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Mobley Environmental Services Inc – ‘DEF 14C’ for 5/9/97

As of:  Friday, 5/9/97   ·   For:  5/9/97   ·   Accession #:  912057-97-16389   ·   File #:  0-19497

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 5/09/97  Mobley Environmental Services Inc DEF 14C     5/09/97    1:269K                                   Merrill Corp/FA

Definitive Proxy Information Statement   —   Schedule 14C
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: DEF 14C     Definitive Proxy Information Statement                75    441K 


Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page   -   Filing Submission
4Available Information
"Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
5Summary
7Sale of the Assets
"Background of the Transaction
10Reasons for the Transaction; Board Deliberations
11Terms of the Agreement & Related Matters
12Earnout Shares
14Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisors
16Use of Proceeds of Transaction
17Future Plans of the Company
18Disposition of Oilfield Services Business
19Voting and Beneficial Interests
"Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to be Acted Upon
"Voting Securities of the Company
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
22Information with Respect to Registrant
"Description of Business
30Description of Properties
31Legal Proceedings
"Claims and Legal Proceedings Against Gibraltar
33Market Information
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
41Information with Respect to U.S. Filter
42Financial Matters
"Consolidated Financial Statements
"Historical and Pro Forma Selected Financial Data
"Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information
"Accounting Treatment of the Transaction
43Federal Income Tax Consequences
"Appraisal Rights
45Assets
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SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Check the appropriate box: / / Preliminary Information Statement / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) /X/ Definitive Information Statement MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): /X/ No fee required / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11 (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (5) Total fee paid: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. / / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (3) Filing Party: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (4) Date Filed: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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INFORMATION STATEMENT MAY 9, 1997 TO SHAREHOLDERS OF MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. RELATING TO THE PENDING SALE OF ITS HYDROCARBON RECYCLING AND RECOVERY BUSINESS This Information Statement relates to the sale by Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. (the "Company") of substantially all of the operating assets of the Company (the "Assets"), which Assets constitute its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business (the "Business"). This Information Statement was first mailed or delivered to shareholders on or about May 9, 1997. On October 9, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company approved in general terms the sale of the Assets to United States Filter Corporation ("U.S. Filter"). On April 25, 1997, the Company executed a definitive Asset Purchase Agreement with U.S. Filter (the "Agreement"). The Company anticipates that the sale as contemplated by the Agreement (the "Transaction"), will be completed by May 31, 1997. The Transaction has been approved by shareholders of the Company holding at least a majority of the votes represented by the outstanding common stock of the Company, which shareholder approval was obtained by written consents in lieu of a shareholder's meeting pursuant to Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Accordingly, the Transaction will not be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for a vote. This Information Statement is being furnished to shareholders solely to provide them with certain information concerning the Transaction in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the regulations promulgated thereunder, including particularly Regulation 14C, and Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In the event that the Transaction is not consummated, the Board of Directors of the Company may seek opportunities to sell some or all of the Assets to another purchaser pursuant to the general authority granted it. However, the Company's inability to consummate the sale of the Assets to U.S. Filter or another prospective purchaser in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and liquidity. Final closing of the Transaction will be publicly announced by the Company, and updated information, if any, concerning the Transaction will be provided in a Form 8-K to be filed by the Company after closing of the Transaction and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission next following consummation of the Transaction. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY. NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR U.S. FILTER TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT NOR THE CLOSING OF THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED HEREIN SHALL IMPLY THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR U.S. FILTER SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS INFORMATION STATEMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS OF MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. [Enlarge/Download Table] PAGE ---------- Available Information................................................................................... 1 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference......................................................... 1 Summary................................................................................................. 2 Sale of the Assets...................................................................................... 4 Background of the Transaction......................................................................... 4 Reasons for the Transaction; Board Deliberations...................................................... 7 Terms of the Agreement & Related Matters.............................................................. 8 Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisors................................................................ 11 Use of Proceeds of Transaction........................................................................ 13 Future Plans of the Company........................................................................... 14 Disposition of Oilfield Services Business............................................................... 15 Voting and Beneficial Interests......................................................................... 16 Interest of Certain Persons in Matters to be Acted Upon............................................... 16 Voting Securities of the Company...................................................................... 16 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management........................................ 16 Information with Respect to Registrant.................................................................. 19 Description of Business............................................................................... 19 Description of Properties............................................................................. 27 Legal Proceedings..................................................................................... 28 Market Information.................................................................................... 30 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations................. 30 Information with Respect to U.S. Filter................................................................. 38 Financial Matters....................................................................................... 39 Consolidated Financial Statements..................................................................... 39 Historical and Pro Forma Selected Financial Data...................................................... 39 Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information...................................... 39 Accounting Treatment of the Transaction............................................................... 39 Federal Income Tax Consequences....................................................................... 40 Appraisal Rights........................................................................................ 40 Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 1996.................................. F-1 Historical and Pro Forma Selected Financial Data and Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.................................................................................. S-1 Fairness Opinion of Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc........................................................ Annex A
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company and U.S. Filter are both subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith each files reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or "Commission"). The reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company or U.S. Filter with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the regional offices of the Commission, Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60621. The common stock of U.S. Filter is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning U.S. Filter can also be inspected and copied at the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. The Commission maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission, including the Company and U.S. Filter. The address for such Web site is "http://www.sec.gov". The term "Company" when used herein shall mean Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates through which it conducts business, unless the context indicates otherwise. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by U.S. Filter with the Commission (File No. 1-10728) pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Filter's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996; U.S. Filter's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 1996, September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1996; U.S. Filter's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 31, 1996 (as amended on Form 8-K/A dated June 28, 1996), June 10, 1996, June 27, 1996, July 15, 1996 (two such Current Reports), August 23, 1996, September 6, 1996, October 28, 1996, November 6, 1996, December 2, 1996 and January 6, 1997; and the description of the U.S. Filter common stock in U.S. Filter's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as the same may be amended. All reports and other documents filed by U.S. Filter pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Information Statement and prior to the closing of the transaction which is the subject of this Information Statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein from the dates of filing of such documents or reports. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Information Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Information Statement. U.S. Filter will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Information Statement is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to such information (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests should be directed to the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of United States Filter Corporation at 40-004 Cook Street, Palm Desert, California 92211 (telephone (619) 340-0098). 1
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SUMMARY This Information Statement relates to the sale by Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "Company") of substantially all of the operating assets of the Company (the "Assets"), which Assets constitute its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business (the "Business"). Since December 1994, when the Company exited the hazardous waste services business by completing the sale of its subsidiary, Gibralter Chemical Resources, Inc., the Company has developed and executed a strategic plan for the growth of its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business. To date, development of this business has included acquisition of existing businesses in the industry, as well as construction and operation of new facilities for the production of distillate fuels from used motor oil and the recycling of oil filters, absorbents and related materials. In October 1995, the Company engaged Cureton & Co., Inc., an investment banking and business advisory firm, to assist it in the investigation and possible financing of other business combination opportunities that had come to the Company's attention during the course of its strategic planning, industry analysis, and due diligence. Through the process of investigating a variety of business combination opportunities, and the financing thereof, United States Filter Corporation ("U.S. Filter") emerged as the most viable party interested in pursuing a specific transaction with the Company. However, U.S. Filter was not interested in joint ownership and would only proceed with negotiations with the Company on the basis of purchasing, with U.S. Filter common stock as consideration, the Company's entire interest in its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business. On October 9, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company approved, in general terms, the sale of the Assets to U.S. Filter. On April 25, 1997, the Company executed a definitive asset purchase agreement with U.S. Filter (the "Agreement"). The Company anticipates that the sale, as contemplated by the Agreement (the "Transaction"), will be completed by May 31, 1997. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company will sell to U.S. Filter substantially all of the Assets used to conduct the Business in exchange for newly issued shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of U.S. Filter (the "U.S. Filter Stock") registered pursuant to U.S. Filter's shelf Registration Statement on Form S-4 with an aggregate exchange value of $8.0 million, subject to adjustment, plus the right to receive additional shares of U.S. Filter Stock (with an aggregate exchange value of up to $4.0 million) upon the attainment by the Business of certain financial performance goals in the two-year period following the closing of the Transaction. Completion of the Transaction is subject to the specific terms and conditions of the Agreement, including various conditions to closing which are described herein. Presently, it is contemplated that all or substantially all of the $8.0 million in U.S. Filter Stock received at the closing of the Transaction will be sold by the Company as soon as possible following such closing, resulting in anticipated net proceeds totaling approximately $5,800,000 after repayment of the Company's bank indebtedness (approximately $1,750,000) and transaction expenses estimated at $450,000. Such net proceeds will be used to fund the liabilities retained by the Company following the sale, and the remaining surplus cash is expected to be invested in relatively low-risk, liquid investments. The Company does not intend to distribute any of the shares of U.S. Filter Stock to its shareholders, nor does it have any current plans to distribute the proceeds thereof to its shareholders. Because of outstanding contractual indemnification obligations of the Company and in light of pending litigation to which the Company is a party, the Company will remain in existence for the foreseeable future but will have no operating assets after the Transaction. As circumstances change or additional information with respect to the extent of the Company's potential indemnity obligations becomes available, the Board of Directors will continue to evaluate various uses of the Company's funds. While the Company may investigate new business opportunities that arise, the nature and probability of any investments which might result from such investigations cannot be determined. 2
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The entire Board of Directors of the Company (with the director having an interest in the Transaction abstaining) has determined that the Transaction is advisable and in the best interests of, and fair to, the Company and its shareholders, and has approved the Transaction and the Agreement. In reaching its determination, the directors considered a number of factors which are described herein. In addition, the Company has obtained a written opinion from Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc., an independent investment banking firm, that as of February 10, 1997, the consideration to be received by the Company pursuant to the Agreement was fair to the Company's shareholders from a financial point of view. The Transaction has been approved by the shareholders of the Company holding 60.6% of the votes represented by the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, which shareholder approval was obtained by written consent in lieu of a shareholder's meeting pursuant to Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Accordingly, the Transaction will not be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for a vote. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, no appraisal rights are available to shareholders of the Company in connection with the Transaction. 3
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SALE OF THE ASSETS BACKGROUND OF THE TRANSACTION In December 1994, the Company exited the hazardous waste services industry by completing the sale of Gibraltar Chemical Resources, Inc. ("Gibraltar"), a wholly-owned subsidiary, to American Ecology Corporation. In anticipation of that sale, the Company sought to develop a strategic business plan to maintain and enhance its financial position upon the divestiture of Gibraltar, and to achieve long-term profitability for the Company in the face of changing conditions in the waste management services industry. Through this planning process, management identified significant market opportunities in the business of non-hazardous hydrocarbon recycling and recovery. The Company's Board of Directors and management believed that its core skills in managing liquid hydrocarbon wastes, combined with its experience in processing industrial oily wastes, formed a solid foundation for a business expansion into more advanced hydrocarbon recycling and recovery technologies. The strategic plan developed by the Company contemplated growth through process enhancement projects, as well as through the acquisition of complementary existing business operations. In particular, through its strategic review process, the Company developed a business plan that included (i) acquisitions of small used oil collection operations in geographic areas where the Company was already active in the oily waste business; (ii) installation of a distillate fuels production facility at the Company's Baytown, Texas processing complex to manufacture value-added products from recovered hydrocarbon waste streams; (iii) installation of a filter recycling plant at its Baytown facility for the recycling of used oil filters, absorbents and related materials; (iv) aggressive marketing of the Company's new services to its existing industrial customer base; and (v) exploration of new geographic and service markets for further expansion. Management also believed that it would become increasingly important for the Company to develop the skills and capabilities necessary to provide on-site treatment services to its larger industrial clients in light of industry trends toward waste minimization and recycle/recovery. As an initial step in the implementation of this plan, the Company identified the used motor and industrial oils, filter, and antifreeze collection and recycling businesses as a promising expansion opportunity for its existing non-hazardous high water-content hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business, by providing used oil and oil filter feedstock for the manufacture of value-added finished products at facilities to be constructed in Baytown, Texas. Based on the studies and analysis conducted by management, it determined that much of the used oil and oil filter collection was currently performed by small operators characterized by limited capital resources who lacked the enhanced processing capabilities to add value to the products collected. Accordingly, the Company pursued and eventually completed the acquisition of certain assets of a group of three related recycling companies in July 1995. Simultaneously, the Company continued its due diligence on the industry in general, its targeted business markets, and the specific distillate fuels production and filter recycling facilities most feasible for accomplishment of the Company's objectives. To assist in this process, the Company engaged several consultants to provide needed information regarding capital costs, relevant industry data, price relationships, and general project economics. Management's market research and industry analysis culminated in specific plans for the engineering and construction of a distillate fuels production facility and oil filter recycling facility. Engineering of the two new processing facilities began in April 1995; however, permitting issues and contractor delays pushed commencement of construction to the third quarter of that year. Construction of the filter recycling facility was completed by the end of the 1996 first quarter and the plant began operations in April of that year. The distillate fuels production facility began its mechanical checkout and startup process during the 1996 second quarter; however, as a result of various technical and operational issues, an extended testing and evaluation period delayed full-scale operation of the plant until August, 1996. In October 1995, the Company engaged Cureton and Co., Incorporated ("Cureton & Co."), an investment banking and business advisory firm, to assist it with the investigation and possible financing of 4
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other business combination opportunities that had come to the Company's attention during the course of its strategic planning, industry analysis, and due diligence. With the assistance of Cureton & Co., the Company investigated possible relationships or affiliations with a variety of entities whose operations might be a feasible expansion of, or complementary to, the Company's existing operations or those contemplated under its strategic plan. Of the discussions undertaken by management, PORI International, Inc. ("PORI"), based in Baltimore, Maryland, emerged as a candidate for serious consideration due to its longstanding reputation in the treatment of oily wastes on customers' sites, its historic development of oil/ water separations technologies, and its established presence as a consolidator of used oil from collectors in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States. On March 11, 1996, the Company's discussions with PORI culminated in a letter of intent to acquire substantially all of PORI's assets and assume certain of its liabilities with completion of the transaction subject to, among other things, the Company's ability to secure the necessary financing. Although initial inquiries indicated financial institutions to be a potential source of financing, it also became evident that significant equity infusions would be required to complete the PORI acquisition and to otherwise carry out the Company's overall expansion plans. In an effort to secure equity financing, the Company prepared a detailed business plan that described the opportunities for growth and the plan for the development of the business, including financial projections. In addition to the acquisition of PORI, the plan contemplated several follow-on business acquisitions in targeted geographic regions, the expansion of its used oil and filter collection capabilities, and the construction of new facilities for oil/water processing, distillate fuels production, and oil filter recycling. Financing necessary to effectuate the entire plan was estimated to require approximately $34.5 million in excess of internally-generated funds over a three-year period. The Company incurred operating losses during the 1996 first and second quarters of $672,000, or $0.08 per share, and $492,000, or $0.06 per share, respectively. Such disappointing financial results reflected the impact of an extended regional drought which severely impaired fluid volumes, revenues, and the related profitability of the Company's oil/water separations business. In addition to the effect of the drought conditions, this core business was also impacted by the ongoing decline of fluids associated with underground storage tank remediation activities. While such event-driven volumes were partially offset by an increase in production-oriented oily wastes, the change in business mix toward more difficult-to-treat waste streams resulted in diminished profit margins. Additionally, competitive pressures in the Company's oilfield services business, along with an unfavorable shift in business mix favoring a higher proportion of lower-margin contract services revenue, reduced the profit contribution from this segment during the fourth quarter of 1995 and first quarter of 1996. Further, because of the startup nature of its used oil and filter collection and recycling activities, compounded by delays in bringing the new processing facilities on-line, these new business lines made virtually no contribution to operating profit during this period. The operating losses sustained by the Company, coupled with the aggressive capital spending program associated with the execution of its growth strategy, significantly weakened the Company's liquidity over the first half of 1996. By the end of the 1996 second quarter, the Company had a working capital deficit of approximately $4.8 million, including $4.4 million in outstanding bank indebtedness which was classified as a current liability as a result of violations of certain restrictive covenants in its bank credit agreement. The Company's cash resources had been reduced from $1.5 million at year-end 1995 to $516,000 at June 30, 1996, and it had exhausted substantially all of its available borrowing capacity. As a result of the Company's deteriorated financial condition and unfavorable results of operations, bank debt financing had effectively been eliminated as a viable source of funds for the continued execution of its strategic plan. Through Cureton & Co., the Company contacted over 30 venture capitalists, private investors, and industry participants during the ensuing months of the summer of 1996 to discuss the possibilities of a private investment in the Company or other strategic alliance. Of those contacted, approximately 27 asked to review the Company's business plan, many of whom indicated interest in further investigation. Senior management was interviewed by several potential investors, and six potential investor 5
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groups toured the Company's Baytown facility to further discuss possible relationships or investment structures. Through these discussions, it became evident to management that more serious negotiations with most potential investors were thwarted by one or more issues facing the Company, including the risks associated with the unproven nature of the Company's distillate fuels production facility, and the perceived litigation exposure arising from the Company's former ownership of Gibraltar. (See "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Legal Proceedings--Claims and Legal Proceedings Against Gibraltar"). Through this exhaustive process, U.S. Filter emerged as the most viable party interested in pursuing a specific transaction with the Company. After lengthy discussions, it became clear that U.S. Filter was not interested in joint ownership and would only proceed with negotiations on the basis of purchasing, with registered shares of U.S. Filter common stock as consideration, the Company's entire interest in its hydrocarbon recycling and oil/water processing business. In light of the Company's severely weakened financial condition and given U.S. Filter's stated interest in acquiring the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business, the Board of Directors reviewed the challenges facing the Company and discussed in general terms the alternatives available to address them. The Board and management noted that the hydrocarbon recycling and recovery industry is currently highly fragmented, but characterized by increasing consolidation, intensifying competition, and continued growth through acquisition by larger entities with greater access to financial resources than that of the Company. Among other things, the Board of Directors discussed (i) the Company's relatively small size and the resultant constraints on its ability to make significant investments in additional processing or collection businesses without an infusion of equity; (ii) the Company's inability to obtain bank financing and the unfavorable results of recent efforts to attract equity investors to fund activities contemplated by the Company's strategic business plan; (iii) the Company's default under its bank credit agreement due to its inability to maintain compliance with certain covenants contained in such agreement; and (iv) the Company's severely strained liquidity and immediate need for working capital to continue its current operations. As part of these deliberations, management and Cureton & Co. reviewed in detail with the Board of Directors the contacts that had been made with third parties regarding possible investments in, or strategic alliances with, the Company. Since such efforts had not yielded access to funds on terms acceptable to the Company, discussions were then focused on the possible acquisition of the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business by U.S. Filter as offering the best prospects for the Company and its shareholders. In conjunction with this decision, the Company abandoned its plans to acquire the assets of PORI; such assets were subsequently acquired by U.S. Filter. Discussions and negotiations with U.S. Filter continued through September 1996 and during this period management and Cureton & Co. continued to respond to inquiries from other parties who had expressed an initial interest in a possible investment in the Company; however, none of these inquiries resulted in a formal offer. On October 9, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors met and reviewed with management and Cureton & Co. the status of such negotiations. Based on the progress of those discussions, and the terms of the outstanding offer from U.S. Filter, the Company's Board authorized the Company to enter into a letter of intent with U.S. Filter pursuant to which the Company would sell to U.S. Filter the net assets of the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business in consideration for U.S. Filter common stock having an aggregate exchange value of $8.0 million, plus the right to receive additional shares of U.S. Filter common stock with an exchange value of up to $4.0 million upon the attainment of certain financial performance goals in the two-year period following the sale of the net assets to U.S. Filter (the "Transaction"). Because the Transaction contemplated an offer of employment to Mr. Stark and a success fee paid to Mr. Cureton's firm, both Mr. Stark and Mr. Cureton abstained from votes on these matters. Additionally, as it is anticipated that Mr. Stark may become an employee of U.S. Filter upon consummation of the Transaction, in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest which might result from such situation, Mr. Stark resigned his position as director of the Company effective November 8, 1996. The Company executed a letter of intent with U.S. Filter on October 30, 1996, and 6
