UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM
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| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended |
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [_]
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The number of shares of the registrant’s
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
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PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Preliminary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
Certain matters discussed in this report contain “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are generally denoted by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “aim,” “target,” “plan,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. These factors include, but are not limited to: (a) the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the proposed merger with affiliates of United Petroleum Transports, Inc. (referred to herein as the “merger”), including, without limitation, the timely receipt of shareholder approval; (b) uncertainties as to the timing of the merger and the possibility that the merger may not be completed, including uncertainties regarding the acquiror’s ability to finance the merger; (c) unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the merger; (d) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, including, in circumstances which would require the Company to pay a termination fee; (e) legal proceedings, judgments or settlements, including those that may be instituted against the Company, the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company’s executive officers and others following the announcement of the merger; (f) disruptions of current plans and operations caused by the announcement and pendency of the merger; (g) risks related to disruption of management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations due to the merger; (h) potential difficulties in employee retention due to the announcement and pendency of the merger; (i) the response of customers, suppliers, drivers and regulators to the announcement and pendency of the merger; (j) disruptions in the execution of plans, strategies, goals and objectives of management for future operations caused by the merger; (k) changes in accounting standards or tax rates, laws or regulations; (l) economic, market, business or geopolitical conditions (including resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, or the conflict in the Middle East) or competition, or changes in such conditions, negatively affecting the Company’s business, operations and financial performance, including fuel costs; (m) risks that the price of the Company’s common stock may decline significantly if the merger is not completed; (n) the possibility that the Company could, following the merger, engage in operational or other changes that could result in meaningful appreciation in its value; (o) the possibility that the Company could, at a later date, engage in unspecified transactions, including restructuring efforts, special dividends or the sale of some or all of the Company’s assets to one or more as yet unknown purchasers, which could conceivably produce a higher aggregate value than that available to our shareholders in the merger; (p) freight demand for petroleum products including the impact of reduced commuting, as well as increased vehicle fuel efficiency and the increased popularity of electric vehicles; (q) accident severity and frequency; (r) risk insurance markets; (s) driver availability and cost; the impact of future regulations, including regulations regarding the transportation industry and regulations intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (t) cyber-attacks; (u) competition in our markets; and (v) interest rates. However, this list is not a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties.
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof based on management’s current expectations, and the Company does not undertake an obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information regarding these and other risk factors may be found in the Company’s other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS.
Our Business. Our business, conducted through our wholly owned subsidiary Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc., consists of hauling petroleum related products, dry bulk commodities and liquids. We are one of the largest regional tank truck carriers in North America. We operate terminals in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. We do not own any of the products we haul; rather, we act as a third-party carrier to deliver our customers’ products from point A to point B, using predominately Company employees and Company-owned tractors and tank trailers. Approximately 86% of our business consists of hauling liquid petroleum products (mostly gas and diesel fuel) from large scale fuel storage facilities to our customers’ retail outlets (e.g. convenience stores, truck stops and fuel depots) where we off-load the product into our customers’ fuel storage tanks for ultimate sale to the retail consumer. The remaining 14% of our business consists of hauling dry bulk commodities such as cement, lime and various industrial powder products, water and liquid chemicals. As of September 30, 2023, we employed 323 revenue-producing drivers who operated our fleet of 264 Company tractors, 52 owner operators and 389 trailers from our 17 terminals and 6 satellite locations.
Agreement and Plan of Merger. On November 1, 2023 the Company entered into a merger agreement under which affiliates of United Petroleum Transports, Inc. (“UPT”) will, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock for $16.26 per share in cash (referred to herein as, the “merger”). The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including the approval of the Company’s shareholders. UPT has obtained a customary financing commitment from an established lending institution pursuant to which the lender will provide financing that, together with other available sources, is expected to be sufficient to fund the merger consideration and other obligations under the merger agreement. Shareholders collectively beneficially owning 26.6% of the voting power of the Company’s common stock have agreed to vote in favor of the merger, subject to customary exceptions. Upon completion of the transaction, which the parties expect will occur by late 2023 or early 2024, the Company will become a private company and delist from the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Tractors and Trailers. During fiscal 2023, the Company replaced 72 tractors and 5 trailers. We believe maintaining a modern fleet will result in reduced maintenance expenses, improved operating efficiencies and enhanced driver recruitment and retention.
Competition. The tank lines transportation business is extremely competitive and fragmented. We have multiple competitors in each of our markets, consisting of other carriers of varying sizes as well as our customers’ private fleets. Price, service, and location are the major competitive factors in each local market. Some of our competitors have greater financial resources and a more expansive geographic footprint than our company. Some of our competitors periodically reduce their prices to gain business, which may limit our ability to maintain or increase prices, implement new pricing strategies, or maintain significant growth in our business. Our largest competitors include Kenan Advantage Group, Eagle Transport, and Penn Tank Lines. We also compete with smaller carriers in most of our markets.
Our industry is characterized by such barriers to entry as the time and cost required to develop the capabilities necessary to handle hazardous material, the resources required to recruit, train and retain drivers, substantial industry regulatory and insurance requirements and the significant capital investments required to build a fleet of equipment, establish a network of terminals and, in recent years, the cost to build and maintain sufficient information technology resources to allow us to interface with and assist our customers in the day-to-day management of their product inventories.
Our ability to provide superior customer service at competitive rates and to operate safely and efficiently is important to our success in growing our revenues and increasing profitability. Our focus is to grow our profitability by executing on our key strategies of (i) increasing our business with existing and new customers, particularly hypermarket and large convenience store chains, that are willing to compensate us for our ability to provide superior, safe and reliable service, (ii) expanding our service offerings with respect to dry bulk, liquid and chemical products particularly in markets where we already operate terminals, (iii) earning the reputation as the preferred employer for tank truck drivers in all the markets in which we operate and (iv) pursuing strategic acquisitions. Our ability to
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execute this strategy depends on continuing our dedicated commitments to customer service and safety and continuing to recruit and retain qualified drivers.
Customers. Approximately 86% of our business consists of hauling petroleum related products. Our petroleum clients include major convenience store and hypermarket accounts, fuel wholesalers and major oil companies. We strive to build long-term relationships with major customers by providing outstanding customer service. During fiscal 2023, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for approximately 60.0% of revenue. One of these customers accounted for 16.9% of revenue. The loss of any one of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues and income. Our top 10 accounts have been customers for at least 10 years.
Our dry bulk and chemical customers include large industrial companies including cement and concrete accounts and product distribution companies. Our customer relationships are long-standing and have grown over time as a result of consistently high safety and service levels.
In September 2020, we entered into a contract with a customer to haul spring water in seven food grade trailers. This is the Company’s first venture into the food grade space.
Sales and Marketing. Our marketing activities are focused on building our relationships with existing customers as well as developing new business opportunities. Our senior management team has extensive experience in marketing specialized fuels delivery services. In addition, significant portions of our marketing activities are conducted locally by our regional managers, terminal managers and dispatchers who act as local customer service representatives. These managers and dispatchers maintain regular contact with customers and are well-positioned to identify the changing transportation needs of customers in their respective geographic areas. We also actively participate in various trade associations, including the National Tank Truck Carriers Association, various state trucking and petroleum marketing associations and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Association.
Environmental Matters. Our activities, which involve the transportation, storage and disposal of fuels and other hazardous substances and wastes, are subject to various federal, state and local health and safety laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including, among others, those governing the transportation, management and disposal of hazardous materials, vehicle emissions, underground and above ground storage tanks and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Our operations involve risks of fuel spillage or seepage, hazardous waste disposal and other activities that are potentially damaging to the environment. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of or liable under applicable laws or regulations, it could significantly increase our cost of doing business.
Most of our truck terminals are located in industrial areas, where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination may have occurred. Under environmental laws, we could be held responsible for the costs relating to any contamination at those or other of our past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites, including cleanup costs, fines and penalties and personal injury and property damages. Under some of these laws, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (also known as the Superfund law) and comparable state statutes, liability for the entire cost of the cleanup of contaminated sites can be imposed upon any current or former owner or operator, or upon any party who sent waste to the site, regardless of the lawfulness of any disposal activities or whether a party owned or operated a contaminated property at the time of the release of hazardous substances. From time to time, we have incurred remedial costs and/or regulatory penalties with respect to chemical or wastewater spills and releases relating to our facilities or operations, and, notwithstanding the existence of our environmental management program, we may incur such obligations in the future. The discovery of contamination or the imposition of additional obligations or liabilities in the future could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or our business reputation.
Our operations involve hazardous materials and could result in significant environmental liabilities and costs. For a discussion of certain risks of our being associated with transporting hazardous substances see “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business”
Seasonality. Our business is subject to seasonal trends common in the refined petroleum products delivery industry. We typically face reduced demand for refined petroleum products delivery services during the winter months and increased demand during the spring and summer months. Further, operating costs and earnings are generally adversely affected by inclement weather conditions. These factors generally result in lower operating results during
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the first and second fiscal quarters of the year and cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our operating expenses also have been somewhat higher in the winter months, due primarily to decreased fuel efficiency and increased maintenance costs for tractors and trailers in colder months.
Human Capital. As of September 30, 2023, the Company employed 466 people. Our industry is experiencing a severe shortage of qualified professional drivers with a tenured safe driving career. The trend we are seeing is that more and more of the applicants are drivers with little to no experience in the tank truck business, short driving careers in other lines of trucking, poor safety records and a pattern of job instability in their work history. As a result, in many markets we serve it is difficult to grow the driver count and, in some cases, to even maintain our historical or desired driver counts. There are several opportunities available today in our markets that will allow us to execute on our strategy so long as we can find, hire and retain qualified drivers to meet the demands of these opportunities.
Company Website Access and SEC Filings. The Company’s website may be accessed at www.patriottrans.com. All of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) can be accessed free of charge through our website promptly after filing; however, in the event that the website is inaccessible, we will provide paper copies of our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, the most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current reports filed or furnished on Form 8-K, and all related amendments, excluding exhibits, free of charge upon request. These filings are also accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The content of our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file with the SEC, and any references to our website are intended to be inactive textual references only.
General Information. Our stock transfer agent is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 59 Maiden Lane Plaza Level, New York, NY 10038, Telephone: 1-800-937-5449. The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and trades under the stock symbol “PATI”. Our independent registered public accounting firm is Hancock Askew & Co. LLP, Jacksonville, Florida. Our legal counsel is Foley & Lardner LLP, Jacksonville, Florida.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS.
Our future results may be affected by a number of factors over which we have little or no control. The following issues, uncertainties, and risks, among others, should be considered in evaluating our business and outlook. Also, note that additional risks not currently identified or known to us could also negatively impact our business or financial results.
Risks Related to the Merger
Risks related to the merger could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, projected results, and future prospects.
Completion of the merger is subject to a number of closing conditions, including obtaining the approval of our shareholders and upon UPT’s ability to obtain debt financing (as defined in the merger agreement). We can provide no assurance that all closing conditions will otherwise be satisfied (or waived, if applicable), and, even if all closing conditions are satisfied (or waived, if applicable), we can provide no assurance as to the terms, conditions and timing of such approvals or the timing of the completion of the merger. Many of the conditions to completion of the merger are not within our control, and we cannot predict when or if these conditions will be satisfied (or waived, if applicable). Any adverse consequence of the pending merger could be exacerbated by any delays in completion of the merger or termination of the merger agreement.
Each party’s obligation to consummate the merger is subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party (subject to customary materiality qualifications) and compliance in all material respects with the covenants and agreements contained in the merger agreement as of the closing of the merger, including, with respect to us, covenants to conduct our business in the ordinary course and to not engage in certain kinds of material transactions prior to closing. In addition, the merger agreement may be terminated under certain specified circumstances, including, but not limited to, in connection with a change in the recommendation of our Board to enter into an agreement for a Superior Proposal (as defined in the merger agreement). As a result, we cannot assure you that the merger will be completed, even if our shareholders approve the merger, or that, if completed, it will be
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exactly on the terms set forth in the merger agreement or within the expected time frame. In addition, we are subject to the following risks related to the merger:
The occurrence of any of these events individually or in combination could affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, projected results, and future prospects.
Strategic Risks
Our operations and financial results are subject to the demand for hauling petroleum products in our markets, which is determined by factors outside our control.
We derive approximately 86% of our revenues from the hauling of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel and ethanol. The demand for these services is determined by motor fuel consumption in our markets, which is affected by gasoline prices, general economic conditions, employment levels, remote work, consumer confidence and spending patterns. Gasoline prices can be highly volatile and are impacted by factors outside of our control (including production decisions made by oil producing nations).
Developments related to climate change, fuel efficiency, vehicle manufacturing and increased acceptance of electric vehicles are expected to reduce demand for petroleum products.
Increasing concern regarding the impacts of climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in proposed regulations to improve fuel efficiency and legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act that create incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, as well as legislative proposals such as carbon taxes and cap and trade programs. Many major automobile manufacturers have plans to increase production of electric vehicles over time. These factors, together with increasing social consciousness about climate change and consumer acceptance of electric vehicles, could reduce demand for petroleum products over time.
Human Capital Risks
Our ability to recruit and retain drivers is critical to our financial results and the ability to grow our business.
Our industry is subject to a shortage of qualified drivers. This shortage is exacerbated during periods of economic expansion, in which attractive employment opportunities, including in the construction and manufacturing industries, may offer better compensation and better hours. We suffer from high turnover. We have implemented driver pay increases to address this shortage in the hopes of reducing turnover, however our efforts to reduce turnover may be unsuccessful.
There is substantial competition for qualified personnel, particularly drivers, in the trucking industry. Supply chain challenges could continue to reduce the number of eligible drivers in our markets. This results in temporary under-utilization of our equipment, difficulty in meeting our customers’ demands and increased compensation levels, each
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of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. A decrease in quality drivers could lead to an increased frequency in the number of accidents, potential claims exposure and, indirectly, insurance costs.
Difficulty in attracting qualified drivers limits our ability to accept or service new business opportunities or could require us to increase the wages we pay in order to attract and retain drivers. If we are unable to hire qualified drivers to service new or existing business, we may have to temporarily send drivers from other terminals to those struggling markets, causing us to incur significant costs relating to out-of-town driver pay and expenses.
If our relationship with our employees were to deteriorate, we may be faced with unionization efforts, labor shortages, disruptions or stoppages, which could adversely affect our business and reduce our operating margins and income.
Our operations rely heavily on our employees, and any labor shortage, disruption or stoppage caused by poor relations with our employees, whether as a result of the pending merger or another reason, could reduce our operating margins and income. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements, although unions have traditionally been active in the U.S. trucking industry. Our workforce has been subject to union organization efforts from time to time, and we could be subject to future unionization efforts as our operations expand. Unionization of our workforce could result in higher compensation and working condition demands that could increase our operating costs or constrain our operating flexibility. We believe we are exempt from overtime pay rules under regulations of the Department of Transportation (“DOT”). However, our operating costs would increase if this exemption were rescinded or if a court determined that we were not exempt from these overtime pay rules.
If we lose key members of our senior management, our business may be adversely affected.
