UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________________ to ____________________
Delaware
58-1954497
(State or other jurisdiction
(IRS
Employer Identification Number)
of incorporation or organization)
1940 N.W. 67th Place, Gainesville, FL
32653
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip
Code)
(352) 373-4200
(Registrant's telephone number)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Name
of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.001 Par
Value
Boston
Stock Exchange
Redeemable
Warrants
Boston
Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period
that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes X No__
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not
contained herein, and will not be contained to the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy
or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant as of March 22,
2001, based on the closing sale price of such stock as reported by NASDAQ on such day, was
$37,168,356. For the purposes of this calculation, we have excluded shares held by Officers and
Directors. The Company's Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market and the Boston
Stock Exchange.
As of March 22, 2001, there were 22,565,762 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $.001 par value,
outstanding, excluding 988,000 shares held as treasury stock.
Documents incorporated by reference: The information required by Part III is
incorporated by reference from the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be
filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days
after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
| PART I | Page No. |
|
Item 1. |
Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 |
| Item 2. | Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 |
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 |
| Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 |
| Item 4A. | Executive Officers of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 |
| PART II |
| Item 5. | Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 |
| Item 6. | Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 |
| Item 7. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 |
| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 |
| Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 | |
| Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 |
| Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 |
| PART III | |
| The information required by Part III (Items 10, 11, 12 and 13) is incorporated by reference from the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. | |
| PART IV |
| Item 14. | Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Report on Form 8-K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 |
PART I
| ITEM 1. | BUSINESS |
Company Overview and Principal Products and Services
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the Company, which may be referred to as we, us, or our) is a
Delaware corporation, engaged through its subsidiaries, in:
| * Industrial Waste Management Services, which includes: | |
| * | treatment, storage, processing, and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste; and |
|
* |
industrial waste and wastewater management services, including the collection, treatment, processing and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and the design and construction of on-site wastewater treatment systems. |
| * Nuclear Waste Management Services, which includes: | |
|
* |
treatment, storage, processing and disposal of mixed waste (which is both low-level radioactive and hazardous waste); and |
|
* |
nuclear and low-level radioactive waste treatment, processing and disposal, which includes research, development, on and off-site waste remediation and processing. |
| * Consulting Engineering Services, which includes: |
|
* |
broad-scope environmental issues, including environmental management programs, regulatory permitting, compliance and auditing, landfill design, field testing and characterization. |
We have grown through both acquisitions and internal development. Our present objective is to focus on
the operations, maximize the profitability and to continue the research and development of innovative
technologies for the treatment of nuclear, mixed waste and industrial waste.
We service research institutions, commercial companies and governmental agencies nationwide. The
distribution channels for services are through direct sales to customers or via intermediaries.
We were incorporated in December of 1990. Our executive offices are located at 1940 N.W. 67th Place,
Gainesville, Florida 32653.
Our home page on the Internet is at www.perma-fix.com. You can learn more about us by visiting that site.
Segment Information and Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales
During 2000, we were engaged in twelve operating segments. Pursuant to FAS 131, we define an
operating segment as:
* A business activity from which we
may earn revenue and incur expenses;
* Whose operating results are regularly reviewed by our
chief operating decision maker to make
decisions
about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance; and
* For which discrete financial
information is available.
We therefore define our segments as each separate facility or location that we operate. We clearly view each business as a separate segment and make decisions based on the activity and profitability of that particular location. These segments, however, exclude the Corporate headquarters which does not generate revenue and Perma-Fix of Memphis, Inc. ("PFM") which is reported elsewhere as a discontinued operation. See Note 3 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements regarding discontinued operations.
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Pursuant to FAS 131 we have aggregated our operating segments into three reportable segments to ease
in the presentation and understanding of our business. We used the following criteria to aggregate our segments:
* The nature of our products and
services;
* The nature of the products
processes;
* The type or class of customer for
our products and services;
* The methods used to distribute our
products or provide our services; and
* The nature of the regulatory
environment.
During 2000, in conjunction with the expansion of the PFF's nuclear, mixed waste facility, the acquisition
of DSSI and expanded Oak Ridge, Tennessee, mixed waste activities, the Company has established a
Nuclear Waste Management Services segment, in addition to the two previously reported segments.
Most of our activities were conducted in the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest portions of the United
States. We had no foreign operations or export sales during 2000.
Operating Segments
We have twelve operating segments which represent each separate facility or location that we operate.
Eight of these segments provide Industrial Waste Management Services, three of these segments provide
Nuclear Waste Management Services and one segment provides Consulting Engineering Services as
described below:
INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, which includes, off-site waste storage, treatment,
processing and disposal services of hazardous and non-hazardous waste (solids and liquids) through six of
our treatment, storage and disposal ("TSD") facilities and numerous related operations provided by our
two other locations, as discussed below.
Perma-Fix Treatment Services, Inc. ("PFTS") is a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
("RCRA") permitted TSD facility located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. PFTS stores and treats hazardous and non-hazardous waste liquids, provides waste transportation and disposal of non-hazardous liquid waste via its
on-site Class I Injection Well located at the facility. The injection well is permitted for the disposal of non-hazardous liquids and characteristic hazardous wastes that have been treated to remove the hazardous
characteristic. PFTS operates a non-hazardous wastewater treatment system for oil and solids removal, a
corrosive treatment system for neutralization and metals precipitation, and a container stabilization system.
The injection well is controlled by a state-of-the-art computer system to assist in achieving compliance with
all applicable state and federal regulations.
Perma-Fix of Dayton, Inc. ("PFD") is a RCRA permitted TSD facility located in Dayton, Ohio. PFD has
four main disposal production areas. The four production areas are a RCRA permitted TSD, a centralized
wastewater treatment area, used oil fuel recycling area, and non-hazardous solids solidification area.
Hazardous waste accepted under the RCRA permit is typically drum waste for fuel bulking, incineration
or stabilization. Wastewaters accepted at the facility include hazardous and non-hazardous wastewaters,
which are treated by ultra filtration, metals precipitation and bio-degradation to meet the requirements of
PFD's Clean Water Act pretreatment permit. Waste industrial oils and used motor oils are processed
through high-speed centrifuges to produce a high quality fuel that is burned by industrial burners. PFD also
designs and constructs on-site wastewater pretreatment systems.
Perma-Fix of Ft. Lauderdale, Inc. ("PFL") is a permitted facility located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. PFL
collects and treats wastewaters, oily wastewaters, used oil and other off-specification petroleum-based
products, some of which may potentially be recycled into usable products. Key activities at PFL include
process cleaning and material recovery, production and sales of on-specification fuel oil, custom tailored
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waste management programs and hazardous material disposal and recycling materials from generators such
as the cruise line and marine industries.
Perma-Fix of Orlando, Inc. ("PFO"), F/K/A Chemical Conservation Corporation ("CCC"), is a RCRA
permitted TSD facility located in Orlando, Florida, which was acquired effective June 1, 1999. PFO
collects, stores and treats hazardous and non-hazardous wastes out of two processing buildings, under one
of our most inclusive permits. PFO is also a transporter of hazardous waste and operates a transfer facility
at the site.
Perma-Fix of South Georgia, Inc. ("PFSG"), F/K/A Chemical Conservation of Georgia, Inc. ("CCG"),
is a RCRA permitted TSD facility located in Valdosta, Georgia, which was acquired effective June 1,
1999. PFSG provides storage, treatment and disposal services to hazardous and non-hazardous waste
generators throughout the United States, in conjunction with the utilization of the PFO facility and
transportation services. PFSG operates a hazardous waste storage facility that primarily blends and
processes hazardous and non-hazardous waste liquids, solids and sludges into substitute fuel or as a raw
material substitute in cement kilns that have been specially permitted for the processing of hazardous and
non-hazardous waste.