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thereafter, U.S. Filter continued its due diligence business review of the Company. Senior management of the Company, assisted by Cureton & Co. and legal counsel, and U.S. Filter then began negotiating the terms of a definitive asset purchase agreement. Matters negotiated during this time included the terms of the consideration to be received by the Company, including among others, finalization of the formula pursuant to which the number of shares of U.S. Filter common stock issuable to the Company would be determined, the specific terms regarding the contingent U.S. Filter common stock that may be earned by the Company, the nature and scope of representations and warranties to be given by the Company to U.S. Filter, the extent of indemnifications to be given by each party to the other party, and specific conditions precedent to closing of the Transaction. The negotiations between the Company and U.S. Filter continued through April 16, 1997 and resulted in approval by the Company's Board of Directors of a definitive Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") on that date, subject to subsequent modifications as may be deemed appropriate by the Company's executive officers, financial advisors, and legal counsel. Such Agreement was executed on April 25, 1997. Notwithstanding the positive negotiations between the Company and U.S. Filter concerning a sale of the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business, U.S. Filter was not interested in an investment in the Company's oilfield services business. Accordingly, the proposed transaction with U.S. Filter necessitated the separation of the net assets of the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business, both operationally and financially, from the assets used to conduct the Company's oilfield services business. The assets of the oilfield services business were ultimately sold by the Company to another party on January 20, 1997. (See "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS"). REASONS FOR THE TRANSACTION; BOARD DELIBERATIONS THE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY (WITH THE DIRECTOR HAVING AN INTEREST IN THE TRANSACTION ABSTAINING) HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSACTION IS ADVISABLE AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF, AND FAIR TO, THE COMPANY AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS, AND HAS APPROVED THE TRANSACTION AND THE AGREEMENT. In reaching its determination that the Transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, the directors considered a number of factors, including without limitation, the following, each of which the Board of Directors believed in general supported approval of the Transaction: (a) the written opinion of Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. ("RPR"), an independent investment banking firm, that, as of February 10, 1997, determined that the consideration to be received by the Company pursuant to the Agreement was fair to the Company's shareholders from a financial point of view (see "--Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisor"); (b) information relating to the financial condition, results of operations, capital levels, cash flow, business and prospects of the Company. In this regard, the Company's Board of Directors noted particularly the sizable operating losses sustained by the Company in recent quarters, the resultant negative impact of such losses on its liquidity (as evidenced by a working capital deficit of $4.8 million at June 30, 1996), the Company's technical default under its bank credit agreement and lack of additional borrowing capacity, and its expected future cash requirements. Additionally, the Board considered the extensive efforts of management and Cureton & Co. to attempt to attract equity investors and strategic partners over an extended period of time throughout 1996; (c) the likelihood that the Transaction would be consummated, based upon the experience, reputation and financial capabilities of U.S. Filter, including its established track record of successfully completing and integrating acquisitions; (d) the relationship of the total consideration to be received for the assets to be sold pursuant to the offer from U.S. Filter (including an assessment of the likelihood of the ultimate realization of the contingent consideration that may be earned by the Company) to the returns expected to be received by the Company through a strategy of continuing operations, with particular consideration given to 7
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the near-term cash flow demands and risks associated with the Company's current operations (see also "--Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisor"); (e) information relating to the financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects of U.S. Filter; specifically, the Board of Directors believed that U.S. Filter had the financial capacity and wherewithal to consummate the Transaction, and that its stock and earnings performance would continue to support the valuation of the shares of U.S. Filter Stock to be received as consideration; (f) the current operating environment, including without limitation, the continued consolidation and increasing competition in the waste management services business, the prospects for further changes in the industry and the importance of being able to capitalize on developing opportunities in the industry; (g) the relatively high administrative costs of continuing to operate the Company at its current size; and (h) the U.S. Filter common stock to be received by the Company in the Transaction was considered to be tantamount to cash in all material respects, as it is believed that it can be sold quickly and efficiently into a liquid and relatively stable market. The foregoing discussion of the information and factors discussed by the Company's Board of Directors is not meant to be exhaustive but is believed to include all primary factors considered by the Board. The Board of Directors did not quantify or attach any particular weight to the various factors that it considered in reaching its determination that the Transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT & RELATED MATTERS CONSIDERATION FOR SALE. Under the Agreement, the Company will sell to U.S. Filter substantially all of the assets, more specifically described below (the "Assets"), used to conduct its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business (the "Business") in exchange for newly issued shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of U.S. Filter (registered by U.S. Filter with the SEC pursuant to a shelf Registration Statement on Form S-4) with an aggregate exchange value of $8.0 million (the "U.S. Filter Stock"), subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price"), plus the right to receive additional shares of U.S. Filter Stock (with an aggregate exchange value of up to $4.0 million) upon the attainment of certain financial performance goals in the two-year period following the closing of the Transaction. The Purchase Price will be adjusted upward or downward in the event that the total pro forma stockholder's equity increases or decreases by more than $500,000 from the June 30, 1996 estimate of $15,086,000 to the date of closing of the Transaction. Such amount was determined based on the book values of the assets expected to be conveyed to U.S. Filter, and the estimated liabilities which would be assumed by U.S. Filter, assuming the Transaction was consummated effective June 30, 1996. Such liabilities excluded the Company's outstanding bank indebtedness. In the event total stockholder's equity increases or decreases by less than $500,000 from June 30, 1996 to the closing date, no adjustment will be made to the Purchase Price. In the event total stockholder's equity increases or decreases by more than $500,000 from June 30, 1996 to the closing date, then the Purchase Price will be proportionately adjusted up or down, respectively, to the extent such stockholder's equity increases or decreases by more than $500,000. Total pro forma stockholder's equity at March 31, 1997 amounted to approximately $15,039,000. Consequently, had the Transaction been effectuated as of that date, no adjustment to the purchase price would have been required. The total pro forma stockholder's equity as defined in the Agreement is based on certain agreed-upon accounting conventions and specifically excludes approximately $6.7 million in asset impairment write-downs recorded by the Company during the 1996 third quarter, as required by generally accepted accounting principles. The parties agreed to exclude such write-downs from the determination of total pro forma stockholder's equity since they were recorded based on the estimated net realizable volume of the assets as determined primarily by the terms of the Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ultimate value realized from the sale of the 8
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U.S. Filter Stock received as consideration by the Company may vary depending on market fluctuation of the USF Average Share Value (as defined below), and its actual sales prices at the time of the sale of such shares. EARNOUT SHARES. Under the Agreement, the Company may be entitled to receive additional shares of U.S. Filter Stock (the "Earnout Shares") based upon the net operating earnings generated by the Business during the two-year period following the Transaction. The aggregate maximum exchange value of the Earnout Shares will be $4.0 million. The obligation of U.S. Filter to issue Earnout Shares shall be determined as follows: (i) in the event that the Business generates net operating income (as defined) equal to or less than $500,000 in either or both of the two twelve-month periods following the closing of the Transaction, then no Earnout Shares shall be issuable to the Company with respect to such year; (ii) in the event that the Business has net operating income greater than $500,000 but less than or equal to $1,600,000 for the first fiscal year following the Transaction, then the Company shall be entitled to receive Earnout Shares with a maximum exchange value of $4.0 million, ratably determined based on the amount in excess of $500,000 but less than $1,600,000; (iii) in the event that the Business has net operating income equal to or greater than $1,600,000 for the first fiscal year following the Transaction, the Company will be entitled to receive Earnout Shares with an exchange value equal to $4.0 million and there will be no further Earnout Shares available for issuance to the Company; (iv) in the event that the Business has net operating earnings during the second fiscal year following the closing of the Transaction, in excess of the greater of $500,000 or the net operating income of the Business for the first fiscal year following the Transaction (the "Second Year Base Amount"), but less than or equal to $2.0 million, then the Company shall be entitled to receive Earnout Shares in an amount equal to a maximum exchange value of $4.0 million (less any amounts paid for the first fiscal year following the Transaction), ratably determined based on the amount in excess of the Second Year Base Amount but less than $2.0 million; and (v) in the event that the Business has net operating income equal to or greater than $2.0 million for the second fiscal year following the Transaction and no Earnout Shares were issued for the first fiscal year following the Transaction, the Company will be entitled to receive Earnout Shares with an exchange value of $4.0 million. DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF SHARES OF U.S. FILTER STOCK. The number of shares of U.S. Filter Stock to be issued to the Company pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs shall be determined by dividing the applicable amount by the USF Average Share Value. "USF Average Share Value" shall be the average closing price for the U.S. Filter Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days ending on the sixth trading day immediately preceding the date of closing of the Transaction (except that the date of determination of the earnout shall be used in place of the Transaction closing date in determining USF Average Share Value for purposes of issuance of Earnout Shares). By way of example, the following information sets forth the number of shares of U.S. Filter Stock issuable in connection with the Transaction had it been effectuated on April 15, 1997: [Download Table] "ASSUMED" SHARES OF DATE OF USF AVERAGE U.S. FILTER STOCK CLOSING SHARE VALUE ISSUABLE ------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ April 15, 1997 $32.44375 246,580 ESCROW. Ten percent (10%) of the shares of U.S. Filter Stock (as determined by the formula described in the preceding paragraph) shall be deposited in and such shares (or their equivalent exchange value will be) maintained in escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement for a period of one year from the closing of the Transaction to satisfy the indemnification obligations of the Company under the Agreement. ASSETS TO BE CONVEYED TO U.S. FILTER. The Assets to be conveyed to U.S. Filter include (i) the Company's three facilities (located in Baytown, Kilgore, and Corsicana, Texas) for processing and recycling certain materials managed as non-hazardous oily wastes, off-specification motor fuels, and underground storage tank remediation fluids; (ii) the distillate fuels production facility in Baytown; (iii) the filter recycling 9
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facility in Baytown; (iv) the Company's terminal and office facilities in or near Baytown, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Kilgore, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; (v) tangible personal property, including vehicles, machinery, equipment, spare parts and supplies, inventories, office furniture, equipment and supplies, computer software and hardware, and leasehold improvements; (vi) rights under leases or contracts; and (vii) accounts receivable, intellectual property, and various other assets incidental to the operation of the Business, excluding cash and cash equivalents. U.S. FILTER'S ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES. Under an Assumption Agreement to be executed at the closing of the Transaction, U.S. Filter will assume certain liabilities of the Company which are: (i) properly recorded and accrued on the books of the Company using accounting principles and methodologies consistently applied and mutually acceptable to U.S. Filter and the Company, (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) otherwise described in the Assumption Agreement. Such liabilities will consist primarily of accounts payable and accrued expenses but will not include any of the Company's outstanding bank indebtedness. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, for a period of five years following the closing of the Transaction, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate or control any business that competes with the activities of the Business in the geographic areas in which the Business currently operates. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Generally, the representations and warranties of the Company in the Agreement relate to: (i) the organization and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries and authority to conduct the operations of the Business; (ii) the authority of the Company and its subsidiaries to execute, and the enforceability of, the Agreement and documents contemplated thereunder against the Company and its subsidiaries, and the noncontravention of the Agreement with any agreement, law, or organizational document of the Company or its subsidiaries; (iii) the financial statements of the Company and the absence of undisclosed liabilities; (iv) the assets, liabilities and operations of the Business and the Company; (v) absence of litigation effecting the Transaction; (vi) agreements or contracts with third parties and affiliates; (vii) regulatory matters and compliance with laws; (viii) consents and approvals required in connection with the Agreement; (ix) tax matters; (x) labor relations and employee benefits of employees of the Business and the Company; and (xi) environmental matters regarding the Business. Generally, representations and warranties of U.S. Filter relate to: (i) U.S. Filter corporate organization and good standing; (ii) the authority of U.S. Filter to execute, and the enforceability of, the Agreement and documents contemplated thereunder against U.S. Filter, and noncontravention of the Agreement with its charter documents or applicable laws; (iii) the absence of litigation; (iv) capitalization of U.S. Filter; and (v) the accuracy of information provided for use in this Information Statement regarding U.S. Filter. COVENANTS AND OBLIGATIONS. From and after the date of the Agreement until the closing of the Transaction, the Company is required to: (i) conduct the Business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice; (ii) keep its business, properties, and business relationships substantially intact; (iii) not make any distribution with respect to its capital stock, organize any subsidiary or acquire any equity ownership in any business, cancel any right to dispose of any assets, except in the ordinary course of business, make any capital expenditures or commitments therefor in excess of $100,000 (in the aggregate), enter into any contracts the performance of which may extend beyond the closing of the Transaction, enter into employment or consulting arrangements not terminable at will without penalty, fail to pay liabilities when due, take any action that is reasonably likely to result in the occurrence of any of the foregoing matters, or take any action or omit to take any action that will cause a breach or termination of any permit or contract of the Company; (iv) provide U.S. Filter access to its employees and records; and (v) not make public announcements with respect to the agreement without the written consent of U.S. Filter. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. The obligation of U.S. Filter to consummate the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions: (i) the accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Agreement; (ii) the absence of any matter which 10
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would restrain or prohibit the Agreement or Transaction or that would adversely affect U.S. Filter's ownership of the Assets or assumption of the assumed liabilities; (iii) the absence of any material adverse change in the Assets, assumed liabilities, or other aspects of the Business; (iv) the delivery of certain documents, certificates, and legal opinions of the Company and its subsidiaries; (v) acceptance by substantially all of the Company's employees of employment with U.S. Filter; (vi) requisite shareholder approval of the Transaction by shareholders of the Company, and (vii) the receipt of all necessary and appropriate governmental and third party consents and approvals. The obligation of the Company to consummate the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions: (i) the accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties of U.S. Filter set forth in the Agreement; (ii) the absence of any action or proceeding which would have the effect of prohibiting the Agreement or the Transaction; (iii) delivery of certain documents, certificates, and legal opinions of U.S. Filter; and (iv) listing of the U.S. Filter Stock on the New York Stock Exchange. TERMINATION. The Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to closing of the Transaction by the mutual consent of the Company and U.S. Filter. The Agreement may be terminated and the Transaction abandoned by the Company or U.S. Filter if such party's conditions to closing have not been satisfied in full or waived by May 31, 1997. In the event of termination of the Agreement by the Company or U.S. Filter pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company and U.S. Filter shall be liable to the other party for any breach thereof by such party, which breach led to such termination. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company has agreed to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless U.S. Filter from and against any damages arising out of (i) a breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in the Agreement; (ii) a breach or nonfulfillment of any covenant or agreement made by the Company in the Agreement or any document executed by the Company in consummating the Transaction; and (iii) any liability of the Company not assumed by U.S. Filter under the Agreement. Provided, however, the Company shall have no obligation to indemnify U.S. Filter unless the aggregate amount of damages to U.S. Filter exceeds $100,000. Except in the cause of fraud or intentional misrepresentation, the indemnification obligations of the Company expire five years after the closing of the Transaction, and the maximum liability of the Company under such indemnification provisions is $4,000,000. FAIRNESS OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS RPR, as part of its investment banking business, is continually engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. The Board of Directors of the Company selected RPR as its financial advisor because RPR is a recognized investment banking firm with emphasis in the waste management services industry and regularly engages in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions. In arriving at its opinion as to the fairness of the consideration to be received by the Company in connection with the Transaction, RPR considered a wide variety of factors that might have been considered by an actual buyer of the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business. In its analyses, RPR considered numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions, and other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's control. In connection with its opinion, RPR reviewed certain internal financial information concerning the Company and its waste management segment and certain publicly available information regarding U.S. Filter. RPR also held discussions with members of senior management of the Company regarding the business and prospects of the segment. In addition, RPR (i) compared certain financial information for the Company and the segment with similar information for selected companies within the environmental industry whose securities are publicly traded, (ii) reviewed the financial terms of certain recent business 11
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combinations which were deemed comparable in part, and (iii) performed such other studies and analyses and considered such other factors as were deemed appropriate. RPR also reviewed the proposal letter with U.S. Filter and the draft Agreement. RPR did not independently verify the information described above and for purposes of its opinion assumed the accuracy, completeness and fairness thereof. With respect to information relating to the prospects of the segment, RPR assumed that such information reflects the best currently available estimates and judgments of management of the Company as to the likely future financial performance of the segment. In addition, RPR did not make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets of the segment, nor was RPR furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. RPR's opinion is based on market, economic and other conditions as they existed and could be evaluated as of the date of their opinion. The following is a summary of the analysis conducted by RPR as a basis for its fairness opinion as presented by RPR to the Company's Board of Directors. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by RPR or the presentation to the Board of Directors in this regard, but does provide an overview of all the material analyses conducted by RPR. RPR believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and factors considered, without considering all factors and analyses, could create an incomplete view of the processes underlying its opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and not necessarily susceptible to partial analyses or summary description. REVIEW OF RECENT AND PROJECTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF COMPANY'S WASTE MANAGEMENT SEGMENT. RPR reviewed the historical performance of the Company's waste management segment for the three years ended December 31, 1995, the three quarters ended on each of September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995, and the twelve months ended December 31, 1996. RPR noted that historical earnings of this segment have been low, and that during 1996 monthly operating earnings in this segment ranged from a loss of $265,000 to earnings of $32,000, with losses in 10 of 12 months and an operating loss for the entire year 1996 of approximately $1,618,000. RPR noted that, largely due to the startup nature of two new business lines, historical earnings of this segment have been relatively low in comparison to earnings that are expected in 1997, 1998 and subsequent years. Consequently, in RPR's opinion, the fair market value of the Assets being acquired by U.S. Filter depends primarily upon the expected future earnings of this segment. The Company provided estimates to RPR of most likely projected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") in the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998 of approximately $4.0 million and for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 of approximately $5.2 million. RPR noted that these expected earnings would result in the Company receiving the maximum total proceeds of $12.0 million in U.S. Filter Stock (including Earnout Shares with an exchange value of $4.0 million). RPR noted that a $12.0 million purchase price would be 20.9 times estimated EBITDA for calendar year 1996, and 2.6 times the average projected EBITDA for the most likely expected earnings in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for this segment. RPR noted that the 2.6x ratio appears to be fair in this case because the 1998 and 1999 estimated earnings are highly uncertain and are an unusually large improvement over 1995 and 1996 results. In addition, RPR reviewed the principal terms of the earnout and concluded that, based on current expectations of the business unit's performance by management, it is likely that the earnout will be achieved. If, on the other hand, the earnout targets are not met, such lack of earnings will most likely indicate that the assets were not worth the additional earnout provision, which would indicate that the $8.0 million price was fair to the Company. REVIEW OF PROJECTED CASH FLOWS. RPR reviewed the present value of future cash flow projections discounted at pre-tax rates of 25% to 35%. The analysis indicated a present value range of $11.3-$15.2 million using the Company's "optimistic case" cash flow projections that did not include negative cash flows for capital expenditures or working capital needs. The "optimistic case" was the only set of projections furnished to RPR that covered more than one future year. RPR developed a lower, "most likely," case that 12
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indicated a present value range of $9.1-$12.1 million. In addition, RPR noted that a typical buyer would expect a typical seller to present his operation in a favorable manner. Therefore, a typical buyer may revise a seller's financial projections downward. COMPARISON WITH SELECTED PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES. RPR reviewed selected financial data of seven publicly traded environmental companies. RPR noted that these companies traded at a market value ratio of 3.1 to 15.3 times historical (trailing 12 months) EBITDA. However, because none of these companies conducts a line of business similar to the Company's waste management services segment, RPR did not consider any of the public companies to be comparable to the Company's waste management services segment. ANALYSIS OF SELECTED MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS. RPR reviewed seven recent environmental acquisitions including those of Sanifill Inc., Continental Waste Industries, Davis Water & Waste Industries, Western Waste Industries, Inc., Earth Tech. Corp. USA, Greiner Engineering Inc., and Rust International, Inc. and noted that the ratio of "enterprise value" for the trailing 12 months to EBITDA ranged from 7.3x to 12.2x. The purchase price of the Company's waste management services segment was 9.2 times 1995 EBITDA and 20.9 times 1996 estimated EBITDA. However, RPR did not consider the seven acquisitions to be comparable to the Transaction as none of the acquired assets were similar to the types of assets being sold by the Company. REVIEW OF U.S. FILTER. RPR also reviewed the price of U.S. Filter common stock and concluded that the price in recent periods (ranging back 180 days) appeared to represent a normal and reliable "fair market value" for that security. RPR reviewed U.S. Filter's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and its Annual Reports to Shareholders for the two fiscal years ending March 31, 1996 and 1995, U.S. Filter's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and its Second Quarter Shareholder Report dated September 30, 1996, and a series of articles and analyst reports on U.S. Filter. In addition, RPR reviewed select financial data on 13 publicly traded water-related companies. OTHER FACTORS. RPR noted several other factors in their review including: (a) the fact that the Company was unsuccessful in its initial effort to raise capital in a private placement in which more than 30 potential investors were contacted (for various reasons including concern about litigation from the Company's prior hazardous waste business and the uncertainty of future earnings from new operations involving used oil and used oil filters); (b) the Company received an indication of interest in purchasing the assets from another possible buyer that was under U.S. Filter's bid (and also subject to an earnout); and (c) that the Company's management was not aware of any party who would likely be willing to purchase the assets at a price above U.S. Filter's offer. The full text of the written opinion of RPR dated February 10, 1997, which sets forth assumptions made, factors considered and limitations on the review undertaken by RPR is included as Annex A to this Information Statement. USE OF PROCEEDS OF TRANSACTION The shares of U.S. Filter Stock representing the Purchase Price (and any Earnout Shares) will be issued by U.S. Filter pursuant to a shelf Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission by U.S. Filter, and the public reoffer and resale of such shares by the Company has also been registered pursuant to a prospectus supplement to such Form S-4 to be filed immediately after closing of the Transaction. Presently, it is contemplated that all or substantially all of the $8.0 million in U.S. Filter Stock received at the time of the closing of the Transaction will be sold by the Company as soon as possible following such closing. After retirement of the Company's remaining outstanding bank indebtedness and related accrued interest (totaling approximately $1,750,000) and transaction expenses (estimated at $450,000), the Company anticipates the Transaction will result in net proceeds of approximately $5,800,000. These net proceeds will be available for the payment of certain liabilities retained by the 13
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Company following the sale, including accounts payable and accrued expenses not directly related to the Business and accrued salaries, wages and related costs. The remaining surplus cash, estimated at approximately $4,500,000, is expected to be invested in relatively low-risk, liquid investments. Such amount assumes the immediate payment of the current liabilities retained by the Company; however, certain of these liabilities are expected to be funded in the months following the Transaction, and consequently the surplus cash initially available for investment may exceed this amount. In addition to the aforementioned proceeds, under the terms of the Agreement, the Company may receive up to $4.0 million in U.S. Filter Stock during the two-year period following the Transaction based on the financial performance of the Business. (See "--Terms of the Agreement & Related Matters-- Earnout Shares"). It is currently contemplated that all or substantially all of the Earnout Shares, if any, received by the Company will be sold as soon as possible following receipt of such shares and that the net proceeds from such sale will be invested in relatively low-risk, liquid investments. The amounts described herein are approximate and based on the Company's current estimates, including the current market price of the U.S. Filter Stock. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that such amounts will actually be realized. FUTURE PLANS OF THE COMPANY Because of its indemnity obligations related to the sale of its former subsidiary, Gibraltar Chemical Resources, Inc., as well as indemnification responsibilities with respect to the Transaction and the recent asset sale of the Company's oilfield services business (see "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS"), and considering the extent of ongoing litigation (see "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Legal Proceedings" and Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), the Company will remain in existence for the foreseeable future, but will have no operating assets after the Transaction. The extensive litigation involving the Company is in varying stages, with some cases in the early phases of discovery, while others are awaiting trial. The claims are unliquidated; and the Company's potential liability, even after considering potential recoveries from available insurance coverage, could exceed the amount of its assets. Accordingly, based on consultation with legal counsel (including the law firms of Brown McCarroll & Oaks Hartline and Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.), the Company's Board of Directors believes that they are required by applicable law to hold the Company's assets as a fiduciary for potential creditors as well as the stockholders. No steps will be taken to reduce the corporate corpus of the Company by paying liquidating or other dividends to shareholders until these claims are resolved or more nearly quantified. In light of the nature and complexity of the litigation, the Company expects that it may take a period of up to several years to resolve these matters. As circumstances change or additional information with respect to the Company's potential indemnity obligations and litigation exposure becomes available, the Board of Directors will continue to evaluate various uses of the Company's funds. While the Company may investigate new business opportunities that arise, the nature and probability of any investments which might result from such investigations cannot be determined. The Company anticipates that its ongoing general and administrative expenses will be reduced to approximately $300,000 annually upon completion of the Transaction, and expects earnings from investments to largely offset such costs. The Company currently plans to engage a Controller through a staff leasing company to assist in the management of its ongoing accounting and administrative matters at an approximate annual cost of $50,000. None of the Company's current officers will remain employees after the Transaction is completed. Such amounts are approximate based on current estimates and actual amounts could differ from those estimates. 14
