UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2017April 30 2018
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to
Commission File Number: 001-07982
RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
South Dakota
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
46-0246171
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
205 East 6th Street, P.O. Box 5107, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5107
(Address of principal executive offices)
(605) 336-2750
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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.                     þ Yes o No
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).         þ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," “smaller"smaller reporting company”company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
 
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
  
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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    o Yes þ No
As of November 17, 2017May 18, 2018 there were 35,755,64635,885,868 shares of common stock, $1 par value, of Raven Industries, Inc. outstanding. There were no other classes of stock outstanding.
 




RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
INDEX
 PAGE
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures




PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share data)October 31,
2017
 January 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 January 31,
2018
ASSETS        
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents$36,873
 $50,648
 $46,313
$51,317
 $40,535
Accounts receivable, net59,573
 43,143
 39,554
66,812
 58,532
Inventories53,481
 42,336
 42,813
55,162
 55,351
Other current assets3,910
 2,689
 2,747
4,483
 5,861
Total current assets153,837
 138,816
 131,427
177,774
 160,279
        
Property, plant and equipment, net105,651
 106,324
 108,948
107,037
 106,280
Goodwill46,752
 40,649
 40,703
46,529
 46,710
Amortizable intangible assets, net11,375
 12,048
 12,511
9,815
 10,584
Other assets2,926
 3,672
 3,746
3,947
 2,950
TOTAL ASSETS$320,541
 $301,509
 $297,335
$345,102
 $326,803
        
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable$13,383
 $8,467
 $9,377
$14,714
 $13,106
Accrued liabilities21,645
 18,055
 14,708
20,262
 21,946
Customer advances908
 1,860
 1,154
Other current liabilities987
 1,890
Total current liabilities35,936
 28,382
 25,239
35,963
 36,942
        
Other liabilities13,456
 13,696
 12,134
16,053
 13,795
        
Commitments and contingencies
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)
 
        
Shareholders' equity        
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized shares 100,000; issued 67,088; 67,060; and 67,060, respectively67,088
 67,060
 67,060
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized shares 100,000; issued 67,177 and 67,124, respectively67,177
 67,124
Paid-in capital58,484
 55,795
 55,703
59,157
 59,143
Retained earnings249,034
 230,649
 230,957
270,479
 252,772
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(3,058) (3,676) (3,361)(3,339) (2,573)
Treasury stock at cost, 31,332; 30,984; and 30,984 shares, respectively(100,402) (90,402) (90,402)
Treasury stock at cost, 31,332 and 31,332 shares, respectively(100,402) (100,402)
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity271,146
 259,426
 259,957
293,072
 276,064
Noncontrolling interest3
 5
 5
14
 2
Total equity271,149
 259,431
 259,962
293,086
 276,066
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY$320,541
 $301,509
 $297,335
$345,102
 $326,803

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
                           

RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Net sales$101,349
 $72,522
 $281,494
 $208,480
$111,129
 $93,535
Cost of sales68,016
 52,683
 189,692
 149,609
71,131
 61,579
Gross profit33,333
 19,839
 91,802
 58,871
39,998
 31,956
          
Research and development expenses4,083
 4,151
 12,319
 12,475
5,285
 3,980
Selling, general, and administrative expenses11,421
 8,212
 31,476
 24,174
13,182
 9,498
Long-lived asset impairment loss
 87
 259
 87

 259
Operating income17,829
 7,389
 47,748
 22,135
21,531
 18,219
          
Other income (expense), net(34) (273) (327) (579)5,679
 (230)
Income before income taxes17,795
 7,116
 47,421
 21,556
27,210
 17,989
          
Income tax expense5,798
 1,375
 14,842
 5,802
5,063
 5,641
Net income11,997
 5,741
 32,579
 15,754
22,147
 12,348
          
Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest(1) 
 (2) 1
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest12
 
          
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.$11,998
 $5,741
 $32,581
 $15,753
$22,135
 $12,348
          
Net income per common share:          
─ Basic$0.33
 $0.16
 $0.90
 $0.43
$0.62
 $0.34
─ Diluted$0.33
 $0.16
 $0.89
 $0.43
$0.61
 $0.34
          
Cash dividends paid per common share$0.13
 $0.13
 $0.39
 $0.39
$0.13
 $0.13
          
Comprehensive income (loss):          
Net income$11,997
 $5,741
 $32,579
 $15,754
$22,147
 $12,348
          
Other comprehensive income (loss):          
Foreign currency translation(185) (201) 637
 146
(480) 12
Postretirement benefits, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $4, $2, $11 and $4, respectively(6) (2) (19) (6)
Postretirement benefits, net of income tax benefit of $2 and $4, respectively(6) (6)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(191) (203) 618
 140
(486) 6
          
Comprehensive income11,806
 5,538
 33,197
 15,894
21,661
 12,354
          
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest(1) 
 (2) 1
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest12
 
          
Comprehensive income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.$11,807
 $5,538
 $33,199
 $15,893
$21,649
 $12,354

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
                           

RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(unaudited)
td Par Common StockPaid-in CapitalTreasury StockRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Raven Industries, Inc. EquityNon- controlling InterestTotal Equitytd Par Common StockPaid-in CapitalTreasury StockRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Raven Industries, Inc. EquityNon- controlling InterestTotal Equity
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)SharesCostSharesCost
Balance January 31, 2016$67,006
$53,907
30,500
$(82,700)$229,443
$(3,501)$264,155
$74
$264,229
Balance January 31, 2017$67,060
$55,795
30,984
$(90,402)$230,649
$(3,676)$259,426
$5
$259,431
Net income



15,753

15,753
1
15,754




12,348

12,348

12,348
Other comprehensive income (loss):      
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment




146
146

146





12
12

12
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit of $4




(6)(6)
(6)




(6)(6)
(6)
Cash dividends ($0.39 per share)

161


(14,239)
(14,078)
(14,078)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary attributable to non-controlling interest






(70)(70)
Cash dividends ($0.13 per share)

56


(4,747)
(4,691)
(4,691)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes1
10




11

11
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes35
(291)



(256)
(256)11
(163)



(152)
(152)
Director shares issued19
(19)






Shares repurchased

484
(7,702)

(7,702)
(7,702)
Share-based compensation
2,291




2,291

2,291

791




791

791
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation


(346)



(346)
(346)
Balance October 31, 2016$67,060
$55,703
30,984
$(90,402)$230,957
$(3,361)$259,957
$5
$259,962
Balance April 30, 2017$67,072
$56,489
30,984
$(90,402)$238,250
$(3,670)$267,739
$5
$267,744
      
      
Balance January 31, 2017$67,060
$55,795
30,984
$(90,402)$230,649
$(3,676)$259,426
$5
$259,431
Balance January 31, 2018$67,124
$59,143
31,332
$(100,402)$252,772
$(2,573)$276,064
$2
$276,066
Net income



32,581

32,581
(2)32,579




22,135

22,135
12
22,147
Other comprehensive income (loss):      
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment




637
637

637





(480)(480)
(480)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit of $11




(19)(19)
(19)
Cash dividends ($0.39 per share)
164


(14,196)
(14,032)
(14,032)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit of $2




(6)(6)
(6)
Reclassification due to ASU 2018-02 adoption



280
(280)


Cash dividends ($0.13 per share)
50


(4,708)
(4,658)
(4,658)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes13
(170)



(157)
(157)12
(129)



(117)
(117)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes11
(162)



(151)
(151)41
(694)



(653)
(653)
Director shares issued4
(4)






Shares repurchased

348
(10,000)

(10,000)
(10,000)
Share-based compensation
2,861




2,861

2,861

787




787

787
Balance October 31, 2017$67,088
$58,484
31,332
$(100,402)$249,034
$(3,058)$271,146
$3
$271,149
Balance April 30, 2018$67,177
$59,157
31,332
$(100,402)$270,479
$(3,339)$293,072
$14
$293,086

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

                           

RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
(dollars in thousands)October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net income$32,579
 $15,754
$22,147
 $12,348
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization10,985
 11,526
3,683
 3,614
Change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration198
 (41)152
 91
Long-lived asset impairment loss259
 87

 259
Loss from equity investment247
 223

 110
Gain from sale of equity method investment(5,785) 
Deferred income taxes(1,035) (290)(293) (783)
Share-based compensation expense2,861
 2,291
787
 791
Other operating activities, net868
 8
(2,102) 174
Change in operating assets and liabilities:      
Accounts receivable(8,160) (1,620)(8,893) (8,623)
Inventories(9,213) 3,048
134
 (7,519)
Other assets(897) (135)(42) (1,041)
Operating liabilities2,142
 7,834
3,815
 8,281
Net cash provided by operating activities30,834
 38,685
13,603
 7,702
      
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
Capital expenditures(7,003) (3,901)(4,164) (2,790)
Payments related to business acquisitions(12,700) 
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments250
 250
6,556
 
Purchases of investments(255) (750)(79) 
(Disbursements) proceeds from settlement of liabilities, sale of assets(333) 1,145
Proceeds from sale of assets832
 14
Other investing activities(36) (498)40
 (60)
Net cash used in investing activities(20,077) (3,754)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities3,185
 (2,836)
      
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
Dividends paid(14,032) (14,148)(4,658) (4,691)
Payments for common shares repurchased(10,000) (7,702)
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability(364) (318)(295) (161)
Restricted stock units vested and issued(151) (256)(653) (152)
Employee stock option exercises(157) 
(117) 11
Other financing activities(52) 
Net cash used in financing activities(24,704) (22,424)(5,775) (4,993)
      
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash172
 24
(231) (44)
      
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(13,775) 12,531
10,782
 (171)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year50,648
 33,782
40,535
 50,648
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$36,873
 $46,313
$51,317
 $50,477

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)

(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
Raven Industries, Inc. (the Company or Raven) is a diversified technology company providing a variety of products to customers within the agricultural, aerospace/defense, construction, geomembrane, industrial, agricultural, geomembrane, construction, and aerospace/defensestratospheric balloon markets. The Company is comprised of three unique operating units, or divisions, classified into reportable segments: Applied Technology, Engineered Films, and Aerostar.

The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements, which includes the accounts of Raven and its wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries, net of intercompany balances and transactions, has been prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to fairly present this financial information have been included. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017.2018.

Financial results for the interim three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending January 31, 2018.2019. The January 31, 20172018 consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required in an annual report on Form 10-K. Preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of 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.
Noncontrolling interests represent capital contributions, income and loss attributable to the owners of less than wholly-owned consolidated entities. The Company owns a 75% interest in an entity consolidated under the Aerostar business segment. Given the Company's majority ownershipcontrolling financial interest, the accounts of the business venture have been consolidated with the accounts of the Company, and a noncontrolling interest has been recorded for the noncontrolling investor interest in the net assets and operations of the business venture.

(2) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

There have been no material changes to the Company's significant accounting policies as described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 20172018 other than described below in the Accounting Standards Adopted section.

section below.
Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Adopted
In the fiscal 20182019 first quarter, the Company early adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-04 (issued by2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" (ASU 2018-02) issued in February 2018. The amendments in this guidance allow for a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA and are intended to improve the usefulness of information reported. The Company elected to apply the amendments in January 2017), "Intangibles - Goodwill andthe period of adoption. The Company recorded a $280 reclassification entry for the stranded tax effects in Accumulated Other (Topic 350): SimplifyingComprehensive Income related to Raven's post-retirement plan further disclosed in the Test for Goodwill Impairment" (ASU 2017-04) on a prospective basis . This ASU removes Step 2Company's Annual Report in the Form 10-K filed March 23, 2018. The impact of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. Under the new guidance, a goodwill impairment will be measuredreclassification is reported as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. The amount of any impairment may not exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. As discussed in Note 7 Goodwill, Long-lived Assets, and Other Intangibles, management performed an assessment"Reclassification due to ASU 2018-02 adoption" in the fiscal 2018 first, second and third quarters and determined no triggering events had occurred for anyConsolidated Statements of its three reporting units; therefore, the early adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on the consolidated financial statements or the results of operations as of and for the three- or nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.Shareholders' Equity.

In the fiscal 20182019 first quarter when it became effective, the Company adopted FASB ASU 2016-09 (issued in March 2016), "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" (ASU 2016-09). ASU 2016-09 amends the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions to require recognition of the tax effects resulting from the settlement of stock-based awards as discrete income tax expense or benefit in the income statement in the reporting period in which they occur. This guidance also requires that all tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based awards be disclosed as operating cash flows in the statement of cash flows and that cash paid to taxing authorities on the behalf of employees for withheld shares be classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows. Finally, this ASU allows
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest, consistent with current GAAP, or account for forfeitures when they occur. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The Company is prospectively recognizing excess tax benefits or deficits on vesting or settlement of awards, when they occur, as a discrete income tax benefit or expense instead of as additional paid-in capital as required under previous guidance. This change to the Company's accounting policies resulted in recognition of income tax expense of $2 and $571 for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017. These tax-related cash flows are now classified within operating activities. The Company classifies tax payments made to taxing authorities on the employee's behalf for withheld shares as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows, as such the adoption of this guidance had no impact. Under the new guidance, excess tax benefits are no longer included in assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method of calculating earnings per share. The increase in incremental shares used in the weighted average diluted shares calculation was not material to the Company's diluted earnings per share calculation.

In the fiscal 2018 first quarter when it became effective, the Company adopted the FASB ASU No. 2015-11 (issued in July 2015), "Inventory (Topic 330) Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" (ASU 2015-11) on a prospective basis. The amendments in ASU 2015-11 clarify that an entity should measure inventory within the scope of this update at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Substantial and unusual losses that result from subsequent measurement of inventory should be disclosed in the financial statements. Previously the Company reported its inventory at the lower of cost or market. Market was defined as replacement cost with a ceiling of net realizable value and a floor of net realizable value less a normal profit margin. The Company evaluates its inventory in all three reporting segments quarterly to determine if cost exceeds net realizable value and records a write-down, if necessary. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on the consolidated financial statements or the results of operations as of and for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting" (ASU 2017-09). on a prospective basis. The guidance amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under Topic 718. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards as equity instruments or a liability instruments are the same immediately before and after the modification
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


to the award. The guidance is effective for annual periods, including interim periods, in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company currently has no plans todid not modify any of its outstanding awards. The Company will consider early adopting this guidance if modifications to its share-based compensation arrangements are likely to occur. The Company does not expectawards during the three-month period ended April 30, 2018; therefore, the adoption of this guidance will have a significanthad no impact on its consolidated financial statements, results of operations, andor disclosures.

