FutureFuel Releases Second Quarter and Six Month 2014 Results

Reports Net Income of $5.3 Million or $0.12 Per Diluted Share, and Adjusted EBITDA of $6.7 Million for the Second Quarter

Conference Call Begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time August 8, 2014

CLAYTON, Mo., Aug. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FutureFuel Corp . (NYSE:FF), a manufacturer of custom and performance chemicals and biofuels, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.

Second Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights (all comparisons are with the second quarter of 2013)

• Revenues were $68.0 million, down 36% from $106.1 million
• Adjusted EBITDA was $6.7 million, down 74% from $25.3 million
• Net income decreased to $5.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, from $18.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share.

First Half 2014 Financial Highlights (all comparisons are with the first half of 2013)

• Revenues were $150.2 million, down 24% from $198.2 million
• Adjusted EBITDA was $16.8 million, down 61% from $43.1 million
• Net income decreased to $11.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, from $32.2 million, or $0.75 per diluted share.

"The second quarter presented us with significant challenges. Weak biodiesel economics and execution struggles in our chemical business lead to a very disappointing second quarter," said Lee Mikles, FutureFuel president. "The completion of our new refined glycerin plant and the retrofit of the new herbicide intermediate equipment proved to be more complex than anticipated and delayed what we expected to achieve in the second quarter. 

The lingering absence of the 2014 final rule from the EPA regarding the Renewable Fuel mandate and the expiration of the $1.00 per gallon blenders' credit have severely harmed the biodiesel industry. While we trust a decision soon will be made to enable the industry to perform as it was designed, until these regulatory provisions change or market dynamics have reason for improvement, we anticipate continued depressed conditions for our biofuels segment." 

2014 Regular Cash Dividends

FutureFuel declared normal quarterly dividends of $0.12 per share for 2014. The remaining 2014 dividends will be paid in September and December. 

Financial Overview and Key Operating Metrics

Financial and operating metrics, which include non-GAAP financial measures, include:

Second Quarter Financial and Business Summary

Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2014 decreased 36% to $68,039,000 as compared to revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2013 of $106,063,000.  Revenues from biofuels decreased 45% to $35,430,000, a decrease of $28,607,000 from the second quarter of 2013 and accounted for 52% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2014 as compared to 60% in the second quarter of 2013.  Revenues from chemicals decreased 22% and accounted for 48% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2014 as compared to 40% in the second quarter of 2013.  Within the chemicals segment, revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2014 changed as follows compared to the three months ended June 30, 2013: (i) revenues from the bleach activator decreased 19%; (ii) revenues from the two proprietary herbicides and associated intermediates decreased 51% relative to the revenues recognized in the prior period from the original customer; (iii) revenues from the industrial intermediate utilized in the antimicrobial industry and other custom chemicals decreased 38%; (iv) revenues from DIPB and CPOs increased 7%; and (vi) revenues from other performance chemicals increased 33%.   Revenues for the chemical segment were primarily impacted by reduced sales volumes from the herbicide intermediates, the bleach activator, and the loss of sales of a product to a substantial customer and discontinued production of another custom chemical product due to lack of demand. Revenues from the biofuels segment suffered from the weak renewable energy market circumstances with no 2014 renewable energy usage mandate in place and the expiration of the $1.00 per gallon blenders' credit at December 31, 2013. 