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DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS In light of its decision to sell the Assets, the Company's Board of Directors evaluated the remainder of the Company's assets and business activities, including its oilfield services business. Such business constituted approximately 20.3% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 1996 and approximately 16.1% of the Company's consolidated assets at December 31, 1996. Given the relatively high administrative costs of operating a business as small as the oilfield services business on a stand-alone basis, and the rather limited growth opportunities available to the Company for this business (either internally or through acquisition), the Board of Directors concluded that a sale of the oilfield services business was in the best interest of the Company. The Company, with the assistance of Cureton & Co., prepared a memorandum describing this segment of the Company's business, including its assets, key personnel and historical and anticipated pro forma operating results. The memorandum was distributed to numerous potentially interested parties, and an offer by Dawson Production Services, Inc. ("Dawson") to acquire the oilfield services business was deemed to be superior to the expressions of interest by other parties. Dawson's offer was deemed superior to the other expressions of interest received given its recent experience in completing similar acquisitions, its industry reputation and base of existing operations in the Company's general market area, as well as its financial capabilities. Five other parties expressed an interest in receiving the descriptive memorandum, resulting in one other offer to purchase the assets which was substantially below that of Dawson. On November 1, 1996, the Company executed a letter of intent with Dawson to sell substantially all of its oilfield services assets. The Company determined that the value received for the oilfield services assets was fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. This determination was made in part based upon a written fairness opinion from RPR dated January 9, 1997. Because the oilfield services assets were being sold by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, approval by the shareholders of Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. was not required under applicable corporate law or otherwise required under the terms of the subject agreement. The sale was completed on January 20, 1997 pursuant to a definitive asset purchase agreement, and resulted in the Company receiving approximately $4.9 million in cash and a subordinated note for $500,000, due in January 2002. The Company used the cash proceeds to reduce its outstanding bank indebtedness by $3.3 million, with the remainder being used to fund transaction expenses of approximately $255,000 and for working capital purposes (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 15
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VOTING AND BENEFICIAL INTERESTS INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON The Company has engaged Cureton & Co., an entity in which Stewart Cureton, Jr. has an ownership and management interest, to provide certain business consulting services to the Company, including analysis and negotiation of potential business combination transactions to which the Company might be a party. Mr. Cureton is a Class A director. Under the terms of the engagement, the Company has paid Cureton & Co. retainer fees of $162,000 through December 31, 1996, and would be obligated to pay additional fees in the event a transaction is consummated by the Company. Based on the terms of the Agreement, the Company will be obligated to pay Cureton & Co. a total of approximately $220,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses, in conjunction with the Transaction. In addition, the Company paid Cureton & Co. a fee of approximately $207,500, plus out-of-pocket expenses, in connection with U.S. Filter's acquisition of PORI, which was completed on February 28, 1997. Under the terms of the Agreement, U.S. Filter reimbursed the Company $250,000 for expenses associated with its due diligence investigations of PORI, including amounts due to Cureton & Co. Additionally, in connection with the disposition of its oilfield services business described previously, the Company paid Cureton & Co. approximately $150,000, plus out- of-pocket expenses. A portion of the retainer fees referred to previously are partially creditable toward the various transaction fees. The Company believes that the terms of its arrangements with Cureton & Co. are consistent with industry standards for similar services. It is anticipated that Michael M. Stark, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and W. Christopher Chisholm, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and a Vice President, will become employees of U.S. Filter upon completion of the Transaction. Prior to November 8, 1996, Mr. Stark was also a director of the Company; however, to avoid any possible conflict of interest which might have resulted from his potential future employment with U.S. Filter, he resigned his director position with the Company effective that date. Additionally, although certain directors of the Company may also be substantial shareholders of the Company, their interests in the Transaction are no different than that of any other shareholder of the Company. No member of U.S. Filter's Board of Directors is a director or officer of the Company or an associate of any officer or director of the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has any relationships with U.S. Filter. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY As of April 29, 1997, the date on which holders of a majority of the Company's outstanding stock approved the Transaction by written consent, there were outstanding 4,155,097 shares of Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value ("Class A Stock") and 4,680,196 shares of Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value ("Class B Stock"). For purposes of approving the Transaction, the Class A Stock and Class B Stock vote together as a single class. Each share of Class A Stock is entitled to one vote and each share of Class B Stock is entitled to ten votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders, except for the election of directors. To be entitled to give written consent of approval of the Transaction, a shareholder must have been a shareholder of record as of April 29, 1997. As of April 29, 1997, the Company had received written consents approving the Transaction from shareholders representing 30,902,480 votes (out of a total of 50,957,057 votes) or 60.6% of the votes represented by the Company's outstanding common stock. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth, as of April 15, 1997, the shares of Class A and Class B Stock beneficially owned by (i) each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company's Class A or Class B Stock, (ii) each director, (iii) the Company's Chief Executive Officer and (iv) the directors and executive officers as a group. This information is based on public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission through 16
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November 1996, and certain information supplied to the Company by the persons listed below. The persons named below, having overall voting power of 87.1%, have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares owned, unless otherwise noted. [Enlarge/Download Table] CLASS A STOCK(1) CLASS B STOCK(1) --------------------------- ------------------------------ PERCENT OF PERCENT OF NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(2) SHARES(3)(4) CLASS(5) SHARES CLASS ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------- --------------- ------------- John Mobley................................................ 38,600(6) * 864,780(7) 18.5% Lois Ann Mobley............................................ -- -- 253,550(8) 5.4% James A. Mobley(9)......................................... -- -- 558,629 11.9% Steven M. Mobley(9)........................................ -- -- 558,629 11.9% H. David Hughes, Trustee................................... -- -- 365,786(10) 7.8% T.M. Mobley................................................ -- -- 1,108,210(11) 23.7% Jo Ann Mobley Grooms....................................... -- -- 324,671(12) 6.9% Susan Mobley Matthews...................................... -- -- 235,471(13) 5.0% David Mobley............................................... -- -- 515,163(14) 11.0% Robert G. Schleier, Trustee................................ -- -- 691,527(15) 14.8% Michael M. Stark(16)....................................... 296,200 6.80% -- -- Stewart Cureton, Jr........................................ 10,000 * -- -- Antar & Co.(17)............................................ 470,809 10.8% -- -- Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (5 persons).... 464,564 10.6% 1,972,990 42.1% ------------------------ * Less than 1% (1) Each share of Class B Stock is convertible into Class A Stock on a share-for-share basis at any time. The information set forth for Class A Stock does not include the shares of Class B Stock which are convertible into Class A Stock. (2) Addresses of beneficial owners are as follows: John Mobley and Lois Ann Mobley, Stillhouse Canyon Office Park, Building One, 4807 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 1245, Austin, Texas; James A. Mobley, 919 Hillcrest Dr., Longview, Texas; Steven M. Mobley, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 1100, Austin, Texas; H. David Hughes, 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 1400, Austin, Texas; T.M. Mobley, Michael M. Stark, Stewart Cureton, Jr., 4415 E. Greenwood, Baytown, Texas; Jo Ann Mobley Grooms, 1880 Bent Tree, Tyler, Texas; Susan Mobley Matthews, HCR 68, Box 23A, Hondo, Texas; David Mobley, 1909 N. Longview Street, Kilgore, Texas; Robert G. Schleier, 1100 Stone Road, Suite 101, Kilgore, Texas; and Antar & Co., 600 Jefferson #850, Houston, Texas. (3) Includes 190,200 shares for Mr. Stark; 10,000 shares for Mr. Cureton; and 219,964 shares for Directors and Executive Officers as a Group which may be acquired within 60 days of April 15, 1997, pursuant to options granted to such persons by the Company. (4) Includes 100,000 shares for Mr. Stark and 200,000 shares for Directors and Executive Officers as a Group which were granted pursuant to the 1995 Employee Restricted Stock Plan. Such shares vest over a five year period beginning January 1, 1995, and vesting may be accelerated upon the attainment of certain specified increases in the market price of the Class A Stock. (5) Percentages are calculated on 4,375,061 shares, the number of shares that would be outstanding if the stock options described in Footnote (3) were exercised. (6) Includes a pro-rata portion of the shares of Class A Stock owned by a corporation which is owned 40% by John Mobley; Mr. Mobley shares voting and investment power for shares owned by such corporation. (7) Includes 253,550 shares held by a family trust for which Mr. Mobley's spouse, Lois Ann Mobley, is co-trustee; Mr. Mobley has no pecuniary interest in such shares. 17
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(8) Represents shares held as co-trustee for a trust; Mrs. Mobley shares voting and investment power for such shares with H. David Hughes. (9) The number of shares listed for each of James A. Mobley and Steven M. Mobley includes 290,600 shares owned by trusts for which they serve as trustees. (10) Represents shares held as co-trustee for two trusts (see Footnotes (8) and (11)). Although Mr. Hughes shares voting and investment power for such shares, he has no pecuniary interest in the shares. (11) Includes 112,236 shares held as co-trustee for a trust; although Mr. Mobley shares voting and investment power with H. David Hughes for shares owned by such trust, he has no pecuniary interest in those shares. (12) Includes 296,671 shares owned by trusts for which Mrs. Grooms is sole trustee. Also includes 28,000 shares owned of record by Mrs. Grooms' spouse; Mrs. Grooms disclaims beneficial ownership for such shares. (13) Includes 207,471 shares owned by trusts for which Mrs. Matthews is sole trustee. Also includes 28,000 shares owned of record by Mrs. Matthews' spouse; Mrs. Matthews disclaims beneficial ownership for such shares. (14) Represents shares held as trustee or co-trustee for trusts. Mr. Mobley shares voting and investment power for 512,739 of the shares. (15) Represents shares held as trustee or co-trustee for four trusts; Mr. Schleier shares voting and investment power with David Mobley for 511,527 of these shares. However, Mr. Schleier has no pecuniary interest in any of the shares he beneficially owns. (16) It is anticipated that Mr. Stark will become an employee of U.S. Filter upon completion of the Transaction. In order to avoid any possible conflict of interest which might result from such situation, Mr. Stark resigned his position as director with the Company effective November 8, 1996; he continues to serve as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. (17) Neither Antar & Co. nor any person claiming through Antar & Co. has filed a Schedule 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based on the absence of such filing, the Company has assumed that no beneficial owner of the shares registered in the name of Antar & Co. owns 5% or more of the Company's Class A Stock. 18
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INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS GENERAL Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. (the "Company") provides diverse environmental and field-related services to industrial, governmental and commercial markets, and specializes in the collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and management of a wide variety of non-hazardous liquid hydrocarbons, oil filters, absorbents, and related materials. Prior to January 20, 1997, as discussed below, the Company also provided oilfield services, including transporting, marketing, storing, and disposing of various liquid materials used or produced as waste throughout the lifecycle of oil and gas wells. The Company was formed in July 1991 for the purpose of combining the businesses of Gibraltar Chemical Resources, Inc. ("Gibraltar"), Mobley Company, Inc. ("Mobley Co."), and Mobley Group, Inc. which had been under common management since their inception. Shareholders of the predecessor companies received shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock in exchange for their shares of common stock of these companies, and certain of the principal shareholders of the Company sold to the Company for cash certain assets used in the business of the predecessor companies. As a result of the foregoing transactions, Gibraltar and Mobley Co. became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company and Mobley Group, Inc. was merged into the Company. The Company's oilfield services business was founded in 1943, primarily for the recycling of tank bottoms, an oilfield waste material which was processed and used to make specialty polishes and waxes. Based on the experience of certain of the Company's principal shareholders in establishing and operating several businesses managing chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, including the operation of oilfield salt water disposal wells, in 1980 the Company expanded into the hazardous waste treatment and disposal business through its Gibraltar subsidiary with the construction of a deep well and related facilities. Additional facilities for waste-derived fuels blending and solvent recycling were constructed at the Gibraltar site in Winona, Texas in 1986 and 1987 and a second deep well was completed in 1991. As discussed below and in Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements the Company completed the sale of Gibraltar on December 31, 1994. Consequently, the Company is no longer involved in the commercial management of hazardous wastes. In 1987, the Company expanded its waste management services activities to include the collection and treatment of non-hazardous, hydrocarbon-laden wastes for customers outside the oil and gas industry and opened its initial oily waste treatment facility in Kilgore, Texas. Subsequently, in 1991 and 1993, additional treatment facilities for the processing of non-hazardous hydrocarbon-laden fluids commenced operations in Corsicana, Texas and Baytown, Texas, respectively. These treatment and recycling plants are supported by a network of seven transportation terminals and transfer facilities in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In 1995, the Company broadened its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery activities to include the collection and marketing of used oil and oil filter collection and recycling through the acquisition of the assets of a group of three related recycling companies. Additionally, construction of two new facilities for the recycling of used motor oil and fuel mixtures into higher-value finished products for sale and the processing and recycling of used oil filters, absorbents and related materials was completed during 1996. On October 30, 1996 and April , 1997, respectively, the Company executed a letter of intent and definitive asset acquisition agreement with U.S. Filter for the sale of its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery assets. The transaction is expected to be consummated by May 31, 1997. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT-- Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". On January 20, 1997, the Company completed the sale of the assets used in its oilfield services business to Dawson Production Services, Inc. (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Management's Discussion and Analysis of 19
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Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS"). RESTRUCTURING AND DIVESTITURE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS In late 1993, management developed and began implementation of a restructuring plan for Gibraltar. Such restructuring was precipitated by a general decline in the hazardous waste services industry during 1992 and 1993 as a result of an increasingly competitive and changing market, trends toward recycling/ recovery and waste minimization by industrial waste generators, as well as the effects of a recessionary economy. In addition, Gibraltar was negatively impacted by a series of regulatory and legal issues. After a period of continued operating losses, in light of management's ongoing assessment of changed conditions in the hazardous waste market, and considering the significance of Gibraltar's regulatory issues and future capital requirements, in late 1993, the Company's senior management and Board of Directors determined that the divestiture of its hazardous waste business was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. On May 10, 1994 the Company entered into a definitive agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") for the sale of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Gibraltar to American Ecology Corporation ("AEC"). The sale of Gibraltar was completed effective December 31, 1994. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Gibraltar sale and its effects on the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company made extensive warranties and representations in the Stock Purchase Agreement, including the absence of any liabilities arising prior to closing other than those disclosed to AEC. The Company is required to indemnify AEC for all losses resulting from breaches of warranties and representations and pending or future claims or proceedings resulting from circumstances existing prior to closing through June 30, 1996 (or in the case of tax, environmental and ERISA claims, through June 30, 1998). The maximum liability of the Company under such indemnity with respect to undisclosed claims is $3.0 million; there is no limit with respect to disclosed liabilities. See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding certain obligations and contingent liabilities relating to Gibraltar. The Company had also formed a joint venture called Pro Ambiente, S.A. de C.V. ("Pro Ambiente"), with Cemex, S.A. de C.V. ("Cemex") in March of 1993 to collect organic hazardous wastes and blend hazardous waste fuels for certain cement kilns operated by Cemex in Mexico. After the divestiture of Gibraltar and the Company's decision to focus on its non-hazardous hydrocarbon recycling business, as well as economic uncertainties in Mexico, the Company sold its interest in the joint venture to Cemex in July 1995. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. BUSINESS STRATEGY AND EXPANSION ACTIVITIES Having exited the hazardous waste industry with the year-end 1994 sale of Gibraltar and the mid-1995 divestiture of its interest in Pro Ambiente, the Company's focus has been on the continued growth and development of its non-hazardous hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business. This new strategic direction, unveiled in 1994, included leveraging the Company's existing customer base through the addition of new services for these customers, expanding geographically, entering new and complementary markets through selected acquisitions, adding new processing capabilities at its existing facilities, and transferring certain oily waste separation and processing technologies to client sites. During 1995 and 1996, the Company continued its hydrocarbon recycling market expansion efforts. Specifically: - In March 1995, the Company opened a new transfer terminal in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to service the south Louisiana and Mississippi markets. 20
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- In July 1995, the Company acquired the assets of a group of three related Texas and Louisiana-based recycling companies engaged in the collection and marketing of used oils and collection and recycling of oil filters, and has integrated these operations into its existing network of collection and transfer terminals. - In the 1995 third quarter, the Company began construction of two new processing plants at its Baytown, Texas site. These new facilities included a distillate fuels production facility for the manufacture of value-added finished products from used oil and motor-fuel feedstocks, and a filter processing and recycling facility for the recycling of used oil filters, absorbents and related materials. The new plants were completed and began operations during 1996. - In March 1996, the Company announced a letter of intent for the acquisition of PORI International, Inc., a Baltimore, Maryland-based environmental consulting and services company that designs, builds, maintains and operates on-site wastewater treatment, waste minimization, and oil recycling facilities. Plans for the Company's acquisition of PORI were subsequently dropped as a result of its decision to sell substantially all of its operating assets; however, U.S. Filter completed the acquisition of PORI's assets effective February 28, 1997 pursuant to a definitive acquisition agreement. The hydrocarbon recycling and recovery industry--particularly the oil and filter recycling markets--is undergoing fundamental change. Currently, these markets are highly fragmented, consisting primarily of many small companies and relatively few major firms. The Company believes that continued regulatory scrutiny and a growing awareness of the benefits of proper recycling practices will continue to stimulate industry-wide consolidation, and it sees a growing need for waste minimization and on-site services. These factors are expected to reinforce the demand for hydrocarbon recycling and recovery firms with multiple capabilities. The Company's strategy with respect to its oilfield services business has been to maintain operations in east Texas, but not to expand such services to other geographic regions. As a result of its decision to divest substantially all of its operating assets, this business was sold on January 20, 1997 (see "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS"). MARKET DEMAND FACTORS In recent years, the demand for the Company's waste management services has resulted primarily from public concern over the quality of the environment and ensuing adoption and enforcement of increasingly stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations have increased the costs and potential liabilities associated with handling of wastes, including used oil. Governmental regulation has also caused a number of commercial treatment and disposal facilities to close, as many have been unable to meet the increasingly strict siting and operating standards imposed by RCRA and other applicable laws. Furthermore, many generators of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes have chosen not to maintain their own treatment and disposal facilities or to develop the technical expertise necessary to assure regulatory compliance. Accordingly, many generators have sought to have their waste streams managed by firms that possess collection, recycling, treatment, transportation and disposal capabilities and have the expertise and financial capacity necessary to comply with applicable environmental regulations. Additionally, concerns by generators about long-term liability has led the industry toward waste minimization and recycle/recovery and thus have significantly changed the market for both hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment and disposal in recent years, as waste generators continue to look for ways to reduce or reuse the wastes they generate. Many generators and other purchasers of waste management services have attempted to decrease the number of providers of these services they utilize in response to liability concerns. The Company believes that these trends will continually force waste management services firms to focus on technological innovation, sound waste-tracking capabilities and a heightened 21
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commitment to customer service and responsiveness. It has been the Company's intention to be responsive to these needs in the expansion of its hydrocarbon recycling business. BUSINESS SEGMENTS See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Company's business segments. WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Following the divestiture of Gibraltar at year-end 1994, the waste management services provided by the Company have consisted of the collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and management of non-hazardous liquid industrial hydrocarbons, off-specification motor fuels, used oils, oil filters, absorbents and related materials. These activities are collectively referred to as "hydrocarbon recycling and recovery". TREATMENT AND RECYCLING OF OIL-WATER AND FUEL-WATER MIXTURES The Company treats selected non-hazardous oily fluids through phase separation processes as a part of its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery services. These oily fluids consist primarily of three types: industrial oily fluids, off-specification motor fuels, and underground storage tank remediation fluids. Oily fluids are broken into separate phases through the addition of chemicals, heat, agitation, and mechanically-enhanced gravity separation. Off-specification motor fuels and underground storage tank remediation fluids are similarly processed at segregated facilities. The water recovered from the above mixtures is treated and discharged to a local sewer system, and reclaimed oil is marketed as industrial fuel. Recycled motor fuel is marketed as refinery feedstock. The Company currently operates three hydrocarbon recycling and recovery facilities in Baytown, Kilgore, and Corsicana, Texas. Sources of oily fluids managed as used oils include industrial and manufacturing operations and transportation activities. Sources of motor fuel-water mixtures managed as off-specification motor fuels include motor fuel distribution, transportation, and retailing activities. Underground storage tank fluid sources include underground storage tank corrective action, removal, and groundwater remediation activities. COLLECTION ACTIVITIES The Company transports high-water oily fluids using vacuum tank trucks and other transports dedicated to the waste management business. The Company collects motor fuel-water mixtures, as well as waste lubricants, machine coolants, and other hydrocarbon-laden fluids, from industrial, manufacturing, and transportation operations. Prior to treatment, these materials may be held temporarily at one of the Company's transfer facilities. The Company also uses its collection equipment to provide in-plant support services to industrial companies and environmental engineering firms engaged in remediating groundwater problems, cleaning up spills, or pumping and transporting industrial liquids and sludges within their own plant sites. USED OIL COLLECTION AND RECOVERY SERVICES As a result of the asset acquisition in July 1995 described in Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company began the collection and marketing of used lubricating oils from various sources, including automobile and truck dealers, transportation fleets, automotive garages, oil change outlets, service stations, industrial plants, and other businesses. Currently, the majority of this used oil is acquired with no fee payments to or from the generator. Additionally, the Company currently acquires certain quantities of used oil from other collectors, and typically pays the collectors for this material based on the quantities and quality of the used oil acquired. This purchased oil was formerly aggregated with the oil from the Company's own collection activities and sold unprocessed to fuels blenders for use as a fuel in certain industrial applications for which such oil is suitable. With the startup of its distillate fuels 22
