Item 1.Description of Business
We were incorporated as Flexible Solutions Ltd., a British Columbia corporation on January 26, 1991. On May 12, 1998, we merged Flexible Solutions Ltd. into Flexible Solutions International, Inc., a Nevada corporation. In connection with this merger, we issued 7,000,000 shares of common stock to the former shareholders of Flexible Solutions Ltd. in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Flexible Solutions Ltd.
In June 2004 we purchased 52 U.S. and 139 International patents, as well as a 56,780 sq. ft. manufacturing plant near Chicago, Illinois from the bankruptcy estate of Donlar Corporation (“Donlar”) for $6.15 million. The IP we acquired from Donlar relate to water-soluble chemicals (“TPAs”) which prevent corrosion and scaling in water pipes used in the petroleum, chemical, utility and mining industries. TPAs are also used to enhance fertilizers and improve crop yields and as additives for household laundry detergents, consumer care products and pesticides. These assets are held in our wholly owned NanoChem Solutions subsidiary which has become our largest revenue generator.
In October 2018, we purchased 65% of ENP Investments LLC, a manufacturing and distribution company active in the areas of golf, turf and ornamental agriculture products.
In January 2019, we purchased 50 % of a profitable limited liability company engaged in international sales of fertilizer additives. This purchase is accounted for as an investment.
In 2019, we changed our corporate domicile from Nevada to Alberta, Canada.
We operate through a number of wholly-owned subsidiaries which are mentioned in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included as part of this report. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to our business include the operations of these subsidiaries.
Our website is www.flexiblesolutions.com
Our Products
Thermal Polyaspartates [TPAs]
We manufacture TPAs in our Peru IL plant using a thermal polymerizing process. The multiple variants produced are optimized for individual market verticals and sold for end use or through distribution.
TPAs for Oilfields. TPAs are used to reduce scale and corrosion in various “topside” water systems. They are used in place of traditional phosphonate and other products when biodegradability is required by environmental regulations. We have the ability to custom manufacture TPAs depending on the specific water conditions associated with any oil well. TPAs are also used in fracking fluids to reduce the toxicity while maintaining equal function.
TPAs for the Agricultural Industry. TPAs have the ability to reduce fertilizer crystallization before, during and after application and can also delay crystal formation between fertilizer and minerals present in the soil. Once crystallized, fertilizer and soil minerals are not able to provide plant nourishment. As a result, in select conditions the use of TPAs either blended with fertilizer or applied directly to crops can increase yields significantly. TPAs are designated for crop nutrient management programs and should not be confused with crop protection and pesticides or other agricultural chemical applications. Depending on the application, TPA products are marketed under a variety of brands including EX-10TM, AmisorbTM, LYNXTM, MAGNETTM, AmGroTM and VOLTTM. Markets of significance include corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, potatoes, sugar beets, cotton, tomatoes, almonds and other high value per acre crops.
TPAs for Irrigation. The crystallization prevention ability of TPAs can also be useful in select irrigation conditions. By reducing calcium carbonate scale propagation, TPAs can prevent early plugging of drip irrigation ports, reduce maintenance costs and lengthen the life of equipment. TPAs compete with acid type scale removers, but have the advantage of a positive yield effect on the plant, as well as an easier deployment formulation with liquid fertilizers when used as part of a “fertigation” program. Our TPAs for drip irrigation scale prevention are marketed and sold through the same channels as TPAs used by the agricultural industry.
TPAs in Cleaning Products. TPA can replace polyacrylates in cleaning products which is valuable because TPA is biodegradable while polyacrylates are not. In a cleaning product formulation, TPA prevents the re-deposition of dirt onto the surfaces to be cleaned allowing dirt to be rinsed away.
Nitrogen conservation products for agriculture. We manufacture and sell two conservation products and mixtures used for slowing nitrogen loss from fields. One significant loss route for nitrogen fertilizer is enzymatic degradation by bacteria naturally present in soil. Our product, SUN 27TM inhibits the bacterial action and keeps the nitrogen fertilizer available for plant growth. The second significant nitrogen loss mechanism is de-nitrification. This is also caused by bacterial activity in soil resulting in oxygen being stripped from the fertilizer leaving nitrogen gas. The gas can’t be used by the plants and escapes into the atmosphere. Our N Savr 30TM product uses the most effective active ingredients available to combat this cause of fertilizer loss. We sell SUN 27TM and N Savr 30TM through distributors in North and South America under our trade names and under private labels.
HEATSAVR®
Our studies indicate that approximately 70% of the energy lost from a swimming pool occurs through water evaporation. HEATSAVR® is a chemical product for use in swimming pools and spas that forms a thin, transparent layer on the water’s surface. The transparent layer slows the evaporation of water, allowing the water to retain a higher temperature for a longer period of time and thereby reducing the energy required to maintain the desired temperature of the water. We have received reports from our commercial customers documenting energy savings of between $2,400 and $6,000 per year when using HEATSAVR®.
In outdoor pools, the HEATSAVR® also provides convenience compared to pool blankets. It is often inconvenient to use conventional pool blankets because a pool blanket must be removed and stored before the pool can be used. Pool blankets do not provide any energy savings when not on the pool. Conversely, HEATSAVR® eliminates the need to install, remove and store the blanket and works 24 hours a day. In addition, the use of HEATSAVR® in an indoor pool results in even greater energy savings since indoor pool locations use energy not only to heat the pool water, but also to air condition the pool environment. By slowing the transfer of heat and water vapor from the pool to the atmosphere of the pool enclosure, less energy is required to maintain a pool at the desired temperature and there is a reduced load on the air-conditioning system. We also manufacture and sell products which automatically dispense HEATSAVR® into commercial size swimming pools or spas at the rate of one ounce per 400 sq. ft. of water surface per day.
WATERSAVR®
This product utilizes a patented variation of our HEATSAVR technology to reduce water evaporation in reservoirs, potable water storage tanks, livestock watering ponds, aqueducts, canals and irrigation ditches. WATERSAVR may also be used for lawn and turf care and potted and bedding plants.
WATERSAVR® is sold in granulated form and can be applied by hand, by fully automated scheduled metering, or by an automatic dispenser.
Tests have indicated that WATERSAVR®:
●Reduces daily water evaporation as much as 54%
●Reduces monthly water evaporation as much as 37%
●Is odorless
●Has no effect on invertebrates or vertebrates
●Has no anticipated effect on any current drinking water treatment processes and
●Is biodegradable
We have one part-time employee involved in the sales and marketing of WATERSAVR®.
Principal Customers
The table below presents our revenue resulting from purchases by our three major customers for the periods presented.
Customers with balances greater than 10% of our receivable balances as of each of the fiscal year ends presented are shown in the following table:
Competition
TPAs: Our TPA products have direct competition with Lanxess AG (spun out of Bayer AG), a German manufacturer of TPAs, which uses a patented process different from ours. We have cross-licensed each other’s processes and either company can use either process for the term of the patents involved. We believe that Lanxess has approximately the same production capacity and product costs as we do. We believe that we can compete effectively with Lanxess by offering excellent customer service in oilfield sales, superior distributor support in the agricultural marketplace and flexibility due to our relative size. In addition, we intend to continue to seek market niches that are not the primary targets of Lanxess. There are other competitors based in Asia.
Our TPA products face indirect competition from other chemicals in every market in which we are active. For purposes of oilfield scale prevention, phosphonates, phosphates and molibdonates provide the same effect. For crop enhancement, increased fertilizer levels can serve as a substitute for TPAs. In irrigation scale control, acid washes are our prime competitor. Notwithstanding the above, we believe our competitive advantages include:
●Biodegradability compared to competing oil field chemicals;
●Cost-effectiveness for crop enhancement compared to increased fertilizer use; and
●Environmental considerations, ease of formulation and increased crop yield opportunities in irrigation scale markets
HEATSAVR®: Although we are aware of two other companies that manufacture products that compete with HEATSAVR®, we believe our products are more effective and safer. We maintain fair pricing equal to or lower than our competitors and protect our intellectual property carefully. Our products are expected to maintain market share in the competitive pool market. HEATSAVR® also competes with plastic pool blanket products. However, we believe that HEATSAVR® is more effective and convenient than pool blankets.
WATERSAVR®: WATERSAVR® competes with solid and floating covers. We believe our WATERSAVR® product is superior for the following reasons: it is less expensive, requires little capital expenditure to deploy and can be started and stopped as water scarcity escalates or declines. As water conservation is an important priority throughout the world, numerous researchers are working to develop solutions that may compete with, or be superior to, WATERSAVR.