In March 2017,the fiscal 2019 first quarter when it became effective, the Company adopted, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost" (ASU 2017-07). The guidance clarifies where the cost components of the net benefit cost should be reported in the income statement and it allows only the service cost to be capitalized. Currently the Company reports allThe adoption of the componentsthis guidance resulted in $7 of the net periodic benefit cost in "Operating income" inbeing reported as a charge to operating income and $71 reported as a charge to non-operating income (expense) for the three-months ended April 30 2018. The classification of this charge on the Consolidated StatementStatements of Income and Comprehensive Income.Income is described in Note 8 Employee Retirement Benefits in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The net periodic benefit cost for participants that are active employeesthe prior fiscal year was not material.

In the fiscal 2019 first quarter when it became effective, the Company adopted FASB ASU 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740) Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory" (ASU 2016-16). Previous GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This prohibition on recognition is reportedan exception to the principle of comprehensive recognition of current and deferred income taxes in the same manner as each participant's compensation cost is classified in the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income. The net benefit cost attributable to retired (inactive) participants is reported in "Selling, general, and administrative expenses" in the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income. Under theGAAP. This new guidance onlyeliminates the service cost componentexception for an intra-entity transfer of the net benefit cost will be classified the same as the participant's compensation cost. Thean asset other components of the net benefit cost are required to be reported separately as a non-operating income (expense). The guidance is effective for annual periods, including interim periods, in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied retrospectively.than inventory. The Company doesdid not expecthave any intra-entity transfers of assets impacted by this guidance, will have a significantas such the adoption of this guidance had no impact on its consolidated financial statements, results of operations, or disclosures.

In the fiscal 2019 first quarter when it became effective, the Company adopted FASB ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and disclosures since it primarily will only changeCash Payments" (ASU 2016-15). The specific classification issues clarified in the guidance either were not applicable to the Company or are consistent with how the net benefit cost isCompany previously classified them, therefore the adoption of this guidance had no impact on its consolidated financial statements, results of operations, or disclosures.

In the fiscal 2019 first quarter when it became effective, the Company adopted FASB ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." The updated accounting guidance requires equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. An entity’s equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting or result in consolidation of an investee are not included within the scope of this update. The impacted financial instruments held at the time of adoption were not material, as such, the adoption of this guidance and the subsequent changes to Subtopic 825-10 in ASU 2018-03 "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities," did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Statementsconsolidated financial statements, results of Income and Comprehensive Income.operations, or disclosures.

In the fiscal 2019 first quarter, the Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 provides a comprehensive new recognition model that requires recognition of revenue when a company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration which a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in FASB ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition," and most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 on a modified retrospective basis. The comparative historical information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under ASC Topic 605 as previously presented. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or results of operations as of the adoption date or for the three months ended April 30, 2018 as a significant majority of our sales revenue is recognized when products are shipped from our manufacturing facilities. As part of our adoption of ASU 2014-09 we have elected the following practical expedients: modified retrospective basis was applied for all contracts that were not completed as of February 1, 2018; shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control over a product has transferred to a customer are considered fulfillment costs included within cost of sales; and taxes that are collected by the Company from a customer, which are assessed by governmental authorities that are both imposed upon and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, are excluded from revenues. Additional disclosures related to the revenues arising from contracts with customers as required by Topic 606 are included in Note 5 Revenue.
New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" (ASU 2016-02). The primary difference between previous GAAP and ASU 2016-02 is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The guidance requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a lease liability to(to make lease payments (the lease liability)payments) and a right-of-use asset representing(representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term.term) on the balance sheet. When measuring assets and liabilities arising from a lease, a lessee (and a lessor) should include payments to be made in optional periods only if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise an option to extend the lease or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease. Similarly,
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


optional payments to purchase the underlying asset should be included in the measurement of lease assets and lease liabilities only if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that purchase option. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. An entity that elects to apply the practical expedients will, in effect, continue to account for leases that commence before the effective date in accordance with previous GAAP unless the lease is modified, except that lessees are required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all operating leases at each reporting date based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments that were trackedaccounted for and disclosed under previous GAAP. In addition, FASB has amended Topic 842 prior to it becoming effective. The effective date and transition requirements for these amendments to Topic 842 are the same as ASU 2016-02. The Company is in the initial stages of evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements, results of operations, and disclosures.

In May 2014 the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 providesdisclosures which will include recognizing a comprehensive new recognition model that requires recognition of revenue whenlease liability and a company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in FASB ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition," and most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, companies will needright-of-use asset representing its right to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts. In August 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date (ASU 2015-14) and the standard is now effectiveunderlying asset for the Company for fiscal 2019 and interim periods therein. The guidance may be applied using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). In addition, FASB has amended Topic 606 prior to it becoming effective. The effective date and transition requirements for these amendments to Topic 606 are the same as ASU 2014-09. The Company is in its final stages of evaluating the impact that the standard will have on revenue recognition. The Company has reviewed contracts for all material revenue streams across the Company's three divisions, held discussions with key stakeholders, and assessed potential impacts on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, results of operations, disclosures, and internal controls over financial reporting. The Company currently recognizes a significant majority of its revenue across all three divisions at a point-in-time with some exceptions that are recognized over time. These exceptions primarily relate to certain revenue streams within the Aerostar Division and installation sales within the Engineered Films Division. Management expects that this will remain materially consistent upon adoption of the new standard, but has identified a few exceptions for which further evaluation is necessary, and for which the timing of revenue recognition could be impacted. Additionally, the Company expects to make additional disclosures related to the revenues arising from contracts with customers as required by the new standard. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using the modified retrospective approach.lease term.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


(3) SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

Following are the components of selected items from the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
  April 30, 2018 January 31, 2018
Accounts receivable, net:    
     Trade accounts $65,723
 $57,063
     Unbilled receivables 2,031
 2,447
     Allowance for doubtful accounts (942) (978)
  $66,812
 $58,532
Inventories:    
Finished goods $7,008
 $8,054
In process 995
 961
Materials 47,159
 46,336
 
$55,162

$55,351
Other current assets:    
Insurance policy benefit $207
 $759
     Income tax receivable 10
 1,397
     Prepaid expenses and other 4,266
 3,705
  $4,483
 $5,861
Property, plant and equipment, net:    
Land $3,234
 $3,234
Buildings and improvements 80,244
 80,299
Machinery and equipment 153,489
 149,847
     Accumulated depreciation (130,337) (127,523)
  106,630
 105,857
Property, plant and equipment subject to capital leases:    
Machinery and equipment 521
 488
Accumulated amortization for capitalized leases (114) (65)
  $107,037
 $106,280
Other assets:    
Equity investments $96
 $1,955
Receivable from sale of investment 1,167
 
Deferred income taxes 21
 19
Other 2,663
 976
  $3,947
 $2,950
Accrued liabilities:    
Salaries and related $3,309
 $9,409
Benefits 4,180
 4,225
Insurance obligations 2,215
 1,992
Warranties 1,097
 1,163
Income taxes 4,126
 226
Other taxes 905
 1,880
Acquisition-related contingent consideration 1,483
 1,036
Other 2,947
 2,015
  $20,262
 $21,946
Other liabilities:    
Postretirement benefits $8,228
 $8,264
Acquisition-related contingent consideration 1,420
 2,010
Deferred income taxes 320
 615
Uncertain tax positions 2,635
 2,634
Other 3,450
 272
  $16,053
 $13,795


(4) NET INCOME PER SHARE

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common shares and fully vested stock units outstanding. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common and common
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


equivalent shares outstanding which includes the shares issuable upon exercise of employee stock options (net of shares assumed purchased with the option proceeds), stock units, and restricted stock units outstanding. Performance share awards are included in the diluted calculation based upon what would be issued if the end of the most recent reporting period was the end of the term of the award. Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding are excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation if their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect.
Certain outstanding options and restricted stock units were excluded from the diluted net income per-share calculations because their effect would have been anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method. The options and restricted stock units excluded from the diluted net income per-share share calculation were as follows:
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
Anti-dilutive options and restricted stock units338,244 653,513 385,157 922,041
 Three Months Ended
 April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Anti-dilutive options and restricted stock units16,304 470,265


The computation of earnings per share is presented below:
 Three Months Ended
 April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Numerator:   
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.$22,135
 $12,348
    
Denominator:   
Weighted average common shares outstanding35,826,096
 36,080,143
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding87,716
 98,787
Denominator for basic calculation35,913,812
 36,178,930
    
Weighted average common shares outstanding35,826,096
 36,080,143
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding87,716
 98,787
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted stock units466,768
 359,795
Denominator for diluted calculation36,380,580
 36,538,725
    
Net income per share ─ basic$0.62
 $0.34
Net income per share ─ diluted$0.61
 $0.34


(5) REVENUE
Nature of goods and services
The Company is comprised of three unique operating divisions, classified into reportable segments: Applied Technology (ATD), Engineered Films (EFD), and Aerostar (AERO). The following is a description of principal activities, separated by reportable segment, from which the Company generates revenue. Note that service revenues are not material and are not separately disclosed.
Applied Technology
Applied Technology designs, manufactures, sells, and services innovative precision agriculture products and information management tools, which are collectively referred to as precision agriculture equipment, that help growers reduce costs, more precisely control inputs, and improve crop yields for the global agriculture market. Customers can purchase precision agriculture equipment individually or in large quantities. For purchases made in large quantities, the Company accounts for each piece of equipment separately, as each is a distinct performance obligation from which the customer derives benefit. The stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the prices at which the Company charges other customers for similar products in similar circumstances. Kits or bundles, which can consist of various pieces of equipment, are shipped together and therefore allocation of transaction price does not impact timing of revenue recognition. In the normal course of business the customer agrees to a stated price that does not vary upon purchase and revenue is recognized when control has transferred to the customer.
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Engineered Films
Engineered Films manufactures high performance plastic films and sheeting for geomembrane, agricultural, construction, and industrial applications. Engineered Films' ability to develop value-added innovative products is expanded by its fabrication, conversion, and installation capabilities. Plastic film and sheeting can be purchased separately or together with installation services. The majority of transactions within Engineered Films are considered non-customized product-only sales. The Company accounts for each product separately, as each is a distinct performance obligation from which the customer derives benefit. The stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the prices at which the Company charges other customers for similar products in similar circumstances. In the normal course of business the customer agrees to a stated price that does not vary upon purchase and revenue is recognized when control has transferred to the customer.
The remaining transactions within Engineered Films are related to installation and/or customized product sales. Installation revenues are recognized over time using the cost incurred input method (i.e., costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion) because of continuous transfer of control to our customers. For customized product-only sales, the Company recognizes revenue over time by applying an output method, such as units delivered, to measure progress.
Aerostar
Aerostar serves the aerospace/defense and stratospheric balloon markets. Aerostar designs and manufactures proprietary products including high-altitude (stratospheric) balloon systems, and tethered aerostats, which are collectively referred to as lighter-than-air products, and offers radar processing systems and related services. These products can be integrated with additional third-party sensors to provide research, communications, and situational awareness capabilities to governmental and commercial customers. Aerostar pursues product and support services contracts with agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government. Product sales to customers for which we do not continuously transfer control are recognized based on a point-in-time. Contracts with customers which include elements of service, and are considered to be single performance obligations, are recognized over time. The stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the prices at which the Company charges other customers for similar products or services in similar circumstances. In the normal course of business the customer agrees to a stated price that does not vary upon purchase. For revenues recognized at a point-in-time, the Company recognizes revenue when control has transferred to the customer. Certain lighter-than-air contracts are recognized over time using the cost incurred input method. The remaining transactions are recognized over time applying an output method, such as units delivered, to measure progress.
Disaggregation of Revenues
In the following table, revenue is disaggregated by major product category and geography as we believe these categories best depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. The table also includes a reconciliation of the disaggregated revenue with reportable segments.
 Revenue by Product Category
 Three Months Ended April 30, 2018 Three Months Ended April 30, 2017
 ATDEFDAERO
ELIM(a)
Total ATDEFDAERO
ELIM(a)
Total
Lighter-than-Air           
    Domestic$
$
$6,548
$
$6,548
 $
$
$6,206
$
$6,206
    International

454

454
 

26

26
Plastic Films & Sheeting    

     

    Domestic
55,297

(194)55,103
 
41,111

(116)40,995
    International
4,695


4,695
 
2,444


2,444
Precision Agriculture Equipment    

     

    Domestic29,525



29,525
 30,259



30,259
    International10,905



10,905
 10,231



10,231
Other    

     

    Domestic

3,899

3,899
 

3,332

3,332
    International




 

42

42
Totals$40,430
$59,992
$10,901
$(194)$111,129
 $40,490
$43,555
$9,606
$(116)$93,535
(a) Intersegment sales for both fiscal 2019 and 2018 were primarily sales from Engineered Films to Aerostar.
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)



Contract Balances
Contract assets consist of unbilled receivables and retainage. Contract assets primarily relate to the Company’s rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at the reporting date, or retainage provisions on billings that have been issued. Contract assets are converted to receivables when the right to collect becomes unconditional.
Contract liabilities consist of customer advances and deferred revenue. Contract liabilities primarily relate to consideration received from customers prior to transferring goods or services to the customer.
The computation of earnings per share is presented below:following table reflects the changes in our contract assets and liabilities for the three months ended April 30, 2018:
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
Numerator:       
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.$11,998
 $5,741
 $32,581
 $15,753
        
Denominator:       
Weighted average common shares outstanding35,829,880
 36,076,259
 36,002,024
 36,164,468
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding109,558
 97,716
 105,830
 100,595
Denominator for basic calculation35,939,438
 36,173,975
 36,107,854
 36,265,063
        
Weighted average common shares outstanding35,829,880
 36,076,259
 36,002,024
 36,164,468
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding109,558
 97,716
 105,830
 100,595
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted stock units380,997
 122,270
 369,339
 70,102
Denominator for diluted calculation36,320,435
 36,296,245
 36,477,193
 36,335,165
        
