Table of Contents



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016

2019

Commission File No. 0-18370

MFRI,

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

36-3922969

Delaware36-3922969

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7720 N. Lehigh Avenue,

6410 W. Howard Street, Niles, Illinois

60714

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(847) 966-1000

(847) 966-1000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.01 par value per share

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.         Yes o ☐  No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.         Yes o ☐  No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes o ☒  No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes x ☒  No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", and "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company x

☒ Emerging growth company ☐

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

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes o ☐  No x

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant (the exclusion of the market value of the shares owned by any person shall not be deemed an admission by the registrant that such person is an affiliate of the registrant) was $35,417,613$68,544,111.75 based on the closing sale price of $5.61$9.05 per share as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on July 31, 20152018.

The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding at April 22, 201610, 2019 was 7,403,9587,883,522.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed with the 2016 Annual Meeting of StockholdersSecurities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after January 31, 2019, are incorporated by reference in Part III.

III of this Form 10-K.





MFRI,

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal periodyear ended January 31, 2016

2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item

Page

Part I

 

1.

Business

2

 

Products and Services

2

 

Employees

3

 

Executive Officers of the Registrant

4

1A.

Risk Factors

5

1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

10

2.

Properties

10

3.

Legal Proceedings

10

4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

10

 

 

 

Part II

 

5.

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

11

6.

Selected Financial Data

12

7.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

12

7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

18

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

18

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

18

9A.

Controls and Procedures

19

9B.

Other Information

20

 

 

 

Part III

 

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

20

11.

Executive Compensation

20

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

20

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

20

14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

21

 

 

 

Part IV

 

15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

21

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

22

16.Form 10-K Summary54

 

Signatures

55

Item Page
  
1.1
 2
 Filtration Products4
 4
 4
 5
1A.5
1B.8
2.9
3.9
4.9
   
  
5.10
6.11
7.11
7A.18
8.18
9.18
9A.18
9B.20
   
  
10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance20
11.Executive Compensation20
12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters20
13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence20
14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services20
   
  
15.20
   
21
54



Table of Contents



PART I


Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Statements


StatementsInformation

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-K that are not historical facts, so-called "forward-looking statements," are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in MFRI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). See "Risk Factors" in Item 1A.


Available Information

The Company files with and furnishes to the SEC, reports including annual meeting materials, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as amendments thereto. The Company maintains a website, www.mfri.com, where these reports and related materials are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically delivers such material to the SEC. The information on the Company's website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and is not incorporated into this or any other filingswhich can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "continue," "remains," "intend," "aim," "should," "prospects," "could," "future," "potential," "believes," "plans," "likely," and "probable," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended ("Exchange Act") and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

the Company’s ability to effectively execute its strategic plan and achieve profitability and positive cash flows;

the impact of global economic weakness and volatility;

fluctuations in steel prices and the Company’s ability to offset increases in steel prices through price increases in its products;

the timing of orders for the Company’s products;

decreases in United States government spending on projects using the Company’s products, and challenges to the Company’s non-government customers’ liquidity and access to capital funds;

the Company’s ability to successfully negotiate progress-billing arrangements for its large contracts;

fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices;

risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s international business operations;

the Company’s ability to repay its debt and renew expiring international credit facilities;

aggressive pricing by existing competitors and the entrance of new competitors in the markets in which the Company operates;

the Company’s ability to purchase raw materials at favorable prices and to maintain beneficial relationships with its suppliers;

the SEC.Company’s ability to manufacture products free of latent defects and to recover from suppliers who may provide defective materials to the Company;


reductions or cancellations of orders included in the Company’s backlog;

the Company’s ability to attract and retain senior management and key personnel;

the Company’s ability to achieve the expected benefits of its growth initiatives;

the Company's ability to interpret changes in tax regulations and legislation; 

reversals of previously recorded revenue and profits resulting from inaccurate estimates made in connection with the Company’s percentage-of-completion revenue recognition;

the Company’s failure to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; and

the impact of cybersecurity threats on the Company’s information technology systems.

Item 1. BUSINESS


As of January 31, 2016, MFRI,

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc., collectively with its subsidiaries ("MFRI"PPIH", "Company" or "Registrant"), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in one reportable segment: Piping Systems. As described below, prior to January 29, 2016, theThe Company was also engagedincorporated in the manufacture and sale of products in the Filtration Products segment.Delaware on October 12, 1993. The Company's common stock is reported under ticker symbol "PPIH". The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 20152018 and 20142017 are for the fiscal years ended January 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, respectively.


In January 2016, the Company took a series of actions designed to refocus its business portfolio and cost structure to enhance the Company’s overall performance. These actions included the sale of MFRI’s domestic and international filtration businesses, including TDC Filter Manufacturing, Inc., Nordic Air Filtration, A/S and related assets, and the planned sale of the domestic fabric filter business in Winchester, Virginia. The sales follow a competitive bidding process that MFRI initiated as part of this program.

In addition to paying down debt, the sale of the filtration business will give the Company the opportunity to focus resources on new Piping Systems growth opportunities such as the recent acquisition of 100% ownership of Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. ("BPPC"), which the Company believes creates a strong platform to diversify and expand Perma-Pipe Inc’s ("Perma-Pipe") business into new markets and geographies.
In connection with its strategic repositioning, the Company:
On January 29, 2016, sold certain assets and liabilities of its TDC Filter business based in Bolingbrook, Illinois for approximately $11 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments, to the Industrial Air division of CLARCOR, a NYSE-listed company based in Franklin, Tennessee. CLARCOR is a leading diversified marketer and manufacturer of mobile, industrial and environmental filtration products. As a part of this program, MFRI plans to sell the 100,000 square foot TDC manufacturing and office facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

On January 29, 2016, sold its Nordic Air Filtration, Denmark and Nordic Air Filtration, Middle East businesses, for approximately $11 million, on a debt/cash free basis, subject to certain post-closing adjustments, to Hengst Holding GmbH. Hengst is a leading specialist in filtration and filtration management and an international development partner and OEM supplier for all major automobile manufacturers.

Is reorganizing the Company’s corporate staff and reducing expenses to reflect its new strategic focus and structure. The restructuring is expected to yield annualized savings of approximately $1.2 million.



At January 31, 2016, one customer accounted for 10.3% of the Company's net sales. At January 31, 2015, one customer accounted for 17.2% of the Company's net sales.

Two customers accounted for 46.4% of accounts receivable at January 31, 2016, and one customer accounted for 37.4% of accounts receivable at January 31, 2015. As of April 1, 2016, these customers have paid 40.4% of their receivables outstanding at January 31, 2016.

MFRI, Inc.'s Operating Units
Perma-Pipe, Inc.
Niles, IL
New Iberia, LA
Lebanon, TN
Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC
Fujarah, United Arab Emirates
Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia, LLC
Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd.
Camrose, Alberta, Canada
Perma-Pipe India Pvt. Ltd
Gandidham, India

All operating units shown are, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by MFRI except BPPC, which was owned 49% by MFRI and 51% by an unrelated party until February 4, 2016 when MFRI purchased the remaining shares and became the sole owner.

Piping Systems

Products and services.The Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping systems, and leak detection and location systems. Piping Systems include (i) industrial and secondary containmentSpecialty piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, (ii)include: (i) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling ("DHC") piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants to multiple locations, (ii) primary and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, and (iii) subseathe coating and/or insulation of oil and gas gathering flow and (iv) above ground long lines for oil and mineral transportation.transmission pipelines. The Company's leak detection and location systems are sold with some of its piping systems and alsoor on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property.


Piping Systems

The Company frequently engineers and custom fabricates to job site dimensions and incorporates provisions for thermal expansion due to varyingcycling temperatures. This custom fabrication helps to minimize the amount of field labor required by the installation contractor. Most of the Company's piping systems are produced for underground installations and, therefore, require trenching, which is the responsibility of the general contractor, and donecompleted by unaffiliated installation contractors.


The Piping Systems segment is based onCompany’s piping systems are typically sold as a part of large discrete projects, and both the domestic Piping Systems is seasonal.and Canadian customer demand varies by season. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") - Piping Systems.."




Recent developments. On December 31, 2015, MFRI entered into a purchase agreement with

Operating Facilities: The Company operates its joint venture partner Aegion Corporation to acquire 100% ownership of BPPC, a coatingbusiness from the following locations:

Perma-Pipe, Inc.

Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC

Niles, IL

Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

New Iberia, LA

Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia, LLC

Lebanon, TN

Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd.

Perma-Pipe India Pvt. Ltd

Camrose, Alberta, Canada

Gandhidham, India

Customers and insulation company in Camrose, Alberta, which acquisition closed on February 4, 2016. MFRI had owned a 49% interest in BPPC since 2009, when the joint venture was formed with Aegion to serve the oil and gas industry in Western Canada.


sales channels.The purchase price was approximately $9.6 million in cash and debt at closing and is subject to certain post-closing adjustments.

Customers. TheCompany's customer base is industrially and geographically diverse. In the United States, of America ("U.S."), the Company employs nationalinside and regionaloutside sales managers who use and assist a network of independent manufacturers' representatives, none of whom sellssell products that are competitive with the Company's Piping Systems.piping systems. The Company employs a direct sales force as well as an exclusive agent network forin Canada and in several countries in the Middle and Far East to market and sell products and services.

Intellectual property. On a country by country basis, and where advantageous, an agent network is often used to assist in marketing and selling the Company's products and services.

On January 31, 2019 and January 31, 2018, no one customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's net sales.

Three customers accounted for 42.0% and 34.9% of accounts receivable on January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Backlog. The Company’s backlog on January 31, 2019 was $61.0 million compared to $46.7 million on January 31, 2018, most of which is expected to be completed within the next 12 months. The Company defines backlog as the revenue value resulting from confirmed customer purchase orders that have not yet been recognized as revenue. However, by industry practice, orders may be canceled or modified at any time. If a customer cancels an order, the customer is normally responsible for all finished goods produced or shipped, all direct and indirect costs incurred and also for a reasonable allowance for anticipated profits. No assurance can be given that these amounts will be recovered after cancellation. Any cancellation or delay in orders may result in lower than expected revenue.

Intellectual property. The Company owns several patents covering its piping and electronic leak detection systems. The patents are not material to the Company either individually or in the aggregate overall, because the Company believes its sales would not be materially reduced if patent protection were not available. The Company owns numerous trademarks connected with its piping and leak detection systems including the following U.S. trademarks: Perma-Pipe®, Chil-Gard®, Double Quik®, Escon-A®, FluidWatch®, Galva-Gard®, Polytherm®, Pal-AT®, Stereo-Heat®, LiquidWatch®, PalCom®, Xtru-therm®, Auto-Therm®, Pex-Gard®, Multi-Therm®, Ultra-Therm®, Cryo-Gard®, Sleeve-Gard®, Electro-Gard® and Sulphur-Therm™Sulphur-Therm®. The Company also owns a number of trademarks throughout the world. Some of the Company's more significant trademarks include: Auto-Therm®, Cryo-Gard®, Electro-Gard®, Sleeve-Gard®, Permalert®, Pal-AT®, Perma-Pipe®, Polytherm®, Sulphur-Therm®, Ric-Wil®, and Xtru-therm®.

2

Raw materials. Basic

Suppliers. The basic raw materials used in production are pipes and tubes made of carbon steel, alloy,steel alloys, copper, ductile iron, plasticsor polymers and various chemicals such as polyols, isocyanate, urethane resin, polyethylene and fiberglass, mostly purchased in bulk quantities. The Company believes there are currently adequate supplies and sources of availability of these needed raw materials.


Steel prices began to rise in early 2018 and are expected to continue to rise in 2019. The Company expects normal seasonal price movement during 2019 with steel prices higher than average when compared to 2018. The Company has been updating its quoting system for the movements in steel prices and expects to recover these price differentials through price increases in its products.

The sensor cables used in the Company's leak detection and location systems are manufactured to the Company's specifications by companies regularly engaged in manufacturing such cables. The Company owns patents for some of the features of its sensor cables. The Company assembles the monitoring component of theits leak detection and location systems from components purchased from many sources.


Competition. Piping Systems The piping systems market is highly competitive andcompetitive. The Company believes its principal competition consists of between ten and twentyover 20 major competitors and more small competitors. The Company believes that quality, service, engineering design capabilities and support, a comprehensive product line, timely execution, plant location and price are key competitive factors. The Company also believes it has a more comprehensive product line for DHC than any competitor. Some competitors have greater financial resources

Research and cost advantages asDevelopment. The Company maintains a result of manufacturing a limited range of products.


standalone research and development function and primarily focuses on activities and development to meet product specifications mandated by its customers and the industry.  

Government regulation. The demand for the Company's leak detection and location systems and secondary containment piping systems, which is a small percentage of the Company's total annual piping sales, is driven by federal and state environmental regulation with respect to hazardous waste. The U.S. Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires, in some cases, that the storage, handling and transportation of fluids through underground pipelines feature secondary containment and leak detection. The U.S. National Emission Standard for hydrocarbon airborne particulates requires reduction of airborne volatile organic compounds and fugitive emissions. Under this regulation, many major refineries are required to recover fugitive vapors and dispose of the recovered material in a process sewer system, which then becomes a hazardous secondary waste system that must be contained. Although there can be no assurances as to the ultimate effects of these governmental regulations, the Company believes such regulations may increase the demand for its Piping Systemspiping systems products.




Filtration Products

Products

In the United States and services. Prior to January 29, 2016,Canada, federal government regulations require that all buried pipelines that cross state or provincial boundaries or the Company manufactured and sold a wide variety of filter elements for cartridge collectors and baghouse air filtration and particulate collection systems. The principal types of industrial air filtration and particulate collection systems in use are baghouses, cartridge collectors, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and mechanical collectors. This equipment is used to eliminate particulates from the air by passing particulate laden gases through fabric filters (filter bags) or pleated media filter elements, in the case of baghouses or cartridge collectors, between electrically charged collector plates, in the case of electrostatic precipitators and contact with liquid reagents (scrubbers).United States-Canada border, have an anti-corrosion coating system applied. The Company manufactured filter elements in standard industry sizes, shapes and filtration media andbelieves that this regulation has a positive effect on demand for its products due to custom specifications, maintaining manufacturing standards for more than 10,000 styles of filter elementsthe Company's unique expertise with respect to suit substantially all industrial applications. Filter elements were manufactured from industrial yarn, fabric and paper purchased in bulk. Most filter elements were produced from cellulose, acrylic, fiberglass, polyester, aramid, laminated membranes, or polypropylene fibers. The Company also manufactured filter elements from more specialized materials, sometimes using special finishes.


The Company marketed numerous filter related products and accessories used during the installation, operation and maintenance of cartridge collectors and baghouses, including wire cages used to support filter bags, spring assemblies for proper tensioning of filter bags and clamps and hanger assemblies for attaching filter elements. In addition, the Company marketed hardware items used in the operation and maintenance of cartridge collectors and baghouses. The Company also provided maintenance services, consisting primarily of air filtration system inspection and filter element replacement, using a network of independent contractors. The Company had particular expertise in supplying filter bags for use with electric arc furnaces in the steel industry. Over the past three years, Filtration Products supplied filter elements to more than 4,000 user locations.

Customers. The customer base was industrially and geographically diverse. These products and services are used primarily by operators of utility and industrial coal-fired boilers, incinerators and cogeneration plants and by producers of metals, cement, chemicals and other industrial products.

Filtration Products were marketed domestically under the names Midwesco Filter and TDC Filter Manufacturing. The Company marketed its U.S. manufactured Filtration Products internationally using domestically based sales resources to target major users in foreign countries. The Denmark filtration facility marketed pleated filter elements under the name Nordic Filtration throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, primarily to original equipment manufacturers.

anti-corrosion coating.

Employees

As of January 31, 20162019, the Company had 998approximately 193 employees working in the United States, of whom 51% worked outsidewhich approximately 74 were under two collective bargaining agreements, one expiring on March 31, 2022, and the U.S.


International

Theother on April 30, 2020. There were approximately 508 employees working at the Company's international operations aslocations. The Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good.

Available Information

The Company files with and a joint venture in four foreign countries on two continents. The Company's international operations contributed approximately 48.4% of revenue in 2015 and 43.7% of revenue in 2014.


Referfurnishes to the Business descriptionsSecurities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), reports including annual meeting materials, Annual Reports on pages 1 through 4 aboveForm 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Note 1 - Businesscurrent reports on Form 8-K, as well as amendments thereto. The Company maintains a website, www.permapipe.com, where these reports and segment information inrelated materials are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after the NotesCompany electronically delivers such material to Consolidated Financial Statements for additionalthe SEC. The information on international activities. International operations are subject to risks inherent in conducting business in foreign countries, including price controls, exchange controls, limitationsthe Company's website is not part of this Annual Report on participation in local enterprises, nationalization, expropriationForm 10-K and is not incorporated into this or any other governmental action, and changes in currency exchange rates.

filings by the Company with the SEC.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table sets forth information regarding the executive officers of the Company as of April 1, 2016:

2019:

NameOffices and positions, if any, held with the Company; age

Executive officer of the Company or its predecessor since

Bradley E. Mautner

Name

Offices and Positions; Age

Company since

David J. Mansfield

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer; Age 6058

1994

2016

   
Karl J. Schmidt

D. Bryan Norwood

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Age 6263

2013

2018

   

Wayne Bosch

Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer; Age 5962

2013

Fati A. Elgendy

David J. Mansfield: President and Chief Operating Officer, Perma-Pipe; Age 671990

All of the executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Bradley E. Mautner, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") since February 2013. President since December 2004;November 2016. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Mansfield served as Chief OperatingFinancial Officer from December 2004("CFO") of Compressor Engineering Corp. & CECO Pipeline Services Co., which provides products and services to January 2013; Executivethe gas transmission, midstream, gas processing, and petrochemical industries. In this position, he had overall responsibility for the group’s financial affairs, including the development and execution of turnaround plans and the successful negotiation of a corporate refinancing. From 2009 to 2014, Mr. Mansfield served as CFO and as Acting CEO of Pipestream, Inc., a venture capital-owned technology development company providing a suite of products to the oil and gas pipeline industry. From 1992 to 2009, Mr. Mansfield was employed with Bredero Shaw, the world’s largest provider of protective coatings for the oil and gas pipeline industry, most recently as Vice President from December 2002 to December 2004;Strategic Planning. During his tenure with Bredero Shaw, Mr. Mansfield served in numerous roles including Vice President Controller and Commercial General Manager, Europe, Africa & FSU, and played a key role in strategy development and merger and acquisition activities as the company grew from December 1996 through December 2002; Director since 1994.annual revenues of $100 million to over $900 million.

4

Karl J. Schmidt,

D. Bryan Norwood: Appointed Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in January 2013.November 2018. From 2014 to 2018 Mr. Norwood served as CFO of API Perforating, LLC an oilfield service company providing stage perforation and wireline services.  From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Norwood served as CFO of Dupre’ Energy Services, LLC an oilfield service company offering multiple services lines.  From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Schmidt served asNorwood was Vice President Finance for the Chief Financial OfficerEnvironmental Services Division of Atkore International (previously Tyco ElectricalPSC, LLC a hazardous waste disposal company.  From 1992 to 2010, Mr. Norwood has held several senior leadership positions including CFO of Smith Equipment Rental and Metal Products)Services, LLC., a manufacturer of steel pipe and tube products, electrical conduits, cable, and cable management systems. From 2002 to 2009, Mr. Schmidt served as the Executiveregional oilfield service provider, Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerTreasurer of Sauer-Danfoss,Key Energy Services, Inc., an oilfield multi-service provider, and Corporate Controller and Vice President Finance-Americas with Bredero Shaw, a global manufacturer of hydraulic, electrical, and electronic components and solutions for off-road vehicles.


pipe coating provider.

Wayne Bosch,Bosch: Appointed Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in December 2013. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Bosch was Vice President of Human Resources at Pactiv, a $4$4.0 billion global manufacturer and distributor of food packaging products. Prior to Pactiv, he led the human resource activities at the North American segment of Barilla America, a $6.3 billion global pasta, sauces and bakery manufacturer and was the Chief Human Resources Officer for water filtration leader Culligan International.


Fati A. Elgendy, President Mr. Bosch's background spans the entire spectrum of human resources competencies, including mergers and Chief Operating Officer of Perma-Pipe since March 1995.

acquisition and business integration, in start-up, turnaround and high-growth businesses. His scope also includes communications, legal, occupational health services, health safety environment, risk management, payroll, facilities and general administrative services.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS




The Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are subject to various risks, including, but not limited to, those set forth below, which could cause actual results to vary materially from recent results or from anticipated future results. These risk factors should be considered together with information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Economic factors.

The Company has incurred net losses for its past two fiscal years and it may be unable to achieve profitability or positive cash flows in the future. The Company has experienced net losses for the past two fiscal years. Generating net income and positive cash flows in the future will depend on its ability to successfully complete and execute its strategic plan. There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to achieve profitability or positive cash flows in the future.The Company’s inability to successfully achieve profitability and positive cash flows may result in it experiencing a serious liquidity deficiency resulting in material adverse consequences that could threaten its viability.

Global economic weakness and volatility may adversely affect operating margins for the Company’s services and products.If the global economy experiencedexperiences a severe and prolonged downturn, it could adversely impact all of the Company's businesses,business, directly or indirectly. Downturns in such general economic conditions can significantly affect the business of ourthe Company's customers, which in turn affects demand, volume, pricing, and operating marginmargins for ourthe Company's services and products. A downturn in one or more of ourthe Company's significant markets could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. Because economic and market conditions vary within the Company's segment,geographic regions, the Company's performance will also vary. In addition, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Failureprices, including rising steel prices and surcharges.

Fluctuations in the availability of, and price of steel, may affect the Company's results of operations. The steel industry is highly cyclical in nature, and at times, pricing can be highly volatile due to successfully manage anya number of factors beyond the Company's control, including general economic conditions, import duties, other trade restrictions and currency exchange rates. This volatility may negatively impact market conditions thus reducing project activity.