Our ability to implement our business strategy successfully and to operate profitably depends in large part on the continued employment of our senior management team, led by Robert Sandlin, President and CEO. If Mr. Sandlin or the other members of senior management become unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, our business or financial results could be adversely affected.
Operational Risks
We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in the price and availability of fuel.
We require large amounts of diesel fuel to operate our tractors. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, cost of fuel (including fuel taxes) represented approximately 11.9%, 15.1%, and 12.6%, respectively, of our total revenue. The market price for fuel can be extremely volatile and can be affected by a number of economic and political factors. In addition, changes in federal or state regulations can impact the price of fuel, as well as increase the amount we pay in fuel taxes.
We typically incorporate a fuel surcharge provision in all customer contracts. The intended effect of that provision is to neutralize the impacts of fluctuations in the price of diesel fuel on both the Company and our customer. The amount of the fuel surcharge is typically set at the beginning of each month and is based on the actual price of diesel fuel recorded in the preceding month. This provision produces a lag in the timing of the recovery of the price move for both the Company and our customer. However, our customers may be able to negotiate contracts that minimize or eliminate our ability to pass on fuel price increases.
We currently do not hedge our fuel purchases to protect against fluctuations in fuel prices.
Our operations may also be adversely affected by any limit on the availability of fuel. Disruptions in the political climate in key oil producing regions in the world, particularly in the event of wars or other armed conflicts, could severely limit the availability of fuel in the United States. In the event our customers face significant difficulty in obtaining fuel, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
We operate in a highly competitive industry, and competitive pressures may adversely affect our operations and profitability.
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The tank lines transportation business is extremely competitive and fragmented. We compete with many other carriers of varying sizes as well as our customers’ private fleets. Numerous competitive factors could impair our ability to maintain our current level of revenues and profitability and adversely affect our financial condition. These factors include the following:
| • | we compete with many other fuels delivery service providers, particularly smaller regional competitors, some of which may have more equipment in, or stronger ties to, the geographic regions in which they operate or other competitive advantages; |
| • | some of our competitors periodically reduce their prices to gain business, which may limit our ability to maintain or increase prices, implement new pricing strategies or maintain significant growth in our business; |
| • | many customers periodically accept bids from multiple carriers, and this process may depress prices or result in the loss of some business to competitors; |
| • | many customers are looking to reduce the number of carriers they use, and in some instances we may not be selected to provide services; |
| • | consolidation in the fuels delivery industry could create other large carriers with greater financial resources than we have and other competitive advantages relating to their size; |
| • | the development of alternative power sources for cars and trucks could reduce demand for gasoline; and |
| • | advances in technology require increased investments to maintain competitiveness, and we may not have the financial resources to invest in technology improvements or our customers may not be willing to accept higher prices to cover the cost of these investments. |
If we are unable to address these competitive pressures, our operations and profitability may be adversely affected.
Our operations present hazards and risks, which are not fully covered by insurance. If a significant accident happens, for which we are not fully insured, our operations and financial results could be adversely affected.
The primary accident risks associated with our business are:
| • | motor-vehicle related bodily injury and property damage; | ||
| • | workers’ compensation claims; | ||
| • | environmental pollution liability claims; | ||
| • | cargo loss and damage; and | ||
| • | general liability claims. |
We currently maintain insurance for:
| • | motor-vehicle related bodily injury and property damage claims; | ||
| • | workers’ compensation insurance coverage on our employees; and | ||
| • | general liability claims. |
Our insurance program includes a self-insured deductible of $250,000 per incident for bodily injury and property damage. The deductible on workers’ compensation is $500,000. In addition, the Company maintains a minimum of $10 million of insurance coverage which is the largest amount required by any of our customers. The deductible per incident could adversely affect our profitability, particularly in the event of an increase in the frequency or severity of incidents. Additionally, we are self-insured for damage to the equipment that we own and lease, as well as for cargo losses and such self-insurance is not subject to any maximum limitation. In addition, even where we have insurance, our insurance policies may not provide coverage for certain claims against us or may not be sufficient to cover all possible liabilities.
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Our self-insured retentions require us to make estimates of expected loss amounts and accrue such estimates as expenses. Changes in estimates may materially and adversely affect our financial results. In addition, our insurance does not cover claims for punitive damages.
We are subject to changing conditions and pricing in the insurance marketplace that in the future could change dramatically the cost or availability of various types of insurance. To the extent these costs cannot be passed on to our customers in increased prices, increases in insurance costs could reduce our future profitability and cash flow.
Moreover, any accident or incident involving us, even if we are fully insured or not held to be liable, could negatively affect our reputation among customers and the public, thereby making it more difficult for us to compete effectively, and could significantly affect the cost and availability of insurance in the future. Because we provide “last mile” fuels delivery services, we generally perform our services in more crowded areas, which increases the possibility of an accident involving our trucks.
If we fail to develop, integrate or upgrade our information technology systems, we may lose customers or incur costs beyond our expectations.
We rely heavily on information technology and communications systems to operate our business and manage our network in an efficient manner. We have equipped our tractors with various mobile communications systems and electronic logging devices that enable us to monitor our tractors and communicate with our drivers in the field and enable customers to track the location and monitor the progress of their cargo through the Internet.
Increasingly, we compete for customers based upon the flexibility and sophistication of our technologies supporting our services. The failure of hardware or software that supports our information technology systems, the loss of data contained in the systems, or the inability of our customers to access or interact with our website, could significantly disrupt our operations and cause us to lose customers. If our information technology systems are unable to handle additional volume for our operations as our business and scope of service grow, our service levels and operating efficiency will decline. In addition, we expect customers to continue to demand more sophisticated fully integrated information systems. If we fail to hire and retain qualified personnel to implement and maintain our information technology systems or if we fail to upgrade or replace these systems to handle increased volumes, meet the demands of our customers and protect against disruptions of our operations, we may lose customers, which could seriously harm our business.
Our business could be negatively impacted by cyberattacks targeting our computer and telecommunications systems and infrastructure, or targeting those of our third-party service providers.
Our business, like other companies in our industry, has become increasingly dependent on digital technologies, including technologies that are managed by third-party service providers on whom we rely to help us collect, host or process information. Such technologies are integrated into our business operations. Use of the internet and other public networks for communications, services, and storage, including "cloud" computing, exposes all users (including our business) to cybersecurity risks.
While we and our third-party service providers commit resources to the design, implementation, and monitoring of our information systems, there is no guarantee that our security measures will provide absolute security. Despite these security measures, we may not be able to anticipate, detect, or prevent cyberattacks, particularly because the methodologies used by attackers change frequently or may not be recognized until launched, and because attackers are increasingly using techniques designed to circumvent controls and avoid detection. We and our third-party service providers may therefore be vulnerable to security events that are beyond our control, and we may be the target of cyber-attacks, as well as physical attacks, which could result in information security breaches and significant disruption to our business.
As cyberattacks continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to respond to cyberattacks, to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures, or to investigate and remediate any information.
We operate in a highly regulated industry, and increased costs of compliance with, or liability for violation of, existing or future regulations could significantly increase our costs of doing business.
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As a motor carrier, we are subject to regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) and DOT, and by various federal and state agencies. These regulatory authorities exercise broad powers governing various aspects such as operating authority, safety, hours of service, hazardous materials transportation, financial reporting and acquisitions. There are additional regulations specifically relating to the trucking industry, including testing and specification of equipment, product-handling requirements and drug testing of drivers. In 2019, Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. underwent a compliance review by the FMCSA in which we retained our satisfactory DOT safety rating. Any downgrade in our DOT safety rating (as a result of new regulations or otherwise) could adversely affect our business.
The trucking industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices, emissions or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing trucking services. Possible changes include:
| • | increasingly stringent environmental regulations, including changes intended to address climate change; | ||
| • | restrictions, taxes or other controls on emissions; | ||
| • | regulation specific to the energy market and logistics providers to the industry; | ||
| • | changes in the hours-of-service regulations, which govern the amount of time a driver may drive in any specific period; | ||
| • | driver and vehicle electronic logging requirements; | ||
| • | requirements leading to accelerated purchases of new tractors; | ||
| • | mandatory limits on vehicle weight and size; | ||
| • | driver hiring restrictions; | ||
| • | increased bonding or insurance requirements; and | ||
| • | mandatory regulations imposed by the Department of Homeland Security. |
From time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced, including proposals to increase federal, state, or local taxes, including taxes on motor fuels and emissions, which may increase our operating costs, require capital expenditures or adversely impact the recruitment of drivers.
Restrictions on emissions or other climate change laws or regulations could also affect our customers that use significant amounts of energy or burn fossil fuels in producing or delivering the products we carry. We also could lose revenue if our customers divert business from us because we have not complied with their sustainability requirements.
Our business may be adversely affected by additional security measures and regulations applicable to the transport of hazardous materials.
Federal, state and municipal authorities have implemented and continue to implement various security measures, including checkpoints and travel restrictions on large trucks and fingerprinting of drivers in connection with new hazardous materials endorsements on their licenses. Such measures may have costs associated with them which we are forced to bear. While we believe we are in compliance with these regulations, if existing requirements are interpreted differently by governmental authorities or additional new security measures are required, the timing of our deliveries may be disrupted and we may fail to meet the needs of our customers or incur increased expenses to do so. Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Moreover, large trucks containing petroleum products are potential terrorist targets, and we may be obligated to take measures, including possible capital expenditures intended to protect our trucks. In addition, the insurance premiums charged for some or all of the coverage maintained by us could continue to increase dramatically or such coverage could be unavailable in the future.
Our operations involve hazardous materials and could result in significant environmental liabilities and costs.
Our activities, which involve the transportation, storage and disposal of fuels and other hazardous substances and wastes, are subject to various federal, state and local health and safety laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including, among others, those governing the transportation, management and disposal of hazardous materials, vehicle emissions, underground and above ground storage tanks and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Our operations involve risks of fuel spillage or seepage, hazardous waste disposal and other
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activities that are potentially damaging to the environment. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of or liable under applicable laws or regulations, it could significantly increase our cost of doing business.
Most of our truck terminals are located in industrial areas, where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination may have occurred. Under environmental laws, we could be held responsible for the costs relating to any contamination at those or other of our past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites, including cleanup costs, fines and penalties and personal injury and property damages. Under some of these laws, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (also known as the Superfund law) and comparable state statutes, liability for the entire cost of the cleanup of contaminated sites can be imposed upon any current or former owner or operator, or upon any party who sent waste to the site, regardless of the lawfulness of any disposal activities or whether a party owned or operated a contaminated property at the time of the release of hazardous substances. From time to time, we have incurred remedial costs and/or regulatory penalties with respect to spills and releases in connection with our operations and, notwithstanding the existence of our environmental management program, such obligations may be incurred in the future. The discovery of contamination or the imposition of additional obligations or liabilities in the future could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or our business reputation.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
Your percentage of ownership in the Company may be diluted in the future.
In the future, your percentage ownership in the Company may be diluted because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or other corporate purposes, including equity awards that we will grant to our directors, officers and employees. Our employees have options to purchase shares of our common stock and we anticipate our compensation committee will grant additional stock options or other stock-based awards to our employees. Such awards will have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. From time to time, we will issue additional options or other stock-based awards to our employees under our employee benefits plans.
In addition, our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our shareholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, including preferences over our common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our board of directors generally may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could dilute the voting power or reduce the value of our common stock. For example, we could grant the holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we could assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the common stock.
Certain shareholders have effective control of a significant percentage of our common stock and likely will control the outcome of any shareholder vote.
Two of our directors, John D Baker II and Thompson S. Baker II, and their respective family members, beneficially own a significant percentage of our common stock. As a result, these individuals effectively may have the ability to direct the election of all members of our board of directors and to exercise a controlling influence over our business and affairs, including any determinations with respect to mergers or other business combinations involving us, our acquisition or disposition of assets, our borrowing of monies, our issuance of any additional securities, our repurchase of common stock and our payment of dividends. In connection with the pending merger, John D Baker II and Thompson S. Baker II entered into an Irrevocable Proxy and Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, they have granted an irrevocable proxy to vote the shares of Company common stock owned by such shareholders in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement.
Provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and certain provisions of Florida law could delay or prevent a change in control of us.
The existence of some provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws and Florida law could discourage, delay
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or prevent a change in control of us that a shareholder may consider favorable. These include provisions:
| • | providing that our directors may be removed by our shareholders only for cause; | ||
| • | establishing supermajority vote requirements for our shareholders to approve certain business combinations; | ||
| • | establishing supermajority vote requirements for our shareholders to amend certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and our bylaws; | ||
| • | authorizing a large number of shares of stock that are not yet issued, which would allow our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, thereby protecting the continuity of our management, or which could be used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us; | ||
| • | prohibiting shareholders from calling special meetings of shareholders or taking action by written consent; and | ||
| • | imposing advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors at the annual shareholder meetings. |
These provisions apply even if a takeover offer may be considered beneficial by some shareholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our board of directors determines is not in our and our shareholders’ best interests.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.
Item 2. PROPERTIES.
As of September 30, 2023, our terminals and satellite locations were located in the following cities:
|
State |
City |
Terminal or Satellite Location |
Owned/Leased | ||
| Alabama | Mobile | Satellite | Leased | ||
| Alabama | Montgomery | Terminal | Leased | ||
| Florida | Cape Canaveral | Satellite | Leased | ||
| Florida | Ft. Lauderdale | Terminal | Leased | ||
| Florida | Freeport | Satellite | Leased | ||
| Florida | Jacksonville | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Florida | Newberry | Satellite | Leased | ||
| Florida | Orlando | Terminal | Leased | ||
| Florida | Panama City | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Florida | Pensacola | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Florida | Tampa | Terminal | Leased | ||
| Florida | White Springs | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Albany | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Athens | Satellite | Leased | ||
| Georgia | Augusta | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Bainbridge | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Columbus | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Doraville | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Macon | Terminal | Owned | ||
| Georgia | Rome | Satellite | Leased | ||
| Georgia | Savannah | Terminal | Leased | ||
| Tennessee | Chattanooga | Terminal | Leased | ||
| Tennessee | Knoxville | Terminal | Owned |
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Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Information about our legal proceedings is included in Note 11, “Contingent Liabilities” of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
On December 4, 2023, a lawsuit was filed (Philip Stone v. Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc., John E. Anderson, John D. Baker, Thompson S. Baker II, Luke E Fichthorn III, Charles D. Hyman and Eric K. Mann) against the Company and its individual directors in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case 1:23-cv-10580). The complaint alleges violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with alleged misleading statements or omissions of material fact in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2023 in connection with the pending merger with an affiliate of UPT. The complaint seeks an injunction and unspecified damages. The Company has also received several demand letters, purportedly on behalf of shareholders, making similar allegations. The Company believes that the claims are frivolous, meritless and that the Company and the individual director defendants have substantial legal and factual defenses to the claims.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
None.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
There were approximately 312 holders of record of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. common stock, $.10 par value, as of September 30, 2023. The Company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Symbol PATI).
