UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2025
or
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________________ to __________________
Commission File Number: 001-11038
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
41-0857886
4201 Woodland Road
P.O. Box 69
Circle Pines, Minnesota 55014
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(763) 225-6600(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.02 per share
NTIC
The Nasdaq Stock Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒
Smaller reporting company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of July 10, 2025, there were 9,474,363 shares of common stock of the registrant outstanding.
May 31, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
_________________
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements that are within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. For more information, see “Part I. Financial Information – Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Forward-Looking Statements.”
As used in this report, references to “NTIC,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” unless the context otherwise requires, refer to Northern Technologies International Corporation and its wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, all of which are consolidated on NTIC’s consolidated financial statements.
As used in this report, references to: (1) “NTIC China” refer to NTIC’s wholly owned subsidiary in China, NTIC (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; (2) “NTI Europe” refer to NTIC’s wholly owned subsidiary in Germany, NTIC Europe GmbH; (3) “Zerust Mexico” refer to NTIC’s wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico, ZERUST-EXCOR MEXICO, S. de R.L. de C.V.; (4) “Zerust India” refer to NTIC’s wholly owned subsidiary in India, HNTI Limited (formerly Harita-NTI Limited); and (5)“NTI Asean” refer to NTIC’s majority-owned holding company subsidiary, NTI Asean LLC, which holds investments in certain entities that operate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
NTIC’s consolidated financial statements do not include the accounts of any of its joint ventures. Except as otherwise indicated, references in this report to NTIC’s joint ventures do not include any of NTIC’s wholly owned or majority-owned subsidiaries.
As used in this report, references to “EXCOR” refer to NTIC’s joint venture in Germany, Excor Korrosionsschutz – Technologien und Produkte GmbH.
All trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this report are the property of their respective owners.
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MAY 31, 2025 (UNAUDITED)
AND AUGUST 31, 2024 (AUDITED)
August 31, 2024
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables:
Trade, less allowance for credit losses of $310,000 as of May 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024
Fees for services provided to joint ventures
Income taxes
Inventories, net
Prepaid expenses
Total current assets
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
OTHER ASSETS:
Investments in joint ventures
Deferred income tax, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Operating lease right of use assets
Total other assets
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Line of credit
Term loan
Accounts payable
Income taxes payable
Accrued liabilities:
Payroll and related benefits
Other
Current portion of operating leases
Total current liabilities
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Operating leases, less current portion
Total long-term liabilities
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 13)
EQUITY:
Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 15,000,000 shares as of May 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024; issued and outstanding 9,474,363 and 9,466,980, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Stockholders’ equity
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2025 AND 2024
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
May 31, 2024
NET SALES:
Net sales
Cost of goods sold
Gross profit
JOINT VENTURE OPERATIONS:
Equity in income from joint ventures
Total joint venture operations
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling expenses
General and administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Total operating expenses
OPERATING INCOME
INTEREST INCOME
INTEREST EXPENSE
OTHER INCOME
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
NET INCOME
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic
Diluted
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
ASSUMED OUTSTANDING:
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) – FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENT
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON – CONTROLLING INTERESTS
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY – THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2025 AND 2024
Accumulated
Additional
Non-
Common Stock
Paid-in
Retained
Comprehensive
Controlling
Total
Shares
Amount
Capital
Earnings
Income (Loss)
Interests
Equity
BALANCE AT FEBRUARY 29, 2024
Stock issued for employee stock purchase plan
Stock options exercised
Stock option expense
Dividends paid to stockholders
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss)
BALANCE AT MAY 31, 2024
BALANCE AT FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Stock-based compensation expense
Dividend received by non-controlling interest
Other comprehensive income
BALANCE AT MAY 31, 2025
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY – NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2025 AND 2024
BALANCE AT AUGUST 31, 2023
BALANCE AT AUGUST 31, 2024
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2025 AND 2024
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense
Amortization expense
Loss on disposal of assets
Dividends received from joint ventures
Deferred income taxes
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Trade
Dividends receivable from joint venture
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other
Income tax payable
Accrued liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment
Purchases of property and equipment
Investments in intangible assets
Net cash used in investing activities
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends paid on NTIC common stock
Dividends received by non-controlling interest
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
1.
INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all necessary adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, and present fairly the consolidated financial position of Northern Technologies International Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of May 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, the results of the Company’s operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, the changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, and the Company’s cash flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).
These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024. These consolidated financial statements also should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section appearing in this report.
Operating results for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 31, 2025.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations. An adjustment has been made to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 31, 2024 and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024 to reclassify joint venture trade receivables within trade receivables.
The Company evaluates events occurring after the date of the consolidated financial statements, through the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, requiring recording or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.
2.
NEW SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Effective during the quarter ended May 31, 2025, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 requires enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and other segment items on both an annual and interim basis. The Company has applied the standard retrospectively to all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The adoption of ASU 2023-07 did not impact the Company’s determination of reportable segments but resulted in enhanced disclosures related to segment expense information. The adoption resulted in additional disclosures but did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In connection with the preparation of this Form 10-Q, the Company identified an immaterial prior period classification error related to the presentation of borrowings and repayments under its revolving line of credit in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. For the nine months ended May 31, 2024, the Company had previously presented net repayments of $1,611,620 as a single line item. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 230, Statement of Cash Flows, the Company has updated the presentation to separately report gross borrowings of $29,144,279 and gross repayments of $30,755,899. This change had no impact on total cash flows, the Company’s financial position, or its results of operations.
3.
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The new guidance is expected to improve income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information by requiring 1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and 2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The guidance is effective on a prospective basis, although retrospective application and early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating its disclosure approach for ASU 2023-09 and anticipates adopting the standard for the annual period starting September 1, 2025.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires disaggregation of certain costs in a separate note to the financial statements, such as the amounts of employee compensation, depreciation and intangible asset amortization, included in each relevant expense caption in annual and interim consolidated financial statements. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027 on a retrospective or prospective basis, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2024-03 will have on its consolidated financial statement disclosures.
4.
INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following:
Production materials
Finished goods
5.
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
Land
Buildings and improvements
Assets in process
Machinery and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation
Depreciation expense was $231,281 and $749,666 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $287,018 and $884,421 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively.
Assets in process includes capitalized software costs incurred until the capitalized software is placed in service. Once placed in service, these costs are reclassed to intangible assets, net in the consolidated balance sheet.