Through a series of Presidential Proclamations pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as of the date of this filing, U.S. imports of certain steel products are subject to a 25 percent tariff (exceptions are Australia, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea), with retaliatory tariffs imposed by importing countries. The Company expects these risksactions to increase steel costs and decrease supply availability. We routinely insulate steel pipe for our Canadian customers, and these tariffs may lead to project delays or cancellations while they are in place.

The Company regularly updates its quoting system for the movements in steel prices, and intends to recover these price differentials through price increases in the Company's products, however, the Company may not always be successful. Any increase in steel prices that is not offset by an increase in the Company's prices could have an adverse impacteffect on the Company's business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, if the Company is unable to acquire timely steel supplies, it may need to decline bid and order opportunities, which could also have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, results of operations or cash flow.


Project cycles. flows.

Delays in the timing of orders for the Company’s products may negatively impact the Company’s operating results. Since Piping Systems isthe Company's revenues are based on large discrete projects, the Company's operating results in any reporting period could be negatively impacted in the future as a result of large variations in the level of overall market demand or delays in both geographiesthe timing of project execution phases.

Decreases in government spending on projects using the Company’s products, and reporting periods.


Customer accesschallenges to the Company’s non-government customers’ liquidity and availability of capital funds. funds may adversely impact demand for the Company’s products. Uncertainty about economic market conditions poses risks that the Company's customers may postpone spending for capital improvement and maintenance projects in response to tighter credit markets or negative financial news, which could have a material negative effect on the demand for the Company's products. The continuing decreaseDecreases in U.S. federal and state spending on projects using the Company's products has significantly decelerated government funded construction activity in the U.S., negatively impactingcan have negative impact on sales volume atfrom the Company's domestic facilities.

Governmental spending on large infrastructure projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council ("GCC") countries vary and spending has in the past been curtailed or delayed as a result of reduced public spending budgets in countries which are dependent on oil and gas revenues and their respective price levels.

The Company may not be able to successfully negotiate progress-billing arrangements for its large contracts, which could adversely impact the Company’s working capital needs and credit risk. The Company sells systems and products under contracts that allow the Company to either bill upon the completion of certain agreed upon milestones, or upon actual shipment of the system or product. The Company attempts to negotiate progress-billing milestones on large contracts to help manage its working capital and to reduce the credit risk associated with these large contracts. Consequently, shifts in the billing terms of the contracts in the backlog from period to period can increase the Company's requirements for working capital and can increase its exposure to credit risk.

Crude oil and natural gas prices are volatile, and the substantial and extended decline in commodity prices has had, and may continue to have, a material and adverse effect on demand and pricing in the Company's business. Prices for crude oil and natural gas fluctuate widely. Among the factors that can or could cause these price fluctuations are:

the level of consumer demand;

domestic and worldwide supplies of crude oil and natural gas;

domestic and international drilling activity;

the actions of other crude oil exporting nations and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries;

worldwide economic and political conditions, including political instability or armed conflict in oil and gas producing regions; and

the price and availability of, and demand for, competing energy sources, including alternative energy sources.


Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014 and continuing through 2015 and into 2016, crude oil prices have substantially declined. In addition, natural gas prices began to decline substantially in the second quarter of 2014, and such declines continued during 2015 and into 2016. The above described factors and the volatility of commodity prices make it difficult to predict future crude oil and natural gas prices. As a result, the Company cannot predict how long these lower prices will continue, and there can be no assurance that

Generally, when the prices for crude oil and natural gas will not decline further. Additionally,are higher, demand for the decline in oil prices has had budgetary impact on the governments of key Gulf Cooperation Council ("GCC") countries, delaying or canceling major planned infrastructure projects unrelated to oilCompany’s products increases and gas production. It is impossible to predict when and in what volume these planned projects will be implemented. The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Now that the Company's focus is only on Piping Systems, the Company is able to negotiate higher prices. On the other hand, when the prices of crude oil and natural gas are lower, demand for the Company’s products decreases and the Company is forced to compete with lower prices and other concessions. Volatility in these commodity prices can also result in circumstances where demand for the Company’s products is suddenly high, but the Company is unable to negotiate higher prices, thereby adversely impacting the Company’s margins and capacity to accept new projects at higher margins.

The Company may be unable to repay its debt or renew its expiring credit facilities. If there were an event of default under the Company's current revolving credit facilities, the lenders could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately. The Company cannot assure that its cash flow will be sufficient to fully repay amounts due under any of the financing arrangements, if accelerated upon an event of default, or, that the Company would be able to repay, refinance or restructure the payments under any such arrangements. Complying with the covenants under the Company's domestic and/or foreign revolving credit facilities may limit management's discretion by restricting options such as:

incurring additional debt;

entering into transactions with affiliates;

making investments or other restricted payments;

repurchase of Company's shares;

payment of dividends, capital returns, repayment of intercompany obligations and other forms of repatriation; and

creating liens.

The Company’ credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries are renewed on an annual basis. In addition to these credit arrangements, the Company also obtains project financing in the Middle East on a project-by-project basis. While the Company believes that it will be able to renew its Middle East credit arrangements and will have continued access to individual project financing, there is no assurance that such arrangements will be renewed or made available in similar amounts or be on similar terms and conditions as the current arrangements, or that such individual project financing will be available for projects that the Company is interested in pursuing.

Any replacement credit arrangements outside of the United States may further limit the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from abroad. Repatriation of funds from certain countries may become limited based upon regulatory restrictions or economically unfeasible because of the taxation of funds when moved to another subsidiary or to the parent company. In addition, any refinancing, replacement or additional financing the Company may obtain could contain similar or more concentrated,restrictive covenants than the Company is currently subject to. The Company’s ability to comply with any covenants may be adversely affected by general economic conditions, political decisions, industry conditions and these risk factorsother events beyond management’s control.

Aggressive pricing by existing competitors and the entrance of new competitors in the markets in which the Company operates could potentiallydrive down the Company's profits and prohibit or slow the Company's growth. The Company's business is highly competitive. Some of the Company's competitors are larger and have more resources than the Company. Additionally, many of the Company's products are also subject to competition from alternative technologies and alternative products. In periods of declining demand, the Company's fixed cost structure may limit its ability to cut costs, which may be a greatercompetitive disadvantage compared to firms with more flexible cost structures, or may result in reduced operating margins and operating losses.

The Company may be unable to purchase raw materials at favorable prices, or maintain beneficial relationships with its suppliers, which could result in a shortage of supply, or increased pricing. To the extent the Company relies upon a single source for key components of several of its products, the Company believes there are alternate sources available for such components. However, there can be no assurance that the interruption of supplies of such components would not have an adverse effect on the Company.financial condition of the Company and that the Company, if required to do so, would be able to negotiate agreements with alternative sources on acceptable terms.

The Company may be subject to claims for damages for defective products. The Company warrants its products to be free of certain defects. The Company has, from time to time, had claims alleging defects in its products. The Company cannot be certain it will not experience material product liability losses in the future or that it will not incur significant costs to defend such claims. While the Company currently has product liability insurance, the Company cannot be certain that its product liability insurance coverage will be adequate for liabilities that may be incurred in the future or that such coverage will continue to be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms. Any claims relating to defective products that result in liabilities exceeding the Company's insurance coverage could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Product and service orders included in the Company’s backlog may be reduced or cancelled. The Company defines backlog as the revenue value resulting from confirmed customer purchase orders that have not yet been recognized as revenue. However, by industry practice, orders may be canceled or modified at any time. If a customer cancels an order, the customer is normally responsible for all finished goods produced or shipped, all direct and indirect costs incurred and also for a reasonable allowance for anticipated profits. No assurance can be given that these amounts will be recovered after cancellation. Any cancellation or delay in orders may result in lower than expected revenue.

The Company may be unable to attract and retain its senior management and key personnel. The Company's ability to meet its strategic and financial goals will depend to a significant extent on the continued contributions of its senior management and key personnel. Future success will also depend in large part on the Company's ability to identify, attract, motivate, effectively utilize and retain highly qualified managerial, sales, marketing and technical personnel. The loss of senior management or other key personnel or the inability to identify, attract and retain qualified personnel in the future could make it more difficult to manage the Company's business and could adversely affect operations and financial results.

The Company may not be able to achieve the expected benefits from its growth initiatives. The Company's cyclical or general expansion may result in unanticipated adverse consequences, including significant strain on management, operations and financial systems as well as on the Company's ability to attract and retain competent employees. In the future, the Company may seek to grow its business by investing in new or existing facilities, making acquisitions, entering into partnerships and joint ventures, or constructing new facilities, which could entail a number of additional risks, including:

strain on working capital;


diversion of management's attention away from other activities, which could impair the operation of existing businesses;

Risks

failure to successfully integrate the acquired businesses or facilities into existing operations;

inability to maintain key pre-acquisition business relationships;

loss of key personnel of the acquired business or facility;

exposure to unanticipated liabilities; and

failure to realize efficiencies, synergies and cost savings.

As a result of these and other factors, including general economic risks, the Company may not be able to realize the expected benefits from future acquisitions, new facility developments, partnerships, joint ventures or other investments.

The Company's financial results could be adversely affected by changes in international regulations and other activities of U.S. and non-U.S. governmental agencies related to the Company’s international businessoperations. International sales represent a significant portion of the Company's total sales. During 2015, theThe Company's international sales to foreign customers increased to 61.0% in 2018 from 43.7% to 48.4%.59.5% in 2017. The Company's anticipated growth and profitability may require maintainingincreasing current internationalforeign sales volume and may necessitate further



international expansion. The Company's financial results could be affected by changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations, or other activities of U.S. and non U.S.non-U.S. governments, agencies and similar organizations.organizations, and other factors. These conditionsfactors include, but are not limited to, changes in a country's or region's economic or political conditions, trade regulations affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, burdensome taxes and tariffs and other trade barriers. International risks and uncertainties, including changing social and economic conditions as well as terrorism, political hostilities and war, could lead to reduced international sales and reduced profitability associated with such sales. In addition, these risks can include extraordinarily delayed collections of accounts receivable. Because the Company conducts a significant portion of its business activities in the Middle East, the political and economic events of the countries that comprise the GCC can have a material effect on the Company’s business.

8


Financing. If there were an eventTable of default underContents

Due to the Company's current revolving credit facilities, the holdersinternational scope of the defaulted debtCompany’s operations, it is subject to a complex system of commercial and trade regulations around the world. Recent years have seen an increase in the development and enforcement of laws regarding trade compliance anti-corruption, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws from other countries as well as new regulatory requirements regarding data privacy. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries are governed by laws, rules and business practices that differ from those of the U.S. If the activities of these entities do not comply with U.S. laws or business practices or the Company’s Code of Business Conduct, then violations of these laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, which could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be duedisrupt the Company’s business, and payable immediately.result in an adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, business and results of operations or financial condition. The Company cannot assure thatpredict the assetsnature, scope or cash flow wouldeffect of future regulatory requirements to which its operations might be sufficient to fully repay amounts due under any ofsubject or the financing arrangements, if accelerated upon an event of default,manner in which existing laws might be administered or that theinterpreted.

The Company wouldmay be able to repay, refinance or restructure the payments under any such arrangements. Complying with the covenants underimpacted by interpretations and changes in tax regulations and legislation which could adversely affect the Company's revolving credit facility may limit management's discretion by restricting options such as:

·incurring additional debt;
·entering into transactions with affiliates;
·making investments or other restricted payments;
·paying dividends or making other distributions; and
·creating liens.
Any additional financingfinancial results. Tax interpretations, regulations and legislation in the Company may obtain could contain similar or more restrictive covenants. The Company's ability to comply with any covenants may be adversely affected by general economic conditions, political decisions, industry conditions and other events beyond management's control.
Competition. The businessvarious jurisdictions in which the Company is engaged is highly competitive. Manyoperates are subject to measurement uncertainty and the interpretations can impact net income, income tax expense or recovery, and deferred income tax assets or liabilities.  Tax rules and regulations, including those relating to foreign jurisdictions, are subject to interpretation and require judgment by the Company that may be challenged by the applicable taxation authorities upon audit.  Although the Company believes its assumptions, judgements and estimates are reasonable, changes in tax laws or the Company's interpretation of tax laws and the competitorsresolution of any tax audits could significantly impact the amounts provided for income taxes in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The Company may not be able to recover costs and damages from vendors that supply defective materials. The Company may receive defective materials from its vendors that are larger and have more resources than the Company. Additionally, many ofincorporated into the Company's products are also subjectduring the manufacturing process. The cost to competition from alternative technologies and alternative products. In periods of declining demand,repair, remake or replace defective products could be greater than the Company's fixed cost structure may limit ability to cut costs, which may be a competitive disadvantage compared to firms with lower cost structures, or may result in reduced operating margins and operating losses.


Suppliers.To the extent the Company relies upon a single source for key components of several of its products, the Company believes there are alternate sources available for such components; however, thereamount that can be no assurance thatrecovered from the interruption of supplies of such components would notvendor. Such excess costs could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial conditionposition, results of theoperations or cash flows.

The Company and that the Company, ifmay be required to do so, would be able to negotiate agreements with alternative sources on acceptable terms.


Backlog. The Company defines backlogreverse previously recorded revenue and profits as the revenue value in dollars resulting from confirmed customer purchase orders that have not yet been recognized as revenue. However, by industry practice, orders may be canceled or modified at any time. If a customer cancels an order, the customer is normally responsible for all finished goods, all direct and indirect costs incurred and also for a reasonable allowance for anticipated profits. No assurance can be given that these amounts will be recovered after cancellation. Any cancellation or delay in orders may result in lower than expected revenue.

Attracting and retaining senior management and key personnel. The Company's ability to meet strategic and financial goals will depend to a significant extent on the continued contributions of senior management. Future success will also depend in large part on the ability to identify, attract, motivate, effectively utilize and retain highly qualified managerial, sales, marketing and technical personnel. The loss of senior management or other key personnel or the inability to identify, attract and retain qualified personnel in the future could make it more difficult to manage the business and could adversely affect operations and financial results.



Rapid growth of business. Expansion may result in unanticipated adverse consequences, including significant strain on management, operations and financial systems as well as on the Company's ability to attract and retain competent employees. In the future, the Company may seek to grow the business by investing in new or existing facilities, making acquisitions, entering into partnerships and joint ventures, or constructing new facilities, which could entail a number of additional risks, including:

strain on working capital;
diversion of management from other activities, which could impair the operation of existing businesses;
failure to successfully integrate the acquired businesses or facilities into existing operations;
inability to maintain key pre-acquisition business relationships;
loss of key personnel of the acquired business or facility;
exposure to unanticipated liabilities; and
failure to realize efficiencies, synergies and cost savings.

As a result of these and other factors, includinginaccurate estimates made in connection with the general economic risk, the Company may not be able to realize the expected benefits from any recent or future acquisitions, new facility developments, partnerships, joint ventures or other investments.

Percentage-of-completionCompany’s percentage-of-completion revenue recognition. All divisions recognizeThe Company recognizes revenues under theits stated revenue recognition policy except for sizable domestic complex contracts that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. This methodology allows revenue and profits to be recognized proportionally over the life of a contract by comparing the amount of the cost incurred to date against the total amount of cost expected to be incurred. The effect of revisions to revenue and total estimated cost is recorded when the amounts are known or can be reasonably estimated. These revisions can occur at any time and could be material. On a historical basis, management believes that reasonably reliable estimates of the progress towards completion on long-term contracts have been made. However, given the uncertainties associated with these types of contracts, it is possible for actual cost to vary from estimates previously made, which may result in reductions or reversals of previously recorded revenue and profits.

Income Taxes. Changes in, or interpretations of, tax rules

The Company’s failure to establish and regulations may adversely affect ourmaintain effective tax rates. The Company is a United States-based multinational company subject to tax in multiple U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions. A significant portion of earnings for the current fiscal year were earned by foreign subsidiaries. In addition to providing for U.S. income taxes on earnings from the U.S., the Company provides for U.S. income taxes on the earnings of foreign subsidiaries unless the subsidiaries’ earnings are considered permanently reinvested outside the U.S. If certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the related U.S. tax liability may be reduced by any foreign income taxes paid on these earnings.


Regulatory and legal requirements. As a public company, the Company is required to comply with the reporting obligations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"). Keeping informed of and in compliance with, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance, public disclosure and accounting standards, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd-Frank Act, as well as new and proposed SEC regulations and accounting standards, has required an increased amount of management attention and external resources. Compliance with such requirements has resulted in increased general and administrative expenses and an increased allocation of management time and attention to compliance activities.

Effective internal control over financial reporting. As a public reporting company, the Companycould harm its business and financial results. The Company’s management is in a continuing process of developing,responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal controls and procedures . Management is required to report on internal controlscontrol over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 Sarbanes-Oxley Actis a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 2002. Iffinancial reporting for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the Company failsUnited States. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to achieve and maintain adequate internal controls, management would not be able to conclude on an ongoing basisprovide absolute assurance that the Company has effective internal controls overwould prevent or detect a misstatement of its financial reportingstatements or fraud.

The Company's information technology systems may be negatively affected by cybersecurity threats. The Company faces risks relating to cybersecurity attacks that could cause the loss of confidential information and other business disruptions. The Company relies extensively on computer systems to process transactions and manage its business, and its business is at risk from and may be impacted by cybersecurity attacks. These could include attempts to gain unauthorized access to data and computer systems. Attacks can be both individual and/ or highly organized attempts organized by very sophisticated hacking organizations. The Company employs a number of measures to prevent, detect and mitigate these threats, which include password encryption, frequent password change events, firewall detection systems, anti-virus software in-place and frequent backups; however, there is no guarantee such efforts will be successful in accordance with Section 404. Ifpreventing a cyber-attack. A successful attack could disrupt and otherwise adversely affect the Company does not remediate the material weaknesses described in Item 9A, or if other material weaknesses are identified in the future , the reported financialCompany's reputation and results of the Company could be materially misstated or could subsequently require restatement, which would require additional financial and management resources, and the market



price of our stock could decline.

operations, including through lawsuits by third-parties.

Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS - None.



Item 2. PROPERTIES     Principal properties at January 31, 2016:
Piping Systems

Location

Leased or Owned

Size

Illinois

Leased production facilities and office space

31,650 square feet

Illinois

Louisiana

Owned production facilities and leased land

30,000 square feet on approximately 5 acres

Tennessee

Owned production facilities and office space

16,800 square feet
LouisianaOwned production facilities and leased land30,000 square feet on approximately 6 acres
TennesseeOwned production facilities and office space

131,800 square feet on approximately 23.5 acres

CanadaTexasJoint venture owned production facilities andLeased office space87,1602,100 square feet

Canada

Owned production facilities with office space on owned land, leased land and leased office space

102,980 square feet on approximately 128158 acres

India

Leased production facilities, office space and land

33,700 square feet on approximately 1.2 acres

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Owned production facilities on leased land

91,000

89,000 square feet on approximately 11 acres

United Arab Emirates

Leased office space and production facilities on leased land

108,300

182,100 square feet on approximately 2316.4 acres


Filtration Products
IllinoisBolingbrook - owned production facilities and office space, currently idle101,500 square feet on 5.5 acres
Cicero - owned production facilities and office space, currently idle130,700 square feet on 2.8 acres
VirginiaOwned production facilities97,500 square feet on 5.0 acres
Leased office space6,000 square feet

The Company's principal executive offices, which occupy approximately 23,400 square feet of space in Niles, Illinois, are owned by the Company. This property is currently held for sale. In anticipation of this sale, the Company signed a lease in September 2015 for new office space currently under construction. The Company anticipates that it will begin occupying the new headquarters in the second quarter of 2016. The Company believes its properties and equipment are well maintained and in good operating condition and that production capacities will be adequate for present and currently anticipated needs.

The Company has several significant operating lease agreements as follows:

Nine acres of land in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leased through 2030.

Land for production facilities in the United Arab Emirates, ("U.A.E.") of approximately 80,200 square feet is leased until June 30, 2030. Office space and land for production facilities of approximately 21,500 square feet in the U.A.E. is leased until July 2032.

For further information, see Note 87 - Lease information, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

Item 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - As of January 31, 2019, the Company had no material pending litigation.

Item 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES - Not applicable.

10


Item 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - The Company had no material pending litigation.

Item 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES - Not applicable.



PART II

Item 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 2015 and 2014 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


The Company's Common Stockcommon stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "MFRI""PPIH"The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low Common Stock sale prices as reported by the Nasdaq Global Market for 2015 and 2014.
 High
Low
Fiscal 2015  
Fourth Quarter$6.88$5.17
Third Quarter5.68
4.52
Second Quarter6.40
5.56
First Quarter6.83
5.60
Fiscal 2014  
Fourth Quarter9.03
5.46
Third Quarter13.40
8.62
Second Quarter12.57
9.62
First Quarter16.80
9.19

As of April 1, 2016,3, 2019, there were 69approximately 60 stockholders of record and other additional stockholders for whom securities firms acted as nominees.


On February 5, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program, which authorizes the Company to use up to $2 million for the purchase of its outstanding shares of common stock. Share repurchases were permitted to be executed through open market or privately negotiated transactions on or prior to December 31, 2015. There were no stock repurchases in the fourth quarter.

The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases by the Company of its shares of common stock during 2015:

PeriodTotal number of shares purchasedAverage price paid per shareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or ProgramsMaximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares (or units) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
February28,066
6.64
28,066
1,813,632
March16,500
6.27
16,500
1,710,342
April - December



Total44,566
6.50
44,566
 

The Company has never declared or paid a cash dividend and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends on its Common Stockcommon stock in the foreseeable future. Management presently intends to retain all available funds for the development of the Company's business and for use as working capital. Future dividend policy will depend upon the Company's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other relevant factors. For further information, see "Financing" in Item 7 and Note 6 - Debt, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.




Statements.

The Company has not made any sale of unregistered securities during the preceding three years.


The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common SharesCompany's common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004, (212) 509-4000.Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., P.O. Box 1342 Brentwood, NY 11717, (877) 830-4936 or (720) 378-5591.

