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U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998
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[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the transition period from ______________ to ________________
Commission file number 0-17569
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FIBERCHEM, INC.
(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware 84-1063897
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1181 Grier Drive, Suite B, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
(address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Issuer's telephone number: (702) 361-9873
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.0001 Par Value
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(Title of class)
Indicate by check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES X NO
--- ---
Indicate by check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in
response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure
will be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB
or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB. [ X]
Issuer's revenues for its most recent fiscal year: $1,317,600
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates
computed by reference to the last sale price of such stock on December 31, 1998
of $0.17 was $5,108,489.
As of December 31, 1998, the Issuer had 34,209,587 shares of Common Stock,
par value $.0001 per share, outstanding.
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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
(a) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
FiberChem, Inc. ("FiberChem," the "Company" or "FCI") was formed on April
6, 1987, under the name Tipton Industries, Inc. ("Tipton"). On December 18,
1987, Tipton acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of FiberChem,
Inc., a New Mexico corporation, for approximately 79% of Tipton's Common Shares.
The transaction was accounted for as a reverse purchase of Tipton by the
Company. Pursuant to stockholder approval on December 21, 1988, Tipton and
FiberChem (New Mexico) were merged into the Company, a newly formed Delaware
corporation, which changed its name to FiberChem, Inc.
From inception through the period ended September 30, 1998, the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiary FCI Environmental, Inc. ("FCI Environmental")
have operated in the same industry segment.
This report includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including the timely development and acceptance of new products,
the timely acceptance of existing products, the impact of competitive products
and pricing, the impact of governmental regulations or lack thereof with respect
to the Company's markets, the timely funding of customers' projects, customer
payments to the Company and the other risks detailed from time to time in the
Company's SEC reports.
(b) BUSINESS OF ISSUER
FiberChem develops, produces, markets and licenses its patented fiber
optic chemical sensor ("FOCS-Registered Trademark-") technology which
detects and monitors hydrocarbon pollution in the air, water and soil. The
Company has developed a range of products and systems based on
FOCS-Registered Trademark-, which provide IN SITU and continuous monitoring
capabilities with real-time information. The Company also is developing a
range of sensor products based on its Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered
Trademark-technology for a wide variety of environmental, consumer,
commercial, industrial, automotive and military applications.
Since its inception in 1987, FiberChem has invested in excess of $25
million in research and development relating to a wide range of technologies,
and has focused on products for environmental monitoring and industry. During
the last several years, a de-emphasis of environmental issues in Congress has
resulted in delays in enactment and enforcement of the regulatory climate
upon which the Company's future prospects were at least partially dependent.
Several federal and state programs were not re-authorized or funded. Similar
to companies in the electric vehicle or alternative fuels arenas, FiberChem
found that many of its expected opportunities had evaporated, at least for
the foreseeable future. Consequently, FiberChem's Management identified
market segments that were driven by other forces. Notwithstanding the
slowdown at the Federal level, the Company recognized that the State of
Florida represented a short-term opportunity for aboveground tank leak
detection and set about getting its sensor products specified. At the same
time, the phase-out of Freon-Registered Trademark-presented the Company with
an opportunity to establish its technology as the preferred replacement for
the existing Freon-Registered Trademark-/Infrared method for measurement of
total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in process water streams.
During this refocusing process the Company has substantially enhanced
the value of its development initiatives with Texas Instruments, Inc. ("TI")
for its Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark-. By working together with the
Optoelectronics Group within TI's Semiconductor Group, the Company has
expanded the scope of the joint marketing activity in the chemical sensor
marketplace. The short-term result from this process has been development
work on a number of new products, including:
- a gasoline vapor sensor for a gasoline-retailing application
- a carbon monoxide sensor for residential, medical and
automotive use
- sensors for the detection of chemical warfare agents
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- a fuel/air ratio sensor for automotive use
- a fail-safe flammable gas sensor for a household appliance
control system
- a breath alcohol sensor for an ignition interlock device for
automotive use
- an ammonia sensor for refrigerant levels in food processing
facilities
- sensors for detection of toxic gasses for personal protection.
See "Business-Sensors."
PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS
The PetroSense-Registered Trademark- product line includes a continuous
monitoring system ("CMS-5000") designed for IN-SITU measurement of petroleum
hydrocarbons in a wide variety of applications including leak detection at
aboveground storage tank ("AST") and underground storage tank ("UST") sites,
monitoring of soil and water remediation processes and fence line monitoring
at contaminated sites. A CMS system typically sells for between $15,000 and
$50,000.
The CMS-4000 can be used to monitor hydrocarbon levels in applications such
as storm water and waste water around industrial facilities. The CMS-4000 is
available with analog outputs for use in industrial applications where some
control functions need to be performed.
The use of on-board modems allows both versions of the CMS to warn of alarm
conditions through remote communication. Conversely, the unit itself can be
interrogated remotely to provide retrieval of logged data, status and service
information. This is particularly important for unmanned sites.
Up to sixteen of the Company's Digital Hydrocarbon Probes ("DHPs") can be
interfaced to the CMS-5000 to allow monitoring at several different locations
within a site. The DHP typically sells for about $4,000. The DHP can also be
used as a standalone product to interface with existing data loggers that use
the environmental industry standard communications protocol (referred to as
Standard Digital Interface ("SDI-12")). A second version of the DHP has been
developed by the Company. This product uses the RS-485 communications protocol,
allowing direct interface with computers and programmable logic controllers for
other industrial applications.
The OilSense-4000-TM- is a new product specifically developed to address
the produced and process water market, both offshore and onshore. It is a
version of the CMS-4000 specially developed for highly contaminated streams
where there is a need for automatic cleaning of the sensor based on
preprogrammed parameters. It incorporates modems for remote communication and
has a 4-20 mA output for control loop purposes. The OilSense-4000-TM- sells for
$25,000 to $35,000 depending upon its hazardous area certification.
The PetroSense-Registered Trademark- Portable Hydrocarbon Analyzer
("PHA-100") is a hand-held instrument using an analog hydrocarbon probe which
can measure hydrocarbons in the air, soil and in or on water. The PHA-100
typically sells for about $6,900. The microprocessor in the instrument
converts the data generated by the probe into a parts per million ("ppm")
reading. The user can store the reading for retrieval or can print the data
on an external printer after as many as 100 separate measurements are
completed. Recent improvements in calibration have expanded the effective
range for the PHA-100 down to the parts per billion ("ppb") range (in water)
for benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene ("BTEX"), common petroleum
hydrocarbon components of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
Applications for the PHA-100 include quarterly monitoring of AST and UST
sites and pipelines, the detection of contamination levels of soil and general
environmental monitoring.
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A version of the PHA-100, known as the PHA-100W, has been developed for
applications where hydrocarbons need to be monitored in water alone. The unit
sells for $6,250. It is designed for applications such as breakthrough from
remediation processes, monitoring of bodies of water, and process water, waste
water and storm water monitoring.
A third version of the PHA-100 is the PHA-100WL. It is specifically
designed for measuring total petroleum hydrocarbons ("TPH") in produced water at
offshore petroleum production platforms and is designed to imitate the operation
of the infrared analyzer used in the existing Freon/Infrared method. It
typically sells for $6,375.
The PetroSense-Registered Trademark- Field Kit is a product that is an
integral part of each of the CMS, PHA-100 and DHP. The field kits contain
pre-mixed calibration solutions, manufactured to ISO 9001 standards and
traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology standards,
that are used to calibrate the hydrocarbon probes and accessories such as
cleaning solutions, computer and power adapters, and disposable calibration
vials and tubes for the customer's convenience. The pre-mixed standards are
available at three hydrocarbon concentrations and represent continuing
revenue potential for the Company. A vapor calibration procedure has been
developed for soil gas applications. A field kit for the CMS-5000 contains a
few months' worth of supplies and the field kit for the DHP probes contains a
30-day supply. In addition, refill kits are available to replenish each field
kit on an "as needed" basis.
The Company has pursued federal, state and local approvals for its
products. In November 1994, the Company received Underwriters Laboratories
approval for its product line in the United States and Canada. In April 1995,
the Company received notification from KEMA, an authorized certification body
for Europe, that its products had met their highest standard for intrinsic
safety (CENELEC), and, as such, were approved for use in all hazardous
environments including offshore platforms. The products have also been designed
and tested to meet European Union CE Mark standards which went into effect
January 1, 1996 for the European Community.
Both the Company's PHA-100 and DHP have been extensively tested by Ken
Wilcox Associates, Inc. ("KWA"), an independent testing laboratory, in
accordance with EPA protocols. These evaluations meet the requirements of the
EPA for external vapor-phase leak detection systems and liquid-phase out-of-tank
product detectors. KWA also certified that the data produced by the Company's
products was equivalent to the EPA's standard method for groundwater analysis.
The Company's products were included in the EPA's Office of Underground
Storage Tanks list of products meeting certain minimum third-party certification
guidelines, both for vapor and liquid product detection. In addition, the
Company has received written or verbal assurance that its products meet the
requirements of 47 states. Certain states rely on the EPA list and certain
others have no specific requirements.
The Company has also had the CMS-5000 product line third-party certified
for use for AST leak detection in Florida. As a result, FCI Environmental is the
only company at this time to have an AST continuous leak detection product
approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP").
Recently developed applications of FOCS-Registered Trademark- include
the use of the technology to replace a Freon-Registered Trademark- extraction
method of analysis currently used on offshore oil production platforms. EPA
regulations require oil companies to monitor the hydrocarbon content in water
returned to the ocean during the oil production process. The conventional
Freon-Registered Trademark- method involves periodic sampling of produced
water output and analysis of the samples in the oil production platform's
laboratory. The Company's products can be used to monitor the water output
continuously, thereby achieving a significant reduction in cost for the
operator, both by eliminating the use of Freon-Registered Trademark- gas and
by optimizing the usage of chemical agents used to facilitate removal of oil
from produced water. Some operators see the opportunity to minimize downtime
in bad weather by continuously monitoring the produced water even when the
platform has been evacuated.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The Company's FOCS-Registered Trademark- technology, which is
proprietary and patented, is at the center of the Company's products.
FiberChem manufactures a probe which contains a short length (approximately 5
cm) of fiber optic cable. Commercially produced fiber optic cable is coated
to keep all wavelengths of light contained. The Company treats the
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fiber optic cable with the FOCS-Registered Trademark- technology, modifying
the cable's coating to permit a certain amount of light to be lost when it
comes into contact with hydrocarbon molecules. The resulting change in light
transmission is then recorded and transmitted by the probe either to one of
the Company's monitoring devices (see "Products and Applications" above) or
to other industry standard devices. The Company's devices measure changes in
parts per million or, in some instances, in lesser concentrations. Up to 16
probes can be linked together to provide a continuous monitoring system for
various types of sites, including USTs, ASTs, remediation sites, pipelines
and offshore oil production platforms.
The FOCS-Registered Trademark- technology has been further developed
through a joint venture with TI to produce Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered
Trademark-, a new generation of semiconductor-based sensor products. The
market for these chip-based sensors is represented by customers in the
consumer, commercial, industrial, automotive and military fields. Often
development costs are partially covered by a customer in exchange for some
level of exclusivity. See "Business-Sensors" for a description of chip based
sensor products.
The Company believes that its patents and patent applications, coupled with
the trade secrets, proprietary information and experience in development provide
the Company with a competitive advantage. It is the Company's policy to apply
for international patent rights in addition to United States patent rights.
FiberChem holds 21 United States patents covering sensor technologies and has
applications pending for three additional patents. All of the United States
patents are valid for 20 years from their respective dates of applications, the
oldest of which was applied for in 1987. The Company holds nine international
patents, and has a total of 15 international patent applications pending in
Canada, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the People's Republic of China and most
Western European countries. The sensor technologies are also protected in the
United States by registered trademarks.
THE MARKET
FiberChem's primary markets and potential markets are the petroleum
production, refinery and distribution chain. Major oil companies, distributors
and retailers of gasoline, diesel and aircraft fuel are important potential
customers. Other important markets and customers include remediation companies,
environmental consultants, shipping ports, airports and military bases. The
markets for sensors transcend the petroleum hydrocarbon marketplace, are very
diverse and are addressed directly by Company personnel. The Company is not
dependent on any one major customer.
CUSTOMERS AND DISTRIBUTORS
The Company entered into an OEM Strategic Alliance Agreement (the
"Alliance" or the "Agreement") as of June 30, 1996, as amended, with Whessoe
Varec, Inc. ("Whessoe Varec") whereby Whessoe Varec was granted exclusive
worldwide right to market the Company's products in the aboveground storage
tank (AST) market. The Alliance, combined with the acquisition of Whessoe
p.l.c. (Whessoe Varec's parent company) by Endress + Hauser of Switzerland,
has positioned both Alliance partners to take advantage of the new Florida
regulations regarding the requirements for AST leak detection. Internal
liners and leak detection is by far the lowest cost option for compliance
with the Florida mandates and as of today, the Company's
PetroSense-Registered Trademark- line is the only product certified for use
on a continuous basis in both contaminated and uncontaminated sites in
Florida. Approximately 1,000 tanks have been identified which are already
lined and as such are immediate targets for leak detection. Each tank
represents an average of $35,000 in potential revenue for the Alliance
($10,000 for FCI). It is anticipated that this number will grow in the period
before December 1999 when installations must be completed. The impact of
these regulations has been that about $8,000,000 of projects have been
identified and proposals generated. It is anticipated that these projects
will accelerate from 1998 to 1999. Many companies have already indicated that
they intend to stagger installations over the period. Based on this level of
activity, Whessoe Varec has substantially expanded its sales and service
capabilities in Florida, and management believes that significant business
will be generated by the Alliance although there can be no assurance that
this will occur.
Florida Power Company, Shell Oil Company, Texaco, Reedy Creek Energy and
Jacksonville Electric have purchased and installed the Company's equipment to
upgrade their tanks to include leak detection. During December 1998, GATX placed
an order to install the Company's equipment at their Florida terminals. Citgo,
Dreyfus, Hess, Coastal and Marathon, among others, have applications pending at
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") to install the
Company's products. Although these applicants are not contractually bound to the
Company to
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purchase its products, if an application is approved and not subsequently
modified, amended or withdrawn, the applicant is required to install the
equipment specified in an application by December 31, 1999. On May 1, 1998, the
final review opportunity for input into the Storage Tank Regulations was held.
In the absence of any dissenting opinion, the Regulations were passed on to the
Attorney General of Florida for incorporation into law and became effective on
July 13, 1998 thereby implementing the Florida AST regulation. There can be no
assurance that when, or even if, the DEP gives final approval that these or any
other companies will purchase the Company's products, or when such purchases may
occur.
In November 1996, the Company was advised that its proposed joint venture
in Finland had received funding authorization from the Finnish government. A new
company, Senveco Oy ("Senveco"), has been formed, owned 75% by Finnish interests
including the Company's existing distributor, and 25% by the Company. Senveco
offers sales, service, technical support and consulting services for FCI's
products and for complementary products from other manufacturers.
Senveco's region consists of Finland, the Baltic States, and Northwest
Russia including the key areas of the Kola Peninsula where existing pollution
appears to warrant substantial cleanups of soil and water. Senveco also provides
technical support to the Company's European distribution network and in the
Middle East.
In October 1997, the Company was advised that Senveco had been selected for
an European Union Baltic Intereg contract to provide consulting and monitoring
services to locate "hot spots" of pollution in the Kola Peninsula region of
Russia. The contract has not yet been funded and recent events in Russia bring
into doubt whether these contracts will actually become effective.
OFFSHORE PRODUCED WATER MARKET.
