UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

Form 8-K
_____________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): November 13, 2018  

Northern Technologies International Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

DELAWARE 001-1103841-0857886
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

4201 Woodland Road
P.O. Box 69, Circle Pines, Minnesota 55014
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(763) 225-6600
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 [   ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 [   ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 [   ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 [   ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company [   ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [   ]

 
 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

          On November 13, 2018, Northern Technologies International Corporation (“NTIC”) announced its consolidated financial results for the three and twelve months ended August 31, 2018. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and the information set forth therein is incorporated herein by reference and constitutes a part of this report.

          The information contained in Item 2.02 of this report and Exhibit 99.1 to this report shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filings made by NTIC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as may be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No. Description
   
99.1 Press Release issued November 13, 2018 (furnished herewith)


SIGNATURE

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

 Northern Technologies International Corporation
   
  
Date: November 13, 2018By: /s/ Matthew C. Wolsfeld        
  Matthew C. Wolsfeld
  Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
  

EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

Northern Technologies International Corporation Reports Record Financial Results for Fiscal 2018

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northern Technologies International Corporation (NASDAQ: NTIC), a leading developer of corrosion inhibiting products and services, as well as bio-based and biodegradable polymer resin compounds, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2018.

Fourth quarter fiscal 2018 financial and operating highlights include (with growth rates compared to fourth quarter of fiscal 2017):  

Full year fiscal 2018 financial and operating highlights include (with growth rates on a fiscal year-over-year basis):

“NTIC ended fiscal 2018 with record net sales and net income per diluted share as a result of strong demand across many of our global markets, the successful execution of our business plan, and the positive contribution of our emerging business units,” stated Patrick Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer of NTIC.  “For fiscal 2018, NTIC enjoyed robust demand and market share growth for our ZERUST® solutions, as sales at our global JV’s increased nearly 19% for the year, and total ZERUST® net sales increased over 26%.  Sales at NTIC China and Natur-Tec jumped forward in fiscal 2018 and, in combination, contributed approximately $22,500,000 or nearly 44% of fiscal 2018’s consolidated sales.  NTIC China and Natur-Tec recorded sales growth of 73.1% and 48.2%, respectively, and both businesses contributed to full-year operating income.  We expect NTIC China and Natur-Tec to be key contributors in fiscal 2019 and beyond.” 

NTIC’s consolidated net sales increased 35.3% to $14,744,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2018, compared to $10,901,000 for the three months ended August 31, 2017.  Consolidated net sales across most business segments were up for the fourth quarter driven primarily through increased demand of ZERUST® industrial rust and corrosion inhibiting packaging products in China, strong oil and gas product demand, and significantly higher Natur-Tec® product sales.  For the full year of fiscal 2018, consolidated net sales increased 30.0% to $51,425,000, compared to $39,569,000 last fiscal year. 

The following table sets forth NTIC’s net sales by product category for the three months and fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 by segment:

 Three Months Ended
 August 31,
2018
 % of Net
Sales
 August 31,
2017
 % of Net
Sales
 %
Change
ZERUST® industrial net sales$8,916,850 60.5% $7,568,751 69.4% 17.8%
ZERUST® joint venture net sales 706,995 4.8%  1,106,967 10.2% (36.1)%
ZERUST® oil & gas net sales 1,648,380 11.2%  432,373 4.0% 281.2%
Total ZERUST® net sales$11,272,225 76.5% $9,108,091 83.6% 23.8%
Total Natur-Tec® sales 3,471,746 23.5%  1,793,087 16.4% 93.6%
Total net sales$14,743,971 100.0% $10,901,178 100.0% 35.3%


 Fiscal Year Ended
 August 31,
2018

 % of Net
Sales

 August 31,
2017

 % of Net
Sales

 %
Change
ZERUST® industrial net sales$35,399,280 68.8% $27,846,643 70.4% 27.1%
ZERUST® joint venture net sales 2,908,072 5.7%  3,222,478 8.1% (9.8)%
ZERUST® oil & gas net sales 3,066,953 6.0%  1,720,162 4.3% 78.3%
Total ZERUST® net sales$41,374,305 80.5% $32,789,283 82.9% 26.2%
Total Natur-Tec® sales 10,050,516 19.5%  6,779,840 17.1% 48.2%
Total net sales$51,424,821 100.0% $39,569,123 100.0% 30.0%

NTIC’s joint venture operating income increased 6.0% to $3,252,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2018, compared to joint venture operating income of $3,067,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2017.  The increase was attributable to the corresponding increase in total sales of the joint ventures as fees for services provided to joint ventures are a function of the net sales of NTIC’s joint ventures, which increased 6.2% to $29,907,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2018, compared to $28,163,000 for the three months ended August 31, 2017.  For fiscal 2018, NTIC’s joint venture operating income increased 20.4% to $13,670,000, from $11,352,000 last fiscal year.  Net sales of NTIC’s joint ventures increased 18.7% to $120,225,000 during fiscal 2018, compared to $101,261,000 during fiscal 2017. 