Manufacturing
Our HEATSAVR® products and dispensers are made from chemicals, plastics and other materials and parts that are readily available from multiple suppliers. We have never experienced any shortage in the availability of raw materials and parts for these products and we do not have any long term supply contracts for any of these items. We have these products made by outside parties without long term contracts.
Our WATERSAVR® products are manufactured by a third party. We are not required to purchase any minimum quantity of this product.
Our 56,780 sq. ft. facility in Peru, Illinois manufactures our TPA products. Raw materials for TPA production are sourced from various manufacturers throughout the world and we believe they are available in sufficient quantities for any increase in sales. Raw materials are, however, derived from crude oil and are subject to price fluctuations related to world oil prices.
In November 2007, we purchased a building and 3.3 acres of land in Taber, Alberta, Canada. The price paid was CDN$1,325,000 and was financed by cash of $660,000 and an interest free mortgage that was paid in June 2008. The building was operated as a fermentation facility for the production of aspartic acid, a key ingredient in TPAs. Aspartic acid made in Taber was then shipped to our plant in Illinois for finishing. In February 2014 we suspended production of aspartic acid at our Taber plant. The suspension was due to the fact that since construction of the plant began in 2008, economic conditions in Alberta and worldwide have changed significantly. In particular, plant operating costs increased and the price of aspartic acid derived from oil was less than forecast. In February 2017, the Taber plant was destroyed in a fire. However, the loss was covered by insurance.
Government Regulations
TPAs: In the industrial oil field and agricultural markets, we have received government approval for all TPAs currently sold.
Nitrogen conservation product: We have obtained all government approvals for the markets in which we sell these products.
HEATSAVR®: Chemical products for use in swimming pools are covered by a variety of governmental regulations in all countries where we sell these products. These regulations cover packaging, labeling, and product safety. We believe our products are in compliance with these regulations.
WATERSAVR®: Our WATERSAVR® product is subject to regulation in most countries, particularly for agricultural and drinking water uses. We do not anticipate that governmental regulations will be an impediment to marketing WATERSAVR® because the components in WATERSAVR® have historically been used in agriculture for many years for other purposes. Nevertheless, we may require county or state approval on a case by case basis to sell WATERSAVR® in the United States for agricultural and drinking water uses. We have received National Sanitation Foundation approval for the use of WATERSAVR® in drinking water in the United States.
Proprietary Rights
Our success is dependent, in part, upon our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademarks, trade secrets and nondisclosure agreements to protect our proprietary technology. We currently hold many U.S. and International patents which expire at various dates up to 2022. We have applied for additional patents in new areas of invention and may extend these patents, if granted to other jurisdictions. There can be no assurance that our patent applications will be granted or that any issued patent will be upheld as valid or prevent the development of competitive products, which may be equivalent to or superior to our products. We have not received any claims alleging infringement of the intellectual property rights of others, but there can be no assurance that we may not be subject to such claims in the future.
Research and Development
We spent $123,660 during the year ended December 31, 2019 and $135,930 during year ended December 31, 2018 on research and development. This work relates primarily to the development of our water and energy conservation products, as well as new research in connection with our TPA products.
Employees
As of December 31, 2019, we had 38 employees, including one officer, fourteen sales and customer support personnel, and twenty three manufacturing personnel. None of our employees is represented by a labor union and we have not experienced any work stoppages to date.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking information based on our current expectations. Because our actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by us, this section includes a discussion of important factors that could affect our future operations and result in a decline in the market price of our common stock.
We have in the past incurred significant operating losses and may not sustain profitability in the future.
We have in the past experienced operating losses and negative cash flow from operations. If our revenues decline, our results of operations and liquidity may be materially and adversely affected. If we experience slower than anticipated revenue growth or if our operating expenses exceed our expectations, we may not be profitable. We may not remain profitable in future periods.
Fluctuations in our operating results may cause our stock price to decline.
Given the nature of the markets in which we operate, we cannot reliably predict future revenues and profitability. Changes in competitive, market and economic conditions may cause us to adjust our operations. A high proportion of our costs are fixed, due in part to our sales, research and development and manufacturing costs. Thus, small declines in revenue could disproportionately affect our operating results. Factors that may affect our operating results and the market price of our common stock include:
●demand for and market acceptance of our products;
●competitive pressures resulting in lower selling prices;
●adverse changes in the level of economic activity in regions in which we do business;
●adverse changes in the oil and gas industry on which we are particularly dependent;
●changes in the portions of our revenue represented by various products and customers;
●delays or problems in the introduction of new products;
●the announcement or introduction of new products, services or technological innovations by our competitors;
●variations in our product mix;
●the timing and amount of our expenditures in anticipation of future sales;
●increased costs of raw materials or supplies;
●changes in the volume or timing of product orders; and
●availability of raw material in a timely manner in periods of disruption such as, but not limited to, COVID-19.
Our operations are subject to seasonal fluctuation.
Our TPA business is the least seasonal, however there is a small increase in the spring related to inventory building for the crop season in the United States and a small slowdown in December as oilfield customers run down stock in advance of year end, but otherwise, little seasonal variation. We believe we are able to adequately respond to these seasonal fluctuations by reducing or increasing production as needed. The foregoing is equally true of our nitrogen conservation products. The use of our swimming pool products increases in summer months in most markets and results in our sales from January to June being greater than in July through December. Markets for our WATERSAVR® product are also seasonal, depending on the wet versus dry seasons in particular countries. We attempt to sell into a variety of countries with different seasons on both sides of the equator in order to minimize seasonality.
Interruptions in our ability to purchase raw materials and components may adversely affect our profitability.
We purchase certain raw materials and components from third parties pursuant to purchase orders placed from time to time. Because we do not have guaranteed long-term supply arrangements with our suppliers, any material interruption in our ability to purchase necessary raw materials or components could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our WATERSAVR® product has not proven to be a revenue producing product and we may never recoup the cost associated with its development.
The marketing efforts of our WATERSAVR® product may result in continued losses. We introduced our WATERSAVR® product in June 2002 and, to date, we have delivered quantities for testing by potential customers, but only a few customers have ordered the product for commercial use. This product can achieve success only if it is ordered in substantial quantities by commercial customers who have determined that the water saving benefits of the product exceed the costs of purchase and deployment of the product. We can offer no assurance that we will receive sufficient orders of this product to achieve profits or cover the expenses incurred to manufacture and market this product. We have received National Sanitation Foundation approval for the use WATERSAVR® in drinking water in the United States. Neverless, we may require county or state approval on a case by case basis. We expect to spend $50,000 on the marketing and production of our WATERSAVR® product in fiscal 2020.
If we do not introduce new products in a timely manner, our products could become obsolete and our operating results would suffer.
Without the timely introduction of new products and enhancements, our products could become obsolete over time, in which case our revenue and operating results would suffer. The success of our new product offerings will depend upon several factors, including our ability to:
●accurately anticipate customer needs;
●innovate and develop new products and applications;
●successfully commercialize new products in a timely manner;
●price our products competitively and manufacture and deliver our products in sufficient volumes and on time; and
●differentiate our products from our competitors’ products.
In developing any new product, we may be required to make a substantial investment before we can determine the commercial viability of the new product. If we fail to accurately foresee our customers’ needs and future activities, we may invest heavily in research and development of products that do not lead to significant revenues.
We are dependent upon certain customers.
Among our current customers, we have identified three that are sizable enough that the loss of any one would be significant. Any loss of one or more of these customers could result in a substantial reduction in our revenues.
Economic, political and other risks associated with international sales and operations could adversely affect our sales.
Revenues from shipments made outside of the United States accounted for approximately 45% of our revenues in the year ended December 31, 2019, 46% in the year ended December 31, 2018 and 72% in the year ended December 31, 2017. Since we sell our products worldwide, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business internationally. We anticipate that revenues from international operations will continue to represent a sizable portion of our total revenue. Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:
●changes in foreign currency exchange rates;
●changes in a country’s or region’s political or economic conditions, particularly in developing or emerging markets;
●longer payment cycles of foreign customers and difficulty of collecting receivables in foreign jurisdictions;
●trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements;
●differing tax laws and changes in those laws;
●difficulty in staffing and managing widespread operations;
●differing laws regarding protection of intellectual property;
●differing regulatory requirements and changes in those requirements; and
● impact of the COVID-19 virus
We are subject to credit risk and may be subject to substantial write-offs if one or more of our significant customers default on their payment obligations to us.