Net income per share ─ basic$0.33
 $0.16
 $0.90
 $0.43
Net income per share ─ diluted$0.33
 $0.16
 $0.89
 $0.43
 April 30,
2018
 January 31,
2018
 $ Change% Change
Contract assets(a)
$2,724
 $3,119
 $(395)(12.7)%
       
Contract liabilities(b)
$987
 $1,890
 $(903)(47.8)%

(a)
Contract assets are reported in "Accounts receivable, net" in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b) Contract liabilities are reported in "Other current liabilities" in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)



(4) SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

Following are the components of selected items from the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
  October 31, 2017 January 31, 2017 October 31, 2016
Accounts receivable, net:      
     Trade accounts $60,621
 $43,834
 $40,257
     Allowance for doubtful accounts (1,048) (691) (703)
  $59,573
 $43,143
 $39,554
Inventories:      
Finished goods $7,063
 $5,438
 $5,686
In process 1,035
 2,288
 2,325
Materials 45,383
 34,610
 34,802
 
$53,481

$42,336

$42,813
Other current assets:      
Insurance policy benefit $593
 $802
 $776
     Income tax receivable 269
 604
 228
Receivable from sale of business 17
 28
 71
     Prepaid expenses and other 3,031
 1,255
 1,672
  $3,910
 $2,689
 $2,747
Property, plant and equipment, net:      
Land $3,234
 $3,054
 $3,054
Buildings and improvements 80,009
 77,817
 78,674
Machinery and equipment 147,723
 142,471
 142,946
     Accumulated depreciation (125,315) (117,018) (115,726)
  $105,651
 $106,324
 $108,948
Other assets:      
Equity method investments $1,884
 $2,371
 $2,346
Deferred income taxes 18
 18
 65
Other 1,024
 1,283
 1,335
  $2,926
 $3,672
 $3,746
Accrued liabilities:      
Salaries and related $6,464
 $6,286
 $3,931
Benefits 4,128
 3,960
 3,720
Insurance obligations 3,106
 2,400
 2,022
Warranties 1,217
 1,547
 1,852
Income taxes 1,668
 498
 332
Other taxes 1,446
 1,540
 1,230
Acquisition-related contingent consideration 815
 445
 396
Other 2,801
 1,379
 1,225
  $21,645
 $18,055
 $14,708
Other liabilities:      
Postretirement benefits $8,110
 $8,054
 $7,714
Acquisition-related contingent consideration 2,016
 1,397
 1,385
Deferred income taxes 393
 1,421
 257
Uncertain tax positions 2,584
 2,610
 2,778
Other 353
 214
 
  $13,456
 $13,696
 $12,134


(5) ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

The Company continually analyzes its product and service offerings to ensure we serve market segments with attractive near- and long-term growth prospects that are consistent with our core capabilities. Through this continued evaluation the Company's Aerostar segment finalized a plan ("the Plan") to actively market the sale of its client private and radar product lines, which it has determined constitutes a business. During the secondthree months ended April 30, 2018, the Company’s contract assets and contract liabilities decreased by $395 and $903, respectively, primarily as a result of the contract terms for and timing of customer payments, timing of invoicing, and progress made on open contracts. Due to the short-term nature of the Company’s contracts, substantially all of the contract assets that existed as of January 31, 2018 were converted to receivables and contract liabilities that existed as of January 31, 2018 were recognized as revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.
Remaining performance obligations
As of April 30, 2018, the Company determineddid not have any remaining performance obligations related to customer contracts that it was probable that these product lines would be sold withinhad an original expected duration of one year. The Company has identified specific assets and liabilities likely to be sold, including an allocation of goodwill based on the relative fair value of the business to be sold. Currently, the Company estimates
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


the fair value of the net assets held for sale is in excess of their net book value. As such there is no impact to the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three-year or nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.
Under the Plan, Aerostar will remain focused on serving the aerospace/defense market with its stratospheric balloon product and service offerings.
Amounts classified as held for sale are as follows:
 October 31, 2017
Assets held for sale 
Inventories$3,000
Other current assets79
Total current assets held for sale3,079
Property, plant and equipment, net227
Goodwill102
Amortizable intangible assets, net358
Other assets17
          Total assets held for sale$3,783
  
Liabilities held for sale
 
Current liabilities$392
Other long-term liabilities127
Total liabilities held for sale$519

more.

(6) ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES OF AND INVESTMENTS IN BUSINESSES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Colorado Lining International, Inc.
On September 1, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets ("the acquisition")(the acquisition) of Colorado Lining International, Inc., a Colorado corporation, headquartered in Parker, CO (“CLI”)(CLI). The acquisition willwas immediately alignaligned under the Company’s Engineered Films Division. The acquisition enhancesenhanced the Company’s geomembrane market position through extended service and product offerings with the addition of new design-build and installation service components, and will advanceadvanced Engineered Films’ business model into a vertically-integrated, full-service solutions provider for the geomembrane market. The acquisition constitutesconstituted a business and as such was accounted for as a business combination.

The purchase price was approximately $15,088. This includesof $14,938 included a potential earn-out payments with an estimated fair value of $1,256 which$1,256. The earn-out payments are contingent upon achieving certain revenuesrevenue targets and operational synergies. The acquisition includes a working capital adjustment to be settled within ninety days after acquisition.

In the initial acquisition accounting, the fair value of the business acquired was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is reflectedwas recorded as goodwill. Goodwill recorded as part of the purchase price allocation was $5,941,$5,714, all of which is tax deductible. Identifiable intangibleIntangible assets acquired as part ofin the acquisition were $610, including definite-lived intangibles, such asrelated to customer relationships, order backlog and order backlog. The estimated fair value of the assets acquirednon-complete agreements and liabilities assumed are preliminary and may be adjusted as the Company obtains additional information, primarily related to adjustments for the true up of acquired net working capital in accordance with the asset purchase agreement. If there are adjustments made for these items, the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill could be impacted. Thus, the provisional measurements of fair value are subject to change.were valued at $610.

Ag-Eagle Aerial Systems,Aerostar's Client Private Business
In fiscal 2018 Aerostar actively marketed the sale of its client private business and classified it as held for sale. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the client private business was sold for $832 which resulted in an immaterial gain.

Site-Specific Technology Development Group, Inc. (SST)
In February 2016,2018 the Applied Technology Division acquiredCompany sold its ownership interest, which was being accounted for as an interestequity method investment, of approximately 5%22% in AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (AgEagle). AgEagle isSST with a privately held company that is a providercarrying value of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) used for agricultural applications. Contemporaneously with the execution of this agreement, AgEagle and the Company entered into a distribution agreement whereby the Company was appointed as the exclusive distributor of the existing AgEagle system as it pertains to the agriculture market. The Company’s equity ownership interest is considered a variable interest and it accounts for this investment under the equity method of accounting.$1,937. Raven received $6,556 in cash at closing. The Company recognized a gain on the sale of $5,785 for the three months ended April 30, 2018 and this gain was reported in "Other income (expense), net" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. This amount includes a fifteen percent hold-back provision held in an escrow account which is not the primary beneficiary as the Company does not have the powerexpected to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or thebe settled in fiscal 2020.
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the entity. The purchase price was allocated between the equity ownership interest and an intangible asset for the exclusive distribution agreement. In April 2017, the Company determined that the investment in AgEagle, was fully impaired, further described in Note 7 Goodwill, Long-lived Assets and Other Intangibles, due to lower than expected cash flows. The Company has no commitments or guarantees related to this equity method investment.

Acquisition-related Contingent Consideration
The Company has contingent liabilities related to the recent acquisition of CLI in September 2017, as well as the prior acquisitions of SBG Innovatie BV and its affiliate, Navtronics BVBA (collectively, SBG) in May 2014 and Vista Research, Inc. (Vista) in January 2012. The fair value of such contingent consideration is estimated as of the acquisition date, and subsequently at the end of each reporting period, using forecasted cash flows. Projecting future cash flows requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions regarding future events, conditions, or revenues being achieved under the subject contingent agreement as well as the appropriate discount rate. Such valuation techniques include one or more significant inputs that are not observable (Level 3 fair value measures).

Changes in the fair value of the liability for acquisition-related contingent consideration are as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Beginning balance$1,567
 $1,901
 $1,741
 $2,059
$3,046
 $1,742
Fair value of contingent consideration acquired1,256
 
 1,256
 
Change in fair value of the liability52
 (165) 198
 (41)152
 91
Contingent consideration earn-out paid(44) (36) (364) (318)(295) (161)
Ending balance$2,831
 $1,700
 $2,831
 $1,700
$2,903
 $1,672
          
Classification of liability in the Consolidated balance sheet          
Accrued Liabilities    $815
 $315
Other Liabilities, long-term    2,016
 1,385
Balance at October 31, 2017    $2,831
 $1,700
       
Accrued liabilities$1,483
 $434
Other liabilities, long-term1,420
 1,238
Balance at April 30$2,903
 $1,672


In the recent CLI acquisition, the Company entered into a contingent earn-out agreement, not to exceed $2,000. The earn-out is paid annually for three years after the purchase date, contingent upon achieving certain revenues and operational synergies. To date, the Company has made no payments on this potential earn-out liability.

In connection with the acquisition of SBG, Raven is committed to making additional earn-out payments, not to exceed $2,500 calculated and paid quarterly for ten years after the purchase date contingent upon achieving certain revenues. To date, the Company has paid a total of $847$974 of this potential earn-out liability.

Related to the acquisition of Vista in 2012, the Company is committed to making annual payments based upon earn-out percentages on specific revenue streams for seven years after the purchase date, not to exceed $15,000. To date, the Company has paid a total of $1,572$1,783 of this potential earn-out liability.

(7) GOODWILL, LONG-LIVED ASSETS, AND OTHER CHARGES

Goodwill

Fiscal 2018
Management assesses goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter and between annual tests whenever a triggering event indicates there may be an impairment. Impairment tests of goodwill are done at the reporting unit level. Management performed an assessment in thefirst quarter of fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 third quarter and determined that no triggering events had occurred for any of the Company's reporting units. There were no goodwill impairment losses reported in the three-three-month periods ending April 30, 2018 and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Fiscal 2017
In the fiscal 2017, third quarter the Company determined that a triggering event occurred for its Aerostar reporting unit, which had $789 of goodwill as of October 31, 2016. The triggering event was caused by lowering the financial expectations for net sales and operating income of the reporting unit and certain asset groups due to delays and uncertainties regarding the reporting unit’s pursuit of certain opportunities, including aerostat orders, certain classified stratospheric balloon pursuits, and radar pursuits. Aerostar was still actively pursuing these opportunities and some were in active negotiations, but the timing of certain aerostat and classified stratospheric balloon opportunities are being delayed more than previously expected and the likelihood of radar sales is lower due to the Company's decision to no longer actively pursue certain radar product opportunities.

AStep 1 impairment analysis was completed using fair value techniques as of October 31, 2016. In determining the estimated fair value of the Aerostar reporting unit, the Company was required to estimate a number of factors, including projected revenue growth rates, projected operating results, terminal growth rates, economic conditions, anticipated future cash flows, and the discount rate. On the basis of these estimates, the October 31, 2016 analysis indicated that the estimated fair value of the Aerostar reporting unit exceeded the reporting unit carrying value by approximately $9,000, or approximately 30.0%. There were no goodwill impairment losses reported in the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016.respectively.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reporting unit were as follows:
  
Applied
Technology
 
Engineered
Films
 Aerostar Total
Balance at January 31, 2017 $12,342
 $27,518
 $789
 $40,649
Additions due to business combinations 
 5,941
 
 5,941
Divestiture of business 
 
 (52) (52)
Foreign currency translation adjustment 214
 
 
 214
Balance at October 31, 2017 $12,556
 $33,459
 $737
 $46,752
         
Balance at January 31, 2016 $12,365
 $27,518
 $789
 $40,672
Foreign currency translation adjustment 31
 
 
 31
Balance at October 31, 2016 $12,396
 $27,518
 $789
 $40,703
  
Applied
Technology
 
Engineered
Films
 Aerostar Total
Balance at January 31, 2018 $12,741
 $33,232
 $737
 $46,710
Divestiture of business 
 
 (103) (103)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (78) 
 
 (78)
Balance at April 30, 2018 $12,663
 $33,232
 $634
 $46,529


(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Long-lived Assets and Other Intangibles

Fiscal 20182019
The Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles equity method investments, and property plant and equipment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset might be impaired. For long-livedimpaired and intangible assets, the Company performs impairment reviews by asset groups.group. When performing long-lived asset testing, the fair values of assets are determined based on valuation techniques using the best available information. Such valuations are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable (Level 3 fair value measures). An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset is above the estimated undiscounted cash flows used in determining the fair value of the asset.asset are less than its carrying amount.

Management performed an assessment in fiscal 2019 first quarter and determined that there were no impairment indicators identified for any of the Company's asset groups. There were no long-lived asset impairment losses reported in the three-month period ending April 30, 2018.

Fiscal 2018
During first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company determined that the investment in AgEagle further described in Note 6 Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies, Aerial Systems, Inc. (AgEagle) was impaired due to lower than expected cash flows. This impairment was determined to be other-than-temporary and an accelerated equity method investment loss of $72 was reported in "Other income (expense), net" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the nine-monththree-month period ended October 31,April 30, 2017. The Company also determined the customer relationship intangible asset related to the Ag EagleAgEagle exclusive distribution agreement was fully impaired. The total impairment loss reported related to this intangible asset was $259 and was reported in "Long-lived asset impairment loss" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017. There were no long-lived asset impairments or accelerated equity method investment losses reported in the three-month period ended October 31,April 30, 2017.

Fiscal 2017
The Company evaluated the triggering events described in the goodwill impairment analysis and determined there were also triggering events with respect to the assets associated with the aerostat and stratospheric programs (Lighter than Air) and Radar asset groups in the Aerostar reporting unit in the third quarter, which resulted in an asset impairment test.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Using the sum of the undiscounted cash flows associated with each of the two asset groups, a Step 1 test was performed for each asset group. The undiscounted cash flows for the Lighter than Air asset group exceeded the carrying value of the long-lived assets by approximately $110,000, or 800%, and no Step 2 test was deemed to be necessary based on the recoverability of the long-lived assets. For the Radar asset group, however, the undiscounted cash flows did not exceed the carrying value of the long-lived assets and the Company performed a Step 2 impairment analysis for the long-lived assets.

