice President of global supply chain and Asian sourcing, President of Utility Bedding, and President of Springs Renewables LLC. Mr. Nigh has worked at various U.S., Brazil and Asia locations during these assignments. Mr. Nigh was a national merit scholar and graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, Mr. Nigh earned his Master of Business Management degree from Harvard Business School.
Edward Zimmel. Mr. Zimmel has served as our Vice President of Engineering since 2002. Mr. Zimmel is responsible for leading our global engineering organization in technical support and plant engineering for all of our product lines worldwide. With over 24 years of geosynthetics experience, he has served various roles in engineering and installation management positions since joining GSE in 1986. Mr. Zimmel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Gregg Taylor. Mr. Taylor joined GSE as Chief Accounting Officer in May 2010. He is responsible for leading all financial reporting, performance analysis and accounting operations worldwide. Before joining GSE, Mr. Taylor was a business consultant for four years at Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting LLC from 2006 to 2010, preceded by 11 years at Accenture where he held Senior Director
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and Partner positions from 1995 to 2006, respectively. Throughout his consulting career, Mr. Taylor served private equity and corporate clients across multiple industries, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, high-tech and retail. He has held multiple interim finance leadership positions including Chief Accounting Officer for a U.S. waste equipment manufacturer and Corporate Controller for a global energy equipment manufacturer. Mr. Taylor also has extensive finance systems experience having implemented multiple ERP, data warehouse and business analytic solutions for his clients. Prior to consulting, he worked for ten years from 1985 to 1995 at Fox Meyer Drug Co., a large U.S. pharmaceutical distributor where he held Accounting Director, Regional Controller and Divisional Controller positions. Mr. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a Certified Public Accountant (currently inactive) in the State of Texas.
Directors
We believe that our Board of Directors should be composed of individuals with sophistication and experience in many substantive areas that impact our business. We believe experience, qualifications or skills in a combination of the following areas are the most important to our business: manufacturing; sales and distribution; accounting, finance and capital structure; strategic planning and leadership of complex organizations; legal/regulatory and government affairs; people management; and board practices of other major corporations. We believe that all of our current board members possess the professional and personal qualifications necessary for board service, and have highlighted in the individual biographies below the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that each board member should serve as a director.
Daniel J. Hennessy. Mr. Hennessy became a director in 2004. Mr. Hennessy was a founder of CHS in 1988 and now serves as a partner of CHS. Prior to founding CHS, Mr. Hennessy was a Vice President with Citicorp Mezzanine Investments and Citicorp Leveraged Capital Group in Chicago. Before joining Citicorp, he was employed by Continental Illinois National Bank. Mr. Hennessy has extensive experience managing private equity investments and portfolio companies focused on infrastructure and industrial products. He holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Mr. Hennessy serves as a non-voting observer on the Board of Directors of Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: THR), and has served as a director of Waddington North America, Inc. Mr. Hennessy has indicated to us his intention to resign from our Board of Directors upon the consummation of this offering. Mr. Hennessy will be a non-voting observer of our Board of Directors upon such resignation.
Michael G. Evans. Mr. Evans became a director in 2004. Mr. Evans currently serves as President and CEO of Waddington North America, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of plastic disposable tableware and packaging, and has served in this position since 1995. In July 2000, the U.K. parent company of John Waddington Ltd., a U.K. public company, divested its North American business operations, which included Waddington North America. From 1978 until the divestiture, Mr. Evans served in various capacities for John Waddington Ltd. in the U.K. and the United States, including as a director of John Waddington Ltd. from 1996 through 2000.
Marcus J. George. Mr. George became a director in 2004. Mr. George joined CHS in 1997 and was promoted to Partner in 2007. Prior to CHS, Mr. George was employed by Heller Financial, Inc. in the Corporate Finance Group. He also worked for KPMG. Mr. George brings to the Board of Directors substantial experience in private equity investments focused on infrastructure and industrial products. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Mr. George serves on the Board of Directors of Thermon Group
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Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: THR) and KB Alloys, LLC, and has served as a director of Waddington North America, Inc.
Richard E. Goodrich. Mr. Goodrich became director and Chairman of our Audit Committee in 2004. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Goodrich served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. (NYSE: CBI),an engineering, procurement and construction company that provides services to customers in the chemicals and energy industries. Mr. Goodrich served as acting Chief Financial Officer of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company after that time and currently devotes part of his time to serving on the boards of public companies. Mr. Goodrich also serves as a director of Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: THR) and Chart Industries (NASDAQ: GTLS). Mr. Goodrich is a Certified Public Accountant having been certified in the District of Columbia in November 1970. Mr. Goodrich brings to the Board of Directors the experience and international operations insight of a chief financial officer of a large multinational company.
Robert C. Griffin. Mr. Griffin became a director and chairman of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in June 2011. His career spans over 25 years in the financial sector. Most recently Mr. Griffin was Head of Investment Banking Americas and Management Committee Member for Barclays Capital from 2000 until his retirement in 2002. Prior to that, from 1998 to 2000, Mr. Griffin worked for Bank of America Securities as Global Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage and a member of the Montgomery Securities Subsidiary Management Committee. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Griffin served as Group Executive Vice President for Bank of America and a member of its Senior Management Committee. Mr. Griffin currently serves as a director of Builders FirstSource, Inc. where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee and was Chairman of their Special Committee in 2009. Mr. Griffin also currently serves as a director of Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee and was previously Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. From February 2008 until its sale in December 2009, Mr. Griffin served as a director of Sunair Services Corporation where he was a member of the Audit Committee and Chairman of their Special Committee. Mr. Griffin brings strong financial and management expertise to our Board through his experience as an officer and director of a public company, service on other boards and his senior leadership tenure within the financial industry. Our Board of Directors intends to appoint Mr. Griffin as Chairman of the Board upon Mr. Hennessy's resignation from our Board of Directors upon the consummation of this offering.
Charles A. Sorrentino. Mr. Sorrentino became a director and chairman of our Compensation Committee in June 2011. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Houston Wire & Cable Co. (NASDAQ: HWCC) since 1998. Prior to joining Houston Wire & Cable Co., from 1994 to 1998, Mr. Sorrentino served as President of Pameco Corporation (NYSE: PCN), a national heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration distributor. Pameco, a $600 million distributor, was listed on the NYSE following an initial public offering in 1997 and was later merged into a larger company. Prior to working with Pameco, Mr. Sorrentino served with PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) for nine years. During this time, he held a variety of positions, including Subsidiary President, Division Vice President and Region Vice President. After completing college, Mr. Sorrentino served twelve years with United Technologies (Sundstrand Corporation) (NYSE: UTX), a manufacturer of industrial, heating and air conditioning components in a variety of engineering, sales, marketing and executive management functions. Mr. Sorrentino is an independent director and non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thermon Group Holdings (NYSE: THR). Mr. Sorrentino has served as an executive of several large manufacturing companies and brings a diversity of both public and privately held company experience to the Board of Directors. Mr. Sorrentino earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Illinois University. He also served in the United States Marine Corps.
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There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers or directors.
Our Board of Directors has the power to appoint officers. Each director and officer will hold office for the term of one year and until such person's successor is chosen and qualified or until such person's death, resignation or removal.
Except as described in this prospectus, there are no arrangements or understandings between any member of the Board of Directors or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which that person was elected or appointed to his or his position. See " Stockholders Agreement" below.
Corporate Governance
Board Composition
Our certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, will provide that our Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors as determined from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then in office. Initially, our Board of Directors will consist of six members. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors may only be filled by the directors then in office.
The composition of our Board of Directors after the consummation of this offering will have four independent directors, one director affiliated with CHS and Mr. Arnold, as a management director. That balance, to which each of our directors contributes, is important to us for several reasons, including:
Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Evans, Goodrich, Griffin and Sorrentino are independent directors under the rules of the NYSE. We do not intend to rely on the "controlled company" exemption from certain NYSE corporate governance requirements.
Board Committees
Our Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The composition, duties and responsibilities of these committees are as set forth below. In the future, our board may establish other committees, as it deems appropriate, to assist it with its responsibilities.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling their oversight responsibility to the stockholders, potential stockholders and investment community relating to (1) our financial reporting process, (2) the quality and integrity of our financial statements, (3) our systems of internal accounting and financial controls, (4) the performance of our internal audit function and
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independent registered public auditors (5) the independent registered public auditor's qualifications and independence and (6) GSE's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Our Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Goodrich (Chairman), Evans and Sorrentino. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Goodrich is an audit committee financial expert under the SEC rules and that Messrs. Goodrich, Evans and Sorrentino are independent under the listing standards of the NYSE. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which will be available on our corporate website at www.gseworld.com upon the consummation of this offering. Our website is not part of this prospectus.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other matters: (1) reviewing key compensation goals, policies, plans and programs; (2) reviewing and approving the compensation of our directors, Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; (3) reviewing and approving employment agreements and other similar arrangements between us and our executive officers; and (4) administrating stock plans and other incentive compensation plans.
Our Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Evans (Chairman), Goodrich, Griffin and Sorrentino. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which will be available on our corporate website at www.gseworld.com upon the consummation of this offering. Our website is not part of this prospectus.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other matters: (1) identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors, consistent with criteria approved by our Board of Directors; (2) overseeing the organization of our Board of Directors to discharge the Board of Directors' duties and responsibilities properly and efficiently; (3) identifying best practices and recommending corporate governance principles; and (4) developing and recommending to our Board of Directors a set of corporate governance guidelines and principles applicable to us.
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Sorrentino (Chairman), Evans, Goodrich and Griffin. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which will be available on our corporate website at www.gseworld.com upon the consummation of this offering. Our website is not part of this prospectus.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Decisions on executive compensation for 2010 were made by our Compensation Committee, based upon the recommendations of the CEO with respect to the other executives. During 2010, the Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Evans (Chairman), Hennessy, George and Arnold. No member of the Committee was an officer or employee of our company or had any relationship with us that is required to be disclosed as a Compensation Committee Interlock as described in Item 407(e)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Mr. Hennessy is a partner and founder of CHS. Mr. George is a director of CHS. CHS has a controlling ownership interest in us.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to each employee, and each employee of our subsidiaries, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.gseworld.com. Any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Ethics (to the extent applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) shall be posted on this website. Our website is not part of this prospectus.
Director Compensation
We do not pay our employee directors or directors affiliated with CHS fees for services as directors. However, following the consummation of this offering and the termination of the management agreement, our directors affiliated with CHS will receive compensation for services as non-employee directors, as described below. All of our directors are reimbursed for their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors.
Messrs. George and Hennessy are partners of CHS. Pursuant to the management agreement, during fiscal 2011, we will have paid management fees and expense reimbursements of $2.0 million to CHS. CHS rendered various services to us in consideration for the aforementioned management fees. In addition, during 2011, we amended our management agreement and paid CHS a fee of $2.0 million in connection with certain refinancing transactions. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources The Refinancing Transactions; Description of Long-Term Indebtedness" for further information.
During 2010, we paid Messrs. Evans and Goodrich, our non-employee directors who are not affiliated with CHS:
Although the independent directors are also eligible to participate in the 2004 Stock Option Plan, no awards had been granted to the independent directors as of September 30, 2011. In 2006, Mr. Goodrich purchased 7,242 shares and Mr. Evans purchased 4,892 shares of GSE Holding common stock at $5.11 per share, which was the price paid by CHS for the stock in connection with the Acquisition.
Effective June 20, 2011, the non-employee director compensation changed as follows:
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It is expected that non-employee directors will also receive an annual equity grant with a grant date fair value equal to $45,000.
Stockholders Agreement
Upon consummation of this offering, CHS IV and our directors and executive officers will become parties to an amended and restated stockholders agreement, which we refer to as the Stockholders Agreement, which sets forth certain significant provisions that will survive the consummation of this offering relating to, among other things, our Board of Directors, open market transfer restrictions and drag-along rights.
Board of Directors. The Stockholders Agreement provides that each of the parties thereto will vote its shares of our common stock and take all other necessary actions to cause our Board of Directors to include, so long as CHS owns, in the aggregate, capital stock representing 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, one director designated by CHS. CHS has the right to remove at any time, and to fill any vacancy arising from time to time with respect to, its designated director. In addition, the Stockholders Agreement provides that CHS may, for so long as it owns, in the aggregate, capital stock representing 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, designate a non-voting observer reasonably acceptable to us to attend any meetings of our Board of Directors. For so long as CHS owns any shares of our common stock, our management shall (i) regularly meet with CHS representatives to consult and advise on our business and (ii) permit CHS to examine our books and records and inspect our facilities at CHS' request.
Transfer Restrictions. The Stockholders Agreement places certain restrictions on the transfer of our securities in the open market by Mr. Arnold. See "Shares Available for Future SaleLock-up Agreements." Furthermore, each stockholder has agreed not to transfer any securities during the 180-day lock up period described in "Underwriting."
Drag-Along Rights. In the event that CHS approves a sale of the Company (whether by merger, sale of shares of common stock, sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company and our subsidiaries, or otherwise), all other stockholders party to the Stockholders Agreement must, upon CHS' request, sell in such transaction the same percentage of their respective shares of common stock as CHS proposes to sell.
Registration Agreement
In connection with the Acquisition, GSE Holding, CHS IV, certain co-investors and the executives exchanging GSE options for a GSE Holding option also entered into a Registration Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Agreement, holders of shares of our common stock have certain registration rights.
Beginning 180 days after the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC, the holders of at least a majority of our common stock originally issued, directly or indirectly, to CHS IV or CHS IV Associates may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of such shares. Following such a request, we are required to offer the other stockholders that are entitled to registration rights an opportunity to include their shares in the registration statement. We refer to all such abovementioned shares as the "Registrable Shares." These "demand" registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including our right to limit the
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number of Registrable Shares included in the registration statement if the managing underwriters advise that including such shares would adversely affect the marketability of the offering.
The holders of any of our Registrable Shares also have certain "piggyback" rights, pursuant to which if we propose to register any shares of our common stock at any time 180 days after the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC, such holders are entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to include such Registrable Shares therein. These piggyback registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including our right to limit the number of shares included in the registration statement if the managing underwriters advise that including such shares would adversely affect the marketability of the offering.
In addition, once we qualify to use Form S-3 under the Securities Act, holders of any of our Registrable Shares are entitled to request an unlimited number of registrations on Form S-3. Pursuant to the Registration Agreement, we are obligated to pay all registration expenses, other than any underwriting discounts and commissions. Each party to the Registration Agreement has agreed not to undertake any public sale or distribution of shares of our common stock during the 180-day period following the initial public offering of our common stock. The Registration Agreement contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Introduction
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the compensation arrangements we have with our senior officers, who we refer to as our "named executive officers," or NEOs. Our NEOs for fiscal 2010 were:
Name | Title | ||
---|---|---|---|
Mark C. Arnold |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
Charles B. Lowrey |
Former Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer(1) | ||
Peter R. McCourt |
Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing | ||
Jeffery D. Nigh |
Executive Vice President of Global Operations | ||
Gregg Taylor |
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
Ernest C. English |
Former Chief Financial Officer(2) | ||
Ronald B. Crowell |
Former Chief Financial Officer(3) |
Executive Compensation Objectives and Principles
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the objectives and principles of our executive compensation program, for evaluating the performance of our NEOs and approving their annual compensation and for monitoring the overall effectiveness of our executive compensation program.
Our executive compensation program is designed to:
Determining Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee annually evaluates the performance of our NEOs. The Compensation Committee meets with our Chief Executive Officer to review each other NEO's performance and to discuss compensation recommendations for the other NEOs. Based upon the recommendations from
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our Chief Executive Officer and in accordance with the compensation objectives and policies described in this compensation discussion and analysis, the Compensation Committee approves the annual compensation packages of our NEOs other than our Chief Executive Officer, which includes base salary, cash performance awards and grants of long-term equity incentive awards as described below. The Compensation Committee evaluates the performance of our Chief Executive Officer (without the participation of our Chief Executive Officer) and determines appropriate base salary, cash performance awards and grants of long-term equity incentive awards based on this evaluation. Although the Compensation Committee did not engage a compensation consultant during 2010, it may do so in the future.
Elements of Compensation
Our current executive compensation program consists of the following components:
Historically, base salary and the annual cash incentive bonus have been the most significant elements of our executive compensation program. Following this offering, we expect that long-term equity-based compensation will become a more significant element of our executives' total compensation. These elements, on an aggregate basis, are intended to substantially satisfy the overall objectives of our executive compensation program. Typically, we have established each of these elements of compensation at the same time to enable the Compensation Committee to simultaneously consider all of the significant elements of compensation and their impact on total compensation. We strive to achieve an appropriate mix between the various elements of our executive compensation program to meet our compensation objectives and philosophy; however, we do not apply any rigid allocation formula in setting our executive compensation, and we may make adjustments to this approach after giving due consideration to prevailing circumstances.
Base Salary
The base salary element of our executive compensation program provides a minimum, fixed level of cash compensation for the named executive officers to compensate him or her for services rendered during the fiscal year and is intended to attract and retain highly qualified executives. Base salary amounts are established at the time we hire an executive. Historically, these amounts have been highly individualized, resulting from arms-length negotiations, and have been based on our financial condition and available resources, our need for that particular position to be filled, the existing internal compensation structure for each position and the competitive market for corresponding positions within our industry. The Compensation Committee reviews each executive's base salary on an annual basis, considering the executive's scope of responsibility, individual performance and experience, business performance and our overall market competitiveness. The Compensation Committee also monitors the impact base salary increases have on the other elements of our compensation program, including the annual cash incentive bonus, which is determined as a percentage of base salary, long-term equity incentives and total compensation.
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The base salary of each of our NEOs was set by our Board of Directors and is set forth in his employment letter agreement. See " Employment Agreements" below. During the fourth quarter of 2009, we engaged A&M. During the engagement, personnel from A&M functioned in several interim management roles for our company, including Mr. Lowrey, our former Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. We paid A&M for services rendered in 2010 and Mr. Lowrey was compensated by A&M for his services. Mr. Lowrey did not receive compensation directly from us for services rendered as our Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer during 2010.
The 2010 annual base salary paid to each of our NEOs is set forth below.
Name(1) | Base Salary | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark C. Arnold(2) |
$ | 403,333 | |||
Peter R. McCourt(3) |
$ | 120,000 | |||
Jeffery D. Nigh(4) |
$ | 62,083 | |||
Gregg Taylor(5) |
$ | 121,212 | |||
Ronald B. Crowell(6) |
$ | 105,718 | |||
Ernest C. English(7) |
$ | 138,290 |
Performance-Based Cash Incentive Awards
Our performance-based cash incentive awards are designed to support our current business needs and drive consistent focus throughout the year by aligning the compensation of our NEOs with our short-term operational and performance goals. NEOs are eligible to receive such awards upon the attainment of pre-established objective financial goals and individual performance goals. This element of our executive compensation program is intended to motivate executives to work effectively to achieve these objectives and reward them when the pre-established objectives and results are certified.
The financial targets and overall design of the performance-based cash incentive awards for executives generally mirror the annual incentive compensation program for all other eligible, salaried employees. The Compensation Committee annually assigns each executive a target award as a percentage of salary. Performance-based cash incentive awards are based on GSE's and the executive's achievement of the pre-established company and individual performance goals. Performance-based cash incentive awards are made pursuant to company objectives (such as Adjusted EBITDA) and then pursuant to individual performance goal. The Compensation Committee does not use a formula that considers both. Although the Compensation Committee does not formally assign a specific weighting, in general, company objectives and individual performance goals are given equal weighting. The pre-established financial goal for 2010 was Adjusted EBITDA (including discontinued operations) of $29.5 million. See note (3)
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to the table set forth in "Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" elsewhere in this prospectus for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA.
The primary individual objectives for Mr. Arnold and Mr. Taylor for 2010 are set forth below. Mr. Nigh and Mr. McCourt joined our company in late 2010 and their awards for 2010 were based solely on our attainment of the pre-established Adjusted EBITDA goal. As described above, Mr. Lowrey was compensated by A&M and did not receive performance-based incentive awards from us in 2010.
The target performance-based cash incentive award opportunity for each eligible executive is set as a percentage of base salary. For 2010, the amount of performance-based cash incentive awards for participating executives ranged from zero to double their incentive target as set forth in the table below, based upon the extent to which the pre-established performance goals were achieved or exceeded. Pursuant to the terms of their respective employment agreements, Mr. McCourt was entitled to a guaranteed award during 2010 of $70,000 and Mr. Taylor was entitled to a guaranteed award during 2010 of $20,000. The threshold, target and maximum annual performance bonus payout opportunities of our NEOs for 2010 are set forth in the table below.
|
2010 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Performance-based cash incentive award structure | |||||||||||||
Name | Threshold Payout as Percentage of Base Salary |
Target Payout as Percentage of Base Salary |
Maximum Payout as Percentage of Base Salary |
Actual 2010 Bonus Payout |
||||||||||
Mark C. Arnold |
| 60 | % | 120 | % | $ | 321,627 | |||||||
Charles B. Lowrey |
| | | | ||||||||||
Peter R. McCourt |
| 30 | % | 60 | % | $ | 87,717 | |||||||
Jeffery D. Nigh(1) |
| 40 | % | 60 | % | $ | 26,619 | |||||||
Gregg Taylor |
| 25 | % | 40 | % | $ | 50,549 | |||||||
Ronald B. Crowell |
| 40 | % | 60 | % | | ||||||||
Ernest C. English |
| 30 | % | 50 | % | |
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Performance Goal | Goal for Threshold Payout |
Goal for Target Payout |
Goal for Maximum Payout |
Actual Achieved |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adjusted EBITDA (including discontinued operations) |
$ | 29.5 million | $ | 29.5 million | $ | 33.0 million | $ | 30.3 million | ||||||
Bonus Letter Agreements
We have entered into bonus letter agreements with five of our NEOs, four of whom are currently still employed by us, which provide for the payment of sale or IPO bonuses, based upon the price of specified transactions, to encourage their efforts in maximizing the sale or offering price and minimize employment security concerns that may arise in the course of negotiating and completing a sale or an IPO. The other bonus letter agreement is with Mr. Crowell, our former chief financial officer, and is no longer in effect because Mr. Crowell is no longer employed by us. Pursuant to bonus letter agreements entered into on September 15, 2010 with Messrs. McCourt and Nigh, they will each be entitled to a sale bonus, payable as a one-time cash payment in an aggregate amount equal to 0.75% of the net equity proceeds (determined as though 100% of our company's capital stock was sold), as defined in such agreements, from a sale of our company at the consummation of such sale. In the event of an IPO instead of a sale of our company, a bonus will be paid to each of Messrs. McCourt and Nigh immediately prior to the closing of the IPO in the form of shares of our common stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the amount of their sale bonus and 35% in cash. Pursuant to a bonus letter agreement with us, dated July 29, 2011, Mr. Taylor will be entitled to a sale bonus, payable as a one-time cash payment in an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the net equity proceeds (determined as though 100% of our company's capital stock was sold) from a sale of our company at the consummation of such sale. In the event of an IPO instead of a sale of our company, the bonus will be paid to Mr. Taylor immediately prior to the closing of the IPO in the form of shares of our common stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the amount of his sale bonus and 35% in cash. In each case, such NEOs must remain continuously employed by us or any of our subsidiaries until the date such bonus is paid. Mr. Arnold is entitled to a sale bonus, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, dated March 4, 2010. The sale bonus will be paid, as a one-time cash payment in an aggregate amount equal to 3.0% of the net equity proceeds (determined as though 100% of our company's capital stock was sold) from the sale of our company, at the consummation of such sale. In the event of an IPO instead of a sale of our company, Mr. Arnold is entitled to an IPO bonus, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, dated September 16, 2010. The IPO bonus will be paid as a one-time payment in an aggregate amount equal to 3.0% of the net equity proceeds (determined as though 100% of our company's capital stock was sold) from the IPO. The IPO bonus will not vest unless Mr. Arnold remains employed by our company or any of our subsidiaries until the consummation of the IPO. The IPO bonus will be paid to Mr. Arnold immediately prior to the closing of the IPO in the form of shares of our common stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the amount of the IPO bonus and 35% in cash.
We have also entered into a bonus letter agreement with our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, William F. Lacey. Pursuant to a bonus letter agreement with us, dated August 4, 2011, Mr. Lacey will be entitled to a sale bonus, payable as a one-time cash payment in an aggregate amount equal to 0.75% of the net equity proceeds (determined as though 100% of our company's capital stock was sold), as defined in such agreement, from a sale of our company at the consummation of such sale. In the event of an IPO instead of a sale of our company, the bonus will be paid to Mr. Lacey immediately prior to the closing of the IPO in the form of shares of our common stock with
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a fair market value equal to 65% of the amount of his sale bonus and 35% in cash. Mr. Lacey must remain continuously employed by us or any of our subsidiaries until the date such bonus is paid.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
The long-term equity incentive component of our executive compensation plan is intended to align the long-term interests of management with those of our stockholders and incentivize them to manage our business to meet our long-term business goals and create sustainable long-term stockholder value. Currently, the Compensation Committee may award stock options pursuant to the 2004 Stock Option Plan. During 2010, the Compensation Committee did not award stock options to our NEOs.
During 2009, the Compensation Committee granted options to purchase 108,630 shares of GSE Holding common stock with an exercise price of $6.15 per share to Mr. Arnold. The options generally vest over a four year term, at a rate of 25% on each anniversary of the grant date. During 2009, CHS granted options to purchase 36,210 shares of GSE Holding common stock at a cash purchase price of $5.11 to Mr. Arnold.
In the fourth quarter of 2009, we initiated a series of performance improvements which allowed us to meaningfully streamline our operations and enhance our profitability. Among other initiatives, we permanently reduced our headcount by approximately 38% since December 2008. For additional information, see note (3) to the Consolidated Statement of Operations Data table in "Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data."
In addition, during 2010 we realigned the mix of our named executive officer compensation. Historically, our stock option awards were vested immediately upon grant or over a period of time. During 2010 the Compensation Committee utilized performance-based cash incentive awards and bonus letter agreements as the primary methods of incentivizing performance, and relied less heavily on stock option awards based on the Compensation Committee's belief that performance based cash incentive awards and bonus letter agreements would be more effective in incentive performance than the option awards. For additional information, see "Performance-Based Cash Incentive Awards" and "Bonus Letter Agreements" above.
On January 1, 2011, the Compensation Committee granted options to purchase 36,210 shares of our common stock to Mr. Taylor at an exercise price of $5.11 per share, which options were fully vested upon issuance. On January 17, 2011, the Compensation Committee granted options to purchase 72,420 shares of our common stock to our former Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources, Joellyn Champagne, at an exercise price of $5.11 per share, which options were fully vested upon issuance.
As of September 30, 2011, options to purchase 1,771,248 shares of common stock were outstanding under the 2004 Stock Option Plan and options to purchase 505,455 shares of common stock remained available for issuance.
We intend to adopt the 2011 Plan in connection with our IPO. The 2011 Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards. Directors, officers and other associates of us and our subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting or advisory services for us, will be eligible for grants under the 2011 Plan. See " Summary of Incentive Plans" below for a more detailed summary of the material terms of the 2004 Stock Option Plan and the 2011 Plan.
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Post-Employment Benefits
Retirement Plan Benefits
We do not sponsor a defined benefit retirement plan as we do not believe that such a plan best serves the needs of our associates or the business at this time.
NEOs can, however, participate in the Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. 401(k) Plan. Employee contributions can range from 1% to 60% of eligible compensation as prescribed by law. Employees over 50 years old may contribute an additional amount as prescribed by law. We match the first 3% of employee contributions dollar-for-dollar and the next 2% at $0.50 on the dollar.
Change of Control Severance Arrangements
We have entered into executive employment agreements with our NEOs, which provide for the payment of severance and other post-termination benefits depending on the nature of the termination, including severance payments in the event of a termination following a "change in control." The Compensation Committee believes that the terms and conditions of these agreements are reasonable and assist in retaining the skilled executives needed to achieve our objectives. Information regarding the specific payments that are applicable to each termination event is provided under the heading " Employment Agreements" and " Potential Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control" below.
Other Benefits and Perquisites
As employees of GSE, the NEOs are eligible to participate in a basic level of life insurance, disability insurance, and a basic level of accidental death and disability plans at no cost to the executive. They also participate in the health, dental and disability insurance plans provided to all of our employees. See " Summary Compensation Table" below for additional information. NEOs also are eligible for annual paid time off, holidays and bereavement days provided to all of our employees. As discussed under " Employment Agreements" below, certain executives are entitled to car allowances, executive wellness programs and other benefits.
Accounting and Tax Considerations
In determining which elements of compensation are to be paid, and how they are weighted, we also take into account whether a particular form of compensation will be deductible under Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Section 162(m) generally limits the deductibility of compensation paid to our NEOs to $1.0 million during any fiscal year unless such compensation is "performance-based" under Section 162(m). However, under a Section 162(m) transition rule for compensation plans or agreements of corporations which are privately held and which become publicly held in an initial public offering, compensation paid under a plan or agreement that existed prior to the initial public offering will not be subject to Section 162(m) until the earlier of (1) the expiration of the plan or agreement, (2) a material modification of the plan or agreement, (3) the issuance of all employer stock and other compensation that has been allocated under the plan, or (4) the first meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the year of the initial public offering (the "Transition Date"). After the Transition Date, rights or awards granted under the plan, other than options and stock appreciation rights, will not qualify as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Section 162(m) unless
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such rights or awards are granted or vest upon pre-established objective performance goals, the material terms of which are disclosed to and approved by our stockholders.
Our compensation program is intended to maximize the deductibility of the compensation paid to our NEOs to the extent that we determine it is in our best interests. Consequently, we may rely on the exemption from Section 162(m) afforded to us by the transition rule described above for compensation paid pursuant to our pre-existing plans.
Many other Code provisions, SEC regulations and accounting rules affect the payment of executive compensation and are generally taken into consideration as programs are developed. Our goal is to create and maintain plans that are efficient, effective and in full compliance with these requirements.
The Board's Role in Risk Oversight
The Board's role in the risk oversight process includes receiving regular updates and reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to our company, including operational, financial, regulatory, strategic and reputational risks. The full Board or, if appropriate, one of its committees receives these updates and reports from the senior managers responsible for the oversight of particular risks within our company. These updates and reports enable the Board to understand and implement our risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies.
Compensation and Risk
We believe that our performance-based compensation programs create appropriate incentives to increase long-term shareholder value. These programs have been designed and administered in a manner that discourages undue risk-taking by employees. Relevant features of these programs include:
In light of these features of our compensation program, the Board concluded that the risks arising from our employee compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.
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Compensation Tables
Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows the compensation earned by our NEOs during the year ended December 31, 2010, referred to as fiscal year 2010.
Summary compensation table 2010
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock awards ($) |
Option awards ($)(1) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) |
Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings ($) |
All other compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark C. Arnold |
2010 | $ | 403,333 | (3) | | | | 321,627 | | 57,760 | 782,720 | |||||||||||||||||||
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles B. Lowrey(2) |
2010 |
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Former Interim Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter R. McCourt |
2010 |
$ |
120,000 |
(4) |
70,000 |
(5) |
|
|
17,717 |
|
7,541 |
215,258 |
||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffery D. Nigh |
2010 |
$ |
62,083 |
(5) |
|
|
|
26,619 |
|
3,910 |
92,612 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President of Global Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregg Taylor |
2010 |
$ |
121,212 |
(7) |
20,000 |
(5) |
|
|
30,549 |
|
5,700 |
177,461 |
||||||||||||||||||
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald B. Crowell |
2010 |
$ |
105,718 |
(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
8,290 |
114,008 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Financial Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ernest C. English |
2010 |
$ |
138,289 |
(9) |
|
|
|
|
|
49,880 |
188,169 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Financial Officer |
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All Other Compensation
Name | Club dues ($)(A) |
Executive health, life and disability benefits ($)(B) |
Relocation expenses and rental of living quarters ($)(C) |
Car allowance ($)(D) |
Gundle/SLT 401(k) Plan ($)(E) |
Vacation/ Paid time off |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark C. Arnold |
375 | 13,118 | 42,386 | 1,881 | | | 57,760 | ||||||||||||||||
Charles B. Lowrey |
| | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Peter R. McCourt |
| 3,990 | 3,551 | | | | 7,541 | ||||||||||||||||
Jeffery D. Nigh |
| 1,910 | 2,000 | | | | 3,910 | ||||||||||||||||
Gregg Taylor |
| 5,700 | | | | | 5,700 | ||||||||||||||||
Ronald B. Crowell |
| 2,946 | 5,344 | | | | 8,290 | ||||||||||||||||
Ernest C. English |
| 12,247 | | | 5,806 | 31,827 | 49,880 |
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Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth awards and potential payouts to our NEOs pursuant to our incentive plans. The non-equity awards described below represent grants of annual performance-based incentive awards.
|
|
Estimated potential payouts under non-equity incentive plan awards |
||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Grant Date | Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
||||||||||||||||||
Mark C. Arnold |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity(1) |
January 1, 2010 | | $ | 264,000 | $ | 528,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Charles B. Lowrey |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Peter R. McCourt |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity(1) |
May 28, 2010 | | 72,000 | 144,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeffery D. Nigh |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity(1) |
August 30, 2010 | | 100,000 | 150,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gregg Taylor |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity(1) |
April 16, 2010 | | 50,000 | 80,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ronald B. Crowell |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity(1) |
August 12, 2010 | | 124,000 | 186,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ernest C. English |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity(1) |
| | | |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
Other than Mr. Arnold, none of our NEO's had equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2010. None of our NEOs received equity awards in 2010. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the outstanding equity awards of each of our NEOs as of December 31, 2010.
Name | Number of securities underlying unexercised options exercisable (#) |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options unexercisable (#) |
Equity incentive plan awards: number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options (#) |
Option exercise price ($/Sh) |
Option expiration date |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark C. Arnold(1) | | 108,630 | (1) | | $ | 6.15 | September 14, 2019 | ||||||||
Charles B. Lowrey | | | | | | ||||||||||
Peter R. McCourt | | | | | | ||||||||||
Jeffery D. Nigh | | | | | | ||||||||||
Gregg Taylor | | | | | | ||||||||||
Ronald B. Crowell | | | | | | ||||||||||
Ernest C. English | | | | | |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
There were no options exercised in fiscal year 2010 by our NEOs. None of our NEOs have stock awards.
Pension Benefits
Our NEOs did not participate in or have account balances in any defined benefit plans sponsored by us.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Our NEOs did not participate in or have account balances in any non-qualified deferred compensation plans sponsored by us.
Summary of Incentive Plans
2004 Stock Option Plan
The 2004 Stock Option Plan became effective upon the consummation of the Acquisition and was amended and restated in December 2008. Under the 2004 Stock Option Plan, the Board of Directors may from time to time grant up to 2,276,703 options to purchase our common stock to executives or other key employees or directors of GSE Holding and its subsidiaries. Both "nonqualified" stock
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options and "incentive" stock options may be granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan with terms to be determined by our Board of Directors (or a committee thereof). The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2004 Stock Option Plan, but does not include all of the provisions of the 2004 Stock Option Plan. For further information about the 2004 Stock Option Plan, we refer you to the complete copy of the 2004 Stock Option Plan, which we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Administration. The 2004 Stock Option Plan provides for its administration by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, any committee designated by our Board of Directors to administer the 2004 Stock Option Plan or our Board of Directors. Among the committee's powers are to determine the form, amount, recipients and other terms and conditions of awards, clarify, construe or resolve any ambiguity in the 2004 Stock Option Plan or any award agreement, amend the terms of outstanding awards and adopt such rules, forms, instruments and guidelines for administering the 2004 Stock Option Plan as it deems necessary or advisable. All actions, interpretations and determinations made by the committee or by our Board of Directors within its authority are final and binding.
Shares available. The 2004 Stock Option Plan makes available an aggregate of 2,276,703 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustments. In the event that any outstanding award expires, is forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated without the issuance of common stock pursuant to the award, the shares of our common stock allocable to such award, including the unexercised portion of such award, will again be available for purposes of the 2004 Stock Option Plan. In the event that we repurchase any shares of our common stock that were previously issued pursuant to an award under the 2004 Stock Option Plan, such shares will again be available for purposes of the 2004 Stock Option Plan.
Eligibility for participation. Any of our executives, directors or other key employees who have been selected to participate in the 2004 Stock Option Plan by the committee are eligible to receive awards under the 2004 Stock Option Plan. Selection of eligible participants is within the sole and complete authority of the committee.
Types of awards. The 2004 Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, and other awards. The committee will, with regard to each award, determine the terms and conditions of the award, including the number of shares subject to the award, the vesting terms of the award, and the purchase price for the award. Awards may be made in assumption of or in substitution for outstanding awards previously granted by us or our affiliates, or a company acquired by us or with which we combine.