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production facility in the 1996 second quarter, the Company began utilizing substantially all of the used oil it collects and purchases as feedstock for the manufacture of distillate fuel products, including marine diesel oil blendstock, light distillates, and asphalt flux. Such conversion of used oils into higher-value finished products allows the Company to derive revenue from the sale of such products it sells into relatively large commodity markets. The new plant is designed to process nominally 19.0 million gallons of feedstock annually, including both used oils and mixed motor fuels. Although the plant initially achieved such production rates for short periods of time, technical problems and operational issues associated with startup of the used oil processing operations prevented it from sustaining these throughput levels. As a result, the plant's monthly production averaged 800,000 gallons during the period from August 1996 to December, 1996 compared to its used oil processing capacity of 1.2 million gallons per month. This production shortfall, as well as a later-than-expected plant completion, materially impacted the decline in the Company's liquidity during 1996. Management believes that certain capital improvements to the plant, which are currently underway and scheduled to be completed in the 1997 second quarter, will enable the plant to approach or achieve its design and operating cost expectations. FILTER COLLECTION AND RECYCLING SERVICES Similarly, with the aforementioned asset acquisition, the Company began the collection and recycling of used oil filters. In this business line, the Company derives revenues from the fees it charges customers to manage used oil filters and related products, as well as from the sale of the recovered products, as described below. Containers (generally 55-gallon drums) of used automotive and industrial filters and absorbents are typically collected from customers using the Company's collection fleet and aggregated at selected sites in its network of transfer facilities. These filters are then transported to the Company's Baytown filter recycling facility, which commenced operations in April 1996. Prior to the completion of its recycling plant, the Company utilized a third-party processor to recycle the spent filters. The new filter processing plant shreds, separates and recycles used oil filters into three reusable components--used oil, filter fluff, and metal. The recovered used oil is utilized as feedstock for the distillate fuels production facility described in the preceding paragraph. The filter fluff is utilized as an alternative fuel source for approved industrial users where possible, or otherwise properly managed. The recovered metal is marketed as feedstock for regional "mini-mills" in the steel-producing industry. The new facility is estimated to have a single-shift processing capacity of approximately 97,000 drum equivalents of filters annually. ANALYTICAL SERVICES The Company provides analytical services through two laboratory facilities in Baytown and Kilgore that are integral to its ability to manage recyclable hydrocarbons and used oil properly. These captive laboratory facilities perform tests on the waste streams of customers and potential customers which enable the Company to determine the optimal means of recycling or treatment. These tests also allow the Company to determine whether or not it has the capability of accepting the waste stream, determine whether the wastes conform to the customer's pre-approved waste profile, and to estimate the cost of managing the wastes. The Company's internal analytical capabilities are supplemented through the use of outside commercial laboratories as needed. OILFIELD SERVICES Until the Company's recent sale of its oilfield services assets (see "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS"), this business segment consisted of the transportation, management and disposal of various liquids which are used or produced as waste in the drilling, completion, and production operations of oil and gas wells. In particular, the Company had extensive capabilities in supplying fluids and the necessary storage tanks for massive hydraulic fracture treatments prevalent in its oilfield market in east Texas. The Company operated a fleet of specialized trucks, some of which were also used in its hydrocarbon recycling operations, for pumping and transporting oilfield drilling fluids and oilfield liquid 23
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waste, including produced salt water, and it rented to customers portable tanks for well stimulation services and temporary fluids storage. The Company operated three salt water disposal wells in east Texas. In addition, the Company sold clear brine fluids which are used in well completion, workover, and fracturing operations. CUSTOMERS AND MARKETING The Company provides its waste management services to large and small-stream generators of recyclable hydrocarbons engaged in the manufacturing, transportation, steel, refining, chemical, automotive, and other industries. The Company has historically derived a substantial portion of its revenues from customers in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. A substantial portion of the Company's customers have used its services on an ongoing basis, although no single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's consolidated revenues in 1996. Waste streams are generally received by the Company pursuant to continuing contracts which are terminable upon 30 days notice of either party and which do not obligate either the customer to deliver, or the Company to accept, any specific quantities of waste. The Company's waste management services are marketed directly by its sales force. In addition to targeting small-stream generators who require more value-added service, the sales force targets medium-to-large companies who have large volumes of waste, and seeks to increase the quantities of material managed on behalf of each existing customer by serving more of the customer's locations and managing additional types of waste streams. COMPETITION The Company competes with numerous large and small companies in its waste management services business. Among its primary competitors are Allwaste, Inc., Laidlaw Environmental, Inc., Safety-Kleen Corp., Specialty Environmental Services, Philip Environmental and World Fuel Services, Inc. Each of these companies is able to provide one or more of the waste management services offered by the Company or alternative services, and many of the Company's competitors have access to greater financial resources than does the Company. In addition, the Company competes with other local or smaller regional companies, many of which are privately-owned, that have hydrocarbon recycling capabilities or that collect and market used oil. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in its markets for the waste management services it offers are customers' ability to audit and approve competing waste treatment and recycling facilities, comprehensiveness and quality of services, the degree of sophistication of the treatment and recycling services offered (including the number and types of materials capable of being processed), the availability of alternative technologies, the physical proximity of facilities to customers, and price. REGULATION The Company is subject to comprehensive and continuously evolving regulation by federal, state, and local authorities. These authorities are empowered to regulate compliance with extensive environmental laws, regulations, and ordinances. Federal environmental statutes affecting the business of the Company include, but are not limited to, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 ("RCRA"), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("SARA"), the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (the "SDW Act"), the Clean Air Acts of 1970 and 1972, as amended (the "Clean Air Acts"), the Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended (the "Clean Water Act"), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act ("OSHA"). Such statutes are designed to address management of waste at active disposal facilities, clean-up and remediation of inactive hazardous waste sites, protection of public water supplies, control of air quality standards, and exposure to toxic substances and other forms of pollution in the workplace. These laws provide significant penalties for violators, as well as continuing liability for waste generators, owners, and operators of waste treatment facilities and others for past disposal practices. Many 24
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states have been authorized by the EPA to enforce regulations promulgated under various federal environmental statutes. The state of Texas has authority to administer most of the regulations related to RCRA as well as regulate the management of non-hazardous industrial wastes. In addition, there are numerous state and local authorities that further regulate the environment, some of which impose standards stricter than those established in federal laws and regulations. Penalties for violations of applicable laws or regulations include injunctive relief, recovery of damages for injury to air, water or property, and fines for non-compliance. In September 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") finalized regulations that govern the management of used oils destined for recycling. Although used oil is not classified as a hazardous waste under federal law, certain states do regulate used oil as hazardous. The new regulations address several areas of environmental risks that caused environmental problems at used oil recycling facilities in the past, and contain specific requirements for generators, transporters, and used oil processors. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission ("TNRCC") has adopted rules that essentially implemented the EPA regulations in Texas effective March 26, 1996. In some respects, these regulations are more stringent than the EPA rules, including provisions for more frequent and comprehensive reporting and financial assurance requirements for used oil processors. The Company has built and operates its facilities to standards that meet and, in certain instances, exceed current standards. The Company believes that it has obtained all material permits, approvals, and authorizations required of it to operate its current hydrocarbon recycling business. However, the Company may be required to obtain additional permits, approvals, or authorizations or take substantial corrective action to retain existing permits, approvals, and authorizations at its facilities to continue current operations if new legislation or regulations are enacted or existing laws and regulations are either amended or enforced differently. The Company may in the future be required under these regulatory requirements to increase capital and operating expenditures in order to maintain current operations or initiate new operations. Under certain circumstances, the Company might be required to curtail operations until a particular problem is remedied. Although the Company cannot predict the extent to which any new legislation or regulation may affect its operations, it is possible that changes in the current environmental laws and regulations, or changes in the enforcement thereof, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations, earnings and competitive position. The waste generators serviced by the Company segregate hazardous waste from non-hazardous waste and are aware of the penalties for misrepresenting wastes. The Company requires generators of non-hazardous wastes to certify that the wastes, for which they are seeking management and recycling services, are not "hazardous" pursuant to federal regulations. The Company requires generators to submit a characterization sample, along with pertinent analytical data, prior to approval of the waste stream for collection. The Company is subject to enforcement actions for violations of any of its permits. Citizens are entitled to file civil actions if certain regulatory agencies fail to act on alleged violations of permits. The Company must comply with all applicable regulations including those mandated by RCRA, OSHA, CERCLA, the Clean Air Acts, the Clean Water Act, the SDW Act, and other applicable regulations. The Company must exercise care to assure that it accepts only wastes that it is authorized to manage at its various facilities. Evaluation of the source generating waste materials, written representations required of the generator, and analytical determinations (performed on samples of waste to be received) are necessary to prevent the receipt of unauthorized wastes. In addition to possible regulatory sanctions or fines associated with the receipt of unauthorized materials, the Company must be concerned with possible risks to its employees, equipment, and the environment that might result from receipt and management of unauthorized wastes. When transporting wastes, the Company is liable for any damages related to the accidental release of waste materials. Such liability extends to injuries caused to individuals, costs related to emergency response activities, and remediation of spill sites. Once wastes arrive at one of the Company's facilities, the Company must assure that there is no release of waste from tanks and containers 25
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used for interim storage. Clean-up of such releases is mandated by state regulation in the case of non-hazardous waste releases. Generators and transporters of hazardous substances, as well as past and present owners and operators of hazardous release sites, are made strictly, jointly and severally liable for the clean-up costs resulting from releases and threatened releases of CERCLA-regulated hazardous substances. A large portion of the materials collected by the Company are recycled or converted into materials which may be used for another purpose. The amount of material that the Company deposits at waste disposal sites is, therefore, small in relation to the volume of materials collected by the Company, and the Company has sought new treatment and processing technologies to reduce this amount even further. Additionally, the Company periodically sends some of the materials it collects to selected third party facilities for treatment and/or disposal. The Company audits third-party treatment and disposal facilities prior to shipping any materials to attempt to minimize its potential CERCLA liability at these sites. At the present time, the Company is aware of only one proceeding in which the Company may be a potentially responsible party (see "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Legal Proceedings"). COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT The Company regards compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations as a critical component of its overall operations, from providing quality service to its customers to protecting the health and safety of its employees and neighbors and protecting the Company's facilities from damage. The Company strives to maintain the highest professional standards in its compliance activities; its internal operating requirements are in many instances more stringent than those imposed by regulation. The Company's compliance program has been developed for each of its operational facilities under the direction of the Company's compliance staff, which is responsible for facilities compliance, health and safety, field safety, compliance training, transportation compliance, and related record keeping. As part of the Company's continuing efforts to monitor environmental compliance, its treatment and recycling facilities are periodically inspected by its compliance staff, and also by regulators and customers. The Company believes that its facilities are in substantial compliance with all applicable requirements. Future legislation, regulatory interpretation, or administrative procedures are likely to require capital expenditures to maintain compliance, the amount of which cannot be anticipated. On certain occasions, the Company's facilities have been cited for regulatory violations, and environmental problems have been found in the facilities. The extent to which such violations and problems have affected the financial condition and results of operations of the Company is reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto set forth on pages F-1 through F-26 herein. The Company has compliance and health and safety representatives to oversee the implementation of the Company's compliance program at its facilities. The Company also performs periodic inspections of treatment, recycling, and disposal facilities of other firms utilized by the Company. The Company follows a program of risk management policies and practices designed to reduce potential liability as well as to manage customers' ongoing regulatory responsibility. This program includes employee training, laboratory testing and environmental monitoring, and policy decisions restricting the types of wastes handled or projects undertaken. The Company evaluates all revenue opportunities and declines those which it believes involve unacceptable risks. Typically, the Company applies established technologies to the treatment, recycling, and disposal of wastes. The Company believes its operations are conducted in a safe and prudent manner and in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company is, in fact, in substantial compliance with such laws and regulations or that it will not be subject to fines, damages, loss of permits, or other similar consequences resulting from past, present or future violations. 26
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INSURANCE The Company maintains insurance coverage for normal business risks, including workers' compensation for its employees, automobile liability, general liability, and excess liability insurance coverage. Additionally, the Company carries pollution liability insurance providing coverage for damage to third persons from pollution from its waste management facilities. Because this coverage is on a claims-made basis, the Company will be covered only if the policy is in place on the date the claim is asserted even if the Company carried insurance on the date of the event giving rise to the claim. As discussed in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has been notified by its pollution liability insurance carrier that the carrier disputes the Company's interpretation of its pollution liability insurance coverage and policy limitations applicable to certain pending claims (see "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Legal Proceedings"). EMPLOYEES At April 30, 1997, the Company employed approximately 181 persons. Of this number, 17 were involved in corporate administrative and support functions and 164 were employed in its waste management services activities. The Company is currently not a party to any collective bargaining agreements covering its employees, has not experienced any work stoppages, and believes that relations with its employees are good. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES The principal facilities of the Company are described below. Except as otherwise indicated, the Company owns all of its principal facilities. The Company has three facilities for processing and recycling certain materials managed as non-hazardous oily wastes, off-specification motor fuels, and underground storage tank remediation fluids. One of these facilities is located in Kilgore, Texas at a site which is a short distance from where the Company maintains operations offices for its local hydrocarbon recycling terminal. This facility's processing and storage area is located on a 25-acre site with an off-loading bay, tanks and other facilities for the testing and phase separation of hydrocarbon-laden fluids and storing the recovered oil for shipment by truck to the Company's distillate fuels processing facility, described below, or to approved outlets. The Company has a facility for the recycling of off-specification motor fuels and underground storage tank remediation fluids in Corsicana, Texas. This facility's processing and storage area is located on an 11-acre site with an off-loading bay, tanks and other facilities for the phase separation of motor fuels and storage of the recovered product for shipment by truck to the Company's distillate fuels plant. The construction of a separations plant near Baytown, Texas was completed in late 1993 for the recycling of oil-water mixtures, off-specification motor fuels and underground storage tank remediation fluids in separate processing units in a manner similar to that described above for the two other facilities. This operation's analytical testing, off-loading, processing and storage facilities are located on a 28-acre site that is shared with various other facilities described below. The Company completed construction of an oil filter recycling facility at its site in Baytown in April 1996, with an estimated single-shift processing capacity of 97,000 drum equivalents of filters annually. The oil filter and absorbent processing unit recovers high-grade scrap metal for use as steel manufacturing feedstock and filter fluff with a targeted primary outlet for use as supplemental fuel for approved industrial users. Construction of a distillate fuels production facility at the Baytown site for the manufacture of marine distillate fuels and related products from used oils and motor fuel feedstocks was substantially completed in June 1996 and various operational issues associated with startup have, until recently, hindered its ability to produce at its design throughput objective of 1,300 barrels of feedstock per day. The Company also owns a terminal facility adjacent to its Baytown plant consisting of approximately 6,300 square feet of office space, which also serves as an administrative corporate office. Another terminal facility near Austin, Texas, is owned and similar facilities in or near Dallas, Kilgore and San Antonio, Texas, 27
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Little Rock, Arkansas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana are leased. These facilities provide for the dispatching of trucks and equipment to customers and providing other customer services, as well as serving as the base for regional sales activities. In most cases, such facilities also temporarily hold non-hazardous hydrocarbon-laden fluids, used oil and oil filters collected in the local service areas, but do not process or treat these materials. All materials collected are shipped by truck to one of the Company's treatment and recovery facilities discussed in the previous paragraphs. The Company completed the relocation of its primary corporate offices and consolidation of administrative support functions to Baytown, Texas in late 1996, utilizing the existing terminal facility referred to previously, supplemented by an additional 3,000 square feet of modular office space. The Company's previous corporate office in Kilgore, Texas, consisting of land and approximately 10,000 square feet of office space, is currently held for sale or lease. The Company's current mailing address is 4415 E. Greenwood, Baytown, Texas 77520. Following completion of the Transaction, the Company's mailing address will be P.O. Box 1640, Kilgore, Texas 75662. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS LITIGATION AND VARIOUS OTHER CLAIMS. On January 26, 1996, Mobley Co. was notified by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission that it is a potentially responsible party ("PRP") for the alleged release, during the early or mid-1980s, of hazardous substances at the McBay Oil and Gas State Superfund Site located near Grapeland, Texas. The Company has recorded an accrual for its estimated exposure in connection with this matter, the amount of which is not material to the consolidated financial statements. On May 3, 1996, the Company filed a complaint against National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. ("National Union") in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas seeking declaratory judgment that National Union is obligated to indemnify the Company under three pollution legal liability insurance policies issued by National Union and that certain claims previously made by the Company with respect to such policies are not "related claims" covered by a single policy as is alleged by National Union. Previously, National Union had issued three pollution liability policies to the Company, each covering a different time period and each containing a provision that all claims arising out of related or continuous acts would be considered a single loss and be deemed first reported during the policy period in which the initial claim was first reported. The Company sought a declaratory judgement establishing that the foregoing provision was not applicable to claims that might arise under various lawsuits in which the Company is a defendant (see "Claims and Legal Proceedings Against Gibraltar" below). Additionally, in connection with its prior ownership of Gibraltar, the Company is a party to lawsuits styled WILLIAMS V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC., STEICH V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. and DANIELS V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. to which Gibraltar is also a party. These lawsuits are described below. CLAIMS AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST GIBRALTAR. In connection with the sale of Gibraltar discussed in Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company is obligated to indemnify AEC for certain claims against Gibraltar, including various legal claims and proceedings disclosed to AEC, arising from circumstances existing on or prior to the date of the sale of Gibraltar. The following items constitute material legal claims and proceedings for which the Company is obligated to indemnify AEC: A suit was filed against Gibraltar in August 1992 styled MONCRIEF V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. in State District Court in Smith County, Texas by certain persons who own land in the vicinity of Gibraltar's hazardous waste facility in Winona, Texas. The suit asserts that the value of the plaintiffs' land has been diminished as a result of the alleged emission of objectionable odors from Gibraltar's facility. The plaintiffs assert various grounds for recovery of damages and seek compensatory and punitive damages. The 28
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Company defended these claims in a jury trial which resulted in inconsequential damages being awarded to the plaintiffs on November 7, 1996. However, the verdict is subject to appeal in accordance with applicable rules of civil procedure. On October 18, 1993, a suit styled WILLIAMS V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. was filed against the Company, Gibraltar, Mobley Co. and certain individuals, former customers of Gibraltar and other entities. This case is currently pending in the State District Court of Smith County, Texas. The named plaintiffs, who have requested class certification, are certain individuals residing in Smith County, and are seeking monetary damages for themselves and on behalf of all other persons similarly situated. The petition alleges various acts of negligence, fraudulent concealment, nuisance, trespass, and various others resulting from operations of Gibraltar's hazardous waste facility. Discovery is ongoing in this case. While the Company disputes the material allegations of the plaintiffs' suit and is vigorously defending this litigation, it is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome at this time. Also on October 18, 1993, a suit was filed against the Company, Gibraltar, Mobley Co., and certain individuals, former customers of Gibraltar and other entities, and is currently pending in State District Court in Smith County, Texas styled STEICH V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. The three named plaintiffs have allegedly lived in the vicinity of Gibraltar's hazardous waste facility. The plaintiffs' seek compensation for damages allegedly resulting from various acts of negligence, nuisance, trespass, and fraudulent concealment committed by Gibraltar through its operations. Discovery is ongoing in this case. While the Company disputes the material allegations of the plaintiffs' suit and is vigorously defending the case, it is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome at this time. A suit styled DANIELS V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. was filed on August 31, 1995 in the State District Court of Dallas County, Texas against the Company, Mobley Co., Gibraltar, and certain individuals, former customers of Gibraltar and other entities by certain residents of Smith County, Texas. The plaintiffs claim that they have experienced personal injury and property damage which are alleged to have been caused by the operation of the Company's former subsidiary, Gibraltar. The plaintiffs demand recovery of unspecified monetary damages based on various legal grounds, including fraudulent concealment, negligence, and assault & battery. This case is in the early stages of discovery. While the Company disputes the material allegations of the plaintiffs' suit and is vigorously defending the litigation, it is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome at this time. A suit styled GLAZER V. GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. was filed on September 6, 1994, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division against Gibraltar by an individual and Mothers Organized to Stop Environmental Sins ("MOSES"), under the citizens' suit provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The suit alleges repeated and continuing violations of these federal environmental protection statutes by Gibraltar and an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment caused by Gibraltar's alleged improper transportation, storage, treatment and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The plaintiffs request that Gibraltar's hazardous waste facility be permanently closed, civil penalties be imposed, and plaintiffs' costs of litigation be awarded. The Company has recently been granted summary judgment as to a significant number of the claims against it as the court found that certain alleged violations of environmental protection statutes, on which plaintiffs' claims were based, were diligently prosecuted by the State of Texas. The Company continues to vigorously defend remaining claims in this litigation; however, it is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome as to remaining claims. A suit styled ADAMS V. AMERICAN ECOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CORPORATION, F/K/A GIBRALTAR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, INC. was filed on August 7, 1996 in the State District Court of Tarrant County, Texas against Gibraltar by certain individuals. The plaintiffs claim that they have experienced personal injury and property damage which are alleged to have been caused by the operation of Gibraltar. The plaintiffs demand recovery of unspecified monetary damages and injunctive relief based on various legal grounds including negligence, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Discovery is 29
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ongoing in this case. The Company may be obligated to indemnify the purchaser of Gibraltar for certain losses resulting from the claims asserted by the plaintiffs. While the Company disputes the material allegations of the plaintiffs suit and intends to vigorously defend the litigation, it is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome at this time. The Company is currently not able to reasonably estimate its potential exposure with respect to the foregoing matters. The Company's future financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity could be materially adversely impacted as the nature and scope of the Company's ultimate liability arising from Gibraltar's operations and sale become better defined. See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for related information. Notwithstanding the Transaction, all responsibility for the foregoing matters will be retained by the Company. To the extent the Company is held liable for these matters, it anticipates paying for any such obligations not covered by insurance with funds retained from the net proceeds of the Transaction. MARKET INFORMATION Prior to May 23, 1996, the Company's Common Stock was traded on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System National Market System ("NASDAQ") under the symbol "MBLYA". Since that date, the Company's Common Stock has been quoted for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the same symbol. The following table presents the high and low closing prices for the Company's Common Stock for 1995 and for 1996 prior to its de-listing, as reported by the NASDAQ. The table also reflects the range of reported high and low bid quotations for the Company's Common Stock for the period from May 23, 1996 through December 31, 1996 as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board. Such over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. [Download Table] 1996 1995 -------------------- -------------------- QUARTER ENDED HIGH LOW HIGH LOW -------------------- --------- ------- ------- --------- March 31............ $ 1 1/4 $ 5 5/8 $ 1 3/4 $ 1 3/8 June 30............. 1 1/4 5/8 2 1 3/8 September 30........ 15 5/16 1/2 2 15/16 December 31......... 3/4 1/8 1 3/8 1/2 At April 4, 1997, there were approximately 1,100 beneficial owners of the Company's Class A Common Stock, and 39 stockholders of record of the Company's Class B Common Stock. Immediately preceding the public announcement of the Transaction, the bid quotation for the Company's Class A Common Stock was $0.50. The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock since its initial public offering in September 1991 and has no current plans to make any distributions (see "SALE OF THE ASSETS-- Future Plans of the Company"). MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPANY'S AUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995, AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS, STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY, AND CASH FLOWS FOR EACH OF THE YEARS IN THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 ("CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") AND RELATED NOTES THERETO SET FORTH AT PAGES F-1 TO F-26 ATTACHED HERETO. GENERAL The Company provides diverse environmental and field-related services to industrial, governmental, and commercial markets, and specializes in the collection, transportation, treatment, recycling and management of a wide variety of non-hazardous liquid hydrocarbons, oil filters, absorbents and related 30