6.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
Intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
As of May 31, 2025
Gross Carrying Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Net Carrying Amount
Patents and trademarks
Capitalized software
Customer relationships
Total intangible assets, net
As of August 31, 2024
Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $218,187 and $524,281 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $147,749 and $442,975 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively.
As of May 31, 2025, future amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter is estimated as follows:
Remainder of fiscal 2025
Fiscal 2026
Fiscal 2027
Fiscal 2028
Fiscal 2029
Thereafter
7.
INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES
The consolidated financial statements of the Company’s foreign joint ventures are initially prepared using the accounting principles accepted in the respective joint ventures’ countries of domicile. Amounts related to foreign joint ventures reported in the below tables and the accompanying consolidated financial statements have subsequently been adjusted to conform with U.S. GAAP in all material respects. All material profits on sales recorded that remain on the consolidated balance sheet from the Company to its joint ventures and from joint ventures to other joint ventures have been eliminated for financial reporting purposes.
Financial information from the audited and unaudited financial statements of the Company’s joint venture in Germany, Excor Korrosionsschutz – Technologien und Produkte GmbH (EXCOR), and all the Company’s other joint ventures are summarized as follows:
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Joint ventures’ equity
NTIC’s share of joint ventures’ equity
NTIC’s share of joint ventures’ undistributed earnings
Three Months Ended May 31, 2025
EXCOR
All Other
NTIC’s share of equity in income from joint ventures
NTIC’s dividends received from joint ventures
Nine Months Ended May 31, 2025
Three Months Ended May 31, 2024
Nine Months Ended May 31, 2024
8.
CORPORATE DEBT
On January 6, 2023, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the Credit Agreement) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPM), which provided the Company with a senior secured revolving line of credit (the Credit Facility) of up to $10.0 million, which included a $5.0 million sublimit for standby letters of credit. Borrowings of $7,369,949 and $4,291,608 were outstanding under the Credit Facility as of May 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively. The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement as of May 31, 2025.
On January 6, 2025, the Company and JPM entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to extend the maturity date of the Credit Facility from January 6, 2025 to January 5, 2026, reduce the availability under the Credit Facility from $10.0 million to $8.0 million and increase the applicable margin for Adjusted SOFR Rate (as defined below) advances from 2.15% to 2.35%. On July 8, 2025, the Company and JPM entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to increase the availability under the Credit Facility from $8.0 million to $10.0 million. All other material terms of the Credit Facility and the Credit Agreement remain the same.
The principal amount under the Credit Facility, together with all accrued unpaid interest and other amounts owing thereunder, if any, will be payable in full on the January 5, 2026 maturity date, unless the Credit Facility is extended or renewed or terminated earlier.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a floating rate, at the option of the Company, equal to either the CB Floating Rate or the Adjusted SOFR Rate. The term “CB Floating Rate” means the greater of the Prime Rate in the United States or 2.50%. The term “Adjusted SOFR Rate” means the term secured overnight financing rate for either one, three or six months (depending on the interest period selected by the Company) plus 0.10% per annum. With respect to any borrowings using an Adjusted SOFR Rate, there is an applicable margin of 2.35% applied per annum. There is no applicable margin with respect to borrowings using a CB Floating Rate. The weighted average interest rate was 6.65% and 7.44% for the nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
To secure the Credit Agreement, the Company assigned JPM a continuing security interest in all of its right, title and interest in collateral made up of the assets of the Company.
The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other matters, limitations on the Company’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens, engage in certain business operations and transactions, make certain investments, modify its organizational documents or form any new subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. Further, the Credit Agreement contains a negative covenant that restricts the ability of the Company to redeem or repurchase its common stock or pay dividends if the result of which would cause an event of default under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.00. The term “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio, computed for the Company on a consolidated basis, of net income plus income tax expense, plus amortization expense, plus depreciation expense, plus interest expense, and plus dividends received from joint ventures, minus unfinanced capital expenditures and equity in income from joint ventures, all computed for the twelve month period then ending, to scheduled principal payments made, plus scheduled finance lease payments made, plus interest expense paid, plus income tax expense paid, and plus cash distributions and dividends paid, all computed for the same twelve month period then ending.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, cross-defaults to certain other agreements, breach of any financial covenant and change of control. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default, JPM may accelerate the payment of the obligations thereunder and exercise various other customary default remedies.
On each of April 22, 2025 and May 29, 2025, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary in China, NTIC China, entered into a loan agreement with China Construction Bank Corporation. Each term loan provided NTIC China with a RMB 10,000,000 (USD $1.39 million). The term loans mature in April 2026 and May 2026, respectively, unless extended. The term loan that matures in April 2026 has an annual interest rate of 2.75% with interest due monthly, and the term loan that matures in May 2026 has an annual interest rate of 2.96% with interest due monthly. Both term loans are secured by an office building owned by NTIC China and the loan agreements contain certain financial and other covenants. The Company was in compliance with the covenants as of May 31, 2025. The outstanding balance for both term loans was USD $2,778,125 as of May 31, 2025 and USD $2,820,835 as of August 31, 2024.
9.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
During the nine months ended May 31, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends on the following dates in the following amounts to the following holders of the Company’s common stock:
Declaration Date
Record Date
Payable Date
October 16, 2024
October 30, 2024
November 13, 2024
January 15, 2025
January 29, 2025
February 12, 2025
April 16, 2025
April 30, 2025
May 14, 2025
During the nine months ended May 31, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends on the following dates in the following amounts to the following holders of the Company’s common stock:
October 18, 2023
November 1, 2023
November 15, 2023
January 17, 2024
January 31, 2024
February 14, 2024
April 17, 2024
May 1, 2024
May 15, 2024
During the nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company repurchased no shares of its common stock.
The Company issued 3,527 and 3,496 shares of common stock on September 1, 2024 and 2023, respectively, under the Northern Technologies International Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The Company issued 3,856 and 3,284 shares of common stock on March 1, 2025 and 2024, respectively, under the ESPP. The ESPP is compensatory for financial reporting purposes. As of May 31, 2025, 47,871 shares of common stock remained available for sale under the ESPP.
10.
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share assumes the exercise of stock options and the settlement of restricted stock units using the treasury stock method, if dilutive.