Award agreement. Awards granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan are evidenced by written award agreements, which need not be identical, that provide additional terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations covering the grant of the award, including, without limitation, terms providing for the acceleration of exercisability or vesting of awards in the event of a change in control or conditions regarding the participant's employment, as determined by the committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the 2004 Stock Option Plan and any such award agreement, the provisions of the 2004 Stock Option Plan will prevail.
Awards. An award granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan will enable the holder to purchase a number of shares of our common stock on set terms. Awards will be presumed to be nonqualified stock options and are not intended to be incentive stock options unless clearly indicated by the committee in the award agreement. An award granted as an incentive stock option will, to the extent it fails to qualify as an incentive stock option, be treated as a nonqualified stock option duly granted under the plan, provided that such award otherwise meets the 2004 Stock Option Plan's requirements for nonqualified stock options. Each option will be subject to terms and conditions, including exercise
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price, vesting and conditions and timing of exercise, consistent with the 2004 Stock Option Plan and as the committee may impose from time to time.
The exercise price of an award granted under the 2004 Stock Option Plan will be determined by the committee; provided that, with respect to incentive stock options, the exercise price will not be less than 100% of the fair value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant and provided further that the exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to a person holding greater than 10% of our voting power may not be less than 110% of such fair value on such date. The committee will determine the term of each award at the time of grant in its discretion; however, the term may not exceed 10 years unless otherwise provided for by the committee, or, in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% stockholder, five years.
Transferability. An award will not be transferable or assignable by a participant except in the event of his death, subject to the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates; provided that, as the committee may determine in its sole discretion, an award may be transferred to or among a participant's spouse or descendants or any trust or other entity solely for the benefit of such participant and/or such participant's spouse and/or descendants.
Stockholder rights. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, a participant has no rights as a stockholder with respect to shares of our common stock covered by any award until the participant becomes the record holder of such shares.
Adjustment of awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the 2004 Stock Option Plan, in the event of any corporate event or transaction such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, combination of shares of our common stock, exchange of shares of our common stock, dividend in kind, extraordinary cash dividend, or other like change in capital structure, other than normal cash dividends, to our stockholders, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the committee, to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants' rights under the 2004 Stock Option Plan, will, in its sole discretion, as applicable, (a) adjust the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities that may be issued under the 2004 Stock Option Plan, the number and kind of shares of our common stock or other securities subject to outstanding awards, and/or where applicable, the exercise price, base value or purchase price applicable to such awards; (b) grant a right to receive one or more payments of securities, cash and/or property, which right may be evidenced as an additional award under the 2004 Stock Option Plan, in respect of any outstanding award; or (c) provide for the settlement of any outstanding award, other than a stock option or stock appreciation right, in such securities, cash and/or other property as would have been received had the award been settled in full immediately prior to such corporate event or transaction; provided, however, that in the case of an adjustment made in accordance with (b) or (c) above, the right to any securities, cash and/or property may be issued subject to the same vesting schedule as the outstanding award being adjusted; and provided, further, that any adjustment shall comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable.
Amendment and termination. Our Board of Directors or the committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the 2004 Stock Option Plan or any portion thereof or any award, or award agreement, thereunder (to the extent that our Board or the committee would have had the authority under the 2004 Stock Option Plan initially to grant such award) at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination will be made (i) without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the 2004 Stock Option Plan or the rules of any exchange upon which our common stock is listed and (ii) without the consent of the participants, if such action would impair the rights of any participant
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under any award granted to such participant under the 2004 Stock Option Plan. The committee may also amend the 2004 Stock Option Plan, any award or any outstanding award agreement in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of awards meeting the requirements of applicable laws.
2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
We intend to adopt the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, or the 2011 Plan, in connection with our initial public offering. The 2011 Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards. Directors, officers and other employees of us and our subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting or advisory services for us, will be eligible for grants under the 2011 Plan. The purpose of the 2011 Plan is to provide incentives that will attract, retain and motivate highly competent officers, directors, employees and consultants by providing them with appropriate incentives and rewards either through a proprietary interest in our long-term success or compensation based on their performance in fulfilling their personal responsibilities. The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2011 Plan, but does not include all of the provisions of the 2011 Plan. For further information about the 2011 Plan, we refer you to the complete copy of the 2011 Plan, which we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.
Administration. The 2011 Plan provides for its administration by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, any committee designated by our Board of Directors to administer the 2011 Plan or our Board of Directors. Among the committee's powers are to determine the form, amount and other terms and conditions of awards, clarify, construe or resolve any ambiguity in any provision of the 2011 Plan or any award agreement, amend the terms of outstanding awards and adopt such rules, forms, instruments and guidelines for administering the 2011 Plan as it deems necessary or proper. All actions, interpretations and determinations by the committee or by our Board of Directors are final and binding.
Shares available. The 2011 Plan makes available an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustments. In the event that any outstanding award expires, is forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated without consideration, shares of our common stock allocable to such award, including the unexercised portion of such award, will again be available for purposes of the 2011 Plan. If any award is exercised by tendering shares of our common stock to us, either as full or partial payment, in connection with the exercise of such award under the 2011 Plan or to satisfy our withholding obligation with respect to an award, only the number of shares of our common stock issued net of such shares tendered will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of our common stock then available for delivery under the 2011 Plan.
Eligibility for participation. Members of our Board of Directors, as well as employees of, and consultants to, us or any of our subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to receive awards under the 2011 Plan. The selection of participants is within the sole discretion of the committee.
Types of awards. The 2011 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, collectively, the options, stock appreciation rights, shares of restricted stock, or the restricted stock, restricted stock units, rights to dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards, collectively, the awards. The committee will, with regard to each award, determine the terms and conditions of the award, including the number of shares subject to the award, the vesting terms of the award, and the purchase price for the award. Awards may be made in assumption of or in substitution for outstanding awards previously granted by us or our affiliates, or a company acquired by us or with which we combine.
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Award agreement. Awards granted under the 2011 Plan will be evidenced by award agreements, which need not be identical, that provide additional terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations covering the grant of the award, including, without limitation, terms providing for the acceleration of exercisability or vesting of awards in the event of a change in control or conditions regarding the participant's employment, as determined by the committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the 2011 Plan and any such award agreement, the provisions of the 2011 Plan will prevail.
Options. An option granted under the 2011 Plan will enable the holder to purchase a number of shares of our common stock on set terms. Options will be designated as either a nonqualified stock option or an incentive stock option. An option granted as an incentive stock option will, to the extent it fails to qualify as an incentive stock option, be treated as a nonqualified option. None of us, including any of our affiliates or the committee, will be liable to any participant or to any other person if it is determined that an option intended to be an incentive stock option does not qualify as an incentive stock option. Each option will be subject to terms and conditions, including exercise price, vesting and conditions and timing of exercise, consistent with the 2011 Plan and as the committee may impose from time to time.
The exercise price of an option granted under the 2011 Plan will be determined by the committee and it is expected that the exercise price will not be less than 100% of the fair value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant, provided the exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to a person holding greater than 10% of our voting power may not be less than 110% of such fair value on such date. The committee will determine the term of each option at the time of grant in its discretion; however, the term may not exceed 10 years or, in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% stockholder, five years.
Stock appreciation rights. A stock appreciation right entitles the holder to receive, upon its exercise, the excess of the fair value of a specified number of shares of our common stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the stock appreciation right. The payment of the value may be in the form of cash, shares of our common stock, other property or any combination thereof, as the committee determines in its sole discretion. Stock appreciation rights may be granted alone or in tandem with any option at the same time such option is granted, or a tandem SAR. A tandem SAR is only exercisable to the extent that the related option is exercisable and expires no later than the expiration of the related option. Upon the exercise of all or a portion of a tandem SAR, a participant is required to forfeit the right to purchase an equivalent portion of the related option, and vice versa. Subject to the terms of the 2011 Plan and any applicable award agreement, the grant price, which is not expected to be less than 100% of the fair value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant, term, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any stock appreciation right will be determined by the committee. The committee may impose such other conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any stock appreciation right as it may deem appropriate.
Restricted stock. The committee may, in its discretion, grant awards of restricted stock. Restricted stock may be subject to such terms and conditions, including vesting, as the committee determines appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions on the sale or other disposition of such shares of our common stock. The committee may require the participant to deliver a duly signed stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to shares of our common stock covered by such an award. The committee may also require that the stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody or bear restrictive legends until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed. Unless otherwise determined by the committee and set forth in the award agreement, a participant holding restricted stock will have the right to vote and receive dividends with respect to such restricted stock.
Restricted stock units. The committee may, in its discretion, grant awards of restricted stock units, or RSUs. RSUs are awards that provide for the deferred delivery of a specified number of shares of our
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common stock. RSUs may be subject to such terms and conditions, including vesting, as the committee determines appropriate.
Dividend equivalents. The committee may, in its discretion, grant dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on shares that are subject to any award. The grant of dividend equivalents may be treated as a separate award. Such dividend equivalents will be converted to cash or shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the committee. As determined by the committee, dividend equivalents granted with respect to any option or stock appreciation right may be payable regardless of whether such option or stock appreciation right is subsequently exercised.
Other share-based awards. The committee, in its discretion, may grant awards of shares of our common stock and awards that are valued, in whole or in part, by reference to, or are otherwise based on the fair market value of, such shares, or other share-based awards. Such other share-based awards will be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the committee may determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive one or more shares of our common stock, or the equivalent cash value of such stock, upon completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Subject to the provisions of the 2011 Plan, the committee will determine to whom and when other share-based awards will be made, the number of shares of our common stock to be awarded under, or otherwise related to, such other share-based awards, whether such other share-based awards shall be settled in cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and such shares, and all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Transferability. Except as otherwise determined by the committee, an award will not be transferable or assignable by a participant except in the event of his death, subject to the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates. Any permitted transfer of the awards to heirs or legatees of a participant will not be effective to bind us unless the committee has been furnished with written notice thereof and a copy of such evidence as the committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee or transferees of the terms and conditions of the 2011 Plan and any award agreement.
Stockholder rights. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, a participant has no rights as a stockholder with respect to shares of our common stock covered by any award until the participant becomes the record holder of such shares.
Adjustment of awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the 2011 Plan, in the event of any corporate event or transaction such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, combination of shares of our common stock, exchange of shares of our common stock, dividend in kind, extraordinary cash dividend, or other like change in capital structure, other than normal cash dividends, to our stockholders, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the committee, to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants' rights under the 2011 Plan, may, in its sole discretion, as applicable, (a) adjust the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities that may be issued under the 2011 Plan, the number and kind of shares of our common stock or other securities subject to outstanding awards, and/or where applicable, the exercise price, base value or purchase price applicable to such awards; (b) grant a right to receive one or more payments of securities, cash and/or property, which right may be evidenced as an additional award under the 2011 Plan, in respect of any outstanding award; or (c) provide for the settlement of any outstanding award, other than a stock option or stock appreciation right, in such securities, cash and/or other property as would have been received had the award been settled in full immediately prior to such corporate event or transaction; provided, however, that in the case of an adjustment made in accordance with (b) or (c) above, the right to any securities, cash and/or property may be issued subject to the same vesting schedule as the outstanding award
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being adjusted; and provided, further, that any adjustment shall comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable. Should the vesting of any award be conditioned upon our attainment of performance conditions, our Board of Directors may make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of such awards and the criteria therein to recognize unusual and non-recurring events affecting us or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles.
In the event we are a party to a merger or consolidation or similar transaction, including a change in control, unless otherwise prohibited under applicable law or by the applicable rules and regulations of national securities exchanges or unless the committee determines otherwise in an award agreement, the committee is authorized, but not obligated, to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of outstanding awards, including, without limitation, the continuation or assumption of such outstanding awards under the 2011 Plan by us, if we are the surviving company or corporation, or by the surviving company or corporation or its parent; substitution by the surviving company or corporation or its parent of awards with substantially the same terms for such outstanding awards; accelerated exercisability, vesting and/or lapse of restrictions under all then outstanding awards immediately prior to the occurrence of such event; upon written notice, provided that any outstanding awards must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within twenty days immediately prior to the scheduled consummation of the event, or such other period as determined by the committee, in either case contingent upon the consummation of the event, at the end of which period such awards shall terminate to the extent not so exercised within such period; and cancellation of all or any portion of outstanding awards for fair value, as determined in the sole discretion of the committee, which, in the case of options and stock appreciation rights, may equal the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration to be paid in the change in control transaction to holders of the same number of shares subject to such awards or, if no such consideration is paid, fair value of our shares of common stock subject to such outstanding awards or portion thereof being canceled, over the aggregate option price or grant price, as applicable, with respect to such awards or portion thereof being canceled.
Amendment and termination. Our Board of Directors may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the 2011 Plan or any portion thereof or any award, or award agreement, thereunder at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination may be made (i) without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the 2011 Plan and (ii) without the consent of the participant, if such action would materially diminish any of the rights of any participant under any award granted to such participant under the 2011 Plan; provided, however, the committee may amend the 2011 Plan, any award or any award agreement in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of awards meeting the requirements of applicable laws.
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that the 2011 Plan and/or awards are subject to Section 409A of the Code, the committee may, in its sole discretion and without a participant's prior consent, amend the 2011 Plan and/or awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions, including amendments, policies, procedures and actions with retroactive effect, as are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt any award from the application of Section 409A, (b) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such award, or (c) comply with the requirements of Section 409A, United States Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date of the grant. The 2011 Plan shall be interpreted at all times in such a manner that the terms and provisions of the 2011 Plan and awards comply with Section 409A and any guidance issued thereunder. Neither we nor the committee has any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax on any person with respect to any award under Section 409A, and none of us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of our employees or representatives, has any liability to a participant with respect thereto.
Effective date. The 2011 Plan will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering.
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Employment Agreements
The following summaries provide a description of the formalized agreements we have entered into with certain of our executive officers covering the terms of their employment and/or potential severance benefits.
Mark C. Arnold
Term. Pursuant to an employment agreement dated September 14, 2009 and amended and restated on March 4, 2010, the term of Mr. Arnold's employment commenced on September 14, 2009. Mr. Arnold's employment is "at will," and either we or Mr. Arnold may terminate his employment at any time, for any reason, with or without notice to the other.
Salary and Bonus. The employment agreement provides for a base salary of $400,000 annually and, beginning in September 2010, $440,000 annually. Mr. Arnold is eligible to receive an annual bonus with the potential for awards up to 120% of Mr. Arnold's base salary, payable based on our achievement of financial performance goals and achievement of personal goals and objectives of Mr. Arnold, as established by the Board. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Arnold also has the option to purchase 36,210 shares of our common stock from CHS at a purchase price of $5.11 per share.
Automobile. Mr. Arnold's employment agreement entitles Mr. Arnold to a company vehicle for business and personal use, with our company responsible for all licenses, road taxes, tolls, parking, maintenance, gasoline, insurance and other operating costs.
Severance Payments. If Mr. Arnold's employment is terminated (i) by us without "Cause", (ii) due to his "Disability" or (iii) by Mr. Arnold's "Voluntary Termination" within six months of a "Change in Control" (each as defined in Mr. Arnold's employment agreement), Mr. Arnold will be entitled to severance payments in an amount equal to his annual base salary, payable in equal installments over a period of twelve months, and continuation of Mr. Arnold's existing group medical benefits for twelve months, with premiums to be paid by Mr. Arnold at the same rate paid by employees who have not been terminated.
Change in Control Severance Payments. If within six months after a "Change in Control" (as defined in Mr. Arnold's employment agreement), Mr. Arnold is terminated by us without Cause or is not offered a position of equal or greater scope of responsibility and annual cash consideration by the successor to us or our parent (as applicable), in addition to continued coverage under our group health plan for a period of eighteen months, Mr. Arnold will also be entitled to an aggregate amount equal to the sum of (A) thirty-six months of Mr. Arnold's base salary then in effect plus (B) an amount equal to the average of the bonuses for the three most recent years, payable in equal installments over a period of thirty-six months.
Restrictive Covenants. The employment agreement prohibits Mr. Arnold from competing with us during his employment period and for a period of one year thereafter and from disclosing our confidential information during his employment and at any time thereafter.
Ernest C. English
Separation Date. Pursuant to a separation and release agreement dated May 24, 2010, the termination of Mr. English's employment was effective as of February 19, 2010.
Severance Payments. The separation agreement does not provide for severance payments other than salary due as of the date of termination, but Mr. English received $564,000 of severance payments.
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Release. The separation agreement releases and discharges us from any potential liabilities arising out of Mr. English's employment or separation from us.
Jeffery D. Nigh
Term. Mr. Nigh's employment commenced on October 1, 2010, pursuant to an offer letter dated August 30, 2010. Mr. Nigh's employment is "at will," and either we or Mr. Nigh may terminate his employment at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice to the other.
Salary and Bonus. The offer letter provides for a base salary of $250,000 annually, and Mr. Nigh is eligible to receive an annual bonus with the potential for awards up to 60% of Mr. Nigh's base salary, based on the achievement of certain EBITDA targets and personal goals.
Change in Control Severance Payments. Pursuant to a Change of Control & Retention Agreement effective October 1, 2010, Mr. Nigh will be entitled to a lump sum payment in the amount of twelve times Mr. Nigh's monthly base salary plus the targeted bonus for the calendar year, if he experiences a "Qualifying Termination" upon or within six months following a "Change in Control" (each as defined in the Change of Control & Retention Agreement), subject to Mr. Nigh's execution of a full waiver and release of all claims against us.
Restrictive Covenants. The terms of Mr. Nigh's employment prohibit him from disclosing any of our confidential information, including information relating to our intellectual property, during his employment and at any time thereafter.
Peter R. McCourt
Term. Mr. McCourt's employment commenced on July 1, 2010, pursuant to an offer letter dated May 28, 2010. Mr. McCourt's employment is "at will," and either we or Mr. McCourt may terminate his employment at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice to the other.
Salary and Bonus. The offer letter provides for a base salary of $240,000 annually, and Mr. McCourt is eligible to receive an annual bonus with the potential for awards up to 60% of Mr. McCourt's base salary, based on the achievement of certain EBITDA targets and personal goals.
Change in Control Severance Payments. Pursuant to a Change of Control & Retention Agreement dated July 1, 2010, Mr. McCourt will be entitled to a lump sum payment in the amount of twelve times Mr. McCourt's monthly base salary plus the targeted bonus for the calendar year, if he experiences a "Qualifying Termination" upon or within six months following a "Change in Control" (each as defined in the Change of Control & Retention Agreement), subject to Mr. McCourt's execution of a full waiver and release of all claims against us.
Restrictive Covenants. The terms of Mr. McCourt's employment prohibit him from disclosing any of our confidential information, including information relating to our intellectual property, during his employment and at any time thereafter.
Gregg Taylor
Term. Mr. Taylor's employment commenced on May 24, 2010, pursuant to an offer letter dated April 16, 2010. Mr. Taylor's employment is "at will," and either we or Mr. Taylor may terminate his employment at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice to the other.
Salary and Bonus. The offer letter provides for a base salary of $200,000 annually, and Mr. Taylor is eligible for an annual performance-based bonus, with the potential for awards up to 40% of Mr. Taylor's base salary, based on the achievement of certain EBITDA targets and personal goals.
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Change in Control Severance Payments. Pursuant to a Change in Control Agreement dated July 28, 2011, Mr. Taylor will be entitled to a payment in the amount of twelve times his monthly base salary, payable monthly over a twelve-month period, plus the targeted bonus for the calendar year, payable as a lump sum payment, if his employment is terminated within six months following a "Change in Control" (as defined in the Change in Control Agreement), subject to Mr. Taylor's execution of a full waiver and release of claims against us.
Stock Options. Pursuant to Mr. Taylor's offer letter, he was granted 36,210 stock options in our company, which were fully vested upon issuance on January 1, 2011.
Restrictive Covenants. The terms of Mr. Taylor's employment prohibit him from disclosing any of our confidential information, including information relating to our intellectual property, during his employment and at any time thereafter.
William F. Lacey
Term. Mr. Lacey's employment commenced on August 22, 2011, pursuant to an offer letter dated August 4, 2011. Mr. Lacey's employment is "at will," and either we or Mr. Lacey may terminate his employment at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice to the other.
Salary and Bonus. The offer letter provides for an annual base salary of $280,000, and Mr. Lacey is eligible to receive an annual bonus with the potential for awards up to 60% of Mr. Lacey's base salary, based on the achievement of certain EBITDA targets and individual performance.
Change in Control Severance Payments. Pursuant to a Change in Control Agreement dated August 4, 2011, in the event of a "Qualifying Termination" upon or within six months following a "Change in Control" (each as defined in the Change in Control Agreement), Mr. Lacey will be entitled to a lump sum payment in the amount of twelve times Mr. Lacey's monthly base salary plus the targeted bonus for the calendar year, subject to Mr. Lacey's execution of a full waiver and release of all claims against us.
Restrictive Covenants. The terms of Mr. Lacey's employment prohibit him from disclosing any of our confidential information, including information relating to our intellectual property, during his employment and at any time thereafter.
Joellyn Champagne
Separation Date. Pursuant to a separation and release agreement dated November 17, 2011, the term of Ms. Champagne's employment ended on November 30, 2011.
Severance Payments. The separation agreement provides for total severance payments in the amount of $260,000.
Release. The separation agreement releases and discharges us from any potential liabilities arising out of Ms. Champagne's employment or separation from us.
Ronald B. Crowell
Separation Date. Pursuant to a Separation and Release Agreement dated February 23, 2011, the term of Mr. Crowell's employment ended on January 11, 2011.
Severance Payments. The separation agreement provides for total severance payments in the amount of $565,000.
Release. The separation agreement releases and discharges us from any potential liabilities arising out of Mr. Crowell's employment or separation from us.
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Potential Payments Upon Termination and Change in Control
This table shows the potential compensation due to NEOs upon a change in control or termination of employment related or unrelated to a change in control by us without cause or by the executive with good reason, due to the executive's death or disability, and by us with cause or by the executive without good reason. The amounts shown assume that a change in control or termination of employment was effective December 31, 2010. The amounts shown are only estimates of the amounts that would be due to the executives upon a change in control or termination of employment and do not reflect tax positions we may take or the accounting treatment of such payments. Actual amounts due can only be determined at the time of a change in control or separation and are subject to all of the terms and conditions of each applicable agreement with executive. Although the calculations are intended to provide reasonable estimates of the potential benefits, they are based on numerous assumptions and do not represent the actual amount an executive would receive if an eligible change in control or termination event were to occur.
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Change in Control(1)(2) | Absence of a Change in Control | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
Without Cause |
With Cause(3)(4) |
Voluntary(5) | Death(4) | Disability(5) | Without Cause |
With Cause(4) |
Voluntary(4) | Death(4) | Disability(5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark C. Arnold |
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Base Salary |
$ | 1,338,325 | $ | 18,333 | $ | 1,338,325 | $ | 18,333 | $ | 471,450 | $ | 471,450 | $ | 18,333 | $ | 18,333 | $ | 18,333 | $ | 471,450 | ||||||||||||||
Bonus |
321,627 | | 321,627 | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Benefits |
19,675 | | 19,675 | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value of Accelerated Equity |
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Total |
1,385,813 | 18,333 | 400,000 | 18,333 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 18,333 | 18,333 | 18,333 | 400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter McCourt(6) |
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Base Salary |
240,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 240,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bonus |
144,000 | | | | | 144,000 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value of Accelerated Equity(4) |
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Total |
384,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 384,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey Nigh(6) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Base Salary |
250,000 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 250,000 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bonus |
150,000 | | | | | 150,000 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value of Accelerated Equity(4) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
400,000 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 400,000 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | 10,416 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregg Taylor(7) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Base Salary |
200,000 | 200,000 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bonus |
| | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value of Accelerated Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
200,000 | 200,000 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 | 8,333 |
With respect to Mr. Arnold, cause is defined as any of the following activities: (i) commission of a crime involving theft, fraud, embezzlement or other felony or otherwise involving dishonesty, in each case with respect to our company, (ii) willful refusal without proper legal cause to
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perform his duties and responsibilities (with 30 day grace period after notice), (iii) engaging in conduct which would constitute material breach of the employment agreement, our code of ethics, policies or regulations (with 20 day grace period after notice), or engaging in improper conduct which would result in material injury to our company (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith), (iv) willful misconduct injurious to our company and (v) conduct tending to bring our company into substantial public disgrace or disrepute. Disability is defined as an illness or other disability which prevents the employee from discharging his responsibilities under the employment agreement for a period of 180 consecutive calendar days or for an aggregate of 180 calendar days in any calendar year, all as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Voluntary termination is defined as a decision to terminate employment communicated by written notice delivered to our company indicating the specific termination provision relied upon, the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination and the specific termination date (which must be within 30 days) if other than the date of receipt of such notice. Change in control is defined as any of the following occurrences: (i) a merger or agreement to merger by which our stockholders own less than 50% of the surviving entity, (ii) our sale, or agreement to sell, all or substantially all of our assets to any other person or entity, (iii) our dissolution, (iv) any third person or entity together with its affiliates (other than CHS and its affiliates or a management buyout of which Mr. Arnold is a member) becomes or publicly announces its intention to become, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of at least 50% of our common stock or (v) if individuals appointed or requested by CHS or its affiliates cease to constitute a majority of the individuals on the Board of Directors.
With respect to Mr. Nigh, Mr. Taylor and Mr. McCourt, cause is defined as any of the following activities: (i) dishonesty, gross negligence or breach of fiduciary duty, (ii) indictment for, conviction of or no contest plea to an act of theft, fraud or embezzlement, (iii) commission of a felony, (iv) material breach of any company policy and (v) substantial and continuing failure to render services in accordance with the employee's obligations (with a 30-day grace period). Change in control is defined as any of the following occurrences: (i) consummation of any sale, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our company (including assets of our affiliates) and (ii) the transfer of beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the voting power of issued and outstanding stock by any person or group.
Non-Employee Director Compensation and Benefits
The following table summarizes our estimate of the compensation that our non-employee directors earned for services as members of our Board or any committee thereof during 2010, including amounts for meetings through December 31, 2010.
Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($)(1) |
Stock awards ($) |
Option awards ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) |
Change in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings ($) |
All other compensation ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael G. Evans | $35,000 | | | | | | $ | 35,000 | ||||||||||||
Richard E. Goodrich | $35,000 | | | | | | $ | 35,000 |
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None of our non-executive directors had unexercised option awards (either exercisable or unexercisable) or unvested shares of restricted stock awards at December 31, 2010. Director compensation is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee and, except as described above, paid quarterly. In addition, directors are reimbursed for their business expenses related to their attendance at board and committee meetings, including room, meals and transportation to and from board and committee meetings (e.g., commercial flights, cars and parking).
Director and Officer Indemnification and Limitation of Liability
Our bylaws will provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL. In addition, our certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except as otherwise provided by Delaware law.
In addition, prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements will provide the executive officers and directors with contractual rights to indemnification, expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. We also intend to enter into an indemnification priority agreement with affiliates of CHS to clarify the priority of advancement of expenses and indemnification obligations among us, our subsidiaries and any of our directors appointed by affiliates of CHS and other related matters.
There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers to which indemnification is being sought, and we are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.
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Principal and Selling Stockholders
The following table sets forth information as of November 30, 2011 regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock (1) immediately prior to and (2) as adjusted to give effect to this offering by:
Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the following table is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These rules generally provide that a person is the beneficial owner of securities if such person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting thereof or to dispose or direct the disposition thereof or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. Common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of October 31, 2011 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 10,809,987 shares of common stock outstanding prior to the consummation of this offering. Except as disclosed in the notes to this table and subject to applicable community property laws, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by the stockholder. Unless otherwise indicated in the table or notes below, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o GSE Holding, Inc., 19103 Gundle Road, Houston, Texas 77073.
|
Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to This Offering |
Shares To Be Sold in Base Offering |
Shares To Be Sold in Over- Allotment Option |
Shares Beneficially Owned After This Offering Assuming No Exercise of the Over-Allotment Option |
Shares Beneficially Owned After This Offering Assuming Full Exercise of the Over-Allotment Option |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Percent | Number | Number | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||||||||||||||||||
5% Stockholders: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC(1) |
10,743,634 | 99.4 | % | 3,246,686 | 1,226,433 | 7,496,948 | 44.1 | % | 6,270,515 | 36.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
Nadia F. Badawi(2) |
666,264 | 5.8 | % | 191,732 | 72,428 | 474,532 | 2.7 | % | 402,104 | 2.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
Executive Officers and Directors: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark C. Arnold(3) |
108,630 | * | | | 362,111 | 2.1 | % | 362,111 | 2.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
William F. Lacey(4) |
| | | | 63,370 | * | 63,370 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Charles B. Lowrey |
| | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Gregg Taylor(5) |
36,210 | * | | | 57,334 | * | 57,334 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Peter R. McCourt(6) |
| | | | 63,370 | * | 63,370 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeffery D. Nigh(7) |
| | | | 63,370 | * | 63,370 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Ernest C. English(8) |
162,945 | 1.5 | % | 46,891 | 17,713 | 116,054 | * | 98,341 | * | |||||||||||||||||
Ronald B. Crowell |
| | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Daniel J. Hennessy(9) |
10,743,634 | 99.4 | % | 3,246,686 | 1,226,433 | 7,496,948 | 44.1 | % | 6,270,515 | 36.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
Michael G. Evans |
4,892 | | | | 4,892 | * | 4,892 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Marcus J. George(9) |
10,743,634 | 99.4 | % | 3,246,686 | 1,226,433 | 7,496,948 | 44.1 | % | 6,270,515 | 36.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
Richard E. Goodrich |
7,242 | * | | | 7,242 | * | 7,242 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Robert C. Griffin |
| | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Charles A. Sorrentino |
| | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons)(10) |
11,063,553 | 99.5 | % | 3,293,577 | 1,244,146 | 8,234,692 | 47.7 | % | 6,990,546 | 40.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
Other Selling Stockholders: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mohamed Ayoub(11) |
25,709 | * | 4,871 | 1,840 | 20,838 | * | 18,998 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Paul A. Firrell(12) |
71,696 | * | 20,632 | 7,794 | 51,064 | * | 43,270 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Gerald E. Hersh(13) |
172,360 | 1.6 | % | 26,206 | | 146,154 | * | 146,154 | * | |||||||||||||||||
James Steinke(14) |
186,228 | 1.7 | % | 47,011 | 17,759 | 139,217 | * | 121,458 | * | |||||||||||||||||
Randolph Street Partners VI(15) |
52,848 | * | 15,971 | 6,033 | 36,877 | * | 30,844 | * |
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Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons
In connection with this offering we will adopt a written policy and procedure that prior to any transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness, between us or any of our subsidiaries and a Related Person (as defined below) where the aggregate amount involved is expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year and the applicable Related Person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, each, a Related Person Transaction, the Audit Committee must review the material facts of any Related Person Transaction and approve such transaction. If advance approval is not feasible, then the Audit Committee must ratify the Related Person Transaction at its next regularly scheduled meeting or the transaction must be rescinded.
In considering whether to approve or ratify any Related Person Transaction, the Audit Committee shall consider all factors relevant to the Related Person Transaction, including, without limitation, the following:
For purposes of this policy and procedure, "Related Person" means: (i) any person who is or was an executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director (since the beginning of the last fiscal year); (ii) any person or group who is a greater than 5% beneficial owner of our voting securities; or (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, and any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is an executive officer, a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest in such entity.
Transactions with Related Persons that are not classified as Related Person Transactions by our policy, and thus not subject to its review and approval requirements, may still need to be disclosed if required by the applicable securities laws, rules and regulations.
Other than compensation agreements and other arrangements which are described in "Executive Compensation" and the transactions described below, since January 1, 2008, we have not been a party to any Related Person Transaction.
Management Agreement
In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into a management agreement, or the Management Agreement, with CHS Management IV LP, a limited partnership (i) of which CHS is the general partner and (ii) which is the general partner of CHS IV, or CHS Management. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, CHS Management provides certain financial and management consulting services to us. In consideration of those services we pay fees to CHS Management in an aggregate annual amount of $2.0 million, payable in equal monthly installments. We also agreed to reimburse
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CHS Management for its reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket fees and expenses. We also provide customary indemnification to CHS Management. Under the Management Agreement, we will pay CHS Management a fee equal to 5% of any additional proceeds of our capital stock purchased from time to time by CHS Management or its affiliates. The management fee is subordinated to the prior payment in full of principal, interest and premium and all fees and other amounts due and owing under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, but we may pay the management fee at all times except during certain events of default under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities. In the event any portion of the management fee is not paid, such amount will accrue and become due and payable in the next month when payment is permitted.
The Management Agreement was amended in connection with the Refinancing Transactions on May 27, 2011 and is automatically renewable on a year-to-year basis unless any party gives at least 30 days' prior written notice of non-renewal. Under this agreement, we paid CHS Management $2.0 million during each of the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and $1.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. In addition, upon the closing of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities in May 2011, we paid CHS Management a one-time fee of $2.0 million for its services in connection with such transaction. In connection with this offering, we plan to pay CHS Management a one-time payment of $3.0 million in connection with terminating the Management Agreement.
Consulting Fees
During the fourth quarter of 2009, we engaged Alvarez & Marsal Private Equity Performance Improvement Group, LLC, an independent consulting firm that specializes in private equity portfolio company performance improvement. During the engagement, personnel from the consulting firm functioned in several interim management roles for our company, including, but not limited to, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations. Mr. Lowrey, our former Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was concurrently a managing director at the consulting firm. We paid the consulting firm retainer fees in the amount of $3.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2010 and $2.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. During 2010, we also paid the consulting firm a success fee of $6.3 million for our company having achieved agreed upon performance improvements.
Employment Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with certain of our executive officers. For more information regarding these agreements, see "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Compensation Tables Employment Agreements."
We have also entered into bonus letter agreements with certain of our named executive officers. See "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Bonus Letter Agreements."
Stock Options
Certain stock options granted to our named executive officers are described in "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Equity Incentives." Certain stock options granted to our non-employee directors are described in "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Non-Employee Director Compensation and Benefits."
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Indemnification Agreements
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements and the indemnification provisions included in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering, will require us to indemnify our executive officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. See "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Director and Officer Indemnification and Limitation of Liability."
Corporate Opportunity
See "Description of Capital Stock Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Our Bylaws and Delaware Law Corporate Opportunity."
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The following is a description of the material terms of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws as in effect upon consummation of this offering. The following description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand the material terms of our common stock, you should read our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are or will be filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.
Authorized Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. On September 30, 2011 we had 10,809,987 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by approximately ten stockholders. Based upon (1) 10,809,987 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2011, (2) the issuance of 5,400,000 shares of common stock in this offering, (3) the issuance of 464,715 shares of common stock to certain of our executive officers pursuant to bonus letter agreements and (4) the issuance of 337,343 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of vested options by certain selling stockholders for the purpose of selling such shares in this offering, there will be 17,012,045 shares of our common stock outstanding upon consummation of this offering, and no shares of preferred stock will be outstanding.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote with respect to each matter presented to our stockholders on which the holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Subject to any rights that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, our common stock votes as a single class on all matters relating to the election and removal of directors on our Board of Directors and as provided by law. Holders of our common stock will not have cumulative voting rights. Except in respect of matters relating to the election and removal of directors on our Board of Directors and as otherwise provided in our certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by our stockholders must be approved by a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In the case of the election of directors, all matters to be voted on by our stockholders must be approved by a plurality of the shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of legally available funds. Because we are a holding company, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is limited by restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to us, including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness. See "Description of Certain Indebtedness" and "Dividend Policy."
Liquidation Rights
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are legally available
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for distribution to stockholders after payment of our debts and other liabilities. If we have any preferred stock outstanding at such time, holders of the preferred stock may be entitled to distribution and/or liquidation preferences. In either such case, we must pay the applicable distribution to holders of our preferred stock before we may pay distributions to the holders of our common stock.
Other Rights
Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. All outstanding shares are, and all shares offered by this prospectus will be, when sold, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
Preferred Stock
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and liquidation preference and to fix the number of shares to be included in any such series without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Any preferred stock so issued may rank senior to our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or both. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock, including the loss of voting control to others. At present, we have no plans to issue any preferred stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Our Bylaws and Delaware Law
Some provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as will be in effect upon consummation of this offering, contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring or seeking to acquire control of us. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our Board of Directors. However, these provisions may also delay, deter or prevent a change in control or other takeover of our company that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market price of our common stock and also may limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the future for our common stock. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include anti-takeover provisions that:
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stockholders and not by written consent (at any time CHS owns at least 10% of our then outstanding common stock, stockholder action may be taken by written consent);
Business Combinations
We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which regulates corporate takeovers. However, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions that are similar to Section 203 of the DGCL. Specifically, our certificate of incorporation provides that we may not engage in certain "business combinations" with any "interested stockholder" for a three-year period following the time that the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
Generally, a business combination includes a merger, consolidation, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an interested stockholder is a person who, together with that person's affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock. However, in the case of our company, CHS and any of its respective permitted transferees receiving 15% or more of our voting stock, such stockholders will not be deemed to be interested stockholders regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts with respect to us and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.