In the Step 2 impairment analysis, the fair value determined was allocated to the assets and liabilities of the Radar asset group. The resulting estimated fair value of the Radar asset group long-lived assets was $175 compared to the carrying value of $262 for the asset group. The shortfall of $87 was recorded in the fiscal 2017 third quarter as an impairment charge to operating income reported as "Long-lived asset impairment loss" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The total impairment loss related to property, plant, and equipment and patents was $62 and $25, respectively.

The following table provides the gross carrying amount and related accumulated amortization of definite-lived intangible assets:
October 31, 2017 January 31, 2017 October 31, 2016April 30, 2018 January 31, 2018
 Accumulated   Accumulated   Accumulated  Accumulated   Accumulated 
AmountamortizationNet AmountamortizationNet AmountamortizationNetAmountamortizationNet AmountamortizationNet
Existing technology$7,218
$(6,854)$364
 $7,136
$(6,553)$583
 $7,157
$(6,490)$667
$7,260
$(7,046)$214
 $7,290
$(6,996)$294
Customer relationships13,220
(4,503)8,717
 12,987
(3,680)9,307
 13,000
(3,421)9,579
13,245
(5,400)7,845
 13,264
(4,834)8,430
Patents and other intangibles4,708
(2,414)2,294
 4,378
(2,220)2,158
 4,427
(2,162)2,265
4,257
(2,501)1,756
 4,241
(2,381)1,860
Total$25,146
$(13,771)$11,375
 $24,501
$(12,453)$12,048
 $24,584
$(12,073)$12,511
$24,762
$(14,947)$9,815
 $24,795
$(14,211)$10,584


Inventory write-downs
During the fiscal 2017 third quarter, the Company wrote-down radar inventory, purchased primarily during fiscal 2016, due to the Company's decision in the fiscal 2017 third quarter to no longer actively pursue certain radar opportunities. The decision to write-down this inventory is consistent with the triggering event identified during the fiscal 2017 third quarter relating to the Aerostar reporting unit and the radar product and radar services (Radar) asset group. This radar specific inventory write-down increased "Cost of sales" by $2,278 for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016. There were no material inventory write-downs in the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.

(8) EMPLOYEE POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Company provides postretirement medical and other benefits to certain current and past senior executive officers and senior managers. These plan obligations are unfunded. The components of the net periodic benefit cost for postretirement benefits are as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Service cost$21
 $20
 $64
 $60
$7
 $22
Interest cost83
 83
 247
 249
79
 82
Amortization of actuarial losses30
 36
 90
 110
32
 30
Amortization of unrecognized gains in prior service cost(40) (40) (120) (120)(40) (40)
Net periodic benefit cost$94
 $99
 $281
 $299
$78
 $94

Postretirement benefit cost components are reclassified in their entirety from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net periodic benefit cost.  Net periodic benefit costs are reported in net income in accordance with ASU 2017-07 "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost" (ASU 2017-07) further described in Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Service cost is reported in net income as “Cost of sales” or “Selling, general, and administrative expenses” in a manner consistent with the classification of direct labor and personnel costs of the eligible employees. Interest cost, amortization of actuarial gains or losses, and amortization of prior service cost is classified as a non-operating expense in "Other income (expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


(9) WARRANTIES

Accruals necessary for product warranties are estimated based on historical warranty costs and average time elapsed between purchases and returns for each division. Additional accruals are made for any significant, discrete warranty issues. Changes in the warranty accrual were as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Beginning balance$2,265
 $2,076
 $1,547
 $1,835
$1,163
 $1,547
Change in provision(274) 202
 1,504
 1,288
157
 1,377
Settlements made(774) (426) (1,834) (1,271)(223) (519)
Ending balance$1,217
 $1,852
 $1,217
 $1,852
$1,097
 $2,405


(10) FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

The Company entered into a credit facility on April 15, 2015 with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch as Canadian Administrative Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and each lender from time to time party thereto (the Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement provides for a syndicated senior revolving credit facility up to $125,000 with a maturity date of April 15, 2020.

Simultaneous with execution of the Credit Agreement, Raven and its subsidiaries entered into a guaranty agreement in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association in its capacity as administrator under the Credit Agreement for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch and the lenders and their affiliates under the Credit Agreement.

UnamortizedThe unamortized debt issuance costs associated with this Credit Agreement were $270, $352 and $379 at October 31, 2017, January 31, 2017, and October 31, 2016, respectively andas follows:
 Three Months Ended
 April 30, 2018 January 31, 2018
Unamortized debt issuance costs(a)
$215
 $242
(a) Unamortized debt issuance costs are included inreported as "Other assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Loans or borrowings defined under the Credit Agreement bear interest and fees at varying rates and terms defined in the Credit Agreement based on the type of borrowing as defined. The Credit Agreement includes annual administrative and unborrowed capacity fees. The Credit Agreement also contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including those relating to financial reporting and notification, limits on levels of indebtedness and liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, affiliate transactions, sales of assets, restrictive agreements, and change in control as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company requested and received the necessary covenant waivers relating to its late filingis in compliance with all covenants as of financial information in fiscal 2017.April 30, 2018. Financial covenants include an interest coverage ratio and funded indebtedness to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization as defined in the Credit Agreement. The loan proceeds may be utilized by Raven for strategic business purposes and for working capital needs.

Letters of credit (LOCs) totaling $1,103(LOC) issued and outstanding were as follows:
 Three Months Ended
 April 30, 2018 January 31, 2018
Letters of credit outstanding(a)
$514
 $1,097
(a) All of these LOC are outstanding at October 31, 2017. Letters ofunder the Credit totaling $514 wereAgreement except one LOC for$50 that is outstanding at January 31, 2017, and October 31, 2016.with Wells Fargo. Any draws required under the LOCsLOC would be settled with available cash or borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement for any of the fiscal periods covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Availability under the Credit Agreement for borrowings as of October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 was $123,947.$124,536.

(11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is involved as a party in lawsuits, claims, regulatory inquiries, or disputes arising in the normal course of its business, the potential costs and liability of which cannot be determined at this time.  Among these matters is a patent infringement lawsuit filed
(dollars in federal district court in Kansas, in which Capstan Ag Systems, Inc. has made certain infringement claims against the Company and one of its customers, CNH Industrial America LLC, related to the Applied Technology Division’s Hawkeye® Nozzle Control System. Management does not believe the ultimate outcomes of its legal proceedings are likely to be significant to its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. Additionally, because of the present status of the lawsuit, management cannot determine the potential impact, if any, of the patent infringement lawsuit described above.thousands, except per-share amounts)



The Company has insurance policies that provide coverage to various degrees for potential liabilities arising from legal proceedings.
 
The Company entered into a Gift Agreement (the Agreement) effective in January 2018 with the South Dakota State University Foundation, Inc. (the Foundation). The Agreement states that the Company will make a $5,000 gift to the Foundation, conditional on certain other actions. Management concluded that the contingencies related to this gift were substantially met during the three-month period ended April 30, 2018 and it is probable a liability has been incurred. The fair value of this contingency at April 30, 2018 was $4,503 (measured based on the present value of the expected future cash outflows) of which $1,394 was classified as "Accrued liabilities" and $3,109 was classified as "Other liabilities". The expense related to this liability is reported within “Selling, general, and administrative expenses”. This gift will be used by South Dakota State University (SDSU), located in Brookings, SD, for the establishment of a precision agriculture facility to support SDSU's Precision Agriculture degrees and curriculum.

In addition to commitments disclosed elsewhere in the Notes to the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has other unconditional purchase obligations that arise in the normal course of business operations. The majority of these obligations are related to the purchase of raw material inventory for the Applied Technology and Engineered Films divisions.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


(12) INCOME TAXES

The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted on December 22, 2017 and reduced the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to 21 percent effective January 1, 2018. In addition, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the TCJA (SAB 118), which allows the Company to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year from the enactment date. Since the TCJA was passed late in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, ongoing guidance and accounting interpretation are expected over the next year, and significant data and analysis is required to finalize amounts recorded pursuant to the TCJA. As such, the Company considers the accounting for the transition tax to be incomplete due to the forthcoming guidance and its ongoing analysis of final year-end data and tax positions. The Company expects to complete its analysis within the measurement period in accordance with SAB 118. Also, the Company has determined that it will elect to recognize Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) as a period cost if, and when, incurred. As of April 30, 2018, undistributed earnings of the Canadian and European subsidiaries were considered to have been reinvested indefinitely.

The Company’s effective tax rate varies from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state and local taxes, research and development tax credit, tax benefits on qualified production activities,foreign-derived intangible income deduction, and tax-exempt insurance premiums. The Company’s effective tax rates for the nine-monththree-month periods ended October 31,April 30, 2018 and 2017 were 18.6% and 2016 were 31.3% and 26.9%31.4%, respectively. The increasedecrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to higher pre-tax incomethe decrease in the current year and recognition offederal statutory tax rate pursuant to the TCJA. The Company also recognized a discrete tax expensebenefit (expense) related to the Company's adoption of ASU 2016-09 in the fiscal 2018 as further discussed in Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. This ASU requires that the tax effects resulting from thevesting or settlement of stock-basedstock awards be recognized as a discrete income tax expense or benefit in the income statement in the reporting period in which they occur.of $243 and $(479) for three-month periods ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(13) DIVIDENDS AND TREASURY STOCK

Dividends paid to Raven shareholders for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 were $4,648 and $14,032, or 13.0 cents and 39.0 cents per share, respectively. Dividends paid to Raven shareholders for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016 were $4,690 and $14,078, or 13.0 cents and 39.0 cents per share, respectively. as follows:
 Three Months Ended
 April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Dividends paid(a)
$4,658
 $4,691
    
Dividends paid per share (in cents per share)(a)
13.0
 13.0
(a)There were no declared and unpaid shareholder dividends at October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 or 2016.2017.

Effective March 21, 2016On November 3, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors (Board) had authorized an extension and increase of the authorizeda $40,000 stock buyback program. Since that time, the Board has provided additional authorizations to increase the total amount authorized under the program in place at that time.An additional $10,000 was authorized for share repurchases once the $40,000 authorization limit is reached.

Pursuant to these authorizations, the Company repurchased 348,286 shares, or $10,000, in the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017. The Company repurchased 484,252 shares, or $7,702, in the nine-month period ended October 31, 2016. None of these shares were repurchased in the three-month period ended October 31, 2016. There were no share repurchases unpaid at October 31, 2017 or October 31, 2016. The remaining dollar value authorized for share repurchases at October 31, 2017 is $2,959.$75,000. This authorization remains in place until such time as the authorized spending limit is reached or such authorization is revoked by the Board.

(14) SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company reservesThere were no shares for issuancerepurchased pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan effective March 23, 2012, administered by the Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Two types of awards, stock options and restricted stock units, were granted during the nine months endedOctober 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016.

Stock Option Awards
The Company granted 85,800 non-qualified stock options during the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017. The Company granted 274,200 non-qualified stock options during the nine-month period ended October 31, 2016. None of these options were grantedauthorizations in the three-month periods ended October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2016, respectively. Options are granted with exercise prices based upon the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the day prior to the date of grant. April 30, 2017. The stock options vest over a four-year period and expire after five years. Options contain retirement and change-in-control provisions, as well as termination without cause provisionsremaining dollar value authorized for certain executive officers, which may accelerate the vesting period. The fair value of each option grantshare repurchases at April 30, 2018 is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercises and employee terminations within this valuation model.$27,959.

The weighted average assumptions used for the Black-Scholes option pricing model by grant year are as follows:
 Nine Months Ended
 October 31, 2017 October 31, 2016
Risk-free interest rate1.68% 1.05%
Expected dividend yield1.78% 3.33%
Expected volatility factor33.87% 32.61%
Expected option term (in years)4.25
 4.00
    
Weighted average grant date fair value$7.35 $3.05


(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Restricted Stock Unit Awards (RSUs)
The Company granted 4,593 and 60,413 time-vested RSUs to employees in the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017, respectively. The Company granted 4,577 and 70,947 time-vested RSUs to employees in the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016, respectively. The grant date fair value of a time-vested RSU is measured based upon the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the day prior to the date of grant. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the time-vested RSUs granted in the periods ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, was $29.25 and $15.94. Time-vested RSUs will vest if, at the end of the three-year period, the employee remains employed by the Company. RSUs contain retirement and change-in-control provisions, as well as termination without cause provisions for certain executive officers, which may accelerate the vesting period. Dividends are cumulatively earned on the time-vested RSUs over the vesting period.(14) SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company also granted performance-based RSUs in the nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The exact number of performance shares to be issued will vary from 0% to 150% of the target award, dependingShare-based compensation expense is recognized based on the Company's actual performance over the three-year period in comparison to the target award. The target award for the fiscal 2017 and 2016 grants are based on return on equity (ROE), which is defined as net income divided by the average of beginning and ending shareholders' equity. The performance-based RSUs will vest if, at the end of the three-year performance period, the Company has achieved certain performance goals and the employee remains employed by the Company. RSUs contain retirement and change-in-control provisions, as well as termination without cause provisions for certain executive officers, which may accelerate the vesting period. Dividends are cumulatively earned on performance-based RSUs over the vesting period. The number of RSUs that will vest is determined by an estimated ROE target over the three-year performance period. The estimated ROE performance factors used to estimate the number of restricted stock units expected to vest are evaluated at least quarterly. The number of restricted stock units issued at the vesting date will be based on actual results.

The fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units is based uponshare-based awards expected to vest during the closing market priceperiod, net of the Company's common stock on the day prior to the grant date. estimated forfeitures.