The following is a reconciliation of the net income per share computation for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024:
Numerator:
Net income attributable to NTIC
Denominator:
Basic – weighted shares outstanding
Weighted shares assumed upon exercise of stock options and settlement of restricted stock units
Diluted – weighted shares outstanding
Basic net income per share:
Diluted net income per share:
The dilutive impact summarized above relates to the periods when the average market price of the Company’s common stock exceeded the exercise price of the potentially dilutive option securities granted. Net income per common share was based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods when computing basic net income per share. When dilutive, stock options and restricted stock units are included as equivalents using the treasury stock market method when computing the diluted net income per share. Excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 were options outstanding to purchase 1,445,960 shares of common stock. Excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024 were options outstanding to purchase 305,514 shares of common stock.
11.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock Options
A summary of stock option activities under the Northern Technologies International Corporation 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (2024 Plan), the Northern Technologies International Corporation Amended and Restated 2019 Stock Incentive Plan and the Northern Technologies International Corporation Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan during the nine months ended May 31, 2024 and 2025 is as follows:
Number of
Options
Outstanding
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price
Outstanding as of August 31, 2023
Granted
Exercised
Cancelled
Outstanding as of May 31, 2024
Exercisable as of May 31, 2024
Outstanding as of August 31, 2024
Outstanding as of May 31, 2025
Exercisable as of May 31, 2025
The weighted average per share fair value of options granted during the nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024 was $4.95 and $4.88, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the options outstanding as of May 31, 2025 and 2024 was 5.77 years and 6.11 years, respectively.
The Company recognized stock option compensation expense of $304,510 and $907,330 and $343,148 and $1,038,022 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of May 31, 2025, there was $1,314,487 of unrecognized stock option compensation expense. The amount is expected to be recognized over a period of 2.25 years.
Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units were granted under the 2024 Plan on September 1, 2024 to certain non-employee directors during the nine months ended May 31, 2025 and vest in full on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant. There were no restricted stock units granted or outstanding during the prior fiscal year period. A summary of restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended May 31, 2025 is as follows:
Restricted Stock
Units
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Vested/Settled
Restricted stock units are valued using the closing stock price on the grant date. The Company recognizes the grant date fair value of the restricted stock units over the vesting term, or one year. For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, the Company recognized $37,366 and $110,880 in stock-based compensation expense, respectively. As of May 31, 2025, there is an unrecognized stock-based compensation expense of $37,772, which is expected to be recognized over 0.25 years.
12.
SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Segment Information
The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company’s business is organized into two reportable segments: ZERUST® and Natur-Tec®. The Company has been selling its proprietary ZERUST® rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets for over 50 years and, more recently, has also expanded into the oil and gas industry. The Company also sells a portfolio of proprietary bio-based and compostable (fully biodegradable) polymer resins and finished products under the Natur-Tec® brand.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. There are no intersegment sales and no operating segments have been aggregated.
The following table sets forth the Company’s net sales for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024 by segment:
ZERUST® net sales
Natur-Tec® net sales
Total net sales
The following table sets forth the Company’s cost of goods sold for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024 by segment:
% of Product Sales*
Direct cost of goods sold
ZERUST®
Natur-Tec®
Indirect cost of goods sold
Total net cost of goods sold
* The percent of product sales is calculated by dividing the direct cost of goods sold for each individual segment category by the net sales for each segment category.
ZERUST® gross profit
Natur-Tec® gross profit
Total segment gross profit
Interest income
Interest expense
Other income
Income before income tax expense
The Company utilizes product net sales, direct and indirect cost of goods sold, and gross profit for each product in reviewing the financial performance of a product type. Further allocation of Company expenses or assets, aside from amounts presented in the tables above, is not utilized in evaluating product performance, nor does such allocation occur for internal financial reporting. The CODM uses gross profit and considers budget-to-actual variances on a quarterly basis when making decisions about the allocation of operating and capital resources to each segment. The CODM also uses segment gross profit for evaluating pricing strategy to assess the performance of each segment by comparing the results of each segment with one another and in determining the compensation of certain employees. The CODM has ultimate responsibility for enterprise decisions and making resource allocation decisions for the company and the segments. Asset information, including capital expenditures are reviewed by the CODM at the consolidated entity level and not by segment. Refer to total assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Geographic Information
Net sales by geographic location for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:
Three Months Ended May 31,
Nine Months Ended May 31,
2025
2024
Inside the U.S. to unaffiliated customers
Outside the U.S. to:
Joint ventures in which the Company is a shareholder directly and indirectly
Unaffiliated customers
Net sales by geographic location are based on the location of the customer. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenue.
Fees for services provided to joint ventures by geographic location as a percentage of total fees for services provided to joint ventures during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:
% of Total Fees for Services Provided to Joint Ventures
Poland
Germany
Japan
Sweden
Czech Republic
Finland
United Kingdom
Thailand
South Korea
France
The geographical distribution of total property and equipment and net sales is as follows:
At
China
United States
Total property and equipment, net
Brazil
India
Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment. These assets are periodically reviewed to assure the net realizable value from the estimated future production based on forecasted sales exceeds the carrying value of the assets.
Sales to the Company’s joint ventures are included in the foregoing segment and geographic information; however, sales by the Company’s joint ventures to other parties are not included. The foregoing segment and geographic information represents only sales recognized directly by the Company and sold in that geographic territory.
All joint venture operations, including equity in income, fees for services and related dividends, are primarily related to ZERUST® products and services.
13.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal Matters
From time to time, the Company is subject to various other claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of its business. The Company records a liability in its consolidated financial statements for costs related to claims, including future legal costs, settlements and judgments, where the Company has assessed that a loss is probable, and an amount could be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a probable loss is a range, the Company records the most probable estimate of the loss or the minimum amount when no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. The Company discloses a contingent liability even if the liability is not probable or the amount is not estimable, or both, if there is a reasonable possibility that material loss may have been incurred. In the opinion of management, as of May 31, 2025, the amount of liability, if any, with respect to these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
14.
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information consisted of:
Cash paid for interest
Cash paid for taxes
15.
INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 was $410,461 and $903,529, respectively, compared to $332,400 and $848,391, respectively, for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024. The expense was largely due to foreign operations. The Company has federal and state tax credit carry forwards, net operating loss carry forwards and foreign tax carry forwards. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the U.S. deferred tax assets as of May 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024.
16.