For the past 15 or so years, tests to determine the TPH content of
certain process water streams returned to the ocean from offshore platforms
("produced water") have been carried out by extracting water samples with
Freon-Registered Trademark- and analyzing the resultant extract by infrared
spectroscopy ("IR"). With the diminution of its availability and increase in
its price, coupled with wide spread concern as to its threat to the Earth's
ozone layer, Freon-Registered Trademark- and the Freon-Registered
Trademark-/IR method are now viewed as requiring replacement.
Of the various other methods currently offered, the Company believes
that its FOCS-Registered Trademark- technology offers the best alternative in
terms of correlation with the IR method, ease of use, features, benefits and
cost. The Company offers two different products to this marketplace. The
OilSense-4000-TM- is a continuous unit which can operate unattended. It
offers a 4-20 mA output and can be interrogated and programmed remotely via
modem. It operates for at least 30 days between routine service. At $25,000
to $35,000, it offers good value where manpower is at a premium. The
OilSense-4000-TM- can also be integrated into the process of treating the
produced water stream to automatically optimize the use of water treatment
chemicals and can continue operating where platforms are currently shut down
due to adverse weather conditions. The PHA-100WL is a single measurement
analyzer which directly replaces the Freon-Registered Trademark-/IR method.
Its FOCS-Registered Trademark-sensor directly measures TPH in water samples,
according to a simple procedure. At $6,375 it offers a direct replacement for
the Freon-Registered Trademark-/IR method without the use of Freon-Registered
Trademark- or other chemicals.
There are about 3,500 platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and a similar number
in the rest of the world, mainly in the North Sea, Middle East, South China Sea
and offshore West Africa. It appears that each of these regions conforms to
similar regulations. This market represents a window of opportunity that will
remain open until the IRs are replaced over the next two years or so.
Exxon, Marathon, Chevron, Shell and others are evaluating the Company's
replacement for the existing Freon-Registered Trademark-/IR technology. Each
of these companies has already purchased multiple units from the Company.
Norsk Hydro leased a unit for evaluation for its North Sea operations. In
addition, a unit was recently sold to Clyde Petroleum in Indonesia, the first
sale for use in the South China Sea. Amoco, Pennzoil and Spirit Energy 76
(Unocal) recently advised the Company that they will install the Company's
equipment on all their Gulf platforms. Spirit Energy has installed 14
PHA-100WLs and Amoco has installed the Company's OilSense-4000-TM- and
PHA-100WLs At 8 of their more than 25 sites. During December, Pennzoil placed
their first order for the Company's PHA-100WLs for 2 of their 15 sites.
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EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS & COMPUTERS, INC.
On February 7, 1995, FCI Environmental entered into a two-year exclusive
distribution agreement with Universal Electronics & Computers, Inc. ("UECI"), a
corporation of the Republic of China. Pursuant to the agreement, FCI
Environmental agreed to provide UECI with certain environmental products,
accessories and parts, and UECI agreed to act as an independent contractor of
FCI Environmental to promote and sell such products exclusively in the People's
Republic of China. The agreement automatically renewed for another two years.
Projects with China Petroleum and the ROC military are ongoing and other
projects are pending. UECI has purchased in excess of $100,000 of the Company's
products. UECI is currently involved with introduction of FCI into the People's
Republic of China where there is a large potential project for underground
storage tank leak detection. The slowdown in the Asian economies may delay
completion of some or all of these projects.
MARKET DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH MITSUI MINERAL DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING CO.,
LTD.
On May 31, 1995, the Company, through FCI Environmental, entered into a
two-year joint market development agreement with Mitsui Mineral Development
Engineering Co., Ltd. ("MINDECO") pursuant to which the Company and MINDECO are
developing the Japanese market for the Company's products, initially limited to
petroleum hydrocarbon products. In general, the Company supplied the products
and MINDECO demonstrated, marketed and sold them. In addition, the Company and
MINDECO have agreed to use their best efforts to achieve a minimum sales target
of $1,000,000. As of the end of the initial and subsequent terms, unless the
Company and MINDECO agree to convert the market development agreement into a
distributorship agreement or terminate it, the market development agreement
automatically renews itself for one year on a non-exclusive basis. The agreement
was automatically renewed as of the end of its original and subsequent term. To
date, the agreement has not resulted in material revenues for the Company, and
the slowdown in the Asian economies may further delay significant revenues.
EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH SHINHAN SCIENTIFIC CO., LTD.
On February 9, 1995, FCI Environmental entered into a two-year exclusive
representative agreement with Shinhan Scientific Co., Ltd. ("Shinhan"), a
corporation of the Republic of Korea, which agreement was automatically extended
for an additional two year period ending February 9, 1999. Pursuant to the
agreement, FCI Environmental agreed to provide environmental products,
accessories and parts to Shinhan, and Shinhan agreed to act as an independent
contractor of FCI Environmental to promote and sell such products exclusively in
the Republic of Korea. Shinhan is actively involved in the developing UST
regulatory process in the Republic of Korea and has made initial sales to
indigenous oil companies. To date, the agreement has not resulted in material
revenues for the Company. The slowdown in the Asian economies may further delay
significant revenues.
SIPPICAN
The Company has had a licensing agreement with Sippican Corporation of
Marion, MA, a defense contracting company which had planned to move into the
environmental market but reversed its course. The Company and Sippican
negotiated a position allowing Sippican to transfer its rights to a third party,
while minimizing the potential for competition to the Company from Sippican or
others. Those rights have been recently transferred to Osmonics, Inc., a leading
supplier of potable water equipment to the beverage industry and the water
utility market. It is believed that this new relationship between Osmonics and
the Company will generate significantly higher royalty revenue than previously
through Sippican. Sippican is a $30 million defense naval warfare company which
had aspirations in the environmental market. Osmonics is a $200 million water
quality company, entirely dependent on revenues from that market. Neither
agreement has resulted in significant revenues for the Company to date.
COMPETITION
In the opinion of Management, the primary bases of competition in the
markets for the Company's products are the distinctive and special qualities of
the products, their reliability and ease of use and price.
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Management believes that the distinctive capabilities of the Company's
FOCS-Registered Trademark- technology provide competitive advantages in its
markets. The Company is unaware of any other product in the marketplace, that
can monitor petroleum hydrocarbons at all three desired monitoring points,
i.e., the vapor area above the water body, the floating hydrocarbons at the
water/air interface and the hydrocarbons dissolved in the water. Management
believes that this capability, coupled with the FOCS-Registered Trademark-'s
rapid response time and reversibility (the ability to measure both increasing
and decreasing levels of pollutants), together with its response to a wide
variety of petroleum hydrocarbons, provide the Company with a competitive
advantage. In particular, the wide dynamic range of the measuring technology
allows the detection of new leaks on top of old contamination. The Company's
Florida certification is a direct result of this capability.
Most tank leak detection methods currently in use are periodic tests.
The early warning and early detection of leaks provided by the Company's
continuous monitoring systems enable users to minimize environmental damage,
liability and cleanup costs relating to leaks that might otherwise occur and
remain undetected between periodic tests. In addition, the Company's products
permit tanks to be evaluated without being taken out of service, whereas,
many competing methods require that tanks be taken out of service for a
period of time. The AST leak detection market requires regulations to be
enforced to exist. End users usually do not purchase leak detection equipment
except for regulatory compliance. However, when regulations are promulgated,
and when deadlines are set and enforced, the result can be a significant
opportunity to supply products to the regulated community in a readily
definable period of time. This is, in fact, the situation in the Florida AST
market. Companies have to be in compliance by December 1999. Of the three
options - continuous leak detection, double bottomed tanks and dike liners -
continuous leak detection is by far the lowest cost. Further, to be a
supplier for each of the three options, products have to be certified or
approved. In the case of leak detection, a stringent third-party testing
process is required prior to acceptance. Only certified products from
suppliers who have passed acceptance are considered when compliance plans are
reviewed by Florida DEP. To date, only the Company's PetroSense-Registered
Trademark- product line has been approved for continuous detection of leaks
from ASTs although there can be no assurance that other products will not be
approved.
Competitors such as Tracer Research, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) and Arizona
Instrument Corporation (Phoenix, AZ) offer products which provide competition
in certain situations. Tracer Research, Inc. has received approval by Florida
DEP for its periodic leak detection system for ASTs. The approval is
conditional in that it specifies certain operating conditions which must be
met. There is a specified inoculation period during which the tank is
essentially out of service. This is followed by sampling vapor wells and the
site for presence of the tracer. These samples are analyzed off site. Use of
this technique is conditional upon maintaining the specified inoculation time
and testing only when ground water levels allow. The test has to be performed
every thirty days. The Company believes these conditions of use provide a
competitive advantage to continuous PetroSense-Registered Trademark-
products, since groundwater levels often reach the tank bottom during rainy
periods in low lying coastal areas such as Florida.
Arizona Instrument Corporation markets a competitive leak detection product
line mainly to the military marketplace. Its acceptance in the commercial arena
has been limited by its use of a pumping system to draw samples of vapor to the
sensor device. High groundwater levels can fill the sample tubes with water and
shut down the system. The sensor device is limited to detection of lower levels
of hydrocarbons and has not been approved for use in Florida for contaminated
sites where higher levels of hydrocarbons already exist. As a result, it is not
a competitor for the Florida AST market.
The Company's PetroSense-Registered Trademark- product line monitors
continuously and detects the level of petroleum hydrocarbons whether the
sensor is in a wet or dry environment.
Many competing methods used to detect and quantify the presence of
petroleum hydrocarbons in the field (e.g., for groundwater monitoring wells,
soil remediation sites, process streams and waste water streams) consist of
extracting a sample, then analyzing the sample using field or laboratory
analytic instruments such as gas chromatographs. This process may take
several days. The Company's products provide IN-SITU, real-time results with
accuracy closely correlating with laboratory results. Additionally, the
products' analog outputs offer the capability to provide feedback loops for
process control. Turner Designs (Sunnyvale, CA), Filco (Lafayette, LA) and
Wilks (Norwalk, CT) also offer alternatives to the Freon-Registered
Trademark-/IR method. The technology of each is limited and in each case
these competitors do not provide the full line of both portable and
continuous monitoring products offered by the Company.
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The offshore produced water market exists because Freon-Registered
Trademark- is no longer manufactured under the Montreal Protocol. The
acceptance of a replacement technology is dependent on the increasing cost
and lack of availability of Freon-Registered Trademark-, together with
economic conditions such as the price of oil.
In each market, the competition to the Company's products utilizes direct
selling through its own sales force and through manufacturers representatives.
The Company has established an alliance with a leader in the AST instrumentation
field, Whessoe Varec. In its other markets, the Company utilizes the same direct
sales approach.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
In the United States, numerous environmental laws have been enacted over
the last three decades. These include the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Conservation and Liability
("Superfund") Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act which established the EPA and others. The Clean Air and
Clean Water Acts require measurement, monitoring and control of municipal,
industrial and other discharges of hydrocarbons and numerous other substances
including heavy metals, toxic gases, chlorinated solvents and fertilizer and
pesticide residues.
Many of the Company's sales projections were made with the assumption
that, at the Federal level, there would be a strong regulatory climate on
matters involving the environment. In recent years, however, with the
Congressional de-emphasis of environmental matters, and the accompanying
delays in enactment and/or enforcement of environmental mandates, these
projections turned out to be optimistic, at least in their timetable.
Consequently, FiberChem's management identified market segments that were
driven by other forces. Notwithstanding the slowdown at the federal level,
the Company recognized that the State of Florida represented a short-term
opportunity for aboveground tank leak detection and set about getting its
sensor products specified. At the same time, the phase out of
Freon-Registered Trademark- presented the Company with an opportunity to
establish its technology as the preferred replacement for the existing
Freon-Registered Trademark-/Infrared method for measurement of total
petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in process water streams.
Although present federal laws do not require leak detection for ASTs, many
state and local governments have enacted or are considering regulations
requiring leak detection for ASTs. Two pieces of legislation are pending before
Congress, and the EPA has proposed a collaboration with the American Petroleum
Institute ("API") on voluntary AST programs in which leak detection is a
significant factor. As part of this collaboration, API is conducting a test of
leak detection equipment at an operating tank farm. The Company's products and
those of two other companies were selected for this evaluation. The State of
Florida has perhaps the most stringent regulations and FCI is the only company
to have certification for the continuous monitoring of both uncontaminated and
contaminated sites in Florida. Other States are expected to follow Florida and
promulgate AST regulations. Virginia promulgated its own similar regulations
during 1998. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Minnesota, Wisconsin have also
promulgated regulations.
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ACTIVITY
Several countries have environmental laws or regulations in place or being
implemented that affect the market for the Company's products. Belgium has a new
environmental law that regulates retail gas stations. Canada's Ontario Province
has an AST regulation in process. The Republic of South Korea has a UST law
which is currently being implemented. Taiwan has committed to significant
expenditure for environmental clean up. Finland has proposed leak detection for
retail gasoline stations and has recently promulgated clean up regulations
backed by government funding for the clean up of contaminated retail sites in
the country. The Company is working with its international distributors and
others to promote the Company's products and enhance its name recognition in
these countries so that the Company's products are taken into consideration when
legislation and regulations are promulgated. The slowdown in the Asian and
Russian economies may delay some or all of these projects.
9
<PAGE>
MANUFACTURING
The Company manufactures the FOCS-Registered Trademark- sensors and
probes at its facilities located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Printed circuit boards
incorporated in the Company's products are fabricated and assembled by other
companies using high quality commercially available components.
The PHA-100 incorporates an instrument originally developed and
manufactured to the Company's specifications by others. Component parts and
subassemblies are now being purchased directly by the Company, and final
assembly and testing is also performed directly by the Company. The data logging
and control instruments incorporated in the CMS systems are commercially
available from a number of manufacturers; however, the Company has chosen one
primary supplier, and integrates the instrument with the Company's DHP,
operating and control software, personal computers and peripheral devices such
as alarms. Accessory kits are configured by the Company using both commercially
available and specially manufactured components.
The Company is in the process of undergoing certification under ISO 9001,
the international standard for the maintenance and improvement of product
quality. Due to reductions in personnel during Fiscal 1998, the certification
process has been delayed. Certification is expected to be completed during
Fiscal 1999.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company shifted its emphasis in 1996 and 1997 to applications
development of the petroleum hydrocarbons product line, particularly in the
areas of produced water and waste water. Peripherals were developed to allow
the FOCS-Registered Trademark- technology to function in highly contaminated
flowing water streams by automatically rinsing the probe on demand. This led
to the development of the OilSense-4000-TM- a completely integrated system
for use on offshore platforms.
The Company also put significant effort into developing both methodology
and software for the use of the water-only versions of the portable unit
(PHA-100W and PHA-100WL) in the storm and waste water and offshore produced
water markets.
SENSORS
The sensors market represents the Company's largest potential market,
primarily because applications for sensors are much wider than those for the
Company's environmental products. Developed in cooperation with Texas
Instruments with the technology patented by FCI, sensors have the potential to
revolutionize a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial, automotive,
military and medical products.
This new concept, based on an optical platform that is essentially a double
beam spectrometer on a plug-in base in a standard 20-pin integrated circuit
package, utilizes standard TI components for ease of design compatibility. These
devices incorporate waveguides onto which a chemical matrix may be coated. The
presence of a chemical analyte which causes a change in the refractive index,
absorption or fluorescence of the waveguide material results in a change which
can be detected, measured and related to concentration of the analyte, whether
in the aqueous or gaseous phase.
While these sensors can be used in hardware currently under development
at the Company, e.g., portable dosimeter devices as well as continuous
monitoring probes and associated hardware, the primary application for these
Sensors-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark- lies in the OEM marketplace. This
market is characterized by clients who have needs or wants for sensors that
give their products an advantage in their marketplace.