The number of performance-based RSUs granted is based on 100% of the target award. During the nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company granted 22,745 and 72,950 performance-based RSUs, respectively. None of these awards were granted in the three-month periods ended October 31, 2017 and 2016. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of these performance-based RSUs granted in the periods ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively,share-based compensation expense was $29.20 and $15.61.as follows:
 Three Months Ended
 April 30, 2018 April 30, 2017
Cost of sales$80
 $58
Research and development expenses31
 37
Selling, general, and administrative expenses676
 696
Total stock-based compensation expense$787
 $791


(15) SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company's reportable segments are defined by their product lines which have been grouped in these segments based on technology, manufacturing processes, and end-use application. Raven's reportable segments are Applied Technology, Engineered Films, and Aerostar. The Company measures the performance of its segments based on theircertain metrics such as net sales and operating income excluding general and administrative expenses. Other expenseincome (expense) and income taxes are not allocated to individual operating segments, and assets not identifiable to an individual segment are included as corporate assets. Separate financial information is available and regularly evaluated by the Company's chief operating decision-maker (CODM), the President and Chief Executive Officer, in making resource allocation decisions for the Company's reportable segments. Segment information is reported consistent with the Company's management reporting structure.

(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Business segment net sales and operating income results are as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Net sales          
Applied Technology$25,319
 $25,203
 $94,233
 $79,327
$40,430
 $40,490
Engineered Films65,108
 38,551
 157,691
 104,307
Engineered Films(a)
59,992
 43,555
Aerostar11,103
 9,003
 30,078
 25,313
10,901
 9,606
Intersegment eliminations (a)(b)
(181) (235) (508) (467)(194) (116)
Consolidated net sales$101,349
 $72,522
 $281,494
 $208,480
$111,129
 $93,535
          
Operating income (loss)(b)
       
Operating income(c)
   
Applied Technology
$5,357
 $6,415
 $25,447
 $20,280
$15,948
 $13,453
Engineered Films17,115
 7,129
 35,386
 17,666
13,196
 8,720
Aerostar(c)
1,359
 (1,375) 4,165
 (1,804)2,805
 1,418
Intersegment eliminations
(12) (16) (3) (21)(15) (2)
Total reportable segment income23,819
 12,153
 64,995
 36,121
31,934
 23,589
General and administrative expenses(d)(c)
(5,990) (4,764) (17,247) (13,986)(10,403) (5,370)
Consolidated operating income$17,829
 $7,389
 $47,748
 $22,135
$21,531
 $18,219

(a) Fiscal year 2019 Net sales includes $7,744 in net sales related to the CLI asset acquisition further described in Note 6 "Acquisitions and Divestitures of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies", and $8,919 of recovery film sales related to the hurricane recovery effort.
(b) Intersegment sales for both fiscal 20182019 and 20172018 were primarily sales from Engineered Films to Aerostar.
(b)(c) At the segment level, operating income (loss) does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(c) The three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016 include inventory write-downs of $2,278 as a result of a strategic decision to narrow certain radar product offerings.
(d) At the segment level, operating income (loss) does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses and, as a result, "General and administrative expenses" are reported as a deduction from "Total reportable segment income" to reconcile to "Operating income" reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

(16) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company has evaluated events up to the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition or disclosure in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.



Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following commentary on the operating results, liquidity, capital resources, and financial condition of Raven Industries, Inc. (the Company or Raven) should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Form 10-Q) and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2017.2018.

The Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is organized as follows:

Executive Summary
Results of Operations - Segment Analysis
Outlook
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Accounting Pronouncements

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Raven is a diversified technology company providing a variety of products to customers within the industrial, agricultural, geomembrane, construction, aerospace/defense, construction, geomembrane, industrial, and situational awarenessstratospheric balloon markets. The Company is comprised of three unique operating divisions, classified into reportable segments: Applied Technology Division (Applied Technology), Engineered Films Division (Engineered Films), and Aerostar Division (Aerostar).


Management uses a number of metrics to assess the Company's performance:

Consolidated net sales, gross margin, operating income, operating margin, net income, and diluted earnings per share
Cash flow from operations and shareholder returns
Segment net sales, gross profit, gross margin, operating income, and operating margin. At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.

Vision and Strategy
At Raven, our purpose is to solve great challenges. Great challenges require great solutions. Raven’s three unique operating unitsdivisions share resources, ideas, and a passion to create technology that helps the world grow more food, produce more energy, protect the environment, and live safely.

The Raven business model is our platform for success. Our business model is defensible, sustainable, and gives us a consistent approach in the pursuit of quality financial results. This overall approach to creating value, which is employed across the three business segments, is summarized as follows:

Intentionally serve a set of diversified market segments with attractive near- and long-term growth prospects;
Consistently manage a pipeline of growth initiatives within our market segments;
Aggressively compete on quality, service, innovation, and peak performance;
Hold ourselves accountable for continuous improvement;
Value our balance sheet as a source of strength and stability with which to pursue strategic acquisitions; and
Make corporate responsibility a top priority.

The following discussion highlights the consolidated operating results for the three-three-months ended April 30, 2018 and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 and 2016.2017. Segment operating results are more fully explained in the Results of Operations - Segment Analysis section.

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands, except per-share data) October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 % Change October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 % Change April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
 % Change
Net sales $101,349
 $72,522
 39.7 % $281,494
 $208,480
 35.0 % $111,129
 $93,535
 18.8 %
Gross profit 33,333
 19,839
 68.0 % 91,802
 58,871
 55.9 % 39,998
 31,956
 25.2 %
Gross margin (a)
 32.9% 27.4%   32.6% 28.2%   36.0% 34.2%  
Operating income $17,829
 $7,389
 141.3 % $47,748
 $22,135
 115.7 % $21,531
 $18,219
 18.2 %
Operating margin (a)
 17.6% 10.2%   17.0% 10.6%   19.4% 19.5%  
Other income (expense), net $5,679
 $(230)  
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc. $11,998
 $5,741
 109.0 % $32,581
 $15,753
 106.8 % $22,135
 $12,348
 79.3 %
Diluted earnings per share $0.33
 $0.16
   $0.89
 $0.43
   $0.61
 $0.34
  
                  
Cash flow from operating activities $10,973
 $13,127
 (16.4)% $30,834
 $38,685
 (20.3)% $13,603
 $7,702
 76.6 %
Cash outflow for capital expenditures $1,780
 $1,733
 2.7 % $7,003
 $3,901
 79.5 % $(4,164) $(2,790) (49.2)%
Cash dividends $4,648
 $4,720
 (1.5)% $14,032
 $14,148
 (0.8)% $(4,658) $(4,691) (0.7)%
Common share repurchases $10,000
 $
 

 $10,000
 $7,702
 29.8 % $
 $
 

(a) The Company's gross and operating margins may not be comparable to industry peers due to the diversity of its operations and variability in the classification of expenses across industries in which the Company operates.
(a) The Company's gross and operating margins may not be comparable to industry peers due to the diversity of its operations and variability in the classification of expenses across industries in which the Company operates.
(a) The Company's gross and operating margins may not be comparable to industry peers due to the diversity of its operations and variability in the classification of expenses across industries in which the Company operates.

For the fiscal 2018 third2019 first quarter, net sales were $101.3$111.1 million, up $28.8$17.6 million, or 39.7%18.8%, from $72.5$93.5 million in last year’s thirdfirst quarter. The Company's operating income for the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 20182019 was $17.8$21.5 million, up $10.4$3.3 million, or 141.3%18.2%, compared to the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2017.2018. The increase in operating income was principally due to improved operating leverage on higher sales volume. NetIncluded in fiscal 2019 first quarter operating income forwas an expense of $4.5 million related to the previously announced gift to SDSU and approximately $900 thousand of ongoing expenses related to Project Atlas. Project Atlas is a strategic long-term investment to replace the Company’s existing enterprise resource planning platform. Project Atlas did not start until the third quarter of fiscal 2018, was $12.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to net income of $5.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share,and as such, no costs were incurred in last year's third quarter.
For the nine-month period, net sales were $281.5 million compared to $208.5 million, up 35.0% from one year earlier. The Company's operating income was $47.7 million, up 115.7% from the prior year period. The increase in operating income was principally due to improved operating leverage on higher sales volume. Net income for the first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 2018 was $32.62018.
Fiscal 2019 first quarter other income (expense), net includes a $5.8 million or $0.89 per diluted share, compared to net income of $15.8 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, forgain on the first nine

months of fiscal 2017. The year-to-date increase in earnings per share was driven by improved performance in all threesale of the Company's reporting segments, with each making significant contributions to the growth.

ownership interest in SST.
Net sales for Applied Technology in the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 20182019 were $25.3$40.4 million, up slightlyessentially flat compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017 third quarter net sales of $25.2 million. Sales in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) channel were up 10.3% while sales in the aftermarket channel were down 10.1% for the fiscal 2018 third quarter.2018. Geographically, domestic sales were up 3.2%down 2.4% year-over-year while international sales decreased 8.8%increased 6.6% year-over-year. Operating income was $5.4$15.9 million, down 16.5%up $2.5 million, or 18.5% compared to $6.4$13.5 million in the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2017.2018. The decrease in operating incomeincrease was primarily driven by higher investmentlower warranty expense and favorable legal recoveries. Improvements in quality, including a more controlled release of new products by the sales functiondivision have reduced claims and research and development activities, and higher legal expenses. These strategic investments will supportled to the Company's long-term growth through new product introductions and an enhanced sales function.

Applied Technology's net saleslower warranty expense year-over-year for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 were $94.2 million, up 18.8% compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2017. For the nine-monththree-month period ended October 31, 2017, sales in the OEM channel were up 39.2% while sales in the aftermarket channel were up 3.1%. Geographically, domestic sales were up 26.3% year-over-year and international sales were up 0.4% year-over-year. Operating income for the nine-month year-to-date period was $25.4 million, up 25.5% compared to the nine-month year-to-date period of fiscal 2017. The increase in operating income was primarily driven by improved operating leverage on higher sales volume.April 30, 2018.

Engineered Films’ fiscal 2018 third2019 first quarter net sales were $65.1$60.0 million, an increase of $26.5$16.4 million, or 68.9%37.7%, compared to fiscal 2017 third2018 first quarter net sales of $38.6$43.6 million. Volume, measured in pounds sold, increased 52.6%Delivery of hurricane recovery film to support relief efforts and average selling price increased 4.5%. There was a significant increase inthe recent acquisition of CLI contributed net sales to all markets. Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 increased 140.1% to $17.1$8.9 million as compared to $7.1and $7.7 million, for the prior year third quarter. This increase in operating income was driven primarily by higher sales volume, improved capacity utilization, and continued spending discipline.

For the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017, Engineered Films' net sales were $157.7 million, an increase of $53.4 million, or 51.2%, versus the prior year comparative period. All markets contributed to the division's higher sales versus the prior year.respectively. Operating income for the first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 20182019 increased 100.3%51.3% to $35.4$13.2 million as compared to $17.7$8.7 million in the prior year comparative period. The year-over-year increase in operating income was driven principally by higher sales volume, improved capacity utilization, and continued spending discipline.

Net sales for Aerostar in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 were $11.1 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 23.3%, compared to fiscal 2017 third quarter net sales of $9.0 million. The increase in net sales was primarily driven by growth in the stratospheric balloon platform. Operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was $1.4 million compared to an operating loss of ($1.4) million in the third quarter of last year. Fiscal 2018 third quarter results include charges of approximately $0.9 million related primarily to a strategic decision to narrow aerostat offerings and thereby further enhance Aerostar’s focus on its stratospheric balloon platform. Fiscal 2017 third quarter results include an inventory write-down adjustment of $2.3 million related to certain radar inventory. The remainingfirst quarter. This increase in operating income was driven by higher sales volume and reductions to operating expenses while maintaining a more focused approach to research and development spending.strong operational execution.

Aerostar netNet sales for Aerostar in the first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 20182019 were $30.1$10.9 million, an increase of $4.8$1.3 million, or 18.8%13.5%, compared to fiscal 2018 first quarter net sales of $9.6 million. In the first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 2017.2019 the division sold its client private business. Aerostar's client private business generated sales of $0.3 million and $1.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and 2018, respectively. Excluding the sales of the client private business from both periods, Aerostar's underlying sales growth was significantly higher than reported results year-over-year. The increase in net sales was driven by an increase in sales volume across core product lines. Operating income forin the nine-month year-to-date periodfirst quarter of fiscal 20182019 was $4.2$2.8 million compared to an operating lossincome of ($1.8)$1.4 million in the prior year comparative period. The first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 2018 include charges of approximately $0.9 million relatedlast year. This increase was primarily to a strategic decision to narrow aerostat offerings and thereby further enhance Aerostar’s focus on its stratospheric balloon platform. The first nine months of fiscal 2017 include an inventory write-down adjustment of $2.3 million related to certain radar inventory. The remaining increase in operating income was driven by higherincreased sales volume and reductions to operating expenses while maintaining a more focused approach to research and development spending.favorable sales mix.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - SEGMENT ANALYSIS

Applied Technology
Applied Technology designs, manufactures, sells, and services innovative precision agriculture products and information management tools that help growers reduce costs, more precisely control inputs, and improve crop yields for the global agricultureagricultural market. Applied Technology’s operations include operations of SBG Innovatie BV and its affiliate, Navtronics BVBA (collectively, SBG), based in the Netherlands.

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands) October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 $ Change % Change October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 $ Change % Change April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
 $ Change % Change
Net sales $25,319
 $25,203
 $116
 0.5 % $94,233
 $79,327
 $14,906
 18.8% $40,430
 $40,490
 $(60) (0.1)%
Gross profit 10,790
 10,636
 154
 1.4 % 41,554
 32,911
 8,643
 26.3% 21,186
 18,522
 2,664
 14.4 %
Gross margin 42.6% 42.2%     44.1% 41.5%     52.4% 45.7%    
Operating expenses $5,433
 $4,221
 $1,212
 28.7 % $15,848
 $12,631
 $3,217
 25.5% $5,238
 $4,810
 $428
 8.9 %
Operating expenses as % of sales 21.5% 16.7%     16.8% 15.9%     13.0% 11.9%    
Long-lived asset impairment loss $
 $
     $259
 $
 

 

 $
 $259
    
Operating income (loss)(1)
 $5,357
 $6,415
 $(1,058) (16.5)% $25,447
 $20,280
 $5,167
 25.5%
Operating income(a)
 $15,948
 $13,453
 $2,495
 18.5 %
Operating margin 21.2% 25.5%     27.0% 25.6%     39.4% 33.2%    
(1) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(a) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(a) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.