OTHER INCOME – EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT
During the nine months ended May 31, 2025, the Company received $1,139,756 in cash as a result of Employee Retention Credits (ERC), which are refundable tax credits against certain employment taxes initially made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The ERC was received in cash and was claimed under the suspension test criteria based on the Company’s determination that it met the eligibility requirements. In accordance with the Company’s accounting policy, the ERC payments have been recognized as Other Income in the period in which the cash was received, as the Company determined that all relevant criteria for recognition had been met. The ERC represents a one-time benefit and does not constitute recurring operational revenue.
Additionally, the Company earned $181,529 in interest income related to the ERC payments, which was recorded as Interest Income for the period. The ERC payments of $1,139,756 are recorded as Other Income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, while the interest income of $181,529 is recorded separately under Interest Income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company will continue to monitor any developments related to the ERC and its accounting treatment in accordance with applicable regulations and guidance.
17.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On July 8, 2025, the Company and JPM entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to increase the availability under the Credit Facility from $8.0 million to $10.0 million. The other material terms of the Credit Facility and the Credit Agreement were not affected by this amendment.
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides material historical and prospective disclosures intended to enable investors and other users to assess NTIC’s financial condition and results of operations. Statements that are not historical are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Forward-Looking Statements” in this report and under “Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024. The following discussion of the results of the operations and financial condition of NTIC should be read in conjunction with NTIC’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included under the heading “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements.”
Business Overview
NTIC develops and markets proprietary, environmentally beneficial products and services in over 65 countries either directly or via a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures, independent distributors, and agents. NTIC’s primary business is corrosion prevention marketed mainly under the ZERUST® brand. NTIC has been selling its proprietary ZERUST® products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military, and retail consumer markets for over 50 years and, more recently, has also expanded into the oil and gas industry. Additionally, NTIC markets and sells a portfolio of proprietary bio-based and certified compostable (fully biodegradable) polymer resin compounds and finished products under the Natur-Tec® brand. These sustainable packaging products are intended to reduce NTIC’s customers’ carbon footprint and provide environmentally sound waste disposal options.
NTIC’s ZERUST® rust and corrosion inhibiting products include plastic and paper packaging, liquids, coatings, rust removers, cleaners, and diffusers as well as engineered solutions designed specifically for the oil and gas industry. NTIC also offers worldwide, on-site, technical consulting for rust and corrosion prevention issues. In North America, NTIC sells its ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions through a network of independent distributors and agents supported by a direct sales force.
Internationally, NTIC sells its ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions through its wholly owned subsidiary in China, NTIC (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (NTIC China), its wholly owned subsidiary in India, HNTI Limited (Zerust India), its majority-owned joint venture holding company for NTIC’s joint venture investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, NTI Asean LLC (NTI Asean), and certain majority-owned and wholly owned subsidiaries, and joint venture arrangements in North America, Europe, and Asia. NTIC also sells products directly to its European joint venture partners through its wholly owned subsidiary in Germany, NTIC Europe GmbH (NTI Europe).
One of NTIC’s strategic initiatives is to expand into and penetrate other markets for its ZERUST® corrosion prevention technologies. Consequently, for the past several years, NTIC has focused significant sales and marketing efforts on the oil and gas industry, as the infrastructure that supports that industry is typically constructed using metals that are highly susceptible to corrosion. NTIC believes that its ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions will minimize maintenance downtime on critical oil and gas industry infrastructure, extend the life of such infrastructure, and reduce the risk of environmental pollution due to leaks caused by corrosion.
NTIC markets and sells its ZERUST® rust and corrosion prevention solutions to customers in the oil and gas industry in a continuously increasing number of countries either directly, through its subsidiaries, or through its joint venture partners and other strategic partners. The sale of ZERUST® corrosion prevention solutions to customers in the oil and gas industry typically involves long sales cycles, often including multi-year trial periods with each customer and a slow integration process thereafter.
Natur-Tec® bio-based and compostable plastics are manufactured using NTIC’s patented and/or proprietary technologies and are intended to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. The Natur-Tec® biopolymer resin compound portfolio includes formulations that have been optimized for a variety of applications, including blown-film extrusion, coatings, injection molding, thermoforming, profile extrusion and engineered plastics. These resin compounds are certified to be fully biodegradable in a commercial composting environment and are currently being used to produce finished products, including can liners, shopping and grocery bags, lawn and leaf bags, branded apparel packaging bags and accessories, and various foodservice items, such as disposable cutlery, drinking straws, food-handling gloves, and coated paper products. In North America, NTIC markets its Natur-Tec® resin compounds and finished products primarily through a network of regional and national distributors as well as independent agents. NTIC continues to see significant opportunities for finished bioplastic products and, therefore, continues to strengthen and expand its North American distribution network for finished Natur-Tec® bioplastic products.
Internationally, NTIC sells its Natur-Tec® resin compounds and finished products both directly and through its wholly owned subsidiary in China and majority-owned subsidiaries in India and Sri Lanka and through distributors and certain joint ventures.
Tariffs
The tariff environment is complex and evolving. NTIC’s business has incurred, and expects to continue to incur, additional costs as it relates to tariffs for the remainder of fiscal 2025. NTIC has taken and will continue to take action to mitigate inflationary pressures caused by tariffs through a combination of targeted price increases, supplier diversification and other strategic sourcing adjustments, cost reductions, and manufacturing optimization. With respect to NTIC China, specifically, the majority of NTIC China's production and sales are for local consumption; and therefore, we believe, NTIC China's exposure to tariffs, included those imposed by the United States is limited.
Financial Overview
NTIC’s management, including its chief executive officer, who is NTIC’s chief operating decision maker, reports and manages NTIC’s operations in two reportable business segments based on products sold, customer base and distribution center: ZERUST® products and services and Natur-Tec® products.
Highlights of NTIC’s financial results for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 include the following, with increases or decreases in each case as compared to the respective prior fiscal year period:
●
NTIC’s consolidated net sales increased 4.0% and 0.3% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024. The increase for the three-month comparison was primarily due to increased sales and demand for ZERUST® products. The increase for the nine-month comparison was primarily due to increased sales and demand for Natur-Tec® products, partially offset by decreased sales of ZERUST® products. During the nine months ended May 31, 2025, 73.2% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from sales of ZERUST® products and services, and 26.8% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales were derived from sales of Natur-Tec® products.
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 61.6% and 62.5% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to 61.8% during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. The slight decrease for the three-month comparison was primarily due to the corresponding change in sales. The increase for the nine-month comparison was primarily due to slightly higher raw material prices and discounts on selling prices during the nine months ended May 31, 2025.