Examples of ongoing developments include:
- a gasoline vapor sensor for a gasoline retailing application
- a carbon monoxide sensor for residential, medical and
automotive use
10
<PAGE>
- sensors for the detection of chemical warfare agents
- a fuel/air ratio sensor for automotive use
- a fail-safe flammable gas sensor for a household appliance
control system
- a breath alcohol sensor for an ignition interlock device for
automotive use
- an ammonia sensor for refrigerant levels in food processing
facilities
- sensors for detection of toxic gasses for personal protection.
These applications represent sensors with selling prices anticipated to be
in the $5 to $150 range depending upon application and volume.
The Company also has invented a proprietary method of analysis for
chemical and biological molecules which is essentially a solid state version
of the well-known immunoassay technology. This technology was borrowed from
the medical community and applied to environmental monitoring. The Company's
invention of a single-step immunoassay has potential application to sensor
development in areas previously relegated to expensive and slow laboratory
analysis. When applied to the Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark- this
technology could provide a range of sensors and hardware products which could
substitute for laboratory analysis in the biomedical and biological analysis
marketplace. As an example, the Company recently demonstrated an immunoassay
for cocaine and other drugs of abuse that reached a detection limit of 400
parts per trillion.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, INC. ("TI")
On June 15, 1995, the Company entered into an intellectual property
license agreement and a cooperative development agreement with TI. Under the
License Agreement, TI licensed the Company's patented FOCS-Registered
Trademark- for use with TI's Optoelectronics technology. The Company granted
TI an exclusive worldwide royalty-bearing license to develop, produce and
market chip-based chemical sensors for specific applications. In exchange, TI
granted the Company a non-exclusive worldwide royalty-bearing license to
certain TI technology. The license agreement terminates when the last Company
or TI patent concerning the technology under the license agreement expires.
The License Agreement and Cooperative Development Agreement replace similar
agreements between the Company and TI, entered into in January 1992, with a
goal of miniaturizing the Company's FOCS-Registered Trademark- technologies
into microchip sensors. This development work with TI is also the basis for
the Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark- product which is the subject of
the joint development agreement with Gilbarco described below. The Company
has been granted a United States patent on chip-based sensors in general and
has applied for a patent on a chip-based toxic gas sensor.
Under the cooperative development agreement, the Company and TI agreed
to design and develop certain custom FOCS-Registered Trademark- based sensors
for TI's exclusive use. The first chip-based sensor has been developed for
carbon monoxide (CO). Chemistry development is essentially completed. Changes
in the UL Standard for residential CO detectors and significant changes in
market dynamics impacted on the introduction of this product by TI. However,
the Company is pursuing medical and automotive in-cabin applications for
prospective OEM customers.
Since the Company developed a working relationship with the Optoelectronics
Development Group within TI's Semiconductor Group, the Company has identified
and pursued a number of opportunities in the sensor area, some introduced by TI,
others directly by the Company. It is expected that an expanded activity on the
part of the Optoelectronics Development Group may result in additional
opportunities for product development.
AGREEMENT WITH ALCOHOL SENSORS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
The Company with the assistance of and pursuant to specifications and
know-how of Alcohol Sensors International, Ltd. ("ASI"), has developed chemical
sensors for the breath alcohol (ethanol) testing industry and market. On
November 8, 1996, the Company, through FCI Environmental, entered into an
agreement with ASI pursuant to
11
<PAGE>
which the Company granted ASI exclusive right, title and interest (including
sales and marketing rights) to such alcohol sensors for the breath alcohol
testing industry and market. In consideration therefor, ASI agreed to market,
promote and sell instruments employing such alcohol sensors on a worldwide basis
and to pay the Company development and licensing fees over the term of the
agreement. The term of the agreement is for five years and may be renewed by ASI
for successive five-year terms upon written notice to the Company not less than
sixty days prior to the expiration of the prior term. Through September 30,
1998, ASI had not reported any sales of the device subject to the licensing
agreement.
JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH GILBARCO, INC.
The Company, through FCI Environmental, completed the development for
Gilbarco, Inc. ("Gilbarco") of a low-cost sensor for the detection of gasoline
vapor in Phase II vapor recovery systems for gasoline dispensing equipment. The
introduction of the equipment is pending the promulgation of regulations by the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) establishing a compliance date for new
dispensers, followed by an as yet undetermined phase-in period for retrofitting
of existing dispensers.
The Company's sensor development project with Gilbarco has moved on to a
pre-manufacturing mode driven by the expectation that CARB will require
suppliers of refueling equipment to certify their products to meet Onboard
Refueling Vapor Recovery Phase II ("ORVRII") requirements. Provided that
certain key steps are completed by CARB, Gilbarco should commence
manufacturing products incorporating the Company's
Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark- in order to meet the CARB
requirements. Revenues from this project are expected to begin in Fiscal
1999, if the time schedule is met, but there can be no assurance that this
will actually occur.
BECHTEL NEVADA
In June 1995, the Company entered into a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement ("CRADA") with the U. S. Department of Energy ("DOE")
through its operating entity Bechtel Nevada, Inc.'s Remote Sensing Laboratory
in Las Vegas, Nevada to develop low-cost, rugged demountable probes suitable
for use with the Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark- platform. This
development resulted in the production of a prototype probe to carry up to
three chips. New development has focused on a dosimeter device for hand held
use and is ongoing. The Company built five prototypes for Bechtel under the
contract during Fiscal 1998 and has received an order for ten more units
which should be completed in the second fiscal quarter of 1999.
In March 1996, the Company entered into a contract with DOE through Bechtel
Nevada, to develop a chip-based sensor for trichloroethylene at the ppb level in
water. The first phase of the contract, the selection, evaluation and
verification of an appropriate chemistry, was completed in September 1996. The
second phase of this contract, development of prototype chip sensors, has not
been funded.
OTHER SENSOR DEVELOPMENT
The Company is further developing numerous other sensors for specific
contaminants and properties. Certain sensors are completed, but will not be
introduced into manufacturing until the Company has the resources to finalize
the design of the chip-based platform for that specific application. Other
sensors are still in the chemistry development stage. The current status of the
Company's sensor development is outlined in the table below, showing analytes
measured, their stage of development, targeted sensitivity (capability of
measurement) and the particular media monitored:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TYPE STAGE OF TARGETED
- ---- DEVELOPMENT SENSITIVITY/MEDIA
----------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Oxygen Prototype Ambient levels in air
Carbon Dioxide Prototype Ambient levels in air
pH Prototype 2-12 in water
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Development ppb in water(1)
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TYPE STAGE OF TARGETED
- ---- DEVELOPMENT SENSITIVITY/MEDIA
----------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Heavy Metals (total of 7) Development ppb in water(1)
Phosphates Development ppm in water, soil(1)
Sulfates Development ppm in water, soil(1)
Hydrazine Development ppb in air, water, soil(1)
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Research ppb in water(1)
Total Organic Chloride (TOCl) Research ppb in water(1)
</TABLE>
- -----------
(1) Targeted sensitivity for sensors in the development and research stage
will be established as they enter into the prototype stage. The
development target is to meet the regulatory compliance requirements.
The Company's technology is being evaluated for use in sub-sea modules
under development by Asea Brown Boveri for Norsk Hydro. These developments are
intended to replace the current platform operations at the surface with unmanned
operations on the ocean floor.
The Port of Rotterdam has proposed to remediate its facility through
state-of-the-art bioremediation and an operating consortium, managed by the
Dutch engineering firm IWACO, has selected the Company to be the technology
vendor for monitoring systems. In addition, IWACO has invited the Company to
become an equal partner in a second program relating to bioremediation
technologies. The Company would benefit from access to data, technology,
resources and personnel of the Consortium's member companies which include Shell
International Products and Solvay S.A.
The Company's spending on research and development activities during Fiscal
1997 and 1998 was $1,257,324 and $752,892, respectively.
COSTS AND EFFECTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
The Company has determined the costs and effects of compliance with
federal, state and local environmental laws to be minimal in amount and
exposure. The Company spends less than 1% of its total expenditures to comply
with the various environmental laws.
EMPLOYEES
As of September 30, 1998, the Company and its subsidiaries employed 17
persons on a full-time basis. These include Geoffrey F. Hewitt, President and
Chief Executive Officer; Melvin W. Pelley, Chief Financial Officer and Thomas A.
Collins, President of FCI Environmental. The Company also employed two
administrative persons; one scientist; five laboratory and manufacturing
technicians; one manager of manufacturing; one materials, production control,
shipping and receiving specialist; one engineer; one sales applications
specialist; and two strategic business unit sales managers. The Company also
employed one engineer and one laboratory technician on a part-time basis.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES
In September 1989, the Company leased approximately 15,000 square feet
of space in a new multi-tenant showroom/warehouse/distribution facility within
Hughes Airport Center, 1181 Grier Drive, Suite B, Las Vegas, Nevada. The Company
is currently using approximately 8,000 square feet of its facility for
production, 4,000 square feet for research, development and engineering and the
remaining 3,000 square feet for marketing and administrative purposes. The lease
was for five years and expired on February 28, 1995. The Company and the lessor
have agreed to a month-to-month lease which is terminable by either party upon
30 days' notice. Current base monthly payments under the month-to-month lease
are $12,786. Rent expense during Fiscal 1997 and 1998
13
<PAGE>
was $172,551 and $170,869, respectively. The Company is pursuing alternatives
including a renewal of the current lease at approximately the current base
monthly rental charge.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
A former distributor, D2E, filed an action in the Commercial Court of
Nanterre, France on June 4, 1997 claiming improper termination of an exclusive
distribution agreement by FCI environmental, Inc. The action seeks monetary
damages of approximately $200,000 at current exchange rates. A hearing on the
merits of the dispute originally scheduled for June 23, 1998 was adjourned until
January 8, 1999. The Company does not expect an adverse outcome and believes
that even in the event of an adverse outcome, such an outcome would not have a
material effect on its financial position or results of operations.
On September 23, 1998, OCS, Inc., a Texas corporation and customer of
the Company's subsidiary, FCI Environmental, Inc., filed a lawsuit against FCIE
in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, 165th Judicial District. The
lawsuit is based on an alleged breach of warranty for goods purchased from FCIE.
The plaintiff seeks incidental and consequential damages of $750,000 plus other
fees and expenses. On December 16, 1998, the Company filed a motion to dismiss
the suit.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
The Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held at the Company's
offices on August 31, 1998. At the meeting, the following directors were
re-elected to serve three-year terms or until their successors have been duly
qualified and elected:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NOMINEE FOR ELECTION AGAINST ELECTION AUTHORITY WITHHELD
------- ------------ ---------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Byron A. Denenberg 22,622,182 -0- 453,142
Gerald T. Owens 22,622,182 -0- 453,142
</TABLE>
Messrs. Geoffrey F. Hewitt, Irwin J. Gruverman and Walter Haemmerli
continue to serve the remainder of their terms of office as directors. Also at
the meeting, the Stockholders (1) approved (by a vote of 21,059,707 For;
1,912,989 Against; 102,628 Abstaining) a proposal to renew the authorization to
effect, if necessary and desirable, a reverse stock split of the Company's
Common Stock; (2) approved (by a vote of 21,295,239 For; 1,614,077 Against;
166,008 Abstaining) an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company by
100,000,000 shares to a total of 150,000,000 shares; and (3) ratified (by a vote
of 22,225,550 For; 578,812 Against; 270,962 Abstaining) the appointment of
Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP as the Company's auditors for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1998.
14
<PAGE>
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS
The Company's Common Stock was traded on the Nasdaq/SCM under the
symbol "FOCS" until February 25, 1998, when it was delisted from Nasdaq/SCM.
Since then it has been traded on the OTCBB. The following table sets forth the
high and low trade prices of the Common Stock for the periods shown as reported
by Nasdaq and the high and low bid prices as reported by the National Quotation
Bureau. The bid prices quoted on the OTCBB reflect inter-dealer prices without
retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual
transactions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trading Period High Low
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCK FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
First Quarter $0.94 $0.50
Second Quarter 0.63 0.28
Third Quarter 0.50 0.16
Fourth Quarter 0.34 0.16
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
First Quarter $0.28 $0.12
Second Quarter 0.22 0.12
Third Quarter 0.24 0.16
Fourth Quarter 0.15 0.11
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999
First Quarter $0.23 $0.15
(October 1, 1998-December 31, 1998) $0.26 $0.13
</TABLE>
On December 31, 1998, the closing bid price of a share of the Company's
Common Stock was $0.15.
On December 31, 1998, the Company had approximately 445 holders of
record and had in excess of 3,500 beneficial holders of its Common Stock.
The payment of dividends by the Company is within the discretion of its
Board of Directors and depends in part upon the Company's earnings, capital
requirements and financial condition. Since its inception, the Company has not
paid any dividends on its Common Stock and does not anticipate paying such
dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company intends to retain earnings, if
any, to finance its operations.
Pursuant to the terms of the Company's Convertible Preferred Stock,
dividends are payable annually on November 1st. The holders of the Convertible
Preferred Stock may elect to receive their dividend payments in cash at a rate
of 11% of the liquidation value, or in additional shares at the rate of 8% of
the number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock held by such holder on the
date of declaration. In September 1997, the Board of Directors determined that,
in view of the recent trading price of the Company's Common Stock and in view of
the Company's current cash position, it would not be appropriate to declare the
annual dividend payable on the Convertible Preferred Stock on November 1, 1997.
Likewise, in September 1998, the Board of Directors determined not to declare
the annual dividend payable on November 1, 1998. As a result, the undeclared
dividends aggregating $772,694 (if elected entirely in cash, or 36,442
additional shares of Convertible Preferred Stock if elected wholly in additional
shares) will accumulate in accordance with the terms of the Convertible
Preferred Stock.
ITEM 6. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction
with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto of the Company
appearing elsewhere in this Report.
15
<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's 8% senior convertible notes payable, currently
convertible into Common Stock at $0.4078 per share, become due on February 15,
1999. The unpaid balance at September 30, 1998, or $1,600,000 is therefore
classified in the financial statements at September 30, 1998 as a current
liability. The Company is pursuing alternatives to refinance, extend or convert
the notes at or prior to their maturity. However, there is no assurance that
negotiations of revised terms will be acceptable to either the Company or the
note holders, or that revised terms will be reached at all. The Company had
negative working capital of $918,624 at September 30, 1998 compared with
positive working capital of $1,883,551 at September 30, 1997, a decrease of
$2,802,175. Also the Company had decreases in cash and cash equivalents of
$336,134 and in stockholders' equity of $2,222,610. In addition to the
reclassification of the notes payable from long term to current liabilities,
these decreases are primarily a result of the Company's net cash used in
operating activities of $1,059,466.
The net cash used in operating activities of $1,059,466 during Fiscal
1998 compares with net cash used in operating activities of $2,715,012 during
Fiscal 1997. The deficit during Fiscal 1998 is primarily a result of the
Company's net loss of $2,392,225, and adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash used in operating activities. These adjustments consider changes in current
assets and liabilities, as well as non-cash transactions including amortization
expense of $322,720; depreciation expense of $57,659; common stock issued for
services of $121,512; and provisions for obsolete inventory and loss on
uncollectible accounts receivable totaling $84,267. During Fiscal 1998
approximately $140,000 of accounts receivable were offset against previously
recorded reserves for specific doubtful accounts, resulting in a reduction of
both gross accounts receivable and reserve with no effect on net receivables or
net cash flow. Also during Fiscal 1998 the Company physically disposed of
approximately $335,000 of inventory items which had been partially reserved,
resulting in reductions of gross inventory of approximately $335,000; inventory
reserves of approximately $175,000; and net inventory of $160,000.
The net cash used in operating activities of $2,715,012 during Fiscal
1997 was primarily a result of the Company's net loss of $3,226,958, and
adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities.
These adjustments considered changes in current assets and liabilities, as well
as non-cash transactions including the write-down of accrued interest on notes
receivable for the exercise of stock options in the amount $248,212;
amortization expense of $356,587; depreciation expense of $69,853; and
provisions for obsolete inventory and loss on uncollectible accounts receivable
totaling $72,375.