Dividends. On December 4, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $3.00 per share on the Company’s outstanding common stock. This special dividend was paid on January 30, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2020. The Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, paid on January 30, 2020, to shareholders of record on January 15, 2020. On December 4, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $3.00 per share on the Company’s outstanding common stock. This special dividend was paid on December 30, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17, 2020. On October 25, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $3.75 per share on the Company’s outstanding common stock. This special dividend was paid on November 15, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 8, 2021. Information concerning restrictions on the payment of cash dividends set forth in our debt instruments is included in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included herein. In addition, the merger agreement prohibits us from paying dividends.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included in Item 12 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers. Share repurchase activity during the three months ended September 30, 2023 was as follows:
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| Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | ||||||||||||||||||
| Purchased | Approximate | |||||||||||||||||
| As Part of | Dollar Value of | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | Publicly | Shares that May | ||||||||||||||||
| Number of | Average | Announced | Yet Be Purchased | |||||||||||||||
| Shares | Price Paid | Plans or | Under the Plans | |||||||||||||||
| Period | Purchased | per Share | Programs | or Programs (1) | ||||||||||||||
| July 1 through July 31 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||||
| August 1 through August 31 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||||
| September 1 through September 30 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||||
| Total | — | $ | — | — | ||||||||||||||
(1) On February 4, 2015, the Board of Directors authorized management to expend up to $5,000,000 to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time as opportunities arise. To date, the Company has not repurchased any common stock of the Company.
Item 6. [RESERVED]
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION.
Overview
The business of the Company, conducted through our wholly owned subsidiary, Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. (Tank Lines), which is a Southeastern U.S. based tank truck company, is to transport petroleum and other liquids and dry bulk commodities.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Years ended September 30
(Amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
| 2023 | 2022 |
% Change |
||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 94,785 | 87,882 | 7.9 | ||||||||
| Operating profit | $ | 3,282 | 9,299 | -64.7 | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | 3,588 | 9,343 | -61.6 | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 2,673 | 7,190 | -62.8 | ||||||||
|
Per common share: |
||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | .76 | 2.08 | -63.5 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | .74 | 1.98 | -62.6 | ||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 52,667 | 47,566 | 10.7 | ||||||||
| Total Debt | $ | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Shareholders' Equity | $ | 34,331 | 31,187 | 10.1 | ||||||||
| Common Shares Outstanding | 3,526 | 3,484 | 1.2 | |||||||||
| Book Value Per Common Share | $ | 9.74 | 8.95 | 8.8 |
Our revenues are primarily based on a set rate per volume of product hauled to arrive at a desired rate per mile traveled. The rate also incorporates the cost of fuel at an assumed price plus fuel surcharges to address the fluctuation in fuel prices. Over time, the fuel surcharge tables in the industry have become so numerous and varied, both by
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carriers and customers, that they have simply become a part of the overall rating structure to arrive at that desired price per mile by market. We consider fuel surcharge revenue to be revenue from services rather than other revenues. As a result, the Company determined there is no reason to report fuel surcharges as a separate revenue line item and fuel surcharges are reported as part of Operating revenues.
The Company’s operations are influenced by a number of external and internal factors. External factors include levels of economic and industrial activity, driver availability and cost, government regulations regarding driver qualifications and limitations on the hours drivers can work, petroleum product demand in the Southeast which is driven in part by tourism and commercial aviation, and fuel costs. Internal factors include revenue mix, equipment utilization, Company imposed restrictions on hiring drivers under the age of 21 or drivers without at least one year of driving experience, auto and workers’ compensation accident frequencies and severity, administrative costs, and group health claims experience.
Our operating costs primarily consist of the following:
| · | Compensation and Benefits - Wages and employee benefits for our drivers and terminal support personnel is the largest component of our operating costs. These costs are impacted by such factors as miles driven, driver pay increases, driver turnover and training costs and additional driver pay due to temporary out-of-town deployments to cover business. |
| · | Fuel Expenses - Our fuel expenses will vary depending on miles driven as well as such factors as fuel prices (which can be highly volatile), the fuel efficiency of our fleet and the average haul length. |
| · | Repairs and Tires – This category consists of vehicle maintenance and repairs (excluding shop personnel) and tire expense (including amortization of tire cost and road repairs). These expenses will vary based on such factors as miles driven, the age of our fleet, and tire prices. |
| · | Other Operating Expenses – This category consists of tolls, hiring costs, out-of-town driver travel cost, terminal facility maintenance and other operating expenses. These expenses will vary based on such factors as, driver availability and out-of-town driver travel requirements, business growth and inflation among others. |
| · | Insurance and Losses – This includes costs associated with insurance premiums, and the self-insured portion of liability, workers’ compensation, health insurance and cargo claims and wreck repairs. We work very hard to manage these expenses through our safety and wellness programs, but these expenses will vary depending on the frequency and severity of accident and health claims, insurance markets and deductible levels. |
| · | Depreciation Expense – Depreciation expense consists of the depreciation of the cost of fixed assets such as tractors and trailers over the life assigned to those assets. The amount of depreciation expense is impacted by equipment prices and the timing of new equipment purchases. We expect the cost of new tractors and trailers to continue to increase, impacting our future depreciation expense. |
| · | Rents, Tags and Utilities Expenses – This category consists of rents payable on leased facilities and leased equipment, federal highway use taxes, vehicle registrations, license and permit fees and personal property taxes assessed against our equipment, communications, utilities and real estate taxes. |
| · | Sales, General and Administrative Expenses – This category consists of the wages, bonus accruals, benefits, travel, vehicle and office costs for our administrative personnel as well as professional fees and amortization charges for intangible assets purchased in acquisitions of other businesses. |
| · | Corporate Expenses – Corporate expenses consist of wages, bonus accruals, insurance and other benefits, travel, vehicle and office costs for corporate executives, director fees, stock option expense and aircraft expense. |
| · | Gains/Loss on Disposition of Property, Plant & Equipment – Our financial results for any period may be impacted by any gain or loss that we realize on the sale of used equipment, losses on wrecked equipment, and disposition of other assets. We periodically sell used equipment as we replace older tractors and trailers. Gains or losses on equipment sales can vary significantly from period to period depending on the timing of our equipment replacement cycle, market prices for used equipment and losses on wrecked equipment. |
To measure our performance, management focuses primarily on transportation revenue growth, revenue miles, our preventable accident frequency rate (“PAFR”), our operating ratio (defined as our operating expenses as a percentage of our operating revenue), turnover rate (excluding drivers related to terminal closures) and average driver count (defined as average number of revenue producing drivers including owner operators (O.O.) under employment over the specified time period) as compared to the same period in the prior year.
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| ITEM | FY 2023 vs. FY 2022 |
| Operating Revenues | Up 7.9% |
| Revenue Miles | Up 2.7% |
| Revenue Per Mile | Up 4.8% |
| PAFR (incidents per 1M miles) goal of 1.87 | 1.42 vs 1.64 |
| Operating Ratio | 96.5% vs. 89.4% |
| Driver Turnover Rate | 72.0% vs. 81.9% |
| Avg. Driver Count incl. owner operators | Up 5.0% |
COMPARATIVE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
| Fiscal Years ended September 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | 2023 | % | 2022 | % | 2021 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue miles (in thousands) | 21,872 | 21,293 | 23,832 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 94,785 | 100.0 | % | 87,882 | 100.0 | % | 81,268 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 43,493 | 45.9 | % | 37,906 | 43.1 | % | 36,198 | 44.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel expenses | 11,971 | 12.6 | % | 13,288 | 15.1 | % | 9,630 | 11.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Repairs & tires | 6,102 | 6.4 | % | 5,760 | 6.6 | % | 5,402 | 6.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Other operating | 3,125 | 3.3 | % | 3,027 | 3.4 | % | 3,270 | 4.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance and losses | 7,064 | 7.5 | % | 8,167 | 9.3 | % | 7,261 | 8.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation expense | 5,410 | 5.7 | % | 5,537 | 6.3 | % | 6,654 | 8.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Rents, tags & utilities | 2,578 | 2.7 | % | 2,650 | 3.0 | % | 2,708 | 3.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Sales, general & administrative | 10,592 | 11.2 | % | 9,306 | 10.6 | % | 8,764 | 10.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 2,215 | 2.3 | % | 2,011 | 2.3 | % | 1,936 | 2.4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of terminal sites | — | 0.0 | % | (8,330 | ) | -9.5 | % | (1,614 | ) | -2.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of PP&E | (1,047 | ) | -1.1 | % | (739 | ) | -0.8 | % | 179 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total cost of operations | 91,503 | 96.5 | % | 78,583 | 89.4 | % | 80,388 | 98.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating profit | $ | 3,282 | 3.5 | % | 9,299 | 10.6 | % | 880 | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2023 versus 2022
The Company reported net income of $2,673,000, or $.74 per share for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, compared to $7,190,000, or $1.98 per share in the same period last year. Net income in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 included $6,281,000, or $1.73 per share, from one-time gains on real estate net of income taxes.
Revenue miles were up 579,000, or 2.7%, over the same period last year. Operating revenues for the period were $94,785,000, up $6,903,000 from the same period last year due to an increase in miles, rate increases and an improved business mix. Operating revenue per mile was up $.20, or 4.8%.
Compensation and benefits increased $5,587,000, mainly due to the increases in driver compensation, a $331,000 increase in training pay versus the same period last year and increases in owner operators. Fuel expense decreased $1,317,000 due to lower diesel prices. Insurance and losses decreased $1,103,000 due to lower risk and health insurance claims. Depreciation expense was down $127,000 in the period. Sales, general & administrative increased $1,286,000 due mainly to bonus accruals, increased travel and higher 401(k) match. Corporate expenses were up $204,000 due to $368,000 of costs related to the pending merger. Gain on sale of equipment was $1,047,000 versus $739,000 in the same period last year.
As a result, operating profit this period was $3,282,000 compared to $9,299,000 in the same period last year. Prior year gain on the sale of land was $8,330,000 due to the sale of our former terminal location in Tampa, FL. Operating ratio was 96.5 versus 89.4 in the same period last year.
| 18 |
Fiscal Year 2022 versus 2021
The Company reported net income of $7,190,000, or $1.98 per share, in fiscal year 2022 compared to $625,000, or $.18 per share, in fiscal year 2021. Net income in fiscal year 2022 included $6,281,000, or $1.73 per share, from gains on real estate sales net of income taxes. Net income in fiscal year 2021 included $1,170,000, or $.34 per share, from gains on real estate sales net of income taxes.
Revenue miles in fiscal year 2022 were down 2,539,000, or 11%, over the prior year due to a lower average driver count (down ~40 drivers from last year). Operating revenues for fiscal year 2022 were $87,882,000, up $6,614,000 from fiscal year 2021. Operating revenue per mile in fiscal year 2022 was up $.72, or 21.1% due to rate increases, higher fuel surcharges and an improved business mix.
Compensation and benefits increased $1,708,000 in fiscal year 2022, mainly due to the increased driver compensation package offset by a lower driver count and non-driver personnel reductions. Fuel expense increased $3,658,000 in fiscal year 2022 as a result of higher diesel prices. Insurance and losses increased $906,000 in fiscal year 2022, primarily as a result of the maximum limit COVID health claim ($420,000), a negative workers’ compensation adjustment from a prior year claim ($380,000), and two vehicle rollovers ($269,000). Depreciation expense was down $1,117,000 in fiscal year 2022. SG&A expense was higher by $542,000 in fiscal year 2022 which included a one-time transaction bonus of $394,000 following the sale of the Tampa property for certain members of management. Gain on the sale of land was $8,330,000 in fiscal year 2022 due to the sale of our former terminal location in Tampa, FL compared to $1,614,000 in fiscal year 2021 due to the sale of our former terminal location in Pensacola, FL and the sale and partial leaseback of our terminal in Chattanooga, TN. Gain on the sale of assets was $739,000 in fiscal year 2022 versus a loss of ($179,000) in fiscal year 2021.
As a result, operating profit in fiscal year 2022 was $9,299,000 compared to $880,000 in fiscal year 2021. Operating ratio was 89.4 in fiscal year 2022 versus 98.9 in fiscal year 2021. Excluding the gain on sale of Tampa terminal and the one-time transaction bonus, adjusted operating profit in fiscal year 2022 was $1,363,000 as compared to an adjusted operating loss of ($734,000) in fiscal year 2021. The COVID medical claim, the prior year workers’ compensation claim and the two Q4 rollover incidents resulted in a total charge of $1,268,000 in fiscal 2022.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Patriot presents certain non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Patriot uses these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its continuing operations and to monitor, assess, and identify meaningful trends in its operating and financial performance. These measures are not, and should not be viewed as, substitutes for GAAP financial measures.
Adjusted Operating Profit
Adjusted operating profit excludes the impact of the gain on sale of terminal sites and the one-time transaction bonus related to the sale. Adjusted operating profit is presented to provide additional perspective on underlying trends in Patriot’s core operating results. A reconciliation between operating profit and adjusted operating profit is as follows:
| Twelve months ended | |||||||||
| September 30, 2022 | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating profit | 9,299 | 880 | |||||||
| Adjustments: | |||||||||
| Gain on sale of terminal sites | (8,330 | ) | (1,614 | ) | |||||
| One-time transaction bonus | 394 | — | |||||||
| Adjusted operating profit (loss) | 1,363 | (734 | ) | ||||||
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company maintains its operating accounts with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and these accounts directly sweep overnight against the Wells Fargo revolver. Our revolver has a maximum amount available of $15 million and as of September 30, 2023, we had no debt outstanding on this revolver, $1,754,000 letters of credit and $13,246,000 available for additional borrowings. The Company expects our fiscal year 2024 cash generation to cover the cost of our operations and our budgeted capital expenditures.
Cash Flows - The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for each of the periods presented (in thousands of dollars):
| Years Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total cash provided by (used for): | ||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 8,872 | 4,235 | 2,772 | ||||||||
| Investing activities | (10,862 | ) | 5,661 | 2,173 | ||||||||
| Financing activities | 117 | (12,493 | ) | (10,008 | ) | |||||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (1,873 | ) | (2,597 | ) | (5,063 | ) | |||||
| Outstanding debt at the beginning of the period | $ | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Outstanding debt at the end of the period | $ | — | — | — | ||||||||
Operating Activities - Net cash provided by operating activities (as set forth in the cash flow statement) was $8,872,000 for the year ended September 30, 2023, $4,235,000 in 2022 and $2,772,000 in 2021. The total of net income plus depreciation and amortization less gains on sales of property and equipment increased $3,477,000 versus last year. These changes are described above under “Comparative Results of Operations”.
Investing Activities – Investing activities include the purchase of property and equipment, any business acquisitions and proceeds from sales of property and equipment upon retirement. For the year ended September 30, 2023, cash used in investing activities was $10,862,000 which included the proceeds from retirements net of the purchase of property, plant and equipment. For the year ended September 30, 2022, cash provided by investing activities was $5,661,000 which included the proceeds from retirements net of the purchase of property, plant and equipment.
For the year ended September 30, 2021, cash provided by investing activities was $2,173,000 which included the proceeds from retirements net of the purchase of property, plant and equipment.
Financing Activities – Financing activities primarily include net changes to our outstanding revolving debt and proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock through employee equity incentive plans and dividends. For the year ended September 30, 2023, cash provided by financing activities was $117,000 due to proceeds from exercised stock options offset by expired stock options. For the year ended September 30, 2022, cash used in financing activities was $12,493,000 due to dividends paid offset by proceeds from exercised stock options.