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materials. Prior to the sale of Gibraltar at year-end 1994 (see Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), the Company's waste management services activities also included the management of hazardous wastes. Prior to the sale of its oilfield services assets on January 20, 1997, the Company also provided oilfield services for managing liquids used or produced during the lifecycle of oil and gas wells (see "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS" and Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company's revenues have historically consisted of fees collected from customers, principally related to waste management and oilfield services and, to a lesser extent, from product sales and equipment rentals. As a result of new business lines which began in 1995 and continued to grow in 1996, a larger percentage of the Company's waste management services revenues have been derived from sales of manufactured or recovered products. Revenues derived from waste management services are closely associated with volumes of waste collected, levels of service provided and the related pricing. Revenues from oilfield services were derived from hourly and fixed charges for services provided, equipment rentals and products sold. Cost of revenues include direct costs of providing services to customers, such as labor, third party disposal, supplies and other consumables, depreciation, utilities and fuel, equipment maintenance, and repair. Selling, general and administrative expenses include selling and marketing expenses, certain insurance and administrative salary expenses, depreciation, amortization of goodwill, and legal and consulting fees. As more fully described in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company continues to defend various claims resulting from the operations of Gibraltar. As of May 1, 1997, six such lawsuits were pending, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for alleged personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by operations and emissions of Gibraltar's hazardous waste disposal facility, and permanent closure of the facility and civil penalties as the remedy for alleged violations by Gibraltar of environmental protection statutes and endangerment to public health and the environment. These matters raise difficult and complex factual and legal issues, including the nature and amount of the Company's liability, if any. Although the Company is a defendant in certain of these claims, in other matters the Company's potential liability arises from material contractual indemnifications given by the Company to the purchaser of Gibraltar, including the potential liability of certain former Gibraltar customers who have become defendants in litigation involving Gibraltar's operations. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate its potential exposure for defending such matters, any indemnity obligations resulting therefrom, and any corresponding insurance reimbursement. The Company's future financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity could be materially adversely affected as the nature and scope of the Company's ultimate liability arising from Gibraltar's operations and sale become better defined. RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES, DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND RESTRUCTURING CHARGES Due to the Company's inability to secure, on acceptable terms, the capital resources necessary to continue the implementation of its strategic plans to expand its hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business, and after considering the attendant risks of continuing to pursue such strategy in light of its severely strained liquidity, in September 1996, the Company's Board of Directors determined that the divestiture of its operations was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Subsequently, on October 30, 1996 and November 1, 1996, the Company executed letters of intent to sell substantially all of its operating assets in two separate transactions (see "SALE OF THE ASSETS--Background of the Transaction, and--Reasons for the Transaction," Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and "DISPOSITION OF OILFIELD SERVICES BUSINESS"). Because of the sales pending at December 31, 1996, results of operations of the Company's two business segments have been accounted for as discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. The transactions and their impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements are described in the following paragraphs. 31
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SALE OF WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ASSETS & DISCONTINUANCE OF BUSINESS SEGMENT. As described herein, on October 30, 1996, the Company signed a letter of intent with U.S. Filter to sell substantially all of the assets related to its waste management services activities (see "SALE OF THE ASSETS"). The Assets of the Business which are the subject of the letter of intent, and the subsequently executed Agreement, are shown in the December 31, 1996 consolidated balance sheet as "net assets of discontinued operations" at their estimated net realizable value as determined by the terms of the Agreement, less anticipated transaction costs of approximately $450,000. Such Assets had a net book value at December 31, 1996 (net of assumed liabilities) of approximately $15,149,000. As a result of the pending Transaction, the Company recorded a charge of $7,621,000 (net of a deferred income tax benefit of $698,000) during the 1996 third quarter, representing the estimated loss on the disposal of the business segment, including certain required capital expenditures prior to the Transaction. In determining the estimated loss on disposal, only the $8.0 million fixed portion of the Purchase Price was considered (I.E., that portion which is contingent on the future performance of the Business was ignored). The Company estimates that it will incur additional operating losses in this business segment, after the allocation of certain overhead and interest costs, amounting to approximately $331,000 during the phase-out period from October 1, 1996 through the expected closing date of the sale. A provision for such estimated net losses was recorded in the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's waste management services segment incurred a net loss of approximately $288,000 during the period October 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996. SALE OF OILFIELD SERVICES ASSETS AND DISCONTINUANCE OF BUSINESS SEGMENT. On November 1, 1996, the Company signed a letter of intent with Dawson Production Services, Inc. ("Dawson") to sell substantially all of the assets related to its oilfield services business. Such sale was completed on January 20, 1997 pursuant to a definitive asset purchase agreement. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the Company received $4,917,000 and a subordinated note in the amount of $500,000, due in January 2002, in exchange for such assets. The assets which are the subject of the sale had a net book value, based on historical cost adjusted for accumulated depreciation and amortization, of approximately $2,378,000 at December 31, 1996, and are shown in the December 31, 1996 consolidated balance sheet as "net assets of discontinued operations" at that carrying amount. The results of operations of the discontinued segment through the disposal date, after allocation of certain overhead and interest costs, did not result in a loss and consequently, no additional losses have been reflected in the statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's oilfield services segment generated net income of approximately $120,000 during the period October 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996. The Company recognized a gain upon completion of the sale, after transaction costs of $255,000, amounting to approximately $2,800,000 in January 1997. In anticipation of the planned divestitures and after consideration of its ongoing operational needs, the Company recorded certain restructuring expenses during the 1996 third quarter. Such expenses, totaling $650,000, included employee severance obligations, costs associated with the relocation and recruitment of personnel, and other related expenses. The net effect of the transactions and related charges described in the preceding paragraphs on the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 1996 approximated $8.6 million, and is summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars): [Download Table] Provision for loss on disposal of waste management services segment........................................................... $ 8,319 Provision for losses during phase-out period of waste management services segment.................................................. 331 Deferred income tax benefit......................................... (698) --------- 7,952 Restructuring expenses.............................................. 650 --------- Total........................................................... $ 8,602 --------- --------- 32
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--1996 COMPARED TO 1995 Revenues for the year ended December 31, 1996 amounted to $21,580,000 compared to $18,588,000 in 1995, an increase of $2,992,000, or 16.1%. All of the increase was attributable to the waste management services segment, as revenues from oilfield services during 1996 were virtually unchanged from the prior year. The growth in segment revenues stemmed largely from the continued expansion of the Company's used oil and filter recycling activities, which contributed $5,186,000 in 1996 vs. $960,000 in 1995. These new business lines commenced operations in the 1995 third quarter with the Company's acquisition of an existing business and their development has continued since that time through enhancements of the Company's collection capabilities and the construction of two new processing facilities in Baytown, Texas. The new facilities commenced operation during 1996. Revenues from the Company's hydrocarbon/water separations business fell from approximately $13,300,000 during 1995 to $12,021,000 in 1996, reflecting the effect of a severe regional drought which greatly reduced fluid volumes received for recycling in the first half of 1996. Such volumes, particularly those fluids associated with the remediation of underground storage tanks, are generated from groundwater and/or rainwater associated with construction activities and thus are directly impacted by the amount of rainfall received. Gross profit (revenues less operating expenses) for the year ended December 31, 1996 totaled $4,333,000 compared to $5,731,000 in 1995. In the waste management services segment, gross profit amounted to $3,201,000, or 18.6% of revenues, in 1996, compared to $4,310,000, or 30.3% of segment revenues, in the year-ago period. The marked degradation in gross margin was primarily attributable to inordinately high costs associated with the startup of the new used oil and filter recycling facilities. As discussed previously, such startup began in the 1996 second quarter and while the new distillate fuels plant initially achieved its design production rates, technical and operational problems prevented the facility from sustaining these throughput levels. In addition to the negative effect of the production shortfall on product yields, higher maintenance costs also contributed to the reduced gross profit. Ultimately, in order to achieve its design throughput and product yield specifications, certain modifications to the facility, as originally designed and constructed, were determined to be required. These capital improvements are currently underway and scheduled to be completed in the 1997 second quarter. Additionally, the diminished volumes referred to in the previous paragraph and the relatively fixed nature of plant operating costs negatively impacted profitability in its hydrocarbon/water separations business. Segment gross profit from oilfield services declined from $1,421,000 (32.6% of revenues) in 1995 to $1,132,000 (25.9% of revenues) in 1996 largely the result of an unfavorable business mix including reduced trucking and mobile storage tank rental income and a higher proportion of lower-margin contract services revenue. Segment profitability was further weakened by higher operating costs, particularly those related to transportation services provided. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses during 1996 were $5,925,000 compared to $7,035,000 in 1995. Such costs in 1995 included certain non-recurring expenses, including adjustments to insurance accruals, severance expenses related to the retirement of an executive officer, relocation costs, and legal and consulting fees. Excluding the effect of such costs, SG&A expenses declined slightly during 1996 from their 1995 levels. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A expenses amounted to 27.5% and 37.8% in 1996 and 1995, respectively, reflecting, in part, the increased leverage of the Company's overhead costs resulting from its new business lines. Other expense, net in 1996 amounted to $329,000 and consisted principally of interest expense on bank indebtedness and other miscellaneous expenses, partially offset by interest income on invested funds and other miscellaneous receipts. In 1995, other expense, net amounted to $630,000, including losses 33
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associated with the Company's Mexican operations, which were sold in the 1995 second quarter, and the writedown of a building held for sale to its estimated net realizable value. In connection with the planned asset divestitures discussed previously, the Company recorded a deferred income tax benefit of $698,000 during 1996, representing a reduction in previously established deferred tax liabilities. No other income tax expense or benefit was recognized during the year. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--1995 COMPARED TO 1994 Total revenues fell from $29,510,000 in 1994 to $18,588,000 in 1995, an overall decline of 37.0%. The decline was attributable to a 44.8% decline in waste management services revenue, partially offset by a 17.4% increase in oilfield services revenue. On a pro forma basis (excluding Gibraltar in 1994), revenues from waste management services grew 3.2% in 1995. Increased waste management services revenues in 1995 compared to pro forma revenues in the prior year were attributable to the revenue contribution of the used oil and filter businesses acquired in July 1995, which approximated $960,000 for the partial-year period. 1995 revenues from the Company's hydrocarbon recycling activities involving the separation of relatively low hydrocarbon/high water mixtures declined 3.8% compared to those of 1994, despite an expansion into Baton Rouge, Louisiana in early 1995, while such revenues from collection terminals open twelve months or longer decreased by approximately 6.0% during the year. This decline was largely a result of diminished volumes of fluids collected in 1995, partially mitigated by improved pricing. A significant special project in the 1994 first quarter, accounting for nearly 5% of the year's total volume, as well as unusually heavy rainfall in the Texas Gulf Coast region during the 1994 fourth quarter, were also key factors in the 1995 relative volume shortfall. Fluid volumes associated with underground storage tank remediation activities fell precipitously in 1995 compared to 1994 levels, partly the result of an extended regional drought in the latter part of the year which continued into 1996. Volumes of industrial oily wastes, which are more production-oriented as opposed to event-driven, increased approximately 15.4% during the same period. This pronounced shift in business mix, which began in 1994, continued throughout 1995 and has been largely driven by market changes and regulatory influences. Revenues from transportation and plant-related services increased modestly in 1995 compared to the prior year, largely on the strength of a significant one-time project in the Dallas, Texas area, but the overall revenue contribution from large nonrecurring sources declined somewhat during the year. Revenues in the Company's oilfield services business in 1995 surpassed 1994 levels by 17.4% due to renewed marketing efforts, including a focus on new revenue sources, and weaker activity from this sector during the second and third quarters of 1994. Total gross profit for the year ended December 31, 1995 fell 6.0% to $5,731,000 from $6,094,000 in the prior year. On a segment basis, gross profit from waste management services fell 9.1% during 1995, while gross profit from oilfield services increased 5.1%. Stated as a percentage of revenues, waste management services gross profit increased to 30.3% in 1995 from 18.4% in the prior year, which included the impact of Gibraltar's significantly diminished revenues and relatively high operating costs in 1994. Excluding the effects of Gibraltar, the 1994 segment gross profit margin was 36.0%. The relative decline in 1995 profitability was influenced by higher analytical and plant operating expenses throughout the year, particularly at the Company's Baytown, Texas oil-fuel-water separations facility. These escalated operating expenses were attributable, in part, to the ongoing shift in business mix toward more difficult-to-treat oily waste streams, as noted previously, and reflect the startup of a new terminal operation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the 1995 first quarter. Throughout 1995, management devoted substantive attention to the enhancement of its Baytown operations and made significant capital improvements at the facility. 1995 gross profit was further weakened by higher labor and maintenance costs, as well as equipment utilization issues, relating to the transportation services provided by the Company. 34
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Segment gross profit from oilfield services declined as a percentage of revenue in 1995 to 32.6% from 36.5% a year ago, largely as a result of competitive pricing pressures and a less profitable mix of business, despite the increased activity and revenues referred to previously. SG&A expenses totaled $7,035,000 in 1995 vs. $9,483,000 in 1994, a 25.8% decrease. Excluding the effects of Gibraltar on 1994 overhead expenses, such costs increased 12.5% in 1995 primarily as a result of certain nonrecurring expenses in the fourth quarter amounting to approximately $770,000. These expenses included the following approximate amounts: insurance costs of $235,000, severance expenses of $300,000 related to the retirement of an executive officer, costs associated with the relocation of certain executive officers totaling $100,000, consulting fees of $50,000 related to the Company's strategic review of its opportunities for possible business combinations, and certain legal expense accruals amounting to $70,000. Additionally, 1995 SG&A spending was impacted by the incremental overhead costs associated with the acquisition and new business lines discussed in Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which amounted to approximately $375,000. Excluding the impact of the significant one-time charges referred to previously, 1995 SG&A expenses were relatively flat with pro forma 1994 expenses, despite the added SG&A costs of the acquired businesses. Management continued its cost containment efforts throughout 1995 in light of the Company's smaller revenue base following the sale of Gibraltar at year-end 1994. As a percentage of revenues, 1995 SG&A expenses amounted to 37.8% (33.7% excluding the special charges) vs. 32.1% in 1994 (35.7% on a pro forma basis). Other expense, net of $276,000 in 1995 resulted from a $392,000 write-down of the carrying value of a Kilgore, Texas office building to its estimated net realizable value in the 1995 fourth quarter, partially offset by other income. The building, previously used by the Company as a corporate office, has been held for sale since the Company relocated its corporate offices and consolidated its administrative support functions. Other income, net of $50,000 in 1994 included a net loss on asset dispositions, offset by lease income and miscellaneous other net receipts. Interest income, net of $193,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995 compares to net interest expense of $154,000 in 1994. The Company had virtually no indebtedness outstanding during 1995, prior to borrowings on its term loan facility in December to fund certain capital expenditures. Strained liquidity during 1994, leading up to the completion of the sale of Gibraltar at year-end, resulted in higher levels of outstanding indebtedness throughout the year. Losses associated with the Company's Mexican operations in 1995 totaled $547,000, including a second quarter loss on the sale of the Company's 25% interest in Pro Ambiente, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican joint venture (see Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). During 1994, the Company's equity in losses of the joint venture amounted to $55,000. Additionally, at year-end 1994, the Company recorded, as a reduction of stockholders equity, a $700,000 write-down of its joint venture investment through establishment of a valuation allowance for foreign currency translation losses. Such write-down was necessitated by the devaluation of the Mexican peso late in 1994. The 1995 income tax benefit was $471,000, and consisted of a refund of previously-paid Federal income taxes and net deferred income tax benefits resulting principally from differences in depreciation expense for financial accounting and income tax reporting purposes. Income tax expense for 1994 was $547,000, and was impacted by the establishment of valuation allowances for deferred tax assets resulting from an assessment of their likely realizability. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company used net cash of approximately $206,000 in its operating activities, including its discontinued waste management services and oilfield services operations. The substantial net loss posted by the Company during the year of $10,235,000 included significant net non-cash charges amounting to $8,602,000 for anticipated losses in connection with the pending disposal of its waste management services assets and related restructuring expenses. 35
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Capital expenditures in 1996 amounted to approximately $5,339,000 compared to $5,226,000 in 1995 and $3,042,000 in 1994. Capital spending during 1995 and 1996 included approximately $6,188,000 associated with the construction of two new recycling plants at the Company's Baytown, Texas facility as part of a major expansion initiative. The substantial losses sustained by the Company in 1995 and 1996, coupled with the significant capital requirements necessary to support its facilities expansion, have severely weakened the Company's liquidity, substantially consuming its cash resources and exhausting its existing borrowing capacity. The sizeable capital investment referred to in the previous paragraph was funded largely through bank borrowings, resulting in outstanding indebtedness of $5,014,000 at year-end 1996. On January 20, 1997, the Company utilized $3,300,000 of the cash proceeds realized from the sale of its oilfield services assets to reduce such outstanding bank indebtedness, and the maturity date of its credit agreement with Bank One, Texas, N.A. was amended to be March 31, 1997. The Company has been in violation of certain covenant requirements of the credit agreement since June 30, 1996, placing it in technical default, and no additional borrowings are available under such agreement. The Company and the bank subsequently extended the maturity date of the credit agreement to May 31, 1997 to accommodate the expected completion of the Transaction and the Company intends to retire the remaining outstanding indebtedness with the proceeds from such sale. Presently, it is contemplated that all or substantially all of the $8.0 million in U.S. Filter Stock received at the closing of the Transaction will be sold as soon as possible thereafter, resulting in net proceeds totaling approximately $5.8 million after repayment of the aforementioned outstanding bank indebtedness (approximately $1.75 million) and transaction expenses estimated at $450,000. Such net proceeds will be used to fund the liabilities retained by the Company following the sale, and the remaining surplus cash is expected to be invested in relatively low-risk, liquid short-term investments. The Company anticipates that ongoing general and administrative expenses will be reduced to approximately $300,000 annually upon completion of the sale, and expects earnings from investments to largely offset such costs. The amounts described herein are approximate and based on the Company's current estimates. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that such amounts will actually be realized. In addition to the aforementioned proceeds, under the terms of the Agreement, the Company may receive up to $4.0 million in U.S. Filter Stock during the two-year period following the sale based on the financial performance of the Business. Additionally, the Company received a $500,000 subordinated note receivable from Dawson, bearing interest at 8.5%, which matures in January 2002. Because of its indemnification obligations related to the sale of Gibraltar, as well as potential indemnity obligations with respect to the asset sales to U.S. Filter and Dawson, and in light of the ongoing litigation (see "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Legal Proceedings"), the Company, based on consultation with legal counsel, does not currently anticipate making a distribution to its shareholders in the foreseeable future. As circumstances change or additional information with respect to the extent of the Company's potential indemnity obligations becomes available, the Board of Directors will continue to evaluate various uses of the Company's funds. While the Company may investigate new business opportunities that arise, the nature and probability of any investments which might result from such investigations cannot be determined. In the event that the sale to U.S. Filter is not consummated, the Company's Board of Directors may seek to sell some or all of the Company's assets to another purchaser or purchasers. The Company's inability to consummate the sale to U.S. Filter as planned in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and liquidity. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS The Company is subject to extensive and evolving regulation by federal, state, and local authorities. This body of law provides for significant penalties for violators, as well as continuing liability for waste generators, owners, and operators of waste disposal facilities and others for past disposal practices. The 36
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Company regards environmental compliance as a critical component of its overall operations, from providing quality service to its customers to protecting the health and safety of its employees and protecting human health and the environment. This environmental compliance effort is the shared responsibility of all operating personnel and is under the direction of a staff of employees who are responsible for its facilities' compliance, health and safety, field safety, compliance training, and related recordkeeping. The Company has taken, and is routinely taking, measures to correct all known existing problems and to safeguard against potential problems. The Company believes that its facilities are in substantial compliance with all applicable requirements. Future legislation, regulatory interpretation, or administrative procedures are likely to require capital expenditures to maintain compliance, the amount of which cannot be anticipated. MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are the responsibility of management. They have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and include estimates and judgments made by management. To meet the responsibility for reliable financial data, management maintains a system of internal accounting controls which is designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are executed as authorized and are accurately recorded and that assets are properly safeguarded. Although accounting controls are designed to achieve this objective, it must be recognized that errors or irregularities may occur. In addition, it is necessary to assess and balance the relative costs and the expected benefits of the internal accounting controls. The Company's independent auditors, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, have audited the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, which include a review of the system of internal accounting controls only to the extent necessary to determine audit procedures required to express their opinion. CERTAIN TRENDS AND UNCERTAINTIES As a cautionary note to investors, the Company and its representatives may make oral or written statements from time to time that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws, including information contained in this Information Statement which is not historical. There are a number of important factors which could cause actual results and consequences to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth below. COMPLETION OF THE TRANSACTION. Closing of the Transaction described herein is subject to various conditions set forth in the Agreement (see "SALE OF THE ASSETS--Terms of the Agreement & Related Matters"), many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company's inability to consummate the sale of the Assets to U.S. Filter or another prospective purchaser in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and liquidity. INABILITY TO LIQUIDATE SHARES OF U.S. FILTER STOCK. As further described herein (see "SALE OF THE ASSETS--Use of Proceeds of Transaction"), it is currently contemplated that all or substantially all of the U.S. Filter stock to be received at the time of the closing of the Transaction will be sold by the Company as soon as possible following such closing. There can be no assurances that the Company will, in fact, will be able to sell such shares, nor can there be any assurance of the amounts that will actually be realized from such sales, if any. RESOLUTION OF INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS AND PENDING LITIGATION. As discussed elsewhere herein (See "INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO REGISTRANT--Legal Proceedings" and Note 13 to Notes of Consolidated Financial Statements), the Company has various outstanding contractual indemnification obligations and is a defendant in various pending litigation matters. These matters raise difficult and 37