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Corporate Opportunity
Our certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be from time to time presented to CHS or any of its affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries), subsidiaries, officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners and employees and that may be a business opportunity for CHS, even if the opportunity is one that we or our subsidiaries might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. No such person will be liable to us for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person, acting in good faith, pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, directs any such business opportunity to another person or fails to present any such business opportunity, or information regarding any such business opportunity, to us unless, in the case of any such person who is our director or officer, any such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer solely in his or her capacity as our director or officer. CHS has no duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us or any of our subsidiaries.
These provisions will continue to apply with respect to CHS until the date on which no person who is our director or officer is also a director, officer, member, partner or employee of CHS or its affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries).
Choice of Forum
Our certificate of incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL; any action regarding our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; and any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
Amendments
Amendments to our certificate of incorporation require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of our then outstanding common stock; provided, however, that at any time CHS owns at least 10% of our then outstanding common stock and wants to amend our certificate of incorporation, such amendment requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of our then outstanding common stock.
Our bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of our directors or the holders of at least 662/3% of our then outstanding common stock; provided, however, that at any time CHS owns at least 10% of our then outstanding common stock and wants to amend our bylaws, such amendment requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of our then outstanding common stock.
Listing
Our common stock has been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GSE". In connection with that listing, the underwriters will undertake to sell the minimum number of common shares to the minimum number of beneficial owners necessary to meet the NYSE listing requirements.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
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Shares Available for Future Sale
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, future sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sales, will have on the market price of our common stock prevailing from time to time. The sale of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our common stock.
Sale of Restricted Shares
Upon consummation of this offering, we will have 17,012,045 shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares of common stock, the 9,000,000 shares of common stock being sold in this offering, plus any shares sold by the selling stockholders upon exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for any such shares which may be held or acquired by an "affiliate" of ours, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which shares will be subject to the volume limitations and other restrictions of Rule 144 described below. The remaining 8,012,045 shares of common stock held by our existing stockholders upon consummation of this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares) will be "restricted securities," as that phrase is defined in Rule 144, and may be resold only after registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from such registration, including, among others, the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and 701 under the Securities Act, which rules are summarized below. These remaining shares of common stock held by our existing stockholders upon consummation of this offering will be available for sale in the public market after the expiration of the lock-up agreements described below as follows.
Number of Shares and % of Total Outstanding | Date Available for Sale Into Public Market | ||
---|---|---|---|
0 shares or 0% | On the date of this prospectus | ||
0 shares or 0% | Up to and including 180 days after the date of this prospectus | ||
8,012,045 shares or 47% | More than 180 days after the date of this prospectus, of which 7,973,797 shares, or 99%, are subject to volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144. |
Lock-up Agreements
We, each of our officers and directors, substantially all of our stockholders and participants in the directed share program will be subject to lock-up agreements with the underwriters that will restrict the sales of the shares of our common stock held by them for 180 days, subject to certain exceptions, including the shares of common stock being sold in this offering. See "Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)."
Rule 144
The SEC adopted amendments to Rule 144 which became effective on February 15, 2008. Under these amendments, persons who became the beneficial owner of shares of our common stock prior to the consummation of this offering may not sell their shares until the earlier of (1) the expiration of a
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six-month holding period, if we have been subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, and have filed all required reports for at least 90 days prior to the date of the sale, or (2) a one-year holding period.
At the expiration of the six-month holding period, a person who was not one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares of our common stock provided current public information about us is available, and a person who was one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of shares of common stock that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:
At the expiration of the one-year holding period, a person who was not one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares of our common stock without restriction. A person who was one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would remain subject to the volume restrictions described above.
Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, subject to the lock-up agreements discussed above, under Rule 701, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who purchased shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of this offering, or who purchased shares from us after that date upon the exercise of options granted before that date, are eligible to resell such shares in reliance upon Rule 144 beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus. If such person is not an affiliate, the sale may be made subject only to the manner-of-sale restrictions of Rule 144. If such a person is an affiliate, the sale may be made under Rule 144 without compliance with its one-year minimum holding period, but subject to the other Rule 144 restrictions.
Stock Plans
We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register shares of our common stock issued or reserved for issuance under the 2004 Stock Option Plan and 2011 Plan. The first such registration statement is expected to be filed soon after the date of this prospectus and will automatically become effective upon filing with the SEC. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market following the effective date, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us, Rule 144 restrictions applicable to our affiliates or the lock-up agreements described above.
Registration Rights
Upon consummation of this offering, the holders of 6,314,862 shares of common stock and 830,325 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, will be entitled to various rights with respect to the registration of these shares under the Securities Act. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration, except for shares purchased by affiliates. See "Management Registration Agreement."
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Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock to a non-U.S. holder that purchases shares of our common stock in this offering. For purposes of this summary, a "non-U.S. holder" means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
In the case of a holder that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common stock, then you should consult your own tax advisor.
This summary is based upon the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below. We cannot assure you that a change in law, possibly with retroactive application, will not alter significantly the tax considerations that we describe in this summary. We have not sought and do not plan to seek any ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, with respect to statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our statements and conclusions.
This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxes that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances, and does not deal with federal taxes other than the U.S. federal income tax or with non-U.S., state or local tax considerations. Special rules, not discussed here, may apply to certain non-U.S. holders, including:
Such non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.
This summary applies only to a non-U.S. holder that holds our common stock as a capital asset (within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code).
If you are considering the purchase of our common stock, you should consult your own tax advisor concerning the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock, as well as the consequences to you arising under U.S. tax laws other than the federal income tax law or under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
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Dividends
As described in "Dividend Policy" above, we do not currently anticipate paying dividends. In the event that we do make a distribution of cash or property (other than certain stock distributions) with respect to our common stock (or certain redemptions that are treated as distributions with respect to common stock), any such distributions will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Dividends paid to you generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by you within the United States and, where a tax treaty applies, are generally attributable to a United States permanent establishment, are not subject to the withholding tax, but instead are subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis at applicable graduated individual or corporate ordinary income tax rates. Certain certification and disclosure requirements, including delivery to the withholding agent of a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form), must be satisfied for effectively connected income to be exempt from withholding. Any such dividends received by a foreign corporation that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business within the United States may be subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
If the amount of a distribution paid on our common stock exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be allocated ratably among each share of common stock with respect to which the distribution is paid and treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in each such share, and thereafter as capital gain from a sale or other disposition of such share of common stock that is taxed to you as described below in " Gain on Disposition of Common Stock." Your adjusted tax basis is generally the purchase price of such shares, reduced by the amount of any such tax-free returns of capital.
If you wish to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate to avoid or reduce withholding of U.S. federal income tax for dividends, then you must (a) provide the withholding agent with a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) and certify under penalties of perjury that you are not a U.S. person and are eligible for treaty benefits, or (b) if our common stock is held through certain foreign intermediaries, satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-U.S. holders that act as intermediaries (including partnerships).
If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax pursuant to an income tax treaty, then you may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by filing timely an appropriate claim with the IRS.
Gain on Disposition of Common Stock
You generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain realized on the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, unless:
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If you are an individual described in the first bullet point above, you will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty. If you are an individual described in the second bullet point above, you will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by United States source capital losses (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States). If you are a foreign corporation described in the first bullet point above, you will be subject to tax on your gain under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates and, in addition, may be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of your effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
Generally, we will be a "United States real property holding corporation" if the fair market value of our U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of our worldwide real property interests and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, all as determined under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. We believe that we have not been and are not a "U.S. real property holding corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although we do not anticipate it based on our current business plans and operations, we may become a "U.S. real property holding corporation" in the future. If we have been or were to become a "U.S. real property holding corporation," a non-U.S. holder might be subject to U.S. federal income tax (but not the branch profits tax) with respect to gain realized on the disposition of our common stock. However, such gain would not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax if (1) our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and (2) the non-U.S. holder disposing of our common stock did not own, actually or constructively, at any time during the five-year period preceding the disposition, more than 5% of the value of our common stock.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax
We must report annually to the IRS and to you the amount of dividends paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to such dividends. The IRS may make this information available to the tax authorities in the country in which you are resident.
In addition, you may be subject to information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 28%) with respect to dividends paid on, and the proceeds of disposition of, shares of our common stock, unless, generally, you certify under penalties of perjury (usually on IRS Form W-8BEN) that you are not a U.S. person or you otherwise establish an exemption. Additional rules relating to information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax with respect to payments of the proceeds from the disposition of shares of our common stock are as follows:
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Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding tax rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished by you to the IRS.
New Legislation Relating to Foreign Accounts
Recently enacted legislation may impose withholding taxes on certain types of payments made to "foreign financial institutions" and certain other non-U.S. entities after December 31, 2012. The legislation imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock paid to a foreign financial institution unless the foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to, among other things, undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons (including certain equity and debt holders of such institutions) or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to account holders whose actions prevent it from complying with these reporting and other requirements. In addition, the legislation imposes a 30% withholding tax on the same types of payments to a foreign non-financial entity unless the entity certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners (which generally includes any U.S. person who directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the entity) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder of our common stock might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes, and a non-U.S. holder might be required to file a United States federal income tax return to claim such refunds or credits. Prospective purchasers of our common stock should consult their tax advisors regarding this legislation.
THE SUMMARY OF MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF PURCHASING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
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Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement by and among us, the selling stockholders and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR Capital Markets & Co., as representatives of the underwriters, we and the selling stockholders have agreed to sell to the underwriters and the underwriters have severally agreed to purchase from us and the selling stockholders, the number of shares of common stock indicated in the table below:
Underwriters | Number of Shares |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. |
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FBR Capital Markets & Co. |
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William Blair & Company L.L.C. |
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BMO Capital Markets Corp. |
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Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. |
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Total |
9,000,000 | ||||||
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR Capital Markets & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers of this offering and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR Capital Markets & Co. are acting as representatives of the underwriters named above.
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers' certificates and legal opinions and approval of certain legal matters by their counsel. The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters will purchase all of the shares, other than those shares subject to the underwriters' over-allotment option, if any of them are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated. We and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and certain of their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in our common stock. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for our common stock.
The underwriters are offering the shares of common stock subject to their acceptance of the shares from us and the selling stockholders and subject to prior sale. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. In addition, the underwriters have advised us that they do not expect sales to accounts over which they have discretionary authority to exceed 5% of the shares of common stock being offered.
Commission and Expenses
The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the shares to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $ per share. The underwriters may allow, and certain dealers may reallow, a discount from the concession not in excess of $ per share to certain brokers and dealers. After the offering, the initial public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers may
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be reduced by the representative. No such reduction will change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
The following table shows the public offering price, the underwriting discount that we and the selling stockholders are to pay the underwriters and the proceeds, before expenses, to us and the selling stockholders in connection with this offering. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option.
|
Per Share | Total | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Without Over-Allotment Option |
With Over-Allotment Option |
Without Over-Allotment Option |
With Over-Allotment Option |
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Public offering price |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Underwriting discount paid by us |
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Proceeds to us, before expenses |
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Underwriting discount paid by the selling stockholders |
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Proceeds to the selling stockholders, before expenses |
We estimate expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discount referred to above, will be approximately $2,500,000.
Determination of Offering Price
Prior to the offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock. Consequently, the initial public offering price for our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations will be prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the underwriters believe to be comparable to us, estimates of our business potential, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant.
We offer no assurances that the initial public offering price will correspond to the price at which the common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to the offering or that an active trading market for the common stock will develop and continue after the offering.
Listing
Our common stock has been approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "GSE". In connection with that listing, the underwriters will undertake to sell the minimum number of common shares to the minimum number of beneficial owners necessary to meet the NYSE listing requirements.
Over-Allotment Option
The selling stockholders have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,350,000 additional shares of common stock from the selling stockholders at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to specified conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter's initial purchase commitment as indicated in the
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table above. This option may be exercised only if the underwriters sell more shares than the total number set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
No Sales of Similar Securities
We, each of our officers and directors, substantially all of our stockholders and participants in the directed share program have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., we and they will not directly or indirectly:
The foregoing restrictions do not apply to (i) bona fide gifts, sales, transfers or other dispositions of shares of our common stock to affiliates and family members, (ii) transfers by will or intestacy, (iii) the exercise of an option to purchase shares of common stock granted on or prior to the date of this prospectus, (iv) transactions relating to shares of our common stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions, block purchases or pursuant to a public offering, (v) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act or (vi) the sale of shares of our common stock to the underwriters pursuant to the terms of the underwriting agreement, provided that, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the transferee agrees to be subject to the same restrictions.
The 180-day restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will be extended if:
in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or occurrence of a material event, unless such extension is waived in writing by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. may, in its sole discretion, release all or any portion of the shares of common stock subject to lock-up agreements.
As described below in " Directed Share Program," any participants in the Directed Share Program shall be subject to a 180-day lock up with respect to any shares sold to them pursuant to that program.
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This lock up will have similar restrictions and an identical extension provision as the lock-up agreement described above.
Stabilization
The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions, including over-allotment, stabilizing bids, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids, which may have the effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the common stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters' over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. "Naked" short sales are sales in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. A stabilizing bid is a bid for the purchase of common stock on behalf of the underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the common stock. A syndicate covering transaction is the bid for or the purchase of common stock on behalf of the underwriters to reduce a short position incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering. A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the underwriters to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing to a syndicate member in connection with the offering if the notes originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction and therefore have not been effectively placed by such syndicate member.
None of we, the selling stockholders or any of the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. The underwriters are not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, any of the activities may be discontinued at any time.
Electronic Distribution
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available by e-mail or on the web sites or through online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of shares of common stock for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters' web sites and any information contained in any other web site maintained by any of the underwriters is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.
Directed Share Program
At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale at the initial public offering price up to 450,000 shares of our common stock for employees, directors and other persons associated with us who have expressed an interest in purchasing shares in the offering. The number of shares of common stock
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available for sale to the general public in the offering will be reduced to the extent these persons purchase the directed shares in the program. Any directed shares not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares. Each person buying shares through the directed share program has agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, he or she will not, without the prior written consent of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., dispose of or hedge any common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock with respect to shares purchased in the program. For those participants who have entered into lock-up agreements as contemplated above, the lock-up agreements contemplated therein shall govern with respect to their purchases of shares of our common stock in the program. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities and expenses, including liabilities under the Securities Act, in connection with sales of the directed shares.
Affiliations
The underwriters or their affiliates may from time to time in the future provide investment banking, commercial lending and financial advisory services to us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business. The underwriters and their affiliates, as applicable, will receive customary compensation and reimbursement of expenses in connection with such services. In the course of their businesses, the underwriters and their affiliates may actively trade our securities or loans for their own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, the underwriters and their affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities or loans.
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.
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The shares of common stock are being offered for sale only in those jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering or sale of the shares of common stock in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are required by us and the underwriters to inform themselves about and to observe any applicable restrictions. This prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation.
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, each of which we refer to as a Relevant Member State, including each Relevant Member State that has implemented amendments to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive with regard to persons to whom an offer of securities is addressed and the denomination per unit of the offer of securities, each of which we refer to as an Early Implementing Member State, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State, which we refer to as the Relevant Implementation Date, no offer of shares of our common stock offered hereby will be made in this offering to the public in that Relevant Member State (other than offers, which we refer to as Permitted Public Offers where a prospectus will be published in relation to the shares of our common stock offered hereby that has been approved by the competent authority in a Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), except that with effect from and including that Relevant Implementation Date, offers of shares of our common stock offered hereby may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:
provided that no such offer of shares of our common stock offered hereby shall result in a requirement for the publication of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or of a supplement to a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
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Each person in a Relevant Member State (other than a Relevant Member State where there is a Permitted Public Offer) who initially acquires any shares of our common stock offered hereby or to whom any offer is made under this offering will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each book-running manager that (A) it is a "qualified investor," and (B) in the case of any shares of our common stock offered hereby acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, (x) the shares of our common stock offered hereby acquired by it in this offering have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Relevant Member State other than "qualified investors" as defined in the Prospectus Directive, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Subscribers has been given to the offer or resale, or (y) where shares of our common stock offered hereby have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Relevant Member State other than "qualified investors" as defined in the Prospectus Directive, the offer of those shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons.
For the purpose of the above provisions, the expression "an offer to the public" in relation to any shares of our common stock offered hereby in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer of any such shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any such shares, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in the Relevant Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (including that Directive as amended, in the case of Early Implementing Member States) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
United Kingdom
This prospectus is only being distributed to and is only directed at persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Director that are also (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, or the Order, and/or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons").
This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
Each underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that:
Germany
Any offer or solicitation of securities within Germany must be in full compliance with the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz WpPG). The offer and solicitation of securities
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to the public in Germany requires the publication of a prospectus that has to be filed with and approved by the German Federal Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht BaFin). This prospectus has not been and will not be submitted for filing and approval to the BaFin and, consequently, will not be published. Therefore, this prospectus does not constitute a public offer under the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz). This prospectus and any other document relating to our common stock, as well as any information contained therein, must therefore not be supplied to the public in Germany or used in connection with any offer for subscription of our common stock to the public in Germany, any public marketing of our common stock or any public solicitation for offers to subscribe for or otherwise acquire our common stock. This prospectus and other offering materials relating to the offer of our common stock are strictly confidential and may not be distributed to any person or entity other than the designated recipients hereof.
Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This prospectus has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, us or the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this prospectus will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINM, or FINMA, and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.
Hong Kong
No securities have been offered or sold, and no securities may be offered or sold, in Hong Kong, by means of this prospectus or any document, other than (i) to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent, or (ii) to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) or (iv) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong). No advertisement, invitation or document relating to our securities has been issued or may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere) which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
This prospectus has not been registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. Accordingly, this prospectus may not be issued, circulated or distributed in Hong Kong, and the securities may not
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be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Each person acquiring the securities will be required, and is deemed by the acquisition of the securities, to confirm that he is aware of the restriction on offers of the securities described in this prospectus and the relevant offering documents and that he is not acquiring, and has not been offered any securities in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions.
Israel
In the State of Israel, the securities offered hereby may not be offered to any person or entity other than the following:
Any offeree of the securities offered hereby in the State of Israel shall be required to submit written confirmation that it falls within the scope of one of the above criteria. This prospectus will not be distributed or directed to investors in the State of Israel who do not fall within one of the above criteria.
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Singapore
This document has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and in Singapore, the offer and sale of our securities is made pursuant to exemptions provided in sections 274 and 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or SFA. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our securities may not be issued, circulated or distributed, nor may our securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person as defined under Section 275(2) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with the conditions (if any) set forth in the SFA. Moreover, this document is not a prospectus as defined in the SFA. Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply. Prospective investors in Singapore should consider carefully whether an investment in our securities is suitable for them.
Where our securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:
shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA, except:
In addition, investors in Singapore should note that the securities acquired by them are subject to resale and transfer restrictions specified under Section 276 of the SFA, and they, therefore, should seek their own legal advice before effecting any resale or transfer of their securities.
166
The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Certain partners of Kirkland & Ellis LLP are members of a limited partnership that owns approximately 0.5% of our common stock. Kirkland & Ellis LLP represents entities affiliated with CHS and its affiliates in connection with legal matters. The underwriters have been represented by White & Case LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements and schedule as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Where You Can Find More Information
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for the shares of common stock we and the selling stockholders are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for additional information. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, orders, agreements or other documents, you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, order, agreement or other document. When we complete this offering, we will also be required to file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
You can read, inspect without charge and obtain a copy of the registration statement or any of our other materials we file or filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room free of charge at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by contacting the SEC's Public Reference Room at (202) 551-8090. Please call the SEC, at its toll-free number at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC.
167
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders
GSE Holding, Inc.
Houston, Texas
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GSE Holding, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. In connection with our audits of the financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and schedule. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of GSE Holding, Inc. at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
As described in Note 3, the Company restated its previously issued financial statements to correct an error related to its accounting for inventory. As a result of this restatement, inventory as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was reduced by $2,144,000 and $3,652,000, respectively, and net loss for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was increased by $360,000, $2,595,000, and $729,000, respectively.
/s/
BDO USA, LLP
Houston, TX
July 8, 2011 (except for Note 3, as to which the date is October 19, 2011, Notes 2 and 18, as to which the date is November 10, 2011 and Note 19, which is as of December 6, 2011)
F-2
GSE Holding, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share amounts)
|
December 31, | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 15,184 | $ | 20,814 | ||||||
Accounts receivable: |
||||||||||
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,932 and $3,655 |
69,661 | 48,822 | ||||||||
Other |
5,420 | 1,792 | ||||||||
Inventory, net |
53,876 | 35,625 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
1,812 | 2,330 | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
4,942 | 2,509 | ||||||||
Income taxes receivable |
540 | 2,484 | ||||||||
Total current assets |
151,435 | 114,376 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
57,350 | 68,201 | ||||||||
Goodwill |
58,895 | 60,970 | ||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
4,121 | 6,683 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,245 | 472 | ||||||||
Other assets |
2,261 | 3,656 | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 276,307 | $ | 254,358 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 32,566 | $ | 20,212 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities and other |
24,825 | 18,493 | ||||||||
Short-term debt |
4,380 | 442 | ||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
3,317 | 3,167 | ||||||||
Income taxes payable |
144 | 204 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
242 | 573 | ||||||||
Total current liabilities |
65,474 | 43,091 | ||||||||
Other liabilities |
1,088 | 1,118 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,347 | 3,302 | ||||||||
Long-term debt, net of current portion |
174,632 | 152,240 | ||||||||
Total liabilities |
243,541 | 199,751 | ||||||||
Commitments and Contingencies |
||||||||||
Stockholders' equity: |
||||||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value, 13,397,700 shares authorized, 10,809,987 shares issued and outstanding |
108 | 108 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
61,332 | 61,265 | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(30,409 | ) | (13,662 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,735 | 5,637 | ||||||||
Total GSE Holding, Inc. stockholders' equity |
32,766 | 53,348 | ||||||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
| 1,259 | ||||||||
Total stockholders' equity |
32,766 | 54,607 | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
$ | 276,307 | $ | 254,358 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
GSE Holding, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
||||||||
Sales |
$ | 342,783 | $ | 291,199 | $ | 408,995 | |||||
Cost of products |
298,900 | 258,037 | 357,010 | ||||||||
Gross profit |
43,883 | 33,162 | 51,985 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
40,078 | 31,776 | 27,407 | ||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
2,284 | 2,619 | 3,044 | ||||||||
Operating income |
1,521 | (1,233 | ) | 21,534 | |||||||
Other expenses (income): |
|||||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
19,454 | 19,188 | 20,819 | ||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
(1,386 | ) | 375 | (413 | ) | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
59 | 210 | (2,682 | ) | |||||||
Other income, net |
(2,193 | ) | (3,031 | ) | (690 | ) | |||||
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes |
(14,413 | ) | (17,975 | ) | 4,500 | ||||||
Income tax (benefit) provision |
(2,069 | ) | (4,537 | ) | 6,414 | ||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
(12,344 | ) | (13,438 | ) | (1,914 | ) | |||||
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
(4,428 | ) | (2,846 | ) | (746 | ) | |||||
Net loss |
(16,772 | ) | (16,284 | ) | (2,660 | ) | |||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary |
25 | (51 | ) | 14 | |||||||
Net loss attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
$ | (16,747 | ) | $ | (16,335 | ) | $ | (2,646 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share: |
|||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (1.24 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | ||
Discontinued operations |
(0.41 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.07 | ) | |||||
|
$ | (1.55 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | ||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
GSE Holding, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
(In thousands)
(As Restated)
|
Common Stock | |
|
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Additional Paid-In Capital |
Retained Earnings (Deficit) |
Non-Controlling Interest |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares | Amount | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2007, as previously reported |
10,809,987 | $ | 108 | $ | 60,787 | $ | 5,647 | $ | 8,664 | $ | 1,506 | $ | 76,712 | |||||||||||
Prior period adjustment |
| | | (328 | ) | | | (328 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2007 |
10,809,987 | 108 | 60,787 | 5,319 | 8,664 | 1,506 | 76,384 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss): |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
| | | (2,646 | ) | | | (2,646 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
| | | | | (117 | ) | (117 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| | | | (4,777 | ) | | (4,777 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
(7,540 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests |
| | | | | (270 | ) | (270 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | 450 | | | | 450 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2008 |
10,809,987 | 108 | 61,237 | 2,673 | 3,887 | 1,119 | 69,024 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss): |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
| | | (16,335 | ) | | | (16,335 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
| | | | | 140 | 140 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| | | | 1,750 | | 1,750 | |||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
(14,445 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | 28 | | | | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2009 |
10,809,987 | 108 | 61,265 | (13,662 | ) | 5,637 | 1,259 | 54,607 | ||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss): |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
| | | (16,747 | ) | | | (16,747 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
| | | | | 52 | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
| | | | (3,902 | ) | | (3,902 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
(20,597 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Disposition of non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
| | | | | (1,311 | ) | (1,311 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | 67 | | | | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2010 |
10,809,987 | $ | 108 | $ | 61,332 | $ | (30,409 | ) | $ | 1,735 | $ | | $ | 32,766 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
GSE Holding, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
|
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (16,772 | ) | $ | (16,284 | ) | $ | (2,660 | ) | |||||
Loss from discontinued operations |
4,428 | 2,846 | 746 | |||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
10,416 | 10,084 | 10,175 | |||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
1,844 | 1,359 | 1,359 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
2,284 | 2,619 | 3,044 | |||||||||||
Amortization of premium/discount on senior notes |
(40 | ) | 444 | 444 | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
59 | 210 | (2,681 | ) | ||||||||||
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision |
(1,854 | ) | (6,454 | ) | 3,544 | |||||||||
Loss on sale of assets |
57 | 9 | 10 | |||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
67 | 28 | 450 | |||||||||||
Revaluation of non-dollar denominated debt |
345 | 198 | (806 | ) | ||||||||||
Change in cash from operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(24,539 | ) | 15,921 | 7,255 | ||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in allowance accounts |
(391 | ) | 4,439 | 459 | ||||||||||
Inventory |
(19,561 | ) | 30,441 | (23,150 | ) | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
(6,837 | ) | 430 | 4,240 | ||||||||||
Accounts payable |
12,827 | 612 | (668 | ) | ||||||||||
Accrued liabilities |
8,164 | 991 | (1,731 | ) | ||||||||||
Income taxes (receivable) payable |
2,615 | (2,733 | ) | (5,234 | ) | |||||||||
Other assets and liabilities |
347 | 90 | (196 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities continuing operations |
(26,541 | ) | 45,250 | (5,400 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities discontinued operations |
(3,219 | ) | 4,053 | (171 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
(29,760 | ) | 49,303 | (5,571 | ) | |||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |
(3,337 | ) | (2,842 | ) | (5,836 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from the sale of assets |
| 145 | 130 | |||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities continuing operations |
(3,337 | ) | (2,697 | ) | (5,706 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities discontinued operations |
2,284 | 75 | (259 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(1,053 | ) | (2,622 | ) | (5,965 | ) | ||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||||||
Proceeds from lines of credit |
137,865 | 92,915 | 154,530 | |||||||||||
Repayments of lines of credit |
(109,918 | ) | (125,413 | ) | (148,254 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt |
| | 832 | |||||||||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
(2,256 | ) | (2,256 | ) | (1,654 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swap |
| 2,063 | | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities continuing operations |
25,691 | (32,691 | ) | 5,454 | ||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities discontinued operations |
| | (1,170 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
25,691 | (32,691 | ) | 4,284 | ||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash continuing operations |
(228 | ) | (59 | ) | 272 | |||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash discontinued operations |
(280 | ) | 143 | 334 | ||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(5,630 | ) | 14,074 | (6,646 | ) | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
20,814 | 6,740 | 13,386 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
$ | 15,184 | $ | 20,814 | $ | 6,740 | ||||||||
Supplemental cash flow disclosure: |
||||||||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | 16,341 | $ | 16,932 | $ | 18,982 | ||||||||
Cash paid for income taxes |
$ | 22 | $ | 4,956 | $ | 6,224 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated)
1. Nature of Business
Organization and Description of Business
GSE Holding, Inc. (the "Company"), is a Delaware corporation, formed in 2004, originally as GEO Holdings, Corp. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. ("Gundle/SLT"), which is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1986, the Company is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered geosynthetic lining products for environmental protection and confinement applications. These lining products are used in a wide range of infrastructure end markets such as mining, waste management, liquid containment (including water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture), coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. The Company offers a full range of products, including geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners, nonwoven geotextiles, and other specialty products. The Company generates the majority of its sales outside of the United States, including emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Its comprehensive product offering and global infrastructure, along with its extensive relationships with customers and end-users, provide it with access to high-growth markets worldwide, visibility into upcoming projects and the flexibility to serve customers regardless of geographic location. The Company believes that its market share, broad product offering, strong customer relationships, diverse end markets and global presence provide it with key competitive advantages in the environmental geosynthetic products industry. The Company manufactures its products at facilities located in the United States, Germany, Thailand, Chile and Egypt.
On May 18, 2004, GEO Sub Corp., a newly formed entity controlled by Code Hennessy & Simmons IV ("CHS IV"), merged with and into Gundle/SLT with Gundle/SLT surviving the Merger (the "Merger"), and each share of Gundle/SLT common stock converted into the right to receive $5.11 in cash, in a transaction valued at approximately $242.1 million. As a result of the Merger, all of the outstanding common stock of Gundle/SLT is owned by the Company which is controlled by CHS IV, an entity controlled by Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC ("CHS").
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its majority-owned subsidiaries for which the Company controls the operating activities. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company reports noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries as a component of equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests as an adjustment to net loss to arrive at net loss attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Discontinued Operations
Certain amounts in the Company's consolidated financial statements for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Operating results for businesses that the Company has exited have been reclassified from continuing to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
F-7
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing receivables. The allowance is reviewed monthly and the Company establishes reserves for doubtful accounts on a case-by-case basis when it is believed that the required payment of specific amounts owed to the Company is unlikely to occur.
The Company has receivables from customers in various countries. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables unless credit capacity is not evident. In the case where credit capacity does not exist or cannot be appropriately determined, unsecured exposure security instruments such as upfront cash payments, down payments, credit cards, letters of credit, standby letters of credit, bank guarantees or personal guarantees will be required. In addition, in the U.S. where a customer's project is state or federally sponsored or owned, a payment or security bond is required by law in most states. If the customers' financial condition was to deteriorate or their access to freely convertible currency was restricted, resulting in impairment of their ability to make the required payments, additional allowances may be required.
Inventory
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost, which includes material, labor and overhead, is determined by the weighted average cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out cost method. The Company records provisions, as appropriate, to write-down slow-moving, excess or obsolete inventory to estimated net realizable value. The process for evaluating inventory often requires the Company to make subjective judgments and estimates concerning future sales levels, as well as the quantities and prices at which such inventories will be able to be sold in the normal course of business.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciations. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method, based on the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, which generally range from three to 30 years. Depreciation expense continues to be recognized when facilities or equipment are temporarily idled. Costs of additions and major improvements are capitalized, whereas maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the life of the asset are charged to expense as incurred. When items are retired or otherwise disposed of, income is charged or credited for the difference between net book value and net proceeds realized thereon. Interest costs incurred in construction of assets are capitalized and depreciated over the useful life of the asset. The Company makes use of judgments and estimates in conjunction with accounting for property, plant and equipment, including amounts to be capitalized, depreciation methods and useful lives.
F-8
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Carrying values of property, plant and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be recoverable. Such events or circumstances include, but are not limited to:
If impairment indicators are present, the Company determines whether an impairment loss should be recognized by testing the applicable asset or asset group's carrying value for recoverability. This test requires long-lived assets to be grouped at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities, the determination of which requires judgment. The Company estimates the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated from the use and eventual disposal of the assets, and compares that estimate to the respective carrying values in order to determine if such carrying values are recoverable. This assessment requires the exercise of judgment in assessing the future use of and projected value to be derived from the eventual disposal of the assets to be held and used. Assessments also consider changes in asset utilization, including the temporary idling of capacity and the expected timing for placing this capacity back into production. If the carrying value of the assets is not recoverable, then a loss is recorded for the difference between the assets' fair value and respective carrying value. The fair value of the assets is determined using an "income approach" based upon a forecast of all the expected discounted future net cash flows associated with the subject assets. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions include: market size and growth, market share, projected selling prices, manufacturing cost and discount rate. The Company's estimates are based upon its historical experience, its commercial relationships, market conditions and available external information about future trends. The Company believes its current assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate; however, unanticipated events and changes in market conditions could affect such estimates, resulting in the need for an impairment charge in future periods.
Goodwill and Impairment Testing
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price in a business combination over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 350, "Intangibles Goodwill and Other", goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair value
F-9
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
based test. The Company reviews goodwill to determine potential impairment annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The goodwill impairment analysis is comprised of two steps. The first step requires the comparison of the fair value of the applicable reporting unit to its respective carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and the Company would not be required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the Company must perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. The Company's annual assessment date is as of December 1. With respect to this testing, a reporting unit is a majority owned subsidiary of the Company for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by management. Future cash flows are typically based upon a five-year future period for the business and an estimated residual value. Management judgment is required in the estimation of future operating results and to determine the appropriate residual values. Future operating results and residual values could reasonably differ from the estimates and could require a provision for impairment in a future period. The following provides the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reporting unit for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010:
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North America |
Europe Africa |
Asia Pacific |
Latin America |
Total | |||||||||||
December 31, 2008 |
$ | 24,903 | $ | 29,392 | $ | 5,205 | $ | 4,439 | $ | 63,939 | ||||||
Goodwill impairment |
| $ | (2,969 | ) | | | (2,969 | ) | ||||||||
December 31, 2009 |
24,903 | 26,423 | 5,205 | 4,439 | 60,970 | |||||||||||
Sale of business |
(2,075 | ) | | | | (2,075 | ) | |||||||||
December 31, 2010 |
$ | 22,828 | $ | 26,423 | $ | 5,205 | $ | 4,439 | $ | 58,895 | ||||||
The 2009 impairment charge is included as a component of the loss from discontinued operations (see Note 4).
Revenue and Cost Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues for products sold directly to customers when products are shipped, title and risk of loss passes to the buyer, the Company has no further obligation to the buyer, and collectability is reasonably assured.
The Company recognizes revenue relating to contracts for the design and installation of geosynthetic containment solutions using the percentage of completion method. The use of this method is based on the Company's experience and history of being able to prepare reasonably dependable estimates of the cost to complete its projects. Under this method, the Company estimates profit as the difference between the total estimated revenue and total estimated cost of a contract and recognizes that profit over the life of the contract, based on costs incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated costs. The Company routinely reviews estimates related to its contracts, and revisions to profitability are reflected in the quarterly and annual earnings. If a current estimate of total contract cost exceeds the current estimate of total contract revenue, which indicates a loss on a contract, the projected loss is
F-10
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
recognized in full at that time. Revenue recognized under the percentage of completion method was $8.2 million, $7.4 million and $9.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Cost of sales includes all direct material and labor costs, and indirect costs such as indirect labor, depreciation, insurance, supplies, tools, repairs, and shipping and handling.
Deferred Financing Costs
Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest rate method over the period the related debt is anticipated to be outstanding.
Warranty Costs
The Company's geosynthetic products are sold and installed with specified limited warranties as to material quality and workmanship that typically extend 5 years, but may extend up to 20 years. The Company accrues a warranty reserve based on estimates for warranty claims. The reserve for these costs, along with other risk-based reserves, is included in the self-insurance reserves (see Notes 9 and 16).
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Other comprehensive income generally represents all changes in stockholders' equity, except those resulting from investments by or distributions to stockholders. The Company's accumulated other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustments and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Statement of Stockholders' Equity.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized and represent the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. They are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the related temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The deferred income tax provision represents the change during the reporting period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions and dispositions. Deferred tax assets include tax loss and credit carryforwards and are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items.
In 2007, the Company adopted new accounting standards which require evaluation of the tax positions for all jurisdictions and for all years where the statute of limitations has not expired and the Company is required to meet a "more-likely-than-not" threshold (i.e. greater than a 50 percent likelihood of a tax position being sustained under examination) prior to recording a tax benefit. Additionally, for tax positions meeting this "more-likely-than-not" threshold, the amount of benefit is limited to the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent probability of being realized upon effective settlement.
