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AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. - FORM 10-Q - May 10, 2016
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. exhibit311.htm
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
100 S. Independence Mall West
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer ¨
Smaller reporting company ¨
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ¨ Yes x No
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 6, 2016 was 49,900,795.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULT OF OPERATIONS
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY AND DISCLOSURES
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $651 and $190, respectively
Deferred income tax assets — noncurrent
Deferred income tax liabilities — noncurrent
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 17)
Common stock, par value $0.0001; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 50,562,176 and 49,940,548 shares issued and 49,900,795 and 49,528,214 shares outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
Preferred stock; par value $0.0001, 1 share authorized and outstanding
Treasury stock; par value $0.0001, 661,381 and 412,334 at shares at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015
Total stockholders' equity
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated and combined financial statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME
Cost of sales (excluding amortization, shown separately below)
Research and development expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Amortization of intangibles
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Operating (loss) income
Other (expense) income
Gain on foreign currency exchange
(Loss) income before income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net (loss) income
Loss per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
The AgroFresh Business (Predecessor)
Net Parent Investment
Accumulated Other
Stockholders'
Balance at
Net transfers from parent
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (Successor)
Issuance of restricted stock
Repurchase of stock for treasury
Comprehensive loss
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Accretion of contingent consideration
Decrease in contingent consideration
Amortization of inventory fair value adjustment
Loss on sales of property
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisition):
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Other assets and liabilities
Cash paid for property and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property
Repayment of term loan
Cash transfers to/from parent, net
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for:
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (the "Company") is a global agricultural innovator in proprietary advanced technologies that enhance the freshness, quality and value of fresh produce. The Company currently offers SmartFreshTM applications at customer sites through a direct service model utilizing third-party contractors and provides advisory services relying on its extensive knowledge on the use of its products over thousands of monitored applications. The Company operates in over 40 countries and currently derives the majority of its revenue working with customers to protect the value of apples, pears, and other produce during storage. Line extensions and new services have been introduced to strengthen the Company's global position in post-harvest storage and to capitalize on adjacent growth opportunities in pre-harvest markets.
The end markets that the Company serves are seasonal and are generally aligned with the seasonal growing patterns of the Company's customers. For those customers growing, harvesting or storing apples, the Company's primary target market, the peak season in the southern hemisphere is the first and second quarters of each year, while the peak season in the northern hemisphere is the third and fourth quarters of each year. Within each half-year period (i.e., January through June for the southern hemisphere, and July through December, for the northern hemisphere) the apple growing season has historically occurred during both quarters. A variety of factors, including weather, may affect the timing of the growing, harvesting and storing patterns of the Company's customers and therefore shift the consumption of the Company's services and products between the first and second quarters primarily in the southern hemisphere or between the third and fourth quarters primarily in the northern hemisphere.
The Company was originally incorporated as Boulevard Acquisition Corp. ("Boulevard"), a blank check company, in Delaware on October 24, 2013, and was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. On July 31, 2015, the Company completed a Business Combination (refer to Note 3) and changed its name to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. Prior to consummation of the Business Combination, the Company's efforts were limited to organizational activities, its initial public offering and related financings, and the search for suitable business acquisition transactions.
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition and cash flows for the periods shown, including normal, recurring accruals and other items. The consolidated results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
For additional information, these condensed consolidated and combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated and combined financial statements and notes included in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. As used in these notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements, the "AgroFresh Business" refers to the business conducted prior to the closing of the Business Combination by The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") through a combination of wholly-owned subsidiaries and operations of Dow, including through AgroFresh Inc. in the United States.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-09 "Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." This update is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for companies with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this update.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 "Leases (Topic 842)" which requires organizations to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The guidance is effective for public companies with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this update.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-9 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." Under the new standard, revenue is recognized at the time a good or service is transferred to a customer for the amount of consideration received for that specific good or service. Entities may use a full retrospective approach or report the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption when
implementing this standard. On July 9, 2015, the FASB voted to defer the effective date of this ASU by one year to December 15, 2017, for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after that date and permitted early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this update.
In April 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-10 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers Topic 606: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing." This Update clarifies the implementation guidance on identifying a performance obligation and licensing and is effective on the same date as ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this update.
On July 31, 2015 (the "Closing Date"), the Company consummated a business combination (the "Business Combination") pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated April 30, 2015 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and between the Company and Dow providing for the acquisition by the Company of the AgroFresh Business (defined below) from Dow, resulting in AgroFresh Inc. becoming a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company paid the following consideration to Rohm and Haas Company ("Rohm and Haas"), a subsidiary of Dow: (i) 17,500,000 shares of common stock (the "Stock Consideration") and (ii) $635 million in cash (the "Cash Consideration"). The "AgroFresh Business" refers to the business conducted prior to the closing of the Business Combination by Dow through a combination of wholly-owned subsidiaries and operations of Dow, including through AgroFresh Inc. in the United States. As a result of the Business Combination, the Company was identified as the acquirer for accounting purposes, and the AgroFresh Business is the acquiree and accounting Predecessor. The Company's financial statement presentation reflects the AgroFresh Business as the "Predecessor" for periods through the Closing Date. On the Closing Date, Boulevard was re-named AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. and is the "Successor" for periods after the Closing Date, which includes consolidation of the AgroFresh Business subsequent to the Closing Date.
In addition to the Stock Consideration and the Cash Consideration, Dow is entitled to receive the following consideration:
A deferred payment from the Company of $50 million, subject to the Company's achievement of a specified
average Business EBITDA, as defined in the Purchase Agreement, over the two year period from
January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017;
6 million of the Company's warrants to be issued on or around April 30, 2016;
85% of the amount of the tax savings, if any, in U.S. Federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax that the Company actually realizes as a result of the increase in tax basis of the AgroFresh Inc. assets resulting from a section 338(h)(10) election that the Company and Dow made in connection with the Business Combination; and
reimbursement for any value-added or transfer taxes paid by Dow in conjunction with the transaction.
In addition, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the amount of the Cash Consideration paid as part of the purchase price is subject to adjustment following the Closing Date based upon the working capital of the AgroFresh Business as of the Closing Date being greater or less than a target level of working capital determined in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
The Company accounted for its acquisition of the AgroFresh Business as a business combination under the scope of Accounting Standards Codification Topic ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations. Pursuant to ASC 805, the Company has been determined to be an accounting acquirer since the Company paid cash and equity consideration for all of the assets of the AgroFresh Business. The AgroFresh Business constitutes a business with inputs, processes and outputs. Accordingly, the acquisition of the AgroFresh Business constitutes the acquisition of a business in accordance with ASC 805 and is accounted for using the acquisition method.
The following summarizes the purchase consideration paid to Dow:
Calculation of Purchase Price (As Originally Reported)
Measurement Period Adjustments
Calculation of Purchase Price as Adjusted
Cash consideration
Stock consideration (1)
Warrant consideration (2)
Deferred payment (3)
VAT and transfer tax reimbursable to Dow (4)
Tax amortization benefit contingency (5)
Working capital payment to Dow
Total purchase price
The Company issued 17,500,000 shares of common stock valued at $12.00 per share as of July 31, 2015.