For the year ended September 30, 2021, cash used in financing activities was $10,008,000 primarily due to dividends paid. The Company had no outstanding long-term debt on September 30, 2023 or September 30, 2022.
Credit Facilities - The Company has a five-year credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank N.A. which provides a $15 million revolving line of credit with a $10 million sublimit for stand-by letters of credit. The amounts outstanding under the credit agreement bear interest at a rate of 1.1% over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which may change quarterly based on the Company’s ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated total capital. A commitment fee of 0.12% per annum is payable quarterly on the unused portion of the commitment. The credit agreement contains certain conditions and financial covenants, including a minimum tangible net worth. As of September 30, 2023, the tangible net worth covenant would have limited our ability to pay dividends or repurchase stock with borrowed funds to a maximum of $5,332,000 combined.
Cash Requirements - The Company projects that cash flows from operating activities, cash on hand and the funds available under its revolving credit agreement will be adequate to finance its capital expenditures, any dividends paid and its working capital needs for the next 12 months and the foreseeable future.
| 20 |
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Except for the letters of credit described above under “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” the Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that either have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on its financial condition.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. Accounting estimates are considered to be critical if (1) the nature of the estimates and assumptions is material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change; and (2) the impact of the estimates and assumptions on financial condition or operating performance is material. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used. Management of the Company considers the following accounting policies critical to the reported operations of the Company:
Accounts Receivable Valuation. The Company is subject to customer credit risk that could affect the collection of outstanding accounts receivable. To mitigate these risks, the Company performs credit reviews on all new customers and periodic credit reviews on existing customers. A detailed analysis of late and slow pay customers is prepared monthly and reviewed by senior management. The overall collectability of outstanding receivables is evaluated, and allowances are recorded as appropriate. Significant changes in customer credit could require increased allowances and affect cash flows.
Property and Equipment and Impairment of Tangible and Intangible Assets. Property and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Provision for depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives:
| Years | |
| Buildings and improvements | 7-39 |
| Revenue equipment | 7-10 |
| Other equipment | 3-10 |
The Company periodically reviews property and equipment for potential impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The analysis consists of a review of future anticipated results considering business prospects and asset utilization. If the sum of these future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Company would record an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets with the fair value of the assets generally based upon an estimate of the discounted future cash flows expected with regards to the assets and their eventual disposition as the measure of fair value. The Company performs an annual impairment test on goodwill and other intangible assets. Changes in estimates or assumptions could have an impact on the Company’s financials.
Claims and Insurance Accruals. The nature of the transportation business subjects the Company to risks arising from workers’ compensation, automobile liability, and general liability claims. The Company retains the exposure on liability claims of $250,000 and $500,000 for workers’ compensation claims and has third party coverage for amounts exceeding the retention up to the amount of the policy limits. The Company expenses during the year an estimate of risk insurance losses based upon independent actuarial analysis, insurance company estimates, and our monthly review of claims reserve changes. In making claim reserve changes we rely upon estimates of our insurance company adjusters, attorney evaluations, and judgment of our management. Our estimates require judgment concerning the nature, severity, comparative liability, jurisdiction, legal and investigative costs of each claim. Claims involving serious injury have greater uncertainty of the eventual cost. In the past, our estimate of the amount of individual claims has increased from insignificant amounts to the full deductible as we learn more information about the claim in subsequent periods. We obtain an independent actuarial analysis at least twice annually to assist in estimating the total loss reserves expected on claims including claim development and incurred but not reported claims. Payments made under a captive agreement for each year’s loss fund are scheduled in advance using actuarial
| 21 |
methodology. The captive agreement provides that we will share in the underwriting results, good or bad, within a $250,000 per occurrence layer of loss through retrospective premium adjustments. We also retain exposure on employee health benefits up to $250,000 per covered participant each calendar year plus a $84,500 aggregate deductible for any claims exceeding $250,000. We estimate claim liability using historical payment trends and specific knowledge of larger claims. Health claims are expensed as the health services are rendered so there is only a two-month lag in payments on average. We are usually aware of the larger claims before closing each accounting period reducing the amount of uncertainty of the estimate. Our accrued insurance liabilities for retiree benefits are recorded by actuarial calculation. Including the potential exposure in the captive we have $2.65 million of estimated insurance liabilities. In the event that actual costs for these claims are different than estimates we will have adjustments in future periods. It is likely that we will experience either gains or losses of 5-10% of prior year estimated insurance liabilities in any year. Our total accrued insurance liabilities excluding the captive as of September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021 amounted to $2.2 million, $2.5 million, and $2.6 million, respectively.
Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset-and-liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent items that will result in taxable income or a tax deduction in future years for which the related tax expense or benefit has already been recorded in our statement of earnings. Deferred tax accounts arise as a result of timing differences between when items are recognized in the consolidated financial statements compared with when they are recognized in the tax returns. The Company assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. To the extent recovery is not probable, a valuation allowance is established and included as an expense as part of our income tax provision. No valuation allowance was recorded at September 30, 2023, as all deferred tax assets are considered more likely than not to be realized. Significant judgment is required in determining and assessing the impact of complex tax laws and certain tax-related contingencies on the provision for income taxes. As part of the calculation of the provision for income taxes, we assess whether the benefits of our tax positions are at least more likely than not of being sustained upon audit based on the technical merits of the tax position. For tax positions that are more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, we accrue the largest amount of the benefit that is more likely than not of being sustained in our financial statements. Such accruals require estimates and judgments, whereby actual results could vary materially from these estimates. Further, a number of years may elapse before a particular matter, for which an established accrual was made, is audited and resolved.
INFLATION
Most of the Company’s operating expenses are inflation-sensitive, with inflation generally producing increased costs of operations.
In addition to inflation, fluctuations in fuel prices can affect profitability. Most of the Company’s contracts with customers contain fuel surcharge provisions. Although the Company historically has been able to pass through most long-term increases in fuel prices and operating taxes to customers in the form of surcharges and higher rates, there is no guarantee that this will be possible in the future. See “Risk Factors—We may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in the price and availability of fuel.”
SEASONALITY
Our business is subject to seasonal trends common in the refined petroleum products delivery industry. We typically face reduced demand for refined petroleum products delivery services during the winter months and increased demand during the spring and summer months. Further, operating costs and earnings are generally adversely affected by inclement weather conditions. These factors generally result in lower operating results during the first and second fiscal quarters of the year and cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our fuel efficiency is somewhat lower in colder months.
Item 7.A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Interest Rate Risk. We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes through our variable-rate borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Under the Wells Fargo revolving credit line, the applicable margin for borrowings at September 30, 2023 was 1.1% over SOFR.
| 22 |
The Company did not have any variable or fixed rate debt outstanding at September 30, 2023, so a sensitivity analysis was not performed to determine the impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.
Commodity Price Risk. The price and availability of diesel fuel are subject to fluctuations due to changes in the level of global oil production, seasonality, weather, global politics and other market factors. Historically, we have been able to recover a significant portion of fuel price increases from our customers in the form of fuel surcharges. The typical fuel surcharge table provides some margin contribution at higher diesel fuel prices but also results in some margin erosion at lower diesel fuel prices. The price and availability of diesel fuel can be unpredictable as well as the extent to which fuel surcharges can be collected to offset such increases. In fiscal 2023 and 2022, a significant portion of fuel costs was recovered through rate and fuel surcharges.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (the Company) as of September 30, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, 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.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our
| 23 |
especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Auto Liability and Workers’ Compensation Claims Accrual – “Risk Accrual”
Description of the Matter
The Company is self-insured for a portion of its risk related to auto liability and workers’ compensation. The Company retains the exposure on liability claims of $250,000 and $500,000 for worker’s compensation claims and has third-party coverage for amounts exceeding the retention up to the amount of the policy limits. The Company accrues an expense for the cost of the self-insured portion of unpaid claims by evaluating the nature and severity of reported claims and by estimating future claims development based upon historical development trends. The actual cost to settle self-insured claim liabilities may differ from the Company’s reserve estimates due to legal costs, claims that have been incurred but not reported, and various other uncertainties.
We identified the estimation of auto liability and workers’ compensation claims accruals subject to self-insurance retention of $1.9 million as a critical audit matter. The accrual is included in “Accrued insurance” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Auto liability and workers’ compensation unpaid claim liabilities are determined by projecting the estimated ultimate loss related to a claim, less actual costs paid to date. These estimates rely on the assumption that historical claim patterns are an accurate representation for future claims that have been incurred but not completely paid. The principal considerations for assessing auto liability and workers’ compensation claims as a critical audit matter are the high level of estimation uncertainty related to determining the severity of these types of claims, the inherent subjectivity in management’s judgment in estimating the total costs to settle or dispose of these claims, and high degree of auditor judgement and an increased extent of effort to test the Company’s claims accruals.
How we Addressed the Matter in our Audit
• We tested the effectiveness of controls over auto liability and workers’ compensation claims, including the completeness and accuracy of claim expenses and payments.
• We tested management’s reconciliation of the reported claims data to the data submitted to their third-party actuary.
• We tested management’s process for determining the auto liability and workers’ compensation accrual, including testing the underlying claims data used as the basis for the actuarial analysis and testing current year claims and payment data.
• We tested management’s comparison to selected loss accruals to the range established by management’s third-party actuary and historical trends.
Hancock Askew & Co., LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.
Jacksonville, Florida
December 12, 2023
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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - As of September 30
(In thousands, except share data)
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |||||||
|
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ |
||||||||
| Federal and state taxes receivable | ||||||||
| Inventory of parts and supplies | ||||||||
| Prepaid tires on equipment | ||||||||
| Prepaid taxes and licenses | ||||||||
| Prepaid insurance | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses, other | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, at cost: | ||||||||
| Land | ||||||||
| Buildings | ||||||||
| Equipment | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, gross | ||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Goodwill | ||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | ||||||||
| Other assets, net | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | |||||||
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | |||||||
| Federal and state taxes payable | ||||||||
| Accrued payroll and benefits | ||||||||
| Accrued insurance | ||||||||
| Accrued liabilities, other | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current portion | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, less current portion | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ||||||||
| Accrued insurance | ||||||||
| Other liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | ||||||||
| Shareholders' equity: | ||||||||
|
Preferred stock, shares authorized, of which shares are designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock; $ par value; issued and outstanding |
||||||||
|
Common stock, $ par value; ( shares authorized; and shares issued and outstanding, respectively) |
||||||||
| Capital in excess of par value | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income, net | ||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | |||||||
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements |
| 25 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - Years ended September 30
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| Years Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | ||||||||||||
| Cost of operations: | |||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | |||||||||||||
| Fuel expenses | |||||||||||||
| Repairs & tires | |||||||||||||
| Other operating | |||||||||||||
| Insurance and losses | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation expense | |||||||||||||
| Rents, tags & utilities | |||||||||||||
| Sales, general & administrative | |||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses | |||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of terminal sites | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of PP&E | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Total cost of operations | |||||||||||||
| Total operating profit | |||||||||||||
| Interest income and other | |||||||||||||
| Interest expense | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Income before income taxes | |||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | |||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | ||||||||||||
| Earnings per common share: | |||||||||||||
| Net income- | |||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | ||||||||||||
| Number of shares (in thousands) used in computing: | |||||||||||||
| -basic earnings per common share | |||||||||||||
| -diluted earnings per common share | |||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - Years ended September 30 (In thousands)
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | ||||||||||||
| Other comp. income (loss) net of tax: | |||||||||||||
| Unrealized investment gains (losses), net | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Loss on retiree health, net | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Comprehensive income | $ | ||||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements
| 26 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY - Years ended September 30
(In thousands, except share amounts)
| Retained | Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital in | Earnings/ | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Excess of | (Accumulated) | Comprehensive | Stockholders' | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Par Value | Deficit | Income, net | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of October 1, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares granted to Directors | |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends ($ per share) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on retiree health, net | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of September 30, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares granted to Directors | |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends ($ per share) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized investment losses, net | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on retiree health, net | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of September 30, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of stock options | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares granted to Directors | |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expired stock options | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized investment gains, net | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on retiree health, net | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 27 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - Years ended September 30
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | |||||||||||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||
| Non-cash lease expense | ||||||||||||
| Non-cash gain of acquisition-related contingent consideration | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Gain on asset dispositions | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation | ||||||||||||
| Net changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Inventory of parts and supplies | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Other assets | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Income taxes payable and receivable | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
|
Long-term insurance liabilities and other long-term liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Expired stock options | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from exercised stock options | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year | $ | |||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid during the year for: | ||||||||||||
| Interest | $ | |||||||||||
| Income taxes | $ | |||||||||||
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities | $ | |||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements
| 28 |
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Accounting Policies.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS - The business of
the Company, conducted through our wholly owned subsidiary, Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc., is to transport petroleum and other liquids
and dry bulk commodities. We do not own any of the products we haul, rather, we act as a third-party carrier to deliver our customers’
products from point A to point B predominately using Company employees driving Company owned tractors and tank trailers. Approximately
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION - The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts, certain assets, liabilities, and expenses of Patriot and its wholly owned subsidiaries that comprise the Company. All significant intercompany transactions within the consolidated entity have been eliminated.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS –The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with maturities of three months or less at time of purchase and treasury bills to be cash equivalents. Bank overdrafts consist of outstanding checks not yet presented to a bank for settlement, net of cash held in accounts with right of offset.
INVENTORY - Inventory of parts and supplies is valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value.
TIRES ON EQUIPMENT - The value of tires on tractors and trailers is accounted for as a prepaid expense and amortized over the life of the tires as a function of miles driven.
REVENUE AND EXPENSE RECOGNITION – Revenue is recognized when the services have been rendered to customers or delivery has occurred, the pricing is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Transportation expenses are recognized as incurred.
The Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” on October 1, 2018. Management has identified that a legally enforceable contract with its customers is executed by both parties at the point of pickup of the shipper’s product, as evidenced by the bill of lading. Although the Company may have master agreements with its customers, these master agreements only establish terms. There is no financial obligation to the shipper until the Company takes possession of the load and there are no significant performance obligations after delivery. Revenue is recognized for each individual load and the amount of revenue in progress at the end of each quarter is insignificant. There is no significant amount of judgment or uncertainty in recording revenue.