NTIC’s total joint venture operations decreased 12.9% and 14.3% to $2,272,912 and $6,377,617 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $2,609,228 and $7,441,476 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. These decreases were primarily due to decreases in equity in income from joint ventures, which were driven primarily by decreased sales at most joint ventures. Net sales at the joint ventures, which are not consolidated with NTIC’s net sales, decreased 9.3% and 8.0% to $23,211,613 and $66,848,498 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $25,602,072 and $72,642,714 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively.
NTIC’s total operating expenses increased 7.6% and 7.9% to $9,665,165 and $27,954,669 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $8,978,405 and $25,901,387 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. These increases were primarily due to strategic investments in ZERUST® oil and gas marketing and sales efforts, including personnel expenses and the corresponding benefits, as well as increased travel and professional fees.
NTIC earned net income attributable to NTIC of $121,775, or $0.01 per diluted common share, for the three months ended May 31, 2025, compared to $976,604, or $0.10 per diluted common share, for the three months ended May 31, 2024. NTIC earned net income attributable to NTIC of $1,117,185, or $0.12 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended May 31, 2025, compared to $3,573,294, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended May 31, 2024.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth NTIC’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024.
% of
Net Sales
$
Change
%
Net Sales. NTIC’s consolidated net sales increased 4.0% and 0.3% to $21,508,563 and $61,919,022 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024. The increase for the three-month comparison was primarily due to increased sales and demand for ZERUST® products. The increase for the nine-month comparison was primarily due to increased sales and demand for Natur-Tec® products, partially offset by decreased sales of ZERUST® products.
The following table sets forth NTIC’s net sales by product segment for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024:
Total ZERUST® sales
Total Natur-Tec® sales
During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, 73.1% and 73.2% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales, respectively, were derived from sales of ZERUST® products and services. Sales of ZERUST® products and services increased 6.0% to $15,728,637 compared to $14,837,235 during the three months ended May 31, 2024 and decreased slightly to $45,361,457, compared to $45,461,075 during the nine months ended May 31, 2024. The increase for the three-month comparison was primarily due to increased demand for ZERUST® industrial products, and was partially offset by decreased demand for ZERUST® oil and gas products.
The following table sets forth NTIC’s net sales of ZERUST® products for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024:
ZERUST® industrial net sales
ZERUST® oil & gas net sales
Total ZERUST® net sales
ZERUST® industrial net sales increased 7.1% and 1.3% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the respective prior fiscal year periods, primarily due to increased demand for North American ZERUST® industrial products. Overall, demand for ZERUST® products and services depends heavily on the overall health of the markets in which NTIC sells its products, including the automotive, construction, agriculture, and mining markets, in particular.
ZERUST® oil and gas net sales decreased 5.3% and 13.5% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the respective prior fiscal year periods primarily due to decreased demand. NTIC anticipates that its sales of ZERUST® products and services into the oil and gas industry will continue to remain subject to significant volatility from quarter to quarter as sales are recognized. Demand for oil and gas products around the world depends primarily on market acceptance and the reach of NTIC’s distribution network. Because of the typical size of individual orders and overall size of NTIC’s net sales derived from sales of oil and gas products, the timing of one or more orders can materially affect NTIC’s quarterly sales compared to prior fiscal year quarters.
During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, 26.9% and 26.8% of NTIC’s consolidated net sales, respectively, were derived from sales of Natur-Tec® products, compared to 28.3% and 26.3% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. Sales of Natur-Tec® products decreased 1.2% to $5,779,926 during the three months ended May 31, 2025 compared to $5,848,962 during the three months ended May 31, 2024. Sales of Natur-Tec® products increased 2.2% to $16,602,565 during the nine months ended May 31, 2025 compared to $16,249,335 during the nine months ended May 31, 2024. The decrease for the three-month comparison was primarily due to a combination of timing and seasonal variations in demand in Asia, and a temporary reduction in shipments to a major resin customer due to one-time tooling changes. The increase for the nine-month comparison was primarily due to higher demand for apparel packaging from major brands in India, and the launch of new customer applications. The market for biodegradable plastics is expanding worldwide, driven by increasing environmental awareness, regulatory support for sustainable materials, and growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives. As consumers and industries seek to reduce plastic waste, biodegradable plastics offer a viable solution, particularly in sectors like packaging, agriculture, and consumer goods. This trend is further supported by government policies promoting sustainable practices and by advances in biodegradable technology, which make these materials more accessible and cost-effective.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased 3.6% and 1.5% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024 primarily due to the fluctuations in corresponding sales. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 61.6% and 62.5% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to 61.8% during each of the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. The slight decrease for the three-month comparison was primarily due to the corresponding change in sales. The increase for the nine-month comparison was primarily due to slightly higher raw material prices and discounts on selling prices during the nine months ended May 31, 2025.
Equity in Income from Joint Ventures. NTIC’s equity in income from joint ventures decreased 30.5% and 26.0% to $970,314 and $2,720,637 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $1,396,731 and $3,676,962 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. NTIC’s equity in income from joint ventures fluctuates based on the net sales and profitability of its joint ventures during the respective periods. Of the total equity in income from joint ventures, NTIC had equity in income from joint ventures of $1,340,674 attributable to EXCOR during the nine months ended May 31, 2025, compared to $2,015,734 attributable to EXCOR during the nine months ended May 31, 2024. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in net sales by EXCOR compared to the same prior year fiscal period. NTIC had equity in income from all other joint ventures of $1,379,963 during the nine months ended May 31, 2025, compared to $1,661,227 during the nine months ended May 31, 2024.
Fees for Services Provided to Joint Ventures. NTIC recognized fee income for services provided to joint ventures of $1,302,598 and $3,656,980 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $1,212,497 and $3,764,514 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively, representing an increase of 7.4% and a decrease of 2.9%, respectively. Fee income for services provided to joint ventures is traditionally a function of the sales made by NTIC’s joint ventures; however, at various joint ventures, the fee income for services is a fixed amount that does not fluctuate with the change in sales experienced by certain joint ventures during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, specifically EXCOR. Net sales at the joint ventures decreased 9.3% and 8.0% to $23,211,613 and $66,848,498 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $25,602,072 and $72,642,714 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. These decreases were primarily due to decreased demand during the current fiscal year periods at NTIC’s joint venture in Germany. Net sales of NTIC’s joint ventures are not included in NTIC’s product sales and are not included in NTIC’s consolidated financial statements. Of the total fee income for services provided to joint ventures, fees of $626,999 were attributable to EXCOR during the nine months ended May 31, 2025, compared to fees of $618,236 attributable to EXCOR during the nine months ended May 31, 2024.