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complex factual and legal issues, including but not limited to, the nature and amount of the Company's liability, if any. The Company, based on consultation with legal counsel, believes that it is probable that it will continue to incur certain costs associated with the foregoing matters and accordingly, in connection with the divestiture of Gibraltar in 1994, established an accrual for its estimated out-of-pocket expenses related to the ongoing administrative management of such matters. However, the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate its potential exposure for defending such matters, any indemnity obligations resulting therefrom, and any corresponding insurance reimbursement. The Company's future financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity could be materially adversely impacted as the nature and scope of the Company's ultimate liability arising from Gibraltar's operations and sale become better defined. FUTURE PLANS OF THE COMPANY. For reasons described herein (see "SALE OF THE ASSETS--Future Plans of the Company"), the Company does not currently anticipate making a distribution to its shareholders in the foreseeable future. As circumstances change or additional information with respect to the extent of the Company's potential indemnity obligations becomes available, the Board of Directors will continue to evaluate various uses for the Company's funds. While the Company may investigate new business opportunities that arise, the nature and probability of any investments which might result from such investigations cannot be determined. The Company anticipates that its ongoing general and administrative expenses will be reduced to approximately $300,000 annually upon completion of the Transaction, and expects earnings from investments to largely offset such costs. This amount is based on current estimates and actual amounts could differ from this estimate. INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO U.S. FILTER U.S. Filter is a leading global provider of industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment systems, products and services, with an installed base of systems that U.S. Filter believes is one of the largest worldwide. U.S. Filter offers a single-source solution to industrial and municipal customers through what U.S. Filter believes is the industry's broadest range of cost-effective systems, products, services and proven technologies. In addition, U.S. Filter has one of the industry's largest networks of sales and service facilities. U.S. Filter capitalizes on its large installed base, extensive distribution network and manufacturing capabilities to provide customers with ongoing local service and maintenance. U.S. Filter is also a leading provider of service deionization and outsourced water services, including the operation of water and wastewater treatment systems at customer sites. U.S. Filter has grown internally and through the strategic acquisition and successful integration of more than 65 United States based and international water and wastewater treatment companies since 1991. On a previously reported basis, U.S. Filter's revenues increased to $472.5 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 from $41.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1992, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 84%. U.S. Filter's revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 would have been approximately $1.8 billion after giving effect to the completed acquisitions of Zimpro Environmental, Inc. and Davis Water & Waste Industries, Inc. and including, on a pro forma basis, the completed acquisition of Process Equipment Division of United Utilities PLC and the acquisitions of the Water Systems and Manufacturing Group of Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc., WaterPro Supplies Corporation and The Utility Supply Group, Inc. as if such acquisitions were completed at the beginning of such year. Global population growth, economic expansion, scarcity of available water resources, heightened public concern about water quality and growing regulatory requirements have resulted in: (i) continued growth of the multibillion dollar water and wastewater treatment industry; and (ii) heightened demand for increasingly complex water and wastewater treatment systems. The water treatment industry is highly fragmented, with numerous regional participants who provide customers with a limited range of water and wastewater treatment solutions. U.S. Filter differentiates itself from competitors by serving as a single-source water and wastewater treatment provider capable of designing, manufacturing, operating, financing 38
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and maintaining water and wastewater systems on a local basis for industrial and municipal customers. U.S. Filter's customer base includes a broad range of major industrial customers, which require treated water as a necessary component of many products and industrial processes, and municipalities, which treat water and wastewater for their communities. Industrial customers include Chinese Petroleum, Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, General Motors, Hyundai, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Procter & Gamble and Samsung. Municipal customers include the Cities of Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul and St. Louis. U.S. Filter is subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and reports, proxy statements and other information filed by U.S. Filter in accordance therewith contain additional material information concerning U.S. Filter. See "AVAILABLE INFORMATION" contained elsewhere in this Information Statement. U.S. Filter's principal executive offices are located at 40-004 Cook Street, Palm Desert, California 92211, and its telephone number is (619) 340-0098. References herein to U.S. Filter refer to United States Filter Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. FINANCIAL MATTERS CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Company's audited balance sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996 and related notes thereto are set forth at Pages F-1 to F-26 attached hereto, and are referred to herein as the Consolidated Financial Statements. HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Certain historical financial information of the Company and certain pro forma financial information of the Company after giving effect to the Transaction is set forth on page S-1 attached hereto. UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION Certain unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information of the Company after giving effect to the Transaction is set forth on pages S-2 through S-4 attached hereto. ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF THE TRANSACTION Because of the pending Transaction, results of operations of the Company's waste management services segment have been accounted for as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements. As discussed in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, a charge of approximately $7.6 million (net of a deferred income tax benefit of $698,000) was required during the year ended December 31, 1996, representing the estimated loss on the disposal of the Assets, including certain required capital expenditures prior to consummation of the Transaction amounting to approximately $900,000. This loss was determined based on the terms of the pending Transaction, less anticipated transaction costs. In determining the estimated loss on disposal, only the $8.0 million fixed portion of the sales price was considered (I.E., that portion of the total consideration which is contingent on the future performance of the Business was ignored). Additionally, anticipated operating losses in this segment, after the allocation of certain overhead and interest costs, amounting to approximately $331,000 during the phase-out period from October 1, 1996 through the expected closing date of the sale have been reflected in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 1996 through an additional charge to earnings. In anticipation of the pending Transaction as well as the sale of its oilfield services business, the Company recorded certain restructuring charges during the year ended December 31, 1996 approximating $650,000. No additional gain or loss is expected to result from the Transaction. 39
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FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES The Company will realize a capital loss as a result of the consummation of the Transaction in an amount equal to the excess of its adjusted basis in the Assets over their adjusted sales price. The Company estimates that such loss will amount to approximately $7.6 million. The loss will be used to offset the capital gain which resulted from the disposition of the Company's oilfield services assets, which approximated $3.7 million. APPRAISAL RIGHTS Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, no appraisal rights are available to shareholders of the Company in connection with the Transaction. By Order of the Board of Directors of MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. W. CHRISTOPHER CHISHOLM SECRETARY May 9, 1997 40
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Board of Directors and Stockholders Mobley Environmental Services, Inc.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP Shreveport, Louisiana February 28, 1997, except for the second sentence of the last paragraph of note 7 which is as of March 31, 1997 F-1
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA) ASSETS [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 --------- --------- Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents................................................................ $ 385 $ 1,476 Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $50 in 1996 and $257 in 1995................................................................................... 161 2,836 Prepaid expenses and other current assets................................................ 207 582 Net assets of discontinued operations--current........................................... 1,144 -- --------- --------- Total current assets................................................................. 1,897 4,894 Property, plant, and equipment, net...................................................... 230 12,837 Excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, net..................... -- 1,122 Net assets of discontinued operations--non-current....................................... 9,659 -- Other assets, net........................................................................ 197 244 --------- --------- $ 11,983 19,097 --------- --------- --------- --------- LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt...................................... $ 5,014 70 Accounts payable......................................................................... 633 1,306 Accrued expenses......................................................................... 3,721 3,613 --------- --------- Total current liabilities............................................................ 9,368 4,989 Long-term debt, less current portion....................................................... -- 490 Other long-term liabilities................................................................ -- 166 Deferred income taxes...................................................................... 148 846 --------- --------- Total liabilities.................................................................... 9,516 6,491 --------- --------- Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued................ -- -- Common stock, $.01 par value: Class A, 15,000,000 shares authorized; 4,155,097 and 4,085,343 shares issued and outstanding in 1996 and 1995, respectively........................................... 42 41 Class B, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 4,764,903 shares issued and 4,680,196 shares outstanding in 1996, 4,834,657 shares issued and 4,749,950 shares outstanding in 1995................................................................................. 48 49 Additional paid-in capital............................................................... 25,159 25,159 Accumulated deficit...................................................................... (22,486) (12,251) Deferred compensation costs under restricted stock agreements............................ (288) (384) Treasury stock, 84,707 shares of Class B common stock, at cost........................... (8) (8) --------- --------- Total stockholders' equity........................................................... 2,467 12,606 Commitments and contingencies --------- --------- $ 11,983 $ 19,097 --------- --------- --------- --------- See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-2
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND SHARE DATA) [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues................................................................... $ -- $ -- $ -- Cost of revenues........................................................... -- -- -- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit........................................................... -- -- -- Selling, general, and administrative expenses.............................. 516 683 376 Restructuring expenses..................................................... 650 -- -- ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating loss......................................................... (1,166) (683) (376) Other expense, net......................................................... (120) (630) (5) ---------- ---------- ---------- Loss from continuing operations before income taxes.................... (1,286) (1,313) (381) Income tax benefit......................................................... -- 320 49 ---------- ---------- ---------- Loss from continuing operations........................................ (1,286) (993) (332) ---------- ---------- ---------- Discontinued operations, net of tax: Provision for loss on disposal of waste management services segment...... (7,621) -- -- Provision for losses during phase-out period of waste management services segment................................................................ (331) -- -- Net loss from operations of waste management services segment............ (623) (318) (3,727) Net loss from operations of oilfield services segment.................... (374) (152) (36) ---------- ---------- ---------- Loss from discontinued operations...................................... (8,949) (470) (3,763) ---------- ---------- ---------- Net loss............................................................... $ (10,235) $ (1,463) $ (4,095) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net loss per share: Continuing operations.................................................... $ (0.15) $ (0.12) $ (0.04) Discontinued operations.................................................. (1.01) (0.05) (0.48) ---------- ---------- ---------- $ (1.16) $ (0.17) $ (0.52) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Weighted average number of common shares outstanding....................... 8,835,293 8,378,142 7,915,293 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-3
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA) [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 ---------- ---------- ---------- Preferred stock--none issued.................................................. $ -- $ -- $ -- ---------- ---------- ---------- Class A common stock: Balance at beginning of year................................................ 41 27 26 Issuance of 420,000 shares of restricted common stock....................... -- 4 -- Issuance of 500,000 shares of common stock in connection with asset acquisition............................................................... -- 5 -- Conversion of Class B common stock (69,754 shares in 1996, 500,809 shares in 1995, and 30,263 shares in 1994).......................................... 1 5 1 ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance at end of year.................................................... 42 41 27 ---------- ---------- ---------- Class B common stock: Balance at beginning of year................................................ 49 54 55 Conversion into Class A common stock (69,754 shares in 1996, 500,809 shares in 1995, and 30,263 shares in 1994)....................................... (1) (5) (1) ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance at end of year.................................................... 48 49 54 ---------- ---------- ---------- Additional paid-in capital: Balance at beginning of year................................................ 25,159 23,788 23,788 Issuance of restricted common stock......................................... -- 626 -- Issuance of common stock in connection with asset acquisition............... -- 745 -- ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance at end of year.................................................... 25,159 25,159 23,788 ---------- ---------- ---------- Accumulated deficit: Balance at beginning of year................................................ (12,251) (10,788) (6,693) Net loss.................................................................... (10,235) (1,463) (4,095) ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance at end of year.................................................... (22,486) (12,251) (10,788) ---------- ---------- ---------- Allowance for foreign currency translation loss: Balance at beginning of year................................................ -- (700) -- Provision for foreign currency translation loss............................. -- (155) (700) Reduction in allowance for foreign currency translation loss due to sale of investment in foreign joint venture....................................... -- 855 -- ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance at end of year.................................................... -- -- (700) ---------- ---------- ---------- Deferred compensation costs under restricted stock agreements: Balance at beginning of year................................................ (384) -- (12) Issuance of restricted stock................................................ -- (630) -- Amortization of deferred compensation costs................................. 96 246 12 ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance at end of year.................................................... (288) (384) -- ---------- ---------- ---------- Treasury stock................................................................ (8) (8) (8) ---------- ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity.............................................. $ 2,467 $ 12,606 $ 12,373 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-4
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 (IN THOUSANDS) [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 ---------- --------- --------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss....................................................................... $ (10,235) $ (1,463) $ (4,095) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Provision for loss on disposal and losses during phase-out period of waste management services segment................................................ 8,650 -- -- Provision for restructuring charges.......................................... 650 -- -- Depreciation and amortization................................................ 2,594 2,361 3,431 Deferred income tax expense (benefit)........................................ (698) (471) 547 Deferred compensation costs under restricted stock agreements................ 96 246 12 Provision for losses on accounts receivable.................................. -- 200 271 Equity in net loss and loss on sale of joint venture......................... -- 323 55 Write-down of assets......................................................... -- 392 -- Changes in certain operating assets and liabilities: Trade receivables.......................................................... (698) (123) (612) Other assets............................................................... (126) 343 1,150 Accounts payable........................................................... 840 (1,732) 2,161 Accrued expenses and other liabilities..................................... (1,279) (265) (2,409) ---------- --------- --------- Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, including discontinued operations................................................ (206) (189) 511 ---------- --------- --------- Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures........................................................... (5,339) (5,226) (3,042) Proceeds from sale of joint venture investment................................. -- 1,324 -- Acquisition of assets.......................................................... -- (770) -- Proceeds from sale of subsidiary, net of $229 cash balance at date of sale..... -- -- 5,500 Other investing activities, net................................................ -- 56 135 ---------- --------- --------- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, including discontinued operations................................................ (5,339) (4,616) 2,593 ---------- --------- --------- Cash flows from financing activities: Net borrowings on revolving lines of credit.................................... 4,686 -- 135 Principal payments on long-term debt........................................... (232) (1,750) (651) Borrowings of long-term debt................................................... -- 560 250 Net advances from purchaser prior to sale of subsidiary........................ -- -- 3,355 ---------- --------- --------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, including discontinued operations................................................ 4,454 (1,190) 3,089 ---------- --------- --------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents..................... (1,091) (5,995) 6,193 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year................................... 1,476 7,471 1,278 ---------- --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of year......................................... $ 385 $ 1,476 $ 7,471 ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-5
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (1) DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION--The accompanying financial statements present the consolidated accounts of Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. (the "Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc. ("HTI"), Gibraltar Chemical Resources, Inc. ("Gibraltar"), and Mobley Company, Inc. ("Mobley"). In the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company announced its plans to sell substantially all of its operating assets and completed the sale of the assets of its oilfield services segment in January 1997 (note 2). On December 31, 1994, the Company sold Gibraltar (note 3). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS--The Company provides diverse environmental and field-related services to industrial, governmental, and commercial markets, and specializes in the collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and management of a wide variety of non-hazardous liquid hydrocarbons, oil filters, absorbents, and related materials. Prior to the sale of Gibraltar in 1994, the Company's waste management services activities also included the management of hazardous wastes. Prior to sale of the Company's oilfield services segment in January 1997, the Company also provided oilfield services for managing liquids used or produced during the lifecycle of oil and gas wells. The Company operates primarily in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. BASIS OF PRESENTATION--The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in note 2, the Company's Board of Directors determined that the divestiture of its operations was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the liquidation of the Company. CASH EQUIVALENTS--For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of investments in money market accounts at December 31, 1996 and 1995. REVENUE RECOGNITION--Waste management services revenues are recognized when the services are performed or upon the receipt and acceptance of waste material at the Company's transfer or processing facilities. Upon the recognition of such revenue, appropriate incidental treatment and residual disposal costs are accrued. In the case of product sales, revenues are recognized upon acceptance of the related product by the customer. Oilfield services revenues are recognized when the services are performed. PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT--Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to thirty years. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS--Major repairs to disposal well facilities are estimated and accrued by monthly charges to expense. Periodic costs incurred for such items are charged against the related accrued expenses. All other maintenance and repair costs are charged to expense as incurred. Renewals and betterments are capitalized. IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS TO BE DISPOSED OF--The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of ("SFAS 121"), on January 1, 1996. SFAS 121 requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying F-6
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (1) DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) amount of an asset to future net cash flows, undiscounted and without interest charges, expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceed the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In its review of possible asset impairment, management considered the following factors: (i) the limited operating history of the Company's new business endeavors prior to and as of January 1, 1996; (ii) the fact that a substantial part of its capital assets were under construction prior to and as of January 1, 1996; and (iii) the anticipated continued operations of the Company, and the expected future net cash flows to be generated by such operations. Based on these facts and circumstances, and considering its analyses, management of the Company concluded that there was no indicated impairment of the Company's assets consequently, the adoption of SFAS 121 did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations. Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 121, the Company announced its plans to sell substantially all of its operating assets which required material adjustments to the carrying values of the Company's assets in the third quarter of 1996 (note 2). INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE--Investment in joint venture consisted of a 25% interest in Pro Ambiente, S.A. de C.V. ("Pro Ambiente"), a joint venture in Mexico. On July 12, 1995, the Company sold its interest in Pro Ambiente (note 5). This investment was accounted for by the equity method. Assets and liabilities of Pro Ambiente were translated at the rate of exchange in effect on the last day of each fiscal year. The related translation adjustments are reflected in the allowance for foreign currency translation loss in the stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheet at that date. Income and expenses have been translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. INTANGIBLE ASSETS--Intangible assets are stated at unamortized cost and consist primarily of excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired (goodwill). Historically, the carrying value of intangible assets has been periodically reviewed by the Company based on the expected future undiscounted operating cash flows of the related business segment. Goodwill was being amortized over a fifteen-year life on a straight-line basis prior to the decision to sell substantially all operating assets (note 2). INCOME TAXES--Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. EARNINGS PER SHARE--Earnings per share computations are based on the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding. USE OF ESTIMATES--Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's future financial condition, results of operations and liquidity as disclosed in note 13. F-7
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (1) DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CREDIT RISK CONCENTRATIONS--Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company places its cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions; however, such amounts are generally in excess of federally insured limits. Although the Company does not require collateral for trade receivables, the credit risk is limited due to the large number of customers. For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 no customer accounted for more than 10% of revenues. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, no receivable, that is going to be retained by the Company after completion of the proposed transactions to sell its operating assets, from any customer exceeded 5% of stockholders' equity. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, requires that the Company disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments. Fair value estimates are set forth below for the Company's financial instruments: - Cash, Cash Equivalents, Trade Receivables, Accounts Payable, and Accrued Expenses--The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. - Notes Payable and Long-term Debt--The carrying amount of the notes payable and long-term debt approximates market because of the variable interest rate, which is based on the bank's prime rate, or the current interest rate available to the Company for debt of similar terms approximates the existing rate. The fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. STOCK OPTION PLANS--Prior to January 1, 1996, the Company accounted for its stock option plans in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES ("APB 25") and related interpretations. As such, compensation expense would be recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price. On January 1, 1996, the Company adopted Statement of Accounting Standards Statement No. 123, ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION ("SFAS 123"), which permits entities to recognize as expense over the vesting period the fair value of all stock-based awards on the date of grant. Alternatively, SFAS 123 also allows entities to continue to apply the provisions of APB 25 and provide pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share disclosures for employee stock option grants made in 1995 and future years as if the fair-value-based method defined in SFAS 123 has been applied. The Company has elected to continue to apply the provisions of APB 25 and provide the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS 123 (note 11). RECLASSIFICATIONS--Certain amounts in the prior year's financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS In light of the Company's severely weakened financial condition and, in particular, concerns about its liquidity, the Board of Directors reviewed the challenges facing the Company and discussed in general terms the alternatives available to address them. Among other things, the Board of Directors considered F-8
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) (i) the Company's relatively small size and the resultant constraints on its ability to make significant investments in additional processing or collection businesses without an infusion of equity in an industry characterized by increasing consolidation, intensifying competition, and continued growth through acquisition by larger entities with greater access to financial resources than has the Company; (ii) the Company's inability to obtain bank financing and the unfavorable results of recent efforts to attract equity investors to fund activities contemplated by the Company's strategic business plan; (iii) the Company's default under its bank credit agreement due to its inability to maintain compliance with certain covenants contained in such agreement; and (iv) the Company's severely strained liquidity and immediate need for working capital to continue its current operations. As part of these deliberations, management and the Company's financial advisors reviewed in detail with the Board of Directors their efforts with third parties to attract possible investments in, or strategic alliances with, the Company. Since such efforts had not yielded access to funds on terms acceptable to the Company, the Board of Directors determined that the divestiture of its operations was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. These circumstances required the Company to re-evaluate the basis used to assess the carrying values of assets pursuant to the provisions of SFAS 121. Subsequently, on October 30, 1996, and November 1, 1996, the Company executed letters of intent to sell substantially all of its operating assets in two separate transactions. The transactions and their impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements are described in the following paragraphs. The Company's waste management services segment consists of the operations of HTI and certain operations of Mobley. The Company's oilfield services segment consists of certain operations of Mobley. SALE OF WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ASSETS AND DISCONTINUANCE OF BUSINESS SEGMENT. On October 30, 1996, the Company signed a letter of intent with United States Filter Corporation ("USF") to sell substantially all of the assets related to its waste management services activities. Under the terms of the letter of intent, the Company will receive $8,000,000 in shares of USF common stock (registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission) in exchange for such assets, and can earn up to an additional $4,000,000 in USF common stock based on the performance of the business during the two years following its sale, currently anticipated to be completed in the 1997 second quarter. Additionally, USF will assume certain liabilities (accounts payable and accrued expenses) as part of the transaction. The letter of intent further specifies that the sales price of the assets will be adjusted upward or downward based on the level of net assets, as defined, at the time of closing. Completion of the transaction is subject to final negotiation and signing of a definitive acquisition agreement, which is expected to contain standard conditions to closing, including board and shareholder approval and due diligence, and the distribution of an Information Statement describing the proposed transaction to the Company's shareholders. The net assets which are the subject of the letter of intent are shown in the accompanying December 31, 1996, consolidated balance sheet as "net assets of discontinued operations" at their estimated net realizable value as determined by the aforementioned terms, less anticipated transaction costs of approximately $450,000. Such assets have a net book value at December 31, 1996, (net of assumed liabilities) of approximately $15,149,000. As a result of the pending sale, the Company recorded a charge of $7,621,000 (net of a deferred income tax benefit of $698,000) during the year ended December 31, 1996, representing the estimated loss on the disposal of the business segment, including certain required capital expenditures prior to the sale amounting to approximately $900,000. In determining the estimated loss on disposal, only the $8,000,000 fixed portion of the sales price was considered (i.e., that portion which is contingent on the future performance of the business was ignored). Such loss was recognized in the third quarter, when it was determined that a sale of the assets was necessary given the Company's inability to secure acceptable financing and concerns about its liquidity. Prior to that time, the evaluation of potential F-9