11


Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information regarding the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Company's equity compensation plans and the weighted average exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under those plans as of January 31, 2016.
 Number of shares to be issued upon exercise of  outstanding options, warrants and rightsWeighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rightsNumber of shares remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding shares reflected in column (a))
Plan Category(a)(1)(b)(1)(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders719,650$11.38205,576

(1) The amounts shown in columns (a) and (b) of the above table do not include 77,293 outstanding deferred stock units granted under the Company's Deferred Stock Purchase Plan and the 2013 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as amended June 14, 2013 ("Omnibus Plan").


ITEM

Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - Not applicable.


Item 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The

Item 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Certain statements contained under the caption MD&A and other information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K,Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A"), which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "continue," "remains," "intend," "aim," "should," "prospects," "could," "future," "potential," "believes," "plans," "likely""likely," and "probable""probable," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, those under the headingheadings Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information and Item 1A. Risk Factors.




CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
    

 January 31,
($ in thousands)
20162015
Backlog$47,937$30,715

As of January 31, 2016, MFRI, Inc.

The Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in one reportable segment: Piping Systems. As described below, prior to January 29, 2016,The Company's website is www.permapipe.com. Since the Company was also engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in the Filtration Products segment. Since Piping Systems isCompany's revenues are based on large discrete projects, the Company's operating results in any reporting period could be negatively impacted in the future as a result of large variations in the level of overall market demand or delays in both geographies and reporting periods.


the timing of the specific project phases. 

The analysis presented below and discussed in more detail throughout the MD&A was organized to provide instructive information for understanding the business going forward.Company's business. However, this discussionMD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report,Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the notes thereto and the risk factors contained herein. An overview

Consolidated Results of the segment results is provided in Note 1 - Business and segment information, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Operation:

          

% Favorable

 

($ in thousands)

 

2018

  

2017

  

(Unfavorable)

 

Net sales

 $128,965  $105,248   22.5%
             

Gross profit

  23,339   11,742   98.8%

Percentage of net sales

  18.1%  11.2%    
             

General and administrative expenses

  15,357   16,214   5.3%

Percentage of net sales

  11.9%  15.4%    
             

Selling expense

  5,239   5,040   (3.9%)

Percentage of net sales

  4.1%  4.8%    
             

Interest expense, net

  1,122   697   (61.0%)
             
Income/(loss) from operations before income taxes  1,621   (10,209)  N/A 

12



Two customers accounted for 46.4% of accounts receivable at January 31, 2016, and one customer accounted for 37.4% of accounts receivable at January 31, 2015. As of April 1, 2016, these customers have paid 40.4% of their receivables outstanding at January 31, 2016.

In January 2016, the Company took a series of actions designed to refocus its business portfolio and cost structure to enhance the Company’s overall performance, including selling its filtration products business in Denmark and Illinois and intend to sell the domestic fabric filter business in Virginia. These businesses were previously reported as Filtration Products. These businesses are reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements, and the notes to consolidated financial statements have been restated to conform to the current year reporting of this business. The prior year financial statements have been revised to conform to the current year reporting. The Company sold its Illinois and international filtration businesses for $22.0 million, including cash proceeds of $18.4 million, of which $1.9 million is held in escrow until July 2017. Loss from discontinued operation net of tax was $6.0 million and $4.4 million for January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. For further information, see Note 4 - Discontinued operations, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



2015

2018 Compared to 2014

Piping Systems
($ in thousands)2015
2014
% Increase (Decrease)
Net sales$122,696$126,923(3.3)%
    
Gross profit26,74130,774(13.1)%
Percentage of net sales22%24% 
    
General and administrative expenses11,211
12,309
(8.9)%
Percentage of net sales9.1%9.7% 
    
Selling expense4,994
5,725
(12.8)%
Percentage of net sales4.1%4.5% 
    
Income from operations10,53712,740(17.3)%
Percentage of net sales8.6%10.0% 
    
Income from joint venture602
1,960
(69.3)%

2017

Net sales:

Net sales were $122.7$129.0 million in 20152018, a decreasean increase of 3%22.5% from $126.9$105.2 million in 20142017. This $4.2 million decrease compared to the prior year was due to lower volumeHigher revenues were driven by increased oil prices, favorable product mix and better sales and project execution, which resulted in domestic oil and gas projects and lower volume in Saudi Arabia due to a slower pace of new projects based on the deterioration of the price of oil.


Gross profit decreased 13% to $26.7 million in 2015 from $30.8 million in 2014 due to lower volume. Gross margin decreased to 22% of net sales from 24% of netincreased sales in the prior year. Middle East, U.S. and Canadian markets. We also experienced higher demand for leak detection products.

Cost of sales and gross profit:

Gross profit decreased dueincreased to the lower volume. An excess inventory reserve adjustment$23.3 million in 2018, an increase of $0.498.8% from 11.7 million was recorded at January 31, 2016 duein 2017. This increase is attributed to market condition changes.


higher volumes, improved pricing and manufacturing efficiencies.  

General and administrative expenses:

General and administrative expenses decreased to were $11.2 million in 2015 from $12.315.4 million in 2014 due2018 compared to lower management incentive compensation expense resulting from lower earnings in the period. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 9.1% in 2015 from 9.7% in the prior year.


Selling expenses decreased to $5.0 million from $5.7$16.2 million in the prior year due to reduced staffing and commission expenses due to lower sales. As a percentage2017, an improvement of net sales, selling expenses decreased to 4.1%$0.9 million or 5.3%.

Excluding one-time charges in 2015 from 4.5% in the prior year.


Income from the joint venture in 2015 was $0.6 million, a decrease of $1.4 million over prior year, driven by reduced sales volume.

Corporate

Corporate expenses include interest expense andboth periods, annually recurring general and administrative expenses that are not allocatedwere flat year over year at approximately $15.0 million.  The one-time charges include $1.2 million in 2017 for internal control review fees incurred in the Middle East region and $0.4 million in 2018 primarily related to the segment. General and administrative expenses increased 11% to $7.7 million in 2015 from $6.9 million in 2014. As a percentageretirement cost of sales,our prior CFO. 

Selling expenses:

Selling expenses increased to 6.2%$5.2 million from 5.4%$5.0 million. This increase is due to commission expense related to increased sales. 

Interest expense:

Interest expense increased to $1.1 million in 2018 from $0.7 million in 2017 due to higher borrowings and increased interest rates. 

Operating results from operations before income taxes:

Operating results from operations before income taxes improved to income of $1.6 million in 2018 compared to a loss of $10.2 million in 2017. The spending rosepositive contributing factors were due to an increase in stock compensation expenseincreased volumes from all geographic served markets, improved pricing and professional service expenses. The prior year included a stock compensation benefit that relatedmanufacturing efficiencies, and lower selling and general administration costs due to the cancellationone-time charge in 2017. 

Accounts receivable:

In 2013, the Company started a project in the Middle East as a sub-contractor, with billings in the aggregate amount of stock options from former employeesapproximately $41.9 million. The Company completed all of discontinued operations. The increaseits deliverables in general2015, and administrative expenses was alsohas since then collected approximately $37.5 million, with a remaining balance due in the amount of $4.4 million. Included in this balance is an amount of $3.7 million, which pertains to retention clauses within the agreements of our customer (contractor), and which become payable by the customer when this project is fully tested and commissioned. In the absence of a firm date for the final commissioning of the project, and due to temporary staffing costs partially offset by lower management incentive compensation expense and lower deferred compensation expense.


Interest expense decreased to the long-term nature of this receivable, $1.03.5 million in 2015 from $1.0 million in 2014 due of this retention amount was reclassed to a reductionlong-term receivable account.

The Company has been engaged in interest ratesongoing active efforts to collect the outstanding amount, and lower borrowing volumehas collected $0.7 million during fiscal year 2018, and another $0.3 million subsequent to January 31, 2019. The Company has also received an updated acknowledgment of the outstanding balances and assurances of payment from the customer. As a result, the Company did not reserve any allowance against this amount as of January 31, 2019. However, if the Company’s efforts to collect on this account are not successful in fiscal 2019, then the domestic revolver relativeCompany may be required to recognize an allowance for all, or substantially all, of any such then uncollected amounts in the prior year.




INCOME TAXES

future.

Income taxes:

The Company's worldwide effective tax rates ("ETR") were 45.7%132.7% and 41.9%2.3% in 20152018 and 2014,2017, respectively. The change in the ETR in 2015 was higher thanfrom the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainlyprior year to the current year is largely due to the impactfact that the Company is in a positive operating income position in certain taxable jurisdictions. Additional factors include the tax benefit of a Canadian business combination which was realized in 2017, and the full valuation allowance maintained against the domestic deferred tax assets andasset. Due to this, even relatively small changes to ordinary income will have a large impact to the recognitionETR. The income tax expense in 2018 is $2.2 million, compared to income tax benefit of foreign earnings resulting from$0.2 million in 2017. The Company accrues taxes in various countries where they are generating income while applying a valuation allowance in the dispositions of certain foreign operations.U.S. which attributes to the unusually large ETR. The Company remains in an NOLa net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward position.


During

The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act") was enacted on December 22, 2017 and introduced significant changes to U.S. income tax law. Effective in 2018, the fourth quarter of 2015,Tax Act reduced the U.S. statutory tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, and created new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings and certain related-party payments, which are referred to as the global intangible low-taxed income tax and the base erosion anti-abuse tax, respectively. Since the Company sold its foreign filtration operations, the gain from which was taxable in the U.S. As such,is a fiscal taxpayer, the Company no longer considerswas subject to a blended federal rate of 33.83% as of January 31, 2018. In addition, in 2017 the Company was subject to the one-time transition tax on accumulated foreign subsidiary earnings not previously subject to U.S. income tax. The Company is subject to a current and deferred federal tax rate of 21% as of January 31, 2019.

Due to the timing of the remaining Denmark subsidiary permanently reinvested. Therefore,enactment and the complexity involved in applying the provisions of the Tax Act, the Company has made reasonable estimates of the effects and recorded provisional amounts in its financial statements as of January 31, 2018, as permitted by SAB 118. The accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act was completed as of January 31, 2019, and the Company recorded a deferred tax liabilityexpense of $0.2less than $0.1 million related to the U.S. federal and state income taxes on approximately $0.7 million of undistributed earnings.  The Company has not provided Federal tax on remaining unremitted earnings of its Middle East subsidiaries.  The Company does not believe that it will be necessary to repatriate earnings from these subsidiaries.  The Company intends and has the ability to reinvest these earnings for the foreseeable future outside the U.S.  If these amounts were distributed to the U.S., in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company could be subject to additional U.S. income taxes.  Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liabilities on these earnings is not practicable, because such liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing if and when remittance occurs.


During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company concluded that not all of the undistributed earnings of Perma-Pipe India Ltd, will remain permanently reinvested outside the U.S. and are available for use in the U.S. or in entities in other foreign countries.  As such, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $0.2 million and $0.9 million for the periods ending January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the U.S. federal and state income taxes and foreign withholding taxes on approximately $2.8 million and $4.2 million of undistributed earnings.  The decrease in deferred tax liability primarily relates to a $2.0 million dividend paid during January 2016 along with a decrease in accumulated earnings and profits. Future earnings related to this subsidiary are not deemed permanently reinvested.  No U.S. cash tax payments will be made upon distribution of these foreign earnings as long as the Company has sufficient tax attributes in the U.S. to reduce the cash tax consequences of potential repatriation.

A reconciliation of the ETR to the U.S. Statutory tax rate is as follows:
 2015
2014
Statutory tax rate34.0 %34.0 %
Repatriation30.2 %21.2 %
Valuation allowance for domestic deferred tax assets29.6 % %
Permanent difference management fee allocation22.8 %27.0 %
Permanent differences other7.9 %(7.5)%
Foreign tax credit(28.0)%(11.0)%
Differences in foreign tax rate(29.9)%(4.1)%
Domestic deferred tax true ups(12.7)% %
Nontaxable income from the Canadian joint venture(7.5)%(9.2)%
Research tax credit(2.0)%(0.4)%
Valuation allowance for state NOLs3.2 %(4.4)%
Valuation allowance for foreign NOLs1.2 %0.5 %
State taxes, net of federal benefit(2.1)%(1.8)%
All other, net expense(1.0)%(2.4)%
Effective income tax rate45.7 %41.9 %

one-time transition tax.

For further information, see Note 98 - Income taxes, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

14



Net income

Other

The Company has made a bid to provide insulation of pipes to the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline ("EACOP") project. The EACOP project is a 1,450 Km (900 mile) long heavy crude oil pipeline from continuing operations was $1.6 millionthe Lake Albert Basin in 2015 comparedUganda to net income from continuing operationsthe Tanga port in Tanzania being developed by French oil company Total E&P, China National Offshore Oil Corporation and London-based Tullow Oil. The pipeline is 24 inches in diameter, and is electrically heat traced. Once completed, it will be the longest insulated and heat traced pipeline in the world. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its bid for this project, and what the final terms of $4.2 million in 2014.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

any such potential engagement will be until the bid is awarded.

Liquidity and capital resources

Cash and cash equivalents as of January 31, 20162019 and 2018 were $16.610.2 million compared to $9.9and $7.1 million, atrespectively. On January 31, 2015. At January 31, 2016, $0.22019, $0.1 million was held in the U.S., and $16.4$10.1 million was held in the foreign subsidiaries. The Company's working capital was $30.3$25.9 million aton January 31, 20162019 compared to $41.0$23.1 million aton January 31, 2015.2018. Of the working capital components, cash increased $4.4 million as a result of utilization of existing inventory in support of increased revenues. Cash provided by operations was $5.0 million in 2018 compared to cash used in operations in 2015 was $2.9 million compared to cash provided by operations of $3.5$1.8 million in 2014.





31, 2019. Net cash provided by investingfinancing activities in 20152018 and 2017 was $13.9 million compared to $5.7 million used in 2014 as a result of the Filtration divestiture. The Company estimates that capital expenditures for 2016 could be $3.1$1.1 million and $3.5 million, respectively. Since the Company may finance capital expenditures through real estate mortgages, term loans, equipmentgenerated cash from operations, the Company required less cash provided from financing loans, internallyactivities. This was primarily due to increased cash generated funds and its revolving line of credit. The majority of such expenditures relates to diversification and expansion of business in the Middle East.

On February 5, 2015, the Board of Directors authorized a $2 million share repurchase program.  Share repurchases were executed through open market or privately negotiated transactions on or prior to December 31, 2015. The Company repurchased 45 thousand shares.from operations. For additional information, see Note 126 - Treasury stock/share repurchase program, Debt, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Debt totaled $15.5 million at January 31, 2016. Net cash used in financing activities was $3.0 million in 2015 compared to $0.5 million in 2014. The domestic revolver decreased $6.1 million mainly due to sales proceeds from the domestic sale of the Filtration business. The Denmark debt of $2.2 million was deducted from the sale price and paid at closing. The revolvers in the Middle East increased $5.4 million for their working capital needs. For additional information, see Note 7 - Debt, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements. Other long-term liabilities of $0.2$0.7 million were composed primarily of Uncertain Tax Position liability and deferred revenue.rent.

15



The following table summarizes the Company's estimated contractual obligations at on January 31, 2016.

($ in thousands) Year Ending January 31, 
Contractual obligationsTotal
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Thereafter
Revolving line domestic (1)$5,237
$5,237

$—

$—

$—

$—

$—
Mortgages (2)1,822
162
162
162
162
162
1,012
Revolving line foreign (3)8,348
8,348





Term loans (2)261
175
86




Subtotal15,668
13,922
248
162
162
162
1,012
Capitalized lease obligations1,453
1,386
67




Operating lease obligations (4)17,666
1,944
1,640
1,378
1,311
1,327
10,066
Projected pension contributions (5)3,590
326
349
348
363
363
1,841
Deferred compensation (6)6,167
6,167





Employment agreements (7)101





101
Contractual obligations of discontinued operations (8)3,439
3,439





Uncertain tax position obligations (9)140





140
Total$48,224$27,184$2,304$1,888$1,836$1,852$13,160

2019.

($ in thousands)

 

Year Ending January 31,

Contractual obligations

 

Total

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

Thereafter

Revolving line North America (1)

 $8,890  $8,890  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 

Mortgages (2)

  11,432   751   737   721   706   692   7,825 

Revolving line foreign (3)

  89   89   -   -   -   -   - 

Subtotal

  20,411   9,730   737   721   706   692   7,825 

Capitalized lease obligations

  585   241   240   83   21   -   - 

Operating lease obligations (4)

  19,944   2,516   2,193   2,149   2,110   1,979   8,997 

Employment agreements (5)

  2,194   157   -   -   -   -   2,037 
Contractual obligations of discontinued operations (6)  137   137   -   -   -   -   - 

Uncertain tax position obligations (7)

  298   -   -   -   -   -   298 

Total

 $43,569  $12,781  $3,170  $2,953  $2,837  $2,671  $19,157 

Notes to contractual obligations table

table:

(1)

(1)

Interest obligations exclude floating rate interest on debt payable under the domesticNorth American revolving line of credit. Based on the amount of such debt at on January 31, 2016,2019, and the weighted average interest rate of 4.19%6.43% on that debt, such interest was being incurred at an annual rate of approximately $0.1 million.

$0.7 million.

(2)

(2)

Scheduled maturities, including interest.

(3)

(3)

Scheduled maturities of foreign revolver line, including interest.

(4)

(4)

Minimum contractual amounts, assuming no changes in variable expenses.

(5)

(5)Includes estimated future benefit payments.

Refer to the Exhibit Index for a description of compensation and separation plans.

(6)

Included payments for other liabilities included in discontinued operations.

(6)

(7)

Non-qualified deferred compensation plan - The Company had a Supplemental Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan ("Supplemental Plan"), under which key employees deferred compensation. The Supplemental Plan was terminated on April 10, 2014.

Refer to Note 98 - Retirement plans, Income taxes, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(7)Refer to the proxy statement for a description of compensation plans for Named Executive Officers.the uncertain tax position obligations.

(8) Included payments for other liabilities

Financing

Revolving line North AmericaOn September 20, 2018, the Company and mortgages for properties held for sale.

(9) Refer to Note 8 - Income taxes, incertain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (collectively, together with the Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsCompany, the “North American Loan Parties”) entered into a new Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender (“PNC”), providing for a description ofnew three-year $18 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility replaced the uncertain tax position obligations.

Financing

OnCompany’s then existing $15 million Credit and Security Agreement, dated September 24, 2014, among various subsidiaries of the Company entered intoand Bank of Montreal, as successor by assignment to BMO Harris Bank N.A., as amended (the “Prior Credit Agreement”). 

The Company initially used borrowings under the new Senior Credit Facility to pay off outstanding amounts under the Prior Credit Agreement (which totaled approximately USD $3,773,823 plus CAD 4,794,528) and cash collateralize a letter of credit (USD $154,500). The Company has used proceeds from the new Senior Credit Facility for on-going working capital needs, and security agreementexpects to continue using this facility to fund future capital expenditures, working capital needs, and other corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to an alternate base rate or London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on average quarterly undrawn availability with respect to the Senior Credit Facility. Interest on alternate base rate borrowings are generally payable monthly in arrears and interest on LIBOR borrowings are generally be payable in arrears on the last day of each interest period. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a financial institution (as amended, "Credit Agreement"). Under0.375% per annum facility fee on the termsunused portion of the Senior Credit Agreement, which maturesFacility. The facility fee is payable quarterly in arrears. 

Subject to certain exceptions, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of its North American subsidiaries. The North American Loan Parties’ obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are guaranteed by Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on September 24,20, 2021. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the North American Loan Parties’ ability to create liens, merge or consolidate, consummate acquisitions, make investments, dispose of assets, incur debt, and pay dividends and other distributions. In addition, the North American Loan Parties cannot allow capital expenditures to exceed $3 million annually (plus a limited carryover of unused amounts). 

The Senior Credit Facility also contains financial covenants requiring (i) the North America Loan Parties to achieve consolidated net income (excluding the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain other adjustments (“EBITDA”) of at least $1,807,000 for the period from August 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018; (ii) the North America Loan Parties to achieve EBITDA of at least $2,462,000 for the period from August 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019; (iii) the North America Loan Parties to achieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and interest payments on the advances under the Senior Credit Facility (excluding from the calculation items related to the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) to be not less than 1.10 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending April 30, 2019 and for the quarter ending July 31, 2019 and each quarter end thereafter on a trailing four-quarter basis; and (iv) the Company can borrow upand its subsidiaries (including the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to $25.0 million, subjectthe Credit Agreement) to borrowing baseachieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and other requirements,interest payments on the advances under a revolving linethe Senior Credit Facility of credit. The Credit Agreement covenants restrict debt, liens, and certain investments, and require attainment of specific levels of profitability and cash flows when reaching certain levels of availability. Interest rates are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a base rate, if below certain availability limits; or (b) a margin in effect plus the Eurodollar ratenot less than 1.10 to 1.00 for the corresponding interest period. Atnine-month period ending October 31, 2018 and for the quarter ending January 31, 2016, the2019 and each quarter end thereafter on a trailing four-quarter basis. The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement. The domestic revolving line balancethis requirement as of January 31, 2015 and January 31, 2016 was included as a current liability on the consolidated balance sheets.2019.

16




At January 31, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement. The domestic revolving line balance asTable of January 31, 2016 has been classified as a current liability in the accompanying financial statements.Contents

As of January 31, 2016, the Company had borrowed $5.2 million at 3.25% and 1.5% and had $8.3 million available to it under the revolving line of credit. In addition, $0.3 million of availability was used under the Credit Agreement primarily to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases. Cash required for operations is provided by draw-downs on the line of credit.

On February 29, 2016, the Company reduced the amount that can be borrowed under the Credit Agreement to $15.0 million.