Net cash used in investing activities during Fiscal 1998 was $23,237,
as compared to net cash used in investing activities during Fiscal 1997 of
$139,484. During Fiscal 1998 the Company sold unused equipment for $10,125 and
made payments in the amount of $33,362 for United States and foreign patent
applications. During Fiscal 1997 the Company purchased equipment for $83,504 and
made payments for patent applications totalling $55,979.
The Company had net cash provided by financing activities during Fiscal
1998 of $746,569 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities during
Fiscal 1997 of $216,412. During Fiscal 1998, the Company borrowed $375,000 from
certain of its officers and directors, and received proceeds of $433,000 from
promissory notes payable to a bank of which a director is vice chairman. The
Company also incurred an aggregate of $147,970 in legal, accounting, and
distribution costs pertaining to a rights offering as discussed below. In July
1998 the Company arranged a line of credit with Silicon Valley Bank, borrowed
approximately $413,000 against the line of credit and repaid approximately
$381,000.
During Fiscal 1997, the Company received net cash from financing
activities of $216,412, which included (i) $174,406 in interest and principal
payments on notes receivable for the exercise of options; (ii) $55,086 received
from the exercise of options; (iii) $30,954 received from the exercise of Class
D Warrants; (iv) $46,171 in cash dividends issued to preferred stockholders; and
(v) the release of $18,456 in restricted cash serving as security for a note
payable to a bank, less $16,319 in payments on notes payable.
See Item 10. Management - Executive Compensation and Note 8 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for information concerning the
Company's material contracts for compensation and rent.
16
<PAGE>
As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the
Company continues to incur substantial losses and may need additional financing
to continue its operations. On October 23, 1998, the Company commenced an
offering of rights (the "Rights Offering") to purchase shares and warrants, to
holders of its Common and Preferred Stock, and to holders of Class D Purchase
Warrants and all other outstanding Warrants. The Rights Offering consisted of
8,976,962 Units (a Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock and one Class E
Common Stock Purchase Warrant) at $0.22 per Unit or total maximum gross proceeds
of $1,974,932. Following the close of the Rights Offering on December 22, 1998,
the Company issued (or will issue) 7,628,380 shares of Common Stock and a like
number of Class E Warrants, and received total gross proceeds of $1,678,244.
Management recognizes that the proceeds from the Rights Offering may not be
sufficient to enable the Company to continue its operations, and that it must
generate additional revenues or reductions in operating costs and may need
additional financing to enable it to continue its operations. There can be no
assurance that forecasted sales will be realized to achieve profitable
operations, or that additional financing, if needed, can be obtained on terms
satisfactory to the Company, if at all, or in an amount sufficient to enable the
Company to continue operations.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company's total revenues for Fiscal 1998 were $1,317,600 as
compared to total revenues of $1,523,994 for Fiscal 1997. Revenues for Fiscal
1998 include sales to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
("FLDEP") of approximately $387,000, and to Whessoe Varec, Inc. of
approximately $147,000. Revenues during Fiscal 1997 include sales to Whessoe
Varec, Inc. of approximately $985,000 and to Amoco Production Company of
approximately $171,000. During Fiscal 1998, the FLDEP placed an order for 64
PHA-100PLUS portable PetroSense-Registered Trademark- units for its
underground storage tank (UST) inspection program. FLDEP chose the
PetroSense-Registered Trademark- unit after a field evaluation showed it
provided more capability than other portable instruments. This order, shipped
during Fiscal 1998, resulted from the Company's direct selling efforts in the
UST market, as distinguished from its OEM alliance with Whessoe Varec in the
aboveground storage tank (AST) market.
During Fiscal 1998, the Company had cost of revenues of $617,690, or a
gross profit of 53% of sales, as compared to cost of revenues of $945,434, or a
gross profit of 38%, during Fiscal 1997. The change in gross profit margin
resulted primarily from an increased portion of higher margin, end user sales in
Fiscal 1998 (such as FLDEP) versus lower margin, OEM sales (such as to Whessoe
Varec) in Fiscal 1997.
The Company has a Strategic Alliance (the "Alliance") for the AST market
with Whessoe Varec, Inc. as of June 30, 1996 as amended. The primary target
for the Alliance has been the Florida AST market. On July 13, 1998, after a
four year process, the State of Florida passed into law its new storage tank
regulations. Under the law, the regulated community has various options for
compliance. The lowest cost option is believed to be an internal tank liner
with an external, certified, continuous leak detection device. Currently, the
Company's PetroSense-Registered Trademark- product line is the only
continuous leak detection device certified for use at such sites.
The Florida target population of tanks includes 677 sites with at least one
internally lined tank and 892 multi-tank facilities including coastal bulk
storage, inland jobbers and industry. There is some duplication between the two
populations. In addition, there is a population of military tanks, as well as
those for airports and power generation facilities. Each tank for which Whessoe
Varec and FCI receive an order is worth about $10,000 in revenue to FCI. The
Florida regulations require compliance by December 1999 for alternative methods
including the Company's leak detection equipment. Some facilities have already
applied for approval to FLDEP specifying the Company's equipment. As
applications are approved, there is an assumption that there will be a stream of
orders to the Alliance, although there can be no assurance that this will be the
case.
Shell Oil, Texaco, Florida Power Company, Reedy Creek Energy and
Jacksonville Electric have already purchased and installed the Company's
equipment. During December 1998, GATX placed an order to install the Company's
equipment at their Florida sites.
Other States are expected to follow Florida and promulgate AST regulations.
Virginia promulgated its own similar regulations during 1998. Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Minnesota, Wisconsin have also promulgated regulations.
17
<PAGE>
The Alliance is also pursuing business with the Department of Defense
(DoD) in California, Florida and elsewhere. Whessoe Varec's sister company
Whessoe Coggins has a significant presence in the military fuel depot market.
There is an opportunity to provide leak detection equipment to this market.
The Company's products meet all relevant state and federal standards and are
compatible with the Whessoe Coggins equipment proposed for the total
military's system upgrade. A system incorporating both Whessoe Coggins and
Whessoe Varec/FCI products was successfully demonstrated to the military in
California during April 1998. The data generated at this test was submitted
to the local regulatory authority and met their criteria. Through December
1998, the Company's revenues from sales to this market have been
approximately $400,000. The Company has received DoD orders through Whessoe
Varec for PetroSense-Registered Trademark- probes for over 30 tanks. There
are approximately 160 DoD tanks in California; however, the exact size of the
opportunity for the Company is not yet clear, since there is more than one
option available for the DoD to achieve compliance. There is a similar number
of military tanks in Florida where regulations provide for fewer alternatives
to the Company's products. There are estimated to be in excess of 5,000
military tanks in the United States.
The development of the offshore market for the Company's
OilSense-4000-TM-and PHA-100WL continues to be slower than originally
anticipated. The combination of the availability of Freon-Registered
Trademark- and the low price of oil is mitigating against a wholesale switch
from the Freon-Registered Trademark-/IR method. Notwithstanding the above,
Amoco, Spirit Energy 76 (Unocal) and Pennzoil have committed to the use of
the Company's products on all their platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Spirit
Energy has installed 14 PHA-100WLs and Amoco has installed the Company's
OilSense-4000-TM- and PHA-100WLs at 8 of their more than 25 sites. During
December, Pennzoil placed their first order for the Company's PHA-100WLs for
2 of their 15 sites. Cetco Environmental purchased six units for its offshore
technicians during Fiscal 1998. Chevron, Exxon, Marathon and Shell are
evaluating the Company's equipment.
The Company is continuing its marketing efforts in other major offshore
production areas such as the North Sea and the Persian Gulf.
The Company's sensor development project with Gilbarco has moved on to a
pre-manufacturing mode driven by the expectation that the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) will require suppliers of refueling equipment to
certify their products to meet ORVRII. Provided that certain key steps are
completed by CARB, Gilbarco should commence manufacturing products
incorporating the Company's Sensor-on-a-Chip-Registered Trademark- in order
to meet the CARB requirements. Revenues from this project are expected to
begin in Fiscal 1999 if the time schedule is met, but there can be no
assurance that this will actually occur.
The Company's Port of Rotterdam project with the Dutch engineering firm
IWACO is ongoing. In addition, IWACO has invited the Company to become an equal
partner in a second program relating to bioremediation technologies. The Company
would benefit from access to data, technology, resources and personnel of the
Consortium's member companies which include Shell International Products and
Solvay S.A.
During Fiscal 1998 the Company successfully completed the first and second
milestones in its project with Horiba, the Japanese instrument company, to
develop a sensor probe for Horiba's Multi-Parameter Water Quality Instrument
product line.
Research, development and engineering expenditures decreased by $504,432,
or 40%, during Fiscal 1998 from Fiscal 1997. The decrease is primarily
attributable to the reduction, implemented during the second half of Fiscal
1997, of applications and development personnel and associated expenses.
General and administrative expenditures increased by $15,433, or 1%, during
Fiscal 1998 from Fiscal 1997. Expenditures for the 1998 period includes $121,512
representing the market value of Common Stock issued for public relations and
investor relations services and legal services. The Company continues to operate
with the reductions in personnel and other expenses and cash expenditures,
including the deferral of administrative, as well as other salaries, implemented
during the second half of 1997. Since June 1997, the Company has deferred the
payment of approximately $180,000 in salaries, although these have been accrued
and recorded as expense during the respective periods.
18
<PAGE>
Sales and marketing expenditures decreased by $280,150, or 28%, during
Fiscal 1998 from Fiscal 1997, reflecting reductions in personnel and in other
spending as well.
During Fiscal 1998 the Company physically disposed of approximately
$335,000 of inventory items which had been partially reserved, resulting in
reductions of gross inventory of $335,000 and inventory reserves of $175,000 and
a charge to expense of $160,000.
The Company's interest income decreased to a minimal amount during Fiscal
1998 from $81,787 during Fiscal 1997, reflecting the difference in cash and cash
equivalents during the periods. Interest expense increased by $84,170, or 38%,
during Fiscal 1998 over Fiscal 1997, reflecting interest expense on $808,000
advanced to the Company by officers and directors and their affiliates.
As a result of the foregoing, the Company incurred a net loss of
$2,392,225, or a net loss of $0.09 per share, for Fiscal 1998 as compared to a
net loss of $3,226,958, or a net loss of $0.13 per share, for Fiscal 1997.
Management does not consider that inflation has had a significant effect on the
Company's operations, and does not expect inflation to have a material impact
over the next year.
The Company continues to review the cost and operating impacts of
addressing the Year-2000 issue. Management conducted an assessment of the
potential costs associated with its internal operations, products shipped to its
customers, and material and services provided by its suppliers. Upon review, the
Year-2000 issue is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's
current financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In June 1997 the FASB issued Statement No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive
Income ("SFAS 130") and Statement No 131, Disclosure about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information ("SFAS 131"). The Company is required to
adopt SFASs 130 and 131 in Fiscal 1999. SFAS 130 establishes new standards for
reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components. SFAS 131
requires disclosure of certain information regarding operating segments,
products and services, geographic areas of operation and major customers. In
March 1998 the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued
Statement of Position 98-1 ("SOP 98-1"), Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. The Company is required to
adopt this Statement in Fiscal 2000. SOP 98-1 provides guidance on the
accounting for costs of computer software used internally, including identifying
the characteristics of internal-use software and providing examples to assist in
determining when computer software is for internal use. Adoption of these
Statements is expected to have no impact on the Company's consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial statements of the Company are contained in a
separate section of this Form 10-KSB which follows Part III.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE NO.
--------
<S> <C>
Independent Auditors' Report F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-8
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE>
ITEM 8. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
On January 24, 1997, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP (the "Former Accountant")
resigned as the Company's principal accountants.
The Former Accountant did not state any reason for resigning in its
resignation letter to the Company. However, in its letter to the Audit Committee
and its Material Weakness letter both dated January 10, 1997 and delivered
January 23, 1997, the Former Accountant reported "Disagreements with Management"
on financial accounting and reporting matters and auditing scope concerning
revenue recognition that, if not satisfactorily resolved (which all were), would
have caused a modification of their report on the Fiscal 1996 consolidated
financial statements. The disagreements, aggregating approximately $1,800,000,
concerned certain transactions termed "consignments" by the Former Accountant,
products warehoused for customers, and a research and development effort, none
of which met the requirements for revenue recognition under generally accepted
accounting principles.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors met with and discussed
the subject matter of the disagreements with the Former Accountant. On April 9,
1997, the Board of Directors appointed Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP, certified
public accountants, as the Company's successor accountant and to audit the books
of account and other records of the Company for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997.
The Company has authorized the Former Accountant to respond fully to
inquiries of the successor accountant concerning the subject matter of such
disagreements.
20
<PAGE>
PART III
ITEM 9. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS;
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The names, ages and respective positions of the Executive Officers and
Directors of the Company are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Geoffrey F. Hewitt 55 Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer
and Class A Director
Byron A. Denenberg 64 Class C Director
Irwin J. Gruverman 65 Class A Director
Walter Haemmerli 69 Class B Director
Gerald T. Owens 71 Class C Director
Melvin W. Pelley 54 Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
<CAPTION>
The names, ages and respective positions of the Executive Officers and
Directors of FCI Environmental are as follows:
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Geoffrey F. Hewitt 55 Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Melvin W. Pelley 54 Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director
Thomas A. Collins 52 President
</TABLE>
GEOFFREY F. HEWITT has served as Chairman of the Board since November
14, 1997 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, as well as
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of FCI Environmental since
April 1998 and August 1995, respectively. Mr. Hewitt was appointed as a Director
of the Company on September 11, 1996. He has also served as a Director of FCI
Environmental since April 1994 and as its President from April 1994 to November
1996. He served as Chief Operating Officer of FCI Environmental from April 1994
to August 1995. Prior thereto, from 1977 until March 1994, Mr. Hewitt served as
Vice President of worldwide sales and marketing for H.N.U. Systems, Inc., a
manufacturer of environmental and material analysis instrumentation.
BYRON A. DENENBERG has served as a Director of the Company since August
1995. Mr. Denenberg has been a private investor since 1991. Mr. Denenberg was
co-founder in 1969 of MDA Scientific, Inc. ("MDA"), a manufacturer and marketer
of toxic gas monitoring systems, where he was CEO from inception until 1991. MDA
was purchased by Zellweger Uster AG in 1988. Mr. Denenberg received a B.S.
degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University, Lewisburg,
Pennsylvania. He currently serves as a Director of RCT Systems, Inc., MST
Measurement Systems, Inc., FPM Analytics, Inc., and Microsensor Technologies,
GmbH.
IRWIN J. GRUVERMAN has served as a Director of the Company since May
1994. Since 1990, Mr. Gruverman has served as the General Partner for G&G
Diagnostics Funds, a venture capital business, and in 1982 founded and currently
serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of
Microfluidics Corporation, an equipment manufacturer and process research and
development company.
21
<PAGE>
WALTER HAEMMERLI has served as a Director of the Company since February
1990. Mr. Haemmerli has been the Chief Executive Officer since 1978 of Manport
AG, Zurich, Switzerland, an investment management company owned by him. Mr.
Haemmerli was employed by Union Bank of Switzerland, Geneva, Basel and Zurich
from 1960 to 1978, holding the position of Vice President from 1970. Mr.
Haemmerli serves on the Board of Directors and is Vice-Chairman of Privatbank
Vermag AG, Chur, Switzerland, and is a Member of the Board of Directors for
American Cold Storage, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky.
GERALD T. OWENS has served as a Director of the Company since December
1987. Mr. Owens served with Mobil Oil from 1962 to 1983 when he retired. At
retirement, he was President of Mobil Sales and Supply Corporation, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Mobil Oil, and he was a Vice President of Mobil Oil.