We currently allow our major customers between 30 and 90 days to pay for each sale. This practice, while customary, presents an accounts receivable write-off risk in that if one or more of our significant customers defaulted on their payment obligations to us, such write-off, if substantial, would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our products can be hazardous if not handled, stored and used properly; litigation related to the handling, storage and safety of our products would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Some of our products are flammable and must be stored properly to avoid fire risk. Additionally, some of our products may cause irritation to a person’s eyes if they are exposed to the concentrated product. Although we label our products to warn of such risks, our sales could be reduced if our products were considered dangerous to use or if they are implicated in causing personal injury or property damage. We are not currently aware of any circumstances in which our products have caused harm or property damage to consumers. Nevertheless, litigation regarding the handling, storage and safety of our products would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our failure to comply with environmental regulations may create significant environmental liabilities and force us to modify our manufacturing processes.
We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations relating to the use, storage, handling and disposal of chemicals. Under such laws, we may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of these substances that have been used by our consumers or in our operations. Such laws may impose liability without regard to whether we knew of, or caused, the release of such substances. Any failure by us to comply with present or future regulations could subject us to substantial fines, suspension of production, alteration of manufacturing processes or cessation of operations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our failure to protect our intellectual property could impair our competitive position.
While we own certain patents and trademarks, some aspects of our business cannot be protected by patents or trademarks. Accordingly, in these areas there are few legal barriers that prevent potential competitors from copying certain of our products, processes and technologies or from otherwise entering into operations in direct competition with us. In particular, we have been informed that our former exclusive agent for the sale of our products in North America is now competing with us in the swimming pool and personal spa markets. As a former distributor, they were given access to many of our sales, marketing and manufacturing techniques.
Our products may infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, and resulting claims against us could be costly and prevent us from making or selling certain products.
Third parties may seek to claim that our products and operations infringe on their patents or other intellectual property rights. We may incur significant expense in any legal proceedings to protect our proprietary rights or to defend infringement claims by third parties. In addition, claims of third parties against us could result in awards of substantial damages or court orders that could effectively prevent us from making, using or selling our products in the United States or abroad.
A product liability claim for damages could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our business exposes us to potential product liability risks. There are many factors beyond our control that could lead to liability claims, including the failure of our products to work properly and the chance that consumers will use our products incorrectly or for purposes for which they were not intended. There can be no assurance that the amount of product liability insurance that we carry will be sufficient to protect us from product liability claims. A product liability claim in excess of the amount of insurance we carry could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our ongoing success is dependent upon the continued availability of certain key employees.
Our business would be adversely affected if the services of Daniel B. O’Brien ceased to be available to us since we currently do not have any other employee with an equivalent level of expertise in and knowledge of, our industry. If Mr. O’Brien no longer served as our President and Chief Executive Officer, we would have to recruit one or more new executives, with no real assurance that we would be able to engage a replacement executive with the required skills on satisfactory terms. The market for skilled employees is highly competitive, especially for employees in the fields in which we operate. While our compensation programs are intended to attract and retain qualified employees, there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain the services of all our key employees or a sufficient number to execute our plans, nor can there be any assurances that we will be able to continue to attract new employees as required.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not applicable.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
We lease a 6,400 sq. ft. facility in Naperville, Illinois which we use for offices and laboratories at a cost of $5,740 per month with a lease effective to December 2020 and 61,200 sq. ft. of warehouse space in Peru, IL used for storage and extra capacity at a cost of $26,240 per month with a lease effective to October 2021. We also lease a 1,300 sq. ft. facility used for offices at a cost of $840 per month with a lease effective to September, 2023 and a 14,000 sq. ft. facility used for manufacturing in Mendota, IL at a cost of $6,578 per month with a lease effective to September 2023. We own a 56,780 sq. ft. facility in Peru, Illinois which is used to manufacture our TPA line of products. In 2017, we purchased a 3,000 sq ft building on 1 acre of land in Taber, AB Canada. We also own 3.3 acres of cleared and undeveloped land in Taber, AB.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities.
Our common stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “FSI”. The following is the range of high and low closing prices for our common stock for the periods indicated:
As of March 30, 2020 we had approximately 2,300 shareholders.
Our common stock also trades on the Frankfurt stock exchange under the symbol “FXT.”
The Company declared a special dividend of $0.05 per share on February 25, 2019, paid on March 15, 2019 to shareholders of record on March 6, 2019. On March 12, 2019 the Company announced an annual dividend of $0.15 per share to be paid in two tranches. Shareholders of record on March 31, 2019 were paid $0.075 on April 15, 2019 and shareholders of record on October 1, 2019 were paid the same on October 15, 2019. On March 18, 2020, the Company suspended the dividend until further notice due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus.
None of our officers or directors, nor any of our principal shareholders purchased, on our behalf, any shares of our common stock from third parties either in a private transaction or as a result of purchases in the open market during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.
As of March 30, 2020 we had 12,240,545 outstanding shares of common stock. The following table lists additional shares of our common stock, including shares issuable upon the exercise of options which have not yet vested, which may be issued as of March 30, 2020:
A. Options are exercisable at prices ranging from $0.75 to $4.13 per share. See Item 11 of this report for more information concerning these options.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Not applicable.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.
Results of Operations
We have three product lines.
The first is a chemical (“EWCP”) used in swimming pools and spas. The product forms a thin, transparent layer on the water’s surface. The transparent layer slows the evaporation of water, allowing the water to retain a higher temperature for a longer period of time thereby reducing the energy required to maintain the desired temperature of the water. A modified version of EWCP can also be used in reservoirs, potable water storage tanks, livestock watering pods, canals, and irrigation ditches for the purpose of reducing evaporation.
The second product, biodegradable polymers (“TPAs”), is used by the petroleum, chemical, utility and mining industries to prevent corrosion and scaling in water piping. TPAs can also be used to increase biodegradability in detergents and in the agriculture industry to increase crop yields by enhancing fertilizer uptake.
The third product line is nitrogen conservation products for the agriculture industry. These products decrease the loss of nitrogen fertilizer after application to the field and allow less fertilizer to be used. These products are made and sold by our TPA division.
Material changes in the line items in our Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the same period last year, are discussed below:
Item
Increase (I) or Decrease (D)
Reason
Sales
EWCP products
TPA products
I
I
Increased customer orders.
Growth in most product lines and sales attributable to our ENP acquisition.
Wages
I
Increased employee count.
Advertising and promotion
I
The ENP subsidiary makes greater use of advertising and promotion.
Lease expense
I
Increased locations related to the addition of the ENP subsidiary.
Interest expense
I
Increased debt resulted in increased interest expense.
Consulting
I
Added consultant to increase future growth.
Professional fess
I
Increased accounting fees related to the acquisition and general legal representation.
Travel
I
Larger head count resulted in additional travel costs.
Commissions
I
Commissionable sales increased against uncommissionable sales.
Bad debt expense
I
A customer failed to pay for product.
Gain on involuntary disposition
D
Final Insurance payment was received in 2018.
Currency exchange
I
Currency exchange increased as a result of the movements in the US/Canadian dollar exchange rate and its effects on US dollar cash balances and US dollar payables held by the Company’s’ Canadian subsidiaries.
Gain on investment
I
New investment in Florida LLC in 2019.
The factors that will most significantly affect future operating results will be:
● the sale price of crude oil which is used in the manufacture of aspartic acid we import from China. Aspartic acid is a key ingredient in our TPA product;
● activity in the oil and gas industry, as we sell our TPA product to oil and gas companies;
● drought conditions, since we also sell our TPA product to farmers; and
● impact of COVID-19 virus
Other than the foregoing we do not know of any trends, events or uncertainties that have had, or are reasonably expected to have, a material impact on our revenues or expenses.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Our sources and (uses) of cash for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are shown below:
We have sufficient cash resources to meets our future commitments and cash flow requirements for the coming year. As of December 31, 2019, our working capital was $10,713,115 (2018 - $15,104,066 ) and we have no substantial commitments that require significant outlays of cash over the coming fiscal year.
We are committed to minimum rental payments for property and premises aggregating approximately $996,046 over the term of five leases, the last expiring on September 30, 2023.
Commitments for rent in the next five years are as follows:
Other than as disclosed above, we do not anticipate any material capital requirements for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020.
Other than as disclosed above, we do not know of any trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that will result in, or that are reasonable likely to result in, our liquidity increasing or decreasing in any material way.
Other than as disclosed above, we do not know of any significant changes in our expected sources and uses of cash.
We do not have any commitments or arrangements from any person to provide us with any equity capital.