Income from operations decreased to $4,171,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2014 from $24,975,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2013. FutureFuel does not report income from operations by segment, but does report segment gross profit. The chemicals segment gross profit decreased 52% to $7,131,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2014 from $14,784,000 in the three month ended June 30, 2013. Biofuels segment gross profit decreased to a loss of $553,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2014 from income of $12,842,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2013. Market conditions were significantly less favorable for biodiesel in 2014 as compared to 2013 largely as a result of the expiration of the $1.00 per gallon blenders' credit and the absence of a final mandate from the government for 2014 renewable fuel volumes. Biodiesel profitability in the second quarter of 2014 was also negatively impacted due to our inventory of unsold, internally generated RINs. At June 30, 2013 we maintained a minimal inventory of RINs. Also impacting biofuels gross profit were hedging losses. For the second quarter of 2014, hedging losses totaled $294,000, as compared to hedging gains of $2,327,000 in the second quarter of 2013.   The reduction in chemical segment gross profit was primarily the result of reduced sales volumes, particularly volumes of: (i)  herbicide intermediate; (ii) two other custom chemicals we no longer sell; (iii) the bleach activator; and (iv) timing of shipment of particular products when compared quarter to quarter. The plant struggled with yield losses in the second quarter, which are being resolved, but have slowed our anticipated delivery of product to our customer. The chemical segment also incurred higher fixed costs during the quarter with the reduced biodiesel sales volumes. Lastly, higher raw material costs were incurred during the quarter, part of which will be recovered in sales revenue in the third quarter.  

Net income for the quarter decreased 71% to $5,347,000 or $0.12 per diluted share from $18,156,000, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2013.  This decrease was the net result of the factors noted above. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $6,709,000 in the second quarter of 2014 as compared to $25,340,000 in the second quarter of 2013. 

Six Month Financial and Business Summary

Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2014 decreased 24% to $150,236,000 as compared to revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2013 of $198,228,000. Revenues from biofuels decreased 25% to $87,351,000, a decrease of $28,715,000 and accounted for 58% of total revenues in the first half of 2014, largely unchanged from 2013.  Revenues from chemicals were $62,885,000, a decrease of $19,277,000 and accounted for 42% of total revenues in the first half of 2014.  Within the chemicals segment, revenues for the first six months of 2014 changed as follows compared to the first six months of 2013: (i) revenues from the bleach activator decreased 21%; (ii) revenues from the proprietary herbicide and intermediates decreased 57%; (iii) revenue from the industrial intermediate utilized in the antimicrobial industry and other custom revenue decreased 37%; (iv) revenue from CPOs and DIPB increased 12%; and (v) revenues from performance chemical products increased 30%.

Revenues for the chemical segment were primarily impacted by reduced sales volumes from the herbicide intermediates, the bleach activator, and two products we no longer produce in the Other Custom product line. Revenues from the biofuels segment suffered from the weak renewable energy market circumstances with no 2014 renewable energy usage mandate in place and the expiration of the $1.00 per gallon blenders' credit at December 31, 2013. 

Income from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 decreased 74% to $11,622,000 as compared to $43,925,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013. FutureFuel does not report income from operations by segment, but does report segment gross profit. Gross profit for biodiesel decreased to just $15,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014 as compared to $21,147,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013. This significant reduction in biofuel segment gross profit was largely the result of a combination of the following: (i) expiration of the $1.00 per gallon blenders' tax credit on December 31, 2013; (ii) the first six months of 2013 including the benefit of the retroactive reinstatement of the 2012 blenders' tax credit of $2,535,000; (iii) hedging losses totaling $294,000 in the first six months of 2014 as compared to hedging gains in the first six months of 2013 of $3,666,000; and (iv) the establishment of an inventory of biodiesel RINs at June 30, 2014 when no such inventory was present at June 30, 2013. We do not allocate production costs to internally generated RINs, and, from time to time, we enter into sales of biodiesel on a "RINs-free" basis. Such method of selling results in us maintaining possession of the applicable RINs. The benefit derived from the eventual sale of the RINs is not reflected in our results of operations until such time as the RIN sale has been completed, which may lead to variability in our reported operating results.

The chemicals segment gross profit decreased 42% to $16,165,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2014 from $27,850,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2013. The reduction in chemical segment gross profit was largely the result of reduced sales volumes, particularly volumes of: (i)  herbicide intermediate; (ii) two other custom chemicals we no longer sell; (iii) the bleach activator; and (iv)  the timing of shipments of particular products. Chemical segment gross profit was also negatively impacted by reduced production yields for certain chemical processes. These reduced production yields are being resolved but slowed delivery of product to our customer.