Revolving lines foreignThe Company also has credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries. These credit arrangements are in the form of overdraft facilities and project financing at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. The lines are secured by certain equipment, certain assets (such as accounts receivable and inventory), and a guarantee by the Company. Some credit arrangement covenants requiresrequire a minimum tangible net worth to be maintained. At maintained, including maintaining certain levels of intercompany subordinated debt. In addition, some of the revolving credit facilities restrict payment of dividends. On January 31, 2016,2019, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under the credit arrangement. Interestarrangements. On January 31, 2019, interest rates are 4.0% per annum below National Bank of Fujairah Base Rate, minimumwere based on the EIBOR plus 3.5% per annum, and Emirates Inter Bank Offered Rate (EIBOR) plus 3.50%with a minimum interest rate of 4.5% per annum. TheOn January 31, 2019, the Company's interest rates rangeranged from 3.5%6.15% to 6.0%. At January 31, 20166.51%, with a weighted average rate of 6.51%, and the Company cancould borrow $43.8$9.1 million under these credit arrangements. The Company borrowed $8.1 million and had $28.7 million available under these credit arrangements as ofOn January 31, 2016. In addition, $7.02019, $7.9 million of availability was used to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases. For further information, see Note 7 - Debt, purchases and for performance guarantees. On January 31, 2019, the Company had borrowed $0.1 million, and had an additional $1.1 million available. The foreign revolving lines balances as of January 31, 2019 and 2018, were included as current maturities of long-term debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES

Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries renew on an annual basis. 

Critical accounting estimates and policies

The Company's significant accounting policies are discussed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The application of certain of these policies requires significant judgments or a historical based estimation process that can affect the results of operations and financial position of the Company as well as the related footnote disclosures. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that it believes are reasonable. If actual amounts ultimately differ from previous estimates, the revisions are included in the Company's results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known.


Revenue recognition. TheDuring 2018, and in accordance with Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-19, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”), the Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. See Note 5 - Revenue Recognition for more detail. During 2017, the Company recognized revenues, including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, when all the following criteria arewere met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists,existed, (ii) delivery hashad occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the seller's price to the buyer iswas fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability iswas reasonably assured. All subsidiaries

Percentage of completion revenue recognition. All divisions recognize revenues under the above stated revenue recognition policy except for domestic complex contracts that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. Under this approach, income is recognized in each reporting period based on the status of the uncompleted contracts and the current estimates of costs to complete. The choice of accounting method is made at the time the contract is received based on the expected length and complexity of the project. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due to the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated.

17


Percentage of completion revenue recognition. All divisions recognize revenues under the above stated revenue recognition policy except for domestic complex contracts that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. Under this approach, income is recognized in each reporting period based on the status of the uncompleted contracts and the current estimates of costs to complete. The choice of accounting method is made at the time the contract is received based on the expected length and complexity of the project. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due to the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated.



Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories.


Income taxes. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences arising from differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes on temporary differences have been recorded at the current tax rate. The Company assesses its deferred tax assets for realizability at each reporting period.


The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largesta significant benefit that has a greater than 50 percent50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.


Equity-based compensation. Stock compensation expense for employee equity awards is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of the award. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is utilized to estimate the fair value of option awards. Determining the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes model requires judgment, including estimates for (1) risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the yield of zero-coupon treasury securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; (2) expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of the Company's Common Stock; and (3) expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations.


judgment.

Fair value of financial instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are based upon reasonable estimates of their fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the cash surrender value of life insurance policies approximated fair value and was based on the market value of the underlying investments, which may increase or decrease due to fluctuations in the overall financial markets. The carrying amount of the Company's short-term debt, revolving line of credit and long-term debt approximate fair value because the majority of the amounts outstanding accrue interest at variable rates.


New accounting pronouncements. See Recent accounting pronouncements in Note 2 - Significant accounting policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Statements.

Item 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK - Not applicable.


Item 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Item 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The consolidated financial statements of the Company for each of the two years in the periods ended as of January 31, 20162019 and 20152018 and the notes thereto are set forth as an exhibit hereto.




Item 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE - None.

Item 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Item 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of January 31, 2016.2019. Based on that evaluation,upon the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company'sCompany’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of January 31, 2016and operating to ensureprovide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that are filedthe Company files or submittedsubmits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC'sSEC’s rules and forms, and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to the issuer'sCompany’s management, including the principal executiveits Chief Executive Officer and financial officers,Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. This determination was based onThe Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have further concluded that the matters discussed below under Management'sfinancial statements included in this Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.


Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. As required by Rule 13a-15(c) under the Exchange Act, MFRI'sthe Company's management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the last fiscal year. The framework on which such evaluation was based is contained in the report entitled "InternalInternal Control-Integrated Framework"Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the "COSO 2013 Framework").


Commission.

The Company's system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


Based on its assessment,this evaluation, the Company’s management has concluded that the Company has not maintained effectiveCompany’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 31, 2016, based on criteria2019.

As previously reported, Management previously identified a material weakness in the COSO 2013 Framework.


A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

The Company's processes, procedures and controls related to management’s period end review over certain calculations and estimates did not operate effectively. Management discovered that it did not properly perform all of the required calculations to determine whether a current report on Form 8-K for a planned acquisition agreement would be required. Although the requisite calculations were subsequently made, such calculation were not performed properly as of the January 31, 2016 financial statement date. As such the current report on Form 8-K was not made on a timely basis.

Management also found an error in estimating excess and obsolete inventory reserves. With respect to the excess and obsolete inventory reserve, management identified control deficiencies related to documentation and review. The Company did not appropriately factor in all pertinent information when estimating the excess and obsolete inventory reserve.

These material weaknesses did not result in any material adjustments to the Registrant's financial statements, notes thereto, or other disclosures in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



Change in Internal Controls. Other than the material weaknesses noted above, there has been no change in internal control over financial reporting that occurredresulted from an accounting error identified by the Company during its preparation and review of the lastCompany's financial statements for the fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likelyended July 31, 2017 related to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

Remediation Planthe Company's accounting for Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting: Toequity-based compensation costs. The Company implemented the following changes to address the material weakness, regarding timely filingthe adjustment for equity awards that expired unexercised: 

Expanded the training of employees in financial technical accounting, reporting and disclosure-related positions;
Reinforced the importance of a strong control environment, to emphasize the technical requirements for controls that are designed, implemented and operating effectively and to set the appropriate expectations on internal controls through establishing the related policies and procedures;
Implemented a catalog of key accounting rules. In the review of any major journal entries for non-standard operational accounting matters, this catalog is being used as a checklist to validate that the required accounting treatment is applied and disclosures are made accordingly. Management has used, and will continue to use, this catalog to evaluate whether the accounting treatment follows the current report on Form 8-K,rules in the catalog, and will then decide whether outside firm expertise is warranted in such a review;
Has validated and updated the catalog quarterly for any changes resulting from changed or newly pronounced accounting rules, and will continue to do so;

Reviewed the categories that are underlying the calculations related to stock-based compensation, and has revised procedures for the calculation and review of effects from vested, forfeited and expired options; and

Implemented a robust and comprehensive equity compensation management and reporting software in the second quarter of 2018.

The Company has adopted revised policies to ensure that management’s review process over complex estimates and calculations properly factors in all relevant assumptions and required inputs and include inputs from outside advisors as appropriate.


To addressconsidered the material weakness regarding excess and obsolete inventory reserves, we have also implemented certain remedial measures. The Company will ensure excess and obsolete inventory reserve calculations and qualitative assessments are reviewed by appropriate operations management as well as the Chief Financial Officer on a quarterly basis. The excess and obsolete inventory reserve methodology will now be calculated using the demand, the age of the inventory and specific identification determined based on extended value of excess inventory.

Management will monitor the remediation progress of this material weakness against the revised policies that have been implemented.

We anticipate the actions described above and resulting improvements in controls will strengthen the Company's processes, procedures and controls related to review over certain calculations and estimates, and will address the related material weakness that we identifiedinternal control fully remediated as of JanuaryOctober 31, 2016. However, the material weaknesses cannot be remediated fully until the remediation processes have been in operation for a period of time and successfully tested.

2018.

Item 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION - None.

Item 9B.OTHER INFORMATION - None.

PART III

Item 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE


Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 20162019 annual meeting of stockholders.


Information with respect to executive officers of the Company is included in Part I, Item 1, hereof under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant".


Item 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 20162019 annual meeting of stockholders.


Item 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information regarding the number of shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Company's equity compensation plans and the weighted average exercise price and number of shares of common stock remaining available for issuance under those plans as of January 31, 2019.

  

Number of shares to be

issued upon exercise

of outstanding options,

warrants and rights

  

Weighted-average exercise

price of outstanding options,

warrants and rights

  

Number of shares remaining

available for future grants

under equity compensation

plans (excluding shares

reflected in column (a))

 

Plan Category

 

(a)(1)

  

(b)(1)

  

(c)(2)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

  217,875   $8.60   337,599 

(1) The amounts shown in columns (a) and (b) of the above table do not include 283,285 outstanding restricted stock granted under the Company's 2013 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as amended June 14, 2013 ("2013 Omnibus Plan") or the 2017 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as amended June 13, 2017 ("2017 Plan").

(2) Future grants will only be made out of the 2017 Plan

The other information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 20162019 annual meeting of stockholders.




Item 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE


Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 20162019 annual meeting of stockholders.

Item 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTING FEES AND SERVICES

Item 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 20162019 annual meeting of stockholders.


PART IV

Item 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES


a.List of documents filed as part of this report:

a.

List of documents filed as part of this report:

(1)

(1)

Financial Statements - Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company

Refer to Part II, Item 8 of this report.

(2)

Financial Statement Schedules

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

b.

Exhibits: The exhibits, as listed in the Exhibit Index included herein, are submitted as a separate section of this report.

c.

c.

The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted under 15a(2) above.

21


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Shareholders

MFRI

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.




Opinion on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MFRI,Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 31, 20162019 and 2015, and2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended January 31, 2016. Our audits2019, and the related notes and schedule (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the basic consolidated financial statements includedCompany as of January 31, 2019 and 2018, and the financial statement schedule listedresults of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the index appearing under Item 15 (a)(2). period ended January 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for opinion

These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on thesethe Company’s financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. Wemisstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were notwe engaged to perform, an audit of the Company’sits internal control over financial reporting. OurAs part of our audits included considerationwe are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessingstatements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement presentation.statements. 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 MFRI, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended January 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2004.

Chicago, Illinois

April 28, 201616, 2019



MFRI,PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

  

Year ended January 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2019

 

2018

         

Net sales

 $128,965  $105,248 

Cost of sales

  105,626   93,506 

Gross profit

  23,339   11,742 
         

Operating expenses:

        

General and administrative expense

  15,357   16,214 

Selling expense

  5,239   5,040 

Total operating expenses

  20,596   21,254 
         

Income/(loss) from operations

  2,743   (9,512)
         

Interest expense, net

  1,122   697 

Income/(loss) from operations before income taxes

  1,621   (10,209)
         

Income tax expense/(benefit)

  2,150   (233)
         

Net loss

 $(529) $(9,976)
         

Weighted average common shares outstanding

        

Basic and diluted

  7,812   7,680 
         

Loss per share

        

Basic and diluted

 $(0.07) $(1.30)

 Twelve months ended January 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)2016
2015
   
Net sales$122,696$126,923
Cost of sales95,955
96,149
Gross profit26,741
30,774
   
Operating expenses:  
General and administrative expense18,869
19,202
Selling expense4,994
5,725
Total operating expenses23,863
24,927
   
Income from operations2,878
5,847
   
Income from joint venture602
1,960
   
Interest expense, net470
519
Income from continuing operations before income taxes3,010
7,288
   
Income tax expense1,375
3,051
   
Income from continuing operations1,635
4,237
   
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax(6,044)(4,418)
   
Net loss($4,409)($181)
   
Weighted average common shares outstanding  
Basic7,280
7,251
Diluted7,371
7,324
   
Earnings per share from continuing operations  
Basic and diluted$0.22$0.58
Loss per share from discontinued operations  
Basic and diluted($0.83)($0.61)
Loss per share  
Basic and diluted($0.61)($0.02)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note: Earnings per share calculations could be impacted by rounding.



MFRI,PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

  Year ended January 31,

(In thousands)

 

2019

 

2018

         

Net loss

 $(529) $(9,976)
         

Other comprehensive (loss)/income

        

Currency translation adjustments, net of tax

  (1,073)  1,185 

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

  (341)  165 
Realized/unrealized gain/(loss) on marketable security, net of tax     (92)

Other comprehensive (loss)/income

  (1,414)  1,258 
         

Comprehensive loss

 $(1,943) $(8,718)
(In thousands)

 Twelve months ended January 31,
 2016
2015
   
Net loss($4,409)($181)
   
Other comprehensive income (loss)  
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax(481)(1,718)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax822
(1,612)
Unrealized gain on marketable security, net of tax118

Interest rate swap, net of tax91
(40)
Other comprehensive income (loss)550
(3,370)
   
Comprehensive loss($3,859)($3,551)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



MFRI,PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETSSHEET

  

January 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2019

 

2018

ASSETS

        

Current assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $10,156  $7,084 

Restricted cash

  2,581   1,237 

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $536 on January 31, 2019 and $469 on January 31, 2018

  32,508   32,936 

Inventories

  12,289   16,856 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  3,773   2,703 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

  1,653   1,502 

Total current assets

  62,960   62,318 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

  30,398   34,509 

Other assets

        

Deferred tax assets

  458   391 

Goodwill

  2,269   2,423 

Other assets

  6,120   4,943 

Total other assets

  8,847   7,757 

Total assets

 $102,205  $104,584 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

Current liabilities

        

Trade accounts payable

 $12,006  $14,186 

Commissions and management incentives payable

  1,866   787 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  1,544   1,580 

Revolving line North America

  8,890   7,273 

Current maturities of long-term debt

  640   753 

Customers' deposits

  3,708   5,236 

Liabilities of discontinued operations

     137 

Outside commission liability

  1,743   1,800 

Other accrued liabilities

  3,856   4,122 

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

  1,569   1,967 

Income tax payable

  1,266   1,339 

Total current liabilities

  37,088   39,180 

Long-term liabilities

        

Long-term debt, less current maturities

  6,751   7,728 

Deferred compensation liabilities

  3,883   4,098 

Deferred tax liabilities

  1,435   1,242 

Other long-term liabilities

  688   524 

Total long-term liabilities

  12,757   13,592 

Stockholders' equity

        

Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 50,000 shares; 7,854 issued and outstanding January 31, 2019 and 7,717 issued and outstanding January 31, 2018

  79   77 

Additional paid-in capital

  58,793   56,304 

Accumulated deficit retained earnings

  (3,632)  (3,103)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (2,880)  (1,466)

Total stockholders' equity

  52,360   51,812 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $102,205  $104,584 
 January 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)20162015
ASSETS  
Current assets  
Cash and cash equivalents$16,631$9,900
Restricted cash2,324
428
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $33 at January 31, 2016 and $31 at January 31, 201536,090
34,332
Inventories, net15,625
13,685
Assets of discontinued operations15,733
41,476
Assets held for sale3,062
3,378
Cash surrender value on life insurance policies3,049
3,255
Prepaid expenses and other current assets1,744
2,550
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts2,463
700
Income tax receivable327

Total current assets97,048
109,704
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation25,400
24,165
Other assets  
Note receivable from joint venture1,905
3,931
Investment in joint venture9,112
8,514
Other assets4,658
1,760
Total other assets15,675
14,205
Total assets$138,123$148,074
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  
Current liabilities  
Trade accounts payable$11,026$6,933
Commissions and management incentives payable4,169
5,628
Deferred compensation liability6,167
213
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes4,274
4,021
Revolving line domestic5,237
11,353
Current maturities of long-term debt8,769
4,817
Customers' deposits3,690
4,271
Liabilities of discontinued operations15,465
21,379
Liabilities held for sale3,439
3,342
Other accrued liabilities965
1,100
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts1,176
681
Income tax payable2,339
1,688
Total current liabilities66,716
65,426
Long-term liabilities  
Long-term debt, less current maturities1,493
2,355
Deferred compensation liabilities495
6,560
Deferred tax liabilities - long-term160
734
Other long-term liabilities231
199
Total long-term liabilities2,379
9,848
Stockholders' equity  
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 50,000 shares; 7,306 issued and outstanding January 31, 2016 and 7,291 issued and outstanding January 31, 201574
73
Additional paid-in capital53,031
52,655
Treasury Stock 45 shares at January 31, 2016 and none at January 31, 2015(290)
Retained earnings20,193
24,602
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(3,980)(4,530)
Total stockholders' equity69,028
72,800
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$138,123$148,074

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



MFRI,PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

              

Retained Earnings

 

Accumulated

 

Total

  

Common

 

Additional

 

Treasury

 

(Accumulated

 

Other Comp.

 

Stockholders'

(In thousands, except share data)

 

Stock

 

Paid-in Capital

 

Stock

 

Deficit)

 

Income (Loss)

 

Equity

Total stockholders' equity on January 31, 2017

 $76  $55,358  $(170) $6,873  $(2,724) $59,413 
                         

Net loss

              (9,976)      (9,976)

Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares used for tax withholding

  1   (215)  170           (44)

Stock-based compensation expense

      1,161               1,161 

Pension liability adjustment

                  165   165 

Marketable security

                  (142)  (142)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                  1,141   1,141 

Tax expense on above items

                  94   94 

Total stockholders' equity on January 31, 2018

 $77  $56,304  $-  $(3,103) $(1,466) $51,812 
                         

Net loss

              (529)      (529)

Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares used for tax withholding

  2   1,324               1,326 

Stock-based compensation expense

      1,165               1,165 
Pension liability adjustment                  (341)  (341)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                  (1,170)  (1,170)
Tax expense on above items                  97   97 

Total stockholders' equity on January 31, 2019

 $79  $58,793  $-  $(3,632) $(2,880) $52,360 

Common stock shares

 

2018

 

2017

Balance beginning of year

  7,716,542   7,595,509 

Treasury stock released

     26,753 

Shares issued

  137,780   94,280 

Balance end of year

  7,854,322   7,716,542 
($ in thousands, except share data) Additional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsTreasury StockAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Total Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
Total stockholders' equity at January 31, 2014$72$52,144$24,783$0($1,160)$75,839
       
Net loss  (181)  (181)
Stock options exercised
330
   330
Stock-based compensation expense 124
   124
Deferred shares converted to common stock1
57
   58
Interest rate swap    (51)(51)
Pension liability adjustment    (1,611)(1,611)
Foreign currency translation adjustment    (1,632)(1,632)
Tax expense on above items    (76)(76)
Total stockholders' equity at January 31, 2015$73$52,655$24,602$0($4,530)$72,800
       
Net loss  (4,409)  (4,409)
Stock options exercised1
116
   117
Repurchase of common stock   (290) (290)
Stock-based compensation expense 278
   278
Shares issued less shares used for payroll taxes
(18)   (18)
Interest rate swap    119
119
Pension liability adjustment    821
821
Marketable security    118
118
Foreign currency translation adjustment    (486)(486)
Tax expense on above items    (22)(22)
Total stockholders' equity at January 31, 2016$74$53,031$20,193($290)($3,980)$69,028


Common stock shares2015
2014
Balance beginning of year7,290,576
7,168,537
Treasury stock purchased(44,566)
Shares issued59,915
122,039
Balance end of year7,305,925
7,290,576

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



MFRI,PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  Year ended January 31,

(In thousands)

 

2019

 

2018

Operating activities

        

Net loss

 $(529) $(9,976)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows provided by/ (used in) operating activities

        

Depreciation and amortization

  4,575   5,031 

Gain on disposal of subsidiary

     (166)

Deferred tax benefit

  215   (958)

Stock-based compensation expense

  1,165   1,447 

Provision on uncollectible accounts

  71   15 

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

  46   219 

Gain on sale of marketable securities

     (142)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

        

Accounts payable

  (3,576)  4,551 

Accrued compensation and payroll taxes

  1,226   (1,780)

Inventories

  4,360   (3,274)

Customers' deposits

  (1,517)  2,596 

Income taxes receivable and payable

  35   (75)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  (700)  (471)

Accounts receivable

  (354)  (1,076)

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

  (547)  1,455 

Other assets and liabilities

  508   762 

Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities

  4,978   (1,842)

Investing activities

        

Capital expenditures

  (1,361)  (2,532)

Proceeds from sale of marketable securities

     142 

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     1 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (1,361)  (2,389)

Financing activities

        

Proceeds from revolving lines

  64,736   40,485 

Payments of debt on revolving lines

  (62,759)  (37,354)

Debt issuance costs

  (946)   

Payments of other debt

  (350)  (211)

Increase in drafts payable

  192   34 

Proceeds (payments) on capitalized lease obligations

  (250)  546 

Release of treasury stock

     170 

Stock options exercised and taxes paid related to restricted shares vested

  511   (214)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  1,134   3,456 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

  (335)  395 

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

  4,416   (380)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - beginning of period

  8,321   8,701 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period

 $12,737  $8,321 

Supplemental cash flow information

        

Interest paid

 $1,298  $804 

Income taxes paid

  1,731   1,080 

Fixed assets acquired under capital leases

     841 
 Twelve months ended January 31,
($ in thousands)20162015
Operating activities  
Net loss($4,409)($181)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities  
Depreciation and amortization5,929
5,897
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations(8,099)(188)
Impairment expense on discontinued operation6,480

Deferred tax (benefit) expense(249)1,231
Income from joint venture(602)(1,960)
Stock-based compensation expense278
124
Cash surrender value on life insurance policies206
(145)
Provision on uncollectible accounts(59)(80)
Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets101
(17)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities  
Accounts payable5,819
(4,612)
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes299
(3,055)
Inventories4,027
3,250
Customers' deposits(2,400)(28)
Income taxes receivable and payable620
(687)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets1,914
1,000
Accounts receivable(2,809)3,314
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts(1,268)(765)
Notes receivable273
849
Other assets and liabilities(8,948)(449)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities(2,897)3,498
Investing activities  
Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations16,373
109
Capital expenditures(6,457)(5,878)
Payments on loan from joint venture1,890

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment2,059
24
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities13,865
(5,745)
Financing activities  
Proceeds from revolving lines105,636
85,270
Proceeds from debt918
661
Proceeds from borrowing against life insurance policies1,916

Payments of debt on revolving lines(105,378)(83,150)
Payments of other debt(2,544)(3,641)
Payments of borrowing against life insurance policies(1,916)
(Decrease) increase in drafts payable(467)629
Payments on capitalized lease obligations(998)(704)
Repurchase of common stock(290)
Stock options exercised and restricted shares issued98
389
Net cash used in financing activities(3,025)(546)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents(1,212)(702)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents6,731
(3,495)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period9,900
13,395
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
$16,631

$9,900
Supplemental cash flow information  
Interest paid$749$1,288
Income taxes paid970
2,988
Fixed assets acquired under capital leases
680
Funds held in escrow related to the sale of Filtration assets1,905

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



MFRI,PERMA-PIPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED January 31, 20162019 and 2015

2018

(Tabular dollars in thousands, except per share data)


Note 1 - Business and segment information


MFRI,

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. ("MFRI"PPIH", the "Company", or the "Registrant") was incorporated in Delaware on October 12, 1993. As of January 31, 2016, MFRI1993. The Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in one distinct segment: Piping Systems. As described below, prior to January 29, 2016, the Company was also engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in the Filtration Products segment.