The following factors were the primary drivers of the three- and nine-monththree-month year-over-year changes:

Market conditions. Aftermarket sales channel demand remains subdued, and growthDespitepersistently low commodity prices the division sustained the strong performance achieved in the prior year due to innovative new product introductions and continuing to build on key OEM sales channelrelationships. The Company does not model comparative market share position for its divisions, but the Company believes Applied Technology has become more challengingmaintained market share in the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2018. Although agriculture end market conditions deteriorated in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company believes that overall the division is holding market share across product lines. Despite these challenging conditions, Applied Technology's marketplace strategy has capitalized on new product introductions through the first nine months of fiscal 2018. Successful new product introductions and expanded relationships with OEM partners are driving improved sales and market share gains versus the prior year.
Sales volume. ThirdFirst quarter fiscal 20182019 net sales were up slightly compared to $25.2$40.4 million, essentially flat versus the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Overall sales volume in the third quarter of the prior year. Sales in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) channel were up 10.3% while sales in the aftermarket channel were down 10.1% for the fiscal 2018 third quarter. Year-to-date sales increased 18.8% to $94.2 million compared to $79.3 million in the prior year. For the nine months ended October 31, 2017, sales in the OEM channel were up 39.2% while sales in the aftermarket channel were up 3.1% versus the prior year comparative period. The increases in net sales in the three- and nine-month periods were primarily driven by volume as pricing had minimal impact.division did not change materially year-over-year.
International sales. For the three-month period, internationalInternational sales totaled $5.2$10.9 million, down 8.8%up 6.6% from $5.7$10.2 million in the prior year comparative period. Lower sales volumeThis increase was primarily driven by favorable changes in Canada,the exchange rate for the Canadian Dollar and Europe were the primary drivers of this decrease.Euro. International sales represented 20.7%27.0% of segment revenue compared to 22.8%25.3% of segment revenue in the prior year comparative period. Year-to-date, international sales totaled $23.2 million, an increase of $0.1 million from a year ago. Year-to-date international sales represented 24.6% of segment sales compared to 29.1% in the prior year comparative period. Higher sales in Latin America, Europe, and Australia were mostly offset by a decrease in Canada. The sales increases in Europe reflect commercial synergies realized by the acquisition of SBG in fiscal 2015 as Applied Technology products are increasingly sold into this market.
Gross margin. Gross margin increased to 42.6%52.4% for the three months ended October 31, 2017first quarter of fiscal 2019 from 42.2%45.7% in the prior year comparative period. ForLower raw materials costs, operational efficiencies, and a reduction of manufacturing related engineering support were the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017 gross margin increasedprimary drivers of this increase year-over-year. Engineering support related expenses may be allocated to 44.1% from 41.5% inoverhead, and thus cost of sales, or research and development expenses based on the fiscal 2017 comparative period. The nine-month period benefited more from higher sales volume and improved operating leverage.focus of the engineering effort.
Operating expenses. Fiscal 2018 third2019 first quarter operating expense as a percentage of net sales was 21.5%13.0%, up from 16.7%11.9% in the prior year thirdfirst quarter. This increase is primarily driven by higher investment in the sales function and research and development activities, which includes an increase in engineering support, and higher legal expenses.the start-up related costs to establish the division's Latin American headquarters in Brazil. These strategic investments will support the Company's long-term growth through new product introductions and an enhanced sales function. Year-to-dateexpanded geographic presence. Division operating expense as a percentage of net sales was 16.8%, up from 15.9% in the prior year comparative period. The increase in the nine-month period ismargin increased 620 basis points year-over-year, driven by investmentlower warranty expense and favorable legal recoveries. Improvements in researchquality, including a more controlled release of new products by the division have reduced claims and development and selling and marketing expenses relatedled to new product introductions and to enhance our customer experience.the lower warranty expense year-over-year for the three-month period ended April 30, 2018.
Long-lived asset impairment loss. As described in Note 7 Goodwill, Long-lived Assets, and Other Intangibles of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, during the first quarter of fiscal 2018 the Company determined that the intangible asset related to the investment in AgEagle was fully impaired due to the decrease in expected future cash flows. No impairments were recognized in the three-month period ended October 31, 2017 or the three- or nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016.April 30, 2018.


Engineered Films
Engineered Films manufactures high performance plastic films and sheeting for geomembrane, agricultural, construction, geomembrane, and industrial applications. Engineered Films' ability to develop value-added innovative products is expanded by its fabrication, conversion, and installation capabilities.
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands) October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 $ Change % Change October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 $ Change % Change April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
 $ Change % Change
Net sales $65,108
 $38,551
 $26,557
 68.9% $157,691
 $104,307
 $53,384
 51.2% $59,992
 $43,555
 $16,437
 37.7 %
Gross profit 19,358
 8,711
 10,647
 122.2% 41,631
 22,334
 19,297
 86.4% 15,186
 10,747
 4,439
 41.3 %
Gross margin 29.7% 22.6%     26.4% 21.4%     25.3% 24.7%    
Operating expenses $2,243
 $1,582
 $661
 41.8% $6,245
 $4,668
 $1,577
 33.8% $1,990
 $2,027
 $(37) (1.8)%
Operating expenses as % of sales 3.4% 4.1%     4.0% 4.5%     3.3% 4.7%    
Operating income (loss)(1)
 $17,115
 $7,129
 $9,986
 140.1% $35,386
 $17,666
 $17,720
 100.3%
Operating income(a)
 $13,196
 $8,720
 $4,476
 51.3 %
Operating margin 26.3% 18.5%     22.4% 16.9%     22.0% 20.0%    
(1) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(a) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(a) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.

The following factors were the primary drivers of the three- and nine-monththree-month year-over-year changes:

Market conditions. End-market conditions in the geomembrane market which constituted approximately 29 percent of the division's sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, have continued to improve fromover the market-bottom conditions reached last year.twelve months. At the end of the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2018,2019, U.S. land-based rig counts have increased approximately 66%18% versus the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2017. For the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017, sales into the geomembrane market were up approximately 125% and 135% year-over-year, respectively.2018. As described in Note 6 Acquisitions and Divestitures of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 the Company closed on the acquisition of Colorado Lining International Inc. (CLI),CLI, further strengthening Engineered Films' presence in the geomembrane market. CLI contributed $5.2$7.7 million in sales during the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 which was split between the geomembrane market and installation sales. For the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017,first quarter of fiscal 2019. Net sales into the construction market were up approximately 61.8% and 27.5% year-over-year, respectively, which included $8.4$8.9 million in salesdeliveries of hurricane recovery film. It has been several years sincefilm in the Company last received a substantial increase in demand for hurricane recovery film.three-month period ending April 30, 2018. Sales of such film are generally less than $2.0 million on an annual basis. In April 2017, Engineered Films expanded its fabrication capabilities of geomembrane liner materialsThe Company does not presently expect any additional hurricane recovery film sales in south Texas by purchasing a new facility in Pleasanton, Texas and increased fabrication at the Company's location in Midland, Texas by adding production team members to service the increased demand in the geomembrane market.fiscal 2019. The Company does not model comparative market share position for its divisions, but based on the growth in the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the Company believes Engineered Films achieved sales growth due to improved end-market demand conditions andhas maintained or increased market share.share in its core business.
Sales volume and selling prices. ThirdFirst quarter net sales were $65.1$60.0 million, an increase of $26.5$16.4 million, or 68.9%37.7%, compared to fiscal 2017 third2018 first quarter net sales of $38.6$43.6 million. Volume, measured in pounds sold, increased 52.6%The acquisition of CLI and average selling price increased 4.5%. For the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017, Engineered Films' net sales were $157.7delivery of hurricane recovery film added $7.7 million an increase of $53.4and $8.9 million or 51.2%, compared to the nine-month period ended October 31, 2016. Volume, measured in pounds sold, increased 44.5% and average selling price increased 2.2%. All markets contributed to the higher sales in the three-first quarter of fiscal 2019, respectively. Drivers of the increase in in the underlying business include improved market conditions within the geomembrane market and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.new business wins in the industrial market.
Gross margin. For the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended October 31, 2017,April 30, 2018, gross margin was 29.7% and 26.4%, respectively.25.3%. The gross margin for the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended October 31, 2016April 30, 2017 was 22.6% and 21.4%, respectively.24.7%. The improvement in gross margin was primarily due todriven by higher sales volume and the resulting improvement in capacity utilization, but also benefited from continued spending discipline.strong operational execution.
Operating expenses. ThirdFirst quarter operating expenses were up $0.6 million or 41.8%down 1.8% compared to the prior year thirdfirst quarter. As a percentage of net sales, operating expense was 3.4%3.3% in the current year three-month period as compared to 4.1%4.7% in the prior year comparative period. Year-to-date operating expenses were 4.0% as a percentage of netExpense discipline constrained costs while sales as compared to 4.5% in the prior year comparative period. The increase in sales volume in the three- and nine-month periods more than offset the additional costs to support sales growth and drove operating expenses as percentage of sales down 0.7 and 0.5 percentage points year-over-year, respectively.grew substantially.




Aerostar
Aerostar serves the aerospace/defense and situational awarenessstratospheric balloon markets. Aerostar designs and manufactures proprietary products including high-altitude (stratospheric) balloon systems, and tethered aerostats, which are collectively referred to as lighter-than-air products, and offers radar processing systems.systems and related services. These products can be integrated with additional third-party sensors to provide research, communications, and situational awareness capabilities to governmental and commercial customers. Aerostar pursues product and support services contracts with agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government.

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands) October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 $ Change % Change October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 $ Change % Change April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
 $ Change % Change
Net sales $11,103
 $9,003
 $2,100
 23.3 % $30,078
 $25,313
 $4,765
 18.8 % $10,901
 $9,606
 $1,295
 13.5 %
Gross profit 3,197
 508
 2,689
 529.3 % 8,620
 3,647
 4,973
 136.4 % 3,641
 2,689
 952
 35.4 %
Gross margin 28.8% 5.6 %     28.7% 14.4 %     33.4% 28.0%    
Operating expenses $1,838
 $1,796
 $42
 2.3 % $4,455
 $5,364
 $(909) (16.9)% $836
 $1,271
 $(435) (34.2)%
Operating expenses as % of sales 16.6% 19.9 %     14.8% 21.2 %     7.7% 13.2%    
Long-lived asset impairment loss 
 87
 (87)   
 87
 $(87)  
Operating income (loss)(1)
 $1,359
 $(1,375) $2,734
 (198.8)% $4,165
 $(1,804) $5,969
 (330.9)%
Operating income(a)
 $2,805
 $1,418
 $1,387
 97.8 %
Operating margin 12.2% (15.3)%     13.8% (7.1)%     25.7% 14.8%    
(1) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(1) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.
(1) At the segment level, operating income does not include an allocation of general and administrative expenses.

The following factors were the primary drivers of the three- and nine-monththree-month year-over-year changes:

Market conditions. SomeAerostar’s business consists of Aerostar's markets are subject to significant variability due to government spendingproprietary products and the timing of awards. Such conditions result in delays and uncertainties in certain opportunities importantservices to the division's growth strategy. Despite these uncertainties, Aerostar is pioneering new markets with leading-edge applications of itsaerospace/defense and stratospheric balloon platform. While itmarkets. It is particularly challenging to measure market share information foracross the Aerostar divisionproduct and service offerings and the Company does not model comparative market share position for any of its divisions,divisions.  However, the Companycompany believes that Aerostar'sthe sales growth in the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period was primarily the resultdriven by a mix of market share gains rather thangain and overall growth in some of the market.markets served.
Sales volume. Net sales increased 23.3%13.5% from $9.0$9.6 million for the three-month period ended October 31, 2016April 30, 2017 to $11.1$10.9 million for the three-month period ended October 31, 2017. Year-to-dateApril 30, 2018. In the first quarter of fiscal 2019 the division sold its client private business. Aerostar's client private business generated sales were $30.1of $0.3 million up $4.8and $1.6 million year-over-year, or 18.8%.in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and 2018, respectively. Excluding the sales of the client private business from both periods, Aerostar's underlying sales growth was significantly higher than reported results year-over-year. The increase in both periodsnet sales was driven principally by growthan increase in the stratospheric balloon platform.sales volume across core product lines.
Gross margin. For the three-month year-over-year period, gross margin increased from 5.6%28.0% to 28.8%33.4%. Gross margin increased from 14.4% to 28.7% in the nine-month period. The three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 include an inventory write-down adjustment of $0.4 million related to certain aerostat inventory. The three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2016 include an inventory write-down adjustment of $2.3 million related to certain radar inventory. The inventory write downs in the current and prior year were driven by strategic decisions to narrow certain offerings and thereby further enhance Aerostar’s focus on its stratospheric balloon platform. The remaining increase in gross margin for both periodsyear-over-year was primarily driven bythe result of a favorable mix in the sale of higher sales volume and the implementation of cost reductionsmargin products versus lower margin products as compared to the previous year.first quarter of fiscal 2018.
Operating expenses. Third Firstquarter fiscal 20182019 operating expense was $1.8$0.8 million, or 16.6%7.7% of net sales, a decrease from 19.9%$1.3 million, or 13.2% of net sales in the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2017. Year-to-date operating expense as a percentage of net sales was 14.8%, down from 21.2% in the prior year. The three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017 include a $0.5 million loss on the disposal of certain demonstration related equipment driven by strategic decisions to narrow certain offerings and thereby further enhance Aerostar’s focus on its stratospheric balloon platform.2018. The decrease as a percentage of sales in both periods iswas primarily driven by higher sales and adjustments in operating expenses while focusing on strategicdue to funded research and development spending.contracts and included an immaterial gain on the sale of Aerostar's client private business.


Corporate Expenses (administrative expenses; other (expense), net; and income taxes)
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands) October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 October 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 April 30,
2018
 April 30,
2017
Administrative expenses $5,990
 $4,764
 $17,247
 $13,986
 $10,403
 $5,370
Administrative expenses as a % of sales 5.9% 6.6% 6.1% 6.7% 9.4% 5.7%
Other income (expense), net $(34) $(273) $(327) $(579) $5,679
 $(230)
Effective tax rate 32.6% 19.3% 31.3% 26.9% 18.6% 31.4%

Administrative spending for the three- and nine-month periods of fiscalthree-month period ending April 30, 2018 was up $1.2$5.0 million, and $3.2 million, respectively, compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2017. The increase for three-month period is primarily due2018. In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, administrative expenses included an expense of $4.5 million related to higher employee compensationthe previously announced gift to SDSU and costs incurred in the beginning stagesapproximately $900 thousand of a company-wide initiative called Project Atlas. Project Atlas is a strategic long-term investment to replace the Company’s existing enterprise resource planning platform. The increase for nine-month period is primarily due to higher employee compensation, director compensation, due diligence related expenses as the Company continues to pursue strategic acquisitions, and costs incurred related to Project Atlas. Costs incurred related to Project Atlas were $0.3 million for both the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2017.