Our revenues are primarily based on a set rate per volume of product hauled to arrive at a desired rate per mile traveled. The rate also incorporates the cost of fuel at an assumed price plus fuel surcharges to address the fluctuation in fuel prices. Over time, the fuel surcharge tables in the industry have become so numerous and varied, both by carriers and customers, that they have simply become a part of the overall rating structure to arrive at that desired price per mile by market. We consider fuel surcharge revenue to be revenue from services rather than other revenues. As a result, the Company determined there is no reason to report fuel surcharges as a separate revenue line item and fuel surcharges are reported as part of Operating revenues. Prior periods have been revised for consistency.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - Accounts receivable are recorded net of discounts and provisions for estimated allowances. We estimate allowances on an ongoing basis by considering historical and current trends. We record estimated bad debts expense as a selling, general and administrative expense. We estimate the net collectability of our accounts receivable and establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon this assessment. Specifically, we analyze the aging of accounts receivable balances, historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms. Any trade accounts receivable
| 29 |
balances written off are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company has not experienced any significant credit-related losses in the past three years.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - Property and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Provision for depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method based on the following Estimated useful lives:
| Years | |||
| Building and improvements | |||
| Revenue equipment | |||
| Other equipment |
The Company recorded depreciation expenses
for 2023, 2022 and 2021 of $
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS - The Company periodically reviews its long-lived assets, which include property and equipment and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization, for potential impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The analysis consists of a review of future anticipated results considering business prospects and asset utilization. If the sum of these future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Company would record an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets with the fair value of the assets generally based upon an estimate of the discounted future cash flows expected with regards to the assets and their eventual disposition.
GOODWILL – Goodwill represents the
excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is not
amortized, but rather is tested for impairment annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a
reporting unit with goodwill has been reduced below carrying value. The impairment test requires allocating goodwill and other assets
and liabilities to reporting units. The Company’s operations are comprised of
INSURANCE - The Company has a
INCOME TAXES - Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on differences between financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates. Deferred income taxes result from temporary differences between pre-tax income reported in the financial statements and taxable income. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit. The second step is to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as the amounts rely upon the determination of the probability of various possible outcomes. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is
| 30 |
based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law and expiration of statutes of limitations, effectively settled issues under audit, and audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. It is the Company’s policy to recognize as additional income tax expense the items of interest and penalties directly related to income taxes.
PENSION PLAN - The Company has a defined benefit plan for certain key employees, See note 9 discussion of MSP Plan, and accounts for its pension plan following the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits”, which requires an employer to: (a) recognize in its statement of financial position the funded status of a benefit plan; (b) measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year (with limited exceptions); and (c) recognize as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs pursuant to prior existing guidance.
USE OF ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Certain accounting policies and estimates are of more significance in the financial statement preparation process than others. The most critical accounting policies and estimates include the economic useful lives and salvage values of our vehicles and equipment, impairment of tangible and intangible assets, provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable, estimates of exposures related to our insurance claims plans, and estimates for taxes. To the extent that actual, final outcomes are different than these estimates, or that additional facts and circumstances result in a revision to these estimates, earnings during that accounting period will be affected.
ENVIRONMENTAL - Environmental expenditures that benefit future periods are capitalized. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded for the estimated amount of expected environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts. Estimation of such liabilities includes an assessment of engineering estimates, continually evolving governmental laws and standards, and potential involvement of other potentially responsible parties.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME – Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to expenses, gains, and losses that are not included in net income, but rather are recorded directly in shareholder’s equity.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS – In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016 - 13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses," which introduced new guidance for an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. This standard will be effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2023. The Company has evaluated this guidance and does not expect a material impact on our financial statements at adoption.
| 31 |
2. Related Party Agreements.
The Company provides FRP Holdings, Inc. (FRP) certain services including the services of certain shared executive officers. FRP may be considered a related party due to common significant shareholder ownership and shared common officers. A written agreement exists outlining the terms of such services and the boards of the respective companies amended and extended this agreement for one year effective April 1, 2023.
The consolidated statements of income reflect charges
and/or allocation to FRP Holdings, Inc. for these services of $
We employ an allocation method to allocate said expenses and thus we believe that the allocations to FRP are a reasonable approximation of the costs related to FRP’s operations, but any such related-party transactions cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s-length basis.
3. Debt.
The Company had
On July 6, 2021, Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
(the “Company”) entered into the 2021 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “The Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
modifies the Company's prior Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo, dated January 30, 2015, as amended by that certain First Amendment dated
December 28, 2018. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement establishes a revolving credit facility with a maximum facility
amount of $
This credit agreement contains certain conditions,
affirmative financial covenants and negative covenants including a minimum tangible net worth of $
4. Leases.
The Company leases certain assets under operating leases, which primarily consist of real estate leases for the corporate office and some of our terminal locations. Certain operating leases provide for renewal options, which can vary by lease and are typically offered at their fair rental value. The Company has not made any residual value guarantees related to its operating leases. Operating leases with an initial term of more than 12 months are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as discounted liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets consisting of the following (in thousands):
| Asset (Liability) Balance | ||||||||
| As of September 30, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Right-of-use assets | $ | |||||||
| Lease liabilities, current | $ | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||
| Lease liabilities, long-term | $ | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||
As the Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company utilized its incremental borrowing rate determined by obtaining a quote from their lender and applied to the individual leases. The assumptions underlying the calculation of the Company’s right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are disclosed below.
| 32 |
| September 30, 2023 | ||||||
| Weighted-average | Weighted-average | |||||
| Remaining lease term | Discount rate | |||||
| Revenue equipment and other leases | % | |||||
| Real estate leases | % | |||||
Future minimum annual lease payments for assets under operating leases as of September 30, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):
| Fiscal Year | Total | |||||||
| 2024 | $ | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| Thereafter | ||||||||
| Total future minimum lease payments | $ | |||||||
| Less: Imputed interest | ( |
) | ||||||
| Present value of operating lease liabilities | $ | |||||||
Aggregate expense under operating leases was $1,074,000, $1,062,000 and $1,097,000 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Certain operating leases include rent escalation provisions, which are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis.
Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common shares and potential dilution of securities that could share in earnings. The differences between basic and diluted shares used for the calculation are the effect of employee and director stock options.
| Years Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Common shares: | ||||||||||||
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period – shares used for basic earnings per common share |
||||||||||||
|
Common shares issuable under share based payment plans which are potentially dilutive |
||||||||||||
|
Common shares used for diluted earnings per common share |
||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | |||||||||||
| Earnings per common share: | ||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | |||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | |||||||||||
For 2023 and 2022, and shares, respectively, attributable to outstanding stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
| 33 |
Participation in FRP Plans
Prior to the Company’s spin-off from FRP Holdings, Inc. (FRP) in January 2015, the Company's directors, officers and key employees previously were eligible to participate in FRP's 2000 Stock Option Plan and the 2006 Stock Option Plan under which options for shares of common stock were granted to directors, officers and key employees.
Post Spin-Off Patriot Incentive Stock Plan
As part of the spin-off transaction, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. Incentive Stock Plan. (“Patriot Plan”) in January 2015. In exchange for all outstanding FRP options held on January 30, 2015, existing Company directors, officers and key employees holding option grants in the FRP Stock Option Plan(s) were issued new grants in the Patriot and FRP Plans based upon the relative value of Patriot and FRP immediately following the completion of the spin-off with the same remaining terms. All related compensation expense has been allocated to the Company (rather than FRP) and included in corporate expenses. The number of common shares available for future issuance in the Patriot Plan was at September 30, 2023.
On November 15, 2021, the Company paid an extraordinary dividend of $ per share to all shareholders of record. In accordance with Section 4.2 of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, Section 11 of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, and Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company has adjusted the terms of all stock option grants outstanding and the stock appreciation rights as of the close of business on November 15, 2021.
On December 30, 2020, the Company paid an extraordinary dividend of $ per share to all shareholders of record. In accordance with Section 4.2 of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, Section 11 of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, and Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company has adjusted the terms of all stock option grants outstanding and the stock appreciation rights as of the close of business on December 30, 2020.
Patriot utilizes the Black-Scholes valuation model for estimating fair value of stock compensation for options awarded to officers and employees. Each grant is evaluated based upon assumptions at the time of grant or modification. The revised assumptions due to the revaluation are dividend yield of %, expected volatility between % and %, risk-free interest rate of to % and expected life of to years.
The dividend yield of % was based on no anticipated regular quarterly dividend at the date of modification for the extraordinary dividend. Expected volatility is estimated based on historical experience over a period equivalent to the expected life in years. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate at the date of grant or modification with a term consistent with the expected life of the options granted. The expected life calculation is based on the observed and expected time to exercise options by the employees.
In December 2016, the Company approved and
issued a long-term performance incentive to an officer in the form of stock appreciation rights. As adjusted for the extraordinary dividend
the Company granted stock appreciation rights. The adjusted market price of the grant was $, and the executive will get a
cash award at age 65 based upon the stock price at that date compared to the adjusted market price of $ but in no event will the award
be less than $
The annual director stock grant was shares at $ in fiscal 2023, shares at $ and shares at $ in fiscal 2022, and shares at $ in fiscal 2021, based on the market prices indicated on the date of the grants.
| Years Ended September 30 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Stock option grants | $ | |||||||||||
| Annual director stock award | ||||||||||||
| Stock based compensation | $ | |||||||||||
| 34 |
| Weighted | Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||
| Number | Average | Average | Average | ||||||||||||
| Of | Exercise | Remaining | Grant Date | ||||||||||||
| Options | Shares | Price | Term (yrs) | Fair Value | |||||||||||
| Outstanding at October 1, 2020 (a) | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Dividend Adjustment | |||||||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Outstanding at September 30, 2021 (b) | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Dividend Adjustment | |||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Outstanding at September 30, 2022 (c) | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Expired | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Exercised | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Outstanding at September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Exercisable at September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
|
Vested during twelve months ended September 30, 2023 |
$ | ||||||||||||||
| (a) |
| (b) |
| (c) |
| Shares | Weighted | Weighted | ||||||||||||
| Range of Exercise | Under | Average | Average | |||||||||||
| Prices per Share | Option | Exercise Price | Remaining Life | |||||||||||
| Non-exercisable: | ||||||||||||||
| $5.14 – $6.94 | ||||||||||||||
| $6.95 - $9.38 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | Years | |||||||||||||
| Exercisable: | ||||||||||||||
| $5.14 - $6.94 | ||||||||||||||
| $6.95 - $9.38 | ||||||||||||||
| $9.39 - $12.68 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | Years | |||||||||||||
| Total (a) | $ | Years | ||||||||||||
| (a) |
The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable Company options was $ and the aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding in-the-money options was $ based on the Company’s market closing price of $ on
| 35 |
September 29, 2023 less exercise prices.
The realized tax benefit from option exercises during fiscal 2023 was $. The unrecognized compensation expense of Patriot options granted as of September 30, 2023 was $, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of years.
7. Income Taxes.
The Provision for or benefit from income taxes for continuing operations for fiscal years ended September 30 consists of the following (in thousands):
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Current: | |||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| State | |||||||||||||
| ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Deferred | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Total | $ |
A reconciliation between the amount of tax shown above and the amount computed at the statutory Federal income tax rate follows (in thousands):
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Amount computed at statutory | ||||||||||||
| Federal rate | $ | |||||||||||
| State income tax (net of Federal income tax benefit) | ||||||||||||
| Other, net | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ |
In this reconciliation, the category “Other, net” consists of changes in permanent tax differences related to non-deductible expenses, goodwill tax amortization, interest and penalties, and adjustments to prior year estimates.
The types of temporary differences and their related tax effects that give rise to Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at September 30, are presented below (in thousands):
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||
| Property and equipment | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | |
||||||
| Gross deferred tax liabilities | |||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||
| Insurance liabilities | |||||||
| Employee benefits and other | |||||||
| Gross deferred tax assets | |||||||
| Net deferred tax liability | $ |
The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits.
Tax returns in the U.S. and various states are subject to audit by taxing authorities. As of September 30, 2023, the earliest tax year that remains open for audit in the United States is 2018. We do not have any material unpaid assessments.
8. Accrued Insurance.
| 36 |
The Company has established an accrued liability for the estimated cost in connection with its portion of its risk and health insurance losses incurred and reported. Payments made under a captive agreement for each year’s risk loss fund are scheduled in advance using actuarial methodology. Captive insurance assets available to us to settle risk insurance liabilities are not reported on our balance sheet as we do not control or consolidate the captive.
The Accrued insurance liability at September 30 is summarized as follows (in thousands):
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Accrued insurance, current portion | $ | |||||||
| Prepaid insurance claims | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| Accrued insurance, non-current | ||||||||
| Total accrued (prepaid) insurance reported on the Company’s balance sheet | $ | |||||||
| Captive agreement assets | ||||||||
| Gross insurance liability estimate | $ |
9. Employee Benefits.
The Company and certain subsidiaries and
related entities (FRP) have a savings/profit sharing plan for the benefit of qualified employees. The savings feature of the plan incorporates
the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code under which an eligible employee may elect to save a portion (within limits)
of their compensation on a tax deferred basis. Patriot contributes to a participant’s account an amount equal to
The Company has a Management Security Plan
(MSP) for certain key employees. The accruals for future benefits are based upon the remaining years to retirement of the participating
employees and other actuarial assumptions. The expense for fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $
The Company provides certain health benefits
for retired employees. Employees may become eligible for those benefits if they were employed by the Company prior to December 10, 1992,
meet the service requirements and reach retirement age while working for Patriot. The plan is contributory and unfunded. The Company accrues
its allocated estimated cost of retiree health benefits over the years that the employees render service. The accrued postretirement benefit
obligation for this plan related to the Company as of September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $
10. Fair Value Measurements.
Fair value is defined 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. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. Level 1 means the use of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 means the use of values that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. Level 3 means the use of inputs are those that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.
At September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other financial instruments approximate their fair value based upon the short-term nature of these items.
11. Contingent Liabilities.
| 37 |
The Company is involved in litigation on a number of matters and is subject to certain claims which arise in the normal course of business. The Company has retained certain self-insurance risks with respect to losses for third party liability and property damage. There is a reasonable possibility that the Company’s estimate of vehicle and workers’ compensation liability may be understated or overstated but the possible range cannot be estimated. The liability at any point in time depends upon the relative ages and amounts of the individual open claims. In the opinion of management none of these matters are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
12. Concentrations.
Market: The Company primarily serves customers in the petroleum industry in the Southeastern U.S. Significant economic disruption or downturn in this geographic region or within the industry could have an adverse effect on our financial statements.
Customers: During
fiscal 2023, the Company’s ten largest customers accounted for approximately
Deposits: Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash and an FDIC insured investment account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and U.S. Treasury bills. The balance in the cash account may exceed FDIC limits.
13. Unusual or Infrequent Items Impacting Results.
Second quarter 2021 net income included
$
First quarter 2022 net income included $
14. Goodwill and Intangible Assets.
The Changes in gross carrying amounts of goodwill are as follows (in thousands):
| Goodwill | ||||
| October 1, 2020 | $ | |||
| No activity | ||||
| September 30, 2021 | ||||
| No activity | ||||
| September 30, 2022 | $ | |||
| No activity | ||||
| September 30, 2023 | $ | |||
The Company assesses goodwill for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.
The Company reviews intangible assets, including customer value, trade name and non-compete agreements, for impairment, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by those assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment charge recognized is the amount by which the carrying amounts of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.