Piping.

Fiscal year. The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 20152018 and 20142017 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, respectively.


Nature of business. Piping SystemsThe Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping systems, and leak detection and location systems. This segment's specialtySpecialty piping systems includeinclude: (i) industrialinsulated and jacketed district heating and cooling ("DHC") piping systems for efficient energy distribution from central energy plants to multiple locations, (ii) primary and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants, and (iii) the coating and/or insulation of oil and gas gathering flow and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. Piping Systems'transmission pipelines. The Company's leak detection and location systems are sold with many of its piping systems andor on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property.


Prior to January 29, 2016, the Company had a Filtration Products segment. This business is reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements and the notes to consolidated financial statements have been restated to conform to the current year reporting of this business. For further information, see Note 4 - Discontinued operations, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



Segment information was as follows:
 20152014
Net sales  
Piping Systems$122,696$126,923
Gross profit  
Piping Systems$26,741$30,774
Income (loss) from operations  
Piping Systems$10,537$12,740
Corporate(7,659)(6,893)
Total income from operations$2,878$5,847
   
Segment assets  
Piping Systems$112,161$99,065
Corporate10,2297,533
Total segment assets$122,390$106,598
Capital expenditures  
Piping Systems$4,762$3,953
Corporate289485
Total capital expenditures$5,051$4,438
Depreciation and amortization  
Piping Systems$3,735$3,635
Corporate469552
Total depreciation and amortization$4,204$4,187

Geographic information. Net sales are attributed to a geographic area are based on the destination of the product shipment. Sales to foreign customers was 52%61.0% in 20152018 compared to 50%59.5% in 2014.2017. Long-lived assets are based on the physical location of the assets and consist of property, plant and equipment used in the generation of revenues in the geographic area.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Net sales

        

United States

 $50,319  $42,648 

Canada

  34,789   31,206 

Middle East

  35,117   26,322 

India

  3,755   1,317 

Other

  4,985   3,755 

Total net sales

 $128,965  $105,248 
         

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

        

United States

 $10,279  $11,307 

Canada

  11,862   13,868 

Middle East

  8,103   9,119 

India

  154   215 

Total

 $30,398  $34,509 

 20152014
Net sales  
  United States$58,707$64,063
  Middle East60,74950,430
  Europe73372
  Canada2,5813,248
  India3725,099
  Other Americas723,657
  Other14254
Total net sales$122,696$126,923
   
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation  
  United States$13,822$12,166
  Middle East11,21111,608
  India367391
Total$25,400$24,165



Note 2 - Significant accounting policies


Use of estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Revenue recognition. TheDuring 2018, and in accordance with Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-19, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”), the Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. See Note 5 - Revenue Recognition for more detail. During 2017, the Company recognized revenues, including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, when all the following criteria arewere met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists,existed, (ii) delivery hashad occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the seller's price to the buyer iswas fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability iswas reasonably assured. All subsidiaries of the Company, except as noted below, recognize revenues upon shipment or delivery of goods or services when title and risk of loss pass to customers.


Percentage of completion revenue recognition. All divisions recognize revenues under the above stated revenue recognition policy except for domestic complex contracts that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. Under this approach, income is recognized in each reporting period based on the status of the uncompleted contracts and the current estimates of costs to complete. The choice of accounting method is made at the time the contract is received based on the expected length and complexity of the project. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated.

Percentage of completion revenue recognition. All divisions recognize revenues under the above stated revenue recognition policy except for domestic complex contracts that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. Under this approach, income is recognized in each reporting period based on the status of the uncompleted contracts and the current estimates of costs to complete. The choice of accounting method is made at the time the contract is received based on the expected length and complexity of the project. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due to the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated.

Shipping and handling. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales, and the amounts invoiced to customers relating to shipping and handling are included in net sales.


Sales tax. Sales tax is reported on a net basis in the consolidated financial statements.


Operating cycle. The length of piping systems contracts vary, but are typically less than one year. The Company includes in current assets and liabilities amounts realizable and payable in the normal course of contract completion unless completion of such contracts extends significantly beyond one year.


Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company accounts for the investment in joint venture using the equity method.


Translation of foreign currency. Assets and liabilities of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end. Revenues and expenses are translated at average weighted exchange rates prevailing during the year. Gains or losses on foreign currency transactions and the related tax effects are reflected in net income. The resulting translation adjustments are included in stockholders' equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).


The aggregated foreign exchange transaction loss recognized in the income statement was $0.1 million and $0.7 million for the years 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

Contingencies. The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, including those involving environmental, tax, product liability and general liability claims. The Company accrues for such liabilities when it is probable that future costs will be incurred and such costs can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are based on developments to date, the Company's estimates of the outcomes of these matters, and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling other similar matters. The Company does not currently anticipate the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to these matters will materially affect the Company's financial position, liquidity or future operations.




Cash and cash equivalents. All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents were $16.6$10.2 million and $9.9$7.1 million as of January 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, respectively. At On January 31, 2016, $0.22019, $0.1 million was held in the U.S. and $16.4$10.1 million was held in the foreign subsidiaries. On January 31, 2018, $0.7 million was held in the U.S. and $6.4 million was held in the foreign subsidiaries.

29

Accounts payable included drafts payable of $0.3$0.2 million and $0.6less than $0.1 million as of on January 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, respectively.


Restricted cash. Restricted cash held in the U.S. on January 31, 2019 was $1.5 million, all of which is a cash collateral held by PNC Bank in relation to the new credit agreement. There was no restricted cash held in the U.S. on January 31, 2018. Restricted cash, held by a foreign subsidiary were $2.3subsidiaries, was $1.1 million and $0.4$1.2 million as of January 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, respectively. Restricted cash held by foreign subsidiaries related to fixed deposits that also serve as security deposits and guarantees.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Cash and cash equivalents

 $10,156  $7,084 

Restricted cash

  2,581   1,237 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows

 $12,737  $8,321 

Accounts receivable. The majority of the Company's accounts receivable are due from geographically dispersed contractors and manufacturing companies. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a customer's financial condition, including the availability of credit insurance. In the U.S., collateral is not generally required. In the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia, letters of credit are usually obtained for materialsignificant orders. Accounts receivable are due within various time periods specified in the terms applicable to the specific customer and are stated at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for claims and doubtful accounts. Standard payment terms are net 30 days. The allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated using a percentage of sales method based upon collection history and an estimate of uncollectible accounts.on specifically identified amounts in customers' accounts, where future collectability is deemed uncertain. Management may exercise its judgment in adjusting the provision as a consequence of known items, such as current economic factors and credit trends. Past due trade accounts receivable balances are written off when the Company's collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due. Accounts receivable adjustments aredue and the amount is deemed uncollectible. The write off is recorded against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

One of the Company’s accounts receivable in the total amount of $5.4 million as of January 31, 2018 (inclusive of a retention receivable amount of $3.7 million, of which $3.5 million and 3.2 million were included in the balance of other long-term assets as of January 31, 2019 and January 31, 2018, due to the long-term nature of the receivables) has been outstanding for several years. The Company completed all of its deliverables in 2015, and has been engaged in ongoing active efforts to collect this outstanding amount. During fiscal year 2018, the Company received payments of approximately $0.7 million, which reduced the balance of this receivable to $4.7 million as of January 31, 2019. Subsequent to January 31, 2019, the Company received a further $0.3 million, thus reducing this balance to $4.4 million. As a result, the Company did not reserve any allowance against this receivable as of January 31, 2019. The Company continues to engage with the customer to ensure full payment of open balances, and has also received an updated acknowledgment of the outstanding balances and assurances of payment from the customer. However, if the Company’s efforts to collect on this account are not successful in fiscal 2019, then the Company may recognize an allowance for all, or substantially all, of any such then uncollected amounts. 

On January 31, 2019 and January 31, 2018, no one customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's net sales.

Three customers accounted for 39.4% and 34.9% of accounts receivable on January 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Concentration of credit risk. The Company maintains its U.S. cash in bank deposit accounts at financial institutions that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). Cash balances may exceedare below FDIC limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

The Company has a broad customer base doing business in all regions of the U.S. as well as other areas in the world. At January 31, 2016, one customer accounted for 10.3%

30


Two customers accounted for 46.4% of accounts receivable at January 31, 2016, and and one customer accounted for 37.4% of accounts receivable at January 31, 2015. As of April 1, 2016, these customers have paid 40.4% of their receivables outstanding at January 31, 2016.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss. RepresentsAccumulated other comprehensive loss represents the change in equity from non-owner transactions and consisted of foreign currency translation, minimum pension liability and interest rate swaps.marketable securities.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Equity adjustment foreign currency, gross

 $(1,438) $(268)

Minimum pension liability, gross

  (1,648)  (1,307)

Marketable security, gross

      

Subtotal excluding tax effect

  (3,086)  (1,575)

Tax effect of foreign exchange currency

  91   (6)

Tax effect of minimum pension liability

  115   115 

Tax effect of marketable security

      

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

 $(2,880) $(1,466)
 2015
2014
Equity adjustment foreign currency
($2,208)
($1,722)
Minimum pension liability, gross(2,303)(3,124)
Marketable security, gross1180
Interest rate swap, gross0(119)
Subtotal excluding tax effect(4,393)(4,965)
Tax effect of foreign exchange(69)(74)
Tax effect of minimum pension liability482481
Tax effect of interest rate swap028
Total other comprehensive loss($3,980)($4,530)



Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Raw materials

 $11,962  $17,166 

Work in process

  488   291 

Finished goods

  731   1,024 

Subtotal

  13,181   18,481 

Less allowance

  892   1,625 

Inventories

 $12,289  $16,856 
 20152014
Raw materials$15,291$13,150
Work in process1,168887
Finished goods722715
Subtotal17,18114,752
Less allowances1,5561,067
Inventories, net$15,625$13,685

Long-lived assets. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Interest is capitalized in connection with the construction of facilities and amortized over the asset's estimated useful life. Long-lived assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review indicates impairment, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to an estimated fair value.


Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to 30 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the remaining life of the lease or its useful life, whichever is shorter. Amortization of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization.depreciation. Depreciation expense was approximately $4.2$4.5 million in 20152018 and $4.9 million in 2014.2017.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Land, buildings and improvements

 $22,327  $22,796 

Machinery and equipment

  47,168   47,009 

Furniture, office equipment and computer systems

  4,335   4,504 

Transportation equipment

  3,311   3,490 

Subtotal

  77,141   77,799 

Less accumulated depreciation

  46,743   43,290 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

 $30,398  $34,509 

 20152014
Land, buildings and improvements$14,758$13,704
Machinery and equipment41,53438,509
Furniture, office equipment and computer systems5,6325,945
Transportation equipment4043
Subtotal61,96458,201
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization36,56434,036
Property, plant and equipment, net$25,400$24,165

Impairment of long-lived assets. The Company evaluates long-lived assets (including intangible assets) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. A factor considered important that could trigger an impairment review includes a year-to-date loss from operations. The Company reported income from operations in 2018, compared to losses from operations in 2017. An asset is considered impaired if its carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flow the asset is expected to generate. ThereBased on the Company's review of the projected cash flows over the remaining useful lives of the assets, management had determined that there was no impairment of long-lived assets in continuing operations as of January 31, 2016 and2018. Since there was no triggering event in 2018, management has determined that there was no impairment of long-lived assets as of January 31, 2015.2019.

31

Goodwill.The Company's headquarters' building in Niles, Illinoispurchase price of an acquired company is reportedallocated between intangible assets and the net tangible assets of the acquired business with the residual of the purchase price recorded as held for sale atgoodwill. All identifiable goodwill as of January 31, 2016.2019 and 2018, is attributable to the purchase of Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. ("PPC"). 

      

Foreign exchange

    

(In thousands)

 

January 31, 2018

 

change effect

 

January 31, 2019

Goodwill

 $2,423  $(154) $2,269 

The Company performs an impairment assessment of goodwill annually as of January 31, or more frequently if triggering events occur, based on the estimated fair value of the related reporting unit. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. There arewas no indications of impairment related to this asset.


goodwill during 2018 or 2017.

Other intangible assets with definite lives. The Company owns several patents including those covering features of its piping and electronic leak detection systems. Patents are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed the legal lives of the patents. The Company expenses costs incurred to renew or extend the term of intangible assets. Gross patents were $2.6 million and $2.7$2.6 million as of January 31, 20162019 and 2015, respectively.2018. Accumulated amortization was approximately $2.3$2.5 million and $2.3$2.4 million as of January 31, 20162019 and 2015, respectively.2018. Future amortizationsamortization over the next five years ending January 31 will be $42,900 in 2016, $39,900 in 2017, $30,900 in 2018, $27,900 in 2019, $21,700 in 2020, and $88,207 thereafter.


Investment in joint venture. In October 2009, the Company invested $5.9 million, which consisted of $2.0 million for a 49% interest and $3.9 million for a note receivable, in a Canadian joint venture with The Bayou Companies, Inc., a subsidiary of Aegion Corporation. The joint venture operates in Camrose, Alberta, Canada. During the first six months of 2015, the Company received $1.9less than $0.1 million in principal repayments on the note receivable.



On December 31, 2015, MFRI entered into a purchase agreement with its joint venture partner Aegion Corporationyears 2019 to acquire 100% ownership2023 and less than $0.1 million thereafter. Amortization expense is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of BPPC, which acquisition closed on February 4, 2016. The purchase price was approximately $9.6 million in cash and debt at closing and is subject to certain post-closing adjustments.

The Company accounts for the investment in joint venture using the equity method. The financial results are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 20152014
Share of income from joint venture$602$1,960

The following information summarizes the joint venture financial data:
 20152014
Current assets$8,274$13,820
Noncurrent assets12,28414,023
Current liabilities2,4384,499
Noncurrent liabilities3,9089,013
Equity14,21214,331
Revenue22,22840,397
Gross profit3,4658,451
Income from continuing operations1,9386,397
Net income1,2284,000

7.3 years.

Research and development. Research and development expenses consist of materials, salaries and related expenses of engineering personnel and outside services for product development projects. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense was approximately $1.1$0.2 million and $0.3 million in 20152018 and $1.2 million in 2014.


2017, respectively.

Income taxes. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences arising from differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes on temporary differences have been recorded at the current tax rate. The Company assesses its deferred tax assets and liabilities for realizability at each reporting period.


The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. For further information, see Note 98 - Income taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.Statements.

32

Net loss per common share. Earnings per share ("EPS") areis computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic). The years 2014Company reported net losses in 2018 and 2015 had net losses;2017; therefore, the diluted loss per share was identical to the basic loss per share rather than assuming conversion, exercise, or contingent issuance of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share. The years 2014 and 2015 had earnings from continuing operations. The EPS from continuing are computed by dividing income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic). The dilutive shares are in the following table:

Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

  7,812   7,680 

Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units

      

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming full dilution

  7,812   7,680 
         

Stock options not included in the computation of diluted EPS of common stock because the option exercise prices exceeded the average market prices

  82   139 

Canceled options during the year

  (63)  (131)

Stock options with an exercise price below the average stock price

  136   219 


Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding2015
2014
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding7,280
7,251
Dilutive effect of stock options, deferred stock and restricted stock units91
73
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming full dilution7,371
7,324
   
Weighted average number of stock options not included in the computation of diluted EPS of common stock because the option exercise prices exceeded the average market prices710
261
Canceled options during the year(77)(64)
Stock options with an exercise price below the average stock price10
503

Equity-based compensation. The Company issues various types of stock-based awards to employees and directors: restricted stock, deferred stock and stock options. CompensationNon-cash compensation expense associated with restricted and deferred stock is based on the fair value of the common stock at the date of grant, and amortized using the straight line method over the vesting period. Compensation expense associated with deferred stock which is awarded to the Board of Directors (non-employee) is based upon the fair value of the common stock at the date of grant, and since the grant vests immediately it is expensed on the date of the grant. Stockcompensation expense for stock options is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of the award. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is utilized to estimate the fair value of option awards. Determining

Segments. Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the fair valuechief operating decision maker ("CODM") in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is the CODM, and he uses a combination of stock options using the Black-Scholes model requires judgment,several management reports, including estimates for (1) risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the yield of zero-coupon treasury securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; (2) expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of the Company's common stock;financial information in determining how to allocate resources and (3) expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations.


assess performance. The Company has determined that it operates in one segment.

Fair value of financial instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are reasonable estimates of their fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying amount of the Company's short-term debt, revolving line of credit and long-term debt approximate fair value because the majority of the amounts outstanding accrue interest at variable rates.


The Company holds a marketable equity security of approximately $0.1 million at January 31, 2016, which it classifies as available-for-sale and recorded in other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. This security is carried at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses reflected in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The assessment for impairment of marketable equity securities as available-for sale is based on established financial methodologies, including quoted market prices for publicly traded securities. If the Company determines that a loss in the value of the investment is other than temporary, any such losses are recorded in other expense (income), net.

Reclassifications. Reclassifications were made to prior-year financial statements to conform to the current-year presentations.

rates.

Recent accounting pronouncements. In 2016,March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"(“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that changes the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The primary change under the new guidance related accountingis that only the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost should be included in operating income and is eligible for equity investments, financial liabilities undercapitalization as an asset. The other components of net periodic benefit cost, such as interest cost, the fair value option,expected return on assets, amortization of actuarial gains and the presentationlosses and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. In addition, the FASB clarifiedprior service cost, should be presented below operating income. The guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities. The new standard is effective for fiscal years,the Company starting February 1, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017.was applied retrospectively to the presentation of net periodic benefit cost, and recorded in miscellaneous income and expense in 2017 and 2018. Since the plans have not incurred any service costs, there has been no need to capitalize any costs. The Company is evaluating theadoption of this guidance did not have a material impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on the consolidatedCompany's results of operations or financial statements.position.

33

In October 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance requiring the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs rather than when transferred to a third party as required under the current guidance. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning February 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU requires entities to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases on their balance sheets. It also requires additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted.  The Company will adopt the ASU effective February 1, 2019 using the alternative transition approach - a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings at that date, which is currently evaluatingexpected to be zero. The Company will avail itself of the effect that this standard will have onpractical expedients provided under the consolidated financial statementsASU and related disclosures.




its subsequent amendments regarding identification of leases, lease classification, indirect costs, and the combination of lease and non-lease components. The Company expects to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability of approximately $10.0 million to $11.0 million at adoption. 

In November 2015, theMay 2014, FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The ASU requires entities to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position.No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("Topic 606")", with several clarifying updates issued during 2016. This ASU iswas effective for fiscal yearsthe Company beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period.February 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance by the CompanyASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidatedresults of operations or financial statements.


In 2015, the FASB issued new guidance relatedposition. Refer to business combinations. The new guidance requires that adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination be recorded in the period such adjustments are determined, rather than retrospectively adjusting previously reported amounts. The new standard is effectiveNote 5 - Revenue recognition - for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact, if any, of adopting this new accounting guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to simplify the balance sheet presentation of debt issuance costs. Under the new guidance, debt issuance costs will be presented as a reduction of the carrying amount of the debt liability. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning February 1, 2016 and will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. As of January 31, 2016, the Company had $0.2 million of deferred debt issuance costs. The Company does not expect adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("FASB"), issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) - Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 provides guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This new standard provides for a single comprehensive model and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry specific guidance, and provides for enhanced disclosure requirements. The objective of the new guidance is to improve the consistency, comparability and usefulness to users of financial statements. On April 1, 2015, FASB decided to defer the effective date of the new revenue standard by one year. As a result, public entities would apply the new revenue standard for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2014-09 provides for two implementation methods (1) full retrospective application to each prior period or (2) modified retrospective application with the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption. Early application is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the financial statement impacts of the guidance in this ASU and determining which transition method will be utilized.

more detail.

The Company evaluated other recent accounting pronouncements and does not expect them to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.


Note 3 - Correction of immaterial errors. In the fourth quarter of 2015, management discovered prior period inventory errors relating to excess and obsolete inventory. The cumulative adjustment for the inventory errors covering the period from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2015 was approximately $0.9 million. The adjustment applicable to the fourth quarter of 2013 was approximately $1.0 million, no adjustment to the first three quarters of 2013. The $0.1 million adjustment was applicable to the fourth quarter of 2014, and no adjustment was applicable to the first three quarters of 2015.

Pursuant to the guidance of Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 99, Materiality, the Company concluded that the errors were not material to any of its prior period financial statements. Although the errors were immaterial to prior


periods, the prior period financial statements were revised, in accordance with SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, due to the significance of the out-of-period correction.