Operating expenses, as a percent of net sales, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 were 42.7%, compared to 47.4% for the same period last fiscal year.  This reduction was primarily a result of operating leverage on increased net sales.  For the full fiscal year, operating expenses, as a percent of net sales, were 44.6%, compared to 50.6% for fiscal 2017. 

The company reported net income attributable to NTIC for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 of $2,142,000 or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to a net income attributable to NTIC of $1,385,000, or $0.30 per diluted share for the same period last fiscal year. For fiscal 2018, the company reported net income attributable to NTIC of $6,701,000 or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to NTIC of $3,422,000, or $0.75 per diluted share last fiscal year. 

NTIC’s balance sheet remains strong, with no debt, and working capital of $22,838,000 at August 31, 2018, including $4,163,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $3,300,000 in available for sale securities, compared to $21,173,000 at August 31, 2017, including $6,360,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $3,767,000 in available for sale securities. 

At August 31, 2018, the company had $22,951,000 of investments in joint ventures, of which over $12,800,000 or 55.8% is cash, with the remaining balance mostly made up of other working capital. 

Mr. Lynch added, “Fiscal 2018’s record financial results demonstrate burgeoning momentum in our business.  Three years ago, we established annual financial goals of $60 million in sales and $2.00 per diluted share in earnings for fiscal 2019.  We continue to believe that we are well positioned to achieve these long-standing financial goals as a result of the infrastructure we have built and positive global demand trends for our corrosion prevention and compostable plastic solutions.”

Outlook

For the fiscal year ending August 31, 2019, NTIC expects its net sales to be in the range of $60.0 million and $61.5 million.  The company also anticipates net income attributable to NTIC to be in the range of $9.4 million to $9.8 million, or $2.00 and $2.10 per diluted share.

These estimates are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those described below under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Conference Call and Webcast

NTIC will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. Central Time to review its results of operations for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2018 and its outlook, followed by a question and answer session.  The conference call will be available to interested parties through a live audio webcast available through NTIC’s website at www.ntic.com or http://ir.ntic.com/events.cfm where the webcast will be archived and accessible for at least 12 months.  The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 670-9776 and the confirmation code is 5484508.

About Northern Technologies International Corporation

Northern Technologies International Corporation develops and markets proprietary environmentally beneficial products and services in over 60 countries either directly or via a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures, independent distributors and agents.  NTIC’s primary business is corrosion prevention marketed primarily under the ZERUST® brand. NTIC has been selling its proprietary ZERUST® rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets, for over 40 years, and in recent years has targeted and expanded into the oil and gas industry. NTIC offers worldwide on-site technical consulting for rust and corrosion prevention issues.  NTIC’s technical service consultants work directly with the end users of NTIC’s products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their technical requirements. NTIC also markets and sells a portfolio of bio-based and biodegradable polymer resins and finished products marketed under the Natur-Tec® brand.  

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical information are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include NTIC’s financial guidance for fiscal 2019, its expectations regarding future contributions by NTIC China and Natur-Tec, its ability to achieve its annual financial goals for fiscal 2019 and other statements that can be identified by words such as “believes,” “continues,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “potential,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “guidance,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning, and use of future dates. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of NTIC’s management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied.  Such potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, in no particular order:  NTIC’s future financial performance and ability to achieve its financial goals and continue to declare cash dividends; NTIC’s dependence on the success of its joint ventures and fees and dividend distributions that NTIC receives from them; NTIC’s relationships with its joint ventures and its ability to maintain those relationships; NTIC’s dependence on its joint venture in Germany in particular due to its significance and the effect of a termination of this or NTIC’s other joint ventures on NTIC’s business and operating results; economic slowdown and political unrest; risks associated with NTIC’s international operations, including its operations in China, the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, including in particular the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar; the health of the U.S. and worldwide economies, including in particular the U.S. automotive industry; the level of growth in NTIC’s markets; acceptance of existing and new products; timing of NTIC’s receipt of purchase orders under supply contracts; variability in sales to customers in the oil and gas industry and the effect on NTIC’s quarterly financial results; increased competition; the costs and effects of complying with changes in tax, fiscal, government and other regulatory policies, including rules relating to environmental, health and safety matters; pending and potential litigation; and NTIC’s reliance on its intellectual property rights and the absence of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others. More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect NTIC’s operating and financial results is described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. NTIC urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that the company faces. Additionally, NTIC undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - AUGUST 31, 2018 AND 2017