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) asset impairment had been made on a "going-concern" basis and cash flow projections for the segment supported the carrying values of the related assets. The Company estimates that it will incur additional operating losses in this business segment, after the allocation of certain overhead and interest costs, amounting to approximately $331,000 during the phase-out period from October 1, 1996 to the expected closing date of the transaction. A provision for such estimated net losses has been made in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's waste management services segment incurred a net loss of approximately $288,000 during the period October 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996. SALE OF OILFIELD SERVICES ASSETS AND DISCONTINUANCE OF BUSINESS SEGMENT. On November 1, 1996, the Company signed a letter of intent with Dawson Production Services, Inc. to sell substantially all of the assets related to its oilfield services business. Such sale was completed on January 20, 1997, pursuant to a definitive asset purchase agreement. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the Company received approximately $4,917,000 and a subordinated note in the amount of $500,000, due in January 2002, in exchange for such assets. The assets which were the subject of the sale had a net book value, based on historical cost adjusted for accumulated depreciation and amortization, of approximately $2,378,000, and are shown in the accompanying December 31, 1996, consolidated balance sheet as "net assets of discontinued operations" at that carrying amount. The results of operations associated with the discontinued segment through the anticipated disposal date, after allocation of certain overhead and interest costs, did not result in a loss and consequently, no additional losses have been reflected in the accompanying statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's oilfield services segment generated net income of approximately $120,000 during the period October 1, 1996, to December 31, 1996. The Company recognized a gain upon completion of the sale, after transaction costs of approximately $255,000, amounting to approximately $2,800,000 in January 1997. In anticipation of the planned divestitures and the significant reduction in personnel necessary to support the administration of the Company's remaining assets, the Company recorded certain restructuring expenses, none of which are expected to benefit its future activities, during the 1996 third quarter. Such expenses, totaling $650,000, included employee severance obligations of approximately $285,000, costs associated with the relocation and recruitment of personnel of approximately $155,000, and other related expenses of approximately $210,000. Substantially all of such costs were subsequently incurred during the 1996 fourth quarter and 1997 first quarter. The twelve employees to be terminated are primarily involved in providing certain corporate support functions, including accounting, information systems, and environmental, health and safety. Because of the outstanding contractual indemnification obligations of the Company and in light of pending litigation to which the Company is a party, the Company will remain in existence and incur certain general and administrative expenses for the foreseeable future but will have no operating assets after the sale of its waste management services segment to USF. Therefore, certain general and administrative expenses and nonoperating income and expense have been accounted for as continuing operations. Future costs incurred in connection with these indemnification obligations and litigation responsibilities will be reported as part of the discontinued operations in which they originated or to which they relate. The Company believes it is probable that it will continue to incur certain costs associated with these legal matters and accordingly, in connection with the divestiture of Gibraltar in 1994, established an accrual for estimated out-of-pocket expenses related to the ongoing administrative management of such matters. However, the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate its potential exposure for defending F-10
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) such matters, any indemnity obligations resulting therefrom, and any corresponding insurance reimbursement (note 13). The Company's two business segments, waste management services and oilfield services, have been accounted for as discontinued operations, and accordingly, their operations have been segregated in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The revenues, operating costs and expenses, interest expense, and income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, have been reclassified for amounts associated with the discontinued segments. Due to the relative significance of the Company's business segments to its operations as a whole, and in light of the Company's decision to divest itself of substantially all of its operating assets in the 1996 third quarter, the Company has allocated certain general and administrative expenses to the business segments in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and note 2. Historically, such costs had been treated as "corporate overhead" and thus not allocated. The Company believes that such allocation provides financial information that is more indicative of the actual operating results of the business segments. However, such allocation method differs from that used in presenting certain information about the Company's business segments in its annual report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993. General and administrative expenses attributable to continuing operations have been determined based upon an allocation of such costs betweeen the business segments and continuing operations. Restructuring charges, other income and expense, and equity in losses and loss from sale of joint venture have been recorded as continuing operations as such amounts are not specifically attributable to either of the Company's business segments which are being disposed of. Interest expense has been allocated to the segments based on the outstanding indebtedness attributable to each of the business segments. Income taxes have been allocated based on the effective tax rate, after a specific charge to the waste management services segment for the change in the beginning-of-the-year balance of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of Gibraltar. F-11
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) Operating results and the estimated loss on disposal of the Company's waste management services segment for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 are as follows (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 --------- --------- --------- Revenues..................................................... $ 17,207 $ 14,233 $ 25,801 Cost of revenues............................................. 14,006 9,923 21,059 --------- --------- --------- Gross profit............................................... 3,201 4,310 4,742 Selling, general, and administrative expenses, including allocated amounts.......................................... 3,902 4,730 7,714 --------- --------- --------- Operating loss............................................. (701) (420) (2,972) Interest expense, net........................................ (210) -- (154) --------- --------- --------- Loss before income taxes................................... (911) (420) (3,126) Income tax expense (benefit)................................. -- (102) 601 --------- --------- --------- Net loss from operations of waste management services segment.................................................. (911) (318) (3,727) Reduction in reserve for losses from operations of waste management services segment during phase-out period........ 288 -- -- --------- --------- --------- $ (623) $ (318) $ (3,727) --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Provision for losses from operations of waste management services segment during phase-out period, recognized in the third quarter of 1996...................................... $ (331) $ -- $ -- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Provision for loss on disposal of waste management services segment, recognized in the third quarter of 1996: Asset valuation adjustment................................. (5,673) -- -- Accrued transaction costs and capital expenditures subsequent to measurement date........................... (1,595) -- -- Write-off of excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired...................................... (1,051) -- -- Deferred income tax benefit................................ 698 -- -- --------- --------- --------- $ (7,621) $ -- $ -- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- F-12
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) Operating results of the Company's oilfield services segment for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 are as follows (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 --------- --------- --------- Revenues......................................................... $ 4,373 $ 4,355 $ 3,709 Cost of revenues................................................. 3,241 2,934 2,357 --------- --------- --------- Gross profit................................................... 1,132 1,421 1,352 Selling, general, and administrative expenses, including allocated amounts.............................................. 1,506 1,622 1,393 --------- --------- --------- Operating loss................................................. (374) (201) (41) Income tax benefit............................................... -- (49) (5) --------- --------- --------- Net loss from operations of oilfield services segment.......... $ (374) $ (152) $ (36) --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- At December 31, 1996, the net assets of the Company's waste management services segment are recorded at their estimated net realizable value and the net assets of its oilfield services segment are recorded at their net book value, and are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as "net assets of discontinued operations." Such assets are summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] WASTE MANAGEMENT OILFIELD SERVICES SERVICES TOTAL ------------ ----------- --------- Trade receivables.......................................... $ 2,873 $ 500 $ 3,373 Other current assets....................................... 519 32 551 Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $14,087 and valuation reserve of $5,673................................................... 7,780 1,846 9,626 Excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, net of accumulated amortization of $101 and valuation reserve of $1,051.............................. -- -- -- Other assets, net.......................................... 33 -- 33 Current liabilities........................................ (2,780) -- (2,780) ------------ ----------- --------- Net assets of discontinued operations.................... $ 8,425 $ 2,378 $ 10,803 ------------ ----------- --------- ------------ ----------- --------- Presently, it is contemplated that all or substantially all of the USF common stock received at the time of closing will be immediately sold. Such proceeds will be used to fund the current liabilities retained by the Company, with the remaining surplus cash expected to initially be deployed in short-term investments. The Company anticipates that ongoing general and administrative expenses will be reduced to approximately $300,000 annually, and expects earnings from investments to largely offset such costs. The amounts described herein are approximate and based on the Company's current estimates. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that such amounts will actually be realized. In the event that the sale to USF is not consummated, the Company's Board of Directors may seek to sell some or all of the Company's assets to another purchaser or purchasers. The Company's inability to F-13
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (2) RECENT AND PENDING ASSET SALES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (CONTINUED) consummate the sale to USF as planned in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and liquidity. In 1996, the Company engaged an investment banking and financial advisory firm in which a Class A director has an ownership and management interest to provide certain business consulting services to the Company, including analysis and negotiation of potential business combination transactions to which the Company might be a party. Under the terms of the engagement, the Company has paid the investment banking firm retainer fees of approximately $162,000 through December 31, 1996, and is obligated to pay additional fees in the event a transaction is consummated by the Company. Additionally, the Company will be obligated to pay such investment banking firm a total of approximately $220,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses, in conjunction with the transaction with USF. Further, the Company paid such investment banking firm approximately $207,500, plus out-of-pocket expenses, in connection with USF's acquisition of an unrelated entity, which was completed in February 1997. USF reimbursed the Company $250,000 for certain expenses, including amounts that were paid to the investment banking firm. Finally, in connection with the disposition of the Company's oilfield services segment, the Company paid the investment banking firm approximately $150,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Company believes that the terms of its arrangement with the investment banking firm are consistent with industry standards for similar services. (3) SALE OF GIBRALTAR After a period of continued operating losses, in light of management's ongoing assessment of changed conditions in the hazardous waste market, and considering the significance of Gibraltar's regulatory issues and future capital requirements, in late 1993, the Company's senior management and Board of Directors determined that the divestiture of Gibraltar was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. On May 10, 1994, the Company executed a definitive agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") for the sale of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Gibraltar to American Ecology Corporation ("AEC"). Such agreement was subsequently amended in an agreement dated September 2, 1994. The Company completed the sale of Gibraltar to AEC pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, as amended, on December 31, 1994, and received cash of $5,500,000 from AEC. In addition to the cash proceeds reflected above, AEC executed a note payable to the Company in the amount of $550,000 to be held in escrow as a source of payment of claims, if any, for which the Company indemnifies AEC under the Stock Purchase Agreement (note 13). During 1993, as part of a restructuring of its hazardous waste business, the Company recorded charges of $5,711,000 related to the abandonment and write-down of certain of Gibraltar's assets and to reduce the net assets of Gibraltar to their estimated net realizable value at December 31, 1993, determined primarily based on the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement. During 1994, the Company recorded additional provisions for losses on the divestiture of Gibraltar of $4,092,000 to further reduce the carrying value of Gibraltar's net assets. The additional charges were necessitated by: (i) the settlement of litigation against Gibraltar by the State of Texas involving its alleged violation of environmental laws and regulations; (ii) Gibraltar's continuing losses prior to the closing of the sale on December 31, 1994; (iii) the aforementioned amendment to the Stock Purchase Agreement; (iv) certain indemnity obligations of the Company to AEC relative to existing claims involving Gibraltar (note 13); and (v) additional expenses related to the sale. F-14
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (3) SALE OF GIBRALTAR (CONTINUED) The change in the reserve for loss on sale of subsidiary for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, is summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars): [Download Table] Balance at December 31, 1994, included in accrued expenses......... $ 1,430 1995 expenditures related to Gibraltar indemnity obligations....... (534) --------- Balance at December 31, 1995, included in accrued expenses......... 896 1996 expenditures related to Gibraltar indemnity obligations....... (492) --------- Balance at December 31, 1996, included in accrued expenses......... $ 404 --------- --------- A summary of Gibraltar's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 1994, follows (in thousands of dollars): [Download Table] Revenues........................................................... $ 12,017 --------- --------- Gross profit (loss)................................................ $ (432) --------- --------- Operating loss..................................................... $ (3,664) --------- --------- Net loss........................................................... $ (4,012) --------- --------- Included in the net loss of Gibraltar for the year ended December 31, 1994, was $166,000, of intercompany overhead and interest charges assessed Gibraltar by the Company. (4) ASSET ACQUISITION AND BUSINESS EXPANSION On July 21, 1995, the Company acquired, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated June 7, 1995, certain assets of a group of three affiliated companies, including Romero Bros. Oil Exchange, Inc., Environmental Petroleum Products Co./EPPCO, and Environmental Insight, Inc. The Texas and Louisiana-based companies were involved in the collection and marketing of used oils and oil filter collection and recycling. The asset purchase was effectuated through a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, HTI. The tangible assets acquired, consisting primarily of transportation equipment, were recorded at their estimated fair market value of $500,000 and will be depreciated over their estimated remaining useful lives. The total acquisition cost of $1,536,000 included cash of approximately $786,000, including acquisition-related costs, and the issuance of 500,000 shares of the Company's Class A common stock. The purchase method of accounting has been used for this asset acquisition; therefore, HTI's results of operations are consolidated with the Company's since July 21, 1995. The excess of cost over fair market value of net assets acquired amounted to $1,152,000, including $116,000 of deferred tax liabilities for the basis difference in tangible assets. Such excess of cost over fair market value of net assets acquired was written off in connection with the decision to sell substantially all operating assets (note 2). Of the 500,000 shares of common stock issued, 300,000 of such shares are being held in escrow pending the attainment of certain performance goals by HTI, including objectives relating to operating profit and collected volumes of used oil and oil filters. An additional 100,000 shares are being held by the Company as security for the repayment of a $75,000 loan to the sellers. F-15
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (5) SALE OF INTEREST IN MEXICAN JOINT VENTURE On July 12, 1995, effective June 30, 1995, the Company executed an agreement for the sale of its 25% interest in Pro Ambiente to Promotora de Servicios y Proyectos Ecologicos, S.A. de C.V., owner of the remaining 75% of the joint venture. Pro Ambiente is a Mexican corporation engaged in the collection and blending of waste-derived fuels for use in cement kilns. The payment terms of the sale were subsequently modified pursuant to an agreement dated August 11, 1995. Under the terms of the sale agreement, as amended, the Company received cash proceeds of $1,324,000. As a result of the sale and other expenses associated with its Mexican operations, the Company recorded losses totaling $547,000 in the year ended December 31, 1995. (6) PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT Property, plant, and equipment, including $9,626,000 of property, plant, and equipment, net, included in net assets of discontinued operations, consisted of the following at December 31, 1996 and 1995 (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 --------- --------- Land.............................................................................. $ 802 $ 802 Buildings and improvements........................................................ 1,862 1,588 Machinery and equipment........................................................... 26,514 19,168 Furniture, fixtures, and other.................................................... 704 673 Construction in progress.......................................................... 61 3,037 --------- --------- 29,943 25,268 Less: Accumulated depreciation.................................................... 14,414 12,431 Valuation reserve............................................................. 5,673 -- --------- --------- Net property, plant, and equipment................................................ $ 9,856 $ 12,837 --------- --------- --------- --------- Depreciation expense totaled $2,523,000, $2,328,000, and $3,366,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $392,000 during the 1995 fourth quarter related to the write-down of an office building in Kilgore, Texas, to its estimated net realizable value. Such amount is included in "other expense, net" as a component of continuing operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 1995. The property is currently held for sale. (7) NOTES PAYABLE The Company has a credit agreement, as amended, (the "Credit Agreement") with Bank One, Texas, N.A. (the "Bank") that matures on March 31, 1997, that provides up to $6,500,000 in available credit for the Company. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow, subject to a defined borrowing base, up to $4,000,000 under a revolving line of credit (including up to $1,800,000 in letters of credit) for working capital and general corporate purposes, and up to $2,500,000 under a term loan facility for purposes of acquiring certain eligible equipment. The Credit Agreement is secured primarily by accounts receivable and equipment. F-16
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (7) NOTES PAYABLE (CONTINUED) At December 31, 1996, the Company had borrowings of approximately $2,738,000 outstanding under the revolving line of credit and had approximately $1,179,000 in letters of credit outstanding. Interest on the revolving line of credit is payable quarterly at the Bank's prime rate (8.875% at December 31, 1996). At December 31, 1996, the Company had borrowed the full $2,500,000 available under the term loan portion of the Credit Agreement, consisting of two notes in the original amounts of $700,000 (payable quarterly over five years) and $1,800,000 (payable quarterly over seven years). Both notes bear interest at 8.25%. The outstanding balance at December 31, 1996 was approximately $2,276,000 under the term loan portion of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants which include the maintenance of minimum tangible net worth, as defined, and certain financial ratios. The Company has not been in compliance with certain covenant requirements since June 30, 1996, placing the Company in technical default. Consequently, the Company has classified the entire outstanding balance as a current liability. In connection with the closing of the sale of the Company's oilfield services segment in January 1997, the Company repaid $3,300,000 of outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Agreement. On March 31, 1997, the Bank extended the maturity date of the Credit Agreement to May 31, 1997, to accommodate the anticipated closing date of the sale of the Company's waste management services assets to USF. The Company's inability to consummate the sale to USF as planned in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and liquidity. (8) ACCRUED EXPENSES Accrued expenses consisted of the following at December 31, 1996 and 1995 (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 --------- --------- Accrued transaction costs and capital expenditures to be incurred prior to the sale of the waste management services segment (note 2).................................. $ 987 $ -- Insurance premiums and accrued claims payable........................................ 696 742 Accrued expenses for estimated legal costs relating to Gibraltar (notes 3 and 13)................................................................... 404 896 Accrued restructuring expenses (note 2).............................................. 402 -- Salaries, wages, and benefits........................................................ 258 591 Current portion of Gibraltar judgment (notes 3 and 13)............................... 167 167 Taxes other than income taxes........................................................ 116 265 Accrued losses from operations of waste management services segment during phase-out period (note 2).................................................................... 43 -- Other................................................................................ 648 952 --------- --------- 3,721 3,613 --------- --------- Salaries, wages, and benefits........................................................ 400 -- Taxes other than income taxes........................................................ 210 -- Other................................................................................ 491 -- --------- --------- Accrued expenses, included in net assets available for sale.......................... 1,101 -- --------- --------- $ 4,822 3,613 --------- --------- --------- --------- F-17
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (9) INCOME TAXES Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, consisted of the following (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 --------- --------- --------- Deferred Federal income tax benefit from continuing operations................ $ -- (320) (49) --------- --------- --------- Deferred Federal income tax expense (benefit)................................. (698) (151) 603 Deferred state income tax benefit............................................. -- -- (7) --------- --------- --------- Income tax expense (benefit) from discontinued operations................... (698) (151) 596 --------- --------- --------- Income tax expense (benefit)................................................ $ (698) (471) 547 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Income tax expense (benefit) differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 34% to loss before income taxes as a result of the following (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 --------- --------- --------- Computed "expected" tax benefit.......................................... $ (3,717) (658) (1,206) Change in the beginning-of-the-year balance of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets................................................ 3,198 364 608 Change in the beginning-of-the-year balance of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of Gibraltar................................... -- -- 1,007 Other, net............................................................... (179) (177) 138 --------- --------- --------- Total income tax expense (benefit)..................................... $ (698) (471) 547 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- F-18
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (9) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 1996 and 1995, are presented below (in thousands of dollars): [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 --------- --------- Deferred tax assets: Net operating loss carryforwards................................................ $ 1,954 1,157 Property, plant and equipment--basis differences and depreciation............... 1,985 -- Accrued expenses, provisions for book not yet deductible for tax................ 896 483 Capital loss carryforward....................................................... 194 220 Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward..................................... 134 134 Other........................................................................... 137 108 --------- --------- Total gross deferred tax assets............................................... 5,300 2,102 Less valuation allowance...................................................... (5,300) (2,102) --------- --------- Net deferred tax assets....................................................... $ -- -- --------- --------- Deferred tax liabilities: Property, plant, and equipment--depreciation and basis differences.............. $ -- 698 Other........................................................................... 148 148 --------- --------- Total gross deferred tax liabilities.......................................... 148 846 --------- --------- Net deferred tax liability.................................................... $ 148 846 --------- --------- --------- --------- In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Subsequently recognized tax benefits relating to the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as of December 31, 1996, will be included as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of operations in future periods. At December 31, 1996, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $5,100,000. Such amounts are available to offset future Federal taxable income, if any, through 2011 and expire in the following years: 2009--approximately $1,700,000; 2010--approximately $1,200,000; and 2011--approximately $2,200,000. (10) LEASES The Company leases certain equipment and facilities used in its operations, all of which have or will be assumed by Dawson and USF in connection with the respective asset sales. Total rentals approximated $550,000, $330,000, and $863,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. Included in the total expense for the years ended December 31, 1994, are $663,000, related to Gibraltar. (11) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS RESTATED STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN--The Company has adopted the Restated Stock Compensation Plan to provide for the grant of nonqualified options to participating employees. An aggregate of 645,000 F-19