A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported balance sheet at January 31, 2015 follows:
 As ReportedAdjustmentAs Adjusted
Inventories, net$14,613($928)$13,685
Prepaid expenses and other current assets2,345
205
2,550
Total current assets110,427
(723)109,704
Total assets148,797
(723)148,074
Retained earnings25,325
(723)24,602
Total stockholders' equity73,523
(723)72,800
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity148,797
(723)148,074

A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of operations for the year
ending January 31, 2015 follows:
 As ReportedAdjustmentAs Adjusted
Cost of sales$96,247($98)$96,149
Gross profit30,676
98
30,774
General and administrative expense19,179
23
19,202
Total operating expenses24,904
23
24,927
Income from operations5,772
75
5,847
Income from continuing operations before income taxes7,213
75
7,288
Income from continuing operations4,162
75
4,237
Net loss(256)75
(181)

A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of cash flows for the year ending January 31, 2015 follows:
 As ReportedAdjustmentAs Adjusted
Net loss($256)$75($181)
Inventories, net3,348
(98)3,250
Prepaid expenses and other current assets977
23
1,000

A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of stockholders' equity for the year ending January 31, 2015 follows:
 As ReportedAdjustmentAs Adjusted
Net loss($256)$75($181)
Retained earnings25,325
(723)24,602
Total comprehensive loss(3,626)75
(3,551)



A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of stockholders' equity for the year ending January 31, 2014 follows:
 As ReportedAdjustmentAs Adjusted
Retained earnings$25,580($797)$24,783
Stockholders' Equity76,636
(797)75,839

Note 43 - Discontinued operations


On January 29,

The Company had a Filtration Products segment, which was sold in fiscal 2016, the Company sold certain assets and liabilities of its TDC Filter business based in Bolingbrook, Illinois to the Industrial Air division of CLARCOR, a NYSE-listed company based in Franklin, Tennesse. On January 29, 2016, the Company also sold its Nordic Air Filtration, Denmark and Nordic Air Filtration, Middle East businesses to Hengst Holding GmbH. The purchase price of these Illinois and international filtration businesses was $22.0 million, including cash proceeds of $18.4 million, of which $1.9 million is held in escrow until July 2017. The remaining domestic fabric filter business, which is included in held for sale, is operational and selling product as of January 31, 2016. These businesses are reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements and the notes to consolidated financial statements have been revised to conform to the current year reporting. There wasfor those corresponding years. Included in accrued expenses reported for January 31, 2018 is an amount of $0.1 million of tax expense for the period ended January 31, 2016 . Loss fromwarranty liability. Net cash used in discontinued operating activities during 2017 was less than $0.1 million. There were no expenses related to discontinued operations net of tax was $6.0 million and $4.4 million for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.in fiscal 2018. 


Impairment. The Company evaluates assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An asset is considered impaired if its carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flow the asset is expected to generate. In the fourth quarter, Filtration Product's recorded a $6.5 million impairment expense relating to the Virginia facility

Results of the discontinued operations were as follows:
 2015
2014
Net sales
$64,975

$68,110
   
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
$8,099

$188
Impairment expense from discontinued operations(6,480)
Loss from discontinued operations(7,569)(4,282)
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes(5,950)(4,094)
Income tax expense94
324
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
($6,044)
($4,418)
   



Components of assets, and liabilities from discontinued operations consist of the following:
 January 31,
 20162015
Current assets
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$5

$608
Trade accounts receivable, net5,720
7,516
Inventories, net2,000
15,157
Other assets349
2,003
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation6,456
14,477
Non-current assets1,203
1,715
Total assets from discontinued operations
$15,733

$41,476
   
Current liabilities  
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
$7,514

$10,016
Current maturities of long-term debt5,322
806
Long-term liabilities2,629
10,557
Total liabilities from discontinued operations15,465
21,379

Cashflows from discontinued operations:
 January 31,
 20162015
Net cash used in discontinued operating activities
($7,113)
($2,629)
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued investing activities17,026
(1,425)
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued financing activities(3,025)4,219

Note 54 - Retention


Retention

A retention receivable is thea portion of an outstanding receivable balance amount withheld by a customer until a contract is completed.fully completed as specified in the contractual agreement. Retention receivables of $2.8$1.7 million and $5.7$2.4 million were included in the balance of trade accounts receivable as of January 31, 20162019 and 2015,2018, respectively. RetentionA retention receivable of $4.3 million and $3.2 million was included in the balance of other long-term assets as of January 31, 20162019 and 2018 due to the long-term nature of the receivables. See Note 2 - Accounts receivable for further information regarding the future realization of these long-term balances.


Note 5 - Revenue recognition 

On February 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," ("Topic 606"), using the modified retrospective method applied to contracts that were not completed as of that date. Under this methodology the effect, if any, of initially applying the new revenue standard was to be recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, while periods prior to the adoption date were not to be adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the accounting policies in effect for those periods.

The Company conducted a complete and thorough analysis of each single element of the five-step model of Topic 606 and concluded that there was no material impact to the Company as a result of the adoption of the new standard. As such, the Company was not required to make a cumulative adjustment to the opening balances of retained earnings, contract assets or contract liabilities upon its initial application of the new revenue standard. 

Revenue from contracts with customers:

The Company defines a contract as an agreement that has approval and commitment from both parties, defined rights and identifiable payment terms, which ensures the contract has commercial substance and that collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company’s standard revenue transactions are classified in to two main categories:

1)

Systems - which include all bundled products in which Perma-Pipe designs, engineers, and manufactures pre-insulated specialty piping systems, insulates subsea flowline pipe, subsea oil production equipment, and land-lines. Additionally, this systems classification also includes coating applied to pipes and structures. 

2)

Products - which include cables, leak detection products, heat trace products sold under the PermAlert brand name, material/goods not bundled with piping or flowline systems, and field services not bundled into a project contract.

Table of Contents

In accordance with ASC 606-10-25-27 through 29, the Company recognizes specialty piping and coating systems revenue over time as the manufacturing process progresses because one of the following conditions exist:

1)

the customer owns the material that is being insulated or coated, so the customer controls the asset and thus the work-in-process; or

2)

the customer controls the work-in-process due to the custom nature of the pre-insulated, fabricated system being manufactured as evidenced by the Company’s right to payment for work performed to date plus seller’s profit margin for products that have no alternative use for the Company.

Products revenue is recognized when goods are shipped or services are performed (ASC 606-10-25-30).

35


Table of Contents

A breakdown of the Company's revenues by revenue class for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

2018

 

2017

 

Sales

% to Total

 

Sales

% to Total

Products

13,576

11%

 

8,495

8%

      

Specialty Piping Systems and Coating

     

Revenue recognized under input method

40,525

31%

 

39,891

38%

Revenue recognized under output method

74,864

58%

 

56,862

54%

Total

128,965

100%

 

105,248

100%

The input method as noted in ASC 606-10-55-20 is used by the U.S. operating entities to measure revenue by the costs incurred to date relative to the estimated costs to satisfy the contract using the percentage-of-completion method. Generally, these contracts are considered a single performance obligation satisfied over time and due to the custom nature of the goods and services, the percentage-of-completion method is the most faithful depiction of the Company’s performance as it measures the value of the goods and services transferred to the customer. Costs include all material, labor, and direct costs incurred to satisfy the performance obligations of the contract. Revenue recognition begins when projects costs are incurred.

The output method as noted in ASC 606-10-55-17 is used by all other operating entities to measure revenue by the direct measurement of the outputs produced relative to the remaining goods promised under the contract. Due to the types of end customers, generally these contracts require formal inspection protocols or specific export documentation for units produced, or produced and shipped, therefore, the output method is the most faithful depiction of the Company’s performance. Depending on the conditions of the contract, revenue may be recognized based on units produced, inspected and held by the Company prior to shipment or on units produced, inspected and shipped. 

Some of the Company’s operating entities invoice and collect milestones or other contractual obligations prior to the transfer of goods and services, but does not recognize revenue until the performance obligations are satisfied under the methods discussed above.

Contract modifications that occur prior to the start of the manufacturing process will supersede the original contract and revenue is recognized using the modified contract value. Contract modifications that occur during the manufacturing process (changes in scope of work, job performance, material costs, and/or final contract settlements) are recognized in the period in which the revisions are known. Provisions for losses on uncompleted contracts are made in contract liabilities account in the period such losses are identified.

Contract assets and liabilities:

Contract assets represent revenue recognized in excess of amounts billed (unbilled receivables) for contract work in progress for which the Company has a valid contract and an enforceable right to payment for work completed. Contract liabilities represent billings in excess of costs (unearned revenue) for contract work in progress for which the Company has a valid contract and an enforceable right to payment for work completed. Both customer billings and the satisfaction (or partial satisfaction) of the performance obligation(s) occur throughout the manufacturing process and impacts the period end balances in these accounts.

Table of Contents

The Company anticipates that substantially all costs incurred for uncompleted contracts as of January 31, 2019 will be billed and collected within one year.

The following tables set forth the changes in the Company's contract assets and liabilities for the periods indicated. The Company expects to recognize the remaining balances as of January 31, 2019 within one year.

Contract Assets

Balance January 31, 2018

$1,502

Costs and gross profit recognized during the period for uncompleted contracts from the prior period

(6,458)

Costs and deferred gross profit incurred on uncompleted contracts not billed at the end of the current period

6,609

Closing Balance at January 31, 2019

1,653

Contract Liabilities

Balance January 31, 2018

$1,967

Revenue recognized during the period for uncompleted contracts from the prior period

(3,222)

New contracts entered into that are uncompleted at the end of the current period

2,824

Closing Balance at January 31, 2019

1,569

The following table shows the reconciliation of the cost in excess of billings:

(In thousands)

 

2018

  

2017

 

Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts

 $12,348  $11,955 

Estimated earnings

  7,430   6,336 

Earned revenue

  19,778   18,291 

Less billings to date

  19,694   18,756 

Costs in excess of billings, net

 $84  $(465)

Balance sheet classification

        

Contract assets: Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

 $1,653  $1,502 

Contract liabilities: Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

  (1,569)  (1,967)

Costs in excess of billings, net

 $84  $(465)


Practical expedients:

Costs to obtain a contract are not considered project costs as they are not usually incremental, nor does job duration span more than one year. The Company applies practical expedient for these types of costs and as such are expensed in the period incurred.

As the Company's contracts are less than one year, the Company has applied the practical expedient regarding disclosure of the aggregate amount and future timing of performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied as of the end of the reporting period.

Note 6 - Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contractsDebt

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Revolving line North America

 $8,890  $7,273 

Mortgage notes

  6,961   7,723 

Revolving lines foreign

  84   123 

Capitalized lease obligations

  536   846 

Total debt

  16,471   15,965 

Unamortized debt issuance costs

  (181)  (200)

Less current maturities

  9,539   8,037 

Total long-term debt

 $6,751  $7,728 
         

Current portion of long-term debt

 $9,539  $8,037 

Unamortized debt issuance costs

  (9)  (11)

Total short-term debt

 $9,530  $8,026 
 20152014
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts$78,843$66,547
Estimated earnings46,35931,082
Earned revenue125,20297,629
Less billings to date123,91597,610
Costs in excess of billings, net$1,287$19
Balance sheet classification  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts$2,463$700
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts(1,176)(681)
Costs in excess of billings, net$1,287$19

Note 7 - Debt
 2015
2014
Revolving line domestic$5,237$11,353
Mortgage notes1,443
1,530
Revolving lines foreign8,131
2,774
Term loans246
1,808
Capitalized lease obligations442
1,060
Total debt15,499
18,525
Less current maturities14,006
16,170
Total long-term debt$1,493$2,355

The following table summarizes the Company's scheduled maturities aton January 31:

(In thousands)

 

Total

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

Thereafter

Revolving line North America

 $8,890  $8,890  $  $  $  $  $ 

Mortgages

  6,961   355   361   366   372   378   5,129 

Revolving line foreign

  84   84                

Capitalized lease obligations

  536   210   225   81   20       

Total

 $16,471  $9,539  $586  $447  $392  $378  $5,129 
 Total2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Thereafter
Revolving line domestic$5,237
$5,237

$—

$—

$—

$—

$—
Mortgages1,44397102107112117908
Revolving line foreign8,1318,131




Term loans24616581



Capitalized lease obligations44237666



Total$15,499$14,006$249$107$112$117$908

Revolving line North AmericaOn September 20, 2018, the Company and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (collectively, together with the Company, the “North American Loan Parties”) entered into a new Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender (“PNC”), providing for a new three-year $18 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility replaced the Company’s then existing $15 million Credit and Security Agreement, dated September 24, 2014, among various subsidiaries of the Company entered intoand Bank of Montreal, as successor by assignment to BMO Harris Bank N.A., as amended (the “Prior Credit Agreement”). 

The Company initially used borrowings under the new Senior Credit Facility to pay off outstanding amounts under the Prior Credit Agreement (which totaled approximately USD $3,773,823 plus CAD 4,794,528) and cash collateralize a letter of credit (USD $154,500). The Company has used proceeds from the new Senior Credit Facility for on-going working capital needs, and security agreementexpects to continue using this facility to fund future capital expenditures, working capital needs and other corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to an alternate base rate or LIBOR, plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on average quarterly undrawn availability with respect to the Senior Credit Facility. Interest on alternate base rate borrowings are generally payable monthly in arrears and interest on LIBOR borrowings are generally be payable in arrears on the last day of each interest period. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a financial institution (as amended, "Credit Agreement"). Under0.375% per annum facility fee on the termsunused portion of the Senior Credit Agreement, which maturesFacility. The facility fee is payable quarterly in arrears. 

Subject to certain exceptions, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of its North American subsidiaries. The North American Loan Parties’ obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are guaranteed by Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on September 24,20, 2021. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the North American Loan Parties’ ability to create liens, merge or consolidate, consummate acquisitions, make investments, dispose of assets, incur debt, and pay dividends and other distributions. In addition, the North American Loan Parties cannot allow capital expenditures to exceed $3 million annually (plus a limited carryover of unused amounts). 

The Senior Credit Facility also contains financial covenants requiring (i) the North America Loan Parties to achieve consolidated net income (excluding the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain other adjustments (“EBITDA”) of at least $1,807,000 for the period from August 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018; (ii) the North America Loan Parties to achieve EBITDA of at least $2,462,000 for the period from August 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019; (iii) the North America Loan Parties to achieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and interest payments on the advances under the Senior Credit Facility (excluding from the calculation items related to the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) to be not less than 1.10 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending April 30, 2019 and for the quarter ending July 31, 2019 and each quarter end thereafter on a trailing four-quarter basis; and (iv) the Company can borrow upand its subsidiaries (including the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to $25.0 million, subjectthe Credit Agreement) to borrowing baseachieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and other requirements,interest payments on the advances under a revolving linethe Senior Credit Facility of credit. The Credit Agreement covenants restrict debt, liens, and certain investments, and require attainment of specific levels of profitability and cash flows when reaching certain levels of availability. Interest rates are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a base rate, if below certain availability limits; or (b) a margin in effect plus the Eurodollar ratenot less than 1.10 to 1.00 for the corresponding interest period. Atnine-month period ending October 31, 2018 and for the quarter ending January 31, 2016, the2019 and each quarter end thereafter on a trailing four-quarter basis. The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement. The domestic revolving line balancethis requirement as of January 31, 2015 and2019. 

As of January 31, 2016 was included as a current liability on the consolidated balance sheets.


At January 31, 2016,2019, the Company had borrowed $5.2an aggregate of $8.9 million at 3.25%8.0% and 1.5%6.0%, with a weighted average rate of 6.43%, and had $8.3$3.1 million available to it under the revolving lineSenior Credit Facility.

38


On February 29, 2016, the Company reduced the amount that can be borrowed under the Credit Agreement to $15.0 million.

Revolving lines foreign. The Company also has credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries. These credit arrangements are in the form of overdraft facilities and project financing at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. The lines are secured by certain equipment, certain assets such(such as accounts receivable and inventory,inventory), and a guarantee by the Company. Some credit arrangement covenants requiresrequire a minimum tangible net worth to be maintained. At maintained, including maintaining certain levels of intercompany subordinated debt. In addition, some of the revolving credit facilities restrict payment of dividends. On January 31, 2016,2019, the Company was in compliance with the covenantcovenants under the credit arrangement. Interestarrangements. On January 31, 2019, interest rates are 4.0% per annum below National Bank of Fujairah Base Rate, minimumwere based on the EIBOR plus 3.5% per annum, and Emirates Inter Bank Offered Rate (EIBOR) plus 3.5%with a minimum interest rate of 4.5% per annum. TheOn January 31, 2019, the Company's interest rates rangeranged from 3.5%6.15% to 6.0% at January 31, 2016. At January 31, 2016,6.51%, with a weighted average rate of 6.51%, and the Company cancould borrow $43.8$9.1 million under these credit arrangements. The Company borrowed $8.1 million and had $28.7 million available under these credit arrangements as of On January 31, 2016. In addition, $7.02019, $7.9 million of availability was used to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases.


purchases and for performance guarantees. On January 31, 2019, the Company had borrowed $0.1 million, and had an additional $1.1 million available. The foreign revolving lines balances as of January 31, 2019 and 2018, were included as current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

The Company had a revolving line for 8.0 million Dirhams (approximately $2.2 million U.S. dollars at January 31, 2019) from a bank in the U.A.E. The loan had an interest rate of approximately 6.15% and expired on March 31, 2019. The Company is in current negotiations to renew and expand this facility.  

The Company has a revolving line for 5025.0 million Saudi RiyalDirhams (approximately $13.3$6.8 million U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a Saudi Arabian bank. The loan has an interest rate of approximately 6% and matures September 2016.


The Company has a revolving line for 40 million Dirhams (approximately $10.9 million U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date)January 31, 2019) from a bank in the U.A.E. The loan has an interest rate of approximately 6%6.51% and matures June 2016.

July 2019.

The Company’ credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries renew on an annual basis.

The Company has a revolving line for 71.6guarantees the subsidiaries' debt including all foreign debt.

Mortgages. On July 28, 2016, the Company borrowed $8.0 million DirhamsCAD (approximately $19.5$6.1 million U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a bank in Canada under a mortgage note secured by the U.A.E.manufacturing facility located in Alberta, Canada that matures on December 23, 2042. The loan has an interest rate is variable, currently at 6.05%, with monthly payments of approximately 6%$38 thousand CAD (approximately $29 thousand) for interest; and matures November 2016.


The Company guarantees the subsidiaries' debt including all foreign debt.

Mortgages. monthly payments of $27 thousand CAD (approximately $21 thousand) for principal. Principal payments began January 2018.

On June 19, 2012, Perma-Pipe, Inc.the Company borrowed $1.8$1.8 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. The proceeds were used for payment of amounts borrowed. The loan bears interest at 4.5% with monthly payments of $13$13 thousand for both principal and interest and matures July 1, 2027.2027. On June 19, 2022,, and on the same day of each year thereafter, the interest rate shall adjust to the prime rate, provided that the applicable interest rate shall not adjust more than 2.0% per annum and shall be subject to a ceiling of 18.0% and a floor of 4.5%.




Capital leases. On March 4, 2008,October 20, 2017, the Company borrowed $5.4obtained a capital lease for $0.18 million under a mortgage note secured byCAD (approximately $0.1 million at the Filtration Products manufacturing facility located in Bolingbrook, Illinois that matures March 2033. The 25 year mortgage resets its interestprevailing exchange rate every five years based on a published index.the transaction date) to finance vehicle equipment. The interest rate for these capital leases is 4.04%4.0% per annum with monthly payments of $30 thousand for principal and interest combined. This mortgage is reported in liabilities of discontinued operations.


On January 18, 2008, the Company borrowed $3.7 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing and office facility in Niles, Illinois. The loan bears interest at 6.3% with monthly payments of $23$3 thousand, for both principal and interest basedthese leases mature on an amortization schedule of thirty years with a balloon payment at maturity in January 2018. This mortgage is reported in current liabilities held for sale.

Term loans. Between March 2015 and September 2015,29, 2022.

On May 5, 2017, the Company obtained loans in the amount of 1.3 million Dirhams (approximately $341 thousand U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the transaction dates). The loans bear interest at 5.0% and 6.0% with monthly payments of $17 thousand for both principal and interest and mature between April 1, 2017 and October 31, 2017.


Capital leases. On May 1, 2012, Piping Systems borrowed $0.4 million under an equipment loan secured by equipment. The loan bears interest at 6.5% with monthly payments of $8 thousand for both principal and interest and matures June 2017.

On January 31, 2012, Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $1.2 million under an equipment loan secured by equipment. The loan bears interest at 6.7% with monthly payments of $24 thousand for both principal and interest and matures January 2017.

In 2013 and 2014, Piping Systems obtained two capital leases totaling 1.5for a total of $0.94 million CAD (approximately $0.7 million USD at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) to finance vehicle equipment. The interest rate for these capital leases is 7.8% per annum with monthly principal and interest payments of $9 thousand, and these leases mature on April 30, 2021.

On August 5, 2016, the Company obtained a capital lease for 0.6 million Indian Rupees (approximately $24$8 thousand U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) to finance vehicle equipment. The interest ratesrate for thesethis capital leases range from 12.8% to 18.2%lease is 15.6% per annum with monthly principal and interest payments of $1less than a thousand dollars, and the leases mature in 2016 and 2017.lease matures on July 5, 2019.


Note 87 - Lease information

Property under capitalized leases (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Machinery and equipment

 $855  $1,729 

Transportation equipment

  8   9 

Subtotal

  863   1,738 

Less accumulated amortization

  355   699 

Total

 $508  $1,039 
Property under capitalized leases2.015
2.014
Machinery and equipment$1,747$1,803
Transportation equipment22
24
Computer equipment
92
Subtotal1,769
1,919
Less accumulated amortization726
691
Total$1,043$1,228

The Company has several significant operating lease agreements as follows:

Office Space of approximately 31,650 square feet in Niles, IL is leased until October, 2023.

Five acres of land in Louisiana is leased through March, 2022.

Thirty acres of land in Canada. Ten acres leased through October, 2019, and twenty acres leased through December, 2022.

Nine acres of land in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leased through April, 2030.

Land for production

Production facilities in the U.A.E. of approximately 80,200 square feet on approximately 107,600 square feet of land is leased until June, 30, 2030.

Office space of approximately 21,500 square feet and open land for production facilities of approximately 21,500423,000 square feet in the U.A.E. is leased until July, 2032.


Production facilities in the U.A.E. of approximately 78,100 square feet is leased until December, 2032.