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of activity related to the Company's equity method investments, interest income and expense, and foreign currency transaction gains or losses. Fiscal 2019 first quarter other income (expense), net includes a $5.8 million gain on the sale of the Company's equity interest in SST. There were no significant items in other income (expense), net for the fiscal 2018 first quarter.

The Company’s effective tax rates for the nine-monththree-month periods ended October 31,April 30, 2018 and 2017 were 18.6% and 2016 were 31.3% and 26.9%31.4%, respectively. The increasedecrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to higher pre-tax incomethe decrease in the current year and recognition of discretefederal statutory tax expense relatedrate pursuant to the Company's adoption of ASU 2016-09 in the fiscal 2018 as further discussed in Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. This ASU requires that the tax effects resulting from the settlement of stock-based awards be recognized as a discrete income tax expense or benefit in the income statement in the reporting period in which they occur.TCJA.


Other items causing the Company's effective tax rate to differ from the statutory tax rate are more fully described in Note 12 Income Taxes of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

OUTLOOK

All three divisions continued to achieve strong operating results during the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Investments in growth are leading to increased demand, and operational execution is resulting in higher sales volume and improved financial performance.

Applied Technology has faced a more challenging agriculture market than expected at the beginning of the year, and we don't foresee anything changing in the next twelve months to improve market conditions. However, its continued focus on new products and expanding OEM relationships is successfully driving additional market share gains and enabling the division to outperform the market. At the same time, Applied Technology has made the strategic decision to fund several long-term investments for growth, knowing this reduces profit in the short-term. Management believes strongly in the long-term margin potential for Applied Technology and expects improved margins over time with these investments, even if end-market conditions remain challenging.
For Engineered Films, end market conditions are expected to remain favorable and prior capital investments to serve the industrial and geomembrane markets are expected to continue to drive growth. Additionally,results through innovation despite a lack of anticipated improvement in end-market conditions during the fiscal year. The division will continue to invest in the development of new products and work to grow sales in international markets including leveraging its newly established Latin American headquarters in Brazil.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, Engineered Films’ integrationFilms continued to achieve sales growth and margin expansion. In the second half of CLI is progressing as expected. This acquisitionfiscal 2019 sales comparisons for Engineered Films will be challenged due to the non-recurring nature of hurricane recovery film sales. In the second half of last year the division generated $24 million in sales related to hurricane recovery film and the Company does not expect any hurricane recovery film sales for the remainder of fiscal 2019. Excluding the impact of hurricane recovery film, the underlying fundamentals remain strong and the division is expected to be slightly accretivegrow sales and maintain strong margins.

Confidence continues to earnings in fiscal year 2018 and contribute approximately 5 cents per share in fiscal 2019.build within Aerostar. The sale of recovery film to support hurricane relief efforts favorably impacted the division’s operating leverage in the third quarter of fiscal 2018. We expect approximately $8 to $9 million in sales of such film in fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Improved volume, together with cost controls, aredivision is expected to result in sustained strong profitabilitycontinue to drive long-term profitable growth led by new contract wins for the division.its core product offerings.
For Aerostar, the division is expecting improved volume in the stratospheric balloon platform, driven by increased demand from Google for Project Loon and stratospheric balloon contracts with new customers. Additionally, Aerostar was awarded a $6.8 million aerostat contract with the U.S. Department of Defense and management expects the majority of the revenue from this contract to be realized in fiscal year 2019. Success in growing sales in the stratospheric balloon platform combined with continued cost discipline, are important to delivering sustained division profitability.


For the Company's administrative function, the Company, launched a company-wide initiative during the third quarter called Project Atlas. This is a strategic long-term investment to replace the Company’s existing enterprise resource planning platform. Project Atlas is expected to take approximately three years to complete and cost between $8 and $10 million. Of this amount, Management expects that approximately $2 million will be capitalized as a fixed asset with the rest being recognized as expense in the period in which it is incurred. All of the costs associated with this project will be reported within corporate expenses. Project Atlas costsrelated expenses are expected to be approximately $1$4 million per quarter in fiscal year 2019. This investment will drive efficiencies across the enterprise, enable faster integration of future acquisitions, automate a significant portion of internal controls, and enhance the enterprise’s execution of its long-term growth strategy.

Management expects Capital spending is expected to expand the meaningful growthbe approximately $22 million in revenues and operating profitfiscal 2019. These capital expenditures will include a new extrusion line for fiscal 2018 throughEngineered Films with an expected completion date in the fourth quarter and continues to invest in research and development activities to continue to drive new product momentumof fiscal 2019. The effective tax rate for the intermediate and long term.full-year is expected to be approximately 20%, excluding discrete items.

Overall financial performance was strong in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company expects this positive momentum to continue.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's balance sheet continues to reflect significant liquidity and a strong capital base. Management focuses on the current cash balance and operating cash flows in considering liquidity, as operating cash flows have historically been the Company's primary source of liquidity. Management expects that current cash, combined with the generation of positive operating cash flows, will be sufficient to fund the Company's normal operating, investing, and financing activities beyond the next twelve months. Additionally, the Company has a credit facility of up to $125.0 million with a maturity date of April 15, 2020.

The Company’s cash balances and cash flows were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) October 31,
2017
 January 31,
2017
 October 31,
2016
 April 30,
2018
 January 31,
2018
Cash and cash equivalents $36,873
 $50,648
 $46,313
 $51,317
 $40,535

 Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands) October 31, 2017 October 31, 2016 April 30, 2018 April 30, 2017
Cash provided by operating activities $30,834
 $38,685
 $13,603
 $7,702
Cash used in investing activities (20,077) (3,754)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 3,185
 (2,836)
Cash used in financing activities (24,704) (22,424) (5,775) (4,993)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 172
 24
 (231) (44)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $(13,775) $12,531
 $10,782
 $(171)

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $36.9$51.3 million at October 31, 2017, a decreaseApril 30, 2018, an increase of $13.7$10.8 million from $50.6$40.5 million at January 31, 2017.2018. The comparable balance one year earlieras of April 30, 2017 was $46.3$50.5 million. The decreaseCash proceeds from fiscal 2017 year-end was primarily driven bythe sale of SST and continued strength in operating cash outlays forflows principally drove the acquisition of CLI and share repurchases, partially offset by an increase in net income.cash versus the prior quarter.


Operating Activities
Operating cash flows result primarily from cash received from customers, which is offset by cash payments for inventories, services, employee compensation, and income taxes. Strong cash flow from operating activities was sustained year-over year. Cash provided by operating activities was $30.8$13.6 million for the first ninethree months of fiscal 20182019 compared with $38.7$7.7 million in the first ninethree months of fiscal 2017.2018. The decreaseincrease in operating cash flows year-over-year was primarily due to the increase in net working capital demands which were substantially offset by the increase in net income.

The Company's cash needs have minimal seasonal trends. As a result, the discussion of trends in operating cash flows focuses on the primary drivers of year-over-year variability in net working capital. Net working capital and net working capital percentage are metrics used by management as a guide in measuring the efficient use of cash resources to support business activities and growth. The Company's net working capital for the comparative periods was as follows:

(dollars in thousands) October 31, 2017 October 31, 2016 April 30, 2018 April 30, 2017
Accounts receivable, net $59,573
 $39,554
 $66,812
 $51,617
Plus: Inventories 53,481
 42,813
 55,162
 49,867
Less: Accounts payable 13,383
 9,377
 14,714
 13,909
Net working capital(a)
 $99,671
 $72,990
 $107,260
 $87,575
        
Annualized net sales(b)
 $405,396
 $290,088
 444,516
 374,140
Net working capital percentage(c)
 24.6% 25.2% 24.1% 23.4%
(a) Net working capital is defined as accounts receivable (net) plus inventories less accounts payable.
(a) Net working capital is defined as accounts receivable (net) plus inventories less accounts payable.
(a) Net working capital is defined as accounts receivable (net) plus inventories less accounts payable.
(b) Annualized net sales is defined as the most recent quarter net sales times four for each of the fiscal periods, respectively.
(b) Annualized net sales is defined as the most recent quarter net sales times four for each of the fiscal periods, respectively.
(b) Annualized net sales is defined as the most recent quarter net sales times four for each of the fiscal periods, respectively.
(c) Net working capital percentage is defined as Net working capital divided by Annualized net sales for each of the fiscal periods, respectively.
(c) Net working capital percentage is defined as Net working capital divided by Annualized net sales for each of the fiscal periods, respectively.
(c) Net working capital percentage is defined as Net working capital divided by Annualized net sales for each of the fiscal periods, respectively.

The net working capital percentage decreased from 25.2% at October 31, 2016 to 24.6% at October 31, 2017.increased 70 basis points year-over-year in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The decreaseincrease was primarily driven by an increase in accounts payable balancesreceivables within Engineered Films as well asa result of the acquisition of CLI. The Company remains focused on managing inventory and receivables proactively with the substantial increase in sales versus the prior year. To emphasize the management of efficient levels of inventory during periods of significant change in sales volume, the Company assembled teams within each operating division. Similar emphasis was placed on managingreceivables, inventories, and accounts payable and will continue to a lesser extent, accounts receivable.take actions to reduce net working capital requirements.

Inventory increased $10.7$5.3 million, or 25.0%10.6%, year-over-year from $42.8$49.9 million at October 31, 2016April 30, 2017 to $53.5$55.2 million at October 31, 2017.April 30, 2018. In comparison, net sales increased $28.8$17.6 million, or 39.7%18.8%, year-over-year in the thirdfirst quarter. The increase in inventory was primarily driven by growth in net sales and backlog in the Engineered Films Division, offset somewhat by actions to reduce inventory in all three divisions.Division.

Accounts receivable increased $20.0$15.2 million, or 50.5%29.4%, year-over-year to $59.6$66.8 million at October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 from $39.6$51.6 million at October 31, 2016.April 30, 2017. In comparison, net sales increased $28.8$17.6 million, or 39.7%18.8%, year-over-year in the thirdfirst quarter. The increase in accounts receivable was due primarily toled by an increase in receivables within Engineered Films as a result of the acquisition of CLI and increased sales volume.

Accounts payable increased $4.0$0.8 million, or 42.6%5.8%, year-over-year from $9.413.9 million at October 31, 2016April 30, 2017 to $13.414.7 million at October 31, 2017.April 30, 2018. In comparison, net sales increased $28.8$17.6 million, or 39.7%18.8%, year-over-year in the thirdfirst quarter. ThisThe increase in accounts payable was primarily driven by higher inventory purchases during the quarter. Accounts payable increased less than inventory due to improvedthe timing of payments to suppliers, as well as additional purchases of raw materials to support the increase in sales year-over-year.payments.

Investing Activities
Cash used forprovided by investing activities was $3.2 million for the first ninethree months of fiscal 2018 was up $16.3 million2019 compared with cash used of $2.8 million in the first ninethree months of fiscal 2017. The primary drivers2018. Current period cash flows included $6.6 million from the sale of the increaseCompany's ownership interest in current year cash outflows were payments related to the acquisition of CLI, as further described in Note 6 Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, and increased capital expenditures. Net capital outlay related to the CLI business acquisition in third quarter of fiscal 2018 was $12.7 million. There were no businesses acquired in the prior fiscal year.SST. Capital expenditures included $1.7increased $1.4 million for the Pleasanton, Texas facility purchased by Engineered Films inversus the first quarter of fiscal 2018. In addition,2018 primarily due to expenditures related to a new Engineered Films extrusion line that is expected to be completed toward the comparative period inend of fiscal year 2017 included $1.1 million cash inflows from the sale of assets while there were no significant cash inflows from the sale of assets in the current year.2019.

Management anticipates fiscal 20182019 capital spending to be approximately $10$22 million. The Company continues to maintain a disciplined approach to capital spending. MaintainingExpanding Engineered Films' capacity and maintaining Applied Technology's capital spending to advance product development are expected to continue. In addition, management will continue to evaluate strategic acquisitions that result in expanded capabilities and improved competitive advantages.


Financing Activities
Cash used for financing activities for the first ninethree months of fiscal 20182019 was up $2.3$0.8 million compared with the first ninethree months of fiscal 2017. The primary driver of the increase year-over-year was the increase in share repurchases.

The Company repurchased approximately 0.3 million shares at an average price of $28.71 for a total of $10.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2018. The Company repurchased approximately 0.5 million shares at an average price of $15.91 for a total of $7.7 million in the first nine months of the prior fiscal year.

Dividends per share were flat at 39.013.0 cents per share. Total cash outflows for dividends in the nine-monththree-month periods ended October 31,April 30, 2018 and 2017 and 2016 were $14.0$4.7 million and $14.1$4.7 million, respectively.


During the ninethree months ended October 31,April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017, and October 31, 2016, the Company made payments of $0.4$0.3 million and $0.3$0.2 million, respectively, on acquisition-related contingent liabilities.

No borrowing or repayment occurred on the Credit Agreement during the first ninethree months of fiscal 20182019 or fiscal 2017.2018.

Financing cash outflows in the first ninethree months of fiscal 20182019 and 20172018 included employee taxes paid in relation to net settlement of restricted stock units that vested during the first quarter and stock options exercised in the period.

Other Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company entered into a credit agreement dated April 15, 2015. This agreement (Credit Agreement), more fully described in Note 10 Financing Arrangements of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, provides for a syndicated senior revolving credit facility up to $125 million with a maturity date of April 15, 2020. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement for any of the fiscal periods covered by this Form 10-Q. Availability under the Credit Agreement for borrowings as of October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 was $123.9$124.5 million.

The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including those relating to financial reporting and notification, limits on levels of indebtedness and liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, affiliate transactions, sales of assets, restrictive agreements, and change in control as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company requested and received the necessary covenant waivers relating to its late filing of financial information in the prior fiscal year. Financial covenants include an interest coverage ratio and funded indebtedness to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Company is in compliance with all financial covenants set forth in the Credit Agreement.