Selling Expenses. NTIC’s selling expenses increased 3.4% and 3.8% during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 compared to the respective prior fiscal year periods. The increases were primarily due to increased personnel expense in the current fiscal year periods as a result of an expansion in the ZERUST® oil and gas sales team. As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses were 20.3% and 20.2% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to 20.5% and 19.5% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses. NTIC’s general and administrative expenses increased 18.6% and 13.8% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2024 primarily due to increased professional services and travel and personnel expenses, which relate in part to increased information technology infrastructure, during the current fiscal year periods compared to the respective prior fiscal year periods. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased to 19.3% and 18.8% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, from 16.9% and 16.6% for the same respective periods in fiscal 2024 primarily due to increased general and administrative expenses as described above.
Research and Development Expenses. NTIC’s research and development expenses decreased 8.6% and increased 4.9% for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2024. These changes were primarily due to continued investment in new product development in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2025, which did not continue into the third quarter of fiscal 2025 since the new product initiatives transitioned into commercialization in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 and the costs began to shift from research and development expenses to selling expenses, reflecting our advancement toward bringing these innovations to market.
Interest Income. NTIC’s interest income increased to $37,821 and $273,544 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $23,744 and $99,396 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. These increases were primarily due to $181,529 in interest income earned on a delayed IRS payment related to Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims recognized in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, as described in Note 16 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements, and changes in the invested cash balances and rate of return at various subsidiaries.
Interest Expense. NTIC’s interest expense increased to $162,096 and $421,471 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $59,939 and $248,835 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively, primarily due to increased average outstanding borrowings during the current fiscal year periods.
Other Income. NTIC recognized $1,139,756 in other income during the nine months ended May 31, 2025 due to the receipt of an ERC payment. No other income was recognized during the three months ended May 31, 2025 or during the prior year periods. The ERC income was recognized upon receipt of a cash payment in accordance with applicable accounting guidance and was claimed under the suspension test criteria, as described in Note 16 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements. The ERC payment is a one-time event and does not represent recurring operational revenue.
Income Before Income Tax Expense. NTIC had income before income tax expense of $742,912 and $2,632,754 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $1,487,722 and $4,957,182 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was $410,461 and $903,529 for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025, respectively, compared to $332,400 and $848,391 during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2024, respectively. Income tax expense was calculated based on management’s estimate of NTIC’s annual effective income tax rate.
NTIC considers the earnings of certain foreign joint ventures to be indefinitely invested outside the United States on the basis of estimates that NTIC’s future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs. As a result, U.S. income and foreign withholding taxes have not been recognized on the cumulative undistributed earnings of $24,096,958 and $23,465,685 as of May 31, 2025 and August 31, 2024, respectively. To the extent undistributed earnings of NTIC’s joint ventures are distributed in the future, they are not expected to result in any material additional income tax liability after the application of foreign tax credits.
Net Income Attributable to NTIC. Net income attributable to NTIC decreased to $121,775, or $0.01 per diluted common share, for the three months ended May 31, 2025, compared to $976,604, or $0.10 per diluted common share, for the three months ended May 31, 2024. Net income attributable to NTIC decreased to $1,117,185, or $0.12 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended May 31, 2025, compared to 3,573,294, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended May 31, 2024. These decreases were primarily due to the increases in operating expenses and decreases in income from our joint venture operations, and were partially offset by the one-time ERC payment.
NTIC anticipates that its earnings will continue to be adversely affected to some extent by inflation and worldwide supply chain disruptions, among other factors. Additionally, NTIC anticipates that its quarterly net income will continue to remain subject to significant volatility primarily due to the financial performance of its subsidiaries and joint ventures, sales of its ZERUST® products and services into the oil and gas industry, and sales of its Natur-Tec® bioplastics products, which sales fluctuate more on a quarterly basis than the traditional ZERUST® business.
Other Comprehensive Income – Foreign Currency Translations Adjustment. The changes in the foreign currency translations adjustment were due to the fluctuation of the U.S. dollar compared to the Euro and other foreign currencies during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2025 compared to the same respective periods in fiscal 2024.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Cash and Working Capital. NTIC’s working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was $21,661,715 as of May 31, 2025, including $6,773,401 in cash and cash equivalents, $7,369,949 outstanding under NTIC’s line of credit, and $2,778,125 outstanding under NTIC China’s term loans, compared to $23,682,276 as of August 31, 2024, including $4,952,184 in cash and cash equivalents, $4,291,608 outstanding under NTIC’s line of credit, and $2,820,835 outstanding under NTIC China’s term loans.
NTIC believes that a combination of its existing cash and cash equivalents, available for sale securities, forecasted cash flows from future operations, anticipated distributions of earnings, anticipated fees to NTIC for services provided to its joint ventures, and funds available through existing or anticipated financing arrangements will be adequate to fund its existing operations, investments in new or existing joint ventures or subsidiaries, capital expenditures, debt repayments, cash dividends, and any stock repurchases for at least the next 12 months. During the remainder of fiscal 2025, NTIC expects to continue to invest through its use of working capital in Zerust India, NTIC China, NTI Europe, its joint ventures, research and development, marketing efforts, resources for the application of its corrosion prevention technology in the oil and gas industry, and its Natur-Tec® bio-plastics business, although the amounts of these various investments are not known at this time.
NTIC also expects to use some of its capital resources to acquire the remaining ownership interests of joint ventures not owned by NTIC as they become available or appropriate and for the formation of one or more new subsidiaries to assume the operations of a joint venture. Some of these joint venture transitions may materially impact NTIC’s results of operations for a particular reporting period.
NTIC traditionally has used the cash generated from its operations, distributions of earnings from joint ventures and fees for services provided to its joint ventures to fund NTIC’s new technology investments and capital contributions to new and existing subsidiaries and joint ventures. NTIC’s joint ventures traditionally have operated with little or no debt and have been self-financed with minimal initial capital investment and minimal additional capital investment from their respective owners. Therefore, NTIC believes there is limited exposure by NTIC’s joint ventures that could materially impact their respective operations and/or liquidity.