The Company leaseshad leased one of its administrative offices in the U.A.E. from a partnership in which a former employee of the Company employee iswas a partner. TotalThe Company ended this lease arrangement in 2017 and paid total rent paidof $0.2 million to the partnership was $0.3 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively.2017. No payments were made in 2018. Lease payments were based on prevailing market rates.

40



At

On January 31, 2016,2019, future minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable lease obligations were as follows:

(In thousands)

 

Operating Leases

 

Capital Leases

2019

 $2,516  $241 

2020

  2,193   240 

2021

  2,149   82 

2022

  2,110   21 

2023

  1,979    

Thereafter

  8,997    

Subtotal

  19,944   584 

Less Amount representing interest

     (48)

Future minimum lease payments

 $19,944  $536 
 Operating LeasesCapital Leases
2016$1,944$1,386
20171,640
67
20181,378

20191,311

20201,327

Thereafter10,066

Subtotal17,666
1,453
Less Amount representing interest 22
Future minimum lease payments$17,666$1,431

Rental expense for operating leases was $0.7$2.6 million and $0.8$2.9 million in 20152018 and 2014,2017, respectively.


Note 98 - Income taxes

Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Domestic

 $(2,331) $(7,924)

Foreign

  3,952   (2,285)

Total

 $1,621  $(10,209)

Components of income tax expense/(benefit) (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Current

        

Federal

 $48  $ 

Foreign

  1,695   697 

State and other

  196   28 

Total current income tax expense (benefit)

  1,939   725 

Deferred

        

Federal

     (33)

Foreign

  211   (925)

State and other

      

Total deferred income tax benefit

  211   (958)

Total income tax expense/(benefit)

 $2,150  $(233)
Income (loss) from continuing operations2015
2014
Domestic($2,066)$1,968
Foreign5,076
5,320
Total$3,010$7,288

Components of income tax expense (benefit)2015
2014
Current  
Federal$12$49
Foreign1,541
1,851
State and other71
(80)
Subtotal1,624
1,820
Deferred  
Federal

Foreign(249)1,231
State and other

Subtotal(249)1,231
Total$1,375$3,051

The determination ofU.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act") was enacted on December 22, 2017 and introduced significant changes to U.S. income tax law. Effective in 2018, the consolidated provision forTax Act reduces the U.S. statutory tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, and creates new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings and certain related-party payments, which are referred to as the global intangible low-taxed income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the related valuation allowances requires management to make judgments and estimates. As a company with subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions,base erosion anti-abuse tax, respectively. Since the Company is requireda fiscal taxpayer, the Company was subject to calculatea blended federal rate of 33.83% as of January 31, 2018. In addition, in 2017 the Company was subject to the onetime transition tax on accumulated foreign subsidiary earnings not previously subject to U.S. income tax. The Company is subject to a current and providedeferred federal tax rate of 21% as of January 31, 2019.

Due to the timing of the enactment and the complexity involved in applying the provisions of the Tax Act, the Company has made reasonable estimates of the effects and recorded provisional amounts in its financial statements as of January 31, 2018, as permitted by SAB 118. The accounting for estimated incomethe tax effects of the Tax Act have been completed as of January 31, 2019, and the Company recorded a tax expense for each of the tax jurisdictions. The process of calculating income taxes involves estimating current tax obligations and exposures in each jurisdiction as well as making judgments regarding the future recoverability of deferred tax assets. Changes in the estimated level of annual pre-tax income, in tax laws, and resulting from tax audits can affect the overall effective tax rate ("ETR"), which impacts the level of income tax expense and net income. Judgments and estimatesless than $0.1 million related to the Company's projectionsone-time transition tax.

One-time transition tax

The 2017 provisional estimate of the aggregate deferred foreign income inclusion of $23.2 million was adjusted to $22.2 million during 2018. At the time the provisional estimate was prepared, the Company expected to offset the inclusion with Net Operating Losses ("NOLs"). However, when preparing the tax return for the period the Company elected to claim foreign tax credits against the transition tax to preserve the NOLs. The net impact to the deferred balances was an increase in the NOL Deferred Tax Asset ("DTA") of $4.9 million and assumptions are inherently uncertain; therefore, actual results could differ materially from projections.


ETRa decrease in 2015the foreign tax credit DTA of $7.4 million. The changes in balances were offset by valuation allowances and did not impact tax expense. The transition tax of $7.5 million was highermostly offset by the use of foreign tax credit carryforwards, resulting in a net tax expense of less than $0.1 million. There was no tax impact on the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainlyrelated adjustments to the deferred balances due to the Company applying a valuation allowance against the net deferred balances. 

As a result of the onetime transition tax, the Company estimates that distributions from foreign subsidiaries will no longer be subject to U.S. tax. Earnings in the Company's subsidiaries in Canada, and Denmark, are not permanently reinvested, and earnings in the India subsidiary are partially permanently reinvested. The earnings will be subject to tax in their local jurisdiction, and the impact of the full valuation allowance maintained against domestic deferredIndia dividend distribution tax assets and the recognition of foreign earnings



resulting from the dispositions of certain foreign operations. The Company remains in an NOL carryforward position.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company sold its foreign filtration operations, the gain from which was taxable in the U.S.Canadian withholding taxes will be considered. As such, the Company no longer considershas accrued a liability of $0.4 million in 2018 related to these taxes.

U.S. income and foreign withholding taxes have not been recognized on the earningsexcess of the remaining Denmark subsidiary permanently reinvested. Therefore,amount for financial reporting over the Company has recorded a deferred tax liabilitybasis of $0.2 million related toinvestments in foreign subsidiaries that is indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. federal and state income taxes on approximately $0.7 million of undistributed earnings.


The Company has not provided Federal tax on remaining unremitted earnings of its Middle East subsidiaries.  The Company does not believe that it will be necessary to repatriate earnings from these subsidiaries.United States. The Company intends and has the ability to permanently reinvest these earnings for the foreseeable future outside the U.S.  If these amounts were distributed to the U.S., in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company could be subject to additional U.S. income taxes. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liabilities on these earnings is not practicable, because such liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing if and when remittance occurs.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company concluded that not all of the undistributed earnings of Perma-Pipe India Ltd, will remain permanently reinvested outside the U.S. and are available for useMiddle Eastern subsidiaries. The Middle Eastern subsidiaries have unremitted earnings of $26.3 million as of January 31, 2019, all of which has been subject to the transition tax in the U.S. orUnremitted earnings of $18.7 million in entitiesthe United Arab Emirates would not be subject to withholding tax in other foreign countries. the event of a distribution, $7.5 million of unremitted earnings in Saudi Arabia would be subject to withholding tax of $1.5 million, and the $4.6 million of earnings permanently reinvested in India would be subject to dividend distribution tax of $0.9 million.

Deferred tax effects

As such,a result of the Tax Act, in 2017, the Company recordedrevalued deferred balances to a deferred tax liabilityrate of $0.221% as of the date of enactment, which resulted in a tax expense of $2.2 million and $0.9tax benefit of $0.4 million related to a reduction in the federal benefit of state taxes. This tax expense was fully offset by a valuation allowance, therefore, there was no impact to the income statement. 

Global intangible low taxed income ("GILTI") 

Beginning for tax years starting after December 31, 2017, the Tax Act creates a new requirement that certain income (i.e., GILTI) earned by foreign subsidiaries must be included currently in the gross income of the U.S. shareholder. The Company has elected to account for the periods ending January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the U.S. federal and state income taxes and foreign withholding taxes on approximately $2.8 million and $4.2 million of undistributed earnings.  The decrease in deferred tax liability primarily relates to a $2.0 million dividend paid during January 2016 along with a decrease in accumulated earnings and profits. Future earnings related to this subsidiary are not deemed permanently reinvested.  No U.S. cash tax payments will be made upon distributioneffects of these foreign earnings as long asprovisions in the period that is subject to such tax and the impact is reflected in the Company’s full year provision. However, the inclusion of $2.1 million during the period does not result in additional tax expense since the Company has sufficientNOL carryforwards and a valuation allowance applied against the net domestic deferred tax attributes in the U.S. to reduce the cash tax consequencesassets.

42


The difference between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the U.S. Federal ETRstatutory rate of 34%21% in 2018 and 33.83% in 2017 was as follows:

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Tax benefit at federal statutory rate

 $340  $(3,459)

Federal rate change

     2,243 

State benefit, net of federal income tax effect

  145   (440)

Excess income tax on share-based compensation

     (183)

Domestic valuation allowance

  (2,612)  (1,206)
Domestic return to provision related to the 2017 transition tax  2,617    

Global Intangible Low Tax Income Inclusion

  438    

Permanent differences other

  126   162 

Valuation allowance for state NOLs

  76   297 

Differences in foreign tax rate

  334   732 

Tax effects of Canadian acquisition amalgamation

     (364)

Deferred tax on unremitted earnings

  413   1,880 
Foreign withholding taxes  252   245 

All other, net expense

  21   (140)

Total income tax expense/(benefit)

 $2,150  $(233)

The Company's worldwide effective tax rates ("ETR") were 132.7% and 2.3% in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The change in the ETR from the prior year to the current year is largely due to the fact that the Company is in a positive operating income position in certain taxable jurisdictions. Additional factors include the tax benefit of a Canadian business combination which was realized in 2017, and the valuation allowance against the domestic deferred tax asset. Due to this, even relatively small changes to ordinary income will have a large impact to the ETR. The income tax expense in 2018 is $2.2 million, compared to income tax benefit of $0.2 million in 2017. The Company accrues taxes in various countries where they are generating income while applying a valuation allowance in the U.S. which attributes to the unusually large ETR.

Components of deferred income tax assets (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

U.S. Federal NOL carryforward

 $7,480  $1,795 

Deferred compensation

  382   341 

Research tax credit

  2,703   2,703 

Foreign NOL carryforward

  390   332 

Foreign tax credit

  2,305   9,749 

Stock compensation

  459   506 

Other accruals not yet deducted

  349   270 

State NOL carryforward

  2,552   2,157 

Accrued commissions and incentives

  643   423 

Inventory valuation allowance

  112   96 

Other

  159   81 

Deferred tax assets, gross

  17,534   18,453 

Valuation allowance

  (16,199)  (17,198)

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances

 $1,335  $1,255 
         

Components of the deferred income tax liability

        

Depreciation

 $(1,734) $(1,941)

Foreign subsidiaries unremitted earnings

  (498)  (101)

Prepaid

  (80)  (64)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 $(2,312) $(2,106)
         

Deferred tax liability, net

 $(977) $(851)
         

Balance sheet classification

        

Long-term assets

 $458  $391 

Long-term liability

  (1,435)  (1,242)

Total deferred tax liabilities, net of valuation allowances

 $(977) $(851)

 2015
2014
Tax benefit at federal statutory rate$1,023$2,478
Permanent differences management fee allocation619
1,946
Domestic valuation allowance804

Permanent differences other214
(540)
Valuation allowance for state NOLs88
(318)
Differences in foreign tax rate(780)(291)
Foreign tax credit(761)(793)
Domestic deferred tax true ups(346)
Research tax credit(54)(29)
Repatriation821
1,530
Valuation allowance for foreign NOLs32
35
Nontaxable income from the Canadian joint venture(205)(666)
State taxes, net of federal benefit(58)(131)
All other, net expense(22)(170)
Total
$1,375

$3,051

The Company has a gross U.S. Federal operating loss carryforward of $11.5$35.6 million that will begin to expire in the year ending January 31, 2030. In addition, there are suspended excess tax benefits of $0.3 million.


2031.

The deferred tax asset ("DTA")DTA for state NOL carryforwards of $1.4$2.6 million relates to amounts that expire at various times from 20162022 to 2031. The amount that expired in 2015 is approximately $1 thousand.




The Company has a DTA foreign NOL carryforward of $0.1$0.4 million for its subsidiary in Saudi Arabia that can be carried forward indefinitely and does not have a valuation allowance recorded against it. The ultimate realization of this tax benefit is dependent upon the generation of sufficient operating income in the foreign tax jurisdictions.


The Company periodically reviews the adequacy of its valuation allowance in all of the tax jurisdictions in which it operates, evaluates future sources of taxable income and tax planning strategies and may make further adjustments based on management's outlook for continued profits in each jurisdiction


jurisdiction. 

For the year ending January 31, 2016,2019, the Company has determined that there is not a greater than 50% likelihood that all of the domestic DTAs will be realized based on the available evidence. The Company recorded a full valuation allowance against the remaining domestic net DTAs as ofon January 31, 2013 net of uncertain tax positions ("UTP"). The Company continues to have a valuation allowance on its domestic DTAs since domestic losses continue to be generated.


The Company has a deferred tax asset of $2.9$2.3 million for U.S. foreign tax credits attributed toafter considering the impact of the repatriated foreign earnings.earnings and the one-time transition tax. The foreign tax credit deferred tax asset is fully offset with a valuation allowance. The excess foreign tax credits are subject to a ten-year carryforward and will begin to expire in January 31, 2022. As of January 31, 2016, the Company has not made a provision for U.S. or additional foreign withholding taxes on approximately $40.4 million of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S., mainly in the Middle East.


Components of deferred income tax assets2015
2014
U.S. Federal NOL carryforward$3,044$3,156
Non-qualified deferred compensation2,382
2,363
Research tax credit2,057
2,032
Foreign NOL carryforward231
483
Foreign tax credit2,861
2,088
Stock compensation1,061
1,033
Other accruals not yet deducted438
901
State NOL carryforward1,419
1,291
Accrued commissions and incentives723
584
Accrued pension
735
Inventory valuation allowance73
430
Other106
561
Inventory uniform capitalization10
94
  Deferred tax assets, gross14,405
15,751
Valuation allowance(13,333)(14,201)
  Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances$1,072$1,550
   
Components of the deferred income tax liability  
Depreciation$633$851
Foreign subsidiaries unremitted earnings412
863
Prepaid88
310
  Total deferred tax liabilities$1,133$2,024
   
Deferred tax liability, net$(61)$(474)
   
Balance sheet classification  
Long-term assets$99$260
Long-term liability160
734
  Total deferred tax liabilities, net of valuation allowances$(61)$(474)



2026.

The following table summarizes UTP activity, excluding the related accrual for interest and penalties:

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Balance at beginning of the year

 $1,301  $1,331 

Increases in positions taken in a prior period

  9   6 

Increases in positions taken in a current period

  147   5 

Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations

  (10)  (34)

Decreases due to settlements

     (7)

Balance at end of the year

 $1,447  $1,301 
 2.015
2.014
Balance at beginning of the year$1,288$1,358
Increases in positions taken in a prior period11
17
Increases in positions taken in a current period14

Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations
(42)
Decreases due to settlements
(45)
Balance at end of the year$1,313$1,288

Included in the total UTP liability at January 31, 2016were estimated accrued interest and penalty of $28 thousand and penalties of $17 thousand and at less than $0.1 million in both January 31, 2015, accrued interest was $17 thousand2019 and penalties were $15 thousand.January 31, 2018. These non-current income tax liabilities are recorded in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.sheet and recognized as an expense during the period. The Company's policy is to include interest and penalties in income tax expense. At On January 31, 2016,2019, the Company did not anticipate any significant adjustments to its unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. Included in the balance at on January 31, 20162018 were amounts offset by deferred taxes (i.e., temporary differences) or amounts that could be offset by refunds in other taxing jurisdictions (i.e., corollary adjustments). Thus, $1.3Upon reversal, $.3 million of the amount accrued at on January 31, 20162019 would impact the ETR, if reversed.


future ETR.

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. In July 2014, the Company received a notice from theThe Internal Revenue Service, that it had concluded("IRS"), began an audit of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 in August 2016. In 2017, the tax audit for the years ended January 31, 2012 and 2013. No changes wereconcluded with no change made to the reported tax. Tax years backrelated to January 31, 20112015, 2016 and 2017 are open for federal and state tax purposes. In addition, federal and state tax years January 31, 2002 through January 31, 2009 are subject to adjustment on audit, up to the amount of research tax credit generated in those years.


Any NOL carryover can still be adjusted by the IRS in future year audits.

The Company's management periodically estimates the probable tax obligations of the Company using historical experience in tax jurisdictions and informed judgments. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business. The judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits, as well as changes to or further interpretations of regulations. If such changes take place, there is a risk that the tax rate may increase or decrease in any period. Tax accruals for tax liabilities related to potential changes in judgments and estimates for federal, foreign and state tax issues are included in currentother long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.


Note 109 - Retirement plans


Pension plan


The defined benefit plan that covered the hourly rate employees of a non-operating filtration business unit, previously located in Winchester, filtration hourly rated employeesVirginia, was frozen on June 30, 2013 per the third Amendment to the Plan dated May 15, 2013. Per the third amendment, theThe accrued benefit of each participant was frozen as of the freeze date, and no further benefits shall accrue with respect to any service or hours of service after the freeze date. The benefits are based on fixed amounts multiplied by years of service of participants. The Company engages outside actuaries to calculate its obligations and costs. The funding policy is to contribute such amounts as are necessary to provide for benefits attributed to service to date. The amounts contributed to the plan are sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.


Asset allocation


The plans hold no securities of MFRI,Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.; 100% of the assets are held for benefits under the plan. The fair value of the major categories of the pension plans' investments are presented below. The FASB has established a fair



value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.


Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.


Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Level 1 market value of plan assets

        

Equity securities

 $2,991  $3,819 

U.S. bond market

  2,065   1,843 

Real estate securities

  368   199 

Subtotal

  5,424   5,861 

Level 2 significant other observable inputs

        

Money market fund

 $121  $171 

Subtotal

  121   171 

Investments measured at net asset value*

 $634  $668 

Total

 $6,179  $6,700 

* Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of plan.

Level 1 market value of plan assets2015
2014
Equity securities$3,062$3,795
U.S. bond market2,1682,033
Subtotal5,2305,828
Level 2 significant other observable inputs  
Money market fund$351$340
Equity securities3020
  Subtotal653340
Total5,883
6,168
   

At

On January 31, 2016,2019, plan assets were held 61%63% in equity, 31%35% in debt and 8%2% in other. The investment policy is to invest all funds not needed to pay benefits and investment expenses for the year, with target asset allocations of 52%approximately 60% equities, (with a range of 40% - 65%), 30% fixed income (with a range of 20% - 35%) and 18% Alternative Investments (with a range of 15% - 25%),10% alternative investments, diversified across a variety of sub-asset classes and investment styles, following a flexible asset allocation approach that will allow the plan to participate in market opportunities as they become available. The expected long-term rate of return on assets is based on historical long-term rates of equity and fixed income investments and the asset mix objective of the funds.


Investment market conditions in 20152018 resulted in $25 thousand$0.2 million actual returnloss on plan assets as presented below, which increaseddecreased the fair value of plan assets at year end. The Company did not change its 8% expected return on plan assets used in determining cost and benefit obligations, which is the return that the Company has assumed during every profitable and unprofitable investment year since 1991. The plan's investments are intended to earn long-term returns to fund long-term obligations, and investment portfolios with asset allocations similar to those of the plan's investment policy have attained such returns over several decades. Future contributions that may be necessary to maintain funding requirements are not expected to materially affect the Company's liquidity.

Reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of plan (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Accumulated benefit obligations

        

Vested benefits

 $6,258  $6,658 

Accumulated benefits

 $6,258  $6,658 
         

Change in benefit obligation

        

Benefit obligation - beginning of year

 $6,658  $6,500 

Interest cost

  240   253 

Actuarial (gain)/loss

  (303)  249 

Benefits paid

  (337)  (344)

Benefit obligation - end of year

 $6,258  $6,658 
         

Change in plan assets

        

Fair value of plan assets - beginning of year

 $6,700  $6,228 

Actual (loss)/gain on plan assets

  (184)  816 

Benefits paid

  (337)  (344)

Fair value of plan assets - end of year

 $6,179  $6,700 
         

Unfunded status

 $(80) $42 
         

Balance sheet classification

        

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 $343  $349 

Other assets

  1,568   1,350 

Deferred compensation liabilities

  (1,991)  (1,657)

Net amount recognized

 $(80) $42 
         

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss

        

Unrecognized actuarial loss

 $1,648  $1,307 

Net amount recognized

 $1,648  $1,307 


Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost and benefit obligations

 

2018

 

2017

End of year benefit obligation discount rate

  3.90%  3.70%

Service cost discount rate

  3.70%  4.00%

Expected return on plan assets

  8.00%  8.00%



Reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of plan2015
2014
Accumulated benefit obligations  
Vested benefits$6,587$7,626
Accumulated benefits$7,020$8,129
   
Change in benefit obligation  
Benefit obligation - beginning of year$8,129$6,827
Service cost

Interest cost266
299
Actuarial (gain) loss(1,115)1,249
Benefits paid(260)(246)
Benefit obligation - end of year$7,020$8,129
   
Change in plan assets  
Fair value of plan assets - beginning of year$6,168$6,351
Actual (gain) loss on plan assets(25)63
Benefits paid(260)(246)
Fair value of plan assets - end of year$5,883$6,168
   
Unfunded status$(1,137)$(1,961)
   
Balance sheet classification  
Current assets$326$352
Other assets1,166
1,163
Other long-term liabilities(2,629)(3,476)
Net amount recognized$(1,137)$(1,961)
   
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss  
Unrecognized actuarial loss$2,303$3,124
Net amount recognized$2,303$3,124

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost and benefit obligations2015
2014
End of year benefit obligation4.05%3.35%
Service cost discount rate4.50%4.50%
Expected return on plan assets8.00%8.00%
Rate of compensation increaseN/A
N/A

The discount rate was based on a Citigroup pension discount curve of high quality fixed income investments with cash flows matching the plans' expected benefit payments. The Company determines the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets by performing a detailed analysis of historical and expected returns based on the strategic asset allocation approved by the Board of Directors and the underlying return fundamentals of each asset class. The Company's historical experience with the pension fund asset performance is also considered.



Components of net periodic benefit cost20152014
Service cost$0

Components of net periodic benefit cost (in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Interest cost266299 $240  $253 
Expected return on plan assets(479)(494)  (522)  (484)
Recognized actuarial loss21069  64   82 
Net periodic benefit (income) cost($3)($126)

Net periodic benefit income

 $(218) $(149)
        

Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (in thousands)

        

Actuarial gain/(loss) on obligation

 $303  $(249)

Actual (loss)/gain on plan assets

  (644)  414 

Total in other comprehensive income

 $(341) $165 

Other comprehensive income is also affected by the tax effect of the valuation allowance recorded on the domestic deferred tax assets.