F-11
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Foreign Currency
Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated using average exchange rates during the year. Assets and liabilities of these foreign subsidiaries are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and the resulting translation adjustments are recognized as a separate component of Stockholder's equity. These translation adjustments are the only component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
Each of the Company's foreign subsidiaries may enter into contractual arrangements with customers or vendors that are denominated in currencies other than its respective functional currency. As a result, the Company's results of operations may be affected by exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and economic conditions in the regions in which it purchases raw material inventory or sells and distributes its products. Gains and losses arising from foreign currency transactions are recognized as incurred.
In connection with contracts performed outside of the United States, the Company routinely bids fixed-price contracts denominated in currencies different than the functional currency of the applicable subsidiary performing the work. The Company recognizes that such bidding practices, in the context of international operations, are subject to the risk of foreign currency fluctuations not present in domestic operations. Gains/losses related to these contracts are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Segment Reporting
The Company's operating and external reporting segments are based on the geographic regions in which it operates, which is consistent with the basis on which the Company internally reports and how its management evaluates such operations in order to make operating decisions. The Company's reportable segments are North America, Europe Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East.
Stock-Based Compensation
All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are measured at their grant date calculated value, and expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period) of the grant. The Company uses a calculated value to measure the compensation expense for share-based awards made to employees, as it has determined that it is impracticable to determine the expected volatility of its share price. Instead, the Company uses an industry measure of volatility in calculating this value. The Company recognizes expense for all stock-based compensation with graded vesting on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award.
In 2008, pursuant to the GEO Holdings 2004 Stock Option Plan, the Board of Directors approved the grant of 389,916 options to key employees of the Company at an exercise price of $6.35 per common
F-12
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
share. The options were fully vested on the grant date and stock-based compensation expense of $420 thousand was recognized during 2008 with respect to these awards, with a corresponding increase in "Additional Paid-in Capital."
In addition, pursuant to the GEO Holdings 2004 Stock Option Plan, the Board of Directors approved the grant of all of the options (25,111) that had been forfeited by employees that had left the Company, at exercise prices ranging from $5.90 to $6.05. These options were fully vested on the grant date and stock-based compensation totaling $30 thousand was recognized in 2008 with respect to these awards, with a corresponding increase in "Additional Paid-in Capital."
In 2009 pursuant to the GEO Holdings 2004 Stock Option Plan, the Board of Directors approved a grant to key employees of options (25,347) that had been forfeited by employees who had left the Company. Although the grants were approved, 19,191 of these options were not granted and the remaining 6,155 were subsequently forfeited. Also, during 2009, the Board of Directors approved the grant of 108,630 options to a certain key executive of the Company with an exercise price of $6.15. Stock-based compensation expense of $28 thousand was recognized during 2009 with a corresponding increase in "Additional Paid-in Capital."
In 2010, pursuant to the GEO Holdings Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan, the Board of Directors approved the grant of 43,452 options to key employees of the Company at an exercise price of $6.15 per share. The options were fully vested on the grant date and stock-based compensation expense of $67 thousand was recognized during 2010 with a corresponding increase in "Additional Paid-in Capital."
The value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in October 2010 and March 2009, respectively.
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Risk Free Interest Rate |
0.51 | % | 1.14 | % | 1.66 | % | ||||
Expected Life |
3 years | 3 years | 3 years | |||||||
Expected Volatility |
24.56 | % | 18.71 | % | 23.92 | % | ||||
Expected Dividend Yield |
0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Weighted-average calculated value per option |
$ | 0.69 | $ | 1.04 | $ | 1.09 |
The expected life of the options granted is based on the Company's best estimates and expectations related to the exercising of the options issued. There was no impact from estimated forfeitures on the compensation expense attributed to the awarded options.
Since GSE Holding, Inc. is a privately held company, it has no stock trading history to estimate volatility. The Company chose to use the volatility of the Dow Jones Building and Material Index fund. This index includes public companies that the Company believes have the most similarity to the Company's business. The Company calculated volatility from the historical closing price of this index.
F-13
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
The following table summarizes stock option activity for GSE Holding, Inc. as of December 31, 2010:
|
Shares | Range of Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2007 |
1,572,770 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 6.05 | $ | 2.16 | ||||||
2008 Stock Option Grant |
389,916 | $ | ~ | $ | 6.35 | $ | 6.35 | ||||||
Forfeited options reissued |
25,112 | $ | 5.90 | $ | 6.05 | $ | 5.97 | ||||||
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2008 |
1,987,798 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 6.35 | $ | 3.03 | ||||||
Forfeited options |
(242,404 | ) | $ | 5.90 | $ | 6.35 | $ | 6.14 | |||||
Options granted |
108,630 | $ | ~ | $ | 6.15 | $ | 6.15 | ||||||
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2009 |
1,854,024 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 6.35 | $ | 2.63 | ||||||
Forfeited options |
(234,858 | ) | $ | 5.90 | $ | 6.35 | $ | 6.15 | |||||
Forfeited options reissued |
43,452 | $ | ~ | $ | 6.15 | $ | 6.15 | ||||||
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2010 |
1,662,618 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 6.35 | $ | 2.42 | ||||||
All outstanding stock options are held by employees and former employees of the Company and have an expiration date of 10 years from the date of grant. At December 31, 2010, the average remaining contractual life of options outstanding and exercisable was 4.7 years.
As of December 31, 2010, the intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable was $5.5 million. The intrinsic value of a stock option is the difference between the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price of the option. The Company estimated the underlying value of the stock using a discounted cash flow model of future anticipated cash flows discounted back to current time and adjusted for illiquidity of the stock.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-05, Comprehensive Income: Presentation of Comprehensive Income, to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The amendments do not change the guidance regarding the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The amendments should be applied retrospectively, and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This ASU represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the IASB (the "Boards") on fair value measurement, and results
F-14
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated) (Continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term "fair value." These amendments change some of the terminology used to describe many of the existing requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments should be applied prospectively, andthey are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-28, Intangibles Goodwill and Other: When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts. The amendments in this ASU modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing event or circumstance-driven guidance related to goodwill impairment testing between annual tests. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies certain existing disclosure requirements in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, as well as requires disclosures related to significant transfers between each level and additional information about Level 3 activity. ASU 2010-06 begins phasing in the first fiscal period after December 15, 2009. The Company did not make nor anticipates a significant transfer between each level as of December 31, 2010. As such, the Company does not believe this ASU will have any material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In September 2009, FASB issued ASC 105, formerly FASB Statement No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) A Replacement of FASB Statement No. 162. ASC 105 establishes the Codification as the single source of authoritative GAAP in the United States, other than rules and interpretive releases issued by the SEC. The Codification is a reorganization of current GAAP into a topical format that eliminates the current GAAP hierarchy and establishes instead two levels of guidance authoritative and non-authoritative. All non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature that is not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative. The Codification was effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. As the Codification was not intended to change or alter existing GAAP, it did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855-10, Subsequent Events, which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. In February 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-09, which provided amended guidance on subsequent events. Under this amended guidance, SEC filers are no longer required to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in originally issued and revised financial statements. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
F-15
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
3. Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements
The Company has restated its previously issued consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. The restatements reflect adjustments to correct discrepancies identified in the Chilean subsidiary's records during the implementation of the ERP system in 2011.
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010 | ||||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | ||||||||||
Inventory, net |
56,020 | (2,144 | ) | 53,876 | |||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 278,451 | $ | (2,144 | ) | $ | 276,307 | ||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 30,698 | 1,868 | $ | 32,566 | ||||||||
Total liabilities |
241,673 | 1,868 | 243,541 | ||||||||||
Total stockholders' equity |
36,778 | (4,012 | ) | 32,766 | |||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
$ | 278,451 | $ | (2,144 | ) | $ | 276,307 | ||||||
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2009 | |||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | |||||||||
Inventory, net |
39,277 | (3,652 | ) | 35,625 | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 258,010 | $ | (3,652 | ) | $ | 254,358 | |||||
Total stockholders' equity |
58,259 | (3,652 | ) | 54,607 | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
$ | 258,010 | $ | (3,652 | ) | $ | 254,358 | |||||
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 |
|||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | |||||||||
Cost of products |
298,540 | 360 | 298,900 | |||||||||
Gross profit |
44,243 | (360 | ) | 43,883 | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share: |
||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | (1.11 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
(0.41 | ) | | (0.41 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | (1.52 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (1.55 | ) | |||
F-16
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
3. Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements (Continued)
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009 |
|||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | |||||||||
Cost of products |
255,442 | 2,595 | 258,037 | |||||||||
Gross profit |
35,757 | (2,595 | ) | 33,162 | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share: |
||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | (1.01 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | $ | (1.25 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
(0.26 | ) | | (0.26 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | (1.27 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | |||
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
|||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | |||||||||
Cost of products |
356,281 | 729 | 357,010 | |||||||||
Gross profit |
52,714 | (729 | ) | 51,985 | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share: |
||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
(0.07 | ) | | (0.07 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | (0.18 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | |||
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 |
||||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (16,412 | ) | $ | (360 | ) | $ | (16,772 | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|||||||||||||
Inventory |
(18,053 | ) | (1,508 | ) | (19,561 | ) | |||||||
Accounts payable |
10,959 | 1,868 | 12,827 |
F-17
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
3. Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements (Continued)
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Year Ended December 31, 2009 |
||||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (13,689 | ) | $ | (2,595 | ) | $ | (16,284 | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|||||||||||||
Inventory |
27,846 | 2,595 | 30,441 |
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
||||||||||||
|
As Previously Reported in S-1 |
Adjustments | As Restated | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (1,931 | ) | $ | (729 | ) | $ | (2,660 | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|||||||||||||
Inventory |
(23,879 | ) | 729 | (23,150 | ) |
4. Discontinued operations
GSE Lining Technology Limited U.K.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company conducted a detailed productivity and efficiency review and assessment of all of its manufacturing facilities worldwide and adopted restructuring and productivity improvement programs across the entire Company. As part of these programs, the Company decided to close GSE Lining Technology Limited ("GSE UK"), its manufacturing facility located in the United Kingdom before the end of 2010. The decision to close GSE UK was made as the assessment determined the GSE UK facility was significantly less efficient than the Company's other facilities worldwide. The manufacturing facility ceased operations during 2010. The Company has recorded after tax losses of approximately $1.3 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and after tax income of approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, related to GSE UK. The after tax loss during the year ended December 31, 2010 included the impairment of long-lived assets of approximately $0.8 million and the after tax loss during the year ended December 31, 2009 included the impairment of goodwill of approximately $3.0 million.
F-18
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Discontinued operations (Continued)
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued GSE UK operations is shown below:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Operations |
|||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 11,770 | $ | 13,729 | $ | 17,642 | |||||
Cost of products |
10,768 | 11,517 | 15,495 | ||||||||
Gross profit |
1,002 | 2,212 | 2,147 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
2,105 | 1,255 | 895 | ||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
148 | 188 | 290 | ||||||||
Impairment of long-lived assets |
799 | 2,969 | | ||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
(73 | ) | 131 | 388 | |||||||
Other income |
(7 | ) | | (63 | ) | ||||||
Income tax (benefit) provision |
(667 | ) | 205 | 254 | |||||||
(Loss) Income from discontinued operations |
$ | (1,303 | ) | $ | (2,536 | ) | $ | 383 | |||
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 31, | |||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | 2,893 | $ | 2,757 | ||||
Accounts receivable |
3,276 | 2,224 | ||||||
Inventory |
2,248 | 614 | ||||||
Income taxes receivable |
399 | | ||||||
Prepaid and other current assets |
25 | 61 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
309 | 1,283 | ||||||
Customer lists and other intangible assets, net |
289 | 456 | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | 9,439 | $ | 7,395 | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 483 | $ | 805 | ||||
Income taxes payable |
| 50 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
83 | 365 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 566 | $ | 1,220 | ||||
United States Installation Business
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company conducted a detailed review of the profitability and viability of its United States installation business and decided to exit this business during 2010. The Company sold the United States installation business effective June 30, 2010, for approximately
F-19
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Discontinued operations (Continued)
$2.3 million in cash resulting in a gain on sale of assets of approximately $1.6 million. The Company recorded after tax income of approximately $0.7 million, $0.2 million and $2.3 million, during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued U.S. Installation operations is shown below:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Operations |
|||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 8,439 | $ | 12,012 | $ | 29,317 | |||||
Cost of products |
6,415 | 10,617 | 23,914 | ||||||||
Gross profit |
2,024 | 1,395 | 5,403 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
2,447 | 1,090 | 1,651 | ||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of assets and other |
(1,601 | ) | (75 | ) | 19 | ||||||
Income tax provision |
459 | 148 | 1,404 | ||||||||
Income from discontinued operations |
$ | 719 | $ | 232 | $ | 2,329 | |||||
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 31, | |||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
$ | 325 | $ | 3,545 | ||||
Deferred tax asset |
37 | | ||||||
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on contracts in progress |
| 176 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
| 837 | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | 362 | $ | 4,558 | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 95 | $ | 392 | ||||
Advance billings on contracts in progress |
| 580 | ||||||
Income taxes payable |
| 137 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
| 14 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 95 | $ | 1,123 | ||||
GSE Bentoliner (Canada), Inc.
The Company sold its 75.5% interest in GSE Bentoliner (Canada), Inc. ("Bentoliner") to the minority stockholders of Bentoliner, for cash and other considerations on April 16, 2010, effective March 31, 2010, resulting in a loss on sale of approximately $3.0 million. The loss on sale included the write off of approximately $2.1 million of goodwill. The Company recorded an after tax loss of $3.8 million, after
F-20
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Discontinued operations (Continued)
tax income of $0.3 million and an after tax loss of $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued Bentoliner operations is shown below:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Operations |
|||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 526 | $ | 4,092 | $ | 7,881 | |||||
Cost of products |
752 | 4,090 | 8,167 | ||||||||
Gross (loss) profit |
(226 | ) | 2 | (286 | ) | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
18 | 66 | 79 | ||||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss |
(43 | ) | (398 | ) | 208 | ||||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary |
(27 | ) | 89 | (103 | ) | ||||||
Loss on sale of assets |
3,012 | | | ||||||||
Other income |
(9 | ) | (35 | ) | (74 | ) | |||||
Income tax provision (benefit) |
667 | 10 | (16 | ) | |||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations |
$ | (3,844 | ) | $ | 270 | $ | (380 | ) | |||
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 31, | |||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | | $ | 478 | ||||
Accounts receivable |
| 340 | ||||||
Income tax receivable |
| 102 | ||||||
Inventory |
| 642 | ||||||
Prepaid and other |
| 23 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation |
| 1,311 | ||||||
Goodwill |
| 468 | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | 3,364 | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | | $ | 678 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
| 354 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | 1,032 | ||||
F-21
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Discontinued operations (Continued)
GSE GeoSport Surfaces
In March 2008, the Company reviewed its strategic long-term opportunities and decided to exit the synthetic turf business which operated as GSE GeoSport Surfaces ("GeoSport"). The Company made the decision to exit the synthetic turf business as overall market conditions and other factors did not permit the Company to earn an acceptable return. The Company completed the exit from the synthetic turf business as of December 31, 2008. There were no revenues or expenses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company recorded an after tax loss of $0.8 million and $3.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The after tax loss during the year ended December 31, 2009 included the recognition of warranty claims of approximately $1.3 million relating to projects that were completed prior to the exit from the synthetic turf business.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued GeoSport operations is shown below:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Operations |
|||||||||||
Total sales |
$ | | $ | | $ | 4,964 | |||||
Cost of products |
| 1,250 | 5,229 | ||||||||
Gross loss |
| (1,250 | ) | (265 | ) | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
| | 395 | ||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
| | 15 | ||||||||
Impairment of long-lived assets |
| | 4,213 | ||||||||
Interest expense |
| | 68 | ||||||||
Other income |
| | (23 | ) | |||||||
Income tax benefit |
| (438 | ) | (1,855 | ) | ||||||
Loss from discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | (812 | ) | $ | (3,078 | ) | |||
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 31, | |||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Customer lists and other intangible assets, net |
| | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 988 | $ | 1,384 | ||||
Long-term debt |
900 | 900 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 1,888 | $ | 2,284 | ||||
F-22
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Discontinued operations (Continued)
Other Actions
An important element of the restructuring and productivity improvement programs across the entire Company was headcount reductions. During January 2010, the Company reduced its headcount by approximately 10% and later in 2010, there were additional headcount reductions in connection with the disposal of the United States Installation Business. As a result of these 2010 headcount reductions, the Company recognized and paid $2.6 million in severance-related costs, of which $1.5 million directly pertained to businesses reported within Discontinued Operations. The Company will continue to seek and implement cost saving measures on an ongoing basis.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company engaged an independent consulting firm which specializes in private equity portfolio company performance improvement. During the engagement, personnel from the consulting firm functioned in several interim management roles for the Company, including but not limited to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President of Operations, and were an integral part of the detailed productivity and efficiency review and assessment of the Company's operations. The Company's interim CFO is a managing director at the consulting firm. The firm charged the Company retainer fees in 2010 in the amount of $3.0 million, of which $2.6 million were recorded as a component of Selling, General and Administrative expenses and $0.4 million were recorded in Discontinued Operations. During 2010, the consulting firm earned a success fee for the Company achieving agreed upon performance improvements. The success fee earned by the consulting firm was approximately $7.6 million, of which $5.7 million was recorded as a component of Selling, General and Administrative expenses and $1.9 million was recorded in Discontinued Operations.
5. Net Loss per Share
The Company computes basic net income (loss) per share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, increased to include the number of shares of common stock that would have been outstanding had potential dilutive shares of common stock been issued. The dilutive effect of employee stock options is reflected in diluted net income (loss) per share by applying the treasury stock method.
The Company recorded a net loss for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Potential common shares are anti-dilutive in periods which the Company records a net loss because they would reduce the respective period's net loss per share. Anti-dilutive potential common shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share. As a result, net diluted loss per share was equal to basic net loss per share in the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. There were approximately 459,000, 512,000 and 549,000 stock options outstanding, at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, of which 333,600 had exercise prices lower than the average price of Company common shares as of each of those dates. These in-the-money options would have been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share had the Company not reported a net loss in each of the respective years.
F-23
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
5. Net Loss per Share (Continued)
The basic and diluted net loss per share calculations are presented below (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
||||||||||
Net loss attributable to Company common stockholders: |
|||||||||||||
From continuing operations |
$ | (12,319 | ) | $ | (13,489 | ) | $ | (1,900 | ) | ||||
From discontinued operation |
(4,428 | ) | (2,846 | ) | (746 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | (16,747 | ) | $ | (16,335 | ) | $ | (2,646 | ) | ||||
Common share information: |
|||||||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding basic |
10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | ||||||||||
Dilutive effect of employee stock options |
| | | ||||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding dilutive |
10,810 | 10,810 | 10,810 | ||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share: |
|||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (1.24 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | ||||
Discontinued operations |
(0.41 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.07 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | (1.55 | ) | $ | (1.51 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | ||||
6. Inventory
Inventory consisted of the following at December 31:
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Raw materials |
$ | 24,350 | $ | 14,976 | ||||
Finished goods |
28,231 | 21,119 | ||||||
Supplies |
3,752 | 3,665 | ||||||
Obsolescence and slow moving allowance |
(2,457 | ) | (4,135 | ) | ||||
|
$ | 53,876 | $ | 35,625 | ||||
7. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Useful lives years |
2010 | 2009 | ||||||||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||
Land |
$ | 4,911 | $ | 5,104 | |||||||
Buildings and improvements |
7-30 | 23,992 | 24,780 | ||||||||
Machinery and equipment |
3-10 | 94,789 | 100,875 | ||||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
3-5 | 975 | 986 | ||||||||
|
124,667 | 131,745 | |||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(67,317 | ) | (63,544 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | 57,350 | $ | 68,201 | |||||||
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $10.4 million, $10.1 million, and $10.2 million, respectively.
F-24
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
8. Intangible Assets, net
Customer lists and other intangible assets consisted of the following at December 31:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Useful lives years |
2010 | 2009 | ||||||||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||
Customer lists |
5-10 | $ | 25,629 | $ | 26,119 | ||||||
Software |
3 | 1,500 | 1,500 | ||||||||
Non-compete agreements |
5-10 | 2,638 | 2,638 | ||||||||
Other |
1 | 468 | 467 | ||||||||
|
30,235 | 30,724 | |||||||||
Less accumulated amortization |
(26,114 | ) | (24,041 | ) | |||||||
Intangible assets, net |
$ | 4,121 | $ | 6,683 | |||||||
Amortization expense for intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was approximately $2.3 million, $2.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively.
Remaining amortization expense is expected to be recognized as follows:
|
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year Ending December 31, | Customer Lists |
Non-compete Agreements |
Total | ||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
2011 |
$ | 1,376 | $ | 130 | $ | 1,506 | |||||
2012 |
785 | 108 | 893 | ||||||||
2013 |
618 | 90 | 708 | ||||||||
|
$ | 2,779 | $ | 328 | $ | 3,107 | |||||
9. Accrued Liabilities and Other
Accrued liabilities and other consisted of the following as of December 31:
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Customer prepayments |
$ | 4,493 | $ | | ||||
Accrued operating expenses |
4,472 | 1,372 | ||||||
Self-insurance reserves |
3,839 | 4,433 | ||||||
Compensation and benefits |
5,043 | 4,251 | ||||||
Accrued interest |
2,319 | 1,522 | ||||||
Taxes, other than income |
1,735 | 3,034 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
2,924 | 3,881 | ||||||
|
$ | 24,825 | $ | 18,493 | ||||
F-25
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
10. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31:
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
11% Senior Notes due May 2012 |
$ | 150,000 | $ | 150,000 | ||||
Revolving Credit Facility, floating interest rate |
24,101 | | ||||||
Term Loan seller note with annual installments $900,000 October 2007, 5.13% |
900 | 900 | ||||||
Term Loan seller note with annual installments $900,000 January 2007, 5% for two years and floating thereafter |
900 | 1,800 | ||||||
Term Loan Thailand bank secured by equipment, monthly installments of $113,000, 5.625% variable through May 2013 |
2,670 | 3,773 | ||||||
|
178,571 | 156,473 | ||||||
Less current maturities |
(3,317 | ) | (3,167 | ) | ||||
Unamortized loss on interest rate swap |
(687 | ) | (1,171 | ) | ||||
Premium on senior notes |
65 | 105 | ||||||
|
$ | 174,632 | $ | 152,240 | ||||
Prior to the effects of the refinancing presented in Note 19, Subsequent Events, the following summarizes the maturities of the Company's long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2010, excluding the unamortized premium on the senior notes which will not result in cash payments (in thousands).
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year Ending December 31, | Amount | ||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||
2011 |
$ | 3,317 | |||
2012 |
175,212 | ||||
2013 |
42 | ||||
|
$ | 178,571 | |||
Senior Notes
In connection with the Merger, Gundle/SLT issued $150.0 million of 11% senior notes due in May 2012 (the "Senior Notes"). These notes are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Senior Notes are guaranteed by all of Gundle/SLT's existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries.
The indenture governing the notes, among other things: (1) restricts Gundle/SLT's ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, issue shares of preferred stock, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments and enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (2) prohibits certain restrictions on the ability of certain of Gundle/SLT's subsidiaries to pay dividends or make certain payments to it; and (3) places restrictions on Gundle/SLT's ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to merge or consolidate with any other person or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of assets. The indenture related to these notes also contains various
F-26
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
10. Long-Term Debt (Continued)
covenants that limit Gundle/SLT's discretion in the operation of its businesses. See Note 19, Subsequent Events, regarding the Company's repayment of the Senior Notes in connection with its May 2011 refinancing.
Credit Facility
On July 27, 2007, the Company entered into a $51.9 million revolving credit facility as amended on August 29, 2008, with Bank of America Business Capital. The credit facility is between Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. and certain domestic subsidiaries, and the financial institutions party to this agreement from time to time as lenders (collectively, "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, as agent for the Lenders ("Agent"), and has a termination date of July 27, 2012.
On May 14, 2008, the Company entered into a first amendment to the credit facility. On August 29, 2008, the Company entered into a second amendment which among other things, effective September 1, 2008, terminated the first amendment. The amended credit facility includes, among other things: a borrowing base formula based on eligible domestic and certain international assets with advance rates computed at (1) 85% of accounts receivable; (2) 65% of inventory; and (3) the lesser of (i) $18.0 million; (ii) 65% of the net book value of machinery and equipment; or (iii) if an appraisal of equipment has been performed, 85% of the net orderly liquidation value percentage of the value of the eligible equipment. The outstanding borrowings bear interest, at the Company's option, at either a base rate or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin of between 0.0% and 2.0% as determined by the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter. The rate in effect at December 31, 2010 was 3.5%. The Company is also required to pay customary agency fees, commitment fees, and expenses. The Company paid commitment fees of approximately $72 thousand, $47 thousand and $112 thousand during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
The credit facility is guaranteed by all of the Company's existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries, excluding the Company's international subsidiaries to the extent guarantees by such subsidiaries would be prohibited by applicable tax law or could result in adverse tax consequences. The credit facility is secured by substantially all of the Company's U.S. assets, and by the Company's capital stock and the capital stock of substantially all of the Company's domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of substantially all of the Company's first-tier international subsidiaries.
The credit facility has restrictive covenants which limit, among other things, certain business changes, certain ownership changes, permitted debt, liens, purchases and dispositions of capital assets, and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements as well as customary events of default.
As of December 31, 2010, the Company had a borrowing base capacity of $36.3 million with an outstanding loan balance of $24.1 million, net of $1.9 million of issued letters of credit, and a net availability on December 31, 2010 of $10.3 million. See Note 19, Subsequent Events, regarding the Company's repayment of borrowings under the credit facility in connection with its May 2011 refinancing.
F-27
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
10. Long-Term Debt (Continued)
For all periods presented, the Company was not subject to any restrictive financial covenants and was in compliance with all debt covenants under the existing agreements.
Non-Dollar Denominated Debt
As of December 31, 2010, the Company had five local international credit facilities. It had credit facilities with two German banks in the amount of EUR 6.3 million ($8.4 million). These revolving credit facilities are secured by a corporate guarantee and bear interest at various market rates. These credit facilities are used primarily to guarantee the performance of European installation contracts and temporary working capital requirements. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had EUR 1.7 million ($2.3 million) available under these credit facilities with EUR 1.5 million ($2.0 million) of bank guarantees outstanding, and with EUR 3.1 ($4.1 million) outstanding under the line of credit.
The Company has two credit facilities with Egyptian banks in the amount of EGP 15.0 million ($2.7 million). These credit facilities bear interest at various market rates and are primarily for cash management purposes. The Company had EGP 10.8 million ($1.9 million) available under these credit facilities with EGP 2.7 million ($0.5 million) of bank guarantees outstanding with EGP 1.5 million ($0.3 million) outstanding under the line of credit as of December 31, 2010.
On March 6, 2009, the Company entered into a BAHT 50.0 million ($1.7 million) revolving credit facility with Export-Import Bank of Thailand ("EXIM") and has a termination date at the discretion of EXIM or the Company. This revolving credit facility bears interest at EXIM prime rate less 0.75% for BAHT borrowings and at London Interbank Offer Rates (LIBOR) plus 3.5% for U.S. dollar borrowings. Repayments of principal are required within 90 days from the date of each draw down borrowing and interest is payable once a month on the last day of the month. The credit facility is secured by a BAHT 45.1 million ($1.5 million) mortgage on land, building and equipment. The Company had BAHT 4.8 million ($0.2 million) available under these credit facilities with BAHT 40.3 million ($1.3 million) of letters of credit outstanding with no amounts outstanding under the line of credit as of December 31, 2010.
The Company has a BAHT 225.7 million ($7.5 million) term loan with a Thailand bank, bearing interest at the bank's Minimum Lending Rate ("MLR") less 1.00% for the first two years and MLR less 0.50%, thereafter, and is secured by equipment, building and lease rights of the property where the equipment and building are located. The bank's MLR was 6.125% at December 31, 2010. The promissory note required monthly payments of interest only for the first six months beginning in October 2007 with monthly payments of BAHT 1.4 million ($46 thousand) plus interest beginning April 2008, increasing to BAHT 3.5 million ($0.1 million) in July 2008, and finally increasing to BAHT 3.8 million ($0.1 million) beginning in December 2008 and maturing in May 2013. The term loan had a balance outstanding on December 31, 2010 of BAHT 80.3 million ($2.7 million).
Other Debt
In conjunction with the acquisition of SL Limitada, the Company entered into a five year installment obligation with the Seller of SL Limitada for $4.5 million, secured by a share pledge agreement for 30% of the equity of GSE Lining Technology Chile, S.A., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the
F-28
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
10. Long-Term Debt (Continued)
Company. The installment obligation bears interest at 5% for the first two years, converting to a variable rate based on LIBOR for the remaining term. Payments are in five annual principal and interest amounts beginning on January 1, 2007. The installment obligation has a balance outstanding on December 31, 2010 of $0.9 million, which was paid in January 2011.
In connection with the ProGreen acquisition, the Company entered into a three-year unsecured promissory note in the original principal amount of $2.7 million. The note bears interest at the rate of 5.13% per annum and is payable in three equal annual principal payments of $0.9 million plus accrued interest commencing October 13, 2007. The note has a balance outstanding of $0.9 million on December 31, 2010 due to the Company electing to not make the final payment due on October 13, 2009, as the Company is in dispute with the former owners of ProGreen in regards to the $1.3 million warranty claims discussed in Note (3). ProGreen ("the Plaintiff") filed a lawsuit in the Unites States District Court for the Southern District of Texas to recover the $0.9 million outstanding balance plus interest and attorneys' fees from the Company. The Company filed its affirmative defenses and counterclaimed against the Plaintiff, for recovery of all consideration paid to the Plaintiff, as well as asserted other legal claims for damages against the Plaintiff. In March 2011, the Company and the Plaintiff resolved these actions. In connection with this resolution, the Company made payments totaling $0.7 million in full settlement of the $0.9 million principal balance owed to the Plaintiff, with the residual difference recorded within other income, net.
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements" (formerly SFAS No. 157), for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a common definition for fair value to be applied to existing GAAP that requires the use of fair value measurements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosure about such fair value measurements. The adoption of FASB ASC Topic 820 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or operating results, but did expand certain disclosures.
FASB ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, FASB ASC Topic 820 requires the use of valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
The three levels of inputs used are as follows:
Level 1 Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
F-29
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Continued)
Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.
In January 2005, the Company entered into a $75.0 million interest rate swap as a mechanism to convert $75.0 million of fixed rate debt to variable rate debt. As of December 31, 2005, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreement of $3.1 million was recorded in other liabilities with a corresponding decrease in the carrying value of debt. On January 1, 2006, the Company began marking to market the liability for the change in value of the interest rate swap and reflecting the change in value in the line item titled "Change in Fair Value of Derivatives" in the consolidated statement of operations.In addition, in January 2006, the Company began accreting the $3.1 million reduction in the carrying value of debt as a yield adjustment to interest expense over the life of the debt. During each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, accretion of this loss on the interest rate swap increased the respective annual interest expense by approximately $0.5 million. In accordance with the terms of the interest rate swap agreement, the counterparty to the interest rate swap elected the optional early termination provision of the agreement on May 15, 2009, and paid the Company approximately $2.1 million.
In June 2009, the Company entered into a $75.0 million interest rate swap as a mechanism to convert $75.0 million of fixed rate debt to variable rate debt. The variable rate is one month LIBOR plus 8.925% and a term through May 5, 2012. In July 2010, the Company entered into a EUR 1.0 million ($1.3 million) interest rate swap in connection with the German revolving credit facility. The swap has an interest rate of 3.03% and expires in July 2015. Due to the mark-to-market change in value of the interest rate swaps, the Company recorded approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a change in fair value of derivatives in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value of the $75 million interest rate swap at December 31, 2009 was $0.1 million, based on Level 2 inputs. In accordance with the terms of the interest rate swap agreement, the counter party to the interest rate swap notified the Company on April 19, 2010 it elected the optional early termination provision of the agreement to be effective May 15, 2010. The early termination provision of the interest rate swap agreement required no cash settlement to be paid to the Company. At December 31, 2010, the fair value of the EUR 1.0 million interest rate swap was approximately EUR 12 thousand ($14 thousand), based on Level 2 inputs.
In connection with the Merger, Gundle/SLT issued $150.0 million of 11% senior notes due in May 2012. Within the terms of the senior notes are two embedded derivatives that allowed for optional early redemption of the senior notes. These embedded derivatives were not considered clearly and closely related to the debt agreement and therefore were required to be valued separately from the senior notes. These options expired on May 15, 2007 and May 15, 2008. At the date of the issuance of the senior notes, the fair value of the embedded derivates was determined to be $0.3 million. This amount was recorded in other assets with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the senior notes. This premium is amortized as a yield adjustment to interest expense over the life of the debt. Amortization of this premium reduced interest expense by approximately $40 thousand in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
F-30
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Continued)
The Company's other financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, trade payables and debt instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. In addition, the carrying values of the Company's floating-rate debt instruments are deemed to approximate their respective fair values as they carry interest rates that adjust with underlying market rates. The Company had $150.0 million of fixed-rate debt instruments as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, with fair values of approximately $142.2 million and $148.5 million, respectively, based on Level 2 inputs. The fair value of long-term debt was estimated based on quoted market prices for these or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.
No interest was capitalized in the consolidated financial statements for any period presented.
12. Stock Options
GEO Holdings Corp. 2004 Stock Option Plan
The GEO Holdings Corp. ("GEO Holdings") 2004 Stock Option Plan (the "GEO Holdings Option Plan") became effective upon the consummation of the CHS Merger. Under the GEO Holdings Option Plan, the board of directors of GEO Holdings (or a committee thereof) may from time to time grant options to purchase common stock of GEO Holdings representing up to 2,276,703 (614,085 not issued as of December 31, 2010) shares of GEO Holdings' common stock on a fully-diluted basis immediately following the consummation of the Merger to executives or other key employees or directors of GEO Holdings and its subsidiaries. Both "nonqualified" stock options and "incentive" stock options may be granted under the GEO Holdings Option Plan with terms to be determined by the board of directors (or a committee thereof). The 1,207,965 options to purchase GEO Holdings common stock received by certain of the Company's executives in exchange for options to purchase GSE common stock on the closing date of the Merger pursuant to executive securities agreements, which represented approximately 10% of GEO Holdings' common stock on a fully-diluted basis immediately following the completion of the Merger, were issued under the GEO Holdings Option Plan. The weighted average exercise price of the exchanged options is $1.01 per share.
These exchanged options are exercisable at any time and expire ten years from the date of grant, unless the holder is terminated for cause, as defined in the GEO Holdings Option Plan. In connection with a termination for cause, the Company or CHS IV has (1) the obligation to repurchase such options for the original cost, which is $5.11 less the original predecessor option's exercise price (which averages $1.01), and (2) the right, but not the obligation, to purchase any outstanding common stock held as a result of exercising such options for the lesser of fair market value or original cost. Should the holder separate from the Company for any reason other than cause, the Company or CHS IV would have the right but not the obligation to purchase any of the outstanding exchanged options or common stock held as a result of exercising such options for the greater of fair market value or original cost.