The gross amounts and accumulated amortization (including impairment) of Identifiable intangible assets are as follows (in thousands):
| 38 |
| September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross | Accumulated | Gross | Accumulated | |||||||||||||
| Amount | Amortization | Amount | Amortization | |||||||||||||
| Amortizable intangible assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Customer value | ||||||||||||||||
| Trade name | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-compete | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
Amortization expense for intangible assets
for fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $
Estimated amortization expense for the five succeeding years follows (in thousands):
| Amount | |||||
| 2024 | $ | ||||
| 2025 | |||||
| 2026 | |||||
| 2027 | |||||
| 2028 | |||||
| Total | $ | ||||
15. Subsequent Events. On November 1, 2023 the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Blue Horizon Partners, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (“Parent”) and Blue Horizon Partners Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, that Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Parent and Merger Sub are affiliates of United Petroleum Transports, Inc. a leading regional bulk transport carrier headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Each share of the Company’s common stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be converted into the right to receive $ in cash, without interest, subject to any applicable withholding taxes. Upon completion of the transaction, which the parties expect will occur by late 2023 or early 2024, the Company will become a private company and delist from the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls And Procedures. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and chief accounting officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such terms is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our chief accounting officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Management’s Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our
| 39 |
internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013), our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2023.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Hancock Askew & Co., LLP, regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.
Change In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. During the fourth quarter of 2023, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations Over Internal Controls. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
| i. | pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; |
| ii. | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and |
| iii. | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. |
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and circumvention by collusion or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system may not prevent or detect material misstatements on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
The following sections provide an overview of Patriot’s corporate governance standards and processes, including the independence and other criteria we use in selecting our director nominees, the Patriot Board leadership structure, risk oversight, shareholder communications and responsibilities of the Patriot Board and its Committees. Our corporate
| 40 |
governance principles govern the operation of the Patriot Board of Directors and its Committees and guide our executive leaders in the execution of their responsibilities.
Our Board of Directors
The Patriot Board is comprised of a group of leaders in their respective fields. Many directors have senior leadership experience and board and committee experience with public companies. In these positions, they have gained significant and diverse management experience.
Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, all directors elected will serve a one-year term until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The number of directors is currently six and may be increased or decreased by the Board, but not to less than three.
| Name | Current Position | Age | History With The Company |
| John E. Anderson | Director | 78 |
· Director since 2014 · Director of FRP Holdings, Inc. (“FRPH”): 1989-2003 and 2005- Spin-off · President and CEO of FRPH: 1989-2008
|
| John D. Baker II | Director | 75 |
· Director since 2022 · Director of FRPH: since 1986 – Spin-off · CEO of FRPH: 2008- 2010 and since 2017 · Chairman Florida Rock & Tank Lines since 2014
|
| Thompson S. Baker II |
Chairman of the Board Director
|
65 |
· Director since 2014 · President and CEO: Spin-off- 2017 · Director of FRPH: 1994- Spin-off · President of FRPH: 2010-2015 · CEO of FRPH: 2010- 2017 · Director Florida Rock & Tank Lines since 2014
|
| Luke E. Fichthorn III | Director | 82 |
· Director since 2014 · Director of FRPH: 1989- Spin-off
|
| Charles D. Hyman | Director | 64 | · Director since 2016 |
| Eric K. Mann | Director | 64 | · Director elected December 2022 |
The biographies below describe each director and his qualifications that led the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to nominate these individuals.
John E. Anderson, age 78, has served as a director of the Company since December 3, 2014. Mr. Anderson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of FRP Holdings, Inc. from 1989 to 2008 and as a director from 1989 to 2003, and again from October 2005 to January 2015. Mr. Anderson received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Mr. Anderson's many years as an executive officer and director of a public company demonstrates his leadership abilities and provides the Patriot Board with the benefit of his extensive knowledge regarding the Company and the transportation industry.
John D. Baker II, age 75, was appointed as a director of the Company on May 10, 2022 by the Company’s board of directors, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to fill the vacancy on the board of directors created by the passing of Edward L. Baker. John Baker has served as Chairman of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, since the Company was spun-off from FRP Holdings, Inc. in 2015. Mr. Baker is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FRP Holdings, Inc. From February 2008 until October 2010, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Before joining Patriot, Mr. Baker was president and Chief Executive Officer of Florida Rock Industries, Inc., a leading producer of construction aggregates and related materials throughout the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Mr. Baker serves on the board of regional utility Jacksonville Electric Authority Board and has previously served on the board of
| 41 |
directors of Wells Fargo & Company, Wachovia Corp., Jacksonville Port Authority, Progress Energy, Vulcan Materials, Texas Industries, Hughes Supply and Edward Waters College. Prior to his business career, Mr. Baker served in the Marine Corps. Mr. Baker maintains leadership roles in several community educational organizations including Tiger Academy, KIPP Jacksonville, Inc., and the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. Mr. Baker brings to the Patriot Board extensive knowledge in the transportation industry, as well as proven public company leadership and business experience.
Thompson S. Baker II, age 65, has served as a director of the Company since December 3, 2014. Mr. Baker is currently President of Vulcan Materials Company. Mr. Baker served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from December 3, 2014 to March 13, 2017. Mr. Baker served as a director of FRPH from 1994 until March 13, 2017 and as the Chief Executive Officer for FRPH from October 1, 2010 until March 13, 2017. Mr. Baker served as the President of the Florida Rock Division of Vulcan Materials Company from November 16, 2007 until September 2010. From August, 1991 to November 16, 2007, Mr. Baker served as the President of the Aggregates Group of Florida Rock Industries, Inc. Mr. Baker currently serves as a director for Intrepid Capital Management, Inc. Mr. Baker's extensive service with the Company and with Florida Rock Industries, Inc. gives him extensive knowledge of the Company's business and demonstrates his leadership qualities.
Luke E. Fichthorn III, age 82, was elected as a director of the Company on December 3, 2014. Mr. Fichthorn is currently a partner in Twain Associates, LLC, a private financial consulting firm. From 1989 to January, 2015, Mr. Fichthorn served as a director for FRP Holdings, Inc. In the past, Mr. Fichthorn served as a director and the Chief Executive Officer of Bairnco Corporation. Mr. Fichthorn received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and has served as a financial consultant and audit committee member for several public companies. Mr. Fichthorn's financial acumen and extensive investment banking and business experience provide the Patriot Board with valuable perspectives on strategic decisions.
Charles D. Hyman, age 64, was elected as a director of the Company on July 27, 2016. Mr. Hyman is the president of Charles D. Hyman & Company, a portfolio management company, and has also served as a director and member of the audit, compensation and governance committees for Fidus Corporation since June 2011. Mr. Hyman brings to the Patriot Board extensive business experience and financial acumen.
Eric K. Mann, age 64, was appointed as a director of the Company on December 6, 2022. Mr. Mann has served as president and CEO of YMCA of Florida’s First Coast since 2011 and has been with the YMCA for more than 40 years. He was CEO of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania YMCA when he was recruited to become the first African American leader of Florida’s First Coast YMCA and as such, he also became the first African American CEO of a major metropolitan YMCA south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Mr. Mann is Chairman of the Board of the Jacksonville Civic Council (JCC) and has served on the board since 2014. Mr. Mann has also served on the board of directors of Brooks Health System since 2014 and became the incoming Chairman of the board in 2023. Mr. Mann is a Trustee of Mars Hill University. Recently he served as co-chairman of JCC’s Race and Social Justice Task Force which has worked for two years to develop a community report. Mr. Mann brings to the Patriot Board his extensive business experience and brings valuable knowledge in shaping diversity, inclusion and social responsibility policies.
Executive Officers
Robert E. Sandlin, age 62, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since 2017.
Matthew C. McNulty, age 49, has served as our Vice President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer since 2017 with the additional appointment of Chief Operating Officer on October 5, 2021.
John D. Klopfenstein, age 60, has served as our Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since 2014 with the additional appointment of Treasurer in 2020.
James N. Anderson IV, age 61, has served as our Vice President of Safety and Risk Management since 2014.
Family Relationships
Thompson S. Baker II, the Chairman of the Board (and former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company) is the nephew of John D. Baker II, a director of the Company.
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Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Fichthorn, Anderson, Hyman, and Mann. The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Patriot Board has determined that all Audit Committee members are independent and are able to read and understand financial statements. The Patriot Board has also determined that the Chair of the Committee, Mr. Fichthorn, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Patriot Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. The Audit Committee also selects the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee held four formal meetings in fiscal year 2023.
In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding the fair and complete presentation of the Company’s results and management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee has discussed significant accounting policies applied by the Company in its financial statements, as well as alternative treatments. Management represented to the Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm matters required to be discussed pursuant to applicable standards adopted by the PCAOB.
In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by the applicable requirements of PCAOB regarding the independent auditor’s communications with us concerning independence and has discussed with the independent auditor the auditor’s independence from the Company and its management. The Audit Committee also has considered whether the independent auditor’s provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with the auditor’s independence. The Audit Committee has concluded that the independent auditor is independent from the Company and its management.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed Company policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management.
The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent auditor the overall scope and plans for the audit. The Audit Committee meets with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Patriot Board, and the Patriot Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| Submitted by: | Luke E. Fichthorn III, Chairman |
| John E. Anderson | |
| Charles D. Hyman | |
| Eric K. Mann | |
| Members of the Audit Committee |
The Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material, and shall not be deemed to be filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates the Audit Committee Report by reference therein.
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Business Conduct Policies
We believe that operating with honesty and integrity has earned us trust from our customers, credibility within our communities, and dedication from our employees. Our senior executive and financial officers are bound by our Financial Code of Ethical Conduct. In addition, our directors, officers and employees are required to abide by our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to ensure that our business is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical manner. These policies cover many topics, including conflicts of interest, protection of confidential information, fair dealing, protection of the Company’s assets and compliance with laws, rules and regulations.
Employees are required to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of these policies. The Audit Committee has adopted procedures to receive, retain, and treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
The Financial Code of Ethical Conduct and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (as adopted on January 28, 2015) is available on our website at patriottrans.com under Corporate Governance.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
We are currently considered a “smaller reporting company” for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation and other disclosure rules. In accordance with such rules, we are required to provide a Summary Compensation Table and an Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End Table, as well as limited narrative disclosures.
We design our executive officer compensation program to attract, motivate, and retain the key executives who drive our success and industry leadership. Our compensation program consists of several forms of compensation: base salary, cash incentive bonuses, equity compensation and other benefits and perquisites. Pay that reflects performance and alignment of that pay with the interests of long-term shareholders are key principles that underlie our compensation program. The Patriot Board believes that our current executive compensation program directly links executive compensation to our performance and aligns the interest of our executive officers with those of our shareholders.
Compensation Policies
Internal Pay Equity. We believe that internal pay equity is an important factor to be considered in establishing compensation for the officers. We have not established a policy regarding the ratio of total compensation of the Chief Executive Officer to that of the other officers, but we do review compensation levels to ensure that appropriate equity exists.
Compensation Risk Assessment. The Compensation Committee considers the risks that may result from the Company’s compensation policies and practices. The Compensation Committee believes that our compensation policies and practices for our executives are reasonable and properly align their interests with those of our shareholders. The Compensation Committee believes that there are a number of factors that cause our compensation policies and practices to not have a material adverse effect on the Company. The fact that our executive officers have their annual incentive compensation tied to return on capital employed encourages actions that promote profitability. Our equity-based incentives further align the interest of our executives with the long term interests of our shareholders. In addition, we believe that there are significant checks in place so that employees whose compensation may have a shorter term focus are managed by employees and officers whose compensation has a longer term focus.
Tax Deductibility of Compensation Should be Maximized Where Appropriate. The Company generally seeks to maximize the deductibility for tax purposes of all elements of compensation. For example, the Company always has issued nonqualified stock options that result in a tax deduction to the Company upon exercise. We review compensation plans in light of applicable tax provisions and may revise compensation plans from time to time to maximize deductibility. However, we may approve compensation that does not qualify for deductibility when we deem it to be in the best interests of the Company.
Financial Restatement
It is a policy of the Patriot Board that the Compensation Committee will, to the extent permitted by governing law, have the sole and absolute authority to make retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity-based incentive compensation paid to executive officers and certain other officers where the payment was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were
| 44 |
subsequently the subject of a restatement. Where applicable, the Company will seek to recover any amount determined to have been inappropriately received by the individual executive.
Clawback Policy
We recently adopted a Compensation Recovery Policy in accordance with applicable Nasdaq rules, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. It is generally our policy that the Company will recoup any incentive compensation erroneously awarded to any current or former executive officers due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under applicable securities laws during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date the Company determines that an accounting restatement is required.
Summary Compensation Table
The Summary Compensation Table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for fiscal years 2023 and 2022. Our compensation program consists of several forms of compensation: base salary, cash incentive bonuses, equity compensation and other benefits and perquisites.
| SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE | |||||||
| Name and Principal Position | Year |
Base Salary(1)
|
Option Awards |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (2) |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings(3) | Other Compensation (4) | Total |
|
Robert E. Sandlin President and CEO |
2023 | $404,344 | --- | $515,612 | $29,529 | $29,529 | $979,014 |
| 2022 | $385,982 | --- | $226,972 | $29,529 | $16,582 | $659,065 | |
|
Matthew C. McNulty VP, CFO and COO(6) |
2023 | $268,052 | --- | $239,270 | --- | $13,844 | $521,166 |
| 2022 | $254,548 | --- | $119,038 | --- | $6,081 | $379,667 | |
| John D. Klopfenstein, Treasurer, Controller and CAO | 2023 | $241,535 | --- | $141,098 | --- | $38,617 | $421,250 |
| 2022 | $232,930 | --- | $104,389 | --- | $16,423 | $353,742 | |
| (1) | Following the Spin-off, Mr. Klopfenstein remains employed by both the Company and FRPH and receives a base salary from each company. The base salaries paid to Mr. Klopfenstein for the years shown reflect the total salary paid to him by the Company, of which FRPH reimbursed the Company 50% pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement between FRPH and the Company. |
| (2) | This column represents (i) amounts paid under the Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Plan (“MIC Plan”), and (ii) with respect to 2022, one-time transaction bonuses paid in connection with the sale of the Company’s terminal located in Tampa, Florida on October 18, 2021 in the amounts of $93,685, $60,775 and $11,411 for Messrs. Sandlin, McNulty and Klopfenstein, respectively. |
The MIC Plan provides officers an opportunity to earn an annual cash bonus for achieving specified performance-based goals. Following the Spin-off, Mr. Klopfenstein continues to be eligible to receive a cash bonus from FRPH if certain real estate performance goals are met, and a cash bonus from the Company if transportation-related performance goals are met. Cash bonuses reported in this table for Mr. Klopfenstein of $74,031 in 2023 and $71,875 in 2022 reflect cash bonuses earned and paid in connection with his employment with FRPH. Pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement between FRPH and the Company, FRPH reimbursed the Company for the full amount of the FRPH awards for 2022 and 2023.