See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included as part of this report for a description of our significant accounting policies.
Critical Accounting Policies And Estimates
Allowances for Product Returns. We grant certain of our customers the right to return product which they are unable to sell. Upon sale, we evaluate the need to record a provision for product returns based on our historical experience, economic trends and changes in customer demand.
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts Receivable. We evaluate our accounts receivable to determine if they will ultimately be collected. This evaluation includes significant judgments and estimates, including an analysis of receivables aging and a review of large accounts. If, for example, the financial condition of a customer deteriorates resulting in an impairment of its ability to pay or a pattern of late payment develops, an allowance may be required.
Provisions for Inventory Obsolescence. We may need to record a provision for estimated obsolescence and shrinkage of inventory. Our estimates would consider the cost of inventory, the estimated market value, the shelf life of the inventory and our historical experience. If there are changes to these estimates, provisions for inventory obsolescence may be necessary.
Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets. We consider goodwill and intangible assets to determine if there are qualitative factors which exist which may indicate that the carrying value exceeds the fair value. Our estimates are based upon an assessment of market conditions and expected future cash flows to be generated by the reporting units and related assets. If factors exist which indicate that the carrying value exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge against the goodwill and intangible assets could be required.
Useful lives of Property, Equipment and Leaseholds and Intangible Assets. We amortize and depreciate our property, equipment and leaseholds and intangible assets based on their estimated useful lives. We estimate the expected useful lives based on the expected term over which the asset is expected to continue to generate economic benefit for the company. If there are differences between the expected useful lives and the actual useful lives of the asset, impairment of property, equipment and leaseholds or intangible assets could be necessary.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We have evaluated recent accounting pronouncements issued since January 1, 2019 and determined that the adoption of these recent accounting pronouncements will not have a material effect on our financial statements.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Flexible Solutions International, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (the “Company”) as at December 31, 2019, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
Vancouver, Canada “Morgan & Company LLP”
March 30, 2020 Chartered Professional Accountants
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As at December 31
(U.S. Dollars)
Subsequent events (See Note 21)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
For the Years Ended December 31
(U.S. Dollars)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For Years Ended December 31
(U.S. Dollars)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
(U.S. Dollars)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2018 and 2017
(U.S. Dollars)
1. Basis of Presentation.
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (the “Company”), its wholly-owned subsidiaries Flexible Fermentation Ltd. (“Flexible Ltd.”), NanoChem Solutions Inc. (“NanoChem”), Flexible Solutions Ltd., Flexible Biomass LP, FS Biomass Inc., NCS Deferred Corp., Conserve H2O Ltd. and Natural Chem SEZC Ltd, and its 65% interest in EnP Investments, LLC (“ENP Investments”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company was incorporated on May 12, 1998 in the State of Nevada and had no operations until June 30, 1998. In 2019, the Company redomiciled into Alberta, Canada.
In 2018, NanoChem, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the purchase of a 65% interest in EnP Investments for an aggregate purchase price of $5,110,560. An unrelated party owns the remaining 35% interest in EnP Investments, and EnP Investments is consolidated into these financial statements. The outside investor’s units of ownership interests in EnP Investments were included in non-controlling interests in these consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date onward.
The Company and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market specialty chemicals which slow the evaporation of water. One product, HEATSAVR®, is marketed for use in swimming pools and spas where its use, by slowing the evaporation of water, allows the water to retain a higher temperature for a longer period of time and thereby reduces the energy required to maintain the desired temperature of the water in the pool. Another product, WATERSAVR®, is marketed for water conservation in irrigation canals, aquaculture, and reservoirs where its use slows water loss due to evaporation. In addition to the water conservation products, the Company also manufactures and markets water-soluble chemicals utilizing thermal polyaspartate biopolymers (hereinafter referred to as “TPAs”), which are beta-proteins manufactured from the common biological amino acid, L-aspartic. TPAs can be formulated to prevent corrosion and scaling in water piping in the petroleum, chemical, utility and mining industries. TPAs are also used as proteins to enhance fertilizers in improving crop yields and can be used as additives for household laundry detergents, consumer care products and pesticides. The TPA division also manufactures two nitrogen conservation products for agriculture that slow down nitrogen loss from fields.
2. Significant Accounting Policies.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except where otherwise noted, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applicable to a going concern and reflect the policies outlined below.
(a) Cash and Cash Equivalents.
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of less than three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with several financial institutions.
(b) Inventories and Cost of Sales
The Company has three major classes of inventory: completed goods, work in progress and raw materials and supplies. In all classes, inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Cost of sales includes all expenditures incurred in bringing the goods to the point of sale. Inventory costs and costs of sales include direct costs of the raw material, inbound freight charges, warehousing costs, handling costs (receiving and purchasing) and utilities and overhead expenses related to the Company’s manufacturing and processing facilities. Shipping and handling charges billed to customers are included in revenue (2019 - $519,359; 2018 - $256,931). Shipping and handling costs incurred are included in cost of goods sold (2019 - $1,061,961; 2018 - $713,039).
(c) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts when management estimates collectability to be uncertain. Accounts receivable are continually reviewed to determine which, if any, accounts are doubtful of collection. In making the determination of the appropriate allowance amount, the Company considers current economic and industry conditions, relationships with each significant customer, overall customer credit-worthiness and historical experience.
(d) Property, Equipment, Leaseholds and Intangible Assets.
The following assets are recorded at cost and depreciated using the methods and annual rates shown below:
Computer hardware
30% Declining balance
Furniture and fixtures
20% Declining balance
Manufacturing equipment
20% Declining balance
Office equipment
20% Declining balance
Boat
20% Declining balance
Building and improvements
10% Declining balance
Trailer
30% Declining balance
Automobiles
Straight-line over 5 years
Patents
Straight-line over 17 years
Technology
Straight-line over 10 years
Leasehold improvements
Straight-line over lease term
Property and equipment are written down to net realizable value when management determines there has been a change in circumstances which indicates their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. No write-downs have been necessary to date.
(e) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.
In accordance with FASB Codification Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment” (ASC 360), the Company reviews long-lived assets, including, but not limited to, property, equipment and leaseholds, patents and other assets, for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts of assets may not be recoverable. The carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for impairment by evaluating operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. If the expected future cash flows of an asset is less than its carrying value, an impairment measurement is indicated. Impairment charges are recorded to the extent that an asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates. There were no impairment charges during the periods presented.
(f) Foreign Currency.
The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of three of the Company’s subsidiaries is the Canadian Dollar. The translation of the Canadian Dollar to the reporting currency of the Company, the U.S. Dollar, is performed for assets and liabilities using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expense transactions are translated using average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments arising on conversion of the Company’s financial statements from the subsidiary’s functional currency, Canadian Dollars, into the reporting currency, U.S. Dollars, are excluded from the determination of income (loss) and are disclosed as other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
Foreign exchange gains and losses relating to transactions not denominated in the applicable local currency are included in operating income (loss) if realized during the year and in comprehensive income (loss) if they remain unrealized at the end of the year.
(g) Revenue Recognition.
The Company follows a five-step model for revenue recognition. The five steps are: (1) identification of the contract(s) with the customer, (2) identification of the performance obligation(s) in the contract(s), (3) determination of the transaction price, (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligation, and (5) recognition of revenue when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company has fulfilled its performance obligations when control transfers to the customer, which is generally at the time the product is shipped since risk of loss is transferred to the purchaser upon delivery to the carrier. For shipments which are F.O.B. shipping point, the Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities as a fulfillment cost rather than as an additional promised service and performance obligation.
The Company recognizes revenue when there are no significant remaining performance obligations. When significant post-delivery obligations exist, revenue is deferred until such obligations are fulfilled. To date, there have been so such significant post-delivery obligations.
Since the Company’s inception, product returns have been insignificant; therefore, no provision has been established for estimated product returns.
Deferred revenues consist of products sold to distributors with payment terms greater than the Company’s customary business terms due to lack of credit history or operating in a new market in which the Company has no prior experience. The Company defers the recognition of revenue until the criteria for revenue recognition has been met, and payments become due or cash is received from these distributors.
(h) Stock Issued in Exchange for Services.
The Company’s common stock issued in exchange for services is valued at estimated fair market value based upon trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the dates of the stock transactions. The corresponding expense of the services rendered is recognized over the period that the services are performed.
(i) Stock-based Compensation.
The Company recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payments in accordance with FASB Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, (ASC 718). Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, the Company recognizes share-based compensation expense, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, over the requisite service period of the award.