From 1951 to 1961, Mr. Owens practiced law with the law firm of Andrews and
Kurth in Houston, Texas. Mr. Owens received an L.L.B. degree from the University
of Texas in 1950 and a B.A. degree in history in 1948 from the University of
Texas. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Kenny Stout
Memorial Golf Foundation, and as a member of the Board of Trustees for the
Monterey Institute of International Studies.
MELVIN W. PELLEY has been the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of
the Company since April 1994 and has been Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
of FCI Environmental since June 1993. Prior thereto, from 1988 he was Vice
President of Finance and Administration of Acoustic Imaging Technologies
Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona, a manufacturer of diagnostic ultrasound medical
equipment. From 1983 to 1988 he was Director of Costs, Financial Planning and
Analysis of Advanced Technology Laboratories, Inc., Bothell, Washington, which
manufactures and markets real-time ultrasound medical diagnostic equipment. From
1977 to 1983, Mr. Pelley was Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for
Advanced Diagnostic Research Corporation, Tempe, Arizona, a designer,
manufacturer and marketer of diagnostic ultrasound scanners.
THOMAS A. COLLINS has served as President of FCI Environmental since
November 1996 and as Vice President of International Marketing and Product
Development from March 1996 to November 1996. Prior thereto, from 1992 he was
Director of International Sales and Product Marketing of Arizona Instrument
Corporation, a manufacturer of environmental and control instrumentation; from
1990 to 1992 he was Director of Marketing of Wayne Division, Dresser Industries,
Inc., a manufacturer of dispensing equipment for the gasoline industry; from
1986 to 1989 he was Manager of Domestic Retail Marketing for Diebold, Inc., a
manufacturer of transaction terminals in the petroleum retailing market; and
from 1968 to 1986 he held marketing and engineering positions at ARCO Petroleum
Products Co.
Officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. All
Directors hold office until the expiration of their terms and the election and
qualification of their successors. The Company's Board of Directors is divided
into three classes of approximately equal size with the members of each class
elected, to three-year terms expiring in consecutive years. Mr. Owens and Mr.
Denenberg were elected to three-year terms as Directors at the Company's August
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Gruverman and Mr. Hewitt were elected
to three-year terms as Directors at the Company's June 1997 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. Mr. Haemmerli was elected to a three-year term as Director at the
Company's May 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
In January 1993, the Company established a Stock Option Committee. The
Stock Option Committee is responsible for the granting of stock options under
the Company's Stock Option Plans. The Company also established a Compensation
Review Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the compensation of the
Company's executives and employees. In August 1995, Mr. Owens and Mr. Haemmerli
were appointed to a single Compensation Review and Stock Option Committee. Also,
in August 1995, Mr. Owens was appointed to a newly established Audit Committee.
Mr. Gruverman was added to the Audit Committee on November 14, 1997. The Board
of Directors did not have a standing nomination committee or committee
performing similar functions during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998.
COMPLIANCE WITH 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's officers, Directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of
22
<PAGE>
ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Officers, Directors and ten percent shareholders are required by regulation to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based
solely on the Company's copies of such forms received or written representations
from certain reporting persons that no such forms were required for those
persons, the Company believes that, during the time period from October 1, 1997
to September 30, 1998, all filing requirements applicable to its officers,
Directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with
except as set forth below.
Geoffrey F. Hewitt, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, filed a late Form 4 in which one transaction,
a purchase of 105 shares of Common Stock by his minor child, was reported.
ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The compensation paid and/or accrued to each of the executive officers
of the Company and its subsidiaries and of all executive officers as a group,
whose annual compensation exceeds $100,000, for services rendered to the Company
during the three fiscal years ended September 30, 1998, was as follows:
(a) SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long Term Compensation
-----------------------------------------
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
--------------------------------------- ----------------------------- -----------
Name of Long-Term
Individual Other Restricted Securities Incentive All
and Principal Fiscal Annual Stock Underlying Plan Other
Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) Compensation($) Awards($) Options/SARs(#) Payouts($) Compensation($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Geoffrey F. Hewitt 1998 $211,932(1) $-- $ -- -- 240,000 $ -- $ --
President and CEO 1997 $205,000 (2) $-- $ -- -- 125,000 $ -- $ --
1996 $195,768 $-- $ -- -- 100,000 $ -- $ --
Melvin W. Pelley 1998 $139,200 (3) $-- $ -- -- 180,000 $ -- $ --
Chief Financial Officer 1997 $136,708 (4) $-- $ -- -- 75,000 $ -- $ --
1996 $126,461 $-- $ -- -- 50,000 $ -- $ --
David R. LeBlanc 1998 $-- (5) $-- $ -- -- -- $ -- $ --
Vice President - Sales 1997 $ 5,288 $-- $ -- -- -- $ -- $ --
and Marketing of FCI 1996 $125,000 $-- $ -- -- 5,000 $ -- $ --
Environmental, Inc.
Thomas A. Collins 1998 $132,200 (6) $-- $ -- -- 120,000 $ -- $ --
President of FCI 1997 $129,708 (7) $-- $ -- -- 75,000 $ -- $ --
Environmental, Inc. 1996 $ 70,192 $-- $ -- -- 100,000 $ -- $ --
</TABLE>
(1) Includes $55,000 in accrued but unpaid salary earned during Fiscal
1998.
(2) Includes $14,808 in accrued but unpaid salary, earned during
the period from June 15 through September 30, 1997.
(3) Includes $32,000 in accrued but unpaid salary earned during Fiscal
1998.
(4) Includes $8,615 in accrued but unpaid salary, earned during the
period from June 15 through September 30, 1997.
(5) Resigned July 1996; compensated at the rate of $125,000 annually
through October 5, 1996.
(6) Hired March 1, 1996 as Vice President of International Marketing
and Product Development; President of FCI Environmental since
November 1996. Includes $25,000 in accrued but unpaid salary
earned in Fiscal 1998.
(7) Includes $6,730 in accrued but unpaid salary, earned during the
period from June 15 through September 30, 1997.
23
<PAGE>
(b) OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Percent of Total
Securities Options/SARs
Underlying Granted Exercise
Options/SARs to Employees or Base Expiration
Name of Individual Granted In Fiscal Year Price($/Share) Date
- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Geoffrey F. Hewitt 240,000 24.2% $ 0.15 September 4, 2008
Melvin W. Pelley 180,000 18.2% $ 0.15 September 4, 2008
David R. LeBlanc -- -- --
Thomas A. Collins 120,000 12.1% $ 0.15 September 4, 2008
</TABLE>
(c) AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR END
OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised In-The-Money
Shares Options/SARs Options/SARs
Acquired on Value at Fiscal Year End (#) at Fiscal Year End ($)
Name of Individual Exercise (#) Realized ($) Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
- ----------------------- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Geoffrey F. Hewitt -- -- 465,000 / 0 $ 2,400 / $0
Melvin W. Pelley -- -- 255,000 / 0 $ 1,800 / $0
David R. LeBlanc -- -- 5,000 / 0 $ 0 / $0
Thomas A. Collins -- -- 295,000 / 0 $ 1,200 / $0
</TABLE>
(d) LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS
Effective January 1, 1994, the Company implemented an Internal Revenue
Code Section 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan provides for
voluntary contributions by employees into the Plan subject to the limitations
imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). The Company will match employee
contributions at a rate of 50% of the employee's contribution up to a maximum of
2% of the employee's compensation. The Company matching funds are determined at
the discretion of management and are subject to a five-year vesting schedule
from the date of original employment.
(e) DIRECTORS COMPENSATION
In September 1996, the existing base compensation fee of $10,000 per
year for non-management directors was eliminated, replaced by the granting of
options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company. Fees for attendance
at Board meetings were suspended. Fees for service as Chairman and fees for
committee service were also eliminated and replaced by the granting of options
to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company.
On May 29, 1997, the Company granted to each of its six non-management
Directors options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock at $0.22 per share,
which was the market value of the Common Stock on that date. In addition, the
Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 36,500 shares of the Common
Stock to three of its non-management directors for service as Chairman (12,500
shares) and members of its Audit Committee (8,000 shares to each of its two
members) and Compensation and Stock Options Committee (4,000 shares to each of
its two members). On September 4, 1998, the Company granted options to purchase
30,000 shares of Common Stock at $0.15 per share, which was the market value of
the Common Stock on that date to each of its four non-management Directors. In
addition, the Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 30,000 shares
of the Common Stock to three of its non-management directors for service as
members of the audit committee (9,000 shares to each of its two members) and
Compensation and Stock Options Committee (6,000 shares to each of its two
members).
24
<PAGE>
(f) EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
Geoffrey F. Hewitt serves under an employment agreement with the
Company, effective October 1, 1997. Mr. Hewitt is currently compensated at a
rate of $205,000 per annum and is entitled to receive bonuses, if any, at the
discretion of the Board of Directors. The employment contract is terminable for
cause. Since June 15, 1997, payment of approximately 27% (or $55,000 per annum)
of Mr. Hewitt's salary has been deferred. In December 1998, Mr. Hewitt applied
his total unpaid salary from June 1997 through December 1998 of $84,615 to the
purchase of unsubscribed Units in the Company's Rights Offering ($50,501 after
taxes). The same proportion of Mr. Hewitt's salary continues to be deferred in
Calendar 1999, and may be paid during calendar 1999 if the Company's operations
and financial position allow.
Melvin W. Pelley serves under an employment agreement with the Company,
effective October 1, 1997. Mr. Pelley is currently compensated at a rate of
$132,000 per annum, and is entitled to receive bonuses, if any, at the
discretion of the Board of Directors. The employment contract is terminable for
cause. Since June 15, 1997, payment of approximately 24% (or $32,000 per annum)
of Mr. Pelley's salary has been deferred. In December 1998, Mr. Pelley applied
his total unpaid salary from June 1997 through December 1998 of $49,230 to the
purchase of unsubscribed Units in the Company's Rights Offering ($29,395 after
taxes). The same proportion of Mr. Pelley's salary continues to be deferred in
Calendar 1999, and may be paid during calendar 1999 if the Company's operations
and financial position allow.
Thomas A. Collins serves under an employment agreement with the
Company, effective October 1, 1997. Mr. Collins is currently compensated at a
rate of $125,000 per annum, and is entitled to receive bonuses, if any, at the
discretion of the Board of Directors. The employment contract is terminable for
cause. Since June 15, 1997, payment of approximately 20% (or $25,000 per annum)
of Mr. Collins' salary has been deferred. In December 1998, Mr. Collins applied
$12,000 (approximately one-third) of his total unpaid salary from June 1997
through December 1998 to the purchase of unsubscribed Units in the Company's
Rights Offering ($7,146 after taxes). The same proportion of Mr. Collins' salary
continues to be deferred in Calendar 1999, and may be paid during calendar 1999
if the Company's operations and financial position allow.
(g) CONSULTING AGREEMENTS
None.
ITEM 11. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 1998, certain
information concerning those persons known to the Company, based on information
obtained from such persons, with respect to the beneficial ownership (as such
term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of
shares of Common Stock, $.0001 par value, of the Company by (i) each person
known by the Company to be the owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock, (ii) each Director and executive officer of the Company and its
subsidiaries, (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation
Table and (iv) all Directors and officers as a group:
25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount and
Nature of
Name and Address of Beneficial Percentage of
Beneficial Owner Ownership (1) Class (2)
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Geoffrey F. Hewitt (3) 1,568,270 (4) 4.5%
Byron A. Denenberg 940,476 (5) 2.7%
RCT Systems, Inc.
327 Messner Drive
Wheeling, IL 60090
Irwin J. Gruverman 936,200 (6) 2.7%
30 Ossipee Road
Newton, MA 02164
Walter Haemmerli 5,737,844 (7) 15.0%
Manport AG
Basteiplatz 3, CH 8001
Zurich, Switzerland
Gerald T. Owens 334,237 (8) 1.0%
147 Paddington Way
San Antonio, TX 78209
Melvin W. Pelley (3) 1,437,943 (9) 4.1%
Thomas A. Collins (3) 359,962 (10) 1.1%
All Directors and Officers as 11,314,932 27.4%
a Group (7 persons)
</TABLE>
(1) Unless otherwise noted, the Company believes that all persons named in the
table have sole investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by them. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner
of securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days from the
date hereof upon the exercise of warrants or options or upon the conversion
of convertible securities. Each beneficial owner's percentage ownership is
determined by assuming that options or warrants or shares of Convertible
Preferred Stock or Senior Convertible 8% Notes that are held by such person
(but not those held by any other person) and which are exercisable or
convertible within 60 days from the date hereof have been exercised or
converted.
(2) Based on 34,032,594 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 1998.
(3) The address of this person is c/o FCI Environmental, Inc., 1181 Grier
Drive, Suite B, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119.
(4) Includes 507,501 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and an aggregate of
465,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number of
options. Also includes 132 shares of Common Stock and 27 Class E Common
Stock Purchase Warrants held by Mr. Hewitt's minor child, as to which Mr.
Hewitt disclaims beneficial ownership.
26
<PAGE>
(5) Includes 360,238 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and an aggregate of
88,142 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number of
options.
(6) Includes 8,620 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and an aggregate of
99,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number of
options. Also includes 67,500 shares of Common Stock held by G&G
Diagnostics, L.P. I, 246,270 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and
294,470 shares of Common Stock held by G&G Diagnostics, L.P. II, and 47,815
shares of Common Stock, 47,815 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and
8,161 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into 81,610 shares
of Common Stock held by G&G Diagnostics, L.P. III, all of which Mr.
Gruverman is a principal.
(7) Includes 610,000 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants, 32,000 Class D
Common Stock Purchase Warrants, 3,586 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock
convertible into 35,860 shares of Common Stock, and an aggregate of 65,000
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number of options.
Also includes 1,070,000 shares of Common Stock, 863,800 Class D Common
Stock Purchase Warrants, 366,000 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and
165,286 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into 1,652,860
shares of Common Stock, all held by Privatbank Vermag A.G., Chur,
Switzerland, as custodian for certain customers, of which company Mr.
Haemmerli is Vice-Chairman. Also includes $150,000 of Senior Convertible 8%
notes convertible into 367,824 shares of Common Stock held by Manport AG,
of which company Mr. Haemmerli is Chief Executive Officer.
(8) Includes 39,965 Class D Common Stock Purchase Warrants, 36,207 Class E
Common Stock Purchase Warrants and an aggregate of 117,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number of options.
(9) Includes 482,040 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and an aggregate
of 255,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number
of options.
(10) Includes 32,481 Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants and an aggregate of
295,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a like number of
options.
ITEM 12. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
See Item 10. Executive Compensation, for information concerning stock
options granted and employment agreements entered into during Fiscal 1997 and
Fiscal 1998 with officers and Directors of the Company.
In March 1994, the Company's Board of Directors approved a plan by
which employees and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries would be given
an opportunity to exercise stock options eligible under the Company's early
incentive plan through the execution of promissory notes. As of March 15, 1994,
the Company received promissory notes aggregating $1,815,099 for the exercise of
1,210,066 stock options. The promissory notes bear interest at 5% per annum
until September 15, 1994, and at 7% per annum thereafter, and were initially due
on September 15, 1995. On April 7, 1995, the Board of Directors extended the due
date of the notes to March 15, 1998. As of April 4, 1997 an aggregate of
$277,916 had been paid on these notes, an aggregate of $47,999 of interest had
been paid, and an additional $248,212 of interest had been accrued (through
December 31, 1996) but remained unpaid.
In conjunction with the temporary reduction of the exercise prices of
the options and warrants effective April 4, 1997 and Class D Warrants effective
April 17, 1997, as described above, the remaining unpaid principal on the
promissory notes could be fully paid in an amount determined by multiplying the
unpaid balance by a fraction, the numerator of which was the revised exercise
price, and the denominator of which was $1.50 (the original exercise price). If
the unpaid principal was not so paid by May 16, 1997 the underlying collateral
shares would be forfeited and all unpaid principal and accrued interest would be
extinguished. The Company did not want to penalize the employees and directors
by requiring payment of the promissory notes. The Company believes that it must
provide an incentive when it is compensating employees and directors for
services rendered to the Company in the form of non-cash compensation.