 
   August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017
ASSETS    
CURRENT ASSETS:    
 Cash and cash equivalents $4,163,023  $6,360,201 
 Available for sale securities  3,300,110   3,766,984 
 Receivables:    
 Trade excluding joint ventures, less allowance for doubtful accounts    
 of $50,000 as of August 31, 2018 and $40,000 at August 31, 2017  9,920,108   5,912,631 
 Trade joint ventures  761,506   691,752 
 Fees for services provided to joint ventures  1,357,255   1,302,944 
 Income taxes  273,333   137,256 
 Inventories  9,130,861   7,456,552 
 Prepaid expenses  1,661,577   439,298 
 Total current assets  30,567,773   26,067,618 
      
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET  7,168,826   7,359,662 
      
OTHER ASSETS:    
 Investments in joint ventures  22,950,995   20,035,074 
 Deferred income taxes  1,551,536   1,756,565 
 Patents and trademarks, net  1,156,257   1,322,089 
 Other  153,849   71,685 
 Total other assets  25,812,637   23,185,413 
 Total assets $63,549,236  $56,612,693 
      
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
CURRENT LIABILITIES:    
 Accounts payable $3,905,034  $2,676,610 
 Income taxes payable  70,892    
 Accrued liabilities:    
 Payroll and related benefits  2,747,303   1,540,386 
 Other  1,006,953   677,621 
 Total current liabilities  7,730,182   4,894,617 
      
      
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    
EQUITY:    
 Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none issued and outstanding      
 Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 15,000,000 shares as of August 31, 2018 and 10,000,000 shares as of August 31, 2017; issued and outstanding 4,541,303 and 4,535,018, respectively  90,826   90,700 
 Additional paid-in capital  14,619,777   14,163,509 
 Retained earnings  41,963,341   37,077,483 
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (3,597,199)  (2,471,064)
 Stockholders’ equity  53,076,745   48,860,628 
 Non-controlling interests  2,742,309   2,857,448 
 Total equity  55,819,054   51,718,076 
 Total liabilities and equity $63,549,236  $56,612,693 
     


NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2018 AND 2017

 
 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017 August 31, 2018 August 31, 2017
NET SALES:       
Net sales, excluding joint ventures$14,036,976  $9,794,211  $48,516,749  $36,346,645 
Net sales, to joint ventures 706,995   1,106,967   2,908,072   3,222,478 
Total net sales 14,743,971   10,901,178   51,424,821   39,569,123 
Cost of goods sold 9,671,768   7,059,558   34,165,440   26,316,511 
Gross profit 5,072,203   3,841,620   17,259,381   13,252,612 
        
JOINT VENTURE OPERATIONS:       
Equity in income of joint ventures 1,733,992   1,555,749   7,527,383   5,898,908 
Fees for services provided to joint ventures 1,517,607   1,511,020   6,142,139   5,452,687 
Total joint venture operations 3,251,599   3,066,769   13,669,522   11,351,595 
        
OPERATING EXPENSES:       
Selling expenses 2,857,732   2,566,920   10,886,011   9,283,310 
General and administrative expenses 2,487,744   1,810,586   8,500,490   7,807,563 
Research and development expenses 943,129   794,183   3,524,953   2,912,393 
Total operating expenses 6,288,605   5,171,689   22,911,454   20,003,266 
        
OPERATING INCOME 2,035,197   1,736,700   8,017,449   4,600,941 
        
INTEREST INCOME 14,894   24,464   99,463   43,539 
INTEREST EXPENSE (3,955)  (4,880)  (17,962)  (20,382)
        
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 2,046,136   1,756,284   8,098,950   4,624,098 
        
INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) EXPENSE (252,480)  219,096   876,103   699,519 
        
NET INCOME 2,298,616   1,537,188   7,222,847   3,924,579 
        
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-
CONTROLLING INTERESTS
 156,475   152,083   521,481   502,453 
        
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC$2,142,141  $1,385,105  $6,701,366  $3,442,126 
        
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC
PER COMMON SHARE:
       
Basic$0.47  $0.31  $1.48  $0.76 
Diluted$0.45  $0.30  $1.43  $0.75 
        
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES       
ASSUMED OUTSTANDING:       
Basic 4,541,304   4,527,370   4,538,838   4,528,611 
Diluted 4,751,731   4,593,745   4,685,202   4,577,359 
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE$0.10  $0.00  $0.40  $0.00 


Investor and Media Contacts:
Matthew Wolsfeld, CFO
NTIC
(763) 225-6600