See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Stock-Based Compensation, regarding the Company's stock-based awards and compensation expense for each of the three years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
F-31
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
13. Income Taxes
Domestic and foreign income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes were as follows (in thousands):
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|||||||||
Domestic |
$ | (19,440 | ) | $ | (13,741 | ) | $ | (5,771 | ) | |||
Foreign |
5,027 | (4,234 | ) | 10,271 | ||||||||
Total |
$ | (14,413 | ) | $ | (17,975 | ) | 4,500 | |||||
The provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
Current expense (benefit): |
|||||||||||||
U.S. |
|||||||||||||
Federal |
$ | (2,346 | ) | $ | 1,121 | $ | (377 | ) | |||||
State |
137 | 422 | 361 | ||||||||||
Total U.S. |
(2,209 | ) | 1,543 | (16 | ) | ||||||||
Foreign |
1,834 | 967 | 2,574 | ||||||||||
Total current |
(375 | ) | 2,510 | 2,558 | |||||||||
Deferred expense (benefit): |
|||||||||||||
U.S. |
|||||||||||||
Federal |
(1,240 | ) | (4,617 | ) | 2,887 | ||||||||
State |
5 | (497 | ) | 490 | |||||||||
Total U.S. |
(1,235 | ) | (5,114 | ) | 3,377 | ||||||||
Foreign |
(459 | ) | (1,933 | ) | 479 | ||||||||
Total deferred |
(1,694 | ) | (7,047 | ) | 3,856 | ||||||||
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes |
$ | (2,069 | ) | $ | (4,537 | ) | $ | 6,414 | |||||
F-32
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
13. Income Taxes (Continued)
Reconciliation between the (benefit) provision for income taxes from continuing operations and income taxes computed by applying the statutory rate is as follows (in thousands):
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||
Tax (benefit) provision at statutory rate |
$ | (5,045 | ) | $ | (6,291 | ) | $ | 1,575 | ||||
Add (deduct) |
||||||||||||
Meals and entertainment disallowance |
34 | 34 | 39 | |||||||||
Dividends |
966 | 605 | 16 | |||||||||
Change in valuation allowance |
2,124 | 874 | 4,735 | |||||||||
Taxable differential for foreign subsidiaries |
(528 | ) | 310 | (1,477 | ) | |||||||
State income tax |
(10 | ) | (60 | ) | 683 | |||||||
Other, net |
390 | (9 | ) | 843 | ||||||||
|
$ | (2,069 | ) | $ | (4,537 | ) | $ | 6,414 | ||||
The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities were:
|
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||
Deferred tax assets: |
|||||||||
Accrued expenses |
$ | 4,624 | $ | 5,220 | |||||
Foreign tax credit |
12,816 | 12,111 | |||||||
Net operating loss carryforward |
8,845 | 5,768 | |||||||
AMT carryforward |
712 | 757 | |||||||
Capital loss carryforward |
656 | | |||||||
Valuation allowance |
(17,209 | ) | (12,585 | ) | |||||
|
10,444 | 11,271 | |||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
|||||||||
Excess book basis over tax basis for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets |
(8,733 | ) | (11,771 | ) | |||||
Other |
(243 | ) | (573 | ) | |||||
|
(8,976 | ) | (12,344 | ) | |||||
Total deferred tax asset (liability) |
$ | 1,468 | $ | (1,073 | ) | ||||
At December 31, 2010, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes of $23.9 million which will begin to expire, if unused, in 2023. The Company also has foreign tax credit carryfowards for U.S. federal income tax purposes of $12.8 million which will begin to expire, if unused, in 2011. In addition, the Company has an alternative minimum tax credit carryforward of $0.7 million, which does not expire. The valuation allowance increased in 2010 due to the net of foreign tax credits generated on foreign earnings repatriated or deemed repatriated in 2010, the redetermination of the foreign tax credit from earlier years and the increase in the net operating loss. The valuation allowance was recorded based on management's best estimate that it is more likely than not that a portion of the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits will
F-33
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
13. Income Taxes (Continued)
not be realized. At December 31, 2010, the valuation allowance on foreign tax credits and federal and state net operating losses was $17.2 million.
Undistributed retained earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $20.4 million at December 31, 2010. Provision for U.S. federal and state income taxes has not been provided for earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested. Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to both U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries. Determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax asset/liability, if any, for temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration is not practicable.
The Company is subject to income tax in U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions. Based on applicable statutes of limitations, the Company is generally no longer subject to examinations by tax authorities in years prior to 2004.
The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. Consistent with prior practices, the Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The Company did not incur any interest and penalties nor accrue any interest for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
14. Employee Benefit Plans
The Company has a defined contribution employee benefit plan under which substantially all U.S. employees are eligible to participate. The Company matches a portion of the employees' contributions. The Company contributed approximately $0.3 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million to the plan during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
The Company had a Corporate Retirement Plan, which was an executive nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Qualifying executive officers could elect to defer compensation and take distributions after separation from GSE service or for disability, unforeseen emergency, or death. There was no participation in this plan by a qualifying executive officer during the year ended December 31, 2010 and this plan was terminated during 2010. The participants contributed a total of approximately $118 thousand and $300 thousand to this plan and the Company made matching contributions of approximately $12 thousand and $49 thousand during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
15. Concentration of Credit and Other Risks
Accounts receivable, as financial instruments, could potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company continuously evaluates the creditworthiness of its customers and may require customers to provide letters of credit to guarantee payments. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, no single customer accounted for 10% or more of sales.
The Company currently purchases its raw material, mainly polyethylene resins from at least two suppliers at each location. Polyethylene resins are occasionally in short supply and are subject to substantial price fluctuation in response to market demand. The Company has not encountered any significant prolonged difficulty to date in obtaining raw materials in sufficient quantities to support its
F-34
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
15. Concentration of Credit and Other Risks (Continued)
operations at current or expected near-term future levels. However, any disruption in raw material supply or abrupt increases in raw material prices could have an adverse effect upon the Company's operations.
16. Commitments and Contingencies
Product Warranties and Insurance Coverage
The Company's products are sold and installed with specified limited warranties as to material quality and workmanship. These limited warranties may last for up to 20 years, but are generally limited to repair or replacement by the Company of the defective liner or the dollar amount of the contract involved, on a prorated basis. The Company may also indemnify the site owner or general contractor for other damages resulting from negligence of the Company's employees. The Company accrues a warranty reserve based on estimates for warranty claims. This estimate is based on historical claims history and current business activities and is accrued as a cost of sales in the period such business activity occurs. As previously discussed in Note (4), the warranty reserve accrual was increased approximately $1.3 million during the fiscal year ended 2009 relating to warranty claims arising from projects that were completed prior to the exit from the synthetic turf business. The table below reflects a summary of activity of the Company's operations for warranty obligations through December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2007 |
$ | 1,969 | ||||
Obligations adjusted |
(44 | ) | ||||
Obligations paid |
(169 | ) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2008 |
1,756 | |||||
Obligations adjusted |
2,079 | |||||
Obligations paid |
(461 | ) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2009 |
3,374 | |||||
Obligations adjusted |
(61 | ) | ||||
Obligations paid |
(511 | ) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2010 |
$ | 2,802 | ||||
Although the Company is not exposed to the type of potential liability that might arise from being in the business of handling, transporting or storing hazardous waste or materials, the Company could be susceptible to liability for environmental damage or personal injury resulting from defects in the Company's products or negligence by Company employees in the installation of its lining systems. Such liability could be substantial because of the potential that hazardous or other waste materials might leak out of their containment system into the environment. The Company maintains liability insurance, which includes contractor's pollution liability coverage in amounts which it believes to be prudent. However, there is no assurance that this coverage will remain available to the Company. While the Company's claims experience to date may not be a meaningful measure of its potential exposure for product liability, the Company has experienced no material losses from defects in products and installations.
F-35
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
16. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
Bonding Bank Guarantees
The Company, in some direct sales and raw material acquisition situations, is required to post performance bonds or bank guarantees as part of the contractual guarantee for its performance. The performance bonds or bank guarantees can be in the full amount of the contracts. To date the Company has not received any claims against any of the posted securities, most of which terminate at the final completion date of the contracts. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had $4.4 million of bonds outstanding and $5.7 million of guarantees issued under its bank lines.
Litigation and Claims
The Company is a party to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. These legal actions cover a broad variety of claims spanning the Company's entire business. We believe it is not reasonably possible that resolution of these legal actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Operating Leases
The Company leases certain equipment through operating lease arrangements of varying terms. The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments for operating leases as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year ending December 31, | |
||||
2011 |
$ | 487 | |||
2012 |
309 | ||||
2013 |
164 | ||||
2014 |
144 | ||||
2015 |
124 | ||||
Thereafter |
884 | ||||
|
$ | 2,112 | |||
Annual rent expense under the terms of non-cancelable operating leases was less than 1% of consolidated sales during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
17. Related Party Transaction
Management Agreement with CHS Management IV LP
In connection with the Merger, the Company entered into a management agreement with GEO Holdings and CHS Management IV LP ("CHS Management") a limited partnership (1) of which CHS is the general partner and (2) which is the general partner of CHS IV. Pursuant to the management agreement, CHS Management provides certain financial and management consulting services to GEO Holdings and to the Company. In consideration of those services, the Company pays fees to CHS Management in an aggregate annual amount of $2.0 million payable in equal monthly installments. The Company also agreed to reimburse CHS Management for its reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket
F-36
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
17. Related Party Transaction (Continued)
expenses. The Company also provides customary indemnification to CHS Management. In connection with the structuring and implementation of the Merger and related financing transactions, GEO Holdings paid CHS management fees in the aggregate amount of $5.0 million at the completion of the Merger. Under the Management Agreement, GEO Holdings will pay CHS Management a fee equal to 5% of any additional proceeds of GEO Holdings' capital stock purchased from time to time by CHS Management or its affiliates. The management fee is subordinated to the prior payment in full of principal, interest and premium due and owing under its credit facility and the indenture governing the senior notes, but the Company may pay the management fee at all times except during certain events of default under its credit facility or under the indenture governing the senior notes. In the event any portion of the management fee is not so paid, such amount will accrue and become due and payable in the next month when payment is permitted. Under this agreement, the Company paid and expensed CHS $2.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The amounts paid to CHS are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, there were no amounts payable to CHS under this agreement.
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
The Company's former President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") passed away unexpectedly on August 5, 2009. Under the terms of the CEO's employment contract and the Company's benefit plans, the CEO's estate is to be paid approximately $1.0 million, in equal semi-monthly payments of approximately $28 thousand over an eighteen month period, beginning in September 2009. Accordingly, the Company recorded approximately $1.0 million of expense during the year ended December 31, 2009 as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2010, there is approximately $0.1 million to be paid to the former CEO's estate and is recorded as a liability in accrued liabilities and other.
18. Segment Information
The Company's operating and external reporting segments are based on geographic regions, which is consistent with the basis of how management internally reports and evaluates financial information used to make operating decisions. The Company's reportable segments are North America, Europe Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East.
Management evaluates performance and allocates resources based on sales and gross margin. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
In 2010, the Company sold its 75.5% interest in GSE Bentoliner (Canada) to the minority stockholders. Additionally, it closed GSE Lining Technology Limited in the UK and sold its US installation business. In 2008, the Company sold GSE GeoSport Surfaces, its synthetic turf business. As described in Note 4 Discontinued Operations, the Company excluded the results of these components of its business from results from continuing operations. The results from those components are also excluded from the segment information presented below, as management believes results from continuing operations provides a better view of the Company. Prior to selling or discontinuing these operations,
F-37
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
18. Segment Information (Continued)
GSE Bentoliner, US Installation and GSE GeoSport were part of the North America segment. GSE Lining Technology Limited was part of the Europe Africa segment.
The following tables present information about the results from continuing operations and assets of the Company's reportable segments for the periods presented.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year ended December 31, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 142,956 | $ | 104,506 | $ | 49,370 | $ | 36,120 | $ | 9,831 | $ | 342,783 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
18,896 | 1,514 | 8,869 | | 1,594 | 30,873 | |||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
161,852 | 106,020 | 58,239 | 36,120 | 11,425 | 373,656 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
24,005 | 10,506 | 4,301 | 3,855 | 1,216 | 43,883 | |||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
14.8 | % | 9.9 | % | 7.4 | % | 10.7 | % | 10.6 | % | 11.7 | % | |||||||||
Segment assets |
176,973 | 58,640 | 40,126 | 26,954 | 11,068 | 313,761 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year ended December 31, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 137,504 | $ | 82,278 | $ | 37,754 | $ | 23,613 | $ | 10,050 | $ | 291,199 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
7,034 | 2,503 | 4,187 | | 1,741 | 15,465 | |||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
144,538 | 84,781 | 41,941 | 23,613 | 11,791 | 306,664 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
25,377 | 6,654 | 1,220 | (1,389 | ) | 1,300 | 33,162 | ||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
17.6 | % | 7.8 | % | 2.9 | % | -5.9 | % | 11.0 | % | 10.8 | % | |||||||||
Segment assets |
150,235 | 59,037 | 32,111 | 21,484 | 10,273 | 273,140 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year ended December 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 183,743 | $ | 105,111 | $ | 58,658 | $ | 45,931 | $ | 15,552 | $ | 408,995 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
9,334 | 509 | 305 | 10 | | $ | 10,158 | ||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
193,077 | 105,620 | 58,963 | 45,941 | 15,552 | 419,153 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
26,782 | 14,799 | 4,542 | 3,340 | 2,522 | 51,985 | |||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
13.9 | % | 14.0 | % | 7.7 | % | 7.3 | % | 16.2 | % | 12.4 | % | |||||||||
Segment assets |
208,754 | 56,654 | 35,331 | 30,731 | 9,598 | 341,068 |
The following tables reconcile the segment information presented above to the consolidated financial information.
F-38
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
18. Segment Information (Continued)
Sales
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reconciliation to Consolidated Sales |
|||||||||||
|
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||
Total segment sales |
$ | 373,656 | $ | 306,664 | $ | 419,153 | ||||||
Intersegment sales |
(30,873 | ) | (15,465 | ) | (10,158 | ) | ||||||
Consolidated sales |
$ | 342,783 | $ | 291,199 | $ | 408,995 | ||||||
Assets
|
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reconciliation to Consolidated Assets | ||||||||
|
December 31, | ||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
|
(Restated) |
(Restated) |
|||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||
Total segment assets |
$ | 313,761 | $ | 273,140 | |||||
Intersegment balances |
(37,395 | ) | (18,785 | ) | |||||
Other |
(59 | ) | 3 | ||||||
Consolidated assets |
$ | 276,307 | $ | 254,358 | |||||
Long Lived Assets
|
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 31, | ||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||
United States |
$ | 63,229 | $ | 65,127 | |||||
Canada |
| 4,812 | |||||||
Germany |
21,490 | 21,701 | |||||||
United Kingdom |
5,904 | 6,118 | |||||||
Thailand |
22,115 | 21,933 | |||||||
Chile |
7,502 | 7,421 | |||||||
Egypt |
4,427 | 4,633 | |||||||
Total |
124,667 | 131,745 | |||||||
F-39
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
18. Segment Information (Continued)
Geographic Sales Information
The following table presents further geographic detail for sales related to continuing operations. For purposes of this disclosure, sales are attributed to individual countries on the basis of the physical location and jurisdiction of the entity invoicing the customer for the sale.
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||
North America |
$ | 142,956 | $ | 137,504 | $ | 183,743 | ||||||
Europe Africa |
104,507 | 82,278 | 105,110 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific |
49,370 | 37,754 | 58,658 | |||||||||
Latin America |
36,120 | 23,613 | 45,931 | |||||||||
Middle East |
9,830 | 10,050 | 15,553 | |||||||||
Total sales |
$ | 342,783 | $ | 291,199 | $ | 408,995 | ||||||
United States |
$ |
117,481 |
$ |
115,639 |
$ |
153,940 |
||||||
Non-United States |
25,475 | 21,865 | 29,803 | |||||||||
North America |
$ | 142,956 | $ | 137,504 | $ | 183,743 | ||||||
Product Information
The Company sells four significant types of geosynthetic lining products, generally categorized as geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners and nonwoven geotextiles. Geomembranes are synthetic polymeric lining materials used as barriers in geotechnical engineering applications. Drainage products, such as geonets and geocomposites, are typically installed along with geomembranes in a liner system to keep liquids from accumulating on the liners. Geosynthetic clay liners are typically installed as the bottom layer of a liner system. Nonwoven geotextiles are synthetic, staple fiber, nonwoven needle-punched fabrics used in environmental and other industrial applications. All other polysynthetic products are captured in the specialty products category. Each product category is sold in each geographic segment.
The following table presents the sales of each product category for the years presented:
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||
Geomembranes |
$ | 267,312 | $ | 216,776 | $ | 316,146 | ||||||
Drainage |
31,167 | 32,324 | 38,981 | |||||||||
Geosynthetic clay liners |
18,639 | 20,428 | 23,099 | |||||||||
Nonwoven geotextiles |
10,399 | 8,928 | 12,739 | |||||||||
Specialty products |
7,208 | 6,950 | 8,849 | |||||||||
Other |
8,058 | 5,793 | 9,181 | |||||||||
Total sales |
$ | 342,783 | $ | 291,199 | $ | 408,995 | ||||||
F-40
GSE Holding, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
19. Subsequent Events
In May 2011, the Company refinanced its $150 million 11 percent senior notes, as well as $27 million in borrowings under our existing revolving credit facility, with a portion of the proceeds from two new senior secured credit facilities. See Note 10, Long-Term Debt, for a discussion of these refinanced borrowing arrangements. These new facilities consist of (1) a five-year $160 million facility, which includes a $135 million term loan commitment and a $25 million revolving loan commitment, and (2) a five-year $40 million facility in the form of a term loan. In connection with its refinancing, the Company recorded a $2.0 million loss on extinguishment of debt, primarily related to the write off of unamortized debt issuance costs. Borrowings under each of these new facilities bears interest at a floating rate based on either Prime or LIBOR, at the Company's option. At May 27, 2011, the Company had $185 million in outstanding borrowings under these new facilities consisting of $175 million in term loans and $10 million in revolving loans at a weighted average interest rate of 9.48%.
Summarized below are the maturities of the Company's long-term debt under the new senior secured credit facilities immediately following the May 27, 2011 refinancing:
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year Ending December 31, | Amount | ||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||
2011 |
$ | 675 | |||
2012 |
1,350 | ||||
2013 |
1,350 | ||||
2014 |
1,350 | ||||
2015 |
1,350 | ||||
Thereafter |
178,672 | ||||
|
$ | 184,747 | |||
On November 22, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors and shareholders approved a 3.621-for-one stock split. The par value of the common stock was maintained at $0.01 per share. All references to common shares and per share amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the stock split on a retroactive basis.
The Company has evaluated subsequent events from September 30, 2011 through December 6, 2011, the date the financial statements were issued, and determined that there were no additional items to disclose.
F-41
GSE HOLDING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share amounts)
|
September 30, 2011 | December 31, 2010 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(Unaudited) |
(Restated) |
||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 8,720 | $ | 15,184 | ||||||
Accounts receivable: |
||||||||||
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,456 and $1,932 |
97,052 | 69,661 | ||||||||
Other |
5,031 | 5,420 | ||||||||
Inventory, net |
54,652 | 53,876 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
1,368 | 1,812 | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
7,404 | 4,942 | ||||||||
Income taxes receivable |
577 | 540 | ||||||||
Total current assets |
174,804 | 151,435 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
56,785 | 57,350 | ||||||||
Goodwill |
58,895 | 58,895 | ||||||||
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization |
3,076 | 4,121 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,352 | 2,245 | ||||||||
Other assets |
7,150 | 2,261 | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 303,062 | $ | 276,307 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 43,340 | $ | 32,566 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities |
23,721 | 24,825 | ||||||||
Income taxes payable |
589 | 144 | ||||||||
Short-term debt |
4,821 | 4,380 | ||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
3,066 | 3,317 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
242 | 242 | ||||||||
Total current liabilities |
75,779 | 65,474 | ||||||||
Other liabilities |
1,066 | 1,088 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,438 | 2,347 | ||||||||
Long-term debt, net of current portion |
189,359 | 174,632 | ||||||||
Total liabilities |
268,642 | 243,541 | ||||||||
Commitments and Contingencies |
||||||||||
Stockholders' equity: |
||||||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value, 13,397,700 shares authorized; 10,809,987 shares issued and outstanding |
108 | 108 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
61,407 | 61,332 | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(28,519 | ) | (30,409 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
1,424 | 1,735 | ||||||||
Total stockholders' equity |
34,420 | 32,766 | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
$ | 303,062 | $ | 276,307 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-42
GSE HOLDING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
Sales |
$ | 146,842 | $ | 99,103 | ||||
Cost of products |
126,006 | 83,634 | ||||||
Gross profit |
20,836 | 15,469 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
12,761 | 11,310 | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
329 | 563 | ||||||
Operating income |
7,746 | 3,596 | ||||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
4,657 | 4,933 | ||||||
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain) |
(1,617 | ) | 1,853 | |||||
Other income, net |
(222 | ) | (201 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
4,928 | (2,989 | ) | |||||
Income tax provision |
1,200 | 73 | ||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
3,728 | (3,062 | ) | |||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
76 | 140 | ||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
$ | 3,804 | $ | (2,922 | ) | |||
Basic net income (loss) per common share: |
||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.34 | $ | (0.28 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.01 | ||||||
|
$ | 0.35 | $ | (0.27 | ) | |||
Diluted net income (loss) per common share: |
||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.31 | $ | (0.28 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.01 | ||||||
|
$ | 0.32 | $ | (0.27 | ) | |||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic |
10,810 | 10,810 | ||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, dilutive |
11,867 | 10,810 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-43
GSE HOLDING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share
amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
Sales |
$ | 353,791 | $ | 253,038 | ||||
Cost of products |
300,925 | 222,836 | ||||||
Gross profit |
52,866 | 30,202 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
31,499 | 31,064 | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
1,057 | 1,710 | ||||||
Operating income (loss) |
20,310 | (2,572 | ) | |||||
Other expenses (income): |
||||||||
Interest expense, net of interest income |
14,978 | 14,531 | ||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
2,016 | | ||||||
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain) |
36 | (718 | ) | |||||
Change in fair value of derivatives |
| 59 | ||||||
Other income, net |
(928 | ) | (1,457 | ) | ||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
4,208 | (14,987 | ) | |||||
Income tax provision (benefit) |
2,401 | (322 | ) | |||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
1,807 | (14,665 | ) | |||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
83 | (4,220 | ) | |||||
Net income (loss) |
1,890 | (18,885 | ) | |||||
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
| 25 | ||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to GSE Holding, Inc. |
$ | 1,890 | $ | (18,860 | ) | |||
Basic net income (loss) per common share: |
||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.17 | $ | (1.36 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
| (0.39 | ) | |||||
|
$ | 0.17 | $ | (1.75 | ) | |||
Diluted net income (loss) per common share: |
||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.15 | $ | (1.36 | ) | |||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | (0.39 | ) | |||||
|
$ | 0.16 | $ | (1.75 | ) | |||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic |
10,810 | 10,810 | ||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, dilutive |
11,830 | 10,810 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-44
GSE HOLDING, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||
Net income (loss). |
$ | 1,890 | $ | (18,885 | ) | |||||
(Income) loss from discontinued operations |
(83 | ) | 4,220 | |||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
11,394 | 10,845 | ||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
2,016 | | ||||||||
Revaluation of non-dollar denominated debt |
(158 | ) | (373 | ) | ||||||
Changes in operational working capital, excluding cash and debt |
(26,677 | ) | (12,142 | ) | ||||||
All other items, net |
289 | (29 | ) | |||||||
Net cash used in operating activities continuing operations |
(11,329 | ) | (16,364 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities discontinued operations |
5,087 | (4,370 | ) | |||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(6,242 | ) | (20,734 | ) | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |
(7,713 | ) | (1,887 | ) | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities continuing operations |
(7,713 | ) | (1,887 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by investing activities discontinued operations |
| 2,284 | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
(7,713 | ) | 397 | |||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||
Proceeds from lines of credit |
77,659 | 93,703 | ||||||||
Repayments of lines of credit |
(83,212 | ) | (76,012 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt |
173,085 | | ||||||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
(152,411 | ) | (1,917 | ) | ||||||
Payments for debt issuance costs |
(7,274 | ) | | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities continuing operations |
7,847 | 15,774 | ||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities discontinued operations |
(650 | ) | | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
7,197 | 15,774 | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash continuing operations |
312 | (113 | ) | |||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash discontinued operations |
(18 | ) | (255 | ) | ||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(6,464 | ) | (4,931 | ) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
15,184 | 20,814 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
$ | 8,720 | $ | 15,883 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-45
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Organization and Description of Business
GSE Holding, Inc. (the "Company"), is a Delaware corporation, formed in 2004, originally as GEO Holdings, Corp. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. ("Gundle/SLT"), which is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1986, the Company is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered geosynthetic lining products for environmental protection and confinement applications. These lining products are used in a wide range of infrastructure end markets such as mining, waste management, liquid containment (including water infrastructure, agriculture and aquaculture), coal ash containment and shale oil and gas. The Company offers a full range of products, including geomembranes, drainage products, geosynthetic clay liners, nonwoven geotextiles, and other specialty products. The Company generates the majority of its sales outside of the United States, including emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Its comprehensive product offering and global infrastructure, along with its extensive relationships with customers and end-users, provide it with access to high-growth markets worldwide, visibility into upcoming projects and the flexibility to serve customers regardless of geographic location. The Company believes that its market share, broad product offering, strong customer relationships, diverse end markets and global presence provide it with key competitive advantages in the environmental geosynthetic products industry. The Company manufactures its products at facilities located in the United States, Germany, Thailand, Chile and Egypt.
On May 18, 2004, GEO Sub Corp., a newly formed entity controlled by Code Hennessy & Simmons IV ("CHS IV"), merged with and into Gundle/SLT with Gundle/SLT surviving the Merger (the "Merger"), and each share of Gundle/SLT common stock converted into the right to receive $5.11 in cash, in a transaction valued at approximately $242.1 million. As a result of the Merger, all of the outstanding common stock of Gundle/SLT is owned by the Company which is controlled by CHS IV, an entity controlled by Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC ("CHS").
(b) Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as those in the Company's audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010. The December 31, 2010 Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet data was derived from the Company's year-end audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of such financial statements for the periods indicated. The Company believes that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Operating results for the first nine months of 2011 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the notes thereto.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts as well as certain disclosures. The Company's financial statements
F-46
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
include amounts that are based on management's best estimates and judgments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(c) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-08, Intangibles Goodwill and Other: Testing Goodwill for Impairment, to allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under these amendments, an entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments include a number of events and circumstances for an entity to consider in conducting the qualitative assessment. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. As the amendments only impact the process of assessing goodwill for impairment, and not the recognition or measurement of an impairment charge, the adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income: Presentation of Comprehensive Income, to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The amendments do not change the guidance regarding the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The amendments should be applied retrospectively, and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This ASU represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the IASB (the "Boards") on fair value measurement, and results in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term "fair value." These amendments change some of the terminology used to describe many of the existing requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments should be applied prospectively, and they are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
F-47
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-28, Intangibles Goodwill and Other: When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts. The amendments in this ASU modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing event or circumstance-driven guidance related to goodwill impairment testing between annual tests. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies certain existing disclosure requirements in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, as well as requires disclosures related to significant transfers between each level and additional information about Level 3 activity. ASU 2010-06 begins phasing in the first fiscal period after December 15, 2009. The Company did not make nor anticipates a significant transfer between each level as of December 31, 2010. As such, the Company does not believe this ASU will have any material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
2. Discontinued Operations
GSE Lining Technology Limited U.K.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company conducted a detailed productivity and efficiency review and assessment of all of its manufacturing facilities worldwide and adopted restructuring and productivity improvement programs across the entire Company. As part of these programs the Company decided to close GSE Lining Technology Limited ("GSE UK"), and its manufacturing facility located in the United Kingdom, before the end of 2010. The decision to close GSE UK was made as the evaluation determined the GSE UK facility was significantly less efficient than the Company's other facilities worldwide. The manufacturing facility ceased operations during 2010. The Company recorded an after tax income of $0.1 million in the three months ended September 11, 2011 and an after tax loss of $0.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010. The Company recorded an after tax loss of less than $0.1 million and $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued GSE UK operations is shown below:
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Operations |
||||||||
Sales |
$ | | $ | 3,504 | ||||
Cost of products |
4 | 3,211 | ||||||
Gross profit (loss) |
(4 | ) | 293 | |||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
16 | 254 | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
| 38 | ||||||
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss and other |
(96 | ) | (83 | ) | ||||
Income tax (benefit) provision |
| (56 | ) | |||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations |
$ | (76 | ) | $ | 140 | |||
F-48
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
2. Discontinued Operations (Continued)
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Operations |
||||||||
Sales |
$ | | $ | 9,643 | ||||
Cost of products |
131 | 8,619 | ||||||
Gross profit |
(131 | ) | 1,024 | |||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
39 | 1,993 | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
| 111 | ||||||
Asset impairment |
| 799 | ||||||
Foreign currency transaction gain and other |
(129 | ) | (91 | ) | ||||
Income tax provision (benefit) |
8 | (693 | ) | |||||
Loss from discontinued operations |
$ | (49 | ) | $ | (1,095 | ) | ||
|
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | 2,464 | $ | 2,893 | ||||
Accounts receivable |
118 | 3,276 | ||||||
Inventory |
| 2,248 | ||||||
Income taxes receivable |
577 | 399 | ||||||
Prepaid and other current assets |
58 | 25 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
309 | 309 | ||||||
Customer lists and other intangible assets, net |
| 289 | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | 3,526 | $ | 9,439 | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 108 | $ | 483 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
268 | 83 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 376 | $ | 566 | ||||
F-49
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
2. Discontinued Operations (Continued)
United States Installation Business
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company conducted a detailed review of the profitability and viability of its United States installation business and decided to exit this business during 2010. The Company sold the United States installation business effective June 30, 2010, for approximately $2.3 million resulting in a gain on sale of assets of approximately $1.6 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, there were no revenues recognized or operating expenses incurred. The Company recorded an after tax loss of $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and an after tax gain of $0.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued United States Installation operations is shown below:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Operations |
||||||||
Sales |
$ | | $ | 8,439 | ||||
Cost of products |
| 6,415 | ||||||
Gross profit |
| 2,024 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
| 2,447 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of assets |
221 | (1,601 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense |
| 459 | ||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations |
$ | (221 | ) | $ | 719 | |||
|
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
$ | 36 | $ | 325 | ||||
Deferred tax asset |
| 37 | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | 36 | $ | 362 | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accrued liabilities |
$ | 89 | $ | 95 | ||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 89 | $ | 95 | ||||
GSE Bentoliner (Canada), Inc.
The Company sold its 75.5% interest in GSE Bentoliner (Canada), Inc. ("Bentoliner") to the minority share holders' of Bentoliner, for cash and other considerations on April 16, 2010, effective March 31, 2010, resulting in a loss on sale of approximately $3.0 million. The loss on sale included the write off of approximately $2.1 million of goodwill. There were no revenues recognized or operating expenses
F-50
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
2. Discontinued Operations (Continued)
incurred after March 31, 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 there was an after tax loss of $3.8 million recorded.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued Bentoliner operations is shown below:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Operations |
||||||||
Sales |
$ | | $ | 526 | ||||
Cost of products |
| 752 | ||||||
Gross loss |
| (226 | ) | |||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
| 18 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of assets |
| 3,012 | ||||||
Other income |
| (79 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense |
| 667 | ||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | (3,844 | ) | |||
GSE GeoSport Surfaces
In March 2008, the Company reviewed its strategic long-term opportunities and decided to exit the synthetic turf business which operated as GSE GeoSport Surfaces ("GeoSport"). The Company made the decision to exit the synthetic turf business as overall market conditions and other factors did not permit the Company to earn an acceptable return. The Company completed the exit from the synthetic turf business as of December 31, 2008. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, there were no revenues recognized or operating expenses incurred. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 there was after tax income of $0.4 million recognized related to the forgiveness of debt.
Summarized financial information for the Company's discontinued GeoSport operations is shown below:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Operations |
||||||||
Sales |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Cost of products |
| | ||||||
Gross profit |
| | ||||||
Interest expense |
12 | | ||||||
Other income |
(365 | ) | | |||||
Income from discontinued operations |
$ | 353 | $ | | ||||
F-51
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
2. Discontinued Operations (Continued)
|
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Customer lists and other intangible assets, net |
| | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 938 | $ | 988 | ||||
Long-term debt |
| 900 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | 938 | $ | 1,888 | ||||
Other Actions
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company engaged an independent consulting firm which specializes in private equity portfolio company performance improvement. During the engagement, personnel from the consulting firm functioned in several interim management roles for the Company, including but not limited to Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and Vice President of Operations, and were an integral part of the detailed productivity and efficiency review and assessment of the Company's operations. The firm charged the Company retainer fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, which were recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") or discontinued operations ("DISCO"). The consulting firm also earned a success fee for the Company achieving agreed upon performance improvements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 which was recorded as a component of SG&A and DISCO.
Summarized retainer and success fee expenses are shown below:
|
Three months ended September 30, 2011 |
Three months ended September 30, 2010 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||
Retainer Fee: |
|||||||||||||||
SG&A |
$ | 955 | $ | 598 | $ | 1,968 | $ | 2,236 | |||||||
DISCO |
| | | 428 | |||||||||||
Total |
$ | 955 | $ | 598 | $ | 1,968 | 2,664 | ||||||||
Success Fee: |
|||||||||||||||
SG&A |
$ | | $ | 2,834 | $ | | $ | 5,668 | |||||||
DISCO |
| | | 1,907 | |||||||||||
Total |
$ | | $ | 2,834 | $ | | $ | 7,575 | |||||||
F-52
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
3. Inventory
Inventory consisted of the following:
|
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Raw materials |
$ | 26,662 | $ | 24,350 | ||||
Finished goods |
26,075 | 28,231 | ||||||
Supplies |
4,044 | 3,752 | ||||||
Obsolescence and slow moving allowance |
(2,129 | ) | (2,457 | ) | ||||
|
$ | 54,652 | $ | 53,876 | ||||
4. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
|
Useful lives years |
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||
Land |
$ | 4,886 | $ | 4,911 | |||||||
Buildings and improvements |
7-30 | 24,093 | 23,992 | ||||||||
Machinery and equipment |
3-10 | 102,040 | 94,789 | ||||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
3-5 | 980 | 975 | ||||||||
|
131,999 | 124,667 | |||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(75,214 | ) | (67,317 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | 56,785 | $ | 57,350 | |||||||
Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $2.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively. Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $8.3 million and $7.8 million, respectively.
F-53
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
5. Intangible Assets, net
Customer lists and other intangible assets consisted of the following:
|
Useful lives years |
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||
Customer lists |
5-10 | $ | 25,565 | $ | 25,629 | ||||||
Software |
3 | 1,500 | 1,500 | ||||||||
Non-compete agreements |
5-10 | 2,469 | 2,638 | ||||||||
Other |
1 | 350 | 468 | ||||||||
|
29,884 | 30,235 | |||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(26,808 | ) | (26,114 | ) | |||||||
|
$ | 3,076 | $ | 4,121 | |||||||
Amortization expense on intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Amortization expense on intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $1.1 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
6. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
|
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Customer prepayments |
$ | 104 | $ | 4,493 | ||||
Accrued operating expenses |
5,362 | 4,472 | ||||||
Self-insurance reserves |
3,530 | 3,839 | ||||||
Compensation and benefits |
6,139 | 5,043 | ||||||
Accrued interest |
3,505 | 2,319 | ||||||
Taxes, other than income |
1,919 | 1,735 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
3,162 | 2,924 | ||||||
|
$ | 23,721 | $ | 24,825 | ||||
7. Warranty Reserves
The Company's products are sold and installed with specified limited warranties as to material quality and workmanship. These limited warranties may last for up to 20 years, but are generally limited to repair or replacement by the Company of the defective liner or the dollar amount of the contract involved, on a prorated basis. The Company may also indemnify the site owner or general contractor for other damages resulting from negligence of the Company's employees. The Company accrues a warranty reserve based on estimates for warranty claims. This estimate is based on historical claims history and current business activities and is accrued as a cost of sales in the period such business
F-54
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
7. Warranty Reserves (Continued)
activity occurs. The table below reflects a summary of activity of the Company's operations for warranty obligations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively (in thousands):
Nine months ended September 30, 2011: | |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balance at December 31, 2010 |
$ | 2,802 | ||||
Obligations adjusted |
319 | |||||
Obligations paid |
(399 | ) | ||||
Balance at September 30, 2011 |
$ | 2,722 | ||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2010: | |
|||||
Balance at December 31, 2009 |
$ | 3,374 | ||||
Obligations adjusted |
(43 | ) | ||||
Obligations paid |
(491 | ) | ||||
Balance at September 30, 2010 |
$ | 2,840 | ||||
Although the Company is not exposed to the type of potential liability that might arise from being in the business of handling, transporting or storing hazardous waste or materials, the Company could be susceptible to liability for environmental damage or personal injury resulting from defects in the Company's products or negligence by Company employees in the installation of its lining systems. Such liability could be substantial because of the potential that hazardous or other waste materials might leak out of their containment system into the environment. The Company maintains liability insurance, which includes contractor's pollution liability coverage in amounts which it believes to be prudent. However, there is no assurance that this coverage will remain available to the Company. While the Company's claims experience to date may not be a meaningful measure of its potential exposure for product liability, the Company has experienced no material losses from defects in products and installations.