As a result, the Company received $160,875 in payment for 520,252
escrowed shares at prices ranging from $0.30 to $0.32 per share, which amount
liquidated $780,379 of original note principal. The remaining $756,804 of unpaid
note principal was extinguished and the underlying collateral of 504,535 shares
were forfeited to the Company and immediately canceled, thereby reducing the
total number of shares outstanding. Unpaid accrued interest receivable
aggregating $248,212 was expensed.
27
<PAGE>
In December 1997 and January and February 1998, four directors
(Geoffrey Hewitt, Byron Denenberg, Irwin Gruverman and Walter Haemmerli) and an
officer (Melvin Pelley) of the Company each advanced the Company $50,000. These
advances, aggregating $250,000 are evidenced by convertible promissory notes
bearing interest at the rate of 8% per annum due five years from issuance. Each
note and unpaid accrued interest aggregating $15,195 was cancelled on December
22, 1998 in payment for unsubscribed Units of the Rights Offering resulting in
the issuance to the directors and officer of 1,205,431 shares of Common Stock
and a like number of Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrants.
Mr. Haemmerli advanced the Company $75,000 on February 24, 1998, and
Mr. Pelley advanced the Company $25,000 on February 27, 1998, and an additional
$25,000 on July 1, 1998. Each of these advances is evidenced by a separate
promissory note bearing interest at the rate of 8% per annum and were originally
due on or before August 31, 1998. Both noteholders have agreed to extend the due
dates of their respective promissory notes until the completion of the Rights
Offering.
In March and August 1998, the Company obtained loans aggregating
$433,000 from Privatbank Vermag AG, a private investment bank with which Mr.
Haemmerli is associated. These loans (the "Bridge Loans") were provided as
interim financing until the Company completed its Rights Offering, and are to be
repaid from proceeds of the Rights Offering. The Bridge Loans bear interest at
approximately 8.5% per annum. In addition, the Company agreed to issue to
Privatbank, as additional consideration, 130,000 Units (consisting of 130,000
shares of Common Stock and Class E Warrants to purchase 130,000 Units. The Units
were issued in October 1998 as part of the Rights Offering.
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) EXHIBITS
The following is a complete list of exhibits which are incorporated herein as
part of this Report.
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of Registrant, as amended. (1)
3.2 By-Laws of Registrant. (2)
4.1 Class D Warrant Agreement of the Registrant with form of Warrant
Certificate. (3)
4.2 Form of 8% Senior Convertible Note Due 1999 issued in the Company's
February 1996 private placement. (4)
4.3 Form of Warrant to purchase Common Stock on or before May 31, 2001. (5)
4.4 Form of Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrant. (6)
10.1 Lease Agreement and Reimbursement Agreement dated July 27, 1989 by and
between the Company and Howard Hughes Properties for Hughes Airport
Center, 1181 Grier Drive, Suite B, Las Vegas, Nevada. (4)
- ------------------------------
(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's January 13, 1988 Post
Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form S-18 (File No.
33-12097-C) as declared effective on March 3, 1988.
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's April 15, 1987 Amendment to
the Registration Statement on Form S-18 (File No. 33-12097-C) as declared
effective on March 3, 1988.
(3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement No.
33-35985
(4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K for
February 15, 1996.
(5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on
July 15, 1996.
(6) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form SB-2 for October 23, 1998 (File No. 333-46555).
(7) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement No.
33-29338. (8) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for September 30, 1991.
28
<PAGE>
10.2 Amendment dated May 6, 1991 and September 26, 1991 to the Industrial
Real Estate Lease (Exhibit 10.10) for the Company's facilities. (9)
10.3 Employee Stock Bonus Plan. (3)
10.4 Amendments dated October 23, 1990 and February 21, 1991 to the
Industrial Real Estate Lease (Exhibit 10.10) for the Company's
facilities. (5)
10.5 Non-qualified stock option plan. (10)
10.6 Agreement dated December 10, 1992 by and between the Company and
Tanknology Environmental, Inc. (11)
10.7 Qualified Stock Option Plan. (12)
10.8 Consulting agreement by and between the Company and with Irv J.
Gruverman, dated November 4, 1993. (13)
10.9 Qualified Stock Option Plan. (14)
10.10 Termination of Distributor Agreement with Sippican, Inc. dated
February 24, 1994. (15)
10.11 Employment contract with David R. LeBlanc dated June 8, 1994. (15)
10.12 FCI FiberChem, Inc. and FCI Environmental, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing
Plan. (15)
10.13 Qualified Stock Option Plan (16)
10.14 License Agreement with Texas Instruments, Incorporated, dated
June 15, 1995. (17)
10.15 Cooperative Development Agreement with Texas Instruments, Incorporated,
dated June 15, 1995. (17)
10.16 Form of Distribution Agreement. (18)
10.17 Form of agreement for services with Gordon Werner and others dated as
of September 15, 1995. (18)
10.18 Agreement dated November 8, 1996 by and between FCI Environmental, Inc.
and Alcohol Sensors International, Ltd. CERTAIN INFORMATION IN THIS
EXHIBIT HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SEC PURSUANT
TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT. (19)
- ---------------------------------
(9) Incorporated by reference from the Company's April 24, 1991 Post Effective
Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form S-18 (File No. 33-35985) as
declared effective on April 30, 1991.
(10) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8 for April 28, 1992. (No. 33-47518).
(11) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K for
May 26, 1992.
(12) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement dated May 3,
1993.
(13) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form 10-K for
September 30, 1993.
(14) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement dated
May 23, 1994.
(15) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form 10-KSB for
September 30, 1994.
(16) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form S-8 for
August 1, 1995.
(17) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form 8-K/A for
August 30, 1995.
(18) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form 10-KSB for
September 30, 1995.
(19) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form 10-KSB for
September 30, 1996.
29
<PAGE>
10.19 Agreement dated October 1, 1996 by and between FCI Environmental, Inc.
and Autronica AS. (19)
10.20 OEM Strategic Alliance Agreement dated June 30, 1996 by and between
Whessoe Varec, Inc. and FCI Environmental, Inc. (19)
10.21 1997 Employee Stock Plan (20)
10.22 Employment agreement with Geoffrey F. Hewitt dated October 1, 1997.
(21)
10.23 Employment agreement with Melvin W. Pelley dated October 1, 1997. (21)
10.24 Employment Agreement with Thomas A. Collins dated October 1, 1997. (21)
10.25 Amendment to Whessoe Varec, Inc. OEM Strategic Alliance Agreement
dated August 13, 1997. (21)
10.26 Agreement dated October 2, 1997 between the Company and entrenet
Group, L.L.C. (21)
*21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
*23.1 Consent of Goldstein Golub Kessler & Company, P.C.
- ---------------------------------------
* filed with this Report.
(20) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement dated May 20,
1997.
(21) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Report on Form 10-KSB for
September 30, 1997.
- ---------------------------------------
(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the fourth
quarter ended September 30, 1998.
- ---------------------------------------
30
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: January 8, 1999
FIBERCHEM, INC.
By: /s/ Geoffrey F. Hewitt
-------------------------------------
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this Report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Geoffrey F. Hewitt Chairman, President and Chief Executive January 8, 1999
- ---------------------------- Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Geoffrey F. Hewitt
/s/ Melvin W. Pelley Chief Financial Officer January 8, 1999
- ---------------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer)
Melvin W. Pelley
/s/ Walter Haemmerli Director January 8, 1999
- ----------------------------
Walter Haemmerli
/s/ Gerald T. Owens Director January 8, 1999
- ----------------------------
Gerald T. Owens
/s/ Irwin J. Gruverman Director January 8, 1999
- ----------------------------
Irwin J. Gruverman
/s/ Byron A. Denenberg Director January 8, 1999
- ----------------------------
Byron A. Denenberg
</TABLE>
31
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FIBERCHEM, INC.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FiberChem,
Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1998 and 1997 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficiency), and
cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consoldiated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FiberChem,
Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the results
of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in
Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered
recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raise
substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
GOLDSTEIN GOLUB KESSLER LLP
New York, New York
November 21, 1998, except for Note 12,
as to which the date is December 22, 1998
F-1
<PAGE>
FIBERCHEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
September 30, September 30,
1997 1998
------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 427,488 $ 91,354
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $240,796 and $60,505 in 1997 and 1998,
respectively 263,947 432,302
Inventories (Note 3) 1,563,191 1,248,007
Prepaid expenses and other 56,941 86,261
------------------- -------------------
Total current assets 2,311,567 1,857,924
------------------- -------------------
Equipment 716,465 706,465
Less accumulated depreciation (549,175) (605,167)
------------------- -------------------
Net equipment 167,290 101,298
------------------- -------------------
Other assets:
Patent costs, net of accumulated amortization of
$1,678,845 at September 30, 1997 and
$1,885,838 at September 30, 1998 (note 5) 287,905 114,274
Technology costs, net of accumulated amortization
and $386,373 at September 30, 1997 (note 4) 83,333 52,083
and $417,623 at September 30, 1998 (note 4)
Note financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of
$148,298 at September 30, 1997 and
$232,775 at September 30, 1998 (note 6) 119,625 32,151
Prepaid financing costs - Rights Offering (note 12) -- 147,970
------------------- -------------------
Total other assets 490,863 346,478
------------------- -------------------
Total assets $2,969,720 $2,305,700
------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes and independent auditor's reports should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements.
F-2
<PAGE>
FIBERCHEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
September 30, September 30,
1997 1998
------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Current liabilities:
Senior convertible notes payable (note 6) -- $1,600,000
Bank loan payable (note 6) -- 32,452
Current installments of note payable (note 6) 6,878 7,808
Accounts payable 95,469 396,164
Deferred salaries 37,019 179,806
Accrued salaries and benefits 119,680 157,365
Accrued warranty 48,847 113,767
Accrued legal, accounting and consulting 32,000 112,320
Accrued commissions 39,147 41,929
Other accrued expenses 31,198 84,872
Interest payable 17,778 50,065
------------------- -------------------
Total current liabilities 428,016 2,776,548
Senior convertible notes payable (note 6) 1,650,000 --
Notes payable to officers, directors and affiliates (note 6) -- 808,000
Note payable, net of current installments (note 6) 7,942 60,000
------------------- -------------------
Total liabilities 2,085,958 3,644,548
------------------- -------------------
Stockholders' equity (deficiency) (notes 4, 6 and 7):
Preferred stock, $.001 par value. Authorized
10,000,000 shares; 218,998 convertible
shares issued and outstanding at September 30,
1997 and September 30, 1998;
at liquidation value of $15 per share 3,284,970 3,284,970
Common stock, $.0001 par value. Authorized
50,000,000 shares at September 30, 1997, and
150,000,000 shares at September 30, 1998;
25,515,660 and 26,441,207 shares issued and
outstanding at September 30, 1997, and
September 30, 1998, respectively 2,552 2,644
Additional paid-in capital 27,192,749 27,362,272
Deficit (29,596,509) (31,988,734)
------------------- -------------------
Stockholders' equity (deficiency) 883,762 (1,338,848)
Commitments and contingencies (notes 6, 7 and 8)
------------------- -------------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,969,720 $2,305,700
------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes and independent auditor's reports should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
FIBERCHEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended September 30,
-------------------------------------------
1997 1998
-------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Revenues $1,523,994 $1,317,600
Cost of revenues 945,434 617,690
-------------------- --------------------
Gross profit 578,560 699,910
-------------------- --------------------
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering 1,257,324 752,892
General and administrative 1,137,866 1,153,299
Sales and marketing 1,004,172 724,022
Disposal of obsolete inventory -- 160,000
-------------------- --------------------
Total operating expenses 3,399,362 2,790,213
-------------------- --------------------
Loss from operations (2,820,802) (2,090,303)
-------------------- --------------------
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (223,161) (307,331)
Interest income 81,787 3,617
Other, net (264,782) 1,792
-------------------- --------------------
Total other income (expense) (406,156) (301,922)
-------------------- --------------------
Net loss ($3,226,958) ($2,392,225)
-------------------- --------------------
-------------------- --------------------
Shares of common stock used in computing
loss per common share 25,623,614 25,925,859
-------------------- --------------------
-------------------- --------------------
Net loss per common share (Note 1) ($0.13) ($0.09)
-------------------- --------------------
-------------------- --------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes and independent auditor's reports should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
FIBERCHEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional
------------------------------------------------ Paid-In
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital
---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at September 30, 1996 205,089 $3,076,335 25,705,216 $2,571 28,714,804
Preferred stock dividend:
In stock (note 7) 13,909 208,635 -- -- (208,635)
In cash (note 7) -- -- -- (46,171)
Common stock issued:
Exercise of options -- 150,496 15 55,071
Exercise of warrants -- 103,179 10 30,944
Conversion of senior
convertible notes payable (note 6) -- 61,304 6 22,994
Write down of notes receivable for
exercise of options -- -- -- (619,504)
Shares forfeited upon cancellation of notes
receivable for exercise of options -- (504,535) (50) (756,754)
Payments received on notes receivable for
exercise of options -- -- -- --
Net loss -- -- -- --
---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Balance at September 30, 1997 218,998 $3,284,970 25,515,660 $2,552 27,192,749
Common stock issued:
Exercise of options -- -- 5,000 1 1,099
For services -- -- 676,500 67 121,445
Conversion of senior
convertible notes payable (note 6) -- -- 244,047 24 46,979
Net loss
---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Balance at September 30, 1998 218,998 $3,284,970 26,441,207 $2,644 27,362,272
---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
<CAPTION>
Notes
Receivable
for Exercise
Deficit of Options Total
-------------- --------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at September 30, 1996 (26,369,551) (1,543,650) 3,880,509
Preferred stock dividend:
In stock (note 7) -- -- --
In cash (note 7) -- -- (46,171)
Common stock issued:
Exercise of options -- -- 55,086
Exercise of warrants -- -- 30,954
Conversion of senior
convertible notes payable (note 6) -- -- 23,000
Write down of notes receivable for
exercise of options -- 619,504 --
Shares forfeited upon cancellation of notes
receivable for exercise of options -- 756,804 --
Payments received on notes receivable for
exercise of options -- 167,342 167,342
Net loss (3,226,958) -- (3,226,958)
-------------- --------------- -----------
Balance at September 30, 1997 (29,596,509) 0 883,762
Common stock issued:
Exercise of options 1,100
For services 121,512
Conversion of senior
convertible notes payable (note 6) 47,003
Net loss (2,392,225) (2,392,225)
-------------- --------------- -----------
Balance at September 30, 1998 (31,988,734) 0 (1,338,848)
-------------- --------------- -----------
-------------- --------------- -----------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes and independent auditor's reports should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
FIBERCHEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended September 30,
-------------------------------------
1997 1998
----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ($3,226,958) ($2,392,225)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash flows used in operating activities:
Depreciation 69,853 57,659
Amortization of patent and technology costs 273,967 238,243
Amortization of financing costs 82,620 84,477
Accrued interest on notes receivable for exercise of options (26,985) --
Write off of accrued interest on notes receivable
for exercise of options 248,212 --
Common stock issued for services -- 121,512
Gain on sale of fixed assets -- (1,791)
Reduction in notes receivable for the exercise
of options in exchange for services 636 --
Provision for loss on accounts receivable 36,085 50,542
Write down of obsolete inventory 36,290 193,725
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
(Increase) Decrease in accounts receivable 5,441 (218,897)
(Increase) Decrease in inventories (142,346) 121,459
(Increase) Decrease in prepaid expenses and
other current assets 2,119 (29,320)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable (175,034) 300,695
Increase in accrued expenses 101,326 382,168
Increase (decrease) in interest payable (238) 32,287
----------------- -------------------
Net cash used in operating activities (2,715,012) (1,059,466)
----------------- -------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
(Purchase) sale of equipment (83,505) 10,125
Payments for patents (55,979) (33,362)
----------------- -------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (139,484) (23,237)
----------------- -------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes and independent auditor's reports should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements.