| (3) | Mr. Sandlin was awarded 80,000 stock appreciation rights on December 16, 2016, which vest subject to a service requirement. The amounts reported in this column represent the present value of Mr. Sandlin’s accumulated benefit under the stock appreciation rights using the Black-Scholes model. Additional information regarding Mr. Sandlin’s stock appreciation award is discussed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation”. |
| (4) | Executive officers receive certain personal benefits and perquisites from the Company, which are reflected in the table as “Other Compensation”. Following the Spin-off, Mr. Klopfenstein continues to be eligible to receive such Other Compensation from the Company and FRPH. Other Compensation for Mr. Klopfenstein for the years shown reflects the total Other Compensation paid by the Company, of which FRPH reimbursed the Company 50% pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement between FRPH and the Company. For 2023, the components of Other Compensation were as follows: |
Name |
Matching Contributions | Personal Use of Company Car | Medical Reimbursement (a) | Miscellaneous(b) |
| Robert E. Sandlin | $10,281 | $2,131 | $15,837 | $1,280 |
| Matthew C. McNulty | $2,680 | $10,894 | -- | $270 |
| John D. Klopfenstein | $9,092 | $21,320 | $7,120 | $1,085 |
| (a) | The amounts shown represent benefits paid under our Medical Reimbursement Plan, under which we reimburse certain officers for personal medical expenses not covered by insurance. |
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| (b) | The amounts shown under the Miscellaneous column include long-term disability insurance, payment of country club and social club dues and purchase of tickets to sporting events on behalf of the named executive officers and other miscellaneous reimbursed expenses. These club memberships and tickets generally are maintained for business entertainment but may be used for personal use. The entire amount has been included, although we believe that only a portion of this cost represents a perquisite. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The table below sets forth information concerning stock options and stock appreciation rights held by the named executive officers as of September 30, 2023.
|
Name
|
Option Awards(1)
| |||
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/SARs (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/SARs (#) Unexercisable |
Option/SAR Exercise Price |
Option/SAR Expiration Date | |
|
Robert E. Sandlin President & CEO |
5,480 | -- | $11.553 | 12/04/2023 |
| 6,286 | -- | $10.018 | 12/03/2024 | |
| 6,565 | -- | $9.072 | 10/15/2025 | |
| 28,821 | -- | $8.840 | 11/17/2025 | |
| 40,514 | -- | $7.953 | 11/16/2026 | |
| 44,825 | -- | $6.800 | 11/28/2027 | |
| 31,488 | 7,872 | $7.522 | 11/28/2028 | |
| 47,472 | 31,648 | $6.886 | 12/03/2029 | |
| 24,352 | 36,528 | $5.147 | 12/01/2030 | |
| -- | 257,009(3) | $8.66 | N/A | |
|
Matthew C. McNulty Vice President, CFO & COO |
29,195 | -- | $7.335 | 10/04/2027 |
| 31,385 | -- | $6.800 | 11/28/2027 | |
| 22,044 | 5,511 | $7.522 | 11/28/2028 | |
| 33,231 | 22,154 | $6.886 | 12/03/2029 | |
| 14,614 | 21,921 | $5.147 | 12/01/2030 | |
|
John D. Klopfenstein Treasurer, Controller & CAO |
2,958 | -- | $11.553 | 12/04/2023 |
| 3,393 | -- | $10.018 | 12/03/2024 | |
| 7,786 | -- | $8.840 | 11/17/2025 | |
| 10,937 | -- | $7.953 | 11/16/2026 | |
| (1) | Stock options vest ratably over 5 years, commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date, and have a term of 10 years. Options that have an expiration date prior to 2025 were granted in connection with the Spin-off to replace the options to purchase FRPH common stock held by the named executive officers at the time of the Spin-off. The Company replacement options and the FRPH replacement options have a combined intrinsic value equal to the intrinsic value of the original option granted by FRPH prior to the Spin-off and were equitably adjusted to preserve the ratio of the exercise price to the fair market value of FRPH common stock on the date of the Spin-off. |
| (2) | Mr. Sandlin’s stock options expiring on October 15, 2025 were granted in connection with a performance award and vested immediately. |
| (3) | SARs vest upon the achievement of (i) a common stock price of $10.92 for a period of at least 60 days and (ii) Mr. Sandlin’s continued service as the President of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. until his 65th birthday; subject to a minimum award of $500,000 if the service vesting criteria described in clause (ii) is satisfied. |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
On December 21, 2016, Mr. Sandlin was granted 80,000 stock appreciation rights. The market price on the date of the grant was $23.13. The award was adjusted to 257,009 stock appreciation rights and date of grant price of $8.66 in conjunction with the extraordinary dividends issued on January 30, 2020, December 30, 2020, and November 15, 2021. This award will vest upon the satisfaction of 2 vesting conditions: (1) the average closing price of the Company’s common stock must exceed $10.92 for a period of at least 60 consecutive days, and (2) Mr. Sandlin must continue to serve as President of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. until his 65th birthday. Mr. Sandlin’s minimum compensation under this award will be $500,000, provided he satisfies the service vesting criteria set forth in the preceding clause (2).
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Severance and Change of Control Agreements
Each of Messrs. Sandlin, McNulty, and Klopfenstein have Change in Control/Severance Agreements with the Company. The agreements include “double trigger” severance provisions that will pay certain severance and COBRA benefits to them, under certain circumstances, if they are terminated upon or during the two years following a change in control of the Company or a sale of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The agreements provide that each of them will be entitled to receive an amount equal to two times his annual base salary plus a bonus, if the buyer does not offer the executive a position comparable to his current position with no less favorable compensation. The agreements provide that each of them will be entitled to receive an amount equal to two times his annual base salary plus maximum bonus if during the two years after a change in control or sale of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. his employment is terminated other than for “good cause” or he resigns for “good reason”; provided, however, that such severance payment will be reduced by 4.1667% for each month that he is employed by the Company or a purchaser after the closing of a change in control. In the event of such a termination, the agreements provide for COBRA reimbursements for up to one year equal to the difference between the monthly cost of COBRA and the amount such named executive officer paid for insurance coverage under the Company’s health insurance plan prior to the termination. In addition, the agreements provide that they become fully vested in their respective stock options upon a change in control. The award agreement for Mr. Sandlin’s SARs provides that the SARs will become fully vested upon a change in control.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Our non-employee directors receive cash compensation, as well as equity compensation in the form of stock grants of Company common stock. The following table summarizes the compensation paid to each of our non-employee directors during fiscal 2023. All amounts reflect the dollar value of the compensation.
|
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
| |||
| Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) | Total |
| John D. Baker II | $22,500 | $32,844 | $55,344 |
| Thompson S. Baker II | $19,500 | $32,844 | $52,344 |
| John E. Anderson | $36,000 | $32,844 | $68,844 |
| Luke E. Fichthorn III | $36,500 | $32,844 | $69,344 |
| Charles D. Hyman | $33,000 | $32,844 | $65,844 |
| Eric K. Mann | $27,500 | $32,844 | $60,344 |
| (1) | On February 2, 2023, Messrs. Thompson S. Baker II, John D. Baker II, Anderson, Fichthorn, Hyman and Mann were awarded 4,200 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (“Equity Incentive Plan”). The value was determined using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on February 2, 2023, which was $7.82. The aggregate grant date fair value was computed in accordance with FASB Topic 718. |
The following table sets forth our non-employee director compensation program:
| All Non-Employee Directors | |
| Annual Retainer | $15,000 |
| Annual Retainer: Chairman of the Board | $15,000 |
| Attendance Fee for Unscheduled Meetings | $1,500 |
| Audit Committee | |
| Annual Fee: Chairman | $10,000 |
| Annual Fee: Member | $5,000 |
| Meeting Fees: Chairman(a) | $1,500 |
| Meeting Fees: Member (a) | $1,000 |
| Compensation Committee | |
| Annual Fee: Chairman | $5,000 |
| Annual Fee: Member | $1,000 |
| Meeting Fees: Chairman | $1,500 |
| Meeting Fees: Member | $1,000 |
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| Other Committees | |
| Annual Fee: Chairman | $2,000 |
| Annual Fee: Member | $1,000 |
| Meeting Fees: Chairman | $1,500 |
| Meeting Fees: Member | $1,000 |
| (a) | The Audit Committee members received no meeting fees for the four regularly-scheduled quarterly meetings. Meeting fees apply only to the extent there were additional Audit Committee meetings. |
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table shows the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by each of the Company’s directors and executive officers of the Company as a group as of November 30, 2023:
| Name of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1) |
Percent of Class |
| John E. Anderson | 62,637(2) | 1.8% |
| John D. Baker II | 589,261(3) | 16.6% |
| Thompson S. Baker II | 357,903(4) | 9.8% |
| Luke E. Fichthorn III | 67,142(5) | 1.9% |
| Charles D. Hyman | 36,638(6) | 1.0% |
| John D. Klopfenstein | 28,776(7) | * |
| Eric K. Mann | 4,200 | * |
| Matthew C. McNulty | 154,679(8) | 4.2% |
| Robert E. Sandlin | 297,117 (9) | 7.8% |
| Total ownership of all directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons): | 1,648,986 | 39.9% |
* Less than 1%
| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial owners directly hold and have sole voting and investment power with respect to their respective shares reported in this table. |
| (2) | Mr. Anderson’s shares are held by Anderson Family Enterprises, LLC. |
| (3) | Mr. John D. Baker II’s reported ownership includes (i) 4,000 shares held directly, (ii) 167,848 shares held in his living trust, (iii) 3,341 shares held in his retirement account, (iv) 1,263 shares held by his spouse’s living trust, as to which his spouse has sole voting and investment power, (v) 371,158 shares held in a trust for the benefit of Mr. Baker and his family members and for which he and Edward L. Baker II serve as co-trustees and have shared voting and investment power, and (vi) 41,651 shares held by the estate of Edward L. Baker, of which Mr. Thompson S. Baker II and Mr. John D. Baker II are co-administrators and as to which Mr. Thompson S. Baker II and Mr. John D. Baker II have shared voting and investment power. Mr. Baker disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares described in clause (v) (except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein) and clause (vi). |
| (4) | Mr. Thompson S. Baker II’s reported ownership includes (i) 90,259 shares held in his living trust, (ii) 35,291 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Baker (ii) 733 shares owned by Mr. Baker’s spouse, as to which Mr. Baker’s spouse has sole voting and investment power, (iii) 2,193 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Baker’s minor children, as to which Mr. Baker has shared voting and investment power, (iv) 81,903 shares underlying options that are exercisable within 60 days of November 30, 2023, (v) 105,867 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Baker’s siblings, as to which Mr. Baker and his siblings serve as trustees and as to which Mr. Baker has shared voting and investment power, and (vi) 41,651 shares held by the estate of Edward L. Baker, of which Mr. Thompson S. Baker II and Mr. John D. Baker II are co-administrators and as to which Mr. Thompson S. Baker II and Mr. John D. Baker II have shared voting and investment power. Mr. Baker is a beneficiary of Edward L. Baker’s estate. Mr. Baker disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares described in clause (v). |
| (5) | Mr. Fichthorn’s reported ownership includes 54,542 shares held directly, 11,500 shares owned by his spouse, as to which he disclaims any beneficial interest, and 3,100 shares owned by the M/B Disbro Trust, of which Mr. Fichthorn is a co-trustee and income beneficiary and as to which Mr. Fichthorn has shared voting and investment power. |
| (6) | Mr. Hyman’s reported ownership includes 35,504 shares held directly, 800 shares held in his IRA, and 334 shares held in his spouse’s trust, of which Mr. Hyman is co-trustee and as to which Mr. Hyman has shared voting and investment power. |
| (7) | Mr. Klopfenstein’s reported ownership includes 3,058 shares held directly, 3,602 shares held in his retirement account, and 22,116 shares underlying options that are exercisable within 60 days of November 30, 2023. |
| (8) | Mr. McNulty’s reported ownership includes 315 shares held in his retirement account, and 154,364 shares underlying options that are exercisable within 60 days of November 30, 2023. |
| (9) | Mr. Sandlin’s reported ownership includes 26,854 shares held directly, 4,068 shares held in his retirement account, and 266,195 shares underlying options that are exercisable within 60 days of November 30, 2023. |
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Shareholders Holding More Than Five Percent of Common Stock
The following table shows the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by each person (or group of people) known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the common stock of the Company.
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percentage of Class |
|
Trust FBO John D. Baker II U/A Cynthia L. Baker Trust dated 4/30/1965 John D. Baker II Edward L. Baker II 200 W. Forsyth Street, 7th Floor Jacksonville, FL 32202
|
371,158(1) 589,261(1) 403,591(1) |
10.4% 16.6% 11.4%
|
|
Thompson S. Baker II 200 W. Forsyth Street, 7th Floor Jacksonville, FL 32202
|
357,903(2) | 9.9% |
|
CLB 1965 LLC Cynthia P. Ogden 1165 5th Avenue #10-D New York, NY 10029
|
304,493(3) 304,493(3) |
8.6% 8.6% |
|
Robert E. Sandlin 200 W. Forsyth Street, 7th Floor Jacksonville, FL 32202
|
297,117 (4) | 7.8% |
|
Minerva Advisors, LLC Minerva Group, LP Minerva GP, LP Minerva GP, Inc. David P. Cohen 50 Monument Road, Suite 201 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
|
246,583(5) 202,042(5) 202,042(5) 202,042(5) 246,583(5)
|
6.9% 5.7% 5.7% 5.7% 6.9%
|
|
Estabrook Capital Management, LLC Charles T. Foley David P. Foley 900 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 |
241,679(6) 241,679 (6) 241,679 (6)
|
6.8% 6.8% 6.8%
|
| (1) | The Trust FBO John D. Baker II U/A Cynthia L. Baker Trust dated 4/30/1965, to which John D. Baker II and Edward L. Baker II serve as co-trustees and to which John D. Baker II and his family members are beneficiaries, holds 371,158 shares of the Company’s common stock. John D. Baker II and Edward L. Baker II disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. Each of John D. Baker II’s and Edward L. Baker II’s beneficial ownership includes the shares held by the Trust FBO John D. Baker II U/A Cynthia L. Baker Trust dated 4/30/1965. Reported information is current as of November 30, 2023. |
| (2) | See the table in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Securities Ownership – Directors and Executive Officers” and the accompanying notes for further details on shares beneficially owned by Thompson S. Baker II. Reported information is current as of November 30, 2023. |
| (3) | Cynthia P. Ogden, as manager of CLB 1965 LLC, has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 304,637 shares of the Company’s common stock. Reported information is current as of November 30, 2023. |
| (4) | See the table in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Securities Ownership – Directors and Executive Officers” and the accompanying notes for further details on shares beneficially owned by Robert E. Sandlin. Reported information is current as of November 30, 2023. |
| (5) | In a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022, Minerva Advisors, LLC, Minerva Group, LP, Minerva GP, LP, Minerva GP, Inc. and David P Cohen reported that, as of December 31, 2021, they each had sole voting and sole dispositive power with respect to 202,042 shares of the Company’s common stock, and that Minerva Advisors LLC and David P. Cohen each had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 44,541 shares of the Company’s common stock. |
| (6) | In a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2023, Estabrook Capital Management, LLC, Charles T. Foley and David P. Foley reported that, as of December 31, 2022, they had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 241,679 shares of the Company’s common stock. |
| 49 |
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
| Number of | ||||||||
| Securities | ||||||||
| Remaining | ||||||||
| Available | ||||||||
| Number of | for future | |||||||
| Securities | Weighted | Issuance | ||||||
| to be | Average | under equity | ||||||
| issued upon | exercise | Compensation | ||||||
| exercise of | price of | Plans | ||||||
| Outstanding | outstanding | (excluding | ||||||
| options, | options, | Securities | ||||||
| Warrants | warrants | reflected in | ||||||
| and rights | and rights | column (a)) | ||||||
| Plan Category | (a) | (b) | (c) | |||||
| Equity compensation | ||||||||
| plans approved by | ||||||||
| security holders | 750,293 | $ | 7.44 | 10,611 | ||||
| Equity compensation | ||||||||
| plans not approved | ||||||||
| by security holders | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 750,293 | $ | 7.44 | 10,611 |
Potential Changes in Control
On November 1, 2023 we entered into a merger agreement under which affiliates of UPT will, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock for $16.26 per share in cash (referred to herein as, the “merger”). The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including the approval of the Company’s shareholders. UPT has obtained a customary financing commitment from an established lending institution pursuant to which the lender will provide financing that, together with other available sources, is expected to be sufficient to fund the merger consideration and other obligations under the merger agreement. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company will become a private company and delist from the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Transactions With FRP Holdings, Inc.