F-55
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
8. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
|
September 30, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
First Lien Credit Facility |
$ | 152,661 | $ | | ||||
Second Lien Term Loan, including payment in kind ("PIK") interest |
40,280 | | ||||||
11% Senior Notes due May 2012 |
| $ | 150,000 | |||||
Revolving Credit Facility, floating interest rate |
| 24,101 | ||||||
Term Loan seller note with annual installments of $900,000 beginning October 2007, 5.13% |
| 900 | ||||||
Term Loan seller note with annual installments of $900,000 beginning January 2007, 5% for two years and floating thereafter |
| 900 | ||||||
Term Loan German bank secured by equipment, 5.15%, maturing March 2014 |
802 | | ||||||
Term Loan Thailand bank secured by equipment, monthly installments of $113,000, 6.375% variable through May 2013 |
1,472 | 2,670 | ||||||
|
195,215 | 178,571 | ||||||
Less current maturities |
(3,066 | ) | (3,317 | ) | ||||
Unamortized discounts on first lien and second lien loans |
(2,790 | ) | | |||||
Unamortized loss on interest rate swap and premium on senior notes |
| (622 | ) | |||||
|
$ | 189,359 | $ | 174,632 | ||||
First Lien Credit Facility
On May 27, 2011, the Company entered into a five-year, $160.0 million first lien senior secured credit facility consisting of $135.0 million of term loan commitments, or the "First Lien Term Loan", and $25.0 million of revolving loan commitments, or the "Revolving Credit Facility", which is collectively referred to as the "First Lien Credit Facility". The First Lien Credit Facility will mature in May 2016. Any borrowings under the First Lien Credit Facility will incur interest expense that is variable in relation to the LIBOR (and/or Prime) rate. In addition to paying interest on outstanding borrowings under the First Lien Credit Facility, the Company is required to pay a 0.75% per annum commitment fee to the lenders in respect of the unutilized commitments, and letter of credit fees equal to the LIBOR margin on the undrawn amount of all outstanding letters of credit. As of September 30, 2011, there was $152.7 million outstanding under the First Lien Credit Facility consisting of $134.7 million in term loans and $18.0 million in revolving loans, and the interest rate on such loans was 7.0%. The Company had $5.0 million of capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility after taking into account outstanding loan advances and letters of credit.
F-56
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
8. Long-Term Debt (Continued)
Second Lien Term Loan
On May 27, 2011, the Company also entered into a 5.5 year, $40.0 million second lien senior secured credit facility consisting of $40.0 million of term loan commitments, or the "Second Lien Term Loan" which is collectively referred to with the First Lien Credit Facility as the "Senior Secured Credit Facilities". The Second Lien Term Loan will mature in November 2016. All borrowings under the Second Lien Term Loan will incur interest expense that is variable in relation to the LIBOR (and/or Prime) rate. Additionally, the term loan accrues PIK interest of 2% per annum. As of September 30, 2011, there was $40.3 million, including PIK interest, outstanding under the Second Lien Term Loan and the interest rate on the Second Lien Term Loan was 13.0%, including 2% PIK interest.
Restrictive Covenants. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain various restrictive covenants that include, among other things, restrictions or limitations on the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness or issue disqualified capital stock unless certain financial tests are satisfied; pay dividends, redeem subordinated debt or make other restricted payments; make certain loans, investments or acquisitions; issue stock of subsidiaries; grant or permit certain liens on assets; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; merge, consolidate or transfer substantially all of assets; incur dividend or other payment restrictions affecting certain subsidiaries; transfer or sell assets including, but not limited to, capital stock of subsidiaries; and change the business the Company conducts. However, all of these covenants are subject to exceptions. Beginning with the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 the Company was subject to a Total Leverage Ratio not to exceed 6.15:1.00 and an Interest Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.80:1.00. For the year ended December 31, 2011 the Company will be subject to a maximum Capital Expenditure Limitation of $17.5 million.
For all periods presented, the Company was in compliance with all financial debt covenants under the existing agreements.
Senior Notes and Revolving Credit Facility
On May 27, 2011, the Company refinanced its $150 million 11% senior notes, as well as $27 million in borrowings under the old revolving credit facility with a portion of the net proceeds from the First Lien Credit Facility and Second Lien Term Loan, together with cash on hand. In connection with this refinancing, the Company recorded a $2.0 million loss from extinguishment of debt, primarily related to the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs.
Germany Term Loan
In April 2011, the Company entered into a EUR 0.7 million ($1.0 million) term loan with a German bank, bearing interest at 5.15% which is secured by equipment. The loan requires monthly payments of principal and interest totaling EUR 21 thousand ($31 thousand) beginning April 2011 and maturing in March 2014. The term loan has a balance outstanding on September 30, 2011 of EUR 0.6 million ($0.8 million).
F-57
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
9. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements" (formerly SFAS No. 157), for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a common definition for fair value to be applied to existing GAAP that requires the use of fair value measurements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosure about such fair value measurements. The adoption of FASB ASC Topic 820 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or operating results, but did expand certain disclosures.
FASB ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, FASB ASC Topic 820 requires the use of valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
The three levels of inputs used are as follows:
Level 1Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.
In July 2010, the Company entered into a EUR 1.0 million ($1.3 million) interest rate swap in connection with the German revolving credit facility. The swap has an interest rate of 3.03% and expires in July 2015. The mark-to-market change in value of the interest rate swap, based on Level 2 inputs was minimal during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, and the Company did not record any change in fair value of derivatives in the consolidated statement of operations.
In June 2009, the Company entered into a $75.0 million interest rate swap as a mechanism to convert $75.0 million of fixed rate debt to variable rate debt. The variable rate was one month LIBOR plus 8.925% and had a term through May 5, 2012. In accordance with the terms of the interest rate swap agreement, the counterparty to the interest rate swap notified the Company on April 19, 2010 it elected the optional early termination provision of the agreement to be effective May 15, 2010. The early termination provision of the interest rate swap agreement required no cash settlement to be paid to the Company. Due to the mark-to-market change in the value of the interest rate swap, based on Level 2 inputs, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $0.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as a change in fair value of derivatives in the consolidated statement of operations.
The Company's other financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, trade payables and debt instruments. The book values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. In addition, the carrying values of the Company's floating-rate debt instruments are deemed to approximate their respective fair values as they carry
F-58
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
9. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Continued)
interest rates that adjust with underlying market rates. The Company had $150.0 million of fixed-rate debt instruments as of December 31, 2010, with fair values of approximately $142.2 million based on Level 2 inputs. The fair value of long-term debt was estimated based on quoted market prices for these or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.
No interest was capitalized in the financial statements for any period presented.
10. Stock-Based Compensation
All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are measured at their grant date calculated value, and expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the service period (generally the vesting period) of the grant. The Company uses a calculated value to measure the compensation expense for share-based awards made to employees, as it has determined that it is impracticable to determine the expected volatility of its share price. Instead, the Company uses an industry measure of volatility in calculating this value. The Company recognizes expense for all stock-based compensation with graded vesting on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award.
The value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and there have been no changes from the methodology disclosed in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The following table summarizes stock option activity for the Company as of September 30, 2011:
|
Shares | Range of Exercise Price |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2010 |
1,662,618 | $0.64-$6.35 | $ | 2.42 | ||||||
Forfeited options reissued |
108,630 | $5.11 | $ | 5.11 | ||||||
Outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2011 |
1,771,248 | $0.64-$6.35 | $ | 2.58 |
All outstanding stock options are held by employees and former employees of the Company and have an expiration date of 10 years from the date of grant. At September 30, 2011, the average remaining contractual life of options outstanding and exercisable was 4.3 years.
The Company recognized no stock-based compensation for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. The Company recognized less than $0.1 million of stock-based compensation expense for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
11. Income Taxes
The Company's provision for income taxes is recorded at the estimated annual effective tax rates for each tax jurisdiction based on fiscal year to date results. The difference in the effective tax rate
F-59
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
11. Income Taxes (Continued)
compared with the U.S. federal statutory rate is due to the mix of the international jurisdictional rates and the changes in the valuation allowance.
Income tax expense from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $1.2 million compared to $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Income tax expense from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $2.4 million compared to an income tax benefit of $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. North American operations had a loss from continuing operations before income taxes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and it is not certain the existing net operating losses will be utilized in future periods to offset taxable income. Therefore, there was no income tax benefit recorded for the North American operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.
The Company believes there are no uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the financial statements. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and international jurisdictions. As of September 30, 2011, the 2007-2010 U.S. federal income tax returns remain open to examination. In addition, open tax years for state and international jurisdictions remain subject to examination.
The Company may from time to time be assessed interest or penalties by major tax jurisdictions, although any such assessments historically have been minimal and immaterial to the financial results. In the event the Company has received an assessment for interest and/or penalties, it has been classified in the consolidated statements of operations as "other (income), net".
12. Concentration of credit and other risks
Accounts receivable, as financial instruments, could potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company continuously evaluates the creditworthiness of its customers and may require customers to provide letters of credit to guarantee payments. No single customer accounted for greater than 10% of consolidated sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010.
The Company currently purchases its raw material, mainly polyethylene resins from at least two significant suppliers at each location. Polyethylene resins are occasionally in short supply and are subject to substantial price fluctuation in response to market demand. The Company has not encountered any significant prolonged difficulty to date in obtaining raw materials in sufficient quantities to support its operations at current or expected near-term future levels. However, any disruption in raw material supply or abrupt increases in raw material prices could have an adverse effect upon the Company's operations.
13. Commitments and Contingencies
Bonding Bank Guarantees
In certain direct sales, installation contracting and raw material acquisition situations, the Company is required to post performance bonds or bank guarantees as part of the contractual guarantee for its
F-60
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
13. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
performance. The performance bonds or bank guarantees can be in the full amount of the contracts. To date the Company has not received any claims against any of the posted securities, most of which terminate at the final completion date of the contracts. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had $5.3 million of bonds outstanding and $5.6 million of guarantees issued under its bank lines.
Litigation and claims
The Company is a party to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. These legal actions cover a broad variety of claims spanning the Company's entire business. As of the date of this filing, the Company believes it is not reasonably possible that resolution of these legal actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
14. Related Party Transactions
CHS Management IV LP
In connection with the Merger, the Company entered into a management agreement with GEO Holdings and CHS Management IV LP ("CHS") a limited partnership (1) of which CHS is the general partner and (2) which is the general partner of CHS IV. Pursuant to the management agreement, CHS provides certain financial and management consulting services to GEO Holdings and to the Company. In consideration of those services the Company pays fees to CHS in an aggregate annual amount of $2.0 million payable in equal monthly installments. The Company also agreed to reimburse CHS for its reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses. The Company also provides customary indemnification to CHS. Under the Management Agreement, GEO Holdings will pay CHS a fee equal to 5% of any additional proceeds of GEO Holdings' capital stock purchased from time to time by CHS or its affiliates. The management fee is subordinated to the prior payment in full of principal, interest and premium due and owing under its credit facility and the indenture governing the senior notes, but the Company may pay the management fee at all times except during certain events of default under its credit facility or under the indenture governing the senior notes. In the event any portion of the management fee is not so paid, such amount will accrue and become due and payable in the next month when payment is permitted. Under this agreement the Company paid CHS $0.5 and $1.5 million during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The amounts paid to CHS Management are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were no amounts payable to CHS under this agreement.
The management agreement was amended in connection with the refinancing of the senior notes and old revolving credit facility. As a result, the Company paid a $2.0 million consulting fee to CHS during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
F-61
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
15. Net Income (Loss) per Share
The Company recorded net income in each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and a net loss in each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. Potential common shares are anti-dilutive in periods in which the Company records a net loss because they would reduce the respective period's net loss per share. Anti-dilutive potential common shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share. As a result, net diluted loss per share was equal to basic net loss per share in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010. There were approximately 512,020 stock options outstanding at September 30, 2010, of which 333,600 had exercise prices lower than the average price of Company common shares as of each of those dates. These in-the-money options would have been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share had the Company not reported a net loss in each of the respective periods.
The basic and diluted net income (loss) per share calculations are presented below (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
|
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Company common stockholders: |
|||||||||
From continuing operations |
$ | 3,728 | $ | (3,062 | ) | ||||
From discontinued operations |
76 | 140 | |||||||
|
$ | 3,804 | $ | (2,922 | ) | ||||
Common share information: |
|||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding basic |
10,810 | 10,810 | |||||||
Dilutive effect of employee stock options |
1,057 | | |||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding dilutive |
11,867 | 10,810 | |||||||
Basic net income (loss) income per common share: |
|||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.34 | $ | (0.28 | ) | ||||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.01 | |||||||
|
$ | 0.35 | $ | (0.27 | ) | ||||
Diluted net income (loss) per common share: |
|||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.31 | $ | (0.28 | ) | ||||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.01 | |||||||
|
$ | 0.32 | $ | (0.27 | ) | ||||
F-62
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
15. Net Income (Loss) per Share (Continued)
|
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Company common stockholders: |
|||||||||
From continuing operations |
$ | 1,807 | $ | (14,640 | ) | ||||
From discontinued operations |
83 | (4,220 | ) | ||||||
|
$ | 1,890 | $ | (18,860 | ) | ||||
Common share information: |
|||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding basic |
10,810 | 10,810 | |||||||
Dilutive effect of employee stock options |
1,020 | | |||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding dilutive |
11,830 | 10,810 | |||||||
Basic net income (loss) per common share: |
|||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.17 | $ | (1.36 | ) | ||||
Discontinued operations |
| (0.39 | ) | ||||||
|
$ | 0.17 | $ | (1.75 | ) | ||||
Diluted net income (loss) per common share: |
|||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 0.15 | $ | (1.36 | ) | ||||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | (0.39 | ) | ||||||
|
$ | 0.16 | $ | (1.75 | ) | ||||
16. Segment Information
The Company's operating and external reporting segments are based on geographic regions, which is consistent with the basis of how management internally reports and evaluates financial information used to make operating decisions. The Company's reportable segments are North America, Europe Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East.
The following tables present information about the results from continuing operations of the Company's reportable segments:
|
Three months ended September 30, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 67,296 | $ | 45,391 | $ | 22,073 | $ | 10,189 | $ | 1,893 | $ | 146,842 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
5,202 | 129 | 4,187 | 326 | 765 | 10,609 | |||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
72,498 | 45,520 | 26,260 | 10,515 | 2,658 | 157,451 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
13,354 | 3,293 | 2,912 | 1,090 | 187 | 20,836 | |||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
18.4 | % | 7.2 | % | 11.1 | % | 10.4 | % | 7.0 | % | 13.2 | % |
F-63
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
16. Segment Information (Continued)
|
Three months ended September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 44,131 | $ | 30,770 | $ | 12,433 | $ | 10,121 | $ | 1,648 | $ | 99,103 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
2,206 | 551 | 3,769 | | (6 | ) | 6,520 | ||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
46,337 | 31,321 | 16,202 | 10,121 | 1,642 | 105,623 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
9,440 | 3,920 | 1,204 | 1,236 | (331 | ) | 15,469 | ||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
20.4 | % | 12.5 | % | 7.4 | % | 12.2 | % | (20.2 | )% | 14.6 | % |
|
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 155,579 | $ | 103,730 | $ | 56,772 | $ | 30,643 | $ | 7,067 | $ | 353,791 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
17,232 | 129 | 10,314 | 326 | 905 | 28,906 | |||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
172,811 | 103,859 | 67,086 | 30,969 | 7,972 | 382,697 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
33,300 | 7,763 | 7,742 | 3,441 | 620 | 52,866 | |||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
19.3 | % | 7.5 | % | 11.5 | % | 11.1 | % | 7.8 | % | 13.8 | % |
|
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N. America | Europe Africa | Asia Pacific | Latin America | Middle East | Total | |||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales to external customers |
$ | 106,383 | $ | 83,771 | $ | 33,342 | $ | 23,353 | $ | 6,189 | $ | 253,038 | |||||||||
Intersegment sales |
16,039 | 1,264 | 6,459 | | 1,594 | 25,356 | |||||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
122,422 | 85,035 | 39,801 | 23,353 | 7,783 | 278,394 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
17,023 | 7,627 | 2,163 | 2,636 | 753 | 30,202 | |||||||||||||||
Gross margin |
13.9 | % | 9.0 | % | 5.4 | % | 11.3 | % | 9.7 | % | 10.8 | % |
The following tables reconcile the segment information presented above to the consolidated financial information.
|
Reconciliation to Consolidated Sales | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Three months ended September 30, 2011 |
Three months ended September 30, 2010 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2010 |
|||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||||
Total segment sales |
$ | 157,451 | $ | 105,623 | $ | 382,697 | $ | 278,394 | |||||||
Intersegment sales |
(10,609 | ) | (6,520 | ) | (28,906 | ) | (25,356 | ) | |||||||
Consolidated sales |
$ | 146,842 | $ | 99,103 | $ | 353,791 | $ | 253,038 | |||||||
F-64
GSE HOLDING, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
16. Segment Information (Continued)
The Company's assets by reportable segment as of September 30, 2011 did not change significantly from amounts presented in the Segment Information footnote to its December 31, 2010 audited consolidated financial statements.
17. Comprehensive (Loss) Income
|
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,804 | $ | (2,922 | ) | $ | 1,890 | $ | (18,860 | ) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
(4,704 | ) | 5,881 | (311 | ) | (2,726 | ) | ||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | (900 | ) | $ | 2,959 | $ | 1,579 | $ | (21,586 | ) | |||
18. Subsequent Events
On October 18, 2011, the Company amended its Revolving Credit Facility to increase the aggregate revolving loan commitments from $25.0 million to $35.0 million. Increased capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is anticipated to be used for working capital and to fund continued growth.
On October 19, 2011 and November 10, 2011, the Company filed amendments to its initial registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The initial registration statement was filed July 11, 2011 and related to a proposed initial public offering of the Company's common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. The shares of common stock to be sold in the offering are expected to be offered by GSE Holding, Inc. and certain of its stockholders.
On November 22, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors and shareholders approved a 3.621-for-one stock split. The par value of the common stock was maintained at $0.01 per share. All references to common shares and per share amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the stock split on a retroactive basis.
F-65
GSE Holding Inc.
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(in thousands)
|
Balance at Beginning of Year |
Additions | Deductions | Balance at End of Year |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Accounts Receivable): |
|||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2008 |
$ | 2,369 | $ | 459 | $ | (68 | ) | $ | 2,760 | ||||
Year ended December 31, 2009 |
2,760 | 1,999 | (1,104 | ) | 3,655 | ||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2010 |
$ | 3,655 | $ | 108 | $ | (1,831 | ) | $ | 1,932 | ||||
Obsolescence and Slow Moving Allowance (Inventory): |
|||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2008 |
$ | 2,186 | $ | | $ | | $ | 2,186 | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2009 |
2,186 | 1,980 | (31 | ) | 4,135 | ||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2010 |
$ | 4,135 | $ | | $ | (1,678 | ) | $ | 2,457 | ||||
Valuation Allowance (Deferred Tax Assets): |
|||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2008 |
$ | 8,632 | $ | 4,548 | $ | | $ | 13,180 | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2009 |
13,180 | | (595 | ) | 12,585 | ||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2010 |
$ | 12,585 | $ | 4,624 | $ | | $ | 17,209 |
F-66
9,000,000 Shares
GSE Holding, Inc.
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
, 2011
Oppenheimer & Co. | FBR |
William Blair & Company | BMO Capital Markets | Macquarie Capital |
Until , 2012, U.S. federal securities laws may require all dealers that effect transactions in our securities, whether or not participating in this offering, to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
Part II
Information not required in prospectus
Item 13. Other expenses of issuance and distribution.
The following table sets forth all costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us, in connection with the offer and sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, filing fee.
SEC registration fee |
$ | 17,792 | |||||
FINRA filing fee |
14,875 | ||||||
NYSE listing fee |
163,000 | ||||||
Printing expenses |
150,000 | ||||||
Legal fees and expenses |
1,200,000 | ||||||
Accounting fees and expenses |
250,000 | ||||||
Miscellaneous expenses |
704,333 | ||||||
Total expenses |
$ | 2,500,000 |
Item 14. Indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.
Section 145 of the DGCL, or Section 145, provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, were or are threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests, provided that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.
II-1
Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.
Our bylaws will provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified.
We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
We expect to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.
The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement provides for indemnification of our directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities.
Item 15. Recent sales of unregistered securities.
Set forth below is information regarding shares of our common stock issued, and stock options granted, by us within the past three years that were not registered under the Securities Act. Also included is the consideration, if any, received by us for such shares or equity awards and information relating to the section of the Securities Act, or rule of the SEC, under which exemption from registration was claimed.
Under our 2004 Stock Option Plan, we made the following option grants: 389,916 in 2008, 114,785 in 2009, 43,452 in 2010 and 108,630 in 2011. We did not grant any stock options outside of our 2004 Stock Option Plan during the past three years.
In March 2008, we granted options to purchase 389,916 shares of our common stock to various employees, executives and directors, for no cash consideration, at an exercise price of $6.35 per share, which were fully vested upon issuance.
In September 2009, we granted options to purchase 108,630 shares of our common stock to our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark C. Arnold, for no cash consideration, at an exercise price of $6.15 per share, which vest over four years.
On October 28, 2010, we granted options to purchase an aggregate of 43,452 shares of our common stock to two employees, for no cash consideration, at an exercise price of $6.15 per share.
On January 1, 2011, we granted options to purchase 36,210 shares of our common stock to our Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, Gregg Taylor, for no cash consideration, at an exercise price of $5.11 per share, which were fully vested upon issuance.
On January 17, 2011, we granted options to purchase 72,420 shares of our common stock to our former Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources, Joellyn Champagne, under our 2004 Stock Option Plan, for no cash consideration, at an exercise price of $5.11 per share.
II-2
We have also entered into bonus letter agreements with certain employees, providing for a one-time payment upon the completion of this offering of approximately three percent, three quarters of one percent or one quarter of one percent, as applicable, of the net equity proceeds (determined as though 100% of our company's capital stock was sold) of this offering (payable 65% in shares of our common stock and 35% in cash). See "Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis Bonus Letter Agreements" in the prospectus which is a part of this registration statement.
The offers, sales and issuances of the securities described above were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Rule 701 of the Securities Act or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The offers, sales and issuances of the securities that were deemed to be exempt in reliance on Rule 701 were transactions under compensatory benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation as provided under Rule 701. The offers, sales and issuances of the securities that were deemed to be exempt in reliance upon Section 4(2) were each transactions not involving any public offering, and all recipients of these securities were accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act. The recipients of the foregoing securities were our employees, directors or bona fide consultants and received the securities under our 2004 Stock Option Plan. Appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of securities in these transactions had adequate access, through employment, business or other relationships, to information about us.
Item 16. Exhibits and financial statement schedules.
The exhibit index attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
II-3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Houston, Texas on December 6, 2011.
GSE Holding, Inc. | ||||
By: |
/s/ MARK C. ARNOLD |
|||
Name: | Mark C. Arnold | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 6, 2011.
Signature
|
Title
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
/s/ MARK C. ARNOLD Mark C. Arnold |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
|||
* William F. Lacey |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
|||
* Gregg Taylor |
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
|||
* Daniel J. Hennessy |
Director and Chairman of the Board |
|||
* Michael G. Evans |
Director |
|||
* Marcus J. George |
Director |
II-4
* Richard E. Goodrich |
Director | |||
* Robert C. Griffin |
Director |
|||
* Charles A. Sorrentino |
Director |
|||
*By: |
/s/ MARK C. ARNOLD Mark C. Arnold, as Attorney-in-Fact |
II-5
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Description | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement | ||||
3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
3.2 | Bylaws of GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
3.3 | Certificate of Amendment, dated July 11, 2011, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
3.4 | Certificate of Amendment, dated November 22, 2011, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GSE Holding, Inc. | ||||
3.5 | Form of Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GSE Holding, Inc. (to become effective immediately prior to consummation of this offering) | ||||
3.6 | Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of GSE Holding, Inc. (to become effective immediately prior to consummation of this offering) | ||||
4.1 | Specimen Common Stock Certificate | ||||
5.1 | Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP | ||||
10.1 | Stockholders Agreement, dated May 18, 2004, as amended May 2, 2006, by and among GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.), Code Hennessy & Simmons IV LP, CHS Associates IV and the stockholders party thereto | ||||
10.2 | Registration Agreement, dated May 18, 2004, as amended May 2, 2006, by and among GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.), Code Hennessy & Simmons IV LP, CHS Associates IV and the stockholders party thereto | ||||
10.3 | Management Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, as amended May 27, 2011, by and among CHS Management IV LP, GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. | ||||
10.4 | First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., General Electric Capital Corporation and the other credit parties thereto# | ||||
10.5 | First Lien Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., the other grantors party thereto and General Electric Capital Corporation | ||||
10.6 | Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC and the other credit parties thereto# | ||||
10.7 | Second Lien Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., the other grantors party thereto and Jefferies Finance LLC | ||||
10.8 | Intercompany Subordination Agreement (First Lien), dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.), Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., the other parties thereto and General Electric Capital Corporation | ||||
10.9 | Intercompany Subordination Agreement (Second Lien), dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.), Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., the other parties thereto and Jefferies Finance LLC |
II-6
Exhibit Number |
Description | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10.10 | Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2011, by and among Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., the other grantors party thereto, General Electric Capital Corporation and Jefferies Finance LLC | ||||
10.11 | GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) 2004 Stock Option Plan | ||||
10.12 | Form of Stock Option Agreement pursuant to the GSE Holding, Inc. 2004 Stock Option Plan | ||||
10.13 | Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option, dated September 14, 2009, by and between Mark C. Arnold and GSE Holding, Inc. | ||||
10.14 | GSE Holding, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan* | ||||
10.15 | Form of Sale Bonus Award | ||||
10.16 | GSE Holding, Inc. Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement | ||||
10.17 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 14, 2009, by and between Mark C. Arnold and Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. | ||||
10.18 | Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated March 4, 2010, by and between Mark C. Arnold and Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. | ||||
10.19 | Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 2004, by and between Ernest C. English and GSE Lining Technology, Inc. | ||||
10.20 | Change of Control & Retention Agreement by and between Jeffery D. Nigh and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.21 | Change of Control & Retention Agreement, effective as of July 1, 2010, by and between Peter R. McCourt and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.22 | Change of Control & Retention Agreement, effective as of December 27, 2010, by and between GSE Lining Technology, LLC and Joellyn Champagne | ||||
10.23 | Offer Letter, dated April 16, 2010, by and between Gregg Taylor and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.24 | Offer Letter, dated August 12, 2010, by and between Ronald B. Crowell and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.25 | Offer Letter, dated July 13, 2009, by and between Mark C. Arnold and Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. | ||||
10.26 | Offer Letter, dated August 30, 2010, by and between Jeffery D. Nigh and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.27 | Offer Letter, dated May 28, 2010, by and between Peter McCourt and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.28 | Offer Letter, dated December 22, 2010, by and between Joellyn Champagne and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.29 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated January 17, 2011, by and between GSE Lining Technology, LLC and Joellyn Champagne | ||||
10.30 | Separation and Release Agreement, dated February 23, 2011, by and between Ronald B. Crowell and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.31 | Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated March 4, 2010, by and between Mark. C. Arnold and GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
10.32 | IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement, dated September 16, 2010, by and between Mark C. Arnold and GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) |
II-7
Exhibit Number |
Description | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10.33 | Bonus Letter Agreement, dated September 15, 2010, by and between Peter R. McCourt and GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
10.34 | Bonus Letter Agreement dated September 15, 2010, by and between Jeffery D. Nigh and GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
10.35 | Bonus Letter Agreement, dated July 29, 2011, by and between Gregg Taylor and GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
10.36 | Change in Control Agreement, effective as of July 28, 2011, by and between Gregg Taylor and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.37 | Executive Securities Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, by and between GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and Samir T. Badawi(1) | ||||
10.38 | Executive Securities Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, by and between GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and James Steinke(1) | ||||
10.39 | Executive Securities Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, by and between GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and Gerald Hersh(1) | ||||
10.40 | Executive Securities Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, by and between GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and Ernest C. English(1) | ||||
10.41 | Executive Securities Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, by and between GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and Paul Anthony Firrell(1) | ||||
10.42 | Executive Securities Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2004, by and between GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) and Dr. Mohamed Abd El Aziz Siad Ayoub(1) | ||||
10.43 | Form of Amendment to Option Agreement pursuant to the GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan | ||||
10.44 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated May 24, 2010, by and between Gregg Taylor and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.45 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated October 1, 2010, by and between Jeffery D. Nigh and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.46 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated July 6, 2010, by and between Peter R. McCourt and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.47 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated August 22, 2011, by and between William F. Lacey and GSE Lining Technology, Inc. | ||||
10.48 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated August 30, 2010, by and between Ronald B. Crowell and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.49 | Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Agreement, dated September 14, 2009, by and between Mark C. Arnold and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.50 | Offer Letter, dated August 4, 2011, by and between William F. Lacey and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.51 | Bonus Letter Agreement, dated August 4, 2011, by and between William F. Lacey and GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) | ||||
10.52 | Change in Control Agreement, dated August 4, 2011, by and between William F. Lacey and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.53 | First Amendment to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2011, by and among Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., the other credit parties named therein, General Electric Capital Corporation, as agent and lender, and the other lenders party thereto |
II-8
Exhibit Number |
Description | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10.54 | GSE Holding, Inc. (f/k/a GEO Holdings Corp.) Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan | ||||
10.55 | Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement pursuant to the GSE Holding, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan* | ||||
10.56 | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement pursuant to the GSE Holding, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan* | ||||
10.57 | Form of Restricted Stock Agreement pursuant to the GSE Holding, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan* | ||||
10.58 | Form of Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement by and among GSE Holding, Inc., Code Hennessy & Simmons IV LP, CHS Associates IV and the stockholders party thereto* | ||||
10.59 | Separation Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2011, by and between Joellyn Champagne and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.60 | Amendment No. 1 to IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2011, by and between Mark C. Arnold and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.61 | Amendment No. 1 to Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2011, by and between Mark C. Arnold and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.62 | Amendment No. 1 to Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2011, by and between Peter R. McCourt and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.63 | Amendment No. 1 to Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2011, by and between Gregg Taylor and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.64 | Amendment No. 1 to Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2011, by and between Jeffery D. Nigh and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
10.65 | Amendment No. 1 to Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2011, by and between William F. Lacey and GSE Lining Technology, LLC | ||||
21.1 | List of subsidiaries | ||||
23.1 | Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) | ||||
23.2 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm | ||||
23.3 | Consent of Alvarez & Marsal Private Equity Performance Improvement Group, LLC | ||||
24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included on Signature Page) |
II-9
Exhibit 1.1
GSE HOLDING, INC.
COMMON STOCK
Par Value $0.01 Per Share
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
|
, 2011 |
OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.
300 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
FBR & CO.
1001 Nineteenth Street North
Arlington, VA 22209
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1 attached hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
GSE Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and certain stockholders of the Company named in Schedule 2 attached hereto (the Selling Stockholders) propose, severally and not jointly, to sell an aggregate of shares (the Firm Stock) of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock). Of the shares of the Firm Stock, are being sold by the Company and by the Selling Stockholders. In addition, certain Selling Stockholders propose to grant to the underwriters (the Underwriters) named in Schedule 1 attached to this agreement (this Agreement) an option to purchase up to an aggregate of additional shares of the Common Stock on the terms set forth in Section 3 (the Option Stock). The Firm Stock and the Option Stock, if purchased, are hereinafter collectively called the Stock. This is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Stock from the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the Underwriters.
1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that:
(a) A Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-175475) relating to the Stock has (i) been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and the rules and regulations (the Rules and Regulations) of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission) thereunder; (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such Registration Statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Company to you as the representatives (the Representatives) of the Underwriters. As used in this Agreement:
(i) Applicable Time means p.m. (New York City time) , 2011;
(ii) Effective Date means the date and time as of which such Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission;
(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Stock;
(iv) Preliminary Prospectus means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Stock included in such Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
(v) Pricing Disclosure Package means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule 4 hereto, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed with the Commission or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations;
(vi) Prospectus means the final prospectus relating to the Stock, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; and
(vii) Registration Statement means such registration statement, as amended as of the Effective Date, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement.
Any reference to the most recent Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations prior to or on the date hereof. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.
(b) The Company was not at the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Stock, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable
Delivery Date (as hereinafter defined) an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).
(c) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the applicable Delivery Date to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(d) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 10(f).
(e) The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 10(f).
(f) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 10(f).
(g) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations), when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 10(f).
(h) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with all prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Company has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The Company has complied with the provisions of Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) of the Rules and Regulations, such that any road show (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in connection with the offering of the Stock will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.
(i) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 19) has been duly organized or formed, as the case may be, and is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or other business entity under the law of its jurisdiction of organization (to the extent applicable under the laws of such jurisdiction), is duly qualified or licensed to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification or license, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a Material Adverse Effect); each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged. None of the subsidiaries of the Company other than Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc., GSE Lining Technology, LLC, GSE International, Inc., GSE Lining Technology Co. Ltd and GSE Lining Technology GmbH is a significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405).
(j) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and not in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right. All of the Companys options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Companys capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. All of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized
and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for those liens arising under the existing secured indebtedness of certain subsidiaries of the Company as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) The shares of the Stock to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, will be issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and will be free of (or the applicable parties shall have waived) statutory and contractual preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights. The shares of Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholders will be sold in compliance with federal and state securities law.
(l) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock as described under Use of Proceeds in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock as described under Use of Proceeds in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as have been obtained or made as
of the date hereof or as may be required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), applicable state or foreign securities laws and the by-laws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA), in each case in connection with the purchase and sale of the Stock by the Underwriters.
(o) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right (other than rights which have been waived in writing or otherwise satisfied) to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act.
(p) The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Stock contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(q) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, and since such date, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than as a result of the grant or exercise of stock options pursuant to equity incentive plans existing on the date hereof and described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or any adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties, management or business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, since the date as of which information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Company has not (i) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, that is material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (iii) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock.
(s) The historical financial statements (including the related notes) included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been
prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.
(t) The pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus. The pro forma financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.
(u) BDO USA, LLP (formerly known as BDO Seidman, LLP), who have audited certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, whose report appears in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section 9(i) hereof, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(v) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good, marketable and valid title to all real property and good title to all material personal property owned by them, in each case and the right to use all leasehold estates in real and material personal property being leased by them and, all such properties are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such as are described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or such liens, encumbrances or defects as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Permitted Liens); and all assets held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Company and its subsidiaries.
(w) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All policies of insurance of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in full force and effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) All statistical and market-related and industry data included under the captions Prospectus Summary, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Business in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(y) Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is, and as of the applicable Delivery Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Stock and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under Use of Proceeds in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of them will be, an investment company within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(z) Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to the Companys knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.
(aa) There are no legal or governmental proceedings or contracts or other documents of a character required to be described by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or, in the case of documents, to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that are not described and filed as required. The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus under the captions Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, Description of Capital Stock, Shares Available for Future Sale and Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders, insofar as they purport to describe certain provisions or terms of statutes, rules or regulations, legal or governmental proceedings or contracts and other documents, accurately describe such provisions or terms in all material respects.
(bb) Except as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other hand, that is required to be described by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus which is not so described.
(cc) No labor dispute by the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(dd) (i) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company, its subsidiaries, and each ERISA Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), with respect to each pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, which any of the Company, its subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors or maintains, or with respect to which it has (or within the last five years had) any obligation to make contributions, (ii) no reportable event (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any such plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) each such plan is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, except for any failure to comply that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) none of the Company, its subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or expects to incur, any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each pension plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified. ERISA Affiliate means a corporation, trade or business that is, along with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a member of a controlled group of corporations or a controlled group of trades or businesses, or that is treated as a single employer pursuant to Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 412 of the Code, under Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code, or under Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.
(ee) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All taxes that are due from the Company and each of its subsidiaries have been paid other than those (i) currently payable without penalty or interest or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate accruals have been established in accordance with GAAP, in each case, for which the failure to have paid would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no actual or proposed tax deficiencies asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Company or sale by the Company of the Stock.
(gg) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents (the Charter Documents); (ii) in violation of any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local statute, law (including, without limitation, common law) or ordinance, or any judgment, decree, rule, regulation, order or injunction (collectively, Applicable Law) of any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state, local or other governmental or regulatory authority, governmental or regulatory agency or regulatory body, court, arbitrator or self-regulatory organization, applicable to any of them or any of their respective properties; or (iii) in breach of or default under any bond, debenture, note, loan or other evidence of indebtedness, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or any other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties are bound (collectively, the Applicable Agreements), except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or for such violations, breaches or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All material Applicable Agreements to which the Company and any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound are in full force and effect and are legal, valid and binding obligations of each such Person, other than as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, and except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought and (iv) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. There exists no condition that, with the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute (A) a violation of such Charter Documents, (B) a violation of such Applicable Laws that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (C) a breach of or default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) under any Applicable Agreement that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (D) result in the imposition of any penalty or the acceleration of any indebtedness. As used herein, a Debt Repayment Triggering Event means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holders behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties.
(hh) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) make and keep accurate books and records and (ii) maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Companys financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to the
Companys assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for the Companys assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences.
(ii) (i) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company and its subsidiaries in the reports they will file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company and its subsidiaries, including their respective principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
(jj) Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries audited by BDO USA, LLP, (i) the Company has not been advised of (A) any material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, and (ii) since that date, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
(kk) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Companys directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.
(ll) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (Permits) as are necessary under applicable law to own their properties and conduct their businesses in the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(mm) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or has the right to use pursuant to a license agreement all patents, patent rights, inventions, copyrights, know-
how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, domain names and trade names (collectively, Intellectual Property) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses and, as of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries will be free and clear of all liens other than Permitted Liens and liens to be released as of each Delivery Date. To the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, after due inquiry, no claims or notices of any potential claim have been asserted by any person challenging the use of any such Intellectual Property by the Company or its subsidiaries or questioning the validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property or any license or agreement related thereto, other than any claims that, if successful, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, after due inquiry, none of the Intellectual Property used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries has been obtained or is being used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in violation of any contractual obligation binding on any of them or their respective officers, directors, or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any person.