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into a Warrant Purchase Agreement whereby it agreed to issue to Dow a certain number of warrants on or about April 30, 2016. The Company calculated the fair value of the 6,000,000 warrants expected to be issued to Dow at $3.17 per warrant as of July 31, 2015.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Dow a deferred payment of $50 million subject to the achievement of a specified average Business EBITDA level over the two year period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. The Company estimated the fair value of the deferred payment using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company was required to reimburse Dow for any value-added or transfer taxes paid by Dow in conjunction with the Business Combination.
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company entered into a Tax Receivables Agreement with Dow. The Company estimated the fair value of future cash payments based upon its estimate that the undiscounted cash payments to be made total approximately $343 million and are based on an estimated intangible write-up amortized over 15 years, tax effected at 37%, with each amortized amount then discounted to present value utilizing an appropriate market discount rate to arrive at the estimated fair value of the cash payments and the associated liability.
The determination of the purchase price, in particular the contingent consideration, is based on preliminary valuations and is subject to final adjustment to reflect the final valuations. These final valuations could have a material impact on the preliminary determination of the total purchase price disclosed above.
The Company recorded a preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the AgroFresh Business's tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the Closing Date. The preliminary purchase price allocation is as follows:
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (in thousands)
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation (As Adjusted)
Accounts receivable and other receivables
Identifiable intangible assets
Noncurrent deferred tax asset
Total identifiable assets acquired
Accrued and other current liabilities
Pension and deferred compensation
Current deferred tax liability
Net identifiable assets acquired
The preliminary values (in thousands) allocated to identifiable intangible assets and their estimated useful lives are as follows:
(in thousands, except useful life data)
Useful life
Developed technology
In-process research and development
Indefinite Life
Total intangible assets
Weighted average life of finite-lived intangible assets
The goodwill of $62.1 million arising from the Business Combination is primarily attributable to the market position of the AgroFresh Business. This goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
The preliminary allocation of the purchase price, as well as the preliminary purchase price, is based on the preliminary valuations performed to determine the fair value of the net assets as of the acquisition date and is subject to final adjustment to reflect the final valuations, including the final working capital settlement and the value of contingent consideration. These final valuations of the assets and liabilities could have a material impact on the preliminary purchase price allocation disclosed above.
If the Company and the Agrofresh Business had combined at January 1, 2015, net sales and net loss for the three month period ended March 31, 2015 would have been approximately $32.3 million and $9.9 million on a pro forma basis. The pro forma results include on an after-tax basis, incremental interest expense of approximately $8.8 million (including accretion of contingent consideration), incremental amortization of intangibles of approximately $1.6 million and incremental G&A expense of approximately $1.6 million. The pro forma results do not include the impact of the amortization of the inventory step-up.
The Company is a party to ongoing agreements with Dow, a related party, including, but not limited to, operating-related agreements for certain transition services, seconded employees and occupancy. The Company paid Dow an aggregate of $2.8 million for such services for the three months ending March 31, 2016, made up of $2.3 million related to the ongoing costs of the Transition Services Agreement, $0.4 million for rent and $0.1 million for other expenses. As of March 31, 2016, the Company has an outstanding payable to Dow of $1.5 million, made up of $0.6 million related to the ongoing costs of the Transition Services Agreements and $0.9 million for seconded employees.
Inventories at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following:
Finished goods (1)
The amount shown above includes the unamortized fair value adjustment of $12.0 million and $30.5 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
Property and equipment consisted of the following:
(in thousands, except for useful life data)
Less: accumulated depreciation
Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (Successor) and March 31, 2015 (Predecessor) was $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Depreciation expense is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of (loss) income.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are as follows:
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Measurement-period adjustments
Balance as of March 31, 2016
The Company's other intangible assets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following:
Gross Carrying Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Other intangible assets:
The weighted-average amortization period for the finite-lived intangible assets is 19.3 years. The weighted-average amortization period for developed technology, customer relationships and software is 19.2, 23.8 and 3.6 years, respectively.
Goodwill and intangible assets at March 31, 2016 are based on the preliminary purchase price allocation of the AgroFresh Business, which is based on preliminary valuations performed to determine the fair value of the acquired assets as of the acquisition date. The amounts allocated to goodwill and other intangible assets are subject to final adjustment to reflect the final valuations. These final valuations could have a material impact on other intangible assets and goodwill. See Note 3 for further discussion of the acquisition of the AgroFresh Business.
Estimated annual amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets subsequent to March 31, 2016 is as follows:
2016 (remaining)
The Company's accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
Warrant consideration
Tax amortization benefit contingency
Working capital settlement
Additional consideration due seller
Accrued compensation and benefits
Accrued rebates payable
Insurance premium financing payable
The Company's debt consisted of the following:
Total Term Loan outstanding
Less: Amounts due within one year
Total long-term debt due after one year
At March 31, 2016, the Company assessed the amount recorded under the Term Loan (defined below) and the Revolving Loan (defined below) and determined that such amounts approximated fair value. The fair values of the debt are based on quoted inactive market prices and are therefore classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.
The Term Loan is presented net of deferred costs of issuance, which are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the Term Loan. Gross deferred issuance costs at the inception of the Term Loan were $12.9 million and as of March 31, 2016 there were $11.9 million of unamortized deferred issuance costs.
Scheduled principal repayments under the Term Loan subsequent to March 31, 2016 are as follows:
Credit Facility (Successor)
On July 31, 2015, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, AgroFresh Inc. as the borrower and its parent, AF Solutions Holdings LLC ("AF Solutions Holdings"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as the guarantor, entered into a Credit Agreement with Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility consists of a $425 million term loan (the "Term Loan"), with an amortization equal to 1.00% per year, and a $25 million revolving loan facility (the "Revolving Loan"). The Revolving Loan includes a $10 million letter-of-credit sub-facility, issuances against which reduce the available capacity for borrowing. As of March 31, 2016, the Company has issued $2.1 million of letters of credit, against which no funds have been drawn. The Term Loan has a scheduled maturity date of July 31, 2021, and the Revolving Loan has a scheduled maturity date of July 31, 2019. The interest rates on borrowings under the facilities are either the alternate base rate plus 3.75% or LIBOR plus 4.75% per annum, with a 1.00% LIBOR floor (with step-downs in respect of borrowings under the Revolving Loans dependent upon the achievement of certain financial ratios). The obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of (a) AgroFresh Inc. and its direct wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries and (b) AF Solutions Holdings, including the common stock of AgroFresh Inc.
The net proceeds of the Term Loan were used to fund a portion of the purchase price payable to Rohm and Haas in connection with the Business Combination. Amounts available under the Revolving Loan may also be used for working capital, general corporate purposes, and other uses, all as more fully set forth in the Credit Facility.
As of the Closing Date the Company incurred approximately $12.9 million in debt issuance costs related to the Term Loan and $1.3 million in costs related to the Revolving Loan. The debt issuance costs associated with the Term Loan were capitalized against the principal balance of the debt, and the Revolving Loan costs were capitalized in Other Assets. All issuance costs will be accreted through interest expense for the duration of each respective debt facility. The accretion in interest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was approximately $0.5 million.
The Company's other noncurrent liabilities consisted of the following:
Deferred payment
On March 10, 2016, by mutual agreement, Thomas Macphee resigned as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Company's Board of Directors. In addition, Stan Howell, the Company's President, has agreed that he will resign from such position effective on April 30, 2016. According to the terms of their respective separation agreements, the Company expensed $1.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2016. This amount was recorded in selling, general and administration expense in the condensed consolidated and combined statement of loss.