Perma-Fix of Michigan, Inc. ("PFMI"), F/K/A Chem-Met Services, Inc. ("CM"), is a permitted TSD
facility located in Detroit, Michigan, which was acquired effective June 1, 1999. PFMI is a waste
treatment and storage facility, situated on 60 acres, that treats hazardous, non-hazardous and inorganic
wastes with solidification/chemical fixation and bulks, repackages and remanifests wastes that are
determined to be unsuitable for treating. This large bulk processing facility utilizes a chemical fixation and
stabilization process to produce a solid non-hazardous matrix that can safely be disposed of in a solid waste
landfill.
Perma-Fix Government Services ("PFGS") F/K/A Chem-Met Government Services ("CMGS") specializes
in the on-site (at the government's site) environmental and hazardous waste management, with emphasis
on the management of large long-term federal and industrial on-site field service contracts. PFGS operates
out of six (6) field service offices, located throughout the United States and Hawaii. PFGS currently
manages seven (7) hazardous waste management service contracts with the Defense Reutilization &
Marketing Service ("DRMS"), working closely with the above noted permitted facilities for certain
transportation and waste management services.
Perma-Fix of New Mexico, Inc. ("PFNM"), located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, provides on-site (at
the generator's site) waste treatment services to convert certain types of characteristic hazardous wastes
into non-hazardous waste by removing those characteristics which categorize such waste as "hazardous"
and treats non-hazardous waste as an alternative to off-site waste treatment and disposal methods. The
activities at this service center operation have been reduced during 2000, as the Company focus' its efforts
on the fixed base TSD operating facilities, which provide better margin and market opportunity.
For 2000, the Company's Industrial Waste Management Services segment accounted for approximately
$44,191,000 (or 74.7%) of the Company's total revenue, as compared to approximately $34,756,000 (or
74.8%) for 1999, which excludes discontinued operations. See under the caption "Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data" for further details.
NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, which includes nuclear, mixed and low-level
radioactive waste treatment, processing and disposal services through two of our TSD facilities and
numerous related operations by a third location. The presence of nuclear and low-level radioactive
constituents within the waste streams processed by this segment create different and unique operational,
processing and permitting/licensing requirements, from those contained within the Industrial Waste
Management Services segment, as discussed below.
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Perma-Fix of Florida, Inc. ("PFF"), located in Gainesville, Florida, is a uniquely permitted and licensed
TSD. PFF specializes in the processing and treatment of certain types of wastes containing both low-level
radioactive and hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, which are known in the industry as mixed waste.
PFF is one of only a few facilities nationally to operate under both a hazardous waste permit and a nuclear
materials license, from which it has built its reputation based on its ability to treat difficult waste streams
using its unique processing technologies and its ability to provide related research and development
services. Its mixed waste services include the treatment and processing of waste Liquid Scintillation Vials
(LSVs), the processing and handling of other mixed and radioactive wastes, site remediation, storage of
customer wastes and research and development. PFF will, on a limited basis, perform certain typical
services of hazardous and non-hazardous waste management. However, with the amended permits and
licenses received during 2000 and the expansion of its mixed waste processing equipment and capabilities,
PFF has transitioned into a full mixed waste and low level radioactive processing facility. The LSVs are
generated primarily by institutional research agencies and biotechnical companies. These wastes contain
mixed (low-level) radioactive materials and hazardous waste (flammable) constituents. Management
believes that PFF currently processes approximately 80% of the available LSV waste in the country. The
business has expanded into receiving and handling other types of mixed wastes primarily from the nuclear
utilities, the Department of Energy ("DOE") and other government facilities as well as select mixed waste
field remediation projects.
Diversified Scientific Services, Inc. ("DSSI"), located in Kingston, Tennessee, is also a uniquely permitted
and licensed TSD, which was acquired effective August 31, 2000. DSSI specializes in the processing and
destruction of certain types of wastes containing both low-level radioactive and hazardous waste (mixed
waste). DSSI, like PFF is one of only a few facilities nationally to operate under both a hazardous waste
permit and a nuclear materials license. Additionally, DSSI is the only commercial facility of its kind in
the U.S. that is currently operating and licensed to destroy liquid organic mixed waste, through its
treatment unit. DSSI provides mixed waste disposal services for industry, including prominent
international pharmaceutical companies, as well as agencies of the U.S. government, including the DOE
and the Department of Defense ("DOD").
Perma-Fix, Inc. ("PFI"), which is based out of Kingston, Tennessee, provides on-site
(at the generator's site) waste treatment
services for certain low level radioactive and mixed wastes, for industrial firms, the DOE and other
governmental facilities under licenses granted to the generator. PFI, in partnership with PFF, continues
to expand its processing capabilities in the nuclear waste field, utilizing its technologies and project
experience, including the successful processing of legacy waste at the DOE Fernald Ohio facility. In
addition, PFI has recently opened an Oak Ridge, Tennessee office to facilitate future DOE contracts, and
is under contract to construct a mixed waste processing facility at the DOE K-25 complex in Oak Ridge
for East Tennessee Materials and Energy Corporation ("M&EC"). We have entered into a stock purchase
agreement to acquire M&EC, subject to certain conditions being met. See "BUSINESS--Recent
Developments."
For 2000, the Company's nuclear waste management services business accounted for $11,737,000 (or
19.9%) of total revenue for 2000, as compared to $6,997,000 (or 15.1%) of total revenue for 1999, which
excludes discontinued operations. See under the caption "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"
for further details.
CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICES, which provides environmental engineering and regulatory
compliance consulting services through one subsidiary, as discussed below.
Schreiber, Yonley & Associates ("SYA") is located in St. Louis, Missouri. SYA specializes in
environmental management programs, permitting, compliance and auditing, in addition to landfill design,
field investigation, testing and monitoring. SYA clients are primarily industrial, including many within
the cement manufacturing industry. SYA also provides the necessary support, compliance and training as
required by our operating facilities.
-4-
During 2000 environmental engineering and regulatory compliance consulting services accounted for
approximately $3,211,000 or 5.4% of our total revenue, as compared to approximately $4,711,000 or
10.1% in 1999, which excludes discontinued operations. See under the caption "Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data" for further details.
Importance of Patents and Trademarks, or Concessions Held
We do not believe that we are dependent on any particular trademark in order to operate our business or
any significant segment thereof. We have received registration through the year 2006 for the service mark
"Perma-Fix" by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.
The Company is active in the research and development of technologies that allow it to address its
customers' needs. To date, the Company's R&D efforts have resulted in the granting of two patents and
the filing of an additional eleven pending patent applications. The Company's flagship technology, the
Perma-Fix Process, is a proprietary, cost effective, treatment technology that converts hazardous waste into
non-hazardous material. Subsequently, the Company has developed Perma-Fix II, a patent pending, multi-step treatment process that converts hazardous organic components into non-hazardous material. Perma-Fix
II is particularly important to the Company's mixed waste strategy. Management believes that at least one
third of DOE mixed wastes contain organic components.
A new Perma-Fix II process ("New Process") designed to remove certain types of organic hazardous
constituents from soils or other solids and sludges ("Solids") has been developed by us. This New Process
is designed to remove the organic hazardous constituents from the Solids through a water-based system.
We have filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering the New Process.
As of the date of this report, we have not received a patent for the New Process, and there are no
assurances that such a patent will be issued. Until development of this New Process, we were not aware
of a relatively simple and inexpensive process that would remove the organic hazardous constituents from
Solids without elaborate and expensive equipment or expensive treating agents. Due to the organic
hazardous constituents involved, the disposal options for such materials are limited, resulting in high
disposal cost when there is a disposal option available. By reducing the organic hazardous waste
constituents from the Solids to a level where the Solids may be returned to the ground, the generator's
disposal options for such waste are substantially increased, allowing the generator to dispose of such waste
at substantially less cost. We began commercial use of the New Process in 2000. Patent applications have
also been filed for processes to treat radon, selenium and other speciality materials utilizing variations of
this new process. However, changes to current environmental laws and regulations could limit the use of
the New Process or the disposal options available to the generator. See "BUSINESS--Permits and
Licenses" and "BUSINESS--Research and Development."
Permits and Licenses
Waste management companies are subject to extensive, evolving and increasingly stringent federal, state
and local environmental laws and regulations. Such federal, state and local environmental laws and
regulations govern our activities regarding the treatment, storage, processing, disposal and transportation
of hazardous, non-hazardous and radioactive wastes, and require us to obtain and maintain permits, licenses
and/or approvals in order to conduct certain of our waste activities. Failure to obtain and maintain our
permits or approvals would have a material adverse effect on us, our operations and financial condition.
Moreover, as we expand our operations we may be required to obtain additional approvals, licenses or
permits, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so.
PFTS is a permitted solid and hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility. The RCRA Part
B Permit to treat and store certain types of hazardous waste was issued by the Waste Management Section
of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality ("ODEQ"). Additionally PFTS maintains an
Injection
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Facility Operations Permit issued by the ODEQ Underground Injection Control Section for our
two waste disposal injection wells, and a pre-treatment permit in order to discharge industrial wastewaters
to the local Publically Owned Treatment Works. PFTS is also registered with the ODEQ and the
Department of Transportation as a hazardous waste transporter.
PFF operates its hazardous and low-level radioactive waste activities under a RCRA Part B permit and a
radioactive materials license issued by the State of Florida.
PFL operates under a general permit and used oil processors license issued by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection ("FDEP"), a transporter license issued by the FDEP and a transfer facility license
issued by Broward County, Florida. Broward County also issued PFL a discharge Pre-Treatment permit
that allows discharge of treated water to the Broward County Publically Owned Treatment Works.
PFD operates a hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment and storage facility under various permits,
including a RCRA Part B permit. PFD provides wastewater pretreatment under a discharge permit with
the local Publically Owned Treatment Works and is a specification and off-specification used oil processor
under the guidelines of the Ohio EPA.
PFMI operates under an operating license issued in 1982 as an existing facility for the treatment and
storage of certain hazardous wastes. The operating license continues in effect in conjunction with the terms
of a consent judgement as agreed to in 1991.
PFO operates a hazardous and non-hazardous treatment and storage facility under various permits,
including a RCRA Part B permit, issued by the State of Florida.
PFSG operates a hazardous treatment and storage facility under a RCRA Part B permit, issued by the State
of Georgia.
DSSI operates hazardous and low-level radioactive waste activities under a RCRA Part B permit and a
radioactive materials license issued by the State of Tennessee.
We believe that our TSD facilities presently have obtained all approvals, licenses and permits necessary
to enable them to conduct their business as they are presently conducted. The failure of our TSD facilities
to renew any of their present approvals, licenses and permits, or the termination of any such approvals,
licenses or permits, could have a material adverse effect on us, our operations and financial condition.
Seasonality
We experience a seasonal slowdown in operations and revenues during the winter months extending from
late November through early March. The seasonality factor is a combination of poor weather conditions
in the central plains and Midwestern geographical markets we serve for on-site and off-site waste
management services along with the inability to generate consistent billable hours in the consulting
engineering segment, resulting in a decrease in revenues and earnings during such period.
Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers
The majority of our revenues for fiscal 2000 have been derived from hazardous, non-hazardous and mixed
waste management services provided to a variety of industrial and commercial customers. Our customers
are principally engaged in research, biotechnical development, transportation, chemicals, metal processing,
electronic, automotive, petrochemical, refining and other similar industries, in addition to government
agencies that include the DOE, DOD, and other federal, state and local agencies. We are not dependent
upon a single customer, or a few customers, the loss of any one or more would not have a material adverse
effect on us. However, PFGS currently manages seven (7) hazardous waste management service contracts
with the DRMS. The DRMS is a subagency of the Defense Logistics Agency and the DOD, which is
considered to
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be a single customer. The consolidated revenues for the DRMS contracts for 2000 total
$7,606,000 (or 12.9%) of total revenue, as compared to $5,277,000 (or 11.4%) for the year ended
December 31, 1999, which results in an increase of $2,329,000 for 2000. Delays in the government's
payment of amounts owing to the Company have resulted, from time to time, in a material decrease in the
Company's liquidity.
We have and continue to enter into contracts with (directly or indirectly as a subcontractor) the federal
government. The contracts that we are a party to with the federal government or with others as a
subcontractor to the federal government, generally provide that the government may terminate or
renegotiate the contracts, at the government's election. Our inability to continue under existing contracts
that we have with the federal government (directly or indirectly as a subcontractor) could have a material
adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
Oak Ridge System Contract Award
The Company and M&EC entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company and M&EC agreed
to act as a team in the performance of certain contracts that either the Company or M&EC may obtain from
customers of the DOE regarding treatment and disposal of certain types of radioactive, hazardous or mixed
waste (waste containing both hazardous and low level radioactive waste) at DOE facilities. In connection
with proposals relating to the treatment and disposal of mixed waste at DOE's Oak Ridge, Tennessee
system ("Oak Ridge"), M&EC and the Company made a joint proposal to DOE, with M&EC to act as the
team leader. In June 1998 M&EC, as the team leader, was awarded three contracts ("Oak Ridge
Contracts") by Bechtel Jacobs Company, LLC, the government-appointed manager of the environmental
program for Oak Ridge, to perform certain treatment and disposal services relating to Oak Ridge. The Oak
Ridge Contracts were issued by Bechtel Jacobs Company, as a contract to the DOE, based on proposals
by M&EC and the Company.
The Oak Ridge Contracts are similar in nature to a blanket purchase order whereby the DOE specifies the
approved waste treatment process and team to be used for certain disposal, but the DOE does not specify
a schedule as to dates for disposal or quantities of disposal material to be processed. The initial term of
the contract will represent a demonstration period for the team's successful treatment of the waste and the
resulting ability of such processed waste to meet acceptance criteria for its ultimate disposal location.
As with most such blanket processing agreements, the Oak Ridge Contracts contain no minimum or
maximum processing guarantees, and may be terminated by either party pursuant to standard DOE
procurement regulation terms. Each specific waste stream processed under the Oak Ridge Contracts will
require a separate work order from DOE and will be priced separately with an intent of recognizing an
acceptable profit margin.
The Company anticipates that work, if any, under the Oak Ridge Contracts will begin during the second
quarter of 2001. The Company also anticipates that a substantial portion of any work performed under the
Oak Ridge Contracts will be performed at M&EC's facility at Oak Ridge currently under development as
of the date of this report. As of February 2001, the Company has entered into a definitive agreement along
with M&EC, to acquire all of the outstanding voting stock of M&EC. See "BUSINESS--Recent
Developments," "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," "Management Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources of the
Company," and "Note 4 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."
Competitive Conditions
Competition is intense within certain product lines within the Industrial Waste Management Services
segment of our businesses, we compete with numerous companies both large and small, that are able to
provide one or more of the environmental services offered by us and many of which may have greater
financial, human and other resources than we have. However, we believe that the range of waste
management and
-7-
environmental consulting, treatment, processing and remediation services we provide
affords us a competitive advantage with respect to certain of our more specialized competitors. We believe
that the treatment processes we utilize offer a cost savings alternative to more traditional remediation and
disposal methods offered by our competitors. The intense competition for performing the services provided
by us within the Industrial Waste Management Services segment has resulted in reduced gross margin
levels for certain of those services.
The Nuclear Waste Management Services segment, however has only a few competitors and does not
currently experience such competitive pressures. In addition, at present we believe there is only one other
facility in the United States that provides low-level radioactive and hazardous waste processing of
scintillation vials, which requires both a radioactive materials license and a hazardous waste permit.
Competition in the waste management industry is likely to increase as the industry continues to mature, as
more companies enter the market and expand the range of services which they offer and as we move into
new geographic markets. We believe that there are no formidable barriers to entry into certain of the on-site treatment businesses. However, the permitting and licensing requirements, and the cost to obtain such
permits, are barriers to the entry of hazardous waste TSD facilities and radioactive and mixed waste
activities as presently operated by our subsidiaries. Certain of the non-hazardous waste operations,
however, do not require such permits and, as a result, entry into these non-hazardous waste businesses
would be easier. If the permit requirements for both hazardous waste storage, treatment and disposal
activities and/or the licensing requirements for the handling of low level radioactive matters are eliminated
or if such licenses or permits were made easier to obtain, such would allow more companies to enter into
these markets and provide greater competition.
We believe that we are a significant participant in the delivery of off-site waste treatment services in the
Southeast, Midwest and Southwest portions of the United States. We compete with TSD facilities operated
by national, regional and independent environmental services firms located within a several hundred-mile
radius of our facilities. Our subsidiaries, PFF and DSSI, with permitted radiological activities solicit
business on a nationwide basis, including the U.S. Territories and Antarctica.
Our competitors for remediation services include national and regional environmental services firms that
may have larger environmental remediation staffs and greater resources. We recognize our lack of financial
resources necessary to compete for larger remediation contracts and therefore, presently concentrate on
remediation services projects within our existing customer base or projects in our service area which are
too small for companies without a presence in the market to perform competitively.
Environmental engineering and consulting services provided by us through SYA involve competition with
larger engineering and consulting firms. We believe that we are able to compete with these firms based
on our established reputation in these market areas and our expertise in several specific elements of
environmental engineering and consulting such as environmental applications in the cement industry.
Capital Spending, Certain Environmental Expenditures and Potential Environmental Liabilities
During 2000, we spent approximately $3,812,000 in capital expenditures, which was principally for the
expansion and improvements to our continuing operations. Included in this total is a major expansion to
the Gainesville, Florida, mixed waste facility, totaling approximately $1,032,000 and a new waste water
treatment system within the Dayton, Ohio, industrial facility, totaling approximately $864,000. This 2000
capital spending total includes $642,000 of which was financed. For 2001, we have budgeted
approximately $4,000,000 for capital expenditures to improve our operations, reduce the cost of waste
processing and handling, expand the range of wastes that can be accepted for treatment and processing and
to maintain permit compliance requirements, and approximately $1,230,000 to comply with federal, state
and local regulations in connection with remediation activities at four locations. See Note 3 and Note 8 to
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. However, there is no assurance that we will have the funds
available for
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such budgeted expenditures. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources of the Company." We do not
anticipate the ongoing environmental expenditures to be significant, with the exception of remedial
activities at the four locations discussed below.
In June 1994, we acquired from Quadrex Corporation and/or a subsidiary of Quadrex Corporation
(collectively, "Quadrex") three TSD companies, including PFD. The former owners of PFD had merged
Environmental Processing Services, Inc. ("EPS") with PFD, which was subsequently sold to Quadrex.
Through our acquisition of PFD in 1994 from Quadrex, we were indemnified by Quadrex for costs
associated with remediating certain property leased by EPS from an affiliate of EPS on which EPS operated
a RCRA storage and processing facility ("Leased Property"). Such remediation involves soil and/or
groundwater restoration. The Leased Property used by EPS to operate its facility is separate and apart
from the property on which PFD's facility is located. During 1995, in conjunction with the bankruptcy
filing by Quadrex, we were required to advance $250,000 into a trust fund to support remedial activities
at the Leased Property used by EPS, which was subsequently increased to $424,000. As discussed in Note
8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we have accrued approximately $176,000 for the estimated,
remaining costs of remediating the Leased Property used by EPS, which will extend for a period of two
(2) to three (3) years.
Due to the acquisition of PFM, we assumed and recorded certain liabilities to remediate gasoline
contaminated groundwater and investigate, under the hazardous and solid waste amendments, potential
areas of soil contamination on PFM's property. Prior to our ownership of PFM, the owners installed
monitoring and treatment equipment to restore the groundwater to acceptable standards in accordance with
federal, state and local authorities. We have accrued approximately $630,000 for the estimated, remaining
cost of remediating the groundwater contamination. See "BUSINESS--Certain Environmental
Expenditures."
The PFM facility is situated in the vicinity of the Memphis Military Defense Depot (the "Defense
Facility"), which Defense Facility is listed as a Superfund Site and is adjacent to the Allen Well Field
utilized by Memphis Light, Gas & Water, a public water supply utilized in Memphis, Tennessee.
Chlorinated compounds have previously been detected in the groundwater beneath the Defense Facility,
as well as in very limited amounts in certain production wells in the adjacent Allen Well Field. Very low
concentrations of certain chlorinated compounds have also been detected in the groundwater beneath the
PFM facility. Based upon a study performed by our environmental engineering group, we do not believe
the PFM facility is the source of the chlorinated compounds in the noted production wells in the Allen Well
Field and, as a result, do not believe that the presence of the low concentrations of chlorinated compounds
at the PFM facility will have a material adverse effect upon the Company.
In conjunction with the acquisition of PFMI and PFSG during 1999, we recognized long-term
environmental accruals of $4,319,000. This amount represented the Company's estimate of the long-term
costs to remove contaminated soil and to undergo groundwater remediation activities at the PFMI acquired
facility in Detroit, Michigan, and at the PFSG acquired facility in Valdosta, Georgia. Both facilities have
pursued remedial activities over the past six years with additional studies forthcoming and potential
groundwater restoration activities could extend for a period of ten years. The accrued balance at December
31, 2000, for the PFMI remediation is $1,482,000, of which we anticipate spending $361,000 during 2001,
with the remaining $1,121,000 reflected in a long-term environmental accrual. The accrued balance at
December 31, 2000, for the PFSG remediation is $2,081,000, of which we anticipate spending $473,000
during 2001, with the remaining $1,608,000 reflected in a long-term environmental accrual. No insurance
or third party recovery was taken into account in determining our cost estimates or reserves, nor do our
cost estimates or reserves reflect any discount for present value purposes. We also recognized certain other
long-term potential liabilities related to the 1999 acquisition of PFMI, PFO and PFSG, the largest of which
is the reserve of
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possible PRP liabilities, related to disposal activities prior to the acquisition, for which we
have reserved approximately $403,000. See Note 4 and Note 8 to Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
The nature of our business exposes us to significant risk of liability for damages. Such potential liability
could involve, for example, claims for cleanup costs, personal injury or damage to the environment in
cases where we are held responsible for the release of hazardous materials; claims of employees, customers
or third parties for personal injury or property damage occurring in the course of our operations; and
claims alleging negligence or professional errors or omissions in the planning or performance of our
services or in the providing of our products. In addition, we could be deemed a responsible party for the
costs of required cleanup of any property which may be contaminated by hazardous substances generated
or transported by us to a site we selected, including properties owned or leased by us. We could also be
subject to fines and civil penalties in connection with violations of regulatory requirements.
Research and Development
Innovation by our operations is very important to the success of our business. Our goal is to discover,
develop and bring to market innovative ways to process waste that address unmet environmental needs.
We are planning for future growth of our research operations. We conduct research internally, and also
through collaborations with universities. We feel that our investments in research have been rewarded by
the discovery of the Perma-Fix Process and the New Process. Our competitors also devote resources to
research and development and many such competitors have greater resources at their disposal than we do.
We have estimated that during 1998, 1999 and 2000, we spent approximately $364,000, $467,000, and
$359,000, respectively in Company-sponsored research and development activities.
Number of Employees
In our service-driven business, our employees are vital to our success. We believe we have good
relationships with our employees. As of December 31, 2000, we employed approximately 433 persons,
of which approximately 14 were assigned to our corporate office, approximately 25 were assigned to our
Consulting Engineering Services segment, approximately 297 to the Industrial Waste Management Services
segment of which 20 employees at one facility are represented by a collective bargaining unit, under a
contract expiring on March 30, 2001, and approximately 97 to the Nuclear Waste Management Services
segment, including approximately 52 employees at the DSSI facility acquired in August 2000. We are
currently in negotiations regarding the union contract, expiring March 30, 2001.
Governmental Regulation
Environmental companies and their customers are subject to extensive and evolving environmental laws
and regulations by a number of national, state and local environmental, safety and health agencies, the
principal of which being the EPA. These laws and regulations largely contribute to the demand for our
services. Although our customers remain responsible by law for their environmental problems, we must
also comply with the requirements of those laws applicable to our services. Because the field of
environmental protection is both relatively new and rapidly developing, we cannot predict the extent to
which our operations may be affected by future enforcement policies as applied to existing laws or by the
enactment of new environmental laws and regulations. Moreover, any predictions regarding possible
liability are further complicated by the fact that under current environmental laws we could be jointly and
severally liable for certain activities of third parties over whom we have little or no control. Although we
believe that we are currently in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we could be
subject to fines, penalties or other liabilities or could be adversely affected by existing or subsequently
enacted laws or regulations. The principal environmental laws affecting us and our customers are briefly
discussed below.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended ("RCRA")
RCRA and its associated regulations establish a strict and comprehensive regulatory program applicable
to hazardous waste. The EPA has promulgated regulations under RCRA for new and existing treatment,
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storage and disposal facilities including incinerators, storage and treatment tanks, storage containers,
storage and treatment surface impoundments, waste piles and landfills. Every facility that treats, stores
or disposes of hazardous waste must obtain a RCRA permit or must obtain interim status from the EPA,
or a state agency which has been authorized by the EPA to administer its program, and must comply with
certain operating, financial responsibility and closure requirements. RCRA provides for the granting of
interim status to facilities that allows a facility to continue to operate by complying with certain minimum
standards pending issuance or denial of a final RCRA permit.
Boiler and Industrial Furnace Regulations under RCRA ("BIF Regulations")
BIF Regulations require boilers and industrial furnaces, such as cement kilns, to obtain permits or to
qualify for interim status under RCRA before they may use hazardous waste as fuel. If a boiler or
industrial furnace does not qualify for interim status under RCRA, it may not burn hazardous waste as fuel
or use such as raw materials without first having obtained a final RCRA permit. In addition, the BIF
Regulations require 99.99% destruction of the hazardous organic compounds used as fuels in a boiler or
industrial furnace and impose stringent restrictions on particulate, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, toxic
metals and hydrogen chloride emissions.
The Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (the "SDW Act")
SDW regulates, among other items, the underground injection of liquid wastes in order to protect usable
groundwater from contamination. The SDW Act established the Underground Injection Control Program
("UIC Program") that provides for the classification of injection wells into five classes. Class I wells are
those which inject industrial, municipal, nuclear and hazardous wastes below all underground sources of
drinking water in an area. Class I wells are divided into nonhazardous and hazardous categories with more
stringent regulations imposed on Class I wells which inject hazardous wastes. PFTS' permit to operate its
underground injection disposal wells is limited to nonhazardous wastewaters.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA,"
also referred to as the "Superfund Act")
CERCLA governs the cleanup of sites at which hazardous substances are located or at which hazardous
substances have been released or are threatened to be released into the environment. CERCLA authorizes
the EPA to compel responsible parties to clean up sites and provides for punitive damages for
noncompliance. CERCLA imposes joint and several liability for the costs of clean up and damages to
natural resources.
Health and Safety Regulations
The operation of the Company's environmental activities is subject to the requirements of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") and comparable state laws. Regulations promulgated under OSHA by
the Department of Labor require employers of persons in the transportation and environmental industries,
including independent contractors, to implement hazard communications, work practices and personnel
protection programs in order to protect employees from equipment safety hazards and exposure to
hazardous chemicals.
Atomic Energy Act
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 governs the safe handling and use of Source, Special Nuclear and
Byproduct materials in the U.S. and its territories. This act authorized the Atomic Energy Commission
(now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) to enter into "Agreements with States to carry out those
regulatory functions in those respective states except for Nuclear Power Plants and federal facilities like
the VA hospitals and the DOE operations." The State of Florida (with the USNRC oversight), Office of
Radiation Control, regulates the radiological program of the PFF facility, and the State of Tennessee (with
the USNRC oversight), Tennessee Department of Radiological Health, regulates the radiological program
of the DSSI facility.
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Other Laws
Our activities are subject to other federal environmental protection and similar laws, including, without
limitation, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the
Toxic Substances Control Act. Many states have also adopted laws for the protection of the environment
which may affect us, including laws governing the generation, handling, transportation and disposition of
hazardous substances and laws governing the investigation and cleanup of, and liability for, contaminated
sites. Some of these state provisions are broader and more stringent than existing federal law and
regulations. Our failure to conform our services to the requirements of any of these other applicable
federal or state laws could subject us to substantial liabilities which could have a material adverse affect
on us, our operations and financial condition. In addition to various federal, state and local environmental
regulations, our hazardous waste transportation activities are regulated by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, the Interstate Commerce Commission and transportation regulatory bodies in the states in
which we operate. We cannot predict the extent to which we may be affected by any law or rule that may
be enacted or enforced in the future, or any new or different interpretations of existing laws or rules.
Insurance
We believe we maintain insurance coverage adequate for our needs and which is similar to, or greater than,
the coverage maintained by other companies of our size in the industry. There can be no assurances,
however, that liabilities which may be incurred by us will be covered by our insurance or that the dollar
amount of such liabilities which are covered will not exceed our policy limits. Under our insurance
contracts, we usually accept self-insured retentions which we believe appropriate for our specific business
risks. We are required by EPA regulations to carry environmental impairment liability insurance providing
coverage for damages on a claims-made basis in amounts of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2
million per year in the aggregate. To meet the requirements of customers, we have exceeded these
coverage amounts.
Recent Developments
We have entered into a stock purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with East Tennessee
Materials and Energy Corporation, a Tennessee corporation ("M&EC"), and all of the shareholders of
M&EC, dated as of January 18, 2001. However, the Purchase Agreement was not executed by all of the
parties thereto until February 22, 2001. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement we will own 100%
of the then issued and outstanding shares of M&EC Common Stock.
If the acquisition of M&EC is completed, the purchase price to be paid by us for the M&EC common stock
is approximately $2.4 million, which is payable by the Registrant issuing approximately
1.6 million shares
of the PESI Common Stock to the shareholders of M&EC. In addition, M&EC will issue shares of its
newly created non-convertible and non-voting Series B Preferred Stock to certain shareholders of M&EC
having a stated value of approximately $1.5 million.
We have previously loaned to, or advanced funds on behalf of, M&EC of approximately $7.1 million as
of March 20, 2001, for M&EC's working capital purposes and to construct M&EC's facility under our
agreement with M&EC. M&EC has issued to us promissory notes evidencing
a large portion of the loans and advances and
pledged all of M&EC's assets as security for the repayment of the promissory notes. If the M&EC
acquisition is not completed, M&EC may not have the funds, and the collateral may not be sufficient, to
repay us the full amount of the loans and advances, resulting in a material adverse effect to us and our
financial conditions.
As a condition to the M&EC acquisition, all of the participants in M&EC's employee benefit plans must
release M&EC and the Registrant from certain liabilities relating to such plans under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). In addition, M&EC and the applicable
governmental authorities must have entered into resolution agreements satisfactory to the Registrant
regarding the resolution of any M&EC liabilities arising under ERISA in connection with such plans. The
consummation
-12-
of the M&EC Acquisition is further conditioned, among other things, upon M&EC and the applicable governmental authorities having entered a settlement satisfactory to the Registrant of all matters between the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and M&EC relating to the payment or failure to pay taxes. See "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Liquidity and Capital Resources of the Company."
| ITEM 2. | PROPERTIES |
Our principal executive offices are in Gainesville, Florida. Our industrial waste management operations
are located in Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Dayton, Ohio; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Valdosta, Georgia;
Detroit, Michigan; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our nuclear waste management operations are located
in Gainesville, Florida and Kingston, Tennessee. Our consulting engineering services are located in St.
Louis, Missouri. We also maintain a sales office in Kansas City, Missouri and Government Services
offices in Jacksonville, Florida; Anniston, Alabama; San Diego, California; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
Portsmouth, Virginia; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
We own nine facilities and are in negotiations to purchase a currently leased property, all of which are in
the United States. Five of our facilities are subject to mortgages as placed by the Company's senior lender.
In addition, we lease thirteen properties for office space, one of which also contains a warehouse and one
additional property that is utilized strictly as warehouse space, all of which are located in the United States
as described above.
We believe that the above facilities currently provide adequate capacity for our operations and that
additional facilities are readily available in the regions in which we operate.
| ITEM 3. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
PFMI, which was purchased by the Company effective June 1, 1999, has been advised that it is considered
a potentially responsible party ("PRP") in three Superfund sites, two of which had no relationship with
PFMI according to PFMI records. The relationship of PFMI to the third site, if any, is currently being
investigated by the Company. PFO, which was also purchased by the Company effective June 1, 1999,
has been advised that it is a PRP in two Superfund sites. The Company is currently investigating the
relationship of PFO to the two sites.
PFL has been advised by the EPA that a release or threatened release of hazardous substances has been
documented by the EPA at the former facility of Florida Petroleum Reprocessors (the "Site"), which is
located approximately 3,000 feet northwest of the PFL facility in Davie, Florida. However, studies
conducted by, or under the direction of, the EPA, together with data previously provided to PFL by the
EPA, do not indicate that the PFL facility in Davie, Florida has contributed to the deep groundwater
contamination associated with the Site. As a result, we are unable to determine with any degree of
certainty what exposure, if any, PFL may have as a result of the documented release from the Site.
PFD is required to remediate a parcel of leased property ("Leased Property"), which was formerly used
as a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 storage facility that was operated as a storage and
solvent recycling facility by a company that was merged with PFD prior to the Company's acquisition of
PFD. The Leased Property contains certain contaminated waste in the soils and groundwater. The
Company was indemnified by the seller of PFD for costs associated with remediating the Leased Property,
which entails remediation of soil and/or groundwater restoration. However, during 1995, the seller filed
for bankruptcy. Prior to the acquisition of PFD by the Company, the seller had established a trust fund
("Remediation Trust Fund"), which it funded with the seller's stock to support the remedial activity on the
Leased Property pursuant to the agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency ("Ohio EPA").
-13-
After the Company purchased PFD, it was required to advance $250,000 into the Remediation Trust Fund
due to the reduction in the value of the seller's stock that comprised the Remediation Trust Fund, which
stock had been sold by the trustee prior to the seller's filing bankruptcy. PFD has given notice to the
owners of the Leased Property and former operators of the Leased Property that it will bring action against
them to remediate the Leased Property and/or to recover any cost incurred by PFD in connection
therewith.
In addition to the above matters and in the normal course of conducting our business, we are involved in
various other litigation. We are not a party to any litigation or governmental proceeding which our
management believes could result in any judgments or fines against us that would have a material adverse
affect on our financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
| ITEM 4. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS |
The Company's annual meeting of stockholders ("Annual Meeting") was held on December 13, 2000. At the Annual Meeting, the following matters were voted on and approved by the shareholders:
| 1. | The election of four (4) directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified; |
| 2. | Approval and ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for fiscal 2000. |
At the Annual Meeting the four (4) nominated directors were elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders. The directors elected at this annual meeting of stockholders and the votes cast for and withhold authority for each director are as follows:
|
|
Withhold | |||
| Dr. Louis F. Centofanti Jon Colin Thomas P. Sullivan Mark A. Zwecker |
16,567,945 16,568,589 16,558,695 16,568,016 |
22,773 22,129 32,023 22,702 |
Also, at the Annual Meeting the shareholders approved the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the
independent auditors of the Company for fiscal 2000.
The votes for, against and abstentions and broker non-votes are as follows:
|
|
Against |
Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes | ||
| Approval and Ratification of the Appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Independent Auditors |
16,561,753 | 6,543 | 22,422 |
| ITEM 4A. | EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY |
The following table sets forth, as of the date hereof, information concerning the Executive Officers of the Company:
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|
NAME |
AGE | POSITION | |
| Dr. Louis F. Centofanti Mr. Richard T. Kelecy Mr. Roger Randall Mr. Larry McNamara Mr. Bernhardt Warren Mr. Timothy Kimball |
57 |
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Secretary President, Industrial Services President, Nuclear Services Vice President, Nuclear Services Vice President, Technical Services |
DR. LOUIS F. CENTOFANTI
Dr. Centofanti has served as Chairman of the Board since he joined the Company in February 1991. Dr.
Centofanti also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from February 1991 until
September 1995 and again in March 1996 was elected to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company and continues as Chairman of the Board. From 1985 until joining the Company, Dr.
Centofanti served as Senior Vice President of USPCI, Inc., a large hazardous waste management
company, where he was responsible for managing the treatment, reclamation and technical groups within
USPCI. In 1981 he founded PPM, Inc., a hazardous waste management company specializing in the
treatment of PCB contaminated oils which was subsequently sold to USPCI. From 1978 to 1981, Dr.
Centofanti served as Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Energy for the southeastern region
of the United States. Dr. Centofanti has a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Chemistry from the University of
Michigan, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Youngstown State University.
MR. RICHARD T. KELECY
Mr. Kelecy was elected Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer in September 1995. He previously
served as Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of the Company since July 1994. From 1992 until June
1994, Mr. Kelecy was Corporate Controller and Treasurer for Quadrex Corporation. From 1990 to 1992
Mr. Kelecy was Chief Financial Officer for Superior Rent-a-Car, and from 1983 to 1990 held various
positions at Anchor Glass Container Corporation including Assistant Treasurer. Mr. Kelecy holds a B.A.
in Accounting and Business Administration from Westminster College.
MR. ROGER RANDALL
Mr. Randall was elected President of the Industrial Services Division in October 2000. He previously
served as Vice President of Industrial Services from December 1997 to October 2000 and as Vice
President/General Manager of PFD since its acquisition by the Company in June 1994 and was elected to
the position of Vice President Industrial Services of the Company in December 1997. From June 1992 to
June 1994, Mr. Randall served as General Manager of the Dayton facility under the ownership of Quadrex
Corporation. From 1982 to June 1992, Mr. Randall served a variety of management roles at the Dayton
facility, ranging from Operations Manager to Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer under
the ownership of Clark Processing, Inc. Previous to his involvement with the waste management industry,
Mr. Randall spent 17 years in public education serving a variety of administrative roles. He has a B.S.
from Wittenberg University and an M.A. from Wright State University.
MR. LARRY MCNAMARA
Mr. McNamara has served as President of the Nuclear Services Division since October 2000. From
December 1998 to October 2000, he served as Vice President of Federal Programs for the Company's
nuclear activities. Between 1997 and 1998, he served as Mixed Waste Program Manager for Waste
Control Specialists (WCS) developing plans for the WCS mixed waste processing facilities, identifying
markets and directing proposal activities. Between 1996 and 1995, Mr. McNamara was the single point
of contact for the DOD to all state and federal regulators for issues related to disposal of LLRW and served
on various National Committees and advisory groups. Mr. McNamara served, from 1992 to 1995, as
Chief of the Department of Defense Low Level Radioactive waste office. Between 1986 and 1992 he
served as the
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Chief of Planning for the Department of Army overseeing project management and program
policy for the Army program. Mr. McNamara has a B.S. from the University of Iowa.
MR. BERNHARDT WARREN
Mr Warren has served as Vice President of PFF since 1996 and was elected to the position of Vice
President Nuclear Services of the Company in December 1997. From 1992 to 1996, Mr. Warren provided
contractual consulting services for PFF and other companies through Applied Environmental Consulting,
Inc., of which Mr. Warren was Owner and President. From 1982 to 1992, Mr. Warren served a variety
of management roles at the Florida facility under the ownership of Quadrex Corporation. He was involved
in radioactive materials and radioactive waste management from 1973 to 1982, when he was Manager of
Radioactive Materials Licensing Program for the State of Florida. He has a B.S. degree in biology from
Florida Southern College, a Master of Public Administration from Florida State University and graduated
from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission sponsored Oak Ridge Associated University
program. Mr. Warren has authored more than a dozen technical papers and has achieved Master Level
as a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.
MR. TIMOTHY KIMBALL
Mr. Kimball has served as Vice President of PFI and PFNM since January 1991 and was elected to the
position of Vice President Technical Services of the Company in December 1997. He previously served
as the Hazardous Waste Coordinator and Technical Representative for Rinchem Company, Inc. from 1985
to 1991. He also served a variety of management roles ranging from Planning Director, Partner and
President, as well as Technical and Research Assistant for the University of New Mexico. He has a B.A.
in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Louisville, and an M.A. in
Anthropology from the University of New Mexico.
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PART II
| ITEM 5. | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
Our Common Stock, with a par value of $.001 per share, is traded on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market
("NASDAQ") and the Boston Stock Exchange ("BSE") under the symbol "PESI" on NASDAQ and "PES"
on the BSE. Effective December 1996, our Common Stock also began trading on the Berlin Stock
Exchange under the symbol "PES.BE." The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices quoted
for the Common Stock during the periods shown. The source of such quotations and information is the
NASDAQ Stock market statistical summary reports:
|
2000 |
1999 |
| Low | High | Low | High | |||||
| Common Stock:
|
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter |
1 1/8 1 1/4 1 3/8 1 5/16 |
1 15/16 1 3/4 1 23/32 2 7/16 |
1 7/8 1 1/8 1 3/32 |
1 3/4 1 15/16 1 45/64 1 9/16 |
Such over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markups or commissions
and may not represent actual transactions.
As of March 28, 2001, there were approximately 238 shareholders of record of our Common Stock,
including brokerage firms and/or clearing houses holding shares of our Common Stock for their clientele
(with each brokerage house and/or clearing house being considered as one holder). However, the total
number of beneficial shareholders as of December 31, 2000, was approximately 2,390.
Since our inception, we have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock and have no dividend
policy. Our loan agreement prohibits paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock without prior
approval.
In addition to the securities sold by us during 2000, as reported in our Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000 and September 30, 2000, which were not registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, we sold or issued during the fourth quarter of 2000 the following securities
which were also not registered under the Act:
1. On or about December 29, 2000, pursuant to the terms of a certain Consulting Agreement
("Consulting Agreement") entered into effective as of January 1, 1998, the Company issued 13,952
shares of Common Stock in payment of accrued fees of $15,000 to Alfred C. Warrington IV, an
outside, independent consultant to the Company, as consideration for certain consulting services
rendered to the Company by Warrington from July 1999 through September 2000. The issuance of
Common Stock pursuant to the Consulting Agreement was a private placement under Section 4(2) of
the Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D as promulgated under the Act. The Consulting Agreement
provides that Warrington will be paid $1,000 per month of service to the Company, payable, at the
option of Warrington (i) all in cash, (ii) sixty-five percent in shares of Common Stock and thirty-five
percent in cash, or (iii) all in Common Stock. If Warrington elects to receive part or all of his
compensation in Common Stock, such will be valued at seventy-five percent of its "Fair Market
Value" (as defined in the Consulting Agreement). Warrington elected to receive all of his accrued
compensation from July 1999 through the end of September 2000 in Common Stock. Warrington
represented and warranted in the Consulting Agreement, inter alia, as follows: (i) the Common Stock
is being acquired for Warrington's own account, and not on behalf of any other persons; (ii)
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Warrington is acquiring the Common Stock to hold for investment, and not with a view to the resale
or distribution of all or any part of the Common Stock; (iii) Warrington will not sell or otherwise
transfer the Common Stock in the absence of an effective registration statement under the Act, or an
opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, that the transfer can be made without violating the
registration provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (iv)
Warrington is an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D as promulgated under
the Act; (v) Warrington has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial and business
matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the acquisition of the Common Stock;
(vi) Warrington fully understands the nature, scope and duration of the limitations on transfer of the
Common Stock as contained in the Consulting Agreement, (vii) Warrington understands that a
restrictive legend as to transferability will be placed upon the certificates for any of the shares of
Common Stock received by Warrington under the Consulting Agreement and that stop transfer
instructions will be given to the Company's transfer agent regarding such certificates.
2. On or about December 29, 2000, the Company issued to the Ann L. Sullivan Living Trust dated
September 6, 1978 (the "ALS Trust") 55,904 shares ("Additional Shares") of Common Stock pursuant
to a stock purchase agreement ("Chem-Con Stock Purchase Agreement") entered into on May 25,
1999. The ALS Trust was previously issued 1,500,000 ("Initial ALS Shares") at the closing of the
Chem-Con Stock Purchase Agreement which was June 1, 1999 ("Closing Date") with the Additional
Shares being issued pursuant to a guarantee (the "Guarantee") contained within the Chem-Con Stock
Purchase Agreement. Under the Guarantee, if the ALS Trust owns any of the Initial ALS Shares at
the end of eighteen months from the Closing Date, and the Common Stock is priced at an average
closing price for the five consecutive days prior to the end of the eighteen months, of less than $2.00
per share, PESI shall pay the difference, of any, between the market value of the number of Initial
ALS Shares held by the ALS Trust on December 1, 2000, and the value of such shares valued at
$2.00 per share. The average price for the five days (11/24, 11/27, 11/28, 11/29, and 11/30) was
$1.93. The Sullivan's and the Sullivan Trusts represented and warranted in the Stock Purchase
Agreements, inter alia, as follows: (i) the Common Stock is being acquired by the ALS Trust for its
own account, to hold for investment, and not on behalf of any other persons or for resale or
distribution to others; (ii) the Sullivan's and the Sullivan Trusts have been advised that the shares are
not being registered under the Securities Act ("Act") on the grounds that this transaction is exempt
from registration under Section 4(2) of the Act, and the Sullivan's and the Sullivan Trusts will not sell
or otherwise transfer the Common Stock in the absence of an effective registration statement under
the Act, or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, that the transfer can be made without
violating the registration provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(iii) each of the Sullivan Trusts is an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D as
promulgated under the Act; (iv) the Sullivan's and Sullivan Trusts understand the nature, scope and
duration of the limitations in the Stock Purchase Agreements, and (v) the Sullivan's and Sullivan
Trusts understand that a restrictive legend as to transferability will be placed upon the certificates for
any of the shares of Common Stock received by the Sullivan's or Sullivan Trusts under the Stock
Purchase Agreements and that stop transfer instructions will be given to the Company's transfer
agent regarding such certificates.
3. On or about December 18, 2000, the Company issued to Louis F. Centofanti, our Chairman and
President, 64,000 shares ("Centofanti Shares") of Common Stock purchased at a purchase price of
$1.5625 per share, the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on such date as quoted on the
NASDAQ. The issuance of the Centofanti Shares was a private placement under Section4(2) of the
Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D as promulgated under the Act. Dr. Centofanti represented that
the shares being purchased are for his own account, for investment and not for distribution or resale
to others, and he will not transfer or sell the securities being purchased unless they are registered
under the Act or unless an exemption from registration is available.
-18-
| ITEM 6. | SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA |
The financial data included in this table has been derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements. Financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996 have
been audited by BDO Seidman, LLP.
Statement of Operations Data:
| (Amounts in Thousands, Except for Share Amounts) |
December 31, |
|
|
| 2000(4) | 1999(2) | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
| Revenues(3) | $ | 59,139 | $ | 46,464 | $ | 30,551 | $ | 28,413 | $ | 27,041 | ||||
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
(556) |
1,570 |
462 | 192 | 27 | |||||||||
| Net loss from discontinued operations |
-- | -- | - -- | (4,101) | (287) | |||||||||
| Preferred Stock dividends | (206) | (308) | (1,160) | (1,260) | (2,145) | |||||||||
| Gain on Preferred Stock redemption |
-- | 188 | - -- | - -- | - -- | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) applicable to Common Stock from continuing operations |
(762) |
1,450 |
(698) |
(1,068) |
(2,118) |
|||||||||
| Basic net income (loss) per common share from continuing operations(1) |
(.04) | .08 | (.06) | (.10) | (.24) | |||||||||
| Diluted
net income (loss) per common share from continuing operations(1) |
(.04) | .07 | (.06) | (.10) | (.24) | |||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
| Basic number of shares used in computing net income (loss) per share(1) |
21,558 | 17,488 | 12,028 | 10,650 | 8,761 | |||||||||
| Diluted number of shares and potential common shares used in computing net income (loss) per share |
21,558 | 21,224 | 12,028 | 10,650 | 8,761 | |||||||||
| December 31, | |
|
|
| 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Working capital (deficit) |
(2,829) | (1,400) | 372 | 754 | (773) | |||||||||
|
Total assets |
72,771 | 54,644 | 28,748 | 28,570 | 29,036 | |||||||||
|
Long-term debt |
25,490 | 15,306 | 3,042 | 4,981 | 6,360 | |||||||||
|
Total liabilities |
50,751 | 34,825 | 12,795 | 16,376 | 16,451 | |||||||||
|
Stockholders' equity |
22,020 | 19,819 | 15,953 | 12,194 | 12,585 |
-19-
(1) As of December 31, 1997, the Company applied SFAS 128, the new standard of computing and
presenting earnings per share. The adoption of SFAS 128 did not have a material effect on the
Company's EPS presentation for prior years, since the effects of potential common shares are
antidilutive.
(2) Includes financial data of PFO, PFSG and PFMI as acquired during 1999 and accounted for using the
purchase method of accounting from the date of acquisition, June 1, 1999.
(3) Excludes revenues of Perma-Fix of Memphis, Inc., shown elsewhere as a discontinued operation.
(4) Includes financial data of DSSI as acquired during 2000 and accounted for using the purchase method
of accounting from the date of acquisition, August 31, 2000.
| ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Certain statements contained within this "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (collectively, the "Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"). See "Special Note
regarding Forward-Looking Statements" contained in this report.
Management's discussion and analysis is based, among other things, upon our audited consolidated
financial statements and includes the accounts of the Company and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, after
elimination of all significant inter-company balances and transactions.
Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements and the notes thereto included in Item 8 of this report.
The reporting of financial results and pertinent discussions are tailored to three reportable segments:
Industrial Waste Management Services, Nuclear Waste Management Services and Consulting Engineering
Services.
Below are the results of operations for our years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 (amounts in
thousands, except for share amounts):
| (Consolidated) | 2000 | % | 1999 | % | 1998 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
| Net Revenue Cost of goods sold Gross profit |
$ 59,139 40,910 18,229 |
100.0 69.2 30.8 |
$ 46,464 31,271 15,193 |
100.0 67.3 32.7 |
$ 30,551 21,064 9,487 |
100.0 68.9 31.1 |
| Selling, general and administrative Depreciation and amortization |
12,765 3,651 |
21.6 6.2 |
10,299 2,778 |
22.2 6.0 |
6,847 2,109 |
22.4 6.9 |
-20-
| Other income (expense): Interest income Interest expense Interest expense-Warrants Interest expense-finance fees Other Net income (loss) from operations Preferred Stock dividends Gain on Preferred Stock redemption Net income (loss) applicable to Common Stock |
41 (2,132) (344) (181) 247 (556) $ (762) |
.1 (3.6) (.6) (.3) .4 (.9) (.3) -- (1.3) ==== |
50 (650) -- (67) 121 1,570 (308) 188 $ 1,450 ===== |
.1 (1.4) -- (.1) .2 3.4 (.7) .4 3.1 === |
35 (294) -- (79) 269 462 (1,160) -- $ (698) ===== |
.1 (1.0) -- (.3) .9 1.5 (3.8) -- (2.3) ==== |
| Basic net income (loss) per common share |
$ (.04) ===== |
$ .08 ==== |