Net income decreased 64% for the first six months of 2014 to $11,621,000, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared with $32,206,000 or $0.75 per diluted share during the first six months of 2013. This decrease was the net result of the factors noted above. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $16,817,000 in the first six months of 2014 as compared to $43,074,000 in the first six months of 2013. 

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures were $5,733,000 in the first six months of 2013, compared with $4,068,000 in the first six months of 2012. FutureFuel was reimbursed for a portion of these expenditures by certain customers as summarized in the following table. 

(Dollars in thousands)

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $179,860,000 as of June 30, 2014, compared with $185,711,000 as of December 31, 2013. 

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call and webcast will be held August 8, 2014 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time (8:00 a.m. Central time). To access the conference call, dial (877) 251-1860 (U.S. and Canada) or (224) 357-2386 (international callers). The webcast will also be available in the investor relations section of the company's website at www.futurefuelcorporation.com. A replay of the call and webcast will begin approximately two hours after the live call has ended. To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 80625766 . 

About FutureFuel

FutureFuel is a leading manufacturer of diversified chemical products and biobased products comprised of biofuels and biobased specialty chemical products. In its chemicals business, it manufactures specialty chemicals for specific customers (custom manufacturing) as well as multi-customer specialty chemicals (performance chemicals). Its custom manufacturing product portfolio includes a bleach activator for a major detergent manufacturer, a proprietary herbicide and intermediates for a major life sciences company, and chlorinated polyolefin adhesion promoters and antioxidant precursors for a major chemical company. The performance chemicals product portfolio includes polymer (nylon) modifiers and several small-volume specialty chemicals for diverse applications. In its biofuels segment, the company predominantly produces biodiesel. Visit www.futurefuelcorporation.com for more information on FutureFuel. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements deal with FutureFuel's current plans, intentions, beliefs, and expectations, and statements of future economic performance. Statements containing such terms as "believe," "do not believe," "plan," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," and other phrases of similar meaning are considered to contain uncertainty and are forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time FutureFuel or its representatives have made or will make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements may be included in various filings that the company makes with United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in press releases, or in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of FutureFuel's authorized executive officers. 

These forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in FutureFuel's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2012 and in its future filings made with the SEC. An investor should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this document which reflect FutureFuel's management's opinions only as of their respective dates. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties described in this document and in current and future filings with the SEC are not the only ones FutureFuel faces. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the company to predict which will arise. There may be additional risks not presently known to the company or that the company currently believes are immaterial to its business. In addition, FutureFuel cannot assess the impact of each factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. If any such risks occur, FutureFuel's business, operating results, liquidity, and financial condition could be materially affected in an adverse manner. An investor should consult any additional disclosures FutureFuel has made or will make in its reports to the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, and any amendments thereto. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to FutureFuel or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this document. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, FutureFuel used adjusted EBITDA as a key operating metric to measure both performance and liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for operating income, net income, or cash flow from operating activities (each as determined in accordance with GAAP), as a measure of performance or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP. FutureFuel defines adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization expenses, excluding, when applicable, non-cash share-based compensation expense, public offering expenses, acquisition-related transaction costs, purchase accounting adjustments, loss on disposal of property and equipment, gains or losses on derivative instruments, other non-operating income or expense, and, in 2013, the impact from the retroactive reinstatement of the 2012 $1.00 biodiesel blenders' tax credit. Information relating to adjusted EBITDA is provided so that investors have the same data that management employs in assessing the per gallon operation and liquidity of FutureFuel's business. FutureFuel's calculation of adjusted EBITDA may be different from similarly titled measures used by other companies; therefore, the results of its calculation are not necessarily comparable to the results of other companies. 

A table included in this earnings release reconciles adjusted EBITDA with net income, the most directly comparable GAAP performance financial measure, and a table reconciles adjusted EBITDA with cash flows from operations, the most directly comparable GAAP liquidity financial measure.