The authorized common stock of the Company consists of 400,000,000 shares. Holders of the Company's common stock are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock. As of March 31, 2016, there were 50,562,176 shares of common stock issued. As of March 31, 2016, there were warrants to purchase 15,983,072 shares of the Company's common stock outstanding at a strike price of $11.50. Of the 15,983,072 warrants, 9,823,072 (net of the 1,201,928 warrants repurchased) were issued as part of the units sold in the Company's initial public offering in February 2014 and 6,160,000 warrants were sold in a private placement at the time of such public offering.
In connection with and as a condition to the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company issued Rohm and Haas one share of Series A Preferred Stock. Rohm and Haas, voting as a separate class, is entitled to appoint one director to the Company's board of directors for so long as Rohm and Haas beneficially holds 10% or more of the aggregate amount of the outstanding shares of common stock and non-voting common stock of the Company. The Series A Preferred Stock has no other rights.
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recognized $1.2 million, in stock-based compensation expense which was allocated to cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, and research and development expenses. At March 31, 2016, there was $4.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost relating to outstanding unvested equity instruments expected to be recognized over the weighted average period of 2.4 years.
Pursuant to the separations of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President as described in Note 11, the Company has recorded a net charge of $0.6 million for the modification and vesting of the restricted stock awards less compensation previously recognized on forfeited options.
Basic income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In computing dilutive income (loss) per share, basic income (loss) per share is adjusted for the assumed issuance of all potentially dilutive share-based awards, including warrants, restricted stock units, performance share units, and convertible preferred stock.
The following represents amounts that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future:
Stock-based compensation awards(1):
Restricted stock units
Restricted stock to directors
Warrants:
Private placement warrants
Public warrants
SARs and Phantom Options are payable in cash and will have no impact on number of shares outstanding
Warrants are considered anti-dilutive and excluded when the exercise price exceeds the average market value of the Company's common stock price during the applicable period. Performance share units are considered anti-dilutive if the performance targets upon which the issuance of the shares is contingent have not been achieved and the respective performance period has not been completed as of the end of the current period.
The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 37.8% (Successor), compared to the first three months of 2015 of 74.1% (Predecessor).
The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (Successor) differs from the US statutory tax rate of 35%. due to state income taxes and certain non-deductible expenses.
With respect to the Predecessor period, the effective tax rate in the prior period was unfavorably impacted by an increase in valuation allowances in certain foreign jurisdictions where the Company incurred net operating losses and would not be able to receive tax benefit from such losses, thus increasing the overall effective tax rate.
The authoritative guidance for disclosures about segments of an enterprise establishes standards for reporting information about segments. It defines operating segments as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating decision-makers are considered to be our interim Principal Executive Officers. We currently operate and manage our business as a single reportable segment. Our interim Principal Executive Officers allocate resources and assesses performance of the business at the consolidated level. Accordingly, we consider ourselves to be in a single operating and reportable segment structure.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is currently involved in various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company has recorded reserves for loss contingencies based on the specific circumstances of each case. Such reserves are recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred as of the balance sheet date and can be reasonably estimated. Although the results of litigation and claims can never be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these actions will have any material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Purchase Commitments
The Company has various purchasing contracts for contract manufacturing and research and development services which are based on the requirements of the business. Generally, the contracts are at prices not in excess of current market price and do not commit the business to obligations outside the normal customary terms for similar contracts.
Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents the fair value of the Company's financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
Warrant consideration(1)
Tax amortization benefit contingency(2)
Deferred acquisition payment(3)
These liabilities relate to warrants to purchase the Company's common stock and future obligations to deliver additional such warrants in relation to the Business Combination. The inputs used in the fair value measurement were directly observable quoted prices for identical assets in an inactive market.
The fair value of the tax amortization benefit contingency is measured using an income approach based on the Company's best estimate of the undiscounted cash payments to be made, tax effected at 37% and discounted to present value utilizing an appropriate market discount rate. The valuation technique used did not change during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
The fair value of the deferred acquisition payment is measured using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and based on the Company's best estimate of the Company's average Business EBITDA, as defined in the Purchase Agreement, over the two year period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. The valuation technique used did not change during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Changes in Financial Instruments Measured at Level 3 Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following tables present the changes during the periods presented in the Company's Level 3 financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These instruments relate to contingent consideration payable to Dow in connection with the Business Combination.
Deferred acquisition payment
Measurement period adjustment
Mark to market adjustment
Balance March 31, 2016
As used in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A"), the terms "Predecessor" and the "AgroFresh Business" refer to the business conducted by The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") through a combination of wholly-owned subsidiaries and operations of Dow, including through AgroFresh Inc. in the United States, prior to the closing of the Company's acquisition of such business from Dow on July 31, 2015 (the "Business Combination"), the term "Successor" refers to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (which was named Boulevard Acquisition Corp. prior to the closing of the Business Combination), and the terms "Company", "AgroFresh", "we", "us" and "our" refer to the combined Predecessor and Successor companies, unless the context otherwise requires or it is otherwise indicated. The application of acquisition accounting for the Business Combination significantly affected certain assets, liabilities, and expenses. As a result, financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2016 may not be comparable to the Predecessor financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Refer to Note 3 to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements contained in this Report for additional information on the acquisition accounting for the Business Combination.
The following discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report.
This MD&A contains certain financial measures, in particular Adjusted EBITDA, which are not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures are being presented because management believes that they provide readers with additional insight into the Company's operational performance relative to earlier periods and relative to its competitors. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measures used by the Company to evaluate its performance. The Company does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for any GAAP financial information. Readers of this MD&A should use these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable GAAP measure is provided in this MD&A.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report including, without limitation,
statements in this MD&A regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward looking statements. When used in this Report, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results and/or the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward -looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "2015 Form 10-K") as well as the update to those Risk Factors disclosed in Part II, Item 1A of this Report. All subsequent written or oral forward looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.
AgroFresh is a global agricultural innovator in proprietary technologies that preserve the quality and value of fresh produce such as apples, pears, kiwifruit, avocados, and flowers from orchard and field to the produce section of the supermarkets and ultimately into the homes of consumers across the globe. The Company currently offers SmartFresh™ applications at customer sites through a direct service model utilizing third-party contractors. As part of the AgroFresh™ Whole Product offering, the Company also provides advisory services employing its extensive knowledge on the use of 1-MCP collected through thousands of monitored applications. The Company operates in over 40 countries and derives over 90% of its revenue working with customers to protect the value of apples, pears, and other produce during storage.
Freshness is the most important driver of consumer satisfaction when it comes to produce, and, at the same time, food waste is a major issue in the industry. About one third of the total food produced worldwide is lost or wasted each year. Nearly 45 percent of all fresh fruits and vegetables, 40 percent of apples, and 20 percent of bananas are lost to spoilage. AgroFresh plays a key role in the value chain by offering products and services that maintain produce freshness and reduce waste.