Cash flows (in thousands)

     

Expected employer contributions for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2020

  $ 

Expected employee contributions for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2020

    

Estimated future plan benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal year(s) ending January 31,:

     

2020

  $344 

2021

   338 

2022

   344 

2023

   344 

2024

   338 
2025 - 2029   1708 
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income  
Actuarial gain (loss) on obligation$1,115$(1,249)
Actual (loss) gain on plan assets(294)(362)
Total in other comprehensive income (loss)$821$(1,611)
  Other comprehensive income is also affected by the tax effect of the valuation allowance recorded on the domestic deferred tax assets.  

Cash flows  
Expected employer contributions for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2016 
$—
Expected employee contributions for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2016 
Estimated future benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal year(s) ending January 31,:  
2017 326
2018 349
2019 348
2020 363
2021 363
2022 - 2026 $1,841

401(k) plan


The domestic employees of the Company participate in the MFRI, Inc.PPIH 401(k) Employee Savings and Protection Plan, which is applicable to all employees except employees covered by collective bargaining agreement benefits. The plan allows employee pretax payroll contributions of upfrom 1% to 16% of total compensation. The Company matches 100% of each participant's payroll deferral contributions up to 1% of their compensation, plus 50% of each participant's contribution, up to a maximumpayroll deferral contributions on the next 5% of 3.5% of each participant's salary.


compensation.

Contributions to the 401(k) plan were $558 thousand and $439 thousand for the$0.3 million each in years ended January 31, 20162019 and 2015, respectively.


Deferred compensation plan

The Company had a Supplemental Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan ("Supplemental Plan"), pursuant to which key employees deferred compensation. Participants receive distributions from the plan at the later of age 65 or six months after separation from service. Life insurance contracts have been purchased and may be used to fund the Company's obligation under these agreements.

Deferred compensation liability2015
2014
Current$6,167$213
Long-term495
6,560
Total$6,662$6,773
   
Deferred compensation expense$36$270



On April 10,2014, the Company's Board of Directors terminated the Supplemental Plan and its Deferred Stock Purchase Plan, adopted on December 5, 2012 (collectively, the "Plans"), effective April 10, 2014 ("Termination Date"). No additional contributions will be made by the Company or participants under the Plans after the Termination Date. All funds and Company stock remaining in participant accounts will be distributed not later than 24 months after the Termination Date. The Company is obligated to deliver 9,991 shares of Company common stock under the Deferred Stock Purchase Plan.

2018.

Multi-employer plans


The Company contributes to a multi-employer plan for certain collective bargaining U.S. employees. The risks of participating in this multi-employer plan are different from a single employer plan in the following aspects:

Assets contributed to the multi-employer plans by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

If a participating employer ceases contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be inherited by the remaining participating employers.

If the Company chooses to stop participating in the multi-employer plan, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.

The Company has assessed and determined that the multi-employer plans to which it contributes are not significant to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect to incur a withdrawal liability or expect to significantly increase its contribution over the remainder of the contract period. The Company made contributions to the bargaining unit supported multi-employer pension plans.plans (in thousands):

      

Funded

          

Collective

      

Zone

 

FIP/RP Status

 

2018

  

2017

 

Surcharge

 

Bargaining

Plan Name

 

EIN

 

Plan #

 

Status

 

Pending/Implemented

 

Contribution

  

Contribution

 

 Imposed

 

 Expiration Date

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 572 Pension Fund

 

626102837

 

001

 

Green

 

No

 

$188

  

$209

 

No

 

3/31/2022

   Funded Zone StatusFIP/RP Status Pending/ImplementedContribution  
Plan NameEINPlan #20152014Surcharge ImposedCollective Bargaining Expiration Date
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 572 Pension Fund626102837001GreenNo233
236
No3/31/2019

Note 1110 - Stock-based compensation


The Company has stock-based compensation awards that can be granted to eligible employees, officers or directors.

 2015
2014
Stock-based compensation expense (benefit)
$116

($114)
Restricted stock based compensation expense
$470

$82

Stock-based compensation was a benefit year-to-date due to cancellations. A majority of these cancellations related to former employees from the discontinued operations.



Stock options

On June 20, 2013

At January 31, 2019, the stockholders approved the 2013Company had one incentive stock plan under which new equity incentive awards may be granted: 

2017 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as Amended June 13, 2017, as amended, which stockholders approved in June 2017 ("Omnibus2017 Plan"). Under the Omnibus Plan, 350,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance to employees, officers, and directors of, and other individuals providing bona fide services to or for,

The Company has prior incentive plans under which previously granted awards remain outstanding, but under which no new awards may be granted. At January 31, 2019, the Company had reserved a total of 834,182 shares for grants and its affiliates. In addition, on January 31, 2014issuances under these incentive stock plans, which includes a reserve for issuances pursuant to unvested or unexercised prior awards, and each January 31 thereafter until January 31, 2023, the aggregate number of shares that may be issued with respect to Awardsfor new grants or issuances pursuant to the terms2017 Plan.

While the 2017 Plan provides for the grant of this Plan will be increased by the number equal to 2% of the aggregate amount of commondeferred shares, non-qualified stock outstanding as of such date, provided, however, the maximum number of additional shares that may be issued pursuant to this sentence will not exceed 400,000. The Omnibus Plan permits the granting of stock options, (including incentive stock options, qualifying under Code section 422 and nonstatutory stock options), stock appreciation rights, restricted or unrestricted stock awards,shares, restricted stock units, performance awards, deferredand performance-based restricted stock awards, other stock-based awards, or any combinationunits intended to qualify under section 422 of the foregoing. Awards will be valued atInternal Revenue Code, to date the Company's closingCompany has issued only restricted shares and restricted stock price onunits under the date2017 Plan and currently intends to continue this practice. The 2017 Plan authorizes awards to officers, employees, consultants, and directors.

Stock compensation expense

The Company recognized the following stock based compensation expense:

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Stock-based compensation expense

 $33  $94 

Restricted stock based compensation expense

  1,132   1,353 
Total stock-based compensation expense $1,165  $1,447 

48


Stock options

Options vest ratably over four4 years and are exercisable for up to ten years from the date of grant. To cover the exercise of vested options, the Company issues new shares from its authorized but unissued share pool. The Company calculates all stock compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the option and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the four-year vesting period of the option.


The fair value of each option award was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model that used the assumptions noted in the following table. The principal variable assumptions utilized in valuing options and the methodology for estimating such model inputs include:

1.risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the "Market yield on U.S. Treasury securities at the rate for the period described in assumption 3 below, quoted on investment basis" for the end of week closest to the stock option grant date, from the Federal Reserve website;
2.expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of MFRI common stock's weekly closing stock price for the expected life ; and
3.expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations.
  2.015
2.014
1.Risk-free interest rate.74%-1.77%
.74%-1.77%
2.Expected volatility40.88%-57.02%
40.88%-59.39%
3.Expected life in years5.0 to 5.1
4.9 to 5.1
4.Dividend yield



The following summarizes the activity related to options outstanding under all plans for the years ended January31,2015 2018 and 2016:
 Options
Weighted average exercise price
Weighted average remaining contractual termAggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding at January 31, 2014776
$11.696.1$3,859
     
Granted97
12.41
  
Exercised(45)7.27
 194
Expired or forfeited(64)18.92
  
Outstanding at January 31, 2015764
11.45
5.7
     
Options exercisable at January 31, 2015532
$12.044.5
     
Granted51
6.38
  
Exercised(18)6.48
 3
Expired or forfeited(77)9.93
  
Outstanding at January 31, 2016720
11.38
5.134
     
Options exercisable at January 31, 2016554
$11.944.2$30

2019. The weighted averageCompany did not grant any stock options in 2017 or 2018.

(Shares in thousands)

 

Options

  

Weighted

average

exercise

price

  

Weighted

average

remaining

contractual

term

  

Aggregate

intrinsic

value

 

Outstanding on January 31, 2017

  524  $11.55   4.5  $534 
                 

Exercised

  (35)  6.80       45 

Expired or forfeited

  (131)  18.54         

Outstanding on January 31, 2018

  358   9.44   4.0   482 
                 

Options exercisable on January 31, 2018

  327  $9.56   3.7   433 
                 

Exercised

  (77)  6.83       162 

Expired or forfeited

  (63)  16.2         

Outstanding on January 31, 2019

  218   8.6   3.8   257 
                 

Options exercisable on January 31, 2019

  207  $8.69   3.6  $239 


The Company received $0.5 million and $0.2 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively, for stock options exercised. 

Unvested options outstanding (shares in thousands)

 

Options

 

Weighted-

average

grant date

fair value

 

Aggregate

intrinsic

value

Outstanding on January 31, 2018

  31  $8.24  $50 

Granted

          

Vested

  (14)        
Expired or forfeited  (6)  8.12     

Outstanding on January 31, 2019

  11  $7.00  $19 

The fair value of stock options granted, net of options surrendered, during 2015vested was $0.1 million in both 2018 and 2014 are estimated at $2.54 and $4.73, per share, respectively, on the date of grant.

Unvested options outstandingOptions
Weighted-average grant date fair value
Aggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding at January 31, 2015232
$10.11$0
Granted51
6.38
 
Vested(92)  
Expired or forfeited(25)9.65
 
Outstanding at January 31, 2016166
$9.51$3
2017, respectively. Based on historical experience the Company expects 85%94% of these options to vest.

As of January 31, 2016,2019, there was $0.5less than $0.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options granted under the plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.11.2 years.

49


Deferred stock


On April 10, 2014, the Company's Board

As part of Directors terminated the Deferred Stock Purchase Plan, adopted on December 5, 2012, effective April 10, 2014 ("Termination Date"). No additional contributions will be made bytheir compensation, each year the Company or participants under the Plan after the Termination Date. All Company stock remaining in participant accounts was required to be distributed not later than 24 months after the Termination Date, accordingly the Company delivered 9,991 shares of Company common stock under this Plan in April 2016. Refer to "Deferred compensation plan" in Note 9 - Retirement plans, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


In June 2015 under the Omnibus Plan described above, the Company grantedwill grant deferred stock units to each non-employee director, at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders equal to the result of dividing $40,000the award amount by the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. The stock will bevests on the date of grant, however it is only distributed to the directors upon their separation from service.



As In June 2018 the Company granted 21,450 deferred stock units from the 2017 Plan, and as of January 31, 20162019, there were approximately 77,293101,945 deferred stock units outstanding included in the restricted stock activity shown below.

As a result of certain events that occurred during second quarter of fiscal 2018, including a settlement of a stock-based award previously granted to a retiring member of the Company's Board of Directors, the Company changed its method of accounting for deferred stock compensation arrangements granted to the Company's directors from liability accounting treatment to equity accounting treatment and, as such, reclassified $0.7 million from a liability to additional paid in capital.

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Deferred compensation liabilities

 $-  $815 

Restricted stock


In June 2015 under the Omnibus Plan described above, the

The Company has granted restricted stock to Tier Iexecutive officers and Tier II executive officers.employees. The restricted stock vest ratably over three years. Until restricted stock becomes vested and nonforfeitable, it may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or disposed of in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. The Company issues new shares from its treasury stock or authorized but unissued share pool.four years. The Company calculates restricted stock compensation expense based on the grant date fair value and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The following table summarizes restricted stock activity for the years ended January 31, 20162018 and 2015,2019, respectively:

(Shares in thousands)

 

Restricted shares

 

Weighted average price

 

Aggregate intrinsic value

Outstanding on January 31, 2017

  290  $8.75  $2,533 

Granted

  178   8.06     

Issued

  (101)        

Forfeited

  (7)  7.15     

Outstanding on January 31, 2018

  360  $9.05  $3,254 
             

Granted

  148   9.76     

Issued

  (94)        

Forfeited

  (131)  7.92     

Outstanding on January 31, 2019

  283  $8.74  $2,476 
 Restricted shares
Weighted average grant price
Aggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding at January 31, 201450

$14.52

$719
Granted54
12.41
 
Issued(15)  
Forfeited(3)11.25
 
Outstanding at January 31, 201586

$14.52

$1,242
    
Granted108
6.38
 
Issued(26)  
Forfeited(5)6.38
 
Outstanding at January 31, 2016163

$6.40

$1,040

The fair value of restricted stock vested was $1.1 million and $1.0 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of January 31, 20162019, there was $0.6$1.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock granted under the plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.32.2 years.


Note 12 - Treasury stock / share repurchase program.


On February 5, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program, which authorizes the Company to use up to $2 million for the purchase of its outstanding shares of common stock. Share repurchases were permitted to be executed through open market or privately negotiated transactions on or prior to December 31, 2015.

The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases by the Company of its shares of common stock during 2015:



PeriodTotal number of shares purchased (in thousands)Average price paid per share
February28$6.64
March176.27
April to December

Note 1311 - Stock rights

On September 15, 2009, the Company entered into the Amendment ("Amendment") to Rights Agreement dated as of September 15, 1999. Among other things, the Amendment extends the term of the Rights Agreement until September 15, 2019 and amends definitions to include positions in derivative instruments related to the Company's common stock as constituting beneficial ownership of such stock.


On September 15, 1999, the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of MFRI'sPPIH's common stock outstanding at the close of business on September 22, 1999. The stock issued after September 22, 1999 and before the redemption or expiration of the Rights is also entitled to one Right for each such additional share. Each Right entitles the registered holders, under certain circumstances, to purchase from the Company one share of MFRI'sPPIH's common stock at $25,$25, subject to adjustment. At no time will the Rights have any voting power.

50

The Rights may not be exercised until 10 days after a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's common stock, or announces a tender offer that, if consummated, would result in 15% or more ownership of the Company's common stock. Separate Rights certificates will not be issued, and the Rights will not be traded separately from the stock until then. Should an acquirer become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's common stock, Rights holders other than the acquirer would have the right to buy common stock in MFRI,PPIH, or in the surviving enterprise if MFRIPPIH is acquired, having a value of two times the exercise price then in effect. Also, MFRI'sthe PPIH Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than those of the acquirer, which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of MFRIPPIH common stock (and/or other securities, cash or other assets having equal value) per Right subject to adjustment. The Rights described in this paragraph and the preceding paragraph shall not apply to an acquisition, merger or consolidation approved by the Company's Board of Directors.


The Rights will expire on September 15, 2019,, unless exchanged or redeemed prior to that date. The redemption price is $0.01$0.01 per Right. MFRI'sPPIH's Board of Directors may redeem the Rights by a majority vote at any time prior to the 20th day following public announcement that a person or group has acquired 15% of MFRI'sPPIH common stock. Under certain circumstances, the decision to redeem requires the concurrence of a majority of the independent directors.


Note 1412 - Interest expense, net

(In thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

Interest expense

 $1,286  $808 

Interest income

  (164)  (111)

Interest expense, net

 $1,122  $697 

 2015
2.014
Interest expense$950$1,045
Interest income(480)(526)
Interest expense, net$470$519

Note 15 - Subsequent events

As previously discussed, MFRI, through its wholly owned subsidiary Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc., acquired 100% ownership of BPPC, a coating and insulation company located in Alberta, Canada. The Company had owned a 49% interest in BPPC since 2009. On February 4, 2016, the remaining 51% interest in BPPC was acquired from a subsidiary of Aegion Corporation for consideration of approximately $9.6 million in cash and debt.


Schedule II
MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

For the Years Ended January 31, 20162019 and 20152018

(In thousands)

 Balance at beginning of period Charges to expenses Write-offs (1) Other charges/ (reversals) (2) Balance at end of period

Year Ended January 31, 2019

                    

Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables

 $469  $140  $(272) $199  $536 
                     

Year Ended January 31, 2018

                    

Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables

 $305  $247  $(135) $52  $469 
 Balance at beginning of periodCharged to costs and expensesDeductions from reserves (1)Charged to other accounts (2)Balance at end of period
      
Year Ended January 31, 2016     
Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables$31$6$4$0$33
      
Year Ended January 31, 2015     
Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables$26$10$5$0$31
      

(1) Uncollectible accounts charged off

off.

(2) Primarily related to recoveries from accounts previously charged off and currency translationtranslation.





SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


MFRI, INC.

Date:April 28, 2016/s/ Bradley E. Mautner

EXHIBIT INDEX

 Bradley E. Mautner
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
BRADLEY E. MAUTNER*Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)))
)
KARL J. SCHMIDT*Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
)
)
April 28, 2016
)
DAVID UNGER*Director)
)
DAVID S. BARRIE*Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors
DENNIS KESSLER*Director)
)
MICHAEL J. GADE*Director)
)
MARK A. ZORKO*Director)
)
DAVID B. BROWN*Director)
)
JEROME T. WALKER*Director)
*By:/s/ Bradley E. MautnerIndividually and as Attorney in Fact
Bradley E. Mautner



EXHIBIT INDEX

The exhibits listed below are filed herewith except the exhibits described below as incorporated by reference. Exhibits not filed herewith are incorporated by reference to such exhibits filed by the Company under the location set forth under the caption “Description"Description and Location”Location" below. The Commission file number for ourthe Company's Exchange Act filings referenced below is 0-18370.


Exhibit No.

Description and Location

3(i)


Certificate of Incorporation of MFRI,Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Registration Statement No. 33-70298]

3(ii)


Second Amended and Restated By-Laws

Certificate of MFRI,Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2013]March 20, 2017]

4(a)

3(iii)


Fourth Amended and Restated By-Laws of Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2018]

4(a)

Specimen Common Stock Certificate [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 33-70794]

4(b)


4(c)



Amendment to Rights Agreement [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2009]

10(a)


2001 Independent Directors Stock Option Plan, [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(5) to the Company's Schedule TO filed on May 25, 2001] *

10(b)


Form of Directors and Officers Indemnification Agreement [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 filed on May 15, 2006] *

10(c)


MFRI 2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 filed on June 1, 2004] *

10(d)


Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated September 24, 2014 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on December 9, 2014]
10(e)
First Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated February 5, 2015
10(f)
Code of Conduct [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 filed on June 1, 2004]
10(g)
Employment agreement with Fati Elgendy dated November 12, 2007 [Incorporated by reference to DEF14A filed on May 29, 2008] *
10(h)
First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Fati Elgendy dated March 19, 2014 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(o) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014 filed on April 15, 2014] *
10(i)
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with Fati Elgendy dated February 25, 2016 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2016] *
10(j)

2009 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(k) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010 filed on April 19, 2010]*

10(k)

10(e)


Deferred Stock Purchase Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Forms S-8 File No. 333-186055, effective January 16, 2013] *
10(l)

2013 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as Amended June 14, 2013 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 14,17, 2013] *

10(m)

10(f)


Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated September 24, 2014 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on December 9, 2014]

10(g)

First Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated February 5, 2015 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 filed on April 16, 2015]

10(h)

Limited Waiver and Second Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated April 30, 2015 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on June 12, 2015]

10(n)

10(i)


Consent and Third Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated January 29, 2016 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(n) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 filed on April 28, 2016]

10(o)

10(j)


Fourth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated February 29, 2016 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2016]

10(p)

10(k)


Fifth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated October 25, 2016 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2016]

10(l)

Sixth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. dated December 29, 2016 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017 filed on April 14, 2017]

10(m)

Seventh Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and BMO Harris Bank, N.A.dated December 14, 2017. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 filed on April 19, 2018]

10(n)

Limited Waiver and Eighth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and Bank of Montreal, as successor by assignment to BMO Harris Bank N.A., dated June 5, 2018 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on June 12, 2018]

10(o)

Ninth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement between the Company and Bank of Montreal, as successor by assignment to BMO Harris Bank N.A., dated August 1, 2018 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on September 11, 2018]

10(p)

Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of January 29, 2016 by and among MFRI, Inc., TDC Filter Manufacturing Inc. and BHA Altair, LLC [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2016]

10(q)


Share Purchase Agreement dated as of January 29, 2016 by and among MFRI, Inc., MFRI Holdings (B.V.I.) Ltd, Midwesco Filter Resources Denmark A/S and Hengst Holding GmbH [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2016]

EXHIBIT INDEX

21

10(r)


Executive Employment Agreement with David J. Mansfield dated October 19, 2016 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on December 13, 2016]*

10(s)

Agreement with Bradley Mautner dated January 31, 2017 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2017]*

10(t)

Employment agreement with Karl J. Schmidt dated March 17, 2017 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 20, 2017]*

10(u)

2017 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as Amended June 13, 2017 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on September 19, 2017] *

10(v) SubsidiariesForm of MFRI, Inc.
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2017 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan as Amended June 13, 2017 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on September 11, 2018]*


10(w) EXHIBIT INDEXRevolving Credit and Security Agreement, dated September 20, 2018, by and among the Company, PNC Bank, National Association, and the other parties thereto [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2018]
23
10(x)
 Executive Employment Agreement, dated October 1, 2018, by and between the Company and D. Bryan Norwood [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2018]*
10(y)Letter Agreement, dated September 28, 2018, by and between the Company and Karl J. Schmidt [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2018]*

14

Code of Conduct [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 filed on June 1, 2004]

21

Subsidiaries of Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.

23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Grant Thornton LLP

24


Power of Attorney executed by directors and officers of the Company

31


Rule 13a - 14(a)/15d - 14(a) Certifications

32


101.INS


XBRL Instance

101.SCH


XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL


XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation

101.DEF


XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition

101.LAB


XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels

101.PRE


XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

*Management contracts and compensatory plans or agreements


Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY - None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.

Date:   April 16, 2019

/s/ David J. Mansfield

David J. Mansfield

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

DAVID J. MANSFIELD

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

)

)

D. BRYAN NORWOOD*

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

)

April 16, 2019

)

DAVID S. BARRIE*

Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors

DAVID B. BROWN*

Director

)

JEROME T. WALKER*

Director

)

CYNTHIA BOITER*

Director

)

*By:

/s/ David J. Mansfield

Individually and as Attorney in Fact

David J. Mansfield

55