The fair value at grant date of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock option vesting period based on the estimated number of stock options that are expected to vest. Shares are issued from treasury upon exercise of stock options.
(j) Other Comprehensive Income.
Other comprehensive income refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are included in comprehensive income, but are excluded from net income as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders’ equity. The Company’s other comprehensive income is comprised only of unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses.
(k) Income Per Share.
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated giving effect to the potential dilution of the exercise of options and warrants. Common equivalent shares, composed of incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants are included in diluted net income per share to the extent that these shares are dilutive. Common equivalent shares that have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per share have been excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
(l) Use of Estimates.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and would impact the results of operations and cash flows.
Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed at each period end. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.
Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates include assumptions and estimates relating to the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, asset impairment analysis, share-based payments and warrants, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, determination of useful lives of property, equipment and leaseholds and intangible assets, and the valuation of inventory.
(m) Financial Instruments.
The fair market value of the Company’s financial instruments comprising cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and short term line of credit were estimated to approximate their carrying values due to immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.
(n) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The standard describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs described below, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value.
● Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
● Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
● Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity which is significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and the short term line of credit for all periods presented approximate their respective carrying amounts due to the short term nature of these financial instruments.
(o) Contingencies
Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued which may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management and its legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.
If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potential material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.
Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. Legal fees associated with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.
(p) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance so that the assets are recognized only to the extent that when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.
Per FASB ASC 740 “Income taxes” under the liability method, it is the Company’s policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. At December 31, 2019, the Company believes it has appropriately accounted for any unrecognized tax benefits. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized benefit is established or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected. Interest and penalties associated with the Company’s tax positions are recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
(q) Risk Management.
The Company’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its accounts receivable. The amounts presented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are net of allowances for doubtful accounts, estimated by the Company’s management based on prior experience and the current economic environment. The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-payment by customers. Credit exposure is minimized by dealing with only credit worthy counterparties. Accounts receivable for the Company’s three primary customers totaled $2,708,825 (61%) at December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018 - $1,280,406 or 29%).
The credit risk on cash and cash equivalents is limited because the Company limits its exposure to credit loss by placing its cash and cash equivalents with major financial institutions. The Company maintains cash balances at financial institutions which at times exceed federally insured amounts. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
The Company is exposed to foreign exchange and interest rate risk to the extent that market value rate fluctuations materially differ from financial assets and liabilities, subject to fixed long-term rates.
In order to manage its exposure to foreign exchange risks, the Company is closely monitoring the fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates and the impact on the value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The Company has not hedged its exposure to currency fluctuations.
(r) Equity Method Investment
The Company accounts for investments using the equity method of accounting if the investment provides the Company the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the investee. Significant influence is generally deemed to exist if the Company’s ownership interest in the voting stock of the investee ranges between 20% and 50%, although other factors, such as representation on the investee’s board of directors, are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. Under the equity method of accounting, the investment is recorded at cost in the consolidated balance sheets under other assets and adjusted for dividends received and the Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses together with other-than-temporary impairments which are recorded through interest and other loss, net in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
(s) Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired entity over the amounts assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if certain impairment conditions arise. The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment review in the fourth quarter of each year at the reporting unit level. The evaluation begins with a qualitative assessment of the factors that could impact the significant inputs used to estimate fair value. If after performing the qualitative assessment, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, including goodwill, then no further analysis is necessary. However, if the results of the qualitative test are unclear, the Company performs a quantitative test, which involves comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company uses an income-based valuation method, determining the present value of future cash flows, to estimate the fair value of a reporting unit. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its positive carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired, and no further analysis is necessary. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, goodwill impairment would be recognized equal to the amount of the carrying value in excess of the reporting unit’s fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
Intangible assets primarily include trademarks and trade secrets with indefinite lives and customer-relationships with finite lives. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present. Indefinite lived intangible assets are assessed using either a qualitative or a quantitative approach. The qualitative assessment evaluates factors including macro-economic conditions, industry and company-specific factors, legal and regulatory environments, and historical company performance are evaluated in assessing fair value. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the intangible asset is less than its carrying value, a quantitative test is then performed. Otherwise, no further testing is required. When using a quantitative approach, the Company compares the fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the intangible asset is less than the carrying amount of the intangible asset, impairment is indicated, requiring recognition of an impairment charge for the differential.
Qualitative assessments of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets were performed in 2019 and 2018. Based on the results of assessment, it was determined that it is more likely than not the reporting unit, customer lists and trademarks had a fair value in excess of their carrying value.
Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The Company reviews for impairment indicators of finite-lived intangibles and other long-lived assets as described in the “Property and Equipment” significant accounting policy.
(t) Adoption of new accounting principles
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASC 842 which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for virtually all leases. From a lessee perspective, ASC 842 retains a dual model requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance leases for the income statement. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense, and financing leases will have a front-loaded expense pattern with an interest expense component. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842 and all related amendments using the prospective transition approach. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of lease ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $819,079 as of January 1, 2019. In accordance with ASC 842, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception based on whether there is an identified asset, whether the Company has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and whether the Company has the right to direct the use of the asset. Currently, the Company only has operating leases and does not have any financing leases. Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. See Note 4, Leases, for further disclosures and detail regarding the Company’s operating leases.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU2016-18 “Statement of Cash Flows” (Topic230); Restricted Cash (ASU2016-18), which defines new requirements for the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this ASU require retrospective application to each period presented. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018 retrospectively. This ASU requires entities to present the statement of cash flows in a manner such that it reconciles beginning and ending totals of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Also, when cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item within the statement of financial position, an entity should, for each period that a statement of financial position is presented, present on the face of the statement of cash flows or disclose in the notes to the financial statements, the line items and amounts of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents reported within the statement of financial position. The amounts, disaggregated by the line item in which they appear within the statement of financial position, shall sum to the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents at the end of the corresponding period shown in the statement of cash flows.
(u) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has implemented all applicable new accounting pronouncements that are in effect. Those pronouncements did not have any material impact on the financial statements unless otherwise disclosed, and the Company does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
3. Acquisition
Effective October 1, 2018, the Company, through its NanoChem Solutions Inc. subsidiary, entered into an agreement to purchase 65% of EnP Investments LLC.
Total consideration paid of $5,110,560 was paid through a combination of $10,560 cash on hand, $4,100,000 in debt financing provided by Harris Bank (see Note 13b) and a $1,000,000 convertible note payable. The convertible note is due on or before September 30, 2023 with 5% interest due per year. At the option of the holder, the Note may be converted to 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company has the option to extend the note to no later than September 30, 2028.
The following table summarizes the final purchase price allocation of the consideration paid to the respective fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in EnP Investments LLC as of the effective date. The Company finalized its estimates after it was able to determine that it had obtained all necessary information that existed as of the acquisition date related to these matters.
In connection with the 65% purchase of EnP Investments LLC, the Company incurred bank appraisal fees of $7,038 which was recorded as general expenses during the year ended December 31, 2018. Goodwill of $2,534,275 is the excess of total consideration less identifiable assets at fair value less debt assumed at fair value. Goodwill is attributable to EnP Investments LLC management, assembled workforce, operating model and competitive presence in its market.
The operating results of EnP Investments LLC have been included in the consolidated financial statements beginning October 1, 2018.
Unaudited pro forma financial information
The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information presents combined results of the Company and EnP Investments as if the business combination had occurred on January 1, 2017.
The pro forma financial information is not intended to represent or be indicative of the actual results of operations of the combined entity that would have been reported had the business combination been completed on January 1, 2016, nor is it representative of future operating results of the Company.
4. Adoption of ASC 842, Leases
On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842 using the prospective transition approach, which applies the provisions of the new guidance at the effective date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. The adoption of the lease standard did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening equity. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under ASC 842 while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historic accounting under ASC 840, “Leases,” (“ASC 840”).
The Company leases office space. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company records the related right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease obligation at the present value of lease payments over the term. Leases may include fixed rental escalation clauses, renewal options and / or termination options that are factored into the determination of lease payments when appropriate. The Company’s leases do not usually provide a readily determinable implicit rate; therefore, an estimate of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate is used to discount the lease payments based on information available at the lease commencement date. The discount rate used was 5.5%.
Operating lease costs during the full year ended December 31, 2019 were $400,936.
The adoption of ASC 842 resulted in the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $819,079 as of January 1, 2019. During the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company renewed a lease agreement and recorded a further ROU of $291,919. The standard did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated statement of income or its consolidated statement of cash flows for the full year ended December 31, 2019. See below for the Company’s updated lease policy and the required disclosures under ASC 842. The Company is a lessee in five different leases that have various expiry dates within the next 4 years.