Letters of credit (LOCs) totaling $1.1$0.5 million and $0.5$1.1 million were outstanding at October 31,April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017, and October 31, 2016, respectively. Any draws required under the LOCs would be settled with available cash or borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

The acquisition of CLI included a contingent consideration arrangement with potential to pay up to $2.0 million in additional earn-out payments over the next three years contingent upon achieving certain revenues and operational synergies. To date, the Company has not made any payments on this potential earn-out liability.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

There have been no material changes in the Company’s known off-balance sheet debt and other unrecorded obligations since the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017.2018 other than item discussed below.

Raven is eligible to receive earn-out payments related to the disposition of Aerostar's client private business and the Company's ownership interest in SST if certain post-closing performance benchmarks are satisfied. The Company will recognize the earn-out payments as income in the period they are realized under the terms of the respective agreement.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Critical accounting policies are those that require the application of judgment when valuing assets and liabilities on the Company's balance sheet. There have been no material changes to the Company’sFor a description of our critical accounting policies as describedand estimates affecting revenue recognition, see Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 5 Revenue to our consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. For a description of other critical accounting policies that affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the Company’spreparation of our consolidated financial statements, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2017.

Goodwill and Long-lived and Intangible Assets

Long-lived and Intangible Assets
The Company assesses2018 filed with the recoverability of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles, equity method investments, and property plant and equipment, using fair value measurement techniques if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset might be impaired. For long-lived and intangible assets,SEC. With the Company performs impairment reviews by asset groups. Such valuations are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable (Level 3 fair value measures). An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset is above the estimated undiscounted cash flows used in determining the fair valueexception of the asset.


Fiscal 2018
During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company determined that the investment in AgEagle, further described in Note 6 Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies of the Noteschanges to the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this form 10-Q, was impaired dueour revenue recognition policies referenced above, there have been no material changes to lower than expected cash flows and continued operating losses. This impairment was determined to be other-than-temporary and an accelerated equity method investment loss of $72 was reported in "Other (expense), net" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017. The Company also determined the customer relationship intangible asset related to the Ag Eagle exclusive distribution agreement was fully impaired. The total impairment loss related to this intangible asset was $259 and was reported in "Long-lived asset impairment loss" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the nine-month period ended October 31, 2017. There were no long-lived asset impairments or accelerated equity method investment losses reported in the three-month period ended October 31, 2017.

Goodwill

The Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles, equity method investments, and property plant and equipment, using fair value measurement techniques if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset might be impaired. For long-lived and intangible assets, the Company performs impairment reviews by asset groups. Such valuations are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable (Level 3 fair value measures). An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset is above the estimated undiscounted cash flows used in determining the fair value of the asset.

When performing goodwill impairment testing, the fair values of reporting units are determined based on valuation techniques using the best available information, primarily discounted cash flow projections. Such valuations are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are not observable (Level 3 fair value measures).

Based on the Company's review, management concluded there were no triggering events for the Company's reporting unitsour critical accounting policies during the three- and nine-month periodsthree months ended October 31, 2017 and no impairments to goodwill were recorded.April 30, 2018.

ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a summary of recent accounting pronouncements.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this report are “forward-looking statements”"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, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, not past or historical events. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "should," "estimate," "predict," "project," "would," "will," "potential," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Company intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions when made, there is no assurance that such assumptions are correct or that these expectations will be achieved. Assumptions involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to weather conditions and commodity prices, which could affect sales and profitability in some of the Company's primary markets, such as agriculture and construction and oil and gas drilling; or changes in competition, raw material availability, technology or relationships with the Company's largest customers, risks and uncertainties relating to development of new technologies to satisfy customer requirements, possible development of competitive technologies, risks of litigation, ability to scale production of new products without negatively impacting quality and cost, risks of operating in foreign markets, risks relating to acquisitions, including risks of integration or unanticipated liabilities or contingencies, and ability to finance investment and net working capital needs for new development projects, any of which could adversely impact any of the Company's product lines, as well as other risks described in Item 1A., Risk Factors, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017.2018. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and the Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.


ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The exposure to market risks pertains mainly to changes in interest rates on cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments. The Company has no outstanding long-term debt but does have an immaterial amount of capital lease obligations as of OctoberApril 30, 2018 and January 31, 2017.2018. The Company does not expect operating results or cash flows to be significantly affected by changes in interest rates.

The Company's subsidiaries that operate outside the United States use their local currency as the functional currency. The functional currency is translated into U.S. dollars for balance sheet accounts using the period-end exchange rates, and average exchange rates for the statement of income. Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currency (primarily Euros and Canadian dollars) totaled $5.0$3.9 million and $2.6$4.1 million at OctoberApril 30, 2018 and January 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016,2018, respectively. Adjustments resulting from financial statement translations are included as cumulative translation adjustments in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" within shareholders' equity. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are recognized in the period incurred and are included in "Other income (expense), net" in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Foreign currency fluctuations had no material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
The Company does not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. However, the Company does utilize derivative financial instruments to manage the economic impact of fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates on those transactions that are denominated in currency other than its functional currency, which is the U.S. dollar. Such transactions are principally Canadian dollar-denominated transactions. The use of these financial instruments had no material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of October 31, 2017.April 30, 2018. Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified

in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Based on their evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of October 31, 2017 due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting which existed at that date, as described below.

Notwithstanding the existence of the material weaknesses described below, management has concluded that the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented herein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Material Weaknesses
A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

The Company has identified five control deficiencies which existed since October 31, 2016 which constitute material weaknesses and resulted in ineffective disclosure controls and procedures. The Company is actively engaged in the planning for, and implementation of, remediation efforts to address the underlying causes of the control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses. These remediation efforts are intended to address the identified material weaknesses and to enhance our overall financial control environment. Management has determined that two of the material weaknesses have been remediated, and three of the material weaknesses remain open as of October 31, 2017 as further described below.


Remediation Efforts on Material Weaknesses that remain open as of October 31, 2017

With the oversight of the Company’s Audit Committee, management is taking steps intended to address the underlying causes of the remaining open material weaknesses, primarily through the following remediation activities achieved during the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2018:

The Company’s controls relating to the response to the risks of material misstatement were not effectively designed.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we have redesigned and enhanced our controls and procedures around timely and appropriate identification, assessment, and response to risks of material misstatement. This included formalizing and redefining the risk categorization and risk rating methodology to appropriately assess and monitor identified risks on a quarterly basis.
The Company’s controls over the accounting for goodwill and long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, were not effectively designed and maintained, specifically, the controls related to the identification of the proper unit of account as well as the development and review of assumptions used in interim and annual impairment tests. This control deficiency resulted in the restatement of the Company’s financial statements for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2015, the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016, and the three-month period ended April 30, 2016.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2018 management completed the following remediation efforts around the design deficiency:
We have redesigned our specific procedures and controls associated with the identification of the proper unit of account.
We have developed an enhanced risk assessment evaluation for the reporting unit for which a goodwill impairment analysis is being conducted.
We have redesigned our controls associated with the development of a more precise revenue forecast for use in interim and annual impairment tests. For Aerostar, this specifically includes more precise contract-based revenue assumptions.
We have redesigned our controls associated with all significant assumptions, model and data used in management's estimates relevant to assessing the valuation of goodwill and long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets.
Internal Audit has completed a design walkthrough of redesigned controls.
The Company’s controls over the completeness and accuracy of spreadsheets and system-generated reports used in internal control over financial reporting were not effectively designed and maintained
During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we have redesigned our controls for the identification and assessment of the completeness and accuracy of spreadsheets and system-generated reports used in internal control over financial reporting.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we have developed governance policy and procedures that will be used consistently by the organization to appropriately identify, assess, and manage risks related to the data integrity of spreadsheets and system-generated reports in internal control over financial reporting.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we have completed the baseline testing for those system-generated reports utilized in internal control over financial reporting that are subject to change management.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we have redesigned our controls to perform an analysis to identify changes made to system-generated reports utilized in the internal controls.

Efforts on Material Weaknesses that have been Remediated as of October 31, 2017

With the oversight of the Company’s Audit Committee, management took steps to address the underlying causes of the material weaknesses. Implementation of the actions taken and the resulting improvements in controls have strengthened our internal control over financial reporting. As part of our assessment of internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter of fiscal 2018, management tested and evaluated related internal controls to assess whether they are designed and operating effectively as of October 31, 2017. Management determined that for the material weaknesses related to the Company's controls over the existence of inventories and the Company's controls related to the accounting for income taxes, the controls were designed and operating effectively to prevent and detect a material misstatement due to error or fraud and therefore concluded that these two material weaknesses were remediated as of October 31, 2017. The actions taken are further described below:

The Company’s controls related to the accounting for income taxes were not effectively designed and maintained, specifically the controls to assess that the income tax provision and related tax assets and liabilities are complete and accurate. This control deficiency resulted in adjustments to the income tax provision and related tax asset and liability

accounts and related disclosures for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2015, the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016, and the three-month period ended April 30, 2016.
Management completed the following remediation efforts around the deficiency:
We have redesigned specific processes and controls to augment the review of significant or unusual transactions performed by finance leadership to ensure that the relevant tax accounting implications are identified and considered.
Our Director of Taxation has improved our tax models and implemented multiple reconciliations to ensure the Company’s tax provision is properly reconciled and rolled-forward.
The Company’s controls over the existence of inventories were not effectively designed and maintained. Specifically, the controls to monitor that inventory subject to the cycle count program was counted at the frequency levels and accuracy rates required under the Company’s policy, and the controls to verify the existence of inventory held at third-party locations were not effectively designed and maintained.
Management completed the following remediation efforts around the deficiency:
We have completed the transfer of the vast majority of inventory held at third-party locations to Company-owned facilities.
We have redesigned our controls over the completeness and accuracy of underlying information to monitor count dates for each item by location.
We have redesigned our controls over the completeness and accuracy of underlying information to calculate and monitor the historical cycle count accuracy results. We have also formalized procedures to establish specific accountability for investigation and analysis of identified variances.
We have redesigned our controls over baseline testing for all system-generated reports utilized in the internal controls over existence of inventories subject to the cycle count program.
We have completed an analysis to validate that inventory subject to the cycle count program is being counted at the frequency levels and accuracy rates required under the Company’s policy.

Although we have remediated two material weaknesses and implemented several remediation actions on the remaining material weaknesses, we are still in the process of implementing certain actions and validating the impact of such actions on the material weaknesses that remain open as of October 31, 2017. Additionally, for newly implemented control activities a certain number of instances need to be completed in order to validate operating effectiveness. The number of instances needed is determined based on the frequency with which the control operates. These remediation actions are subject to ongoing review by management, as well as oversight by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. We plan to complete this remediation process as diligently as possible, and we will continue to make progress on the remediation of the remaining open material weaknesses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. However, uncertainties exist as to when such remediation may occur, and our initiatives may not prove successful in remediating the material weaknesses. Management may decide to enhance other existing controls and/or implement additional controls as part of the implementation progresses. It will take time to determine whether the additional controls we are implementing will be sufficient and functioning as designed to accomplish their intended purpose;

We are committed to improving our internal control over financial reporting and processes and intend to proactively review and improve our financial reporting controls and procedures incorporating best practices and leveraging external resources to facilitate periodic evaluations of our internal control over financial reporting. As we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may take additional measures to address control deficiencies or modify certain of the remediation measures.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
As described above under "Management's Remediation Initiatives," thereThere were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three- and nine-monththree-month period ended October 31, 2017April 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings:

The Company is involved as a party in lawsuits, claims, regulatory inquiries, or disputes arising in the normal course of its business, the potential costs and liability of which cannot be determined at this time. Among these matters is a patent infringement lawsuit filed in federal district court in Kansas, in which Capstan Ag Systems, Inc. has made certain infringement claims against the Company and one of its customers, CNH Industrial America LLC, related to the Applied Technology Division’s Hawkeye® Nozzle Control System. Management does not believe the ultimate outcomes of its legal proceedings are likely to be significant to its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. Additionally, because of the present status of the lawsuit, management cannot determine the potential impact, if any, of the patent infringement lawsuit described above.

The Company has insurance policies that provide coverage to various degrees for potential liabilities arising from legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors:

The Company’s business is subject to a number of risks, including those identified in Item 1A “Risk Factors”"Risk Factors" of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2017,2018, that could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from fiscal period to fiscal period. The risks described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K are not exhaustive. Additional risks we currently deem to be immaterial or are unknown to us at this time also could materially affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and/or liquidity.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds:

On November 3, 2014 the Company's Board of Directors (Board) authorized a $40.0 million stock buyback program. Effective March 21, 2016Since that time, the Board has provided additional authorizations to increase the total amount authorized an extension and increaseunder the program to $75.0 million. The Company made no purchases (recorded on trade date basis) of this stock buyback program.An additional $10.0its own equity securities during the first quarter of fiscal 2019. There is $28.0 million was authorizedstill available for share repurchases once the $40.0 million authorization limit is reached. This authorizationunder this Board-authorized program which remains in place until such time as the authorized spending limit is reached or is revoked by the Board.

The Company made purchases (recorded on trade date basis) of its own equity securities during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 as follows:
(dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)


Period Total number of shares purchased under the plan Weighted average price paid per share (or unit) Total amount purchased including commissions Dollar value of shares (or units) that may be purchased under the plan
August 1 to August 31, 2017 124,700
 $27.66
 $3,448,795
  
September 1 to September 30, 2017 223,586
 29.30
 6,551,197
  
October 1 to October 31, 2017 
   
  
Total as of and for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2017 348,286
 $28.71
 $9,999,992
 $2,959,349

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities: None

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures: None

Item 5. Other Information: None


Item 6. Exhibits:

Exhibit
Number
 Description
Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Colorado Lining International, Inc., John B. Heap, Patrick Elliott, and Raven Industries, Inc. dated August 22, 2017.
   
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS 
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* The exhibits and schedules to this agreement have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Raven Industries, Inc. will furnish copies of such exhibits and schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC. 
   
 
/s/ Steven E. Brazones

 
 Steven E. Brazones 
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 
 
Date: November 21, 2017May 23, 2018



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