In order to take advantage of new product and market opportunities to expand its business and increase its revenues and assist with joint venture transitions, NTIC may decide to finance such opportunities by additional borrowings under its revolving line of credit or raising additional financing through the issuance of debt or equity securities. There is no assurance that any financing transaction will be available on terms acceptable to NTIC or at all or that any financing transaction will not be dilutive to NTIC’s current stockholders.
Credit Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. On January 6, 2023, NTIC entered into a Credit Agreement (the Credit Agreement) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPM), which provided NTIC with a senior secured revolving line of credit (the Credit Facility) of up to $10.0 million, and replaced NTIC’s prior loan agreement. The Credit Facility included a $5.0 million sublimit for standby letters of credit.
On January 6, 2025, NTIC and JPM entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to extend the maturity date of the Credit Facility from January 6, 2025 to January 5, 2026, reduce the availability under the Credit Facility from $10.0 million to $8.0 million, and increase the applicable margin for Adjusted SOFR Rate (as defined below) advances from 2.15% to 2.35%. On July 8, 2025, NTIC and JPM entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to increase the availability under the Credit Facility from $8.0 million to $10.0 million. All other material terms of the Credit Facility and the Credit Agreement remain the same.
Borrowings of $7,369,949 were outstanding under the Credit Facility as of May 31, 2025. NTIC was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement as of May 31, 2025.
The principal amount under the Credit Facility, together with all accrued unpaid interest and other amounts owing thereunder, if any, will be payable in full on the January 5, 2026 maturity date, unless the Credit Facility is extended or renewed or terminated earlier. It is anticipated that the Credit Facility will be renewed each year for one additional year for the immediate foreseeable future.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a floating rate, at the option of NTIC, equal to either the CB Floating Rate or the Adjusted SOFR Rate. The term “CB Floating Rate” means the greater of the Prime Rate in the United States or 2.50%. The term “Adjusted SOFR Rate” means the term secured overnight financing rate for either one, three or six months (depending on the interest period selected by NTIC) plus 0.10% per annum. With respect to any borrowings using an Adjusted SOFR Rate, there is an applicable margin of 2.15% applied per annum. There is no applicable margin with respect to borrowings using a CB Floating Rate. The weighted average interest rate was 6.65% and 7.44% for the nine months ended May 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
To secure the Credit Agreement, NTIC assigned to JPM a continuing security interest in all of its right, title and interest in collateral made up of the assets of NTIC.
The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other matters, limitations on NTIC’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens, engage in certain business operations and transactions, make certain investments, modify its organizational documents or form any new subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. Further, the Credit Agreement contains a negative covenant that restricts the ability of NTIC to redeem or repurchase its common stock or pay dividends if the result of which would cause an event of default under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.00. The term “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio, computed for NTIC on a consolidated basis, of net income plus income tax expense, plus amortization expense, plus depreciation expense, plus interest expense, and plus dividends received from joint ventures, minus unfinanced capital expenditures and equity in income from joint ventures, all computed for the twelve month period then ending, to scheduled principal payments made, plus scheduled finance lease payments made, plus interest expense paid, plus income tax expense paid, and plus cash distributions and dividends paid, all computed for the same twelve month period then ending.
Other Credit Arrangements. On each of April 22, 2025 and May 29, 2025, NTIC’s wholly owned subsidiary in China, NTIC China, entered into a loan agreement with China Construction Bank Corporation. Each term loan provided NTIC China with a RMB 10,000,000 (USD $1.39 million). The term loans mature in April 2026 and May 2026, respectively, unless extended. The term loan that matures in April 2026 has an annual interest rate of 2.75% with interest due monthly, and the term loan that matures in May 2026 has an annual interest rate of 2.96% with interest due monthly. Both term loans are secured by an office building owned by NTIC China and the loan agreements contain certain financial and other covenants. NTIC was in compliance with the covenants as of May 31, 2025. The outstanding balance for both term loans was USD $2,778,125 as of May 31, 2025 and USD $2,820,835 as of August 31, 2024.
Uses of Cash and Cash Flow. Net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended May 31, 2025 was $3,808,450, which resulted principally from NTIC’s net income, trade receivables, dividends received from joint ventures, and stock-based compensation, and was partially offset by equity in income from joint ventures. Net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended May 31, 2024 was $7,583,905, which resulted principally from NTIC’s net income, dividends received from joint ventures, dividend receivables from joint ventures, depreciation and amortization expense, and stock-based compensation, and was partially offset by equity in income from joint ventures.
NTIC’s cash flows from operations are impacted by significant changes in certain components of NTIC’s working capital, including inventory turnover and changes in receivables and payables. NTIC considers internal and external factors when assessing the use of its available working capital, specifically when determining inventory levels and credit terms of customers. Key internal factors include existing inventory levels, stock reorder points, customer forecasts and customer requested payment terms. Key external factors include the availability of primary raw materials and sub-contractor production lead times. NTIC’s typical contractual terms for trade receivables, excluding joint ventures, are traditionally 30 days and 90 days for trade receivables from its joint ventures. Before extending unsecured credit to customers, excluding NTIC’s joint ventures, NTIC reviews customers’ credit histories and will establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers and other information. Accounts receivable over 30 days are considered past due for most customers. NTIC does not accrue interest on past due accounts receivable. If accounts receivables in excess of the provided allowance are determined uncollectible, they are charged to selling expense in the period that the determination is made. Accounts receivable are deemed uncollectible based on NTIC exhausting reasonable efforts to collect. NTIC’s typical contractual terms for receivables for services provided to its joint ventures are 90 days. NTIC records receivables for services provided to its joint ventures on an accrual basis, unless circumstances exist that make the collection of the balance uncertain, in which case the fee income will be recorded on a cash basis until there is consistency in payments. This determination is handled on a case-by-case basis.
NTIC experienced a decrease in trade receivables as of May 31, 2025, compared to August 31, 2024. Trade receivables, excluding joint ventures as of May 31, 2025 decreased $2,575,562, compared to August 31, 2024, primarily related to timing differences of sales.
Outstanding trade receivables decreased an average of 4 days to an average of 71 days from balances outstanding from these customers as of May 31, 2025 from an average of 75 days as of August 31, 2024.
Outstanding receivables for services provided to joint ventures as of May 31, 2025 decreased $121,670 compared to August 31, 2024, and the average days to pay increased an average of 3 days to an average of 79 days from an average of 76 days as of August 31, 2024.