AgroFresh's current principal product, SmartFresh™, regulates the post-harvest ripening effects of ethylene, the naturally occurring plant hormone that triggers ripening in certain fruits and vegetables. SmartFresh™ is naturally biodegradable, leaves
no detectable residue, and has been approved for use by many domestic and global regulatory organizations. Harvista™ extends the company's proprietary technology into pre-harvest management of pome fruit such as apples and pears. AdvanStore™ is an atmospheric monitoring system under development that leverages the company's extensive understanding of fruit physiology, fruit respiration, current controlled atmosphere technology, and new proprietary diagnostic tools. RipeLock™ combines the technology behind SmartFresh™ with modified atmosphere packaging designed specifically to preserve quality during transportation and to extend the yellow shelf life of bananas.
AgroFresh's business is highly seasonal, driven by the timing of harvests in the northern and southern hemispheres. The first half of the year encompasses the southern hemisphere harvest season and the second half of the year encompasses the northern hemisphere harvest season. Since the northern hemisphere harvest is typically larger, a significant portion of our sales and profits are historically generated in the second half of the year. In addition to this seasonality, factors such as weather patterns may impact the timing of the harvest within the two halves of the year.
AgroFresh is a former blank check company that completed its initial public offering on February 19, 2014. Upon the closing of the Business Combination with Dow on July 31, 2015, the company changed its name to AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. The company paid Dow cash consideration of $635 million and issued Dow 17.5 million shares of common stock at a deemed value of $12 per share. The transaction included a liability to Dow to deliver a variable number of warrants between the closing and April 2016. The cash consideration was funded through our initial public offering, a term loan, and a private placement of 4.878 million shares of common stock that yielded $50 million of proceeds. The transaction also has an earn-out feature whereby Dow is entitled to receive a deferred payment of $50 million in March 2018 if AgroFresh achieves a specified average adjusted EBITDA level over 2016 and 2017. In addition, pursuant to a tax receivables agreement entered into in connection with the Business Combination, Dow is entitled to receive 85% of the tax savings, if any, that the Company will receive as a result of the increase in the tax basis of assets acquired pursuant to the Business Combination.
In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, AgroFresh entered into a transition services agreement with Dow. Under the agreement, Dow will provide AgroFresh a suite of services for a period of time ranging from six months to five years depending on the service. The agreement also provides for a $5 million execution fee that was paid to Dow at the closing of the Business Combination.
Factors Affecting the Company's Results of Operations
The Company's results of operations are affected by a number of external factors. Some of the more important factors are briefly discussed below.
Demand for the Company's Offerings
The Company services customers in over 40 countries and derives its revenue by assisting growers and packers to optimize the value of their crops primarily through the post-harvest period. Its products and services add value to customers by reducing food spoilage and extending the life of perishable fruits. The U.S. Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that a growing global population would require a near doubling of food production in developing countries by 2050 to meet expected demand.
This global trend, among others, creates demand for the Company's solutions. The Company's offerings are currently protected by patents on the encapsulation of the active ingredient, 1-MCP.
The global produce market is a function of both the size and the yield of the crop harvested; variations in either will affect total production. Because The Company's customers operate in the agricultural industry, weather patterns may impact their total production which defines the business's commercial opportunities. The Company supports a diverse customer base whose end markets vary due to the type of fruit and quality of the product demanded in their respective markets. Such variation across end markets affects demand for the Company's services.
Customer Pricing
The Company's offerings are priced based on the value they provide to the Company's customers. From time to time, the Company adjusts the pricing of its offering to address market trends. The Company does not price its products in relation to any underlying cost of materials or services; therefore, its margins can fluctuate with changes in these costs. The Company's pricing may include rebate arrangements with customers in exchange for mutually beneficial long-term relationships and growth.
Whole Product Offering
The AgroFreshTM Whole Product offering is a direct service model for the Company's commercially available products, including SmartFreshTM and HarvistaTM. Sales and sales support personnel maintain direct face-to-face relationships with customers year round. Technical sales and support personnel work directly with customers to provide value-added advisory services regarding the application of SmartFresh. The actual application of SmartFresh is performed by service providers that are typically third-party contractors. The Harvista application service, through both aerial and ground application, is also administered by third-party service providers.
The Company is shifting the terms of its contracts with service providers from annual renewal periods to two or three year durations in order to have greater certainty that experienced applicators will be available for the next harvest season. Most of the Company's service providers are operating under multi-year contracts. Management believes the quality and experience of its service providers delivers clear commercial benefits.
The Company's operations are subject to seasonal variation due to the timing of the growing seasons around the world. Northern Hemisphere growers harvest from August through November, and Southern Hemisphere growers harvest from late January to early May. Since the majority of the Company's sales are in Northern Hemisphere countries, a proportionately greater share of its revenue is realized during the second half of the year. There are also variations in the seasonal demands from year to year depending on weather patterns and crop size. This seasonality and variations of this seasonality could impact the ability to compare results between time periods.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
With a global customer base and geographic footprint, the Company generates revenue and incurs costs in a number of different currencies, with the Euro comprising the most significant share of non-U.S. currencies. Fluctuations in the value of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar can increase or decrease the Company's overall revenue and profitability as stated in U.S. dollars, which is the Company's reporting currency. In certain instances, if sales in a given geography have been adversely impacted on a long-term basis due to foreign currency depreciation, the Company has been able to adjust its pricing so as to mitigate the impact on profitability.
Domestic and Foreign Operations
The Company has both domestic and foreign operations. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, regional growth-related spending in research and development ("R&D") and marketing expenses, and changes in local selling prices, among other factors, may impact the profitability of foreign operations in the future.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that can have a significant impact on the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations and that require the use of complex and subjective estimates based upon management's judgment. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ materially from these estimates. The policies applied in preparing our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are those that management believes are the most dependent on estimates and assumptions. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates previously disclosed in our 2015 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. For a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates as well as a listing of our significant accounting policies, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates" and "Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in our 2015 Form 10-K.
The following table summarizes the results of operations for both the Successor and Predecessor periods:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Loss on foreign currency exchange
Loss (income) before income taxes
Comparison of Results of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (Successor) to the three months ended March 31, 2015 (Predecessor).
Net sales were $28.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $32.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to unfavorable weather conditions in Brazil and Argentina, partially offset by greater penetration of the Company's market leading SmartFreshTM product in Chile, Argentina and New Zealand. HarvistaTM pre-harvest technology had a successful launch in Argentina which also helped to mitigate the decline.
Cost of sales was $23.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase in the cost of sales was primarily driven by $18.5 million of amortization of the inventory step up adjustments, resulting from the purchase price allocation for the Business Combination discussed in Note 3 to the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report. Excluding the amortization of inventory step-up, the cost of sales increase was driven by the timing of seasonal expenses and a modest increase in the Company's fixed operating cost base to support growth initiatives.
Gross profit was $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $27.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in gross profit was primarily driven by the amortization of the step up in the value of inventory, the timing of sales due to later growing seasons in the southern hemisphere, and higher fixed costs.
Research and development expenses were $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Research and development expenses decreased due to discontinuation of certain projects.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $19.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. This increase was primarily driven by non-recurring costs to establish the Company as a separate public company of $5.3 million, incremental recurring expenses of $4.3 million, separation and other non-recurring one-time expenses of $3.0 million, and amortization of $0.8 million related to the $5.0 million upfront payment made to Dow pursuant to a Transition Services Agreement entered into on July 31, 2015 in connection with the Business Combination.
As discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements, pursuant to the Business Combination, the Company entered into various forms of contingent consideration, including the warrant consideration, the deferred payment, and the tax amortization benefit contingency. These liabilities are measured at fair value each reporting date and any mark-to-market fluctuations are recognized in earnings. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recognized a $3.1 million gain resulting from a reduction in the fair value of the deferred payment. There were no mark-to-market gains or losses recorded for the tax amortization benefit contingency or the warrant consideration during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Non-GAAP Measures
The following table sets forth the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA .The Adjusted EBITDA measure is consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in the Company's Credit Agreement. The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides meaningful supplemental information as it is used by the Company's management to evaluate the Company's performance, enhance a reader's understanding of the financial performance of the Company, is more indicative of future operating performance of the Company, and facilitates a better comparison among fiscal periods, as the non-GAAP measure excludes items that are not considered core to the Company's operations. These non-GAAP results are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.
The following is a reconciliation between the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, income (loss) before income taxes:
GAAP Income (Loss) before income taxes
Amortization of inventory step-up(1)
Share-based compensation(2)
Share-based compensation related to severance (6)
Interest expense(3)
Depreciation and amortization (2)
Stand-alone costs(4)
Research and development cost synergies(5)
Severance related costs(6)
Other non-recurring costs(4)
(Gain) loss on currency translation
Mark-to-market adjustments, net(7)
Pro forma deferred revenue(8)
Franchise and state taxes
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
The amortization of inventory step-up related to the acquisition of AgroFresh is charged to income based on the pace of inventory usage.
Expenses incurred during the period added back to EBITDA related to equity compensation, depreciation and amortization largely associated with the asset step-up and other non-recurring expenses incurred during the period.
Interest paid on the term loan, inclusive of accretion for debt discounts, debt issuance costs and contingent consideration.
Non-recurring professional fees associated with becoming a stand-alone public company.
R&D savings related to two projects (Invinsa and IDC).
Severance costs related to our former Chief Executive Officer, former President and other former personnel, including the net share-based compensation cost due to acceleration of vesting on restricted stock and forfeiture of stock options.
Non-cash fair value measurement adjustment related to the contingent earn-out liability.
Deferred revenue associated with a revenue agreement not included in the Business Combination.
Cash provided by operating activities was $10.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, comprised of a net loss of $25.1 million plus $22.1 million of non-cash items added back to arrive at cash, plus cash generated by a decrease in net operating assets of $13.0 Non-cash items added back to net loss were comprised mainly of depreciation, amortization and accretion of the contingent consideration of $17.9 million, $18.5 million of amortization of the step-up in inventory recorded as a result of the Business Combination, stock-based compensation of $1.1 million, amortization of deferred financing fees of $0.5 million and other non-cash items of $1.0 offset by a deferred tax benefit of $13.8 million and a decrease in contingent consideration of $3.1 million. Cash used by operations was $19.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease was comprised of net income of $2.5 million plus depreciation and amortization of $7.5 million, less a deferred tax benefit of $2.1 million less a use of cash due to an increase in net operating assets of $27.8 million.
Cash used in investing activities for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 was for the purchase of fixed assets and leasehold improvements. Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was used for the repayment of debt and the purchase of treasury stock. Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was funding from the Predecessor's parent.
On July 31, 2015, we consummated the Business Combination, pursuant to which we issued 17,500,000 shares of common stock at a deemed value of $12.00 per share and paid cash consideration of $635.0 million at the closing. The cash consideration was funded through our initial public offering, the Term Loan (defined below) and the sale of our PIPE shares (defined below).
On July 31, 2015, certain of our subsidiaries entered into a Credit Agreement with Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility consists of a $425 million term loan (the "Term Loan"), with an amortization equal to 1.00% per year, and a $25 million revolving loan facility (the "Revolving Loan"). The Revolving Loan includes a $10 million letter-of-credit sub-facility, issuances against which reduce the available capacity for borrowing. As of March 31, 2016, the Company has issued $2.1 million of letters of credit, against which no funds have been drawn. The Term Loan has a scheduled maturity date of July 31, 2021, and the Revolving Loan has a scheduled maturity date of July 31, 2019. The interest
rates on borrowings under the facilities are either the alternate base rate plus 3.75%, or LIBOR plus 4.75% per annum, with a 1.00% LIBOR floor (with step-downs in respect of borrowings under the Revolving Loans dependent upon the achievement of certain financial ratios). The obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of (a) AgroFresh Inc. and its direct wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries and (b) AF Solutions Holdings LLC, including the common stock of AgroFresh Inc.
PIPE Shares
In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, we issued an aggregate of 4,878,000 shares of our common stock, for an aggregate purchase price of $50.0 million, in a private placement ("PIPE").
Stock Repurchase Program
In November 2015, the Company's board of directors approved a Stock Repurchase Program totaling $10 million of the Company's publicly-traded shares of common stock. The Repurchase Program will remain in effect for a period of one year, until November 17, 2016, unless terminated earlier by the Company. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 the Company repurchased 249,047 shares of common stock at an average market price of $5.95.
As of March 31, 2016, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations other than detailed below. We have not guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities or entered into any options on non-financial assets.
As part of the Business Combination, Dow is entitled to receive future contingent consideration and other payments from the Company in relation to (i) in 2018 a deferred payment from the Company of $50,000,000, subject to the Company's achievement of a specified average adjusted EBITDA level over the two year period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017; (ii) warrants to purchase the Company's common stock pursuant to a Warrant Purchase Agreement; (iii) a Tax Receivables Agreement under which the Company will pay annually to Dow 85% of the amount of the tax savings, if any, in U.S. Federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax that the Company actually realizes as a result of the increase in tax basis of the AgroFresh Inc. assets resulting from a section 338(h)(10) election that the Company and Dow made in connection with the Business Combination; and (iv) the final working capital settlement. See Note 3 to the unaudited financial statements contained in this Report for further discussion of contingent consideration in connection with the Business Combination.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to interest rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our Term Loan and Revolving Loan. We have not used derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio. The Term Loan and Revolving Loan bear interest at floating rates. For variable rate debt, interest rate changes generally do not affect the fair market value of such debt, but do impact future earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant. Holding debt levels constant, a 100 basis point increase in the effective interest rates would have increased the Company's interest expense by $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Foreign Currency Risk
A portion of the Company's operations consists of manufacturing and sales activities in foreign jurisdictions. As a result, the Company's financial results could be significantly affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in the foreign markets in which the Company distributes its products or services. The Company's operating results are exposed to changes in exchange rates between the US dollar and various foreign currencies. As we expand internationally, our results of operations and cash flows will become increasingly subject to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
We have not used forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. Foreign currency risk can be quantified by estimating the change in results of operations or financial position resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in foreign exchange rates. We believe such a change would generally not have a material impact on our financial position, but could have a material impact on our results of operations. Holding other variables constant (such as interest rates and debt levels), if the U.S. dollar appreciated by 10% against the foreign currencies used by our operations in in the first three months of 2016, revenues would have decreased by approximately $2.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA would have decreased by approximately $1.0 million for the three ended March 31, 2016.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our interim Co-Principal Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our interim Co-Principal Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including our interim Co-Principal Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Controls
Despite the fact that our management was not required to make an assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting, in the course of preparing our financial statements as of and for the period ended December 31, 2015, we identified certain deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that we believed to be a material weakness. In particular, we identified a material weakness in the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that relates to the accurate and timely reporting of our operating expense accruals. This internal control failure related to ineffective design and operation of controls over our process of identifying and recording liabilities for vendor invoices received subsequent to year-end that related to our 2015 activities, which would have resulted in understated operating expenses and accrued liabilities, if left uncorrected.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
We commenced our remediation efforts related to the above material weakness in the first quarter of 2016. During the first quarter,
we hired additional permanent full-time finance and accounting personnel;
we continued building our stand-alone business and financial processes;
we developed formal policies and procedures related to expense cut-off validation; and
we conducted training and education of appropriate personnel outside the finance function regarding cost estimates and expense cut-off dates.