(nn) Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries (A) are in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (Environmental Laws) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (B) have not received notice of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, in each case, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to obtain, maintain or comply with such permits, authorizations or approvals, or violation or potential liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) there are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed.
(oo) Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of or has received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, the violation of any of which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Affect.
(pp) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiarys capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiarys property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except in each case for those prohibitions and restrictions arising under the existing secured indebtedness of certain subsidiaries of the Company as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(qq) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(rr) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except, in each case, where such non-compliance or action, suit or proceeding would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ss) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC); and the Company will not directly or knowingly indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(tt) None of the Directed Shares distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program (each as defined in Section 4) will be offered or sold outside of the United States.
(uu) The Company has not offered, or caused Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. to offer, Stock to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customers or suppliers level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or
publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company, its business or its products.
(vv) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Stock, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with Section 1(h) or 6(a)(vi) and, in connection with the Directed Share Program described in Section 4, the enrollment materials prepared by Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. on behalf of the Company.
(ww) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or which would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the shares of the Stock.
(xx) The Stock has been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Stock shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants and agrees that:
(a) Neither the Selling Stockholder nor any person acting on behalf of the Selling Stockholder (other than, if applicable, the Company and the Underwriters) has used or referred to any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations), relating to the Stock.
(b) Except with respect to Future Securities (as defined below), the Selling Stockholder has, and immediately prior to any Delivery Date on which the Selling Stockholder is selling shares of Stock, the Selling Stockholder will have, good and valid title to, or a valid security entitlement within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the UCC) in respect of, the shares of Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder on such Delivery Date, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for any liens, encumbrances, equities or claims arising under the Custody Agreement (as hereinafter defined). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Stock that are to be delivered on any Delivery Date pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants (the Future Securities), as of each such date the Selling Stockholder will have good and valid title to, or a valid security entitlement within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the UCC in respect of, the Future Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder on such Delivery Date, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for any liens, encumbrances, equities or claims arising under the Custody Agreement (as hereinafter defined).
(c) The Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder (except Future Securities), which is represented by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholder, is subject to the interest of the Underwriters and the other Selling Stockholders hereunder, the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholder for custody of the Stock pursuant to the Custody Agreement are to that extent irrevocable, and the obligations of the Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated by any act of the Selling Stockholder, by operation of law, by the death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder or, in the case of a trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or the termination of such trust, or the occurrence of any other event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Future Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, which is represented by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholder, will be subject to the interest of the Underwriters and the other Selling Stockholders hereunder, the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholder for custody of the Stock pursuant to the Custody Agreement are to that extent irrevocable, and the obligations of the Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated by any act of the Selling Stockholder, by operation of law, by death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder or, in the case of a trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or the termination of such trust, or the occurrence of any other event.
(d) Upon payment for the Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder, delivery of such Stock, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (Cede) or such other nominee as may be designated by The Depository Trust Company (DTC), registration of such Stock in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Stock on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC) to such Stock), (i) DTC shall be a protected purchaser of such Stock within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (ii) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Stock and (iii) no action based on any adverse claim, within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to such Stock may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement. For purposes of this representation, such Selling Stockholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (A) such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Companys share registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (B) DTC will be registered as a clearing corporation within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (C) appropriate entries to the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.
(e) The Selling Stockholder has placed in custody under a custody agreement (the Custody Agreement and, together with all other similar agreements executed by the other Selling Stockholders, the Custody Agreements) with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as custodian (the Custodian), for delivery under this Agreement, certificates in negotiable form (with signature guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program) representing the shares of Stock (except Future Securities) to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any certificates representing the Future Securities to be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement will be placed in custody of the Custodian in negotiable form in the same manner as set forth in the foregoing sentence.
(f) The Selling Stockholder has duly and irrevocably executed and delivered a power of attorney (the Power of Attorney and, together with all other similar agreements executed by the other Selling Stockholders, the Powers of Attorney) appointing the Custodian and Messrs. Mark C. Arnold and William F. Lacey as attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full authority (exercisable by any one or more of them) to execute and deliver this Agreement and to take such other action as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof on behalf of the Selling Stockholder.
(g) The Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority (with respect to a Selling Stockholder that is not a natural person), corporate or otherwise, to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
(h) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized (with respect to a Selling Stockholder that is not a natural person), executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder.
(i) The Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement have been duly and validly authorized (with respect to a Selling Stockholder that is not a natural person), executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Selling Stockholder enforceable against the Selling Stockholder in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney by the Selling Stockholder and the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Selling Stockholder is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Selling Stockholder in the case of a Selling Stockholder that is not a natural person, or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder or the property or assets of the Selling Stockholder, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, adversely affect the ability of the Selling Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
(k) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder or the property or assets of the Selling Stockholder is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Custody Agreement or the Power of Attorney by the Selling Stockholder and the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Stock by the Underwriters.
(l) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that such representation and warranty applies only to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to such Selling Stockholder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder specifically for inclusion therein; it being understood and agreed that the only written information so furnished consists only of the information concerning such Selling Stockholder appearing under the captions Prospectus SummaryOur Principal Stockholder and Principal and Selling Stockholders in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the Selling Stockholder Information).
(m) The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such representation and warranty applies only to the Selling Stockholder Information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus.
(n) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such representation and warranty applies only to the Selling Stockholder Information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(o) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations), when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such representation and warranty applies only to the Selling Stockholder Information contained in or omitted from each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(p) The Selling Stockholder is not prompted to sell shares of Common Stock by any information concerning the Company that is not set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(q) The Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or which would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the shares of the Stock.
Any certificate signed by any officer of any Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Stock shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
3. Purchase of the Stock by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell shares of the Firm Stock and each Selling Stockholder agrees to sell the number of shares of the Firm Stock set forth opposite its name in Schedule 2 hereto, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of shares of the Firm Stock set forth opposite that Underwriters name in Schedule 1 hereto. Each Underwriter shall be obligated to purchase from the Company, and from each Selling Stockholder, that number of shares of the Firm Stock that represent the same proportion of the number of shares of the Firm Stock to be sold by the Company and by each Selling Stockholder as the number of shares of the Firm Stock set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 represents of the total number of shares of the Firm Stock to be purchased by all of the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. The respective purchase obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Firm Stock shall be rounded among the Underwriters to avoid fractional shares, as the Representatives may determine.
In addition, certain of the Selling Stockholders identified in Schedule 2 hereto each grant to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, an option to purchase the number of shares of Option Stock set forth opposite such Selling Stockholders name in Schedule 2 hereto. Such option is exercisable in the event that the Underwriters sell more shares of Common Stock than the number of shares of Firm Stock in the offering and as set forth in Section 5 hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of shares of Option Stock (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of shares of Option Stock to be sold on such Delivery Date as the number of shares of Firm Stock set forth in Schedule 1 hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of shares of Firm Stock.
The price of both the Firm Stock and any Option Stock purchased by the Underwriters shall be $ per share.
The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not be obligated to deliver any of the Firm Stock or Option Stock to be delivered on the applicable Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Stock to be purchased on such Delivery Date as provided herein.
4. Offering of Stock by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Firm Stock, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Stock for sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.
It is understood that approximately shares of the Firm Stock (the Directed Shares) will initially be reserved by the several Underwriters for offer and sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA to persons having business relationships with the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates who have heretofore delivered to Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. offers or indications of interest to purchase shares of Firm Stock in form satisfactory to Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (such program, the Directed Share Program and such persons delivering such offers or indications of interest, the Directed Share Participants) and that any allocation of such Firm Stock among the Directed Share Participants will be made in accordance with timely directions received by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. from the Company; provided that under no circumstances will Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. or any Underwriter be liable to the Company or to any Directed Share Participant for any action taken or omitted in good faith in connection with such Directed Share Program. It is further understood that any Directed Shares not affirmatively reconfirmed for purchase by any Directed Share Participant by 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day following the date hereof or otherwise are not purchased by Directed Share Participants will be offered by the Underwriters to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
5. Delivery of and Payment for the Stock. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Stock shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the [third][fourth] full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the Company. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the Initial Delivery Date. Delivery of the Firm Stock shall be made to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Firm Stock being sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholders to or upon the order of the Company and the Selling Stockholders of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company and the Selling Stockholders. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Firm Stock through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
The option granted in Section 3 will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement and may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice being given to the Selling Stockholders by the Representatives; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day, the option granted in Section 3 will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of shares of Option Stock as to which the option is being exercised, the names and denominations in which the shares of Option Stock are to be registered and the date and time, as determined by the Representatives, when the shares of Option Stock are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the Initial Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Each date and time the shares of Option Stock are
delivered is sometimes referred to as an Option Stock Delivery Date, and the Initial Delivery Date and any Option Stock Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a Delivery Date.
Delivery of the Option Stock by the Selling Stockholders and payment for the Option Stock by the several Underwriters through the Representatives shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in the preceding paragraph or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement among the Representatives, the Selling Stockholders and the Company. On the Option Stock Delivery Date, the Selling Stockholders shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Option Stock to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives and of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Option Stock being sold by the Selling Stockholders to or upon the order of the Selling Stockholders of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Selling Stockholders. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Selling Stockholders shall deliver the Option Stock through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
6. Further Agreements of the Company and the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees:
(i) To prepare the Prospectus in a form reasonably approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the Commissions close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;
(ii) Upon request by the Representatives, to furnish promptly to each of the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith;
(iii) To deliver promptly to the Representatives such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (A) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement), (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, and (C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Stock or any other securities relating thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Representatives and, upon their reasonable request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(iv) To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company or the Representatives, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission;
(v) Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the Representatives to the filing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed;
(vi) Not to make any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed;
(vii) To comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations with respect to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon their reasonable request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(viii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it being understood that the Company shall have until at least 410 days or, if the fourth quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective Date is the last fiscal quarter of the Companys fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the Companys current fiscal quarter), to make generally available to the Companys security holders and to deliver to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);
(ix) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Stock for offering and sale under the securities laws of Canada and such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Stock; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject;
(x) For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus (the Lock-Up Period), not to, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or any other securities of the Company or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR & Co., on behalf of the Underwriters, except, in each case, for (A) the registration of the offering and sale of the Stock as contemplated by this Agreement, (B) issuances of shares of Common Stock pursuant to employee benefit plans, equity incentive plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee or director compensation plans or arrangements existing on the date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights not issued under one of those plans or arrangements, (C) the grant of options or restricted stock pursuant to equity incentive plans existing on the date hereof, (D) the filing of registration statements on Form S-8 relating to shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to existing equity incentive plans and (E) the registration under the Securities Act and issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock, in an aggregate amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately following the time of purchase, in connection with any acquisitions or strategic investments by the Company or any of its subsidiaries so long as such issuances under this clause (E) are conditioned upon the execution by the recipients of a lock-up letter agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the Lock-Up Agreement); provided, however, that if (a) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or material event relating to the Company occurs or (b) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed in this paragraph shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR & Co. on behalf of the Underwriters, waive such extension in writing;
(xi) If Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR & Co., in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
(xii) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock being sold by the Company as set forth as described under the caption Use of Proceeds in the Prospectus; and
(xiii) In connection with the Directed Share Program, to ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation to the same extent as sales and dispositions of Common Stock by officers, directors and stockholders of the Company set forth on Schedule 3 hereto are restricted pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreements, and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. or FBR & Co. will notify the Company as to which Directed Share Participants will need to be so restricted. At the reasonable request of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time as is consistent with the Lock-Up Agreements.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that such Underwriter shall not include any issuer information (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred to by such Underwriter without the prior written consent of the Company (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Company has given its consent, Permitted Issuer Information); provided that (i) no such consent shall be required with respect to any such issuer information contained in any document filed by the Company with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus and (ii) issuer information, as used in this Section 6(b), shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter on the basis of or derived from issuer information.
7. Further Agreements of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder agrees, severally and not jointly:
(a) That the Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, which is represented by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholder, is subject to the interest of the Underwriters and the other Selling Stockholders thereunder, that the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholder for such custody are to that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of the Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated by any act of the Selling Stockholder, by operation of law, by the death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder or, in the case of a trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or the termination of such trust, or the occurrence of any other event.
(b) Neither the Selling Stockholder nor any person acting on behalf of the Selling Stockholder (other than, if applicable, the Company and the Underwriters) shall use or refer to any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations), relating to the Stock.
(c) To deliver to the Representatives prior to the Initial Delivery Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States person).
8. Expenses. The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Stock and any stamp duties or other taxes payable in that connection, and the preparation and printing of certificates for the Stock; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among Underwriters, and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Stock; (e) the delivery and distribution of the Custody Agreements and the Powers of Attorney and the fees and expenses of the Custodian (and any other attorney-in-fact); (f) any required review by FINRA of the terms of sale of the Stock (including related documented fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount, when taken together with the fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with clauses (h) and (i) of this Section 8, that does not exceed $25,000); (g) the listing of the Stock on the New York Stock Exchange and/or any other exchange; (h) the qualification of the Stock under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 6(a)(ix) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related documented fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount, when taken together with the fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with clauses (f) and (i) of this Section 8, that does not exceed $25,000); (i) the preparation, printing and distribution of one or more versions of the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada, including in the form of a Canadian wrapper (including related documented fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriters in an amount, when taken together with the fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with clauses (f) and (h) of this Section 8, that does not exceed $25,000); (j) the offer and sale of shares of the Stock by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program, including the documented fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters related thereto, the costs and expenses of preparation, printing and distribution of the Directed Share Program material and all stamp duties or other taxes incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program; (k) the investor presentations on any road show undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Stock, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company (but specifically excluding the travel and lodging expenses of the representatives of the Underwriters) and fifty percent (50%) of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show; (l) any fees and expenses of counsel or other advisors to the Selling Stockholders; and (m) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 8 and in Section 13, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Stock which they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Stock made by the Underwriters, travel and lodging expenses of the Underwriters participating in the road show, and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, and the Selling Stockholders shall pay (on a pro rata basis based on the number of shares of Stock to be sold by each Selling Stockholder) any transfer taxes payable in connection with their respective sales of Stock to the Underwriters.
9. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained herein, to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of their respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 6(a)(i); the Company shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with.
(b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of White & Case LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is
material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Custody Agreements, the Powers of Attorney, the Stock, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) Kirkland & Ellis LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form agreed to with counsel to the Underwriters.
(e) Kirkland & Ellis LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as German counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form agreed to with counsel to the Underwriters.
(f) Hunton & Williams LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as Thai counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form agreed to with counsel to the Underwriters.
(g) Kirkland & Ellis LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, as counsel to each of the Selling Stockholders for whom they are acting as counsel, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in substantially the form agreed to with counsel to the Underwriters.
(h) The Representatives shall have received from White & Case LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Stock, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(i) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from BDO USA, LLP a letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days
prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants comfort letters to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.
(j) With respect to the letter of BDO USA, LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the Initial Letter), the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter (the Bring-Down Letter) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the Bring-Down Letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date of the Bring-Down Letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the Initial Letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.
(k) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer stating that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of such Delivery Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened; and
(iii) They have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion, (A) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, (B) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date, or (C) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and (D) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so set forth.
(l) Each Selling Stockholder (or the Custodian or one or more attorneys-in-fact on behalf of the Selling Stockholders) shall have furnished to the Representatives on such Delivery Date a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, signed by, or on behalf of, the Selling Stockholder (or the Custodian or one or more attorneys-in-fact) stating that the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholder contained herein are true and correct on and as of such Delivery Date and that the Selling Stockholder has complied with all its agreements contained herein and has satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date.
(m) Except as disclosed in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) since such date, there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than as a result of the grant or exercise of stock options pursuant to equity incentive plans existing on the date hereof and described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or any change in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Stock being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(n) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Companys debt securities by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations), and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Companys debt securities.
(o) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable
to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Stock being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(p) The New York Stock Exchange shall have approved the Stock for listing, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(q) The Lock-Up Agreements between the Representatives and the officers, directors and stockholders of the Company set forth on Schedule 3, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date of this Agreement, shall be in full force and effect on such Delivery Date.
All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
10. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Stock), to which that Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) used or referred to by any Underwriter, (D) any road show (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (a Non-Prospectus Road Show) or (E) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by the Company (or based upon any written information furnished by the Company for use therein) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Stock under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a Blue Sky Application) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show or any Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made), and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such director, officer, employee or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show or any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 10(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any director, officer, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.
(b) The Selling Stockholders, severally in proportion to the number of shares of Stock to be sold by each of them hereunder, shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Stock), to which that Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show, any Blue Sky Application or any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations), prepared by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder or used or referred to by the Selling Stockholder in connection with the offering of the Stock in violation of Section 7(b) (a Selling Stockholder Free Writing Prospectus) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show, any Blue Sky Application or any Selling Stockholder Free Writing Prospectus, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made), and shall reimburse each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each such controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees or controlling persons in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided that the indemnification provided for in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 10(b) only applies to the Selling Stockholder Information contained in or omitted from any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer
Information, any Non-Prospectus Road Show, any Blue Sky Application or any Selling Stockholder Free Writing Prospectus. The liability of each Selling Stockholder under the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) from the offering of the shares of the Stock purchased under this Agreement received by such Selling Stockholder. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have to any Underwriter or any officer, employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.
(c) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Selling Stockholder, their respective directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or such Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company, such Selling Stockholder or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show or Blue Sky Application, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show or Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made), but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 10(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company, such Selling Stockholder or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 10 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 10, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 10 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 10 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 10 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded, based on the advice of counsel, that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to local counsel) separate from its own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or admissions of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action (for which timely notice was provided to the indemnifying party in accordance with this Section 10(d)), the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 10(a), 10(b), 10(c) or 10(g) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Stock or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Stock purchased under this Agreement (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the shares of the Stock purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 10(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 10(e) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 10(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10(e), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock underwritten by it exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10(e), no Selling Stockholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which such Selling Stockholders net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by it from the offering of the shares of the Stock purchased under the Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages that such Selling Stockholder has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 10(e) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Selling Stockholders obligations to
contribute as provided in this Section 10(e) are several in proportion to the number of shares of Stock to be sold by each of them hereunder.
(f) The Underwriters severally confirm and each of the Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledges and agrees that (i) the statements regarding delivery of shares by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page of, (ii) the first two sentences of the first paragraph appearing under the caption UnderwritingCommission and Expenses in, (iii) the third sentence of the first paragraph appearing under the caption UnderwritingDetermination of Offering Price in, (iv) the first paragraph appearing under the caption UnderwritingStabilization in, (v) the third and fourth sentences appearing under the caption UnderwritingElectronic Distribution in, and (vi) the third sentence of the fifth paragraph appearing under the caption Underwriting in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Non-Prospectus Road Show.
(g) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (including its directors, officers and employees) and each person, if any, who controls Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (Oppenheimer Entities), from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect thereof to which any of the Oppenheimer Entities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (i) arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the approval of the Company for distribution to Directed Share Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) arises out of, or is based upon, the failure of the Directed Share Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Directed Share Participant agreed to purchase or (iii) is otherwise related to the Directed Share Program; provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) for any loss, claim, damage, liability or action that is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Oppenheimer Entities. The Company shall reimburse the Oppenheimer Entities promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.
11. Defaulting Underwriters. If, on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the Stock that the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase on such Delivery Date in the respective proportions which the number of shares of the Firm Stock set forth opposite the name of each remaining non-defaulting Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto bears to the total number of shares of the Firm Stock set forth opposite the names of all the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule 1 hereto;
provided, however, that the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase any of the Stock on such Delivery Date if the total number of shares of the Stock that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such date exceeds 9.09% of the total number of shares of the Stock to be purchased on such Delivery Date, and any remaining non-defaulting Underwriter shall not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the number of shares of the Stock that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of Section 3. If the foregoing maximums are exceeded, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters, or those other underwriters satisfactory to the Representatives who so agree, shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase, in such proportion as may be agreed upon among them, all the Stock to be purchased on such Delivery Date. If the remaining Underwriters or other underwriters satisfactory to the Representatives do not elect to purchase the shares that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Delivery Date, this Agreement (or, with respect to any Option Stock Delivery Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and of the Selling Stockholders to sell, the Option Stock) shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company or the Selling Stockholders, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses to the extent set forth in Sections 8 and 13. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 11, purchases Stock that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company and the Selling Stockholders for damages caused by its default. If other Underwriters are obligated or agree to purchase the Stock of a defaulting or withdrawing Underwriter, either the Representatives or the Company may postpone the Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement.
12. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to and received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Stock if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 9(m), 9(n) and 9(o) shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement.
13. Reimbursement of Underwriters Expenses. If (a) the Company or any Selling Stockholder shall fail to tender the Stock for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement (otherwise than pursuant to Section 11), the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Stock, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of those expenses.
14. Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company or the Selling Stockholders may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company or the Selling Stockholders by such Underwriters investment banking divisions. The Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
15. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge and agree that in connection with this offering, sale of the Stock or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (i) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company, Selling Stockholders and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (ii) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to either the Company or the Selling Stockholders, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Stock, and such relationship between the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (iii) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Company or Selling Stockholders shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby waive any claims that the Company or the Selling Stockholders may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.
16. Notices, Etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and
(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the Representatives c/o Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: R. Wade Dougherty, and FBR & Co., 1001 Nineteenth Street North, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Gavin Beske with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 10(d), to White & Case LLP, 1155 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Colin J. Diamond;
(b) if to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Mark C. Arnold, President and Chief Executive Officer (Fax: 281-875-6010), with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 300 North LaSalle, Chicago, Illinois 60654, Attention: Gerald T. Nowak, P.C. and Theodore A. Peto (Fax: 312-862-2200); and
(c) if to any Selling Stockholders, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to such Selling Stockholder at the address set forth on Schedule 2 hereto.
Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR & Co., and the Company and the Underwriters shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Selling Stockholders by the Custodian.
17. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company, the Selling Stockholders and their respective personal representatives and successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (A) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and (B) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in Section 10(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 17, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.
18. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Stock and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.
19. Definition of the Terms Business Day and Subsidiary. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) business day means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) subsidiary has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
22. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS NAMED IN SCHEDULE 2 TO THIS AGREEMENT | |
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OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC. |
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FBR & CO. |
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SCHEDULE 1
Underwriters
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William Blair & Company L.L.C. |
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BMO Capital Markets Corp. |
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Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. |
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SCHEDULE 2
Selling Stockholders
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SCHEDULE 3
Persons Delivering Lock-Up Agreements
Directors
Daniel J. Hennessy
Michael G. Evans
Marcus J. George
Richard E. Goodrich
Robert C. Griffin
Charles A. Sorrentino
Officers
Mark C. Arnold
Charles B. Lowrey
Gregg Taylor
Peter R. McCourt
Jeffery D. Nigh
Joellyn Champagne
William Lacey
Edward J. Zimmel
Stockholders
SCHEDULE 4
Orally Conveyed Pricing Information
1. Public offering price $ per share.
Underwriting discount $ per share.
2. Shares offered shares of Common Stock
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Letter Agreement
JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
520 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.
300 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you and certain other firms (the Underwriters) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) providing for the purchase by the Underwriters of shares (the Stock) of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), of GSE Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and that the Underwriters propose to reoffer the Stock to the public (the Offering).
In consideration of the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the Underwriters, and for other good and valuable consideration, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, without the prior written consent of Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the Stock to the extent applicable), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or any other securities of the Company or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do
any of the foregoing, in each case, for a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus relating to the Offering (such 180-day period, the Lock-Up Period). For purposes of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement, Prospectus shall refer to the final prospectus of the Company relating to the Offering filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed by this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, waive such extension in writing. The undersigned hereby further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement during the period from the date of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to this paragraph) has expired.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) bona fide gifts, sales, transfers or other dispositions of shares of any class of the Companys capital stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any class of the Companys capital stock, in each case that are made between and among the undersigned and members of the undersigneds family or affiliates of the undersigned, including its partners (if a partnership), members (if a limited liability company), stockholders (if a corporation) or trusts for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or members of the undersigneds family; (ii) transfers by will or intestacy; (iii) the exercise of an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted on or prior to the date of the Prospectus under an equity incentive plan of the Company described in the Prospectus, provided that this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall apply to any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to such exercise; (iv) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company acquired in open market transactions, block purchases or pursuant to a public offering, in each case occurring after the consummation of the Offering; or (v) the sale of the Stock to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; provided that it shall be a condition to any such sale, transfer, exercise or other disposition or transaction, as applicable, that (A) with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence) to the same extent as if the transferee/donee were a party hereto; (B) with respect to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor, transferee) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period in connection with such transfer, distribution or transaction; and (C) with respect to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), no party shall voluntarily make any public announcement of a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock in connection with any transfer, disposition or transaction during the Lock-Up Period.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, Jefferies & Company, Inc. or Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
Nothing in this Lock-Up Letter Agreement shall prevent the establishment by the undersigned of any contract, instruction or plan (a Plan) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act; provided that it shall be a condition to the establishment of any such Plan that no sales of the Companys capital stock shall be made pursuant to such a Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period; and provided, further, such a Plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or the existence thereof, and no filing with SEC or any other regulatory authority shall be required or shall be made voluntarily by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
The obligations of the undersigned under this Lock-Up letter will terminate: (i) if the Company notifies the Underwriters that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (ii) if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by December 31, 2011, (iii) if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Stock, or (iv) if the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 of which the Prospectus forms a part is withdrawn.
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters will proceed with the Offering in reliance on this Lock-Up Letter Agreement.
Whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters.
[Signature page follows]
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Letter Agreement and that, upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary in connection with the enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
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EXHIBIT B
Form of Press Release
GSE Holding, Inc.
[Date]
GSE Holding, Inc., (the Company) announced today that Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and FBR & Co., as Representatives of the underwriters in the Companys recent public sale of shares of common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to shares of the Companys common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on [ ], 20 , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Exhibit 3.5
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
GSE HOLDING, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
GSE Holding, Inc. (the Corporation), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL), does hereby certify:
1. That the original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 24, 2003.
2. That the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 17, 2004.
3. That the Corporation amended its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on July 11, 2011.
4. That this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted pursuant to Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.
5. That the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Corporation is GSE Holding, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE
The address of the Corporations registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801, and the name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL).
ARTICLE IV
STOCK
Section 4.01 Authorized Stock. The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred Sixty Million (160,000,000), of which One Hundred Fifty Million (150,000,000) shall be designated as Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share (Common Stock), and Ten Million (10,000,000) shall be designated as Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (Preferred Stock).
Section 4.02 Common Stock.
(a) Voting. Except as otherwise provided (i) by the DGCL, (ii) by Section 4.03 of this Article IV, or (iii) by resolutions, if any, of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (Board of Directors) fixing the relative powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the Preferred Stock, the entire voting power of the shares of the Corporation for the election of directors and for all other purposes shall be vested exclusively in the Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock shall have one vote upon all matters to be voted on by the holders of the Common Stock.
(b) Dividends. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, each share of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive and share equally in all dividends paid out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.
(c) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.
Section 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued at any time and from time to time in one or more series. Subject to the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this Certificate of Incorporation), the Board of Directors is authorized to fix from time to time by resolution or resolutions the number of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and to determine the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of any such class or series. Further, within the limits and restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares constituting any such class or series, the Board of Directors is authorized to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such class or series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such class or series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that class or series. In the event that the number of shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the undesignated status which such shares had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock subject to the requirements of applicable law.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.01 Number. Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, the number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be not fewer than three (3) and shall be fixed from time to time solely by resolution adopted
by affirmative vote of a majority of such directors then in office and may not be fixed by any other person or persons, including stockholders.
Section 5.02 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if such a majority is less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by any other person or persons, including stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause of a director nominated by CHS Capital LLC and its affiliates (collectively, CHS) may be filled only with a director nominated by CHS in accordance with the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement or other applicable agreement. Any director so chosen shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 5.03 Removal of Directors. Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, a director may be removed from office only for cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; provided, however, any director nominated by CHS may, in CHSs sole discretion, be removed without a vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation at any time with or without cause.
Section 5.04 Powers. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in its Board of Directors.
Section 5.05 Election.
(a) Ballot Not Required. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide.
(b) Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
STOCKHOLDER ACTION
Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, at any time that the Existing Sponsor (as defined in Section 12.04(e)) owns at least 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, the stockholders of the Corporation may take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Bylaws of
the Corporation. At any time that the Existing Sponsor does not own at least 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, the stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting and must take any action at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is expressly denied.
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Subject to the rights and preferences of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, at any time that the Existing Sponsor owns at least 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, the Existing Sponsor may call special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation. At any time that the Existing Sponsor does not own at least 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (or if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President) or the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then in office. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
EXISTENCE
The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT
Section 9.01 Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage or separate class vote may be specified by law or otherwise, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock required by law or otherwise, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt any provision inconsistent with, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision of, or to adopt a bylaw inconsistent with, Articles V, VI, VII, IX, X, XII and XIII of this Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, at any time that the Existing Sponsor owns at least 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, such amendment shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Corporations then outstanding Common Stock.
Section 9.02 Amendment of Bylaws. The Bylaws of the Corporation may be altered, changed or repealed, and new Bylaws made, by the majority vote of the whole Board of Directors. The Corporations Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, at any time that the Existing Sponsor owns at least 10% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding and wants to adopt, amend, alter or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws of the Corporation, such adoption, amendment, alteration or repeal shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Corporations then outstanding Common Stock.
ARTICLE X
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
Section 10.01 Personal Liability. To the fullest extent elimination or limitation of personal liability of directors is permitted by the DGCL, no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 10.02 Indemnification. Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article X shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. The rights to indemnification and advancement conferred in this Article X shall be contract rights and shall become vested by virtue of the directors or officers service at the time when the state of facts giving rise to the claim occurred. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by the DGCL.
Section 10.03 Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such persons status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL.
Section 10.04 Non-Exclusivity. The rights and authority conferred in this Article X shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire.
Section 10.05 Applicability. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article X, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article X in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification. Any vested rights to indemnification or advancement hereunder may not be amended or otherwise modified or limited without the express written consent of the affected director.
ARTICLE XI
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Section 11.01 Business Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and except as may be otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Corporation and any fund, investment vehicle or portfolio company controlled by, or under common control with, CHS Capital LLC (collectively, CHS), the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to CHS or any of its officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and subsidiaries and that may be business opportunities for such person, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no such person shall be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person, acting in good faith, pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless, in the case of any such person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation. Neither CHS nor any of its affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) shall have any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
Section 11.02 Termination. The provisions of this Article XI shall have no further force or effect with respect to CHS on the date that no person who is a director or officer of the Corporation is also a director, officer, partner or member of CHS or its affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries).
Section 11.03 Amendment of this Article. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary: (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article XI; and (ii) neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article XI nor the adoption of any
provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article XI nor the termination of applicability pursuant to Section 11.02 shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article XI in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XI, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal, adoption or termination.
Section 11.04 Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XI.
Section 11.05 Severability. To the extent that any provision of this Article XI is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or unenforceability of any other provision of this Article XI.
ARTICLE XII
DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Section 12.01 The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
Section 12.02 Notwithstanding any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below) with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
(a) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
(b) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares of voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by such stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) by employee stock plans of the Corporation in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
(c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Section 12.03 The restrictions contained in Section 12.02 shall not apply if:
(a) the Corporation does not have a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national securities exchange; or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, unless any
of the foregoing results from action taken, directly or indirectly, by an interested stockholder or from a transaction in which a person becomes an interested stockholder; or
(b) a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the 3-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership.
Section 12.04 For purposes of this Article XII, references to:
(a) affiliate means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.
(b) associate, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.
(c) business combination, when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:
(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 12.02 is not applicable to the surviving entity;
(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;
(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of any security exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under
Section 251(g) or Section 253 of the DGCL; (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (E) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (C)-(E) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholders proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation;
(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or
(v) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
(d) control, including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XII, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.
(e) Existing Sponsor means CHS and its controlled affiliates.
(f) Existing Sponsor Direct Transferee means any person (and its affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly in one or more related transactions from the Existing Sponsor or any group, or any member of any such group, to which the Existing Sponsor is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.
(g) Existing Sponsor Indirect Transferee means any person (and its affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly in one or more related transactions from any Existing Sponsor Direct Transferee or any other Existing Sponsor Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.
(h) interested stockholder means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three 3-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but interested stockholder shall not include (A) the Existing Sponsor, any Existing Sponsor Direct Transferee, any Existing Sponsor Indirect Transferee or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any group, or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided, in the case of this clause (B), that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of owner below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
(i) person means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.
(j) stock means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.
(k) voting stock means, with respect to any corporation, stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such voting stock.
(l) owner, including the terms own and owned, when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:
(i) beneficially owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) such stock, directly or indirectly;
(ii) has (A) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such persons affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such persons right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or
(iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (B) of subsection (l)(ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.
ARTICLE XIII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
Unless the Corporation, as authorized by the Board of Directors, consents in writing to the selection of one or more alternative forums, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Corporations Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Corporations Bylaws or (v) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XIII.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed, signed and acknowledged by the undersigned as of the date set forth below.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit 3.6
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
GSE HOLDING, INC.
(As adopted , 2011)
(to be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the
Corporations initial public offering)
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1.1 Registered Offices. The registered office of GSE Holding, Inc. (the Corporation) in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of the Corporations registered agent at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The registered office and/or registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.
Section 1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require
Section 1.3 Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
Stockholders Meetings
Section 2.1 Annual Meetings.
(a) An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws at such date, time and place, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation from time to time.
(b) Only such business (other than stockholder nominations of directors, which shall be made in compliance with, and shall be exclusively governed by, Section 3.1(a)) shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For business to be properly brought before the meeting, it must be (i) authorized by the Board of Directors and specified in the notice, or a supplemental notice, of the meeting, (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 2.1(b) and at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting on any such business and who has complied with the notice and other requirements set forth in these Bylaws; clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit such business (other than proposals properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and included in the Corporations notice of the meeting, which proposals are not governed by these Bylaws) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(c) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(iii), the stockholder must have given timely written notice
thereof to the Secretary of the Corporation as hereinafter provided and such proposal must otherwise be a proper subject for action by the Corporations stockholders. To be timely, a stockholders written notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 2.1(c) and shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days from the first anniversary of the immediately preceding years annual meeting date, written notice by a stockholder in order to be timely must be received not earlier than the 120th day before the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day before the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of stockholders notice as described above. A stockholders notice to the Secretary delivered pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) shall set forth:
(i) as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a description of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions to be presented at the annual meeting, and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment) desired to be brought before the annual meeting, (B) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and (C) any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom;
(ii) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal of business on the date of such stockholders notice;
(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person:
(A) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation (collectively, Company Securities), if any, which are owned beneficially or of record by such person, the date(s) on which such Company Securities were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition(s), and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,
(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such person, and
(C) whether and the extent to which such person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (x) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities for such person, or (y) increase or decrease the voting power of such person in the Corporation disproportionately to such persons economic interest in the Company Securities;
(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clause (i) or clause (iii)(C) of this Section 2.1(c):
(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person, and
(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;
(v) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, a description of all arrangements or understandings between such person and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder or such beneficial owner in such business, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or such beneficial owner therefrom; and
(vi) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, a representation that such person intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting (the information described in clauses (iii) through (vi), the Proposing Stockholder Information).
Unless otherwise required by law, if a stockholder (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present business proposed by such stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.1(c), such proposed business shall not be transacted, even though proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. No business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). The
chairman of the meeting at which any business is proposed by a stockholder shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that such business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.1(c), and in such event, the business not properly before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions, requirements and limitations in this Section 2.1(c) will not apply to any business to be presented before an annual or special meeting of stockholders by CHS Capital LLC and its affiliates (collectively, CHS) so long as CHS owns at least ten percent (10%) of the Corporations then outstanding common stock.
Section 2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only as set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation) of the Corporation. If CHS has a right to call a special meeting of the stockholders pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting upon written request to the Secretary by CHS. Any such written request must be signed by CHS, stating the number of shares owned by CHS, and shall specify the purpose of the proposed meeting (including the complete text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation, the text of the proposed amendment). Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice; provided, however, that nothing in these Bylaws shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters to the stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders.
Section 2.3 Notice of Meetings. A written notice of each annual or special meeting of stockholders shall be given stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice of meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, personally, by mail or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, electronically. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholders address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 2.4 Adjournments. Any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 2.3. If the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at an adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as the record date determined for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.
Section 2.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of stockholders. In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by the affirmative vote of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by all such holders, adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present. If a quorum is present when a meeting is convened, the subsequent withdrawal of stockholders, even though less than a quorum remains, shall not affect the ability of the remaining stockholders lawfully to transact business.
Section 2.6 Conduct; Remote Communication.
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such designation, by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) If authorized by the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws and applicable law, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, (1) participate in a meeting of stockholders and (2) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
Section 2.7 Voting.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power on the matter in question.
(b) Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot and need not be conducted by inspectors of election unless so required by Section 2.9 of these Bylaws or so determined by the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding stock entitled to vote which are present in person or by proxy at such meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors. Each other question shall, unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, be decided by the vote of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all stock entitled to vote on such question which are present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
(c) Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of another corporation and entitled to vote may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws or other internal regulations of such other corporation may prescribe or, in the absence of such provision, as the board of directors or comparable body of such other corporation may determine.
(d) Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person, a minor, an incompetent or a debtor in a case under Title 11, United States Code, and entitled to vote may be voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, debtor-in-possession or trustee, as the case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into the name of the official or other person so voting.
(e) A stockholder whose voting stock of the Corporation is pledged shall be entitled to vote such stock unless on the transfer records of the Corporation the pledgor has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which case only the pledgee, or such pledgees proxy, may represent such shares and vote thereon.
(f) If voting stock is held of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (i) if only one votes, such act binds all; (ii) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and (iii) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter each faction may vote such stock proportionally, or any person voting the shares, or a beneficiary, if any, may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court as may have jurisdiction to appoint an additional person to act with the persons so voting the stock, which shall then be voted as determined by a majority of such persons and the person appointed by the Court. If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even split for the purpose of this subsection shall be a majority or even split in interest.
(g) Stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of which are held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any meeting of stockholders and shall not be counted in the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is
present. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall limit the right of the Corporation to vote shares of stock of the Corporation held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.8 Proxies.
(a) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the Secretary an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
(b) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy (i) by executing a writing authorizing such person or persons to act as such, which execution may be accomplished by such stockholder or such stockholders authorized officer, director, partner, employee or agent (or, if the stock is held in a trust or estate, by a trustee, executor or administrator thereof) signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, facsimile signature, or (ii) by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission (each, a Transmission) to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such Transmission; provided that any such Transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that such Transmission was authorized by such stockholder.
(c) Any inspector or inspectors appointed pursuant to Section 2.9 of these Bylaws shall examine Transmissions to determine if they are valid. If no inspector or inspectors are so appointed, the Secretary or such other person or persons as shall be appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors shall examine Transmissions to determine if they are valid. If it is determined that a Transmission is valid, the person or persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which such person or persons relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of such a writing or Transmission may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or Transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or Transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or Transmission.
Section 2.9 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.
(a) If the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is (i) listed on a national securities exchange, (ii) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association or (iii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, the Board of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more
inspectors (individually an Inspector, and collectively the Inspectors) to act at such meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate Inspectors to replace any Inspector who shall fail to act. If no Inspector or alternate is able to act at such meeting, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more other persons to act as Inspectors. Each Inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of Inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
(b) The Inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the number of shares of stock of the Corporation present in person or by proxy at such meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the Inspectors and (v) certify their determination of the number of such shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The Inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist them in the performance of their duties.
(c) The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at such meeting. No ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the Inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by any stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(d) In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the Inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with such proxies, any information referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 2.8 of these Bylaws, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the Inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by a stockholder of record to cast or more votes than such stockholder holds of record. If the Inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the Inspectors, at the time they make their certification pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.9, shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom such information was obtained, when and the means by which such information was obtained and the basis for the Inspectors belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 2.10 Fixing Date of Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, be not more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the
meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors in respect of a meeting, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is so fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 2.11 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time thereof on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.12 Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting.
(a) For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting as may be permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of
preferred stock, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall be not more than ten (10) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If CHS seeks to authorize or take corporate action by written consent pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, CHS shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date, which notice shall include the text of any proposed resolutions. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 2.12(a) or otherwise within ten (10) days of receipt of a valid request by a stockholder, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required pursuant to applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 2.12(b); provided, however, that if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall in such an event be at the close of business on the day upon which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Article VI of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2.12(a) of these Bylaws, any action which could be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting by CHS, without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing (which may be in counterparts), setting forth the action so taken, are (a) signed by CHS and any other holders of outstanding stock having not fewer than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and (b) delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the records of proceedings of meetings of stockholders. Delivery made to the Corporations registered office shall be by hand or by certified mail or registered mail, return receipt requested. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Corporation, in the manner required by this Section 2.12, within sixty (60) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days of the date of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by this Section 2.12. The validity of any consent executed by a proxy for a stockholder pursuant to a Transmission transmitted to such proxy holder by or upon the authorization of the stockholder shall be determined by or at the direction of the Secretary. A written record of the information upon which the person making such determination relied shall be made and kept in the records of the proceedings of the stockholders. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of stockholders. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by this Section 2.12 and applicable law, to the Corporation of written consent or consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the Corporation shall engage independent inspectors of election for
the purpose of performing promptly a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent and without a meeting shall be effective until such inspectors have completed their review, determined that the requisite number of valid and unrevoked consents delivered to the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2.12 and applicable law have been obtained to authorize or take the action specified in the consents, and certified such determination for entry in the records of the Corporation kept for the purpose of recording the proceedings of meetings of stockholders. Nothing contained in this Section 2.12 shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the independent inspectors, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 3.1 Election; Resignation; Vacancies.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1(a) shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of stockholders by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this paragraph (a). Any nomination by a stockholder must be made by timely written notice to the Secretary as hereinafter provided. To be timely, a stockholders written notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 3.1(a) and shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (i) with respect to an election to be held at an annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days from the first anniversary of the immediately preceding years annual meeting date, written notice by a stockholder in order to be timely must be received not earlier than the 120th day before the date of such annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day before the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, and (ii) with respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the first public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made. In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of any annual or special meeting commence a new time period for giving of a stockholder notice as described above. A stockholders notice to the Secretary delivered pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) shall set forth:
(i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (each, a Proposed Nominee), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder; and
(ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, the Proposing Stockholder Information with respect to such person.
Such notice shall be accompanied by a written representation and agreement, in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request, executed by the Proposed Nominee, that such Proposed Nominee (i) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (ii) consents to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected, (iii) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Proposed Nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such Proposed Nominees ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Proposed Nominees fiduciary duties under applicable law and (iv) would be in compliance if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply, with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.
At the request of the Board of Directors any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary (in accordance with any applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under these Bylaws) that information required to be set forth in a stockholders notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.1(a) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public disclosure of such action at least 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the immediately preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by this Section 3.1(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the tenth day following the day on which such public disclosure is first made by the Corporation.
No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1(a). Unless otherwise required by law, if a stockholder (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders to present a nomination proposed by such stockholder pursuant to this Section 3.1(a), such nomination shall be disregarded, even though proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The chairman of the meeting at which a stockholder nomination is presented shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that such nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 3.1(a), and, in such event, the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions, requirements and limitations in this Section 3.1(a) will not apply to any nominations to be presented before an annual or special meeting of stockholders by CHS so long as CHS owns at least ten percent (10%) of the Corporations then outstanding common stock.
To the extent the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement sets forth procedures governing the nomination of directors to the Board and any committees thereof or the election of a Chairman of the Board, the Corporation and the Board of Directors must act in accordance with the provisions of such agreement in complying with Article III.
(b) Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. A resignation shall take effect when the resignation is delivered to the officer to whom it is directed unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, without any need for its acceptance. A resignation that is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable.
(c) Any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any reason shall be filled as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.2 Regular Meetings. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, a regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held, without call or notice, immediately after and, if the annual meeting of stockholders is held at a place, at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, for the purpose of organizing the Board of Directors, electing officers and transacting any other business that may properly come before such meeting. Additional regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without call or notice at such times as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or by any member of the Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting at least twenty-four hours before the special meeting. The purpose or purposes of a special meeting need not be stated in the call or notice.
Section 3.4 Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer or, in
his or her absence, by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. A majority of the directors present at a meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may adjourn such meeting to any other date, time or place without notice other than announcement at the meeting.
Section 3.5 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.6 Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each committee to consist of one or more directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in these Bylaws or in the resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee, or an amendment to such resolution, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
Section 3.7 Telephonic Meetings. Directors, or any committee of directors designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.8 Board of Director Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing (which may be in counterparts) or by electronic transmission, and the written consent or consents or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be made in paper form if the minutes of the Corporation are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.9 Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal
rules not inconsistent with the provisions of law for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article III of these Bylaws.
Section 3.10 Reliance upon Records. Every director, and every member of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the director or member reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, such records, information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid, or with which the Corporations capital stock might properly be purchased or redeemed.
Section 3.11 Interested Directors. A director who is directly or indirectly a party to a contract or transaction with the Corporation, or is a director or officer of or has a financial interest in any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization which is a party to a contract or transaction with the Corporation, may be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof at which such contract or transaction is considered or authorized, and such director may participate in such meeting and vote on such authorization to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 144 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 3.12 Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each such meeting and an annual retainer or salary for services as a director or committee member. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Executive Officers; Election; Qualification; Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members and shall elect a Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Financial Officer. The Board of Directors shall also elect a Secretary and may elect a President, one or more Vice Presidents, and one or more Assistant Secretaries. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 4.2 Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated in a notice of resignation, it shall take effect when received by the officer to whom it is directed, without any need for its acceptance. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation. A vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term thereof by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
Section 4.3 Powers and Duties of Executive Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.
Section 4.4 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall in general supervise and control all of the business affairs of the Corporation, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may execute, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments which the Board of Directors or a committee thereof has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the execution shall have been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
Section 4.5 President. The President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and, when so performing, shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the office of Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.6 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Controlling Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all such officers transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of such persons death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.
Section 4.7 Secretary. In addition to such other duties, if any, as may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary shall (i) keep the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committee of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (iii) be the custodian of the records and seal of the Corporation; (iv) affix or cause to be affixed the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, and attest the seal by his or her signature, to all documents the execution of which under seal is authorized by the Board of Directors; and (v) unless such duties have been delegated by the Board of Directors to a transfer agent of the Corporation, keep or cause to be kept a register of the name and address of each stockholder, as the same shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder, and have general charge of the stock transfer records of the Corporation.
Section 4.8 Assistant Secretaries. Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if there be one, or any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of such persons disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
Section 4.9 Vice Presidents. Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Vice Presidents, if there be any, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other such title.
Section 4.10 Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
ARTICLE V
Stock Certificates and Transfers
Section 5.1 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. Shares of the Corporations stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Delaware law. All certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. The certificates shall be signed by (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if any, or a Vice President, if any, and (ii) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, and certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation.
Section 5.2 Signatures. Any signature required to be on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue
Section 5.3 Lost Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 5.4 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the record holder of such stock, or by their attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and, in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon the surrender of the certificate.
Section 5.5 Stockholders of Record. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any such other corporate action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 5.6 Beneficial Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE VI
Notices
Section 6.1 Manner of Notice.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, whenever notice is required to be given to any stockholder, director or member of
any committee of the Board of Directors, such notice may be given by (i) personal delivery, (ii) depositing it, in a sealed envelope, in the United States mails, first class, postage prepaid, addressed, (iii) delivering it to a company for overnight or second day mail or delivery, (iv) delivering it to a telegraph company, charges prepaid, for transmission, or by transmitting it via telecopier, or (v) any other reliable means permitted by applicable law (including, subject to Section 6.1(b), electronic transmission) to such stockholder, director or member, either at the address of such stockholder, director or member as it appears on the records of the Corporation or, in the case of such a director or member, at his or her business address; and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when it is thus personally delivered, deposited, delivered or transmitted, as the case may be. Such requirement for notice shall also be deemed satisfied, except in the case of stockholder meetings, if actual notice is received orally or by other writing by the person entitled thereto as far in advance of the event with respect to which notice is being given as the minimum notice period required by law or these Bylaws.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation pursuant to these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation and shall also be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given by a form of electronic transmission in accordance with these Bylaws shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of such posting and the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by another form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
Section 6.2 Dispensation with Notice.
(a) Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any stockholder to whom (i) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders, and all notices of meetings of stockholders to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest on securities of the Corporation during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth the then current address of such stockholder, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated.
(b) Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required, and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.
Section 6.3 Waiver of Notice. Any written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee or directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
ARTICLE VII
Indemnification
Section 7.1 Right to Indemnification.
(a) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law as in effect on the date of adoption of these Bylaws or as it may thereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise, against any and all liability and loss (including judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) suffered or incurred and expenses reasonably incurred by such person. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by Delaware law. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person, including a counterclaim or crossclaim, unless the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.
(b) For purposes of this Article VII: (i) any reference to other enterprise shall include all plans, programs, policies, agreements, contracts and payroll practices and related trusts for the benefit of or relating to employees of the Corporation and its related entities (employee benefit plans); (ii) any reference to fines, penalties, liability and expenses shall include any excise taxes, penalties, claims, liabilities and reasonable expenses (including reasonable legal fees and related expenses) assessed against or incurred by a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; (iii) any reference to serving at the request of the Corporation shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or trustee or
administrator of any employee benefit plan which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, administrators and service providers; (iv) any reference to serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of a partnership or trust shall include service as a partner or trustee; and (v) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation for purposes of this Article VII.
Section 7.2 Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition if the Corporation has received an undertaking by the person receiving such payment or reimbursement to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VII or otherwise.
Section 7.3 Claims. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Article VII is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
Section 7.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 7.5 Other Indemnification. The Corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, partner or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise.
Section 7.6 Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VIII
General
Section 8.1 Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. Initially, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year.
Section 8.2 Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.3 Definitions.
(a) For purposes of these Bylaws, electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
(b) For purposes of these Bylaws, public disclosure shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable national news service, or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(c) For purposes of these Bylaws, a qualified representative of a stockholder shall mean a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or a person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing (or a reliable reproduction thereof) shall be produced at the meeting of stockholders.
(d) For purposes of these Bylaws, Stockholder Associated Person of any stockholder means (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.
Section 8.4 Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed, or new Bylaws adopted, only in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Certificate of Incorporation.
Exhibit 4.1
PRESIDENT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER This Certifies that is the record holder of INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS CUSIP 36191X 10 0 FULLY PAID AND NONASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE, OF GSE HOLDING, INC. transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. WITNESS the facsimile signatures of the Corporations duly authorized officers. Dated: GSE COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC (Brooklyn, NY) TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR BY AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE GSE HOLDING, INC. SPECIMEN |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated Signature(s) Guaranteed By THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. X X NOTICE: The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM TEN ENT JT TEN as tenants in common as tenants by the entireties as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT Custodian (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State) UNIF TRF MIN ACT Custodian (until age ) (Cust) under Uniform Transfers (Minor) to Minors Act (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. SPECIMEN |
Exhibit 10.16
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (Agreement) is made as of [ ] by and between GSE Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and [ ], a director and/or officer of the Company (the Indemnitee).
WHEREAS, the Company has concluded that to retain and attract talented and experienced individuals to serve as directors and officers of the Company, it is necessary for the Company to contractually indemnify directors and officers and to assume for itself maximum liability for expenses and damages in connection with claims against such directors and officers in connection with their service to the Company;
WHEREAS, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL), under which the Company is organized, empowers the Company to indemnify by agreement its directors, officers, employees and agents, and persons who serve, at the request of the Company, as directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provide that the indemnification provided by the DGCL is not exclusive;
WHEREAS, the Companys Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation) and the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws) authorize the Company to provide indemnification and to advance expenses to the full extent permitted by Delaware law;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is currently serving as a[n] [director][and][officer] of the Company and the Company wishes Indemnitee to continue his service in such capacity without concern of unwarranted personal liability arising out of or related to such services to the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to provide Indemnitee with an independent contractual right to indemnification and advancement of expenses in addition to those rights provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws;
[WHEREAS, Indemnitee has certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by CHS Capital LLC (CHS) or affiliates of CHS (collectively, the CHS Group) which Indemnitee and the CHS Group intend to be secondary to the primary obligation of the Company to indemnify Indemnitee as provided herein, with the Companys acknowledgment of and agreement to the foregoing being a material condition to Indemnitees willingness to serve on the Companys Board (as defined below);](1)
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Indemnification in Third Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Indemnitee from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse Indemnitee for, any Damages (as defined below) that are directly or indirectly suffered or
(1) Bracketed provisions apply only to directors designated by CHS.
incurred by Indemnitee as a result of, or are directly or indirectly connected with, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), to which Indemnitee is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of, or arising from, the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a member of the boards of directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the Companys Board), by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee in his role as an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or member of the Companys Board, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 1 unless Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitees conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that (i) Indemnitee did not act in good faith, (ii) Indemnitee did not act in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or (iii) with respect to any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees conduct was unlawful. Anyone seeking to overcome the presumption that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Section 1 shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Damages shall mean any Expenses (as defined below), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with a Proceeding. Expenses shall mean any direct and indirect costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding, including any fee (including any legal fee, expert fee, accounting fee or advisory fee), charge, cost (including any cost of investigation) or expense of any nature, but shall not include the amount of any judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding.
2. Indemnification in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Indemnitee from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse Indemnitee for, any Expenses and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement that are directly or indirectly suffered or incurred by Indemnitee as a result of, or are directly or indirectly connected with, any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, to which Indemnitee is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of, or arising from, the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a member of the Companys Board, by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee in his role as an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a member of the Companys Board or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 2: (1) unless Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; or (2) for any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the Company by a court of competent jurisdiction due to willful misconduct of a culpable nature in the performance of his duty to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding is or was pending shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for Expenses and then only to the extent that the court shall determine. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that (i) Indemnitee did not act in good faith, or (ii) Indemnitee did not act in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company.
Anyone seeking to overcome the presumption that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Section 2 shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
3. Expenses; Indemnification Procedure.
(a) Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any Proceeding referenced in Sections 1 or 2 hereof (but not amounts actually paid in settlement of any such Proceeding). Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such amounts advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined such Expenses were not reasonable or that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the DGCL or otherwise. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee within ten (10) days following delivery of a written statement therefor by Indemnitee to the Company. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall be made without regard to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make repayment and shall be unsecured and interest free.
(b) Witness Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of, or arising from, the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer of the Company or a member of the Companys Board, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
(c) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of the commencement of, or the threat of commencement of, any claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the President of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within Indemnitees power.
(d) Procedure. Any indemnification provided for in Sections 1 or 2 shall be made no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the written request of Indemnitee. If a claim under this Agreement, under any statute, or under any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation or the Bylaws providing for indemnification, is not paid in full by the Company within thirty (30) days after a written request for payment thereof has first been received by the Company, Indemnitee may, but need not, at any time thereafter bring an action against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, subject to Section 20 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid for the Expenses (including attorneys fees) of bringing such action. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for Expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition) that Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under applicable law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Companys Board, any committee or subgroup of the Companys Board, independent legal counsel, or the Companys stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Companys Board, any committee or subgroup of the Companys Board, independent legal counsel, or the Companys stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(e) Settlements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be required to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without the Companys prior written consent. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitees prior written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold their consent to any proposed settlement.
(f) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated under Section 3(a) hereof to pay the Expenses of any Proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding; provided, that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his counsel in any such Proceeding at Indemnitees expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) counsel to Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then in each case, the fees and expenses of Indemnitees counsel shall be at the expense of the Company, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.
4. Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity; [Primacy of Indemnification].
(a) Scope. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law,
notwithstanding that such indemnification is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or by statute. In the event of any change, after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors, such changes shall be, ipso facto, within the purview of Indemnitees rights and Companys obligations, under this Agreement. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors, such changes, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties rights and obligations hereunder.
(b) Nonexclusivity. The provisions for indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, Delaware law, or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitees official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. Indemnitees rights provided under this Agreement shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased acting as an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a member of the Companys Board.
(c) [Primacy of Indemnification. The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee has certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by the CHS Group. The Company hereby agrees (i) that the Company is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the CHS Group to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification for the same Expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee is secondary), (ii) that the Company shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Damages to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the CHS Group and (iii) that the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the CHS Group from any and all claims against the CHS Group for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the CHS Group on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the CHS Group shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the CHS Group is an express third-party beneficiary of the terms of this Section 4(c).]
5. Partial Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any Proceeding, but is not entitled, however, to indemnification for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify
Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to which Indemnitee is entitled. For purposes of this Section 5(a) and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
(b) Contribution. If the indemnification provided in this Agreement is unavailable in whole or in part and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason other than those explicitly set forth herein, then with respect to any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, all Damages and Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.
6. Determination of Right To Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Agreement shall be made by the Company unless a determination is made that indemnification of such Indemnitee is not proper in the circumstances because he has not met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Sections 1 or 2, as applicable, hereof. Any such determination shall be made (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the Proceeding in question (disinterested directors), even if less than a quorum, (ii) by a majority vote of a committee of disinterested directors designated by majority vote of disinterested directors, even if less than a quorum, (iii) by a vote of stockholders who are not at that time parties to the Proceeding in question holding a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of all classes entitled to vote on the matter, voting as a single class, (iv) by independent legal counsel, or (v) by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that if a Change in Control has occurred, the determination with respect to Indemnitees right to indemnification shall be made only by independent legal counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the independent legal counsel and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
7. Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company if Indemnitees actions or omissions to act are taken in good faith reliance upon the records of the Company, including its financial statements, or upon information, opinions, reports or statements furnished to Indemnitee by the officers or employees of the Company in the course of their duties, or by committees of the Companys Board, or by any other person (including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors) as to matters Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failures to act, of any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification hereunder.
8. Mutual Acknowledgment. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors, officers or other advisors under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake to the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Companys right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
9. Severability. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Companys inability, pursuant to applicable law (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided in this Section 9. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, then (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any provisions of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any provisions of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
10. Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to indemnify Indemnitee or to advance Expenses in connection with any of the following:
(a) Excluded Acts. Any actions or omissions or transactions from which an officer or director of a corporation may not be relieved of liability under Delaware law;
(b) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. Any Proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to Proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification and/or advancement of Expenses arising under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any other statute or law, but such indemnification or advancement of Expenses may be provided by the Company in specific cases if the Companys Board finds it to be appropriate;
(c) Lack of Good Faith. Any Proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee in such Proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous;
(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). Expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute;
(e) Insurance Payments. Any claims for which payment is actually made to Indemnitee under a valid, enforceable and collectible insurance policy; [provided, that the foregoing shall not affect the rights of Indemnitee or the CHS Group set forth in Section 4(c) hereof;]
(f) Other Payments. To the extent that Indemnitee is indemnified and actually paid or Expenses are advanced otherwise than pursuant to this Agreement; [provided, that the foregoing shall not affect the rights of Indemnitee or the CHS Group set forth in Section 4(c) hereof;]
(g) Personal Advantage. If it is proved by final judgment in a court of law or other final adjudication to have been based upon or attributable to Indemnitees in fact having gained any personal profit or advantage to which he was not legally entitled; or
(h) Unlawful Indemnification. If a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter shall determine that such indemnification or advancement of Expenses is not lawful.
11. Remedies of Indemnitee. In the event that (i) the Company makes a determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under Sections 1 or 2 of this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement, or (iii) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court in the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification and shall be entitled to reimbursement of Expenses incurred in connection therewith in accordance with Section 20.
12. Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies.
13. Subrogation. [Except as provided in Section 4(c) hereof,] in the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee [(other than against the CHS Group)], who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
14. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitees spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within
such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
15. Effectiveness of Agreement. To the extent that the indemnification permitted under the terms of certain provisions of this Agreement exceeds the scope of the indemnification provided for under Delaware law, such provisions shall not be effective unless and until the indemnification permitted by such provisions comes within the scope of the indemnification provided for under Delaware law. In all other respects, the balance of this Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth on the first page.
16. Enforcement. The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and/or a member of the Companys Board, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement as consideration for serving as an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a member of the Companys Board.
17. Construction of Certain Phrases.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any person, other than the CHS Group and other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined above), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities, unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Companys securities by any person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;
(ii) Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of directors of the Company, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 17(b)(i), 17(b)(iii) or 17(b)(iv)) whose election by the board of directors of the Company or nomination for election by
the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company;
(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity; and
(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, or, if such approval is not required, the decision by the board of directors of the Company to proceed with such a liquidation, sale or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, references to the Company shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, references to other enterprises shall include employee benefit plans; references to fines shall include any ERISA excise taxes or penalties; and references to serving at the request of the Company shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
19. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitees estate, heirs, legal representatives and assigns. This Agreement will continue in effect whether
Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other enterprise at the Companys request.
20. Attorneys Fees. In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof, or to recover under any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and Expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees, incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action, unless as a part of such action, the court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement or to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and Expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including with respect to Indemnitees counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such action the court determines that each of Indemnitees material defenses to such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous.
21. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party addressee, on the date of such receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail, properly addressed with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked; otherwise a notice shall be deemed duly given when such notice shall be actually received by the addressee. Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice. The failure to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
22. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both parties. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such wavier constitute a continuing waiver.
23. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Delaware.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
INDEMNITEE: |
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GSE HOLDING, INC. |
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Exhibit 10.60
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO IPO BONUS AND DIVIDEND BONUS LETTER AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement (this Amendment) is entered into as of December 2, 2011, by and between (i) Mark C. Arnold (you) and (ii) GSE Holding, Inc. (the Company). You and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the Parties and individually as a Party. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties are each a party to that certain IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of September 16, 2010 (as amended, the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement).
WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement provides that amendments may be made to the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement by execution of a writing signed by you and the Company.
WHEREAS, you and the Company wish to amend certain provisions of the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 1(a). Section 1(a) of the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(a) If an Initial Public Offering is consummated, then, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you shall be entitled to receive from the Company, or one of its Affiliates, a one-time payment (the IPO Bonus) in an aggregate amount equal to three percent (3.0%) of the Net Equity Proceeds from the Initial Public Offering as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company. The IPO Bonus shall not vest unless you remain continuously employed by Company or any of its subsidiaries from the date hereof until the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The IPO Bonus will be paid to you (x) in shares of the Companys Common Stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the IPO Bonus, subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 1 of the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement to be entered into by the Company, you and certain other stockholders upon consummation of the Initial Public Offering and (y) 35% in the form of cash.
2. Schedule A. A new Schedule A is hereby added to the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement to read as follows:
For example, assuming (i) an Initial Public Offering price of $14.00 per share, (ii) 10,809,987 shares of the Companys common stock, (iii) 1,474,111 options (on a net settlement basis) to purchase the Companys common stock and (iv) bonuses to be issued pursuant to bonus letter agreements with you and certain other executives equal in value to 714,947 shares (assuming a value of $14.00 per share), the Net Equity Proceeds will be $181,986,630. Your 3.0% allocation of such Net Equity Proceeds would be payable as follows: (a) 253,481 shares of common stock (65%) and (b) $1,910,860 in cash (35%).
3. Miscellaneous. The provisions of the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement set forth in Section 6 thereof shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment. The IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties set forth below have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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/s/ William F. Lacey |
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William F. Lacey |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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/s/ Mark C. Arnold |
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Mark C. Arnold |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement
Exhibit 10.61
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SALE BONUS LETTER AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (this Amendment) is entered into as of December 2, 2011, by and between (i) Mark C. Arnold (you) and (ii) GSE Holding, Inc. (the Company). You and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the Parties and individually as a Party. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties are each a party to that certain Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2010 (as amended, the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement).
WHEREAS, Section 4(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement provides that amendments may be made to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement by execution of a writing signed by you and the Company.
WHEREAS, you and the Company wish to amend certain provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Section 4(f). A new Section 4(f) is hereby added to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement to read as follows:
(f) This Agreement will automatically terminate upon the consummation of an Initial Public Offering (as defined in that certain IPO Bonus and Dividend Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of September 16, 2010, by and between you and the Company, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1, dated as of the date hereof).
2. Miscellaneous. The provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement set forth in Section 4 thereof shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment. The Sale Bonus Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties set forth below have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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/s/ William F. Lacey |
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Name: |
William F. Lacey |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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By: |
/s/ Mark C. Arnold |
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Name: |
Mark C. Arnold |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement
Exhibit 10.62
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SALE BONUS LETTER AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (this Amendment) is entered into as of December 2, 2011, by and between (i) Peter R. McCourt (you) and (ii) GSE Holding, Inc. (the Company). You and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the Parties and individually as a Party. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties are each a party to that certain Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2010 (as amended, the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement).
WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement provides that amendments may be made to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement by execution of a writing signed by you and the Company.
WHEREAS, you and the Company wish to amend certain provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 1(a). Section 1(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(a) If a Sale of the Company is consummated, then, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you shall be entitled to receive from the Company, or one of its Affiliates, a one-time cash payment (the Sale Bonus) in an aggregate amount equal to three quarters of one percent (0.75%) of the Net Equity Proceeds from such Sale of the Company. The Sale Bonus shall not be paid unless you remain continuously employed by Company or any of its subsidiaries from the date hereof until the date the Sale Bonus (or each component thereof) contemplated under this Agreement is paid.
2. Amendment to Section 1(e). Section 1(e) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(e) In the event that the Sale Bonus is paid on account of a Public Offering, (i) the Net Equity Proceeds shall be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company as though 100% of the capital stock of the Company was sold in a Sale of the Company immediately prior to the Public Offering and (ii) the Sale Bonus will be paid to you (x) in shares of the Companys Common Stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the Sale Bonus and (y) 35% in the form of cash.
3. Schedule A. A new Schedule A is hereby added to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement to read as follows:
For example, assuming (i) an Initial Public Offering price of $14.00 per share, (ii) 10,809,987 shares of the Companys common stock, (iii) 1,474,111 options (on a net settlement basis) to purchase the Companys common stock and (iv) bonuses to be issued
pursuant to bonus letter agreements with you and certain other executives equal in value to 714,947 shares (assuming a value of $14.00 per share), the Net Equity Proceeds will be $181,986,630. Your 0.75% allocation of such Net Equity Proceeds would be payable as follows: (a) 63,370 shares of common stock (65%) and (b) $477,715 in cash (35%).
4. Miscellaneous. The provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement set forth in Section 6 thereof shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment. The Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties set forth below have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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/s/ Mark C. Arnold |
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Name: |
Mark C. Arnold |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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/s/ Peter R. McCourt |
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Peter R. McCourt |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement
Exhibit 10.63
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SALE BONUS LETTER AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (this Amendment) is entered into as of December 2, 2011, by and between (i) Gregg Taylor (you) and (ii) GSE Holding, Inc. (the Company). You and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the Parties and individually as a Party. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties are each a party to that certain Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2011 (as amended, the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement).
WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement provides that amendments may be made to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement by execution of a writing signed by you and the Company.
WHEREAS, you and the Company wish to amend certain provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 1(e). Section 1(e) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(e) In the event that the Sale Bonus is paid on account of a Public Offering, (i) the Net Equity Proceeds shall be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company as though 100% of the capital stock of the Company was sold in a Sale of the Company immediately prior to the Public Offering and (ii) the Sale Bonus will be paid to you (x) in shares of the Companys Common Stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the Sale Bonus and (y) 35% in the form of cash.
2. Schedule A. A new Schedule A is hereby added to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement to read as follows:
For example, assuming (i) an Initial Public Offering price of $14.00 per share, (ii) 10,809,987 shares of the Companys common stock, (iii) 1,474,111 options (on a net settlement basis) to purchase the Companys common stock and (iv) bonuses to be issued pursuant to bonus letter agreements with you and certain other executives equal in value to 714,947 shares (assuming a value of $14.00 per share), the Net Equity Proceeds will be $181,986,630. Your 0.25% allocation of such Net Equity Proceeds would be payable as follows: (a) 21,124 shares of common stock (65%) and (b) $159,238 in cash (35%).
3. Miscellaneous. The provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement set forth in Section 6 thereof shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment. The Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties set forth below have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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By: |
/s/ Mark C. Arnold |
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Name: |
Mark C. Arnold |
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Its: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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By: |
/s/ Gregg Taylor |
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Name: |
Gregg Taylor |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement
Exhibit 10.64
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SALE BONUS LETTER AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (this Amendment) is entered into as of December 2, 2011, by and between (i) Jeffery D. Nigh (you) and (ii) GSE Holding, Inc. (the Company). You and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the Parties and individually as a Party. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties are each a party to that certain Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2010 (as amended, the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement).
WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement provides that amendments may be made to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement by execution of a writing signed by you and the Company.
WHEREAS, you and the Company wish to amend certain provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 1(a). Section 1(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(a) If a Sale of the Company is consummated, then, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you shall be entitled to receive from the Company, or one of its Affiliates, a one-time cash payment (the Sale Bonus) in an aggregate amount equal to three quarters of one percent (0.75%) of the Net Equity Proceeds from such Sale of the Company. The Sale Bonus shall not be paid unless you remain continuously employed by Company or any of its subsidiaries from the date hereof until the date the Sale Bonus (or each component thereof) contemplated under this Agreement is paid.
2. Amendment to Section 1(e). Section 1(e) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(e) In the event that the Sale Bonus is paid on account of a Public Offering, (i) the Net Equity Proceeds shall be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company as though 100% of the capital stock of the Company was sold in a Sale of the Company immediately prior to the Public Offering and (ii) the Sale Bonus will be paid to you (x) in shares of the Companys Common Stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the Sale Bonus and (y) 35% in the form of cash.
3. Schedule A. A new Schedule A is hereby added to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement to read as follows:
For example, assuming (i) an Initial Public Offering price of $14.00 per share, (ii) 10,809,987 shares of the Companys common stock, (iii) 1,474,111 options (on a net settlement basis) to purchase the Companys common stock and (iv) bonuses to be issued
pursuant to bonus letter agreements with you and certain other executives equal in value to 714,947 shares (assuming a value of $14.00 per share), the Net Equity Proceeds will be $181,986,630. Your 0.75% allocation of such Net Equity Proceeds would be payable as follows: (a) 63,370 shares of common stock (65%) and (b) $477,715 in cash (35%).
4. Miscellaneous. The provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement set forth in Section 6 thereof shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment. The Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties set forth below have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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By: |
/s/ Mark C. Arnold |
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Name: |
Mark C. Arnold |
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Its: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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By: |
/s/ Jeffery D. Nigh |
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Name: |
Jeffery D. Nigh |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement
Exhibit 10.65
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SALE BONUS LETTER AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (this Amendment) is entered into as of December 2, 2011, by and between (i) William F. Lacey (you) and (ii) GSE Holding, Inc. (the Company). You and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the Parties and individually as a Party. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Parties are each a party to that certain Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2011 (as amended, the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement).
WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement provides that amendments may be made to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement by execution of a writing signed by you and the Company.
WHEREAS, you and the Company wish to amend certain provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Section 1(e). Section 1(e) of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(e) In the event that the Sale Bonus is paid on account of a Public Offering, (i) the Net Equity Proceeds shall be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company as though 100% of the capital stock of the Company was sold in a Sale of the Company immediately prior to the Public Offering and (ii) the Sale Bonus will be paid to you (x) in shares of the Companys Common Stock with a fair market value equal to 65% of the Sale Bonus and (y) 35% in the form of cash.
2. Schedule A. A new Schedule A is hereby added to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement to read as follows:
For example, assuming (i) an Initial Public Offering price of $14.00 per share, (ii) 10,809,987 shares of the Companys common stock, (iii) 1,474,111 options (on a net settlement basis) to purchase the Companys common stock and (iv) bonuses to be issued pursuant to bonus letter agreements with you and certain other executives equal in value to 714,947 shares (assuming a value of $14.00 per share), the Net Equity Proceeds will be $181,986,630. Your 0.75% allocation of such Net Equity Proceeds would be payable as follows: (a) 63,370 shares of common stock (65%) and (b) $477,715 in cash (35%).
3. Miscellaneous. The provisions of the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement set forth in Section 6 thereof shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment. The Sale Bonus Letter Agreement, as amended hereby, is and remains in full force and effect.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties set forth below have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.
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GSE HOLDING, INC. | |
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By: |
/s/ Mark C. Arnold |
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Name: |
Mark C. Arnold |
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Its: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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By: |
/s/ William F. Lacey |
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Name: |
William F. Lacey |
Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the Sale Bonus Letter Agreement
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
GSE Holding, Inc.
Houston, Texas
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement (Form S-1) of our report dated July 8, 2011 (except for Note 3, as to which the date is October 19, 2011, Notes 2 and 18, as to which the date is November 10, 2011 and Note 19, which is as of December 6, 2011), relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of GSE Holding, Inc., which are contained in that Prospectus. Our report contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Companys restatement of previously filed financial statements.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption Experts in the Prospectus.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Houston, Texas
December 6, 2011
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