(continued)
F-6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended September 30,
-------------------------------------
1997 1998
----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from bank loan $ -- $32,452
Proceeds from notes payable, officers, directors and affiliates -- 808,000
Proceeds from other notes payable -- 60,000
Payment of financing costs -- (147,970)
Payments on note payable to bank and others (16,319) (7,013)
Cash restricted as security for note payable 18,456 --
Proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants 86,040 1,100
Proceeds from interest and notes receivable for exercise of options 174,406 --
Payment of dividend on preferred stock (46,171) --
----------------- -------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 216,412 746,569
----------------- -------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (2,638,084) (336,134)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3,065,572 427,488
----------------- ------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $427,488 $91,354
----------------- ------------------
----------------- ------------------
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Senior convertible notes payable converted to common stock $25,000 $50,000
Reduction in additional paid-in capital due to
write down of notes receivable for exercise of options 619,504 --
Reduction in common stock and additional paid-in capital
upon cancellation of shares held as collateral for
notes receivable for the exercise of options 756,804 --
Unamortized deferred financing costs associated with senior
convertible notes payable converted to common stock 2,000 2,997
Preferred stock issued as dividends 208,635 --
Equipment purchased through capital lease 21,273 --
Reduction in notes receivable for exercise of options
in exchange for services 636 --
----------------- ------------------
----------------- ------------------
Interest paid $140,785 $158,085
----------------- ------------------
----------------- ------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes and independent auditor's reports should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements.
F-7
<PAGE>
FIBERCHEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) NATURE OF BUSINESS AND LIQUIDITY
FiberChem, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the "Company" or "FCI")
develops, produces, markets and licenses fiber optic chemical sensors (FOCS) for
environmental monitoring in the air, water and soil. The Company's primary
markets and potential customers are the petroleum production, refinery and
distribution chains. Other important markets and customers include remediation
companies, environmental consultants, shipping ports, airports and military
bases. The Company markets its products world-wide using strategic alliances,
distribution agreements and direct sales activities.
The Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended
September 30, 1997 and 1998 have been prepared on a going concern basis which
contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and
commitments in the normal course of business. The Company incurred net losses of
$3,226,958 and $2,392,225 for the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1998,
respectively and as of September 30, 1998 had an accumulated deficit of
$31,988,734 and a stockholders' deficiency of $1,338,848.
Management recognizes that the Company must generate additional revenues or
reductions in operating costs and may need additional financing to enable it to
continue its operations. On December 22, 1998, the Company concluded an offering
to holders of its Common and Preferred Stock, Class D and other Warrants to
purchase additional shares of Common Stock and new Class E Common Stock Purchase
Warrants resulting in the receipt of approximately $1.7 million (see Note 12,
Subsequent Events). However, no assurance can be given that forecasted sales
will be realized to achieve profitable operations, nor that additional
financing, if needed, can be obtained on terms satisfactory to the Company, if
at all, nor in an amount sufficient to enable the Company to continue
operations.
(2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All
inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The Company accounts for its 25% ownership in a Finnish
company using the equity method of accounting. The Company's
share of net income has been immaterial and the net value
reflected in the financial statements is zero. The Company
expects to liquidate its interest during Fiscal 1999 and does
not expect a material gain or loss upon liquidation.
(b) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash equivalents consist of financial instruments with
original maturities of no more than 90 days.
(c) INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out) or market.
(d) EQUIPMENT
Equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of
the assets, generally five years.
F-8
<PAGE>
(e) TECHNOLOGY COSTS
Technology costs represent values assigned to proven
technologies acquired for cash and in exchange for issuance of
common stock (Note 4). Patents on certain technologies are
pending. Proven technologies are amortized using the
straight-line method over an eight year period.
(f) PATENT COSTS
Costs incurred in acquiring and filing patents are capitalized
and amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter
of economic or legal life. All existing patents are being
amortized over four years. In 1998 the Company reassessed the
expected economic life of new patents and changed the period
of amortization from 8 years to 4 years due to the shorter
expected economic life of such patents in the current
technological environment. The Company incurred approximately
$88,000 of additional amortization expense for the year ended
September 30, 1998 for this change in estimate.
(g) REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when title
passes, which is upon shipment of product to the customer.
There is generally no right of return except for normal
warranties. Additionally, the Company performs research and
testing services for others under short-term contracts.
Revenue on these contracts is recorded when services are
performed.
(h) WARRANTY
The Company warrants its products for a period of one year
from the date of delivery, provided the products are used
under normal operating conditions. The Company accrues a
reserve based on estimated future costs for product warranty,
which is charged to cost of sales at the time of sale.
(i) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
(j) PER SHARE DATA
In 1998 the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128, Earnings Per Share. The adoption of this
statement does not change net loss per common share for the
year ended September 30, 1997. Shares issuable on the exercise
of stock options and warrants have been excluded because of
their anti-dilutive effect on loss per share. Net loss per
common share is computed using the weighted-average number of
shares outstanding.
(k) INCOME TAXES
The Company utilizes Statement of Financial Standards No. 109,
ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES ("Statement 109"). Under this
asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry
forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
F-9
<PAGE>
income in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. Under Statement 109, the
effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in
tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes
the enactment date.
(l) STOCK-BASED EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AWARDS
In Fiscal 1996 the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, ACCOUNTING FOR
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION. In accordance with the provisions of
SFAS No. 123, the Company has elected to apply APB Opinion 25
and related interpretations in accounting for its stock
options issued to employees and, accordingly, does not
recognize additional compensation cost as required by the new
principle. The Company has, however, provided the pro forma
disclosures as if the Company had adopted the cost recognition
requirements (see Note 7).
(m) ESTIMATES
Preparing financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts
of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Examples
include provision for bad debts; inventory obsolescence; and
the useful lives of patents, technologies and equipment.
Actual results may differ from these estimates.
(n) Certain reclassifications have been made in the 1997 presentation
to conform to the 1998 presentation.
(o) Recent accounting pronouncements.
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Statement No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income ("SFAS
130"), and Statement No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information ("SFAS 131"). The Company
is required to adopt these Statements in Fiscal 1999. SFAS 130
establishes new standards for reporting and displaying
comprehensive income and its components. SFAS 131 requires
disclosure of certain information regarding operating
segments, products and services, geographic areas of operation
and major customers. In March 1998 the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 98-1
("SOP 98-1"), Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. The Company is
required to adopt this Statement in Fiscal 2000. SOP 98-1
provides guidance on the accounting for costs of computer
software used internally, including identifying the
characteristics of internal-use software and providing
examples to assist in determining when computer software is
for internal use. Adoption of these Statements is expected to
have no impact on the Company's consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
F-10
<PAGE>
(3) INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
September 30,
1997 1998
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Raw materials $ 551,832 $446,284
Work in process 24,643 8,271
Finished goods 1,312,804 978,928
--------- -------
Subtotal 1,889,279 1,433,483
Valuation and obsolescence reserves, primarily
against finished goods (326,088) (185,476)
--------- ---------
Net inventories $1,563,191 $1,248,007
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
</TABLE>
(4) TECHNOLOGY COSTS
Technology costs include proven technologies acquired by the Company to
be utilized for various environmental and medical purposes. These
technologies include FOCS-Registered Trademark- which are capable of
detecting and monitoring various chemical conditions to be used in
environmental, medical and process control applications.
(5) PATENT COSTS
Patent costs include costs incurred in acquiring, filing and prosecuting
patents and patent applications. The Company's policy in general is to apply for
patents in major European and Asian countries as well as in the United States.
(6) NOTES PAYABLE
In December 1994 the Company borrowed $21,000 from Bank of America Nevada
("Bank") at an interest rate of 7.25% per annum. Principal and interest payments
of $647 are payable monthly until maturity in January 1998. As part of the terms
of the loan agreement, the Bank required that a certificate of deposit ("CD") be
maintained as collateral for the note. The CD is reduced periodically as the
note is paid down and accrues interest at a rate of 5% per annum. During August
1997 the remaining balance of the note was extinguished using a portion of the
proceeds of the CD, which was liquidated at the same time.
On February 15, 1996, the Company completed an offering under Regulation S,
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Offering"), of 8%
Senior Convertible Notes due February 15, 1999 (the "Notes"), for $2,825,000.
Interest on the Notes is to be paid semi-annually, commencing August 15, 1996,
at a rate of 8% per annum. The Notes are convertible into shares of Common Stock
of the Company at a conversion price (the "Conversion Price") of, initially,
$0.80 per share at any time after March 26, 1996 and before the close of
business on February 14, 1999. The Conversion Price was adjusted, in accordance
with the original note agreement, to $0.4078, a price representing a 10%
discount from the average closing bid price of the Common Stock for the 30
business days prior to February 15, 1997. During Fiscal 1998, the Company
received an unsolicited offer to convert $25,000 of the Notes at a conversion
price of $0.21 per share, and another offer to convert $25,000 of the Notes at a
conversion price of $0.20 per share, which were approximately the then current
market values of the Common Stock. Accordingly, the Company issued 244,047
shares for the conversions. All other Note holders were offered the same
temporary conversion price. As of September 30, 1998, an aggregate face
F-11
<PAGE>
amount of $1,225,000 of the Notes had been converted to Common Stock resulting
in the issuance of 1,742,851 shares of Common Stock.
The Company paid fees and expenses associated with the offering amounting
to $428,204, which is being amortized as interest expense over the three-year
term of the Notes or until conversion, if earlier, when the proportionate
unamortized amount is charged to additional paid in capital. As of September 30,
1998 approximately $163,278 of unamortized deferred financing cost has been
recorded as a reduction in additional paid-in capital associated with the
$1,225,000 of the Notes converted to Common Stock. Also in connection with the
Offering, the Company issued to the Placement Agent for the Offering, for
nominal consideration, warrants to purchase up to 353,125 shares of Common
Stock, at an exercise price of $0.80 per share (the "Exercise Price"), which has
been adjusted to $0.4078 per share in accordance with the original Placement
Agent Agreement. Also in accordance with the terms of the warrants, the number
of shares exercisable has been adjusted, based on the adjusted Exercise Price,
to 692,742 shares of Common Stock. These warrants are exercisable at any time on
or after August 15, 1996 through February 14, 2001 and contain certain piggyback
registration rights.
In November 1996, the Company acquired $21,273 in equipment through a
36-month capital lease with monthly payments of approximately $715 and an
implicit interest rate of approximately 14.5% per annum.
On July 7, 1998, the Company arranged a line of credit with Silicon Valley
Bank. The agreement provides for maximum loans of $1 million, and is secured by
accounts receivable, inventories, equipment and intellectual property. The
agreement provides for advances against specific sales invoices at an annualized
interest rate of approximately 19.75%. During Fiscal 1998, the Company borrowed
approximately $413,000 against the line of credit and repaid approximately
$381,000. As of September 30, 1998, the Company owed $32,452 against the line of
credit.
On October 2, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement with entrenet
Group, LLC ("entrenet") for advice and assistance in developing and executing
business plans, financing strategies and business partnerships, acquisitions and
mergers. As amended in July, 1998, the agreement provides that for its services,
entrenet will receive a cash fee of $40,000 in eight installments of $5,000 each
(as defined in the agreement); $60,000 in the form of a 10% convertible note,
payable on the earlier of (a) a financial transaction (as defined in the
agreement) or (b) two years; 5% of the value of any financial transaction (as
defined in the agreement); and 5% of any financing provided by or introduced
directly by entrenet.
In March and August 1998, the Company obtained loans aggregating $433,000
from Privatbank Vermag AG, a private investment bank with which a director of
the Company is associated. These loans (the "Bridge Loans") were provided as
interim financing until the Company completed its Rights Offering, and are to be
repaid from proceeds of the Rights Offering. The Bridge Loans bear interest at
approximately 8.5% per annum. In addition, the Company agreed to issue to
Privatbank, as additional consideration, 130,000 Units (consisting of 130,000
shares of Common Stock and Class E Warrants to purchase 130,000 shares of Common
Stock). The Units were issued in October 1998 as part of the Rights Offering.
The total value of approximately $24,700 is included in accrued expenses at
September 30, 1998, of which approximately $20,500 was recorded as additional
interest expense during Fiscal 1998.
During Fiscal 1998, directors and officers of the Company advanced an
aggregate of $250,000 to the Company. These advances bear interest at the rate
of 8% per annum and are due at various dates between December 14, 2002 and
February 4, 2003, and will be repaid from the proceeds of the Rights Offering
(see Note 12) if the Rights Offering is fully subscribed; otherwise, they will
be exchanged for any Rights Offering Units remaining unsubscribed at the
completion of the Rights Offering.
Also during Fiscal 1998, a director and an officer of the Company advanced
an aggregate of $125,000, with interest at 8% per annum, due upon completion of
the Rights Offering.
F-12
<PAGE>
The maturities of the notes payable (other than notes payable to
officers, directors and affiliates) are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
September 30, September 30,
1997 1998
------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal 1998 $ 6,878 ---
Fiscal 1999 7,942 $1,640,260
Fiscal 2000 1,650,000 ---
Fiscal 2001 --- ---
Fiscal 2002 --- ---
Fiscal 2003 --- 60,000
------------- -------------
$ 1,664,820 $2,000,260
------------- -------------
------------- -------------
</TABLE>
Of the $808,000 notes payable to officers, directors and affiliates,
$558,000 is to be repaid from proceeds of the Rights Offering. The remaining
$250,000 will be repaid from proceeds of the Rights Offering if the Rights
Offering is fully subscribed, or will be converted to Common Stock and Class E
Warrants as part of the Rights Offering. Related party interest expense incurred
during the year ended September 30, 1998 amounted to $39,235.
(7) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
During Fiscal 1993 and Fiscal 1994, the Company conducted a private
placement of convertible preferred stock ("Convertible Preferred Stock"). Each
share of the Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into ten shares of FCI
Common Stock, initially at $1.50 per share. The conversion ratio is subject to
customary anti-dilution provisions. Dividends are cumulative and are payable
annually, at the sole discretion of the holders, in cash (11%) or additional
shares of Convertible Preferred Stock (8% of the number of shares owned at date
of declaration). In November 1996, the Company paid cash dividends of $46,171
and issued 13,909 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock dividends. The
Convertible Preferred Stock entitles the holder to a liquidation preference of
$15 per share upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The
Convertible Preferred Stock is redeemable by the Company when and if the closing
bid price of FCI's Common Stock is at least 200% of the conversion price for
twenty consecutive trading days. Upon redemption, the Company would issue ten
shares of its Common Stock for each share of Convertible Preferred Stock. As of
September 30, 1998, the Company had 218,998 shares of Convertible Preferred
Stock outstanding. On September 12, 1997, the Board of Directors determined
that, in view of the recent trading price of the Company's Common Stock and in
view of the Company's current cash position, it would not be appropriate to
declare the annual dividend payable on the Convertible Preferred Stock on
November 1, 1997. Likewise, in September 1998, the Board of Directors determined
not to declare the annual dividend payable on November 1, 1998. As a result, the
undeclared dividends, aggregating $722,694 (if elected entirely in cash, or
36,442 additional shares of Convertible Preferred Stock if elected wholly in
additional shares), will accumulate in accordance with the terms of the
Convertible Preferred Stock. Had the Company declared a preferred stock
dividend, net loss per common share would be as follows:
F-13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Net loss $(2,392,225)
Preferred stock dividend (722,694)
---------------
Net loss available to common stockholders $(3,114,919)
---------------
---------------
Shares of common stock used in computing loss
per common share 25,925,859
---------------
---------------
Net loss per common share ($0.12)
---------------
---------------
</TABLE>
On May 31, 1996 the Company completed an offering under Regulation S,
of 3,333,333 Units, at a price of $0.90 per Unit for total gross proceeds of
$3,000,000 before costs and expenses of the offering. The Company paid fees and
expenses associated with the Unit offering amounting to $345,683. Each Unit
consisted of one share of Common Stock and one warrant to purchase one share of
Common Stock (the "Unit Warrants") the shares and warrants being immediately
separable. The Unit Warrants are each exercisable at $1.00 at any time from May
31, 1996 through May 30, 2001. Also in connection with the Unit offering, the
Company issued to the Placement Agent for the offering, for nominal
consideration, warrants to purchase up to 333,333 shares of Common Stock ("the
Placement Agent Warrants"), at an exercise price of $0.90 per share which has
been adjusted to $0.2343 per share in accordance with the Placement Agent
Agreement, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise has been adjusted to
1,280,411. These Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at any time from
November 30, 1996 through May 30, 2001.