On January 31, 2015, the Company began operating as an independent public company as a result of the spin-off from FRP Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ- FRPH), which is referred to herein as the “Spin-off.” The Spin-off was effected through a corporate reorganization, followed by the distribution by FRPH of all of the shares of common stock of Patriot to the shareholders of FRPH. Each FRPH shareholder of record as of the close of business on January 30, 2015 received one share of Patriot common stock for every three shares of FRPH common stock held on such date. Patriot now owns and operates the transportation business that was formerly a segment of FRPH. For more information regarding the Spin-off, you may refer to our Information Statement, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 10, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 31, 2014, available at www.sec.gov.
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In connection with the spin-off, we entered into a separation and distribution agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement and a transition services agreement, which provide a framework for our relationships with FRPH after the spin-off. These agreements provide for the allocation between Patriot and FRPH of the assets, liabilities, and obligations of FRPH and its subsidiaries, and govern the relationships between Patriot and FRPH (including with respect to transition services, employee matters, real property matters, tax matters, and certain other commercial relationships). This summary of the agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the applicable agreements, which are listed as exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2015. In fiscal 2023, FRPH reimbursed $910,000 pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement.
In the opinion of the Company, the terms, conditions, transactions and payments under the agreements with the persons described above were not less favorable to the Company than those which would have been available from unaffiliated persons.
Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee of the Patriot Board is responsible for reviewing and approving all material transactions with any related party not previously approved by the Company’s independent directors. This responsibility is set forth in writing in our Audit Committee charter (as adopted December 4, 2019), a copy of which is available at patriottrans.com under Corporate Governance. In certain cases, transactions have been approved by a committee consisting of all independent directors. Related parties include any of our directors or executive officers, and certain of our shareholders and their immediate family members.
To identify related party transactions, each year, we submit and require our directors and officers to complete director and officer questionnaires identifying any transactions with us in which the officer or director or their family members have an interest. We review related party transactions due to the potential for a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s private interest interferes, or appears to interfere, in any way with our interests. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires all directors, officers and employees who may have a potential or apparent conflict of interest to immediately notify our Chief Financial Officer.
We expect our directors, officers and employees to act and make decisions that are in our best interests and encourage them to avoid situations which present a conflict between our interests and their own personal interests. Our directors, officers and employees are prohibited from taking any action that may make it difficult for them to perform their duties, responsibilities and services to the Company in an objective and effective manner. In addition, we are strictly prohibited from extending personal loans to, or guaranteeing personal obligations of, any director or officer. Exceptions are only permitted in the reasonable discretion of the Patriot Board. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available at patriottrans.com under Corporate Governance.
Director Independence
Pursuant to NASDAQ listing standards, the Patriot Board is required to evaluate each director to determine whether he or she qualifies as an “independent director.” The Patriot Board must determine that a director has no relationship that, in the judgment of the Patriot Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment by the director in carrying out his or her responsibilities. The listing standards specify the criteria by which the independence of our directors will be determined. The listing standards also prohibit Audit Committee and Compensation Committee members from any direct or indirect financial relationship with the Company, and restrict commercial relationships of all directors with the Company. Directors may not be given personal loans or extensions of credit by the Company, and all directors are required to deal at arm’s length with the Company and its subsidiaries and to disclose any circumstances that might be perceived as a conflict of interest.
The Patriot Board has determined that four of our six current directors (John E. Anderson, Luke E. Fichthorn III, Eric K. Mann, Charles D. Hyman) are independent of management in accordance with the listing standards of The NASDAQ Global Select Market. All of the members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors.
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Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
Our independent registered accounting firm is
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table presents fees billed or to be billed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal years 2023 and 2022, and for other services performed during such periods.
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Audit Fees (1) | $145,168 | $131,521 | |
| Audit Related Fees (2) | $26,830(3) | $40,930(3) | |
| Tax Fees | $21,990 | $25,065 | |
| All Other Fees | -- | -- | |
| Total | $193,988 | $197,516 |
| (1) | Audit services include work performed in connection with the review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements, the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and the audit of internal control over financial reporting. |
| (2) | Audit related fees consisted principally of audits of employee benefit plans and services pertaining to technical accounting consultations required in connection with the audit. |
| (3) | $26,000 and $26,000 related to the Company’s 401(k) plan audit in 2022 and 2023, respectively. |
Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services
Under the Company’s amended Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all auditing services and permissible non-audit services, including related fees and terms, to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described under the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit services, audit-related services and tax review, compliance and planning services performed for the Company by Hancock Askew during fiscal years 2023 and 2022.
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE.
(a) (1) Financial Statements: See Part II, Item 8 hereof
(2) Financial Statement Schedules: Financial statement schedules are not required because all required information is included in the financial statements or is not applicable.
(3) Exhibits.
EXHIBIT # Description of Exhibit
| (2.1)* | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 1, 2023, by and among the Company, Parent, and Merger Sub. (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2023). |
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*Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. | ||||
| Date: December 12, 2023 | By | ROBERT E. SANDLIN | ||
| Robert E. Sandlin | ||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||
| By | MATTHEW C. MCNULTY | |||
| Matthew C. McNulty | ||||
| Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief | ||||
| Financial Officer and Secretary | ||||
| (Principal Financial Officer) | ||||
| By | JOHN D. KLOPFENSTEIN | |||
| John D. Klopfenstein | ||||
| Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and | ||||
| Treasurer | ||||
| (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on December 12, 2023.
| ROBERT E. SANDLIN | THOMPSON S. BAKER II | |
| Robert E. Sandlin | Thompson S. Baker II | |
| President and Executive Officer | Chairman of the Board | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | Director | |
| MATTHEW C. MCNULTY | LUKE E. FICHTHORN III | |
| Matthew C. McNulty | Luke E. Fichthorn III | |
| Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, | Director | |
| Chief Financial Officer and Secretary | ||
| (Principal Financial Officer | ||
| JOHN D. KLOPFENSTEIN | CHARLES D. HYMAN | |
| John D. Klopfenstein | Charles D. Hyman | |
| Controller, Chief Accounting Officer | Director | |
| and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||
| JOHN E. ANDERSON | ERIC K. MANN | |
| John E. Anderson | Eric. K. Mann | |
| Director | Director | |
| JOHN D. BAKER II | ||
| John D. Baker II | ||
| Director |
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Exhibit 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
Jacksonville, Florida
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-201791, 333-201792, 333-231421, 333-238294, 333-252886 and 333-262651) of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. of our report dated December 12, 2023 relating to the consolidated financial statements which appear in this Form 10-K.
Respectfully submitted,
Hancock Askew & Co., LLP
Jacksonville, Florida
December 12, 2023
CERTIFICATIONS Exhibit 31(a)
I, Robert E. Sandlin, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls to be designed under our supervision, ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosures controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d) | disclosed in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal annual that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial report; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: December 12, 2023 | /s/Robert E. Sandlin | |||
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
CERTIFICATIONS Exhibit 31(b)
I, Matthew C. McNulty., certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls to be designed under our supervision, ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosures controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d) | disclosed in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal annual that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial report; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: December 12, 2023 | /s/Matthew C. McNulty | |||
| Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and | ||||
| Secretary |
CERTIFICATIONS Exhibit 31(c)
I, John D. Klopfenstein, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls to be designed under our supervision, ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosures controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d) | disclosed in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal annual that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial report; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: December 12, 2023 | /s/John D. Klopfenstein | |||
| Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and | ||||
| Treasurer | ||||
Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each of the undersigned certifies that this periodic report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in this periodic report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
| PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC. | |||
| December 12, 2023 | ROBERT E. SANDLIN | ||
| Robert E. Sandlin | |||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| MATTHEW C. MCNULTY | |||
| Matthew C. McNulty | |||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, | |||
| Chief Financial Officer and Secretary | |||
| JOHN D. KLOPFENSTEIN | |||
| John D. Klopfenstein | |||
| Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer |
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. and will be retained by Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
The foregoing certification accompanies the issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not filed as provided in SEC Release Nos. 33-8212, 34-4751 and IC-25967, dated June 30, 2003.
PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING, INC.
Compensation Recovery Policy
Effective as of October 2, 2023
| 1. | Purpose. The purpose of this Compensation Recovery Policy (this “Policy”) is to describe the circumstances under which Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (the “Company”) is required to recover certain compensation paid to certain employees. Any references in compensation plans, agreements, equity awards or other policies to the Company’s “recoupment”, “clawback” or similarly-named policy shall be deemed to refer to this Policy with respect to Incentive-Based Compensation Received on or after the Effective Date. With respect to Incentive-Based Compensation Received prior to the Effective Date, such references to the Company’s “recoupment”, “clawback” or similarly-named policy in compensation plans, agreements, equity awards or other policies shall be deemed to refer to the Company’s “recoupment,” “clawback” or similarly-named policy, if any, in effect prior to the Effective Date. |
| 2. | Mandatory Recovery of Compensation. In the event that the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement, the Company shall recover reasonably promptly the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. |
| 3. | Definitions. For purposes of this Policy, the following terms, when capitalized, shall have the meanings set forth below: |
| (a) | “Accounting Restatement” shall mean any accounting restatement required due to material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period. |
| (b) | “Covered Officer” shall mean the Company’s president; principal financial officer; principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller); any vice-president of the Company in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance); any other officer who performs a significant policy-making function; or any other person who performs similar significant policy-making functions for the Company. |
| (c) | “Effective Date” shall mean October 2, 2023. |
| (d) | “Erroneously Awarded Compensation” shall mean the excess of (i) the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation Received by a person (A) after beginning service as a Covered Officer, (B) who served as a Covered Officer at any time during the performance period for that Incentive-Based Compensation, (C) while the Company has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or a national securities association and (D) during the Recovery Period; over (ii) the Recalculated Compensation. For the avoidance of doubt, a person who served as a |
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Covered Officer during the periods set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of the preceding sentence shall continue to be subject to this Policy even after such person’s service as a Covered Officer has ended.
| (e) | “Incentive-Based Compensation” shall mean any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a financial reporting measure. A financial reporting measure is a measure that is determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures, regardless of whether such measure is presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of stock price and total shareholder return is a financial reporting measure. For the avoidance of doubt, incentive-based compensation subject to this Policy does not include stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or similar equity-based awards for which the grant is not contingent upon achieving any financial reporting measure performance goal and vesting is contingent solely upon completion of a specified employment period and/or attaining one or more non-financial reporting measures. |
| (f) | “Recalculated Compensation” shall mean the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation that otherwise would have been Received had it been determined based on the restated amounts in the Accounting Restatement, computed without regard to any taxes paid. For Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of the Erroneously Awarded Compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an Accounting Restatement, the amount of the Recalculated Compensation must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return, as the case may be, on the compensation Received. The Company must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the national securities exchange or association on which its securities are listed. |
| (g) | Incentive-Based Compensation is deemed “Received” in the Company’s fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the award of such Incentive-Based Compensation is attained, even if the payment or grant of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that period. |
| (h) | “Recovery Period” shall mean the three completed fiscal years of the Company immediately preceding the date the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement; provided that the Recovery Period shall not begin before the Effective Date. For purposes of determining the Recovery Period, the Company is considered to be “required to prepare an Accounting Restatement” on the earlier to occur of: (i) the date the Company’s Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the Company’s authorized officers conclude, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement, or (ii) the date |
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a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an Accounting Restatement. If the Company changes its fiscal year, then the transition period within or immediately following such three completed fiscal years also shall be included in the Recovery Period, provided that if the transition period between the last day of the Company’s prior fiscal year end and the first day of its new fiscal year comprises a period of nine to 12 months, then such transition period shall instead be deemed one of the three completed fiscal years and shall not extend the length of the Recovery Period.
| 4. | Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Policy, recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation will not be required to the extent the Company’s committee of independent directors responsible for executive compensation decisions (or a majority of the independent directors on the Company’s board of directors in the absence of such a committee) has made a determination that such recovery would be impracticable and one of the following conditions have been satisfied: |
| (a) | The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered; provided that, before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation that was Incentive-Based Compensation based on the expense of enforcement, the Company must make a reasonable attempt to recover such Erroneously Awarded Compensation, document such reasonable attempt(s) to recover, and provide that documentation to the national securities exchange or association on which its securities are listed. |
| (b) | Recovery would violate home country law where, with respect to Incentive-Based Compensation, that law was adopted prior to November 28, 2022; provided that, before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation that was Incentive-Based Compensation based on violation of home country law, the Company must obtain an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to the national securities exchange or association on which its securities are listed, that recovery would result in such a violation, and must provide such opinion to the exchange or association. |
| (c) | Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the Company, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations thereunder. |
| 5. | Manner of Recovery. In addition to any other actions permitted by law or contract, the Company may take any or all of the following actions to recover any Erroneously Awarded Compensation: (a) require the Covered Officer to repay such amount; (b) offset such amount from any other compensation owed by the Company or any of its affiliates to the Covered Officer, regardless of whether the contract or other documentation governing such other compensation specifically permits or specifically prohibits such offsets; and (c) subject to Section 4(c), to the extent the Erroneously Awarded Compensation was deferred |
| 3 |
into a plan of deferred compensation, whether or not qualified, forfeit such amount (as well as the earnings on such amounts) from the Covered Officer’s balance in such plan, regardless of whether the plan specifically permits or specifically prohibits such forfeiture. If the Erroneously Awarded Compensation consists of shares of the Company’s common stock, and the Covered Officer still owns such shares, then the Company may satisfy its recovery obligations by requiring the Covered Officer to transfer such shares back to the Company.
| 6. | Other. |
| (a) | This Policy shall be administered and interpreted, and may be amended from time to time, by the Company’s board of directors or any committee to which the board may delegate its authority in its sole discretion in compliance with the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed, and the determinations of the board or such committee shall be binding on all Covered Officers. |
| (b) | The Company shall not indemnify any Covered Officer against the loss of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. |
| (c) | The Company shall file all disclosures with respect to this Policy in accordance with the requirements of the Federal securities laws, including disclosure required by the Securities and Exchange Commission filings. |
| (d) | Any right to recovery under this Policy shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights of recovery that may be available to the Company. |