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2025 was $3,378,123, which was primarily the result of the investments in intangible assets and purchases of property and equipment. Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2024 was $2,601,176, which was primarily the result of the purchases of property and equipment and investments in patents.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2025 was $1,459,221, which resulted from net payments under the line of credit and proceeds from NTIC’s employee stock purchase plan, and was partially offset by dividends paid to shareholders and dividends received by non-controlling interest. Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2024 was $4,587,474, which resulted from dividends paid to shareholders, the repayment of borrowings under the line of credit, and dividends received by non-controlling interest, and was partially offset by proceeds from NTIC’s employee stock purchase plan.
Share Repurchase Plan. On January 15, 2015, NTIC’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $3,000,000 in shares of NTIC common stock through open market purchases or unsolicited or solicited privately negotiated transactions. This program has no expiration date but may be terminated by NTIC’s Board of Directors at any time. As of May 31, 2025, up to $2,640,548 in shares of NTIC common stock remained available for repurchase under NTIC’s stock repurchase program. No repurchases occurred during the nine months ended May 31, 2025.
Cash Dividends. During the nine months ended May 31, 2025, NTIC’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends on the following dates in the following amounts to the following holders of NTIC’s common stock:
During the nine months ended May 31, 2024, NTIC’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends on the following dates in the following amounts to the following holders of NTIC’s common stock:
The declaration of future dividends is not guaranteed and will be determined by NTIC’s Board of Directors in light of conditions then existing, including NTIC’s earnings, financial condition, cash requirements, restrictions in financing agreements, business conditions, and other factors. On April 10, 2025, NTIC announced that it had determined to temporarily adjust its quarterly dividend to $0.01 per share effective with its fiscal 2025 third quarter dividend in light of the current global environment.
Capital Expenditures and Commitments. NTIC spent $3,398,123 on capital expenditures during the nine months ended May 31, 2025, which related primarily to facility improvements to the warehouse facility NTIC purchased during fiscal 2023 and the installation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system and associated equipment. NTIC expects to spend an aggregate of approximately $200,000 to $300,000 on capital expenditures during the remainder of fiscal 2025, which it expects will relate primarily to final implementation of the ERP software and the purchase of new equipment and facility improvements.
Inflation and Seasonality
Inflation in the United States and abroad historically has had minimal effect on NTIC and did not adversely affect NTIC’s gross margins during the first nine months of fiscal 2025.
NTIC believes there is some seasonality in its business. NTIC’s net sales in the second fiscal quarter are typically adversely affected by the long Chinese New Year, the North American holiday season and overall less corrosion taking place at lower winter temperatures worldwide.
Market Risk
NTIC is exposed to some market risk stemming from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates.
Because the functional currency of NTIC’s foreign operations and investments in its foreign joint ventures is the applicable local currency, NTIC is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the normal course of business. NTIC’s principal exchange rate exposure is with the Euro, the Japanese Yen, the Indian Rupee, the Chinese Renminbi, the South Korean Won, and the English Pound against the U.S. Dollar. NTIC’s fees for services provided to joint ventures and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in foreign currencies and, thus, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could result in declines in NTIC’s reported net income. Since NTIC’s investments in its joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would not change NTIC’s equity in income from joint ventures reflected in its consolidated statements of operations. NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Some raw materials used in NTIC’s products are exposed to commodity price changes. The primary commodity price exposures are with a variety of plastic and bioplastic resins.
Any outstanding advances under NTIC’s Credit Facility with JPM bear interest at a floating rate, at the option of NTIC, equal to either the CB Floating Rate or the Adjusted SOFR Rate, as defined above. Borrowings of $7,369,949 were outstanding under the Credit Facility as of May 31, 2025.
The two term loans undertaken by NTIC China with China Construction Bank Corporation have annual interest rates of 2.75% and 2.96%, respectively, with interest due monthly. The outstanding balance as of May 31, 2025 for both term loans is a total of USD $2,778,125.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There have been no material changes to NTIC’s critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in “Part II. Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in NTIC’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024.
NTIC adopted ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, during the quarterly period ended May 31, 2025. This adoption resulted in enhanced segment disclosures, but did not impact NTIC’s accounting estimates or the identification of critical accounting policies.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 3 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains not only historical information, but also forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. In addition, NTIC or others on NTIC’s behalf may make forward-looking statements from time to time in oral presentations, including telephone conferences and/or web casts open to the public, in press releases or reports, on NTIC’s Internet web site, or otherwise. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report or expressed by NTIC orally from time to time that address activities, events, or developments that NTIC expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including, in particular, the statements about NTIC’s plans, objectives, strategies, and prospects regarding, among other things, NTIC’s financial condition, results of operations and business, and the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings. NTIC has identified some of these forward-looking statements in this report with words like “believe,” “can,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “forecast,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximate,” “outlook,” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other words and terms of similar meaning. The use of future dates is also an indication of a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements may be contained in the notes to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements and elsewhere in this report, including under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting NTIC and are subject to uncertainties and factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to NTIC. These uncertainties and factors are difficult to predict, and many of them are beyond NTIC’s control. The following are some of the uncertainties and factors known to us that could cause NTIC’s actual results to differ materially from what NTIC has anticipated in its forward-looking statements:
The effect of changes to trade regulation, quotas, duties, or tariffs, caused by the changing U.S. and geopolitical environments or otherwise;
The effect of current worldwide economic conditions, including in particular in the United States, Europe, India and China, and in the automotive industry, and the effect of inflation, recessionary indicators and any turmoil and disruption in the global credit, financial and banking markets or the perception of adverse conditions on NTIC’s business and the business of NTIC’s customers, suppliers, vendors and other third parties with whom NTIC conducts business;
The effect of slowdowns within the automotive industry on NTIC’s business and the evolution of the automotive industry towards electric vehicles;
The effect of worldwide disruption in supply chains on NTIC’s business, operating results and financial condition;
The effect of disruptions to distribution channels for NTIC’s products and disruptions to our customers, suppliers and subcontractors, as well as the global economy and financial markets;
The effects of ongoing wars and sanctions against Russia by U.S. and European governments on energy prices, which have adversely affected our joint venture sales, and on commodity price fluctuations, which have decreased our margins and the margins of our joint ventures and resulted in decreased joint venture profitability, which will likely continue through the end of fiscal 2025;
NTIC’s operations in China and the risks associated therewith, including trade or other issues that may result from increasing tensions between the U.S. and China, including the implementation of higher tariffs;
Variability in NTIC’s sales of ZERUST® products and services to the oