Fuel Tech Reports First Quarter 2011 Results

WARRENVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fuel Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTEK), a world leader in advanced engineering solutions for combustion and emissions control systems for utility and industrial applications, today reported results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011.

“We are pleased to report another solid quarter with strong revenue gains achieved in both the APC and FUEL CHEM segments. Record first quarter revenues were achieved, which is particularly noteworthy given the sluggish economy, weakness in the power markets and continued domestic regulatory uncertainty.”

Revenues for the first quarter totaled $22.6 million, a 28% increase from the comparable prior-year quarter. Net income was $1.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared with net income of $0.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share in the comparable prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $4.4 million, up from $2.9 million in the comparable prior-year quarter.

The Air Pollution Control technology segment (APC segment) recorded revenues of $11.1 million, an increase of 35% over the comparable prior-year quarter. Segment gross margins increased to 50% versus 36% in the comparable prior-year quarter, primarily due to a mix of higher margin projects.

The FUEL CHEM^® technology segment (FUEL CHEM segment) generated revenues of $11.5 million, an increase of 23% from the comparable prior-year quarter. Increased revenues were predominately due to the addition of new customer accounts. Current quarter revenues include $10.7 million from coal-fired units and $0.9 million from non-coal-fired units, representing increases of 23% and 22% respectively from the comparable prior-year quarter. Segment gross margins decreased to 49% from 55% in the comparable prior-year due to the recognition in 2010 of $2 million in contingent risk share revenue from a successful demonstration program with associated costs in the prior period.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $8.0 million versus $7.5 million in the comparable prior-year quarter. Increases in expenses related to personnel costs and outside services were offset by lower stock compensation expense.

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses were $0.4 million versus $0.2 million in the comparable prior-year quarter. R&D activities are increasing to provide additional enhancements to the Company’s existing suite of technologies.

The Company announced contract awards with a value of approximately $2.7 million during the first quarter of 2011, and an additional $6.9 million in April. After accounting for the conversion of backlog to revenues during this period, the APC segment capital projects backlog stood at $14.5 million as of March 31, 2011.

Douglas G. Bailey, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to report another solid quarter with strong revenue gains achieved in both the APC and FUEL CHEM segments. Record first quarter revenues were achieved, which is particularly noteworthy given the sluggish economy, weakness in the power markets and continued domestic regulatory uncertainty.”

Mr. Bailey continued, “On the APC side, steady progress was made in working through the $19.3 million backlog recorded at the end of 2010. While strong quarterly revenue and operating income gains were achieved in this segment, the volume of APC contract awards in the first quarter was lower than we had anticipated, due in part to customer delays. Domestic and international order activity has grown since then, evidenced by contract announcements totaling nearly $7 million since the start of the second quarter.”

Mr. Bailey added, “We are encouraged by our most recent APC awards, with particular emphasis on projects in China, where our NOx control technologies continue to be well received in this important market. We anticipate domestic orders to be forthcoming later in the year as utility and industrial operators take steps to comply with the EPA’s proposed Transport Rule, which was released in July 2010 and is expected to be finalized around July 2011. While the detailed requirements of the proposed rule are still under review and the final structure is yet to be determined, we view the proposed accelerated compliance schedule and the incremental NOx reduction requirements as a positive driver for future business.”

Mr. Bailey continued, “Our FUEL CHEM segment also reported strong quarterly revenue gains, primarily the result of the start-up of chemical injection for a number of new customer accounts. We continue to be impacted by a number of plants that are running below expectations, as gas and alternative energy sources operate at heavier loads. However, we are commencing new programs at coal-fired units and winning new business as utilities are increasingly attracted to the compelling economic benefits of shifting from Appalachian coals, generally one of the fuels with the higher heat content and fewest operational issues, to the lower priced and lower British thermal unit (BTU) coals originating in the Illinois Basin and Powder River Basin.”

Mr. Bailey concluded, “We are off to a strong start for 2011 and believe the first quarter represents a good building block for achieving our full-year financial objectives. As we see regulatory clarity emerge in both China and the United States, we remain confident in our growth strategy and our ability to solve our customers’ emissions challenges in a cost-effective manner.”

Conference Call

As a reminder, Fuel Tech will host a conference call on Tuesday, May 10 at 9:00 AM ET to discuss the results. The call will simultaneously be broadcast over the Internet at www.ftek.com and can be accessed under “Upcoming Events” on the Home page. The call can also be accessed by dialing 866.788.0539 (domestic) or 857.350.1677 (international) and using the passcode “Fuel Tech.” A replay of the call will be available on the website and can be accessed by dialing 888.286.8010 (domestic) or 617.801.6888 (international) and using the passcode “96462927.” The replay will be available until June 4, 2011.

About Fuel Tech

Fuel Tech is a leading technology company engaged in the worldwide development, commercialization and application of state-of-the-art proprietary technologies for air pollution control, process optimization, and advanced engineering services. These technologies enable customers to produce both energy and processed materials in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner.

The Company’s nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technologies include advanced combustion modification techniques - such as Low NOx Burners and Over-Fire Air systems - and post-combustion NOx control approaches, including NOxOUT^® and HERT™ SNCR systems as well as systems that incorporate ASCR™ (Advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction), CASCADE™, ULTRA™ and NOxOUT-SCR^® processes. These technologies have established Fuel Tech as a leader in NOx reduction, with installations on over 640 units worldwide, where coal, fuel oil, natural gas, municipal waste, biomass, and other fuels are utilized.

The Company’s FUEL CHEM^® technology revolves around the unique application of chemicals to improve the efficiency, reliability, fuel flexibility and environmental status of combustion units by controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity and operational issues associated with sulfur trioxide, ammonium bisulfate, particulate matter (PM_2.5), carbon dioxide and NOx. This technology, in the form of a customizable FUEL CHEM program, is experienced on over 110 combustion units burning a wide variety of fuels including coal, heavy oil, biomass, and municipal waste.

Fuel Tech also provides a range of combustion optimization services, including airflow testing, coal flow testing and boiler tuning, as well as services to help optimize selective catalytic reduction system performance, including catalyst management services and ammonia injection grid tuning. In addition, flow corrective devices and physical and computational modeling services are available to optimize flue gas distribution and mixing in both power plant and industrial applications.

Many of Fuel Tech’s products and services rely heavily on the Company’s exceptional Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling capabilities, which are enhanced by internally developed, high-end visualization software. These capabilities, coupled with the Company’s innovative technologies and multi-disciplined team approach, enable Fuel Tech to provide practical solutions to some of our customers’ most challenging problems. For more information, visit Fuel Tech’s web site at www.ftek.com.

This press release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature regarding future events. These statements are only predictions and actual events may differ materially. Please refer to documents that Fuel Tech files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	March 31,			December 31,
	2011			2010
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	27,865		$	30,524
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
$82 and $82, respectively		22,292			21,175
Inventories		993			807
Deferred income taxes		-			89
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,206			1,861
Total current assets		53,356			54,456
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $16,547 and
$15,767, respectively		14,380			14,384
Goodwill		21,051			21,051
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $3,426 and
$3,203, respectively		5,926			6,050
Deferred income taxes		4,796			5,000
Other assets		2,169			2,262
Total assets	$	101,678		$	103,203
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	$	2,290		$	2,269
Accounts payable		6,178			7,516
Accrued liabilities:
Employee compensation		1,791			2,863
Income taxes payable		737			1,857
Other accrued liabilities		3,345			3,306
Total current liabilities		14,341			17,811
Other liabilities		1,509			1,482
Total liabilities		15,850			19,293
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares
authorized, 24,223,467 and 24,213,467 shares issued
and outstanding		242			242
Additional paid-in capital		129,942			129,424
Accumulated deficit		(44,736	)		(46,075	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		304			243
Nil coupon perpetual loan notes		76			76
Total shareholders' equity		85,828			83,910
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	101,678		$	103,203

FUEL TECH, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per-share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31
	2011		2010
Revenues	$	22,622	$	17,617
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		11,466		9,500
Selling, general and administrative		7,951		7,480
Research and development		402		146
		19,819		17,126
Operating income		2,803		491
Interest expense		(40)		(44)
Interest income		1		1
Other expense		(40)		(92)
Income before income taxes		2,724		356
Income tax expense		(1,385)		(142)
Net income	$	1,339	$	214
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.06	$	0.01
Diluted	$	0.05	$	0.01
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		24,214,000		24,212,000
Diluted		24,669,000		24,431,000

FUEL TECH, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31
		2011			2010
Operating Activities
Net income	$	1,339		$	214
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation		760			939
Amortization		223			219
Loss on equipment disposals		-			6
Deferred income tax		120			(476	)
Stock based compensation		617			1,352
Deferred director fees		20			-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(938	)		(2,041	)
Inventories		(177	)		(355	)
Prepaid expenses, other current assets
and other noncurrent assets		(239	)		(116	)
Accounts payable		(1,380	)		(153	)
Accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities		(2,274	)		1,096
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(1,929	)		685
Investing Activities
Decrease in restricted cash		-			125
Purchases of property, equipment and patents		(841	)		(307	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(841	)		(182	)
Financing Activities
Issuance of deferred shares		-			28
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		54			-
Redemption of nil coupon loan note		-			(5	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		54			23
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash		57			(59	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(2,659	)		467
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		30,524			20,965
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	27,865		$	21,432

FUEL TECH, INC. BUSINESS SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA (in thousands of dollars)
Three months ended	Air Pollution Control			FUEL CHEM
March 31, 2011	Segment			Segment			Other			Total
Revenues from external customers	$	11,092		$	11,530		$	-		$	22,622
Cost of sales		(5,553	)		(5,913	)		-			(11,466	)
Gross margin		5,539			5,617			-			11,156
Selling, general and administrative		-			-			(7,951	)		(7,951	)
Research and development		-			-			(402	)		(402	)
Operating income	$	5,539		$	5,617		$	(8,353	)	$	2,803

Three months ended	Air Pollution Control			FUEL CHEM
March 31, 2010	Segment			Segment			Other			Total
Revenues from external customers	$	8,214		$	9,403		$	-		$	17,617
Cost of sales		(5,258	)		(4,242	)		-			(9,500	)
Gross margin		2,956			5,161			-			8,117
Selling, general and administrative		-			-			(7,480	)		(7,480	)
Research and development		-			-			(146	)		(146	)
Operating income	$	2,956		$	5,161		$	(7,626	)	$	491

Note:

Fuel Tech is an integrated company that segregates its financial results into two reportable segments, both providing advanced technology and engineering solutions for the optimization of combustion systems in utility and industrial applications. The “Other” classification includes those profit and loss items not allocated by Fuel Tech to each reportable segment.

FUEL TECH, INC.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
(in thousands of dollars)
	Three months ended March 31
	2011		2010
Revenues:
United States	$	19,618	$	15,041
Foreign		3,004		2,576
	$	22,622	$	17,617
	March 31, 2011		December 31, 2010
Assets:
United States	$	90,818	$	92,485
Foreign		10,860		10,718
	$	101,678	$	103,203

FUEL TECH, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(in thousands of dollars)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011		2010
Net income		$	1,339	$	214
	Interest expense		40		44
	Income tax expense		1,385		142
	Depreciation expense		760		939
	Amortization expense		223		219
EBITDA			3,747		1,558
	Stock compensation expense		617		1,352
ADJUSTED EBITDA		$	4,364	$	2,910

Adjusted EBITDA

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), the Company has provided an Adjusted EBITDA disclosure as a measure of financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation expense, amortization expense and stock compensation expense. The Company’s reference to these non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP standards, but are not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

Adjusted EBITDA is provided to enhance investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance and ability to generate cash flow, which we believe is a meaningful measure for our investor and analyst communities. In many cases non-GAAP financial measures are utilized by these individuals to evaluate Company performance and ultimately determine a reasonable valuation for our common stock. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the nearest GAAP measure of net income has been included in the financial table above.