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (11) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED) shares of Class A common stock has been authorized and reserved for issuance under such plan. The plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which has the sole authority to interpret the plan, to determine the persons to whom options will be granted, and to determine the exercise price, duration, and other terms of options to be granted under the plan, provided that options may not be granted at prices less than fair market value on the dates of the grants and that options may not be outstanding for a period longer than ten years from the date the options are granted. The following table summarizes activity under the Company's Restated Stock Compensation Plan for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995: [Enlarge/Download Table] NUMBER OF AVERAGE OPTIONS PRICE ----------- --------- Balance at December 31, 1994..................................................... 542,127 $ 2.5861 Granted........................................................................ 84,000 0.5625 Forfeited...................................................................... (30,000) 2.3319 ----------- Balance at December 31, 1995..................................................... 596,127 2.3138 Granted........................................................................ 3,500 1.2500 Forfeited...................................................................... (31,954) 1.7161 ----------- Balance at December 31, 1996..................................................... 567,673 2.3408 ----------- ----------- Exercisable at December 31, 1996................................................. 345,140 2.5504 ----------- ----------- Exercisable at December 31, 1995................................................. 226,478 2.6545 ----------- ----------- The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding stock options at December 31, 1996: [Download Table] WEIGHTED AVERAGE WEIGHTED NUMBER OF REMAINING AVERAGE RANGE OF EXERCISE OPTIONS CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE PRICES OUTSTANDING LIFE PRICE ----------------- ----------- --------------- --------- $0.5625 73,500 9 years $ 0.5625 $1.25 - $2.75 227,244 7 years 2.5470 $2.00 - $2.75 240,000 6 years 2.4167 $2.75 - $4.75 14,091 6 years 3.6667 $6.00 12,838 6 years 6.0000 ----------- $0.5625 - $6.00 567,673 7 years $ 2.3408 ----------- ----------- F-20
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (11) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED) The following table summarizes the Company's exercisable stock options at December 31, 1996: [Download Table] NUMBER OF RANGE OF EXERCISE OPTIONS WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICES OUTSTANDING EXERCISE PRICE ----------------- ----------- ---------------- $0.5625 14,700 $ 0.5625 $1.25 - $2.75 140,896 2.5765 $2.00 - $2.75 168,000 2.4167 $2.75 - $4.75 11,272 3.6667 $6.00 10,272 6.0000 ----------- $0.5625 - $6.00 345,140 $ 2.5504 ----------- ----------- The per-share weighted average fair value of stock options granted during 1996 and 1995 was not material. The Company applies APB 25 in accounting for the plan and, accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for its stock options in the consolidated financial statements. Had the Company determined compensation cost based on the value at the grant date for its stock options under SFAS 123, the Company's net loss and net loss per share for 1996 and 1995 would not have been affected. The full impact of calculating compensation costs for stock options under SFAS 123 has not been considered because compensation cost is reflected over the options' vesting period of five years and compensation cost for options granted prior to January 1, 1995, is not considered. 1995 EMPLOYEE RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN--In January 1995, the Board of Directors adopted the 1995 Employee Restricted Stock Plan (the "Restricted Plan"). The Restricted Plan was approved by the shareholders in June 1995, at which time the 420,000 shares of Class A common stock available for issuance under the Restricted Plan were issued to certain executive officers and senior managers of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Plan. The shares granted under the Restricted Plan vest 20% per year beginning in January 1995 with provisions for earlier vesting based on increases in the Company's stock price. 1996 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN--In December 1995, the Board of Directors adopted, subject to shareholder approval, the 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. Such plan replaced the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, which as adopted in 1991. Directors who are not employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the plan. Under the terms of the plan, the exercise price of each option granted shall be equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. Options become fully exercisable one year from the date of grant, provided that such vesting period will be accelerated upon the occurrence of a change of control. Options expire ten years after the date of grant. A total of 90,000 shares of Class A common stock have been reserved for issuance under the plan. Participants were granted, effective December 6, 1995, options to purchase 15,000 shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value at that date of $1.0625, of which 5,000 shares vested immediately with the remainder vesting in equal increments on the first and second anniversary dates of the grant. Upon the election of any new outside directors, each such director shall be granted an option to purchase 7,500 shares of Class A common stock. Thereafter, each participant is to be granted an option to purchase 3,000 shares of Class A common stock each date he or she is reelected as a director of the Company, subject to share availability, adjustment for stock dividends, splits, and similar events. F-21
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (11) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED) MOBLEY EMPLOYEES' PROFIT SHARING PLAN--The Company has a contributory profit sharing plan for the benefit of substantially all employees. Contributions to the plan are made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and approximated $62,000, $51,000, and $96,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. Included in the total contributions for the year ended December 31, 1994, are approximately $39,000, related to Gibraltar. MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. EMPLOYEES' BENEFIT TRUST--The Company has a medical benefit plan which is funded by employer and participant contributions and is supplemented by stop-loss insurance. Contributions are determined by the plan administrator based upon the actual claim experience and administrative costs of the plan. (12) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY The Company is authorized to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock (par value $.01), and the Board of Directors has the authority to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, limitations, and restrictions of such stock. No preferred stock has been issued as of December 31, 1996. Each share of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock is entitled to one vote per share and ten votes per share, respectively. Each share of Class B common stock is convertible into one share of Class A common stock at any time at the option of the stockholder, and certain restrictions exist upon the transfer of Class B common shares. In May 1996, the shareholders of the Company approved a one-for-two reverse stock split of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock through approval of an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, pursuant to which each authorized and outstanding share of Class A common stock would have been reclassified into one-half of a new share of Class A common stock and each authorized and outstanding share of Class B common stock would have been reclassified into one-half of a new share of Class B common stock (the "Reverse Stock Split"). Subsequent to approval by the shareholders, the Board of Directors determined that such action was not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and elected not to effectuate the Reverse Stock Split. (13) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES LETTERS OF CREDIT At December 31, 1996, letters of credit totaling approximately $1,012,000 had been provided by the Company to its insurance carrier in connection with its workers' compensation, general liability, and auto liability insurance policies. Additionally, the Company has provided a letter of credit to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission ("TNRCC") in the amount of approximately $167,000 to secure the payment of fines assessed Gibraltar by the TNRCC in connection with the December 1994 settlement of certain litigation. REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND LAWSUIT In November 1993, the State of Texas filed a lawsuit against Gibraltar stemming from an enforcement action by the TNRCC alleging certain regulatory violations. The lawsuit was subsequently amended to include certain notices of violation issued by the TNRCC and allegations of noncompliance associated with certain regulatory orders. In July 1994, this litigation was tentatively settled through mediation and an F-22
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (13) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED) Agreed Final Judgment was subsequently entered in December 1994. Under the terms of the judgment, Gibraltar was obligated for $1,150,000 in assessed fines and attorneys fees. Of such amount, $450,000 was paid by AEC and the Company is responsible for payment of the remaining $700,000. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had paid all but $167,000 of such amount, which is due in June 1997 and included in "accrued expenses" in the December 31, 1996 consolidated balance sheet (note 8). LITIGATION AND VARIOUS OTHER CLAIMS The Company continues to defend various claims resulting from the operations of its former subsidiary, Gibraltar (the sale of which is discussed in note 3). As of February 28, 1997, six such lawsuits were pending, one of which is asserted as a class action. During the Company's ownership of Gibraltar, Gibraltar engaged in the collection, transportation, analysis, treatment, management, and disposal of various types of hazardous wastes. In the actions pending against the Company and/or Gibraltar, the plaintiffs complain of a variety of acts by Gibraltar which allegedly occurred in the course of its operations, including improper air emissions, nuisance odors, contamination of water supplies, and repeated and continuing violations of environmental laws. In the various pending actions, plaintiffs assert similar theories as the alleged basis for recovery, including negligence, nuisance, trespass, fraudulent concealment, assault and battery, and international infliction of emotional distress. Likewise, such plaintiffs seek similar types of damages, including loss of property value and compensatory and punitive damages for personal injury and property damage for nuisance odors, physical discomfort and impairment, interference with use and enjoyment of property, medical expenses, mental anguish, and loss of earning capacity. An additional claimant seeks permanent closure of the facility and civil penalties as the remedy for alleged violations by Gibraltar of environmental protection statutes and endangerment to public health and the environment. While all of the six actions are technically pending, in one such action, the Company has defended the subject claims in a jury trial which resulted in inconsequential damages being awarded to the plaintiffs on November 7, 1996. However, the verdict is subject to appeal in accordance with the applicable rules of civil procedure. These matters raise difficult and complex factual and legal issues, including but not limited to, the nature and amount of the Company's liability, if any. Although the Company is a defendant in some litigation, in other matters the Company's potential liability arises from material contractual indemnifications given by the Company to the purchaser of Gibraltar. In particular, in connection with the sale of Gibraltar, the Company made extensive representations and warranties regarding Gibraltar and agreed to indemnify the purchaser, AEC, for any breaches of such representations and warranties. Additionally, the Company is obligated to indemnify AEC for certain claims against Gibraltar arising from circumstances existing on or prior to the closing of the sale, including various claims and proceedings disclosed to AEC. The Company's indemnification obligations to AEC expired June 30, 1996, except in the case of tax, environmental and ERISA claims, for which any claims for indemnification must be asserted prior to June 30, 1998. These indemnifications may include the potential liability of former customers of Gibraltar, approximately 50 of which have also become defendants in litigation involving Gibraltar's operations. The Company's contractual indemnity obligations to AEC also encompass various pending regulatory and permit renewal proceedings. The failure of Gibraltar to prevail in these matters could result in significant liabilities to the Company. The Company has been notified by its insurance carrier that it disputes the Company's interpretation of its pollution liability insurance coverage and policy limitations applicable to the foregoing claims. While F-23
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (13) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED) the Company is vigorously pursuing a favorable resolution of this dispute, it is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome at this time. The Company, based on consultation with its legal counsel, believes that it is probable that the Company will continue to incur certain costs associated with the foregoing matters and accordingly, in connection with the divestiture of Gibraltar in 1994, established an accrual for estimated out-of-pocket expenses related to the ongoing administrative management of such matters (notes 3 and 8). However, the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate its potential exposure for defending such matters, any indemnity obligations resulting therefrom, and any corresponding insurance reimbursement. As noted above, the litigation matters to which the Company is a party raise several difficult and complex factual and legal issues. More specifically: (i) while certain of the plaintiffs exhibit apparent physical injury and a variety of health problems, the requisite causal connection to Gibraltar's facilities or operations has not been established; (ii) certain of the cases involve literally hundreds of plaintiffs whose physical condition and medical history have not yet begun to be investigated; (iii) although the Company has experienced some degree of success recently in two separate jury trials, there is inherent uncertainty associated with jury trials in cases such as these which tend to have a strong emotional appeal; (iv) the extent of pollution liability insurance coverage available to the Company for potential indemnity exposure and defense costs is currently in dispute and is itself the subject of pending litigation as noted previously; (v) the Company's potential liability relating to defense cost claims of approximately 50 of Gibraltar's former customers who have also been named in the litigation (and who are represented by over 20 different law firms) is currently not determinable; and (vi) the indemnifications given to AEC in connection with the Gibraltar sale are comprehensive and subject to broad interpretation. Accordingly, the Company has not made an accrual for losses, if any, which might result from these legal matters as such amounts or a range of amounts are not currently reasonably estimatable. The Company's future financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity could be materially adversely affected as the nature and scope of the Company's ultimate liability arising from Gibraltar's operations and sale become better defined. In January 1996, Mobley was notified by the TNRCC that it is a potentially responsible party of the alleged release, during the early or mid-1980s, of hazardous substances at the McBay Oil and Gas State Superfund Site located near Grapeland, Texas. The Company has recorded an accrual for its estimated exposure in connection with this matter, the amount of which is not material to the consolidated financial statements. There are various other routine claims and legal actions pending and threatened against the Company which are incidental to the Company's business and have arisen in the ordinary course of its business related to services, contracts, employment, and other matters. Where applicable, the Company has recorded accruals for estimated potential damages and expenses associated with such matters. While the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management, upon consultation with legal counsel, and considering the Company's limited continuing activities, believes that financial obligations of the Company arising from such claims could have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. F-24
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (14) SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION [Enlarge/Download Table] 1996 1995 1994 --------- --------- --------- (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized............................. $ 261 $ 32 $ 199 Noncash operating activities--provision for foreign currency translation loss.................................................... -- 155 700 Included in the total interest paid for the year ended December 31, 1994, is $12,000, related to Gibraltar. (15) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) Summarized consolidated quarterly financial data for 1996, 1995, and 1994 is as follows (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts): [Enlarge/Download Table] QUARTER ------------------------------------------ 1ST 2ND(1) 3RD(2) 4TH(3) --------- --------- --------- --------- 1996 Revenues............................................ $ 4,507 $ 4,670 $ 5,751 $ 6,652 Gross profit........................................ 901 1,105 1,221 1,106 Operating loss...................................... (690) (284) (1,056) (212) Net income (loss)................................... (672) (491) (9,117) 45 Net income (loss) per common share.................. (0.08) (0.06) (1.03) 0.01 1995 Revenues............................................ $ 4,206 $ 4,763 $ 4,904 $ 4,715 Gross profit........................................ 1,487 1,603 1,630 1,011 Operating income (loss)............................. 117 142 195 (1,758) Net income (loss)................................... 81 (254) 233 (1,523) Net income (loss) per common share(4)............... 0.01 (0.03) 0.03 (0.17) 1994 Revenues............................................ $ 6,955 $ 7,273 $ 7,100 $ 8,182 Gross profit........................................ 1,460 1,616 1,288 1,730 Operating income (loss)............................. 63 (2,394) 159 (1,217) Net income (loss)................................... 98 (2,452) 79 (1,820) Net income (loss) per common share.................. 0.01 (0.31) 0.01 (0.23) ------------------------ (1) Second quarter 1994 results of operations include a charge of $2,470,000 related to an additional provision for loss on the divestiture of Gibraltar. (2) Third quarter 1996 results of operations include charges of $7,952,000 related to provisions for loss on disposal and provision for losses during phase-out period of waste management services segment. In addition, charges of $650,000 related to restructuring expenses including employee severance obligations, costs associated with the relocation and recruitment of personnel, and other related expenses are included in third quarter 1996 results of operations. F-25
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (15) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) (3) Fourth quarter 1995 results of operations include certain nonrecurring expenses totaling $1,162,000, including insurance accruals, severance expenses, relocation expenses, legal and consulting expenses, and a write-down of the carrying value of an office building to its estimated net realizable value. Fourth quarter 1994 results of operations include a charge of $1,622,000 for certain estimated liabilities in connection with the Company's indemnity obligations related to the sale of Gibraltar. (4) The sum of the 1995 quarterly per share amounts does not equal the per share amount for the year due to the effect of the issuance of common stock on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. F-26
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, (i) certain historical financial information of the Company and (ii) certain pro forma financial information of the Company after giving effect to the sale of the Assets of the Company's hydrocarbon recycling and recovery business as contemplated by the Transaction and the sale of its oilfield services assets which was completed on January 20, 1997. This information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto set forth at pages F-1 to F-26. The information presented herein is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or operating results that would have occurred had the Transaction been completed on the date as of which, or at the beginning of periods for which, the Transaction is being given effect nor is it necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial position. All dollar amounts are in thousands, except per share data. [Enlarge/Download Table] HISTORICAL ------------------------------------------------------ PRO FORMA ------------ YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, YEAR ENDED ------------------------------------------------------ DECEMBER 31, 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1996 --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ------------ INCOME STATEMENT DATA: Revenues................................... $ 21,580 $ 18,588 $ 29,510 $ 35,618 $ 43,130 $ -- Operating income (loss).................... (1,166) (1,304) (3,389) (12,129) 3,829 (1,166) Net income (loss) from continuing operations............................... (1,286) (1,463) (4,095) (10,111) 2,530 (1,286) Net income (loss).......................... (10,235) (1,463) (4,095) (10,111) 2,530 (1,286) BALANCE SHEET DATA: Working capital (deficit).................. (7,471) (95) 2,646 6,162 7,435 4,472 Total assets............................... 11,983 19,097 22,252 22,081 35,346 11,042 Long-term debt, excluding current maturities............................... -- 490 -- 853 473 -- Total stockholders' equity................. 2,467 12,606 12,373 17,156 27,023 5,251 PER SHARE DATA: Net income (loss).......................... (1.16) (0.17) (0.52) (1.28) .32 (0.15) Book value................................. 0.28 1.50 1.56 2.17 3.40 0.59 ------------------------ - Years prior to 1995 include results of operations of Gibraltar Chemical Resources, Inc., which was sold effective December 31, 1994. - Year ended December 31, 1995 includes results of acquired businesses from date of acquisition. S-1
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1996 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS [Enlarge/Download Table] PRO FORMA HISTORICAL ADJUSTMENTS PRO FORMA ----------- ------------- ----------- Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents................................................ $ 385 (a) 4,662 1,747 (c) (3,300) Receivables.............................................................. 161 -- 161 Prepaid expenses and other current assets................................ 207 -- 207 Investment in U.S. Filter common stock................................... -- (b) 8,000 8,000 Net assets of discontinued operations--current........................... 1,144 (a) (532) -- (b) (612) ----------- ------------- ----------- Total current assets................................................... 1,897 8,218 10,115 Property, plant and equipment, net......................................... 230 -- 230 Net assets of discontinued operations--non-current......................... 9,659 (a) (1,846) -- (b) (7,813) Other assets, net.......................................................... 197 (a) 500 697 ----------- ------------- ----------- $ 11,983 (941) 11,042 ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt........................................ $ 5,014 (c) (3,300) 1,714 Accounts payable......................................................... 633 -- 633 Accrued expenses......................................................... 3,721 (b) (425) 3,296 ----------- ------------- ----------- Total current liabilities.............................................. 9,368 (3,725) 5,643 Deferred income taxes...................................................... 148 -- 148 Stockholders' equity....................................................... 2,467 (a) 2,784 5,251 ----------- ------------- ----------- $ 11,983 (941) 11,042 ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- S-2
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) [Enlarge/Download Table] PRO FORMA HISTORICAL ADJUSTMENTS PRO FORMA(1) ---------- ------------- ------------- Revenues................................................................. $ -- $ -- $ -- Cost of revenues......................................................... -- -- -- ---------- ------ ------------- Gross profit......................................................... -- -- -- Selling, general, and administrative expenses............................ 516 -- 516 Restructuring expenses................................................... 650 -- 650 ---------- ------ ------------- Operating loss....................................................... (1,166) -- (1,166) Other expense............................................................ (120) -- (120) ---------- ------ ------------- Loss from continuing operations...................................... $ (1,286) $ -- $ (1,286) ---------- ------ ------------- ---------- ------ ------------- Loss per share from continuing operations................................ $ (0.15) $ -- $ (0.15) ---------- ------ ------------- ---------- ------ ------------- Weighted average number of common shares outstanding..................... 8,835,293 8,835,293 ---------- ------------- ---------- ------------- ------------------------ (1) The Company anticipates that its ongoing general and administrative expenses will be reduced to approximately $300,000 annually upon completion of the Transaction, and expects earnings from investments to largely offset such costs. Such amount is based on current estimates and actual amounts could differ from those estimates. S-3
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MOBLEY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The following adjustments have been reflected in the accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996, after giving effect to the sales of the assets of the Company's waste management services and oilfield services segments as if such transactions had occurred at December 31, 1996 (in thousands of dollars): (a) To reflect the receipt of consideration from the sale of the assets of the oilfield services segment as follows: [Download Table] Sales price per Definitive Agreement........................ $ 5,417 Consideration received in the form of a note receivable..... (500) Accrued transaction expenses................................ (255) --------- Net cash proceeds......................................... $ 4,662 --------- --------- Gain on sale of oilfield services segment................... $ 2,784 --------- --------- Depreciated cost of net assets of oilfield services segment as of December 31, 1996................................... $ 2,378 --------- --------- (b) To reflect the receipt of consideration from the sale of the assets of the waste management services segment as follows: [Download Table] Sales price per Asset Purchase Agreement (fixed portion).... $ 8,000 --------- --------- Estimated net realizable value of net assets of waste management services segment as of December 31, 1996....... $ 8,425 --------- --------- (c) To reflect a $3,300,000 payment of outstanding bank indebtedness after closing of the sale of the oilfield services segment. S-4
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ANNEX A [LOGO] G. CLYDE BUCK MANAGING DIRECTOR February 10, 1997 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Board of Directors Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. 4415 E. Greenwood Baytown, Texas 77520 Gentlemen: You have advised Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. ("RPR") that U.S. Filter Corporation ("U.S. Filter") has proposed to purchase the waste management segment of Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. ("Mobley") for a price of (a) approximately $8.0 million in shares of U.S. Filter common stock plus (b) an "earn-out" opportunity for an addition of up to approximately $4.0 million in U.S. Filter common stock. You have requested that RPR issue an opinion ("Opinion") as to the fairness from a financial point of view to the common stockholders of Mobley of the terms of the proposed transaction as set forth in the draft Purchase Agreement dated February 5, 1997. RPR, as part of its investment banking business, is continually engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. In arriving at our opinion, we have, among other things: 1. Reviewed draft Purchase Agreement dated February 5, 1997 with U.S. Filter; 2. Reviewed proposal letter dated October 28, 1996 with U.S. Filter; 3. Reviewed Mobley's annual report and Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991, with financial statements audited by KPMG Peat Marwick L.L.P.; 4. Reviewed Mobley's Form 10-Q quarterly reports for the periods ended 9/30/96, 6/30/96, 3/31/96, 9/30/95, 6/30/95 and 3/31/95; 5. Reviewed U.S. Filter's Form 10-K and annual reports for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1996 and 1995; 6. Reviewed U.S. Filter's Form 10-Q and 2nd quarter shareholder report dated September 30, 1996; 7. Reviewed an article on U.S. Filter in the December 16, 1996 issue of FORBES magazine (pages 42-43); 8. Reviewed a research report on U.S. Filter dated September 17, 1996 prepared by Alex. Brown & Sons;
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Mobley Environmental Services, Inc. February 10, 1997 Page 2 9. Reviewed a research report on U.S. Filter dated September 17, 1996 prepared by Raymond James & Associates; 10. Reviewed a research report on U.S. Filter dated September 20, 1996 prepared by VALUE LINE; 11. Reviewed selected publicly traded environmental companies; 12. Reviewed selected publicly traded water-related companies (perhaps comparable to U.S. Filter); 13. Reviewed selected environmental service company acquisitions during 1995-1996; 14. Considered such other information, financial studies, analyses and investigations as we deemed relevant under the circumstances; and 15. Discussed with management of Mobley the outlook for future operating results, the assets and liabilities of the Company's waste management segment, material in the foregoing documents, and other matters we considered relevant to our inquiry. In our review and in arriving at our opinion, we have, with your permission, (i) not independently verified any of the foregoing information and have relied upon its being complete and accurate in all material respects and (ii) not made an independent evaluation or appraisal of specific assets of Mobley. Our opinion is provided to you pursuant to the terms of our engagement letter dated December 6, 1996. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the consideration to be received pursuant to the proposed transaction is fair to the common stockholders of Mobley from a financial point of view. RAUSCHER PIERCE REFSNES, INC. By: /s/ G. CLYDE BUCK ----------------------------------- G. Clyde Buck MANAGING DIRECTOR

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

Referenced-On Page
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3/31/991510KSB,  10QSB
6/30/98236610-Q,  10-Q/A
3/31/981510-Q
5/31/97260
Filed on / For Period End:5/9/97243
5/1/9734
4/30/9730
4/29/9719
4/25/972108-K
4/16/9710
4/15/971220
4/4/9733
3/31/97116010-Q,  NT 10-Q
2/28/971966
2/10/97675
2/5/9774
1/20/971070
1/9/9718
1/6/97410-Q
12/31/9637310-K,  NT 10-K
12/16/9674
12/6/9675
12/2/964
11/8/96921
11/7/963266
11/6/964
11/1/961853
10/30/96952
10/28/96474
10/9/9629
10/1/963553
9/30/9647410-Q,  NT 10-Q
9/20/9675
9/17/967475
9/6/964
8/23/964
8/7/9632
7/15/964
6/30/9646610-Q
6/28/964
6/27/964
6/10/964
5/31/964
5/23/9633
5/3/9631
3/31/9647410-Q,  NT 10-Q
3/26/9628
3/11/968
1/26/9631
1/1/964951
12/31/951574
12/6/9564
9/30/9515
8/31/9532
8/11/9559
7/21/9558
7/12/955059
6/30/9559
6/7/9558
3/31/951674
1/1/952064
12/31/942274
9/6/9432
9/2/9457
5/10/942357
12/31/935474
10/18/9332
12/31/9274
3/31/9241
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