Our management, with the oversight of the Company's Audit Committee, has devoted considerable effort to remediating the material weakness identified above. While we took considerable action to remediate the material weakness related to the accurate and timely reporting of our operating expense accruals existing as of December 31, 2015, such remediation has not been fully evidenced. Accordingly, we continue to test our controls implemented in the first quarter to ensure that our controls are operating effectively. While there can be no assurance, we believe our material weakness will be remediated during the course of 2016.
Other than the changes discussed above, there have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II- OTHER INFORMATION
From time to time we are named as a defendant in legal actions arising from our normal business activities. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, we do not believe any currently pending legal proceeding to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
Ownership of our securities involves a high degree of risk. Holders of our securities should carefully consider, in addition to the historical financial statements and related notes and other information set forth in this Report, the risk factors discussed in Part I - Item 1A - Risk Factors included in our 2015 Form 10-K and the factors set forth below, all of which could materially affect our business or future results. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 2015 Form 10-K. If any of the risks or uncertainties described in any of such risk factors actually occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected in a material way. This could cause the trading prices of our securities to decline, perhaps significantly, and you may lose part or all of your investment.
We are currently conducting a search for a new chief executive officer. If we are unable to timely find a suitable permanent chief executive officer or integrate such person into our operations, our business may be harmed.
In March 2016, by mutual agreement, Thomas Macphee resigned as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors. In addition, Stan Howell, our President, resigned from such position effective on April 30, 2016. Effective on March 10, 2016, our Board of Directors appointed Nance Dicciani, the Chair of the Board of Directors, and Stephen Trevor, a member of the Board of Directors, as co-members of a newly-created Office of the Chair, to assume the duties and responsibilities of chief executive officer and president on an interim basis until a permanent chief executive officer is hired. We are currently conducting a search for a new chief executive officer , but there can be no assurance that a permanent replacement will be found on a timely basis, or at all. In such a case, our inability to find a suitable permanent replacement may have a detrimental impact on our Company and impede the progress of our business and growth objectives.
Additionally, any changes in our business strategy that may result from hiring a new chief executive officer may have a
disruptive impact on our ability to implement our business strategy and could have a material adverse effect on our
business. Any changes in business strategies can create uncertainty, may negatively impact our ability to execute our
business strategy quickly and effectively and may ultimately be unsuccessful. In addition, management transition periods can be difficult as the new management gains detailed knowledge of our operations, and friction or further management changes or disruptions could result from changes in strategy and management style. Until we integrate a new chief executive officer, we may be unable to successfully manage our business and growth objectives, and our business could suffer as a result.
The following table shows information regarding our repurchases of shares of our common stock during January 2016 (the only month during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 in which repurchases occurred).
Total Number of Shares of Stock Purchased(1)
Average Price Paid per Share
Total number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Dollar Value of Shares of Stock That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 6 to January 13
All shares of stock were repurchased under an authorization covering up to $10 million approved by our Board of Directors and publicly announced on November 18, 2016.
Exclusive of commissions paid on account of such purchases.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 31, 2015.(1)
Series A Certificate of Designation.(1)
Amended and Restated Bylaws.(2)
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of AgroFresh Solutions, Inc., effective as of September 3, 2015.(3)
Specimen Common Stock Certificate.(1)
Specimen Warrant Certificate.(1)
Separation Agreement and Release between the Company and Thomas Macphee.(3)
Separation Agreement and Release between the Company and Stan Howell.(3)
Certification of Co-Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended.*
Certification of Co-Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document*
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
Filed herewith
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2015.
Incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Company's definitive proxy statement (File No. 001-36197) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2015.
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2016.
By: /s/ Nance K. Dicciani
Name: Nance K. Dicciani
Title: Chair of the Board and Interim Co-Principal Executive Officer
By: /s/ Stephen S. Trevor
Name: Stephen S. Trevor
Title: Director and Interim Co-Principal Executive Officer
By: /s/ Margaret M. Loebl
Name: Margaret M. Loebl
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal financial and accounting officer)
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. Page
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. Reports


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A considerable escalation in the level of violent and vandalistic acts against Jewish individuals, sites and private property was recorded in 2012. In-your-face harassment, directed mainly against visible Jews, continues to be a troubling phenomenon, particularly in Western Europe, North America and Australia. The rise in numbers of violent and vandalistic acts follows two years in which the figures declined considerably after the peak of 2009. The combined number of 686 incidents of physical violence, direct threats and major acts of vandalism represents an increase of about 30 percent over the 2011 figure of 526. There were 43 attacks with weapons (6 percent); 98 without a weapon (14 percent); 6 cases of arson (one percent); 166 direct threats to Jewish lives (24 percent), and 373 cases of vandalism (55 percent). Two hundred-and-seventy-three attacks were perpetrated against individuals (40 percent); 102 against synagogues (15 percent); 59 against community buildings, including schools and kindergartens (8 percent); and 89 (13 percent) against cemeteries and monuments; 163 private properties were damaged (24 percent). Most of these acts (510) took place in France (200 cases), the US (99), the UK (84), Canada (74) and Australia (53), where the largest Jewish communities outside Israel reside.
For full text and statistics, click here (pdf file)
Doch 2012-fin.pdf 402.52 KB

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Preventing cancer
Skin sensitising chemicals
Perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS)
Lead in shot, bullets and fishing weights
Granules and mulches on sports pitches and playgrounds
Tattoo inks and permanent make-up
Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
RAC backs restricting intentional uses of microplastics
ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) supports restricting the use of intentionally added microplastics while recommending more stringent criteria for biodegradable polymers. The Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) agreed on its draft opinion, which will soon be available for consultation.
Helsinki, 10 June 2020 – RAC has adopted its opinion on ECHA's proposal to restrict the use of microplastics that are intentionally added to products on the EU/EEA market, in concentrations of more than 0.01 % weight by weight. The proposal was considered appropriate for reducing releases to the environment.
In its opinion, the committee recommended the following:
Biodegradable polymers: ECHA's proposal set out specific test methods and pass criteria for identifying biodegradable polymers, which are excluded from the restriction. RAC wanted to see greater evidence that microplastics are biodegradable in the environment (e.g. soils, marine environment, freshwater).
Use of microplastics as infill material on artificial turf pitches: RAC recommended a complete ban after a transition period of six years as there was incomplete information on the effectiveness of risk management measures. A ban would also be more effective than risk management measures in preventing environmental releases in the long term.
The definition of 'a microplastic': ECHA proposed a lower size limit of 100 nanometres for a microplastic as analytical methods for detecting microplastics in products (i.e. mixtures) are still in development. RAC recommended that a lower size limit is not necessary as the potential restriction can also be enforced in other ways, such as by looking at raw materials in supply chains.
ECHA's Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) agreed on its draft opinion on the costs and benefits of this proposal for society. SEAC supports the wide scope of the proposal and the transition periods for different product groups to give companies time to prepare. Although the benefits cannot be assessed in monetary terms, the cost-effectiveness of the proposal can be estimated. It noted that microplastic pollution is irreversible and that early action to reduce emissions can be beneficial for society.
For practical reasons and to ease enforcement, SEAC recommends a lower size limit of 100 nanometres until suitable analytical methods are available.
SEAC also noted that risk management measures to contain synthetic infill material on artificial pitches cost less than a complete ban, but a ban would be more effective in preventing releases in the long term. Based on the available information, the committee does not prefer one option over the other.
A 60-day consultation of SEAC's draft opinion will start soon. The consolidated opinion of both committees is expected to be ready by the end of 2020. The decisions on REACH restrictions are taken in the European Commission by the EU Member States and scrutinised by the Council and the European Parliament.
In January 2019, ECHA proposed a wide-ranging restriction on intentional uses of microplastics in products placed on the EU/EEA market to avoid or reduce environmental pollution. Currently, the releases of intentionally added microplastics in the EU/EEA are estimated to be around 42 000 tonnes a year. Additional releases from infill material used in artificial turf pitches could amount to 16 000 tonnes per year. The proposed restriction would prevent more than 90 % of these releases, or 500 000 tonnes of microplastic releases over a 20-year period.
The restriction proposal was developed in the context of the EU Plastics Strategy, which aims at circular plastics economy and contributes to reaching the 2030 sustainable development goals, the global climate commitments and the EU's industrial policy objectives.
Watch our video podcast with Director Peter van der Zandt discussing the restriction proposals for intentionally added microplastics and PFHxS.
Hot topics: microplastics
ECHA's restriction proposal
Opinion of RAC [PDF] [EN]
Draft opinion of SEAC [PDF] [EN]
Consultation of SEAC's draft opinion - give comments by 1 Sept 2020
European strategy for plastics
The opinions are available on RAC's and SEAC's web pages.


The Million Dollar Seed: How to Write Your Book and Build An Empire accelerates writers and authors into being authorpreneurs with the speed of light! As the Book Writing and Marketing Acceleration Coach, Mentor and Author, Stella Togo offers a wealth of insider secrets and prosperous marketing strategies including "The 9 Steps to Plant Your Million Dollar Seed" before you begin to write your book.
With her new paradigm and accelerated systems, Stella shows you how to create a minimum of 25 topic titles and headings within your content that can also be used for eBooks, speaking engagements, teleseminars, blogs, and much more!
As an added bonus and true testament to her established credence, Stella shares success stories about her clients who are building their empires.
WHY JUST WRITE A BOOK WHEN YOU CAN GROW A BUSINESS?
Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32, Crawley is a cancer survivor who insightfully and effectively eases a woman's fear by helping her honor the divine spirit within. Highly recommended by Jack Canfield, editor of the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series, women who fear, have, or know someone with breast cancer will experience this book as if having a heart-to-heart with a best friend.
Crawley leads with 101 Ways to Honor Yourself as a Woman, reminding women to do self-indulgent activities such as receiving a professional massage or treating themselves to a pedicure.
She insists on the necessity of living life as a receiver and not just a giver, establishing a new women's movement called the Honor Movement.
Readers will also find detailed suggestions on creating a 10-step healing plan, ways to support someone recovering from breast cancer, and clearly illustrated positions for giving themselves a visual breast inspection. This take-charge book offers new perspectives into illness and disease prevention, but is cozy enough to join you and a cup of your favorite herbal tea.


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Luboš Veselý - 21.07.2019
Lacko in Germany Attracts Fans to Most. Third Overall Already!
Adam Lacko, European Champion of 2017, after the excellent victory on Saturday, adds a bronze medal on Sunday and ranks third overall, together with the Hungarian pilot Kiss. Oly Janes defends the lead in Grammer Cup in fierce competition.
SUPERPOLE
The fourth ranking Adam Lacko had the seventh best lap time in the opening super pole. "The super pole was quite balanced. I tried to squeeze as much as I could from the vehicle, but the seventh rank was the maximum I could do today. We have to make a couple of changes to the truck before tomorrow. I believe they will work and reflect as an improvement in the race. As usual, dozens of thousand fans prepare to arrive here. Already today the tribunes were quite crowded, so I look very much forward to tomorrow," said Lacko after the time practice.
Oly Janes, the second pilot of Buggyra, had the sixteenth best lap time in the first part of the time practice. "Here in Germany the starting field is quite crowded as usual. It includes twenty five vehicles, which is the largest number in the season, and to assert oneself is much more difficult here. Of course I believed in a better starting position, but I will have to cope with what I received tomorrow. I believe the first curve will be tight and very attractive for the audience. I look forward."
FIRST RACE
Adam Lacko, pilot number one of the Buggyra Racing team, ranked sixth in the first race. "The most important thing now is to finish the races and collect the vital score points. That is why I did not want to risk a contact in a duel with Gerd that might result in giving up the race. I will fight in the second race, I might advance to the podium from there," hoped Lacko.
Oly Janes finished the first scored race with the fourteenth rank, but dropped one rank due to a five-second penalisation for leaving the track. "This was a very interesting race with a lot of contacts, which is always very attractive for the audience. I could myself "enjoy" a lot of duels with my British colleagues Shan and Terry. This time I did not manage to climb the Grammer Cup podium but I will certainly try to make up for it in the second race. I will not give them anything for free."
SECOND RACE
Adam Lacko opened the second race excellently, taking the lead since the second curve and holding it until the finish. "I started excellently and took the lead. Then the only thing left was to watch for my rivals in the rear-view mirrors. I am happy. The first victory in the season, and here at Nürburgring in addition, with its traditionally excellent atmosphere! This is also the premiere victory for our new VK, so all is well. I hope for another success tomorrow," smiled Lacko despite the drop to the fifth overall rank, with the minimum loss of four points behind the second-ranking Albacete. "This year the field is really well balanced and we all ob each other of score points one by one. There is a mere four-point difference between the second and the fifth rank, so the very next race can deal the cards very differently again. This is a real puzzle and nothing can be predicted for the nearest future," added Lacko.
Robin Dolejš, Director of the Development Section of the Buggyra Racing team, was also satisfied with the second race. "There is a clear wining potential hidden in our VK50. Today all went perfectly well. This is encouragement for the whole team as a little progress is visible after all," was the happy comment of Robin.
Oly Janes ranked sixteenth in the second race. "I am definitely not much satisfied with my performance today. The starting field is very crowded here with truck racing stars and the competition is big. Tomorrow I will have to work hard to keep my first rank in the Grammer Cup. It will not be easy but I hope in a little bit of luck on my side," said Janes.
Adam Lacko improved by two ranks in the second time practice of the weekend with the fifth best lap time. "I felt good, and there was a tangible improvement since the first time practice. I accelerated by nearly one second. Mere three hundredths of a second after the second row in the starting grid! Pity! The balanced standard of the championship was confirmed again. I hope in a good start like yesterday and in making my way forward. "
The mechanics had a long Saturday night, changing the engine in Janes´ racing special till five in the morning. "Oly doubted his engine performance after the second Saturday race and so we decided to change it. We did not want to leave anything to a mere lucky chance on Sunday. The boys did a decent piece of work and we all hope the races will show the result of it," hoped Robin Dolejš.