The table below summarizes the remaining expected lease payments under the operating leases as of December 31, 2019.
Update to Lease Policy
Accounting and reporting guidance for leases requires that leases be evaluated and classified as either operating or finance leases by the lessee and as either operating, sales-type or direct financing leases by the lessor. The Company’s operating leases are included in ROU assets, lease liabilities-current portion and lease liability-long term portion in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
5. Accounts Receivable
6. Inventories
7. Property, Equipment and Leaseholds
Amount of depreciation expense for 2019: $603,826 (2018: $326,123) and is included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
In February of 2017, the Company lost a net carrying value total of $2,196,722CAD ($1,659,404 USD) in building and manufacturing equipment in a fire at the Taber, AB location. Insurance was in place. During the year ended December 31, 2018 the Company received the final insurance proceeds of $3,132,666 CAD ($2,349,498 USD). During the year ended 2017, the Company received interim insurance proceeds of $5,570,000 CAD ($4,207,578 USD).
8. Patents
Increase in 2019 cost was due to currency conversion. 2019 cost in Canadian dollars - $265,102 (2018 - $265,102 in Canadian dollars).
Amount of amortization for 2019: $16,438 (2018: $16,438) and is included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
Estimated amortization expense over the next five years is as follows:
9. Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets
Indefinite lived intangible assets consist of trade secrets and trademarks related to the acquisition of EnP Investments LLC (note 3).
Definite life intangible assets consists of customer relationships related to the acquisition of EnP Investments LLC (Note 3). Customer relationships are amortized over their estimated useful life of 15 years.
Estimated amortization expense over the next five years is as follows:
10. Long Term Deposits
The Company has security deposits that are long term in nature which consist of damage deposits held by landlords and security deposits held by various vendors.
11. Investments
(a) The Company has a 50% ownership interest in ENP Peru Investments LLC (“ENP Peru”), which was acquired in fiscal 2016. ENP Peru is located in Illinois and leases warehouse space. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting. A summary of the Company’s investment follows:
Summarized profit and loss information related to the equity accounted investment is as follows:
(b) The Company has a 24% ownership interest in ENP Realty LLC (“ENP Realty”), which was acquired in fiscal 2018. ENP Realty is located in Illinois and leases warehouse space. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting. A summary of the Company’s investment follows:
Summarized profit and loss information related to the equity accounted investment is as follows:
(c) In December 2018 the Company invested $200,000 in Applied Holding Corp. (“Applied”). Applied is a captive insurance company and the Company received a promissory note for its investment which becomes due in 2021 but may be extended with notice for a maximum of two years.
(d) In December 2018 the Company invested $500,000 in Trio Opportunity Corp. (“Trio”), a privately held entity. Trio is a real estate investment vehicle and the Company received 50,000 non-voting Class B shares at $10.00/share. In accordance with ASC 321-10-35, the Company has elected to account for this investment at cost. A summary of the Company’s investment follows:
e) In January 2019, the Company invested $1,001,000 in a Florida based LLC that is engaged in international sales of fertilizer additives. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting. According to the operating agreement, the Company has a 50% interest in the profit and loss of the LLC but does not have control. A summary of the Company’s investment follows:
Further to the original investment amount, the Company has placed $1,000,000 in trust, to be released upon the LLC reaching a milestone related to earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (“EBITDA”) targets. This amount is accounted for as restricted cash on the balance sheet. Further payments of $1,000,000 and $500,000 may become due should other subsequent milestones be reached. Summarized profit and loss information related to the equity accounted investment is as follows:
12. Short-Term Line of Credit
(a) In September 2018, the Company signed a new agreement with Harris Bank (“Harris”) to renew the expiring credit line. The revolving line of credit is for an aggregate amount of up to the lesser of (i) $2,500,000, or (ii) 80% of eligible domestic accounts receivable and certain foreign accounts receivable plus 60% of inventory. The loan has an annual interest rate of 4.75% at December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018 - 5.75%).
The revolving line of credit contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including the following: compliance with laws, provision of financial statements and periodic reports, payment of taxes, maintenance of inventory and insurance, maintenance of operating accounts at Harris, Harris’ access to collateral, formation or acquisition of subsidiaries, incurrence of indebtedness, dispositions of assets, granting liens, changes in business, ownership or business locations, engaging in mergers and acquisitions, making investments or distributions and affiliate transactions. The covenants also require that the Company maintain a minimum ratio of qualifying financial assets to the sum of qualifying financial obligations. As of December 31, 2019, Company was in compliance with all loan covenants.
To secure the repayment of any amounts borrowed under the revolving line of credit, the Company granted Harris a security interest in substantially all of the assets of NanoChem Solutions Inc., exclusive of intellectual property assets.
Short-term borrowings outstanding under the revolving line as of December 31, 2019 were $1,641,085 (December 31, 2018 - $1,700,000).
(b) In June 2019, EnP Investments, LLC signed a new agreement with Midland States Bank (“Midland”) to renew the expiring credit line. The revolving line of credit is for an aggregate amount of up to $2,500,000. The interest rate of this loan is subject to change from time to time based on changes in an independent index which is the 1 month LIBOR as published in the Wall Street Journal (the “Index”). Interest on the unpaid principal balance of this loan will be calculated using a rate of 4.060 percentage points over the Index. Under no circumstances will the interest rate of this loan be less than 4.750% per annum or more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law. The interest rate at December 31, 2019 is 6.075% (December 31, 2018 - 6.5296%).
The revolving line of credit contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including the following: compliance with laws, provisions of financial statements and periodic reports, payment of taxes, maintenance of inventory and insurance, maintenance of operating accounts at Midland, Midland’s access to collateral, formation of acquisition of subsidiaries, incurrence of indebtedness, dispositions of assets, granting liens, changes in business, ownership or business locations, engaging in mergers and acquisitions, making investments or distributions and affiliate transactions. NanoChem Solutions Inc. is a guarantor of 65% of all the principal and other loan costs not to exceed $1,625,000. As of December 31, 2019, EnP Investments , LLC was in compliance with all loan covenants.
To secure the repayment of any amounts borrowed under the revolving line of Credit, EnP Investments, LLC granted Midland a security interest in all inventory, equipment and fixtures and acknowledges a separate commercial security agreement from guarantor to Midland dated February 15, 2011.
Short-term borrowings outstanding under the revolving line as of December 31, 2019 were $748,897 (December 31, 2018 - $1,098,131).
13. Long Term Debt
(a) In September 2014, NanoChem Solutions Inc. signed a $1,005,967 promissory note with Harris Bank with a rate of prime plus 0.5% (September 30, 2019 - 5.75%; December 31, 2018 - 5.75%) to be repaid over 5 years with equal monthly installments plus interest. Loan proceeds were used to retire the previously issued and outstanding debt obligations. The final payment was made in September 2019 (balance owing December 31, 2018 - $150,895). Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $3,294 (2018 - $13,123).
(b) In October 2018, NanoChem Solutions Inc. signed a $4,100,000 term loan with Harris Bank with a rate of prime (December 31, 2018 - 5.5%; December 31, 2017 - nil) to be repaid over 7 years with equal monthly installments plus interest along two payments consisting of 25% prior year cash flow recapture, capped at $300,000, due May 31, 2019 and 2020. The money was used to purchase a 65% interest in EnP Investments LLC. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $191,738 (December 31, 2018 - $36,661). The balance owing at December 31, 2019 was $3,116,667 (2018 - $4,002,381).
The Company has committed to the following repayments:
(c) In April 2019, NanoChem Solutions Inc. signed a loan for $1,100,000 with Harris Bank with a rate of prime plus 0.5% (December 31, 2019 - 5.25%) for the purchase of new manufacturing equipment. The Company pays interest monthly until February 2020, when equal monthly installments of the principal and interest are due until January 2024. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $36,333 (2018 - nil). The balance owing at December 31, 2019 was $1,100,000.
(d) In January, 2018, EnP Investments, LLC signed a $200,000 promissory note with Midland States Bank with a rate of 5.250% to be repaid over 7 years with equal monthly installments plus interest. This money was used to purchase production equipment. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $8,734 (December 31, 2018 - $2,415). The principal balance owing at December 31, 2019 is $152,241 (2018 - $177,794).
The Company has committed to the following repayments:
(e) In March, 2016, EnP Investments, LLC signed a $45,941 promissory note with Ford Motor Credit Company with a rate of 0.00% interest to be repaid over 5 years with equal monthly installments. The balance owing at December 31, 2019 is $11,485 (December 31, 2018 - $20,673).
The Company has committed to the following repayments:
As of December 31, 2019, Company was in compliance with all loan covenants.
14. Convertible Note Payable
In October 2018, the Company issued a convertible note payable in the amount of $1,000,000 in connection with the acquisition of EnP Investments LLC. The convertible note is due on or before September 30, 2023 with 5% interest due per year. At the option of the holder, the Note may be converted to 400,000 shares in the Company’s common stock. The Company has the option to extend the note to no later than September 30, 2028.
In June 2019, the holder opted to convert $500,000 of the convertible note payable into 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.
15. Income Taxes
The provision for income tax expense (benefit) is comprised of the following:
The following table reconciles the income tax benefit at the U.S. Federal statutory rate to income tax benefit at the Company’s effective tax rates.
Deferred taxes reflect the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are comprised of the following:
The Company has non-operating loss carryforwards of approximately $3,347,903 (2018 - $2,060,971) which may be carried forward to apply against future year income tax for Canadian income tax purposes, subject to the final determination by taxation authorities, expiring in the following years:
As at December 31, 2019, the Company has no net operating losses carryforward available for US tax purposes.
Accounting for Uncertainty for Income Tax
Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the interpretation for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes which was an interpretation of the accounting standard accounting for income taxes. This interpretation created a single model to address accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. This interpretation clarifies the accounting for income taxes, by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements.
As at December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s consolidated balance sheets did not reflect a liability for uncertain tax positions, nor any accrued penalties or interest associated with income tax uncertainties. The Company has no income tax examinations in progress.
16. Income Per Share
The Company presents both basic and diluted income per share on the face of its consolidated statements of income. Basic and diluted income per share are calculated as follows:
Certain stock options whose terms and conditions are described in Note 17, “Stock Options” could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been anti-dilutive. Those anti-dilutive options are as follows.
There were no preferred shares issued and outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2019 or 2018.
17. Stock Options.
The Company has a stock option plan (“Plan”). The purpose of this Plan is to provide additional incentives to key employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries in order to help attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of responsibility and otherwise promote the success of the Company’s business. It is intended that options issued under this Plan constitute non-qualified stock options. The general terms of awards under the option plan are that 100% of the options granted will vest the year following the grant. The maximum term of options granted is 5 years and the exercise price for all options are issued for not less than fair market value at the date of the grant.
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activities for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
The weighted-average remaining contractual life of outstanding options is 3.67 years.
The fair value of each option grant is calculated using the following weighted average assumptions:
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company granted 95,000 (2018 - 100,000) stock options to consultants and has applied ASC 718 using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which resulted in additional expenses of $67,338 (2018 - $5,747). Options granted in other years resulted in additional expenses of $21,411 (2018 - $26,701). During the year ended December 31, 2019, employees were granted 252 ,000 (2018 - 10,000) stock options, which resulted in additional expenses of $157,695 (2018 - $5,150). Options granted in other years resulted in additional expenses in the amount of $nil for employees during the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018 - $73,594). There were 220,000 employee and 95,888 consultant stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018 - 60,000 employee; 41,666 consultant).
As of December 31, 2019, there was approximately $145,196 of compensation expense related to non-vested awards. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.
The aggregate intrinsic value of vested options outstanding at December 31, 2019 is $67,720 (2018 - $43,190).
18. Capital Stock.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, 220,000 shares were issued upon the exercise of employee stock options (2018 - 60,000) and 95,888 shares were issued upon the exercise of consultant stock options (2018 - 41,666).
In June 2019, the holder of the Company’s convertible note opted to convert $500,000 of the convertible note payable into 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.
In February 2019, the Company announced the payment of a special dividend to the existing stockholders of the Company as of March 6, 2019 in the amount of $0.05 per share.
In March 2019, the Company announced the payment of annual dividends of $0.15 per share, to be paid in two tranches. Shareholders of record on March 31, 2019 received $0.075 per share on April 15, 2019 and shareholders of record on September 30, 2019 received $0.075 per share on October 15, 2019.
19. Non-Controlling Interests
EnP Investments is a limited liability corporation (LLC) that manufactures and distributes golf, turf and ornamental agriculture products in Mendota, IL. The Company owns a 65% interest in EnP Investments through its wholly-owned subsidiary NanoChem. An unrelated party owns the remaining 35% interest in EnP Investments. For financial reporting purposes, the assets, liabilities and earnings of the LLC are consolidated into these financial statements. The unrelated third party’s ownership interest in the LLC is recorded in non-controlling interests in these consolidated financial statements. The non-controlling interest represents the non-controlling unitholder’s interest in the earnings and equity of EnP Investments. Effective October 1, 2018, the Company paid $4,110,560 in cash and issued a $1,000,000 convertible note (see Note 3) to acquire EnP Investments. EnP Investments is allocated to the BCPA segment.
EnP Investments makes cash distributions to its equity owners based on formulas defined within its Ownership Interest Purchase Agreement dated October 1, 2018. Distributions are defined in the Ownership Interest Purchase Agreement as cash on hand to the extent it exceeds current and anticipated long-term and short-term needs, including, without limitation, needs for operating expenses, debt service, acquisitions, reserves, and mandatory distributions, if any.
From the effective date of acquisition onward, the minimum distributions requirements under the Ownership Interest Purchase Agreement were satisfied. The total distribution from the effective date of acquisition onward was $526,110.
20. Segmented, Significant Customer Information and Economic Dependency.
The Company operates in two segments:
(a) Energy and water conservation products (as shown under the column heading “EWCP” below), which consists of a (i) liquid swimming pool blanket which saves energy and water by inhibiting evaporation from the pool surface, and (ii) food-safe powdered form of the active ingredient within the liquid blanket and which is designed to be used in still or slow moving drinking water sources.
(b) Biodegradable polymers (“BCPA’s”), also known as TPA’s, used by the petroleum, chemical, utility and mining industries to prevent corrosion and scaling in water piping. This product can also be used in detergents to increase biodegradability and in agriculture to increase crop yields by enhancing fertilizer uptake.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies. The Company evaluates performance based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes, not including nonrecurring gains and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses.
The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different, but synergistic products and services. They are managed separately because each business requires different technology and marketing strategies.
Year ended December 31, 2019:
Year ended December 31, 2018:
Sales by territory are shown below:
The Company’s long-lived assets (property, equipment, intangibles, goodwill, leaseholds, patents and right of use assets) are located in Canada and the United States as follows:
Three customers accounted for $12,814,506 (47%) of sales made in 2019 (2018 - $6,880,598 or 39%).
21. Subsequent Events.
In January 2020, the Company issued 15,000 shares of common stock as a result of the exercise of employee stock options and 10,000 shares of common stock as a result of the exercise of consultant stock options.
Since December 31, 2019, the outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as “COVID-19”, has resulted in a widespread health crisis that has affected economies and financial markets around the world resulting in an economic downturn. This outbreak may also cause staff shortages, reduced customer demand, increased government regulations or interventions, all of which may negatively impact the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company. The duration and impact of the COVlD-19 outbreak is unknown at this time and it is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of these developments. On March 18, 2020, the Company suspended its dividends until further notice due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide a reasonable level of assurance of reaching our desired disclosure control objectives.
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. As defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer and implemented by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In connection with the preparation of our annual financial statements, management has undertaken an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or the 2013 COSO Framework. Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of our internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of those controls.
Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019.
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Name
Age
Position
Daniel B. O’Brien
President, Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and a Director
John H. Bientjes
Director
Robert Helina
Director
Tom Fyles
Director
Ben Seaman
Director
David Fynn
Director
Daniel B. O’Brien has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, as well as a director since June 1998. He has been involved in the swimming pool industry since 1990, when he founded our subsidiary, Flexible Solutions Ltd. From 1990 to 1998 Mr. O’Brien was also a teacher at Brentwood College where he was in charge of outdoor education.
John H. Bientjes has been a director since February 2000. Since 1984, Mr. Bientjes has served as the manager of the Commercial Aquatic Supplies Division of D.B. Perks & Associates, Ltd., located in Vancouver, British Columbia, a company that markets supplies and equipment to commercial swimming pools which are primarily owned by municipalities. Mr. Bientjes graduated in 1976 from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Commerce.
Robert T. Helina has been a director since October 2011. Mr. Helina has been involved in the financial services industry for over 25 years which has given him extensive knowledge in business, economics and finance. His specially is in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets. Mr. Helina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity Western University.
Thomas M. Fyles has been a director since August 2012. Since 1979 Dr. Fyles has been a chemistry professor at the University of Victoria (Assistant Professor 1979-1984/Associate Professor 1984-1992/and Professor with Tenure since 1992) Dr. Fyles received his Bachelor of Science degree (with honors) from the University of Victoria in 1974 and his Ph.D. in chemistry from York University in 1977. Dr. Fyles was a postdoctoral fellow with Prof. J.M. Lehn, Institut Le Bel, Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France, between September 1977 and July 1979.
Ben Seaman has been a director since 2016. Mr. Seaman has been the CEO of Eartheasy.com Sustainable Living Ltd since 2007, growing the company from $50K to over $25M in annual revenue. His company has contributed over $1M towards clean water projects in Kenya since 2013, and has been recognized internationally by the Stockholm Challenge Award and the Outdoor Industry Inspiration Award in 2016. Prior to that, he worked in sales and investor relations at Flexible Solutions. Mr. Seaman graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2004. He has significant experience in launching new products, marketing, distribution and e-commerce in both the US and Canada. He’s a strong believer in the triple bottom line approach to business, giving consideration to social and environmental issues in addition to financial performance.
David Fynn has been a director since 2016. Mr. David Fynn is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant and services individuals/companies in many sectors including mining and commodities in his private practice. David worked as a senior manager with KPMG in Canada and Ernst & Young in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Since 1996 he has been the principal of D.A. Fynn & Associates Inc., an accounting firm.
Directors are elected annually and hold office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. All executive offices are chosen by the board of directors and serve at the board’s discretion.
John Bientjes, Thomas Fyles, Ben Seaman and David Fynn are independent directors as that term is defined in section 803 of the listing standards of the NYSE Amercian.
Our Audit Committee, consisting of John Bientjes, Ben Seaman and David Fynn all of whom have strong financial backgrounds, facilitates and maintains open communications with our board of directors, senior management and our independent auditors. Our Audit Committee also serves as an independent and objective party which monitors our financial reporting process and internal control system. In addition, our Audit Committee reviews and appraises the efforts of our independent auditors. Our Audit Committee meets periodically with management and our independent auditors. John Bientjes and David Fynn meet the SEC’s definition of an audit committee financial expert. Each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined in Section 803 of the listing standards of the NYSE American.
Our Compensation Committee, consisting of John Bientjes, Ben Seaman and David Fynn, establishes salary, incentive and other forms of compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and administers our Stock Option Plan. None of our officers participated in deliberations of the compensation committee concerning executive officer compensation. During the year ended December 31, 2019, none of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our compensation committee or as one of our directors.
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our Principal Accounting Officer, as well as our other senior management and financial staff. Interested persons may obtain a copy of our Code of Ethics from our website at www.flexiblesolutions.com.
We believe our directors benefit us for the following reasons:
Name
Reason
Daniel B. O’Brien
Long standing relationship with us.
John J. Bientjes
Long standing relationship with us.
Robert Helina
Corporate finance experience.
Dr. Thomas Fyles
Scientific expertise.
Ben Seaman
Younger generation businessman increases our awareness of internet sales and adds value to our audit and compensation committees
David Fynn
Experienced accountant adds value to our audit and compensation committees
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows in summary form the compensation earned by (i) our Chief Executive Officer and (ii) by each other executive officer who earned in excess of $100,000 during the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2019.
(1) The dollar value of base salary (cash and non-cash) earned.
(2) The dollar value of bonus (cash and non-cash) earned.
(3) During the periods covered by the table, the value of the shares of restricted stock issued as compensation for services to the persons listed in the table.
(4) The value of all stock options granted during the periods covered by the table.
(5) All other compensation received that we could not properly report in any other column of the table.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company determined that Daniel B. O’Brien, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, was underpaid. Accordingly, the Company increased Mr. O’Brien’s annual salary to twice that which was paid to the highest paid employee of the Company. The Company expects that Mr. O’Brien’s salary for the year ending December 31, 2020 will again be twice the annual salary paid to the Company’s highest paid employee, excluding Mr. O’Brien.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
In August 2014 we adopted a Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan which authorizes the issuance of up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock to persons that exercise options granted pursuant to the Plan. Our employees, directors and officers, and consultants or advisors are eligible to be granted options pursuant to the Non-Qualified Plan.
The Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee. The Committee is vested with the authority to determine the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the options, the exercise price and expiration date of the options, and when, and upon what conditions options granted under the Plan will vest or otherwise be subject to forfeiture and cancellation.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 we issued 347,000 options pursuant to the Non-Qualified Plan (2018 - 110,000).
Summary
The following table shows the weighted average exercise price of the outstanding options granted pursuant to our Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan as of December 31, 2019, our most recently completed fiscal year.
Our Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan has been approved by our shareholders.
As of December 31, 2019, options to purchase 635,000 shares of our common stock were outstanding under our Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. The exercise price of these options varies between $0.75 and $4.13 per share and the options expire at various dates between on December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2024.
No options were exercised by our executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Director Compensation
We reimburse directors for any expenses incurred in attending board meetings. We also compensate directors $5,000 annually for each year that they serve.
Our directors received the following compensation in 2019:
(1) The fair value of stock issued for services computed in accordance with ASC 718 on the date of grant.
(2) The fair value of options granted computed in accordance with ASC 718 on the date of grant.
Daniel B. O’Brien was not compensated for serving as a director during 2019.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table shows the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 30, 2020 by (i) each stockholder who is known by us to own beneficially more than five percent of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our officers and directors, and (iii) by all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
(1) Includes shares which may be acquired on the exercise of the stock options, all of which were exercisable as of March 30, 2020, listed below.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, Director Independence.
Not applicable.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Morgan & Company LLP, examined our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. MNP, LLP examined our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Audit Fees
Morgan & Company was paid $5,540 for the professional services rendered in the review of our quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2019. MNP was paid $15,451 for the review of our quarterly reports for the periods ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019. MNP was paid $95,710 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 for professional services rendered in the audit of our annual financial statements and for the reviews of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q during that fiscal year.
Tax Fees
Morgan & Company has been retained to file our taxes for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and onwards. MNP was paid $4,710 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 for professional services rendered for the preparation and filing of our income tax returns for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
All Other Fees
Neither Morgan & Company LLP nor MNP was not paid any other fees for professional services during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies
Rules adopted by the SEC in order to implement requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 require public company audit committees to pre-approve audit and non-audit services. Our Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of all audit, audit-related and tax services, and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent auditors. The policy provides for an annual review of an audit plan and budget for the upcoming annual financial statement audit, and entering into an engagement letter with the independent auditors covering the scope of the audit and the fees to be paid. Our Audit Committee may also from time-to-time review and approve in advance other specific audit, audit-related, tax or permissible non-audit services. In addition, our Audit Committee may from time-to-time give pre-approval for audit services, audit-related services, tax services or other non-audit services by setting forth such pre-approved services on a schedule containing a description of, budget for, and time period for such pre-approved services. The policies require our Audit Committee to be informed of each service and the policies do not include any delegation of our Audit Committee’s responsibilities to management. Our Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated will report any pre-approval decisions to our Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
During the year ended December 31, 2019 our Audit Committee approved all of the fees paid to both Morgan & Company, LLP and MNP, LLP. Our Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of all non-audit services by Morgan & Company, LLP and MNP, LLP is compatible with maintaining their independence. During the year ended December 31, 2019, none of the total hours expended on our financial audit by Morgan & Company, LLP were provided by persons other than Morgan & Company, LLP’s full-time permanent employees.
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Number
Description
3.1
Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant. (1)
3.2
Bylaws of the Registrant. (1)
21.1
Subsidiaries. (2)
23.1
Consent of Independent Accountants.
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive and Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 and §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form 10-SB filed with the Commission on February 22, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Previously filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed with the Commission on January 22, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
March 30, 2020 Flexible Solutions International, Inc.
By: /s/ Daniel B. O’Brien
Name: Daniel B. O’Brien
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Daniel B. O’Brien
President, Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and a Director
March 30, 2020
Daniel B. O’Brien
/s/ John H. Bientjes
Director
March 30, 2020
John H. Bientjes
/s/ Robert T. Helina
Director
March 30, 2020
Robert T. Helina
/s/ Thomas Fyles
Director
March 30, 2020
Thomas Fyles
/s/ Ben Seaman
Director
March 30, 2020
Ben Seaman
/s/ David Fynn
Director
March 30, 2020
David Fynn