Primarily in order to provide a means to raise additional cash through
existing outstanding options, warrants and promissory notes receivable, on April
4, 1997, the per share exercise price of all employee stock options, all Unit
and other Warrants (except Class D Warrants) were decreased as follows: to $0.32
from April 4 through April 11, 1997, and thereafter adjusted weekly to the
average closing bid price for the five prior trading days less a discount of 10%
(but never to a price less than $0.30) through May 16, 1997, when the prices
reverted to the original prices. As a result, the Company received $39,943 for
the exercise of 131,453 options at prices ranging from $0.30 to $0.32 per share.
Effective April 17, 1997 the per share exercise price of Class D Warrants was
decreased to $0.30 through May 16, 1997 when the exercise price reverted to its
prior $1.10 per share. As a result, the Company received approximately $30,954
for the exercise of 103,179 Class D Warrants exercised at $0.30 per share.
In March 1994, the Company's Board of Directors approved a plan by
which employees and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries would be given
an opportunity to exercise certain eligible stock options under an early
incentive plan through the execution of promissory notes. As of March 15, 1994,
the Company received promissory notes aggregating $1,815,099 for the exercise of
1,210,066 stock options. The promissory notes bear interest at 7%, and were
initially due on or before September 15, 1995. On April 7, 1995, the Board of
Directors extended the due date of the notes to March 15, 1998. The underlying
FCI Common Stock was held in escrow, as collateral, until payment was made on
the promissory notes. In conjunction with the temporary reduction of the
exercise prices of the options and warrants effective April 4, 1997 and Class D
Warrants effective April 17, 1997, as described above, the remaining unpaid
principal on the promissory notes could be fully paid in an amount determined by
multiplying the unpaid balance by a fraction, the numerator of which was the
revised exercise price, and the denominator of which was $1.50 (the original
exercise price). If the unpaid principal was not so paid by May 16, 1997 the
underlying collateral shares would be forfeited and all unpaid principal and
accrued interest would be extinguished.
As a result, the Company received $160,875 in payment for 520,252 escrowed
shares at prices ranging from $0.30 to $0.32 per share, which amount liquidated
$780,379 of original note principal. The remaining $756,804 of unpaid note
principal was extinguished and the underlying collateral of 504,535
F-14
<PAGE>
shares were forfeited to the Company and immediately canceled, thereby reducing
the total number of shares outstanding. Unpaid accrued interest receivable
aggregating $248,212 was expensed.
In March 1994, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a 1994 Employee
Stock Option Plan ("1994 Plan"), approved by stockholders at the May 23, 1994
Annual Shareholders meeting, covering an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of FCI
Common Stock. As of September 30, 1998, the Company has issued 984,885 stock
options, net of forfeitures and regrants, (with initial exercise prices ranging
from $1.00 per share to $2.125 per share and current exercise prices of $1.00
per share) under the 1994 Plan to employees of the Company's wholly-owned
subsidiary, FCI Environmental, Inc. ("Environmental"). During Fiscal 1998,
568,907 options expired unexercised and at September 30, 1998 an aggregate of
252,207 options remain exercisable under the 1994 Plan.
On April 7, 1995, the Company's Board of Directors resolved that all
options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock granted prior to April
7, 1995, and which had an exercise price in excess of $1.00 per share, would as
of April 7, 1995 have an exercise price of $1.00 per share, which price was
above the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the last quoted market
trade on April 7, 1995. Options to purchase an aggregate of 2,309,479 shares at
prices ranging from $1.125 to $2.125 per share were accordingly changed to $1.00
per share.
In April 1995, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a 1995 Employee
Stock Option Plan ("1995 Plan"), approved by the stockholders at the May 8, 1995
Annual Shareholders meeting, covering an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of FCI
Common Stock. As of September 30, 1998, the Company has issued 948,047 stock
options, net of forfeitures, (with initial and current exercise prices ranging
from $0.93 per share to $1.38 per share) under the 1995 Plan to employees of
Environmental and Directors of the Company. During the year ended September 30,
1998, 70,000 options expired unexercised. An aggregate of 760,442 options remain
exercisable under the 1995 Plan.
In January 1997 the Company's Board of Directors adopted a 1997 Employee
Stock Option Plan ("1997 Plan"), approved by the stockholders at the June 23,
1997 Annual Stockholders Meeting, covering an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of
Common Stock and restricting the granting of options to purchase approximately
675,000 shares of Common Stock authorized under previous stock option plans. As
of September 30, 1998 the Company has issued options to purchase 1,441,000
shares of Common Stock at prices ranging from $0.15 to $0.25 under the 1997 Plan
to employees and consultants of Environmental and Directors of the Company. An
aggregate of 1,431,000 options remain exercisable under the 1997 Plan.
Effective October 1, 1996, cash compensation to directors was eliminated
and replaced by the granting of stock options for service as a director and for
service on standing committees. During Fiscal 1997, the Company granted to its
six non-management directors options to purchase an aggregate of 186,500 shares
of Common Stock at $0.22 per share, which was the fair market value of the
Common Stock as of the date of the grants. During Fiscal 1998, the Company
granted to its four non-management directors options to purchase an aggregate of
150,000 shares of Common Stock at $0.15 per share, which was the fair market
value of the Common Stock as of the date of the grants.
During Fiscal 1998, the Company issued a total of 676,500 shares of Common
Stock of the Company, valued at $121,512 for legal services and financial
consulting services performed for the Company.
The Company has granted options under qualified stock option plans as well
as other option plans to employees, directors, officers, consultants and other
persons associated with the Company who are not employees of, but are involved
in the continuing development of the Company. A summary of the status of the
Company's stock option plans as of September 30, 1997 and 1998 and changes
during those years are as follows:
F-15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
-------------------------------- ------------------------------
Weighted Weighted
Average Average
Fixed Options Options Exercise Options Exercise
Price Price
- ----------------------------- --------------- ------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of
year 1,670,552 $0.99 2,096,556 $0.76
Granted during year 676,500 .28 991,000 .15
Exercised (150,496) .37 (5,000) .22
Forfeited (100,000) 1.00 (638,907) 1.01
--------------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Outstanding at end of year
2,096,556 $0.76 2,443,649 $0.47
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
</TABLE>
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
and exercisable at September 30, 1997 and 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted Average Weighted Average
Range of Exercise Number Outstanding and Remaining Exercise Price
September 30 Prices Exercisable Contractual Life
- ----------------- -------------------- ------------------------ --------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1997 $0.22 - 1.25 2,096,556 4.80 years $0.76
1998 $0.15 - 1.25 2,443,649 7.15 years $0.47
</TABLE>
If the Company had elected to recognize compensation cost based on the fair
value of the options granted at grant date as prescribed by SFAS No.123, net
loss and loss per share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts
indicated in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As Reported Pro Forma
------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
1997 1998 1997 1998
----------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Loss $(3,226,958) $(2,392,225) $(3,501,930) $(2,530,965)
Loss per share $(0.13) $(0.09) $(0.14) $(0.10)
</TABLE>
No tax effect was applied in computing loss per share under SFAS No. 123.
The Company's assumptions used to calculate the fair values of options issued
were (i) risk-free interest rate of 6.0%, (ii) expected life of five years,
(iii) expected volatility of 172%, and (iv) expected dividends of zero.
(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company entered into an agreement to lease office space for a five-year
period beginning in January 1990, which expired in January 1995. The Company and
the lessor have agreed to a month-to-month lease which is terminable by either
party upon 30 days notice. Monthly payments under the lease were originally
$8,807 and escalated approximately $1,300 every twelve months. Current base
monthly payments under the month-to-month lease are $12,786. Rent expense during
Fiscal 1997 and 1998 was $172,551 and $170,869, respectively. The Company is
pursuing alternatives, including a renewal of the month-to-month lease at
approximately the current base monthly rental charge.
A customer has filed a lawsuit alleging breach of warranty for goods
purchased from the Company. The customer is seeking damages of $750,000 plus
fees and expenses. The Company has filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit.
The outcome of this matter cannot be presently determined.
Effective January 1, 1994, the Company implemented an Internal Revenue Code
Section 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan provides for voluntary
contributions by employees into the Plan subject to the limitations imposed by
Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). The Company will match employee
contributions at a rate of 50% of the employee's contribution up to a maximum of
2% of the
F-16
<PAGE>
employee's compensation. The Company matching funds are determined at
the discretion of management and are subject to a five-year vesting schedule
from the date of original employment. The Company's 401(k) matching expense for
the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1998 totaled $21,263 and $15,888,
respectively.
The Company is involved in litigation incidental to its business. In the
opinion of the Company's management, the expected outcome of such litigation
will not have a material effect on the financial position of the Company.
(9) INCOME TAXES
Income tax benefit attributable to losses from continuing operations for
the year ended September 30, 1997 and 1998 differed from the amount computed by
applying the federal income tax rate of 34% to pretax loss from operations as a
result of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1998
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Computed "expected" tax benefit $(1,097,166) $(813,000)
Reduction in income tax benefit resulting from:
Non-deductible expenses 28,166 66,000
Increase in valuation allowance 1,069,000 747,000
-------------- --------------
Net tax benefit $ --- $ ---
-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------
</TABLE>
Components of the net deferred tax asset as of September 30, 1997 and 1998
are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 Change 1998
---- ------ ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Deferred tax asset $8,952,000 715,000 9,667,000
Less valuation allowance (8,942,000) (747,000) (9,689,000)
----------- --------- -----------
Total net deferred tax asset 10,000 (32,000) (22,000)
Deferred tax liability (10,000) 32,000 22,000
------------ ------------- ------------
Net deferred tax asset $ --- $ --- $ ---
------------ ------------- ------------
------------ ------------- ------------
</TABLE>
The deferred tax asset is comprised primarily of the tax effects of the net
operating loss carryforwards, reserve for inventory obsolescence and allowance
for doubtful accounts recorded for financial reporting purposes. The deferred
tax liability primarily represents the tax effect of the difference between
depreciation recorded for financial statement and income tax reporting purposes.
The Company has recorded a valuation allowance in accordance with the
provisions of Statement 109 to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax
assets which may not be realized. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax
assets, Management considers whether it is more likely than not that some
portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate
realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future
taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become
deductible.
At September 30, 1998, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for
federal income tax purposes of approximately $27,543,000 which are available to
offset future taxable income, if any, through 2013. The following table
summarizes the dates of generation and expiration of the Company's federal net
operating loss carryforward:
F-17
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended NOL NOL Expiration
September 30, Generated Utilized Carryover September 30,
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1987 128,307 (128,307) 0
1988 445,230 (180,406) 264,824 2003
1989 (308,713) 308,713 0
1990 1,769,184 1,769,184 2005
1991 2,678,702 2,678,702 2006
1992 2,396,528 2,396,528 2007
1993 4,140,886 4,140,886 2008
1994 5,784,715 5,784,715 2009
1995 2,368,650 2,368,650 2010
1996 2,559,055 2,559,055 2011
1997 3,253,739 3,253,739 2012
1998 2,327,000 2,327,000 2013
-------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total 27,543,283 0 27,543,283
-------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
</TABLE>
However, the use of carryforwards to offset future taxable income is dependent
upon having taxable income in the legal entity originally incurring the loss and
will be further limited in each year to an amount equal to the Federal long-term
tax exempt interest rate times the entity's market value at the time a
significant change in ownership occurred. The Company cannot determine the
effect of these limitations.
(10) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial
instruments is made in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 107 ("SFAS No. 107"), DISCLOSURE ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL
INSTRUMENTS. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented are not
intended to represent the underlying value of the net assets of the Company.
The carrying amounts at September 30, 1998 for cash, receivables, accounts
payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values due to the short
maturity of these instruments. In addition the estimated fair value of notes
payable approximates the related carrying value at September 30, 1998.
(11) MAJOR CUSTOMERS
During Fiscal 1997, the Company had sales to one customer of approximately
$985,000. During Fiscal 1998, the Company had sales to the same customer of
approximately $147,000 and to a second customer of approximately $387,000.
(12) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 23, 1998, the Company granted, for no consideration to holders
of its Common Stock, Preferred Stock and warrants transferable rights (the
"Rights") to subscribe for units (the "Units") at a subscription price of $0.22
per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Common Stock and one redeemable
Class E Warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price
for one year (through October 23, 1999) at $0.25 per share; then through October
23, 2000 at $0.35; then through October 23, 2001 at $0.50 per share; then
through October 23, 2002 at $0.70 per share; then through October 23, 2003 (at
which time the Class E Warrants expire) at $0.90 per share. Each holder of
record as of October 16, 1998 of Common Stock and Warrants received one Right
for four shares of Common Stock or Warrants held, and each holder of Preferred
Stock received 2.5 Rights for each share of Preferred Stock
F-18
<PAGE>
held. An aggregate of 8,976,962 Rights were issued. An aggregate of 7,628,380
Rights were exercised as of the close of the offering on December 22, 1998,
resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,678,380 and the issuance of
7,628,380 shares of Common Stock and a like number of Class E Warrants.
F-19
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Name
- ----------- ----
<S> <C>
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1 Consent of Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT NO. 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF FIBERCHEM, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name State of Incorporation
---- ----------------------
<S> <C>
FCI Environmental, Inc. (formerly FCI Instruments, Inc.) Nevada
Fiberoptic Medical Systems, Inc. (inactive) Nevada
PetroTester, Inc. (inactive) New Mexico
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS'
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
FiberChem, Inc.
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration
Statements No. 33-61479 and 33-82330 on Form S-8 of our report dated November
17, 1998, except for Note 12, as to which the date is December 22, 1998,
related to the consolidated balance sheet of FiberChem, Inc. and Subsidiaries
as of September 30, 1998, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended,
which report appears in the September 30, 1998 annual report on Form 10-KSB
of FiberChem, Inc. and Subsidiaries.
GOLDSTEIN GOLUB KESSLER LLP
New York, New York
January 12, 1999
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND 1997 AND FOR EACH OF THE YEARS
IN THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<CASH> 91,354
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 492,807
<ALLOWANCES> (60,505)
<INVENTORY> 1,248,007
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,857,924
<PP&E> 706,465
<DEPRECIATION> (605,167)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,305,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,776,548
<BONDS> 868,000
0
3,284,970
<COMMON> 2,644
<OTHER-SE> (4,626,462)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,305,700
<SALES> 1,317,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,317,600
<CGS> 945,434
<TOTAL-COSTS> 3,407,903
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 307,331
<INCOME-PRETAX> (2,392,225)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,392,225)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (2,392,225)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (0.09)
<EPS-DILUTED> 0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Omitted because of antidilutive effect on Net Loss.
</FN>
</TABLE>