Oly ranked seventeenth in the time practice. "First of all, I would like to thank the boys for working on my truck till the morning, with little time to sleep. I tried to squeeze maximum out of it, but the seventeenth rank was all I could do. I will have to work hard in the race again," was the British pilot´s comment on his performance.
THIRD RACE
Adam Lacko ranked third in the first Sunday race, helped to the podium by Halm´s penalisation. "First I thought to rank fourth, but Steffi was penalised with subsequent drive through for overspeeding. SO finally a nice bronze rank! This was a really hard race for me, for Sasha attacked me all the time, trying to overtake me. I think this must have been very attractive for the audience. Luckily, I defended my rank and collected further important score points. I am satisfied with it."
Before the start of the third race the mechanics had to change the clutch in Oly´s truck, as it did not work well in the time practice. That is why Oly did not manage to reach the starting grind in time and had to start from the last position. He however performed an excellent chase and worked his way forward from the very tail of the field to just below the Top Ten. "The boys did their best but we finally did not manage before the pit lane closing. I had to make my way forward from the last position then, which was quite a lot of adrenalin for me, and I did enjoy it. I managed to win the second rank in the Grammer Cup, so I am much satisfied. The truck worked excellently, I look forward to the next race."
FOURTH RACE
In the last race of the weekend Adam Lacko had to cope with the eighth rank, after thrilling duels with the current champion Jochen Hahn throughout the race. "Unfortunately, in the very first curve I paid for the start from the outer side, which took me nearly off the track and caused my drop in the ranking. Then Jochen breathed on my back all the time. In the fifth lap he managed to overtake me in the finish straight. I tried to return in front of him but he watched me well. But even the points for the eighth rank are important, as they moved me to the third overall rank in the championship, so I leave Nürburgring definitely satisfied," smiled Adam. "Now we head towards the climax of the season, the domestic race at the Most circuit, where I would like to invite all our fans to support us there."
Oly Janes will not keep a pleasant memory of the fourth race at the German circuit. After a contact in the exit from the third curve his front left tyre broke and he had to give up the race. "Pity, I wanted to continue my good performance in the third race but my chances were lost in the very first lap. It was my mistake. I regret it but I cannot do anything. Now I must prepare for Most, for there a big pressure on us as a team is expected, as this will be the climax of the season for Buggyra after all," said Oly, even after Nürburgring leading the interim ranking of the Grammer Cup.
Adam Lacko´s move back to the medal ranks is an excellent invitation to the domestic Czech Truck Prix 2019, held at the Most circuit at the turn of August and September.


With 30 years in the industry, Bernadette brings a wealth of experience to the vice president position. In her role, Bernadette provides leadership on corporate interior projects and is responsible for overseeing the delivery of exceptional results to clients in our New York office.
Prior to joining Americon HITT, Bernadette held notable senior level positions managing diverse project types to include interior and base building projects, hospitality, as well as global experience working in London at Canary Wharf.
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Want More Information On Mountain Biking At The Summit?
BlogWant More Information On Mountain Biking At The Summit?
In just over one year, we will begin the fun and excitement of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.
And believe me, that's sooner than you can imagine.
My name is Russell Smart, and I am the volunteer team leader for all program activities for the Summit. Each month, I share information about another part of our world-class program experience that is going to be more diverse, more intense, higher energy, and more physically challenging than ever before.
For the next couple of months my blog will be about our HIGH-ADVENTURE activities that will be found in the Summit Center and the special Adventure Areas.
This month, our feature is mountain biking!
My guess is that most of you have ridden a bike before, and many of you have probably been on a mountain bike. Maybe you have even been on a challenging backcountry trail at one time or another.
But the mountain biking experience at the Summit is beyond anything that has ever been built at a Scouting facility.
At Action Point in the Summit Center, you will find a series of "warm-up" trails of varying difficulty and moderate lengths. The jamboree staff will check out your skill level and then put you on a trail that matches your current ability. Once you master that level, you can move up to a more challenging one.
And if you've never tried a "pump track" you will certainly want to check that out!
At the mountain biking Adventure Area in Adventure Valley you can try your new skills on a world-class series of biking trails. Too bad you won't have time to ride them all in one jamboree experience–because there's over 30 miles of them!
Gravity Logic is the company building our biking trails at the Summit. Check out some pictures and video from both the Summit and many of their other projects.
Next month we'll complete our series on the high-adventure Adventure Areas with information about the BMX/Extreme Sports area. In the meantime, look for special Summit jamboree program patches in your local Scout shop related to each month's blog.
Is biking your thing? Let us know in the comments.


AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The top-ranked Beacons saw their win-streak come to an end as the 25th ranked Profs of Rowan University held UMass Boston to just four hits to earn a 10-4 decision Sunday evening at Winter Haven Complex.
The Profs got on the board early and never let off the gas as they handed the Beacons their first loss of the campaign. Rowan countered a Beacons run in the top of the first, with seven runs over the first three innings to take a 7-1 lead.
From there they would limit the Beacons offense, which had been firing on all cylinders heading into the second game of the day for UMB. The Beacons second run of the day came in the fourth inning on a Joey Rogers (Dighton, Mass.) RBI single. From there UMB would not plate another run until the top of the ninth.
UMB's pitching staff, which had also been solid through the Beacons first six games, faltered as they faced their first nationally-ranked opponent of the 2018 season. The Profs tacked on 15 hits in the non-conference win, and saw Monny Strickland lead the way with a 3-for-5 showing, which included three RBI and a run scored.
Senior Dave Murphy (Plymouth, Mass.) recorded three of the Beacons six hits, which was a season low for the top-ranked team in Division III. Murphy tried to lead a ninth inning rally for UMB, as the Plymouth native crushed a two-run homer to make it 10-4 at the time. Ben Gottesman (Acton, Mass.) was handed the loss after going just two innings. The sophomore allowed six runs on seven hits and had just one walk and one strikeout.
The Beacons have now faced Rowan University a total of four times in their history, all of which have been played in Florida.
The Beacons will return to action tomorrow when they take on nationally-ranked SUNY Oswego at 3 p.m. at Polk State College in Lakeland.


I was going to go to a Taekwondo class but then I found out online that martial arts are completely useless in a real fight apparently. And I wanted self-defence training.
I am trained in Judo, (no punching and kicking), and my identical twin is one belt below black in karate. We had lots of fights when I was mentally ill and it would usually end in a standoff because we were both pretty evenly matched. I didn't use any of my throws or holds and that means my twin's brown belt in karate was useless against me who would actually be a white belt in karate. How amazing is that!
Apparently things like boxing, wrestling and MMA are better because you actually get hit and experience the real ruff-and-tumble of a real fight.
Oh! It is martial arts.I thought of marital arts.
Be aware of some specialized "martial arts" which prohibits some attacks at its weak sides. Taekwondo, prohibits throwing, for example. Judo prohibits punching and kicking.
These can be called fake martial arts because they don't stand the chance if an opponent attacks at the weak sides using the usually banned strike.
A very rounded martial arts at least declares how to combat other main styles of fighting.
You can try some Chinese style and ask if they have this content.
Taiji, for example, is another fake martial arts.
Shaolin fight technique, is not.
By "fake", isn't that why they're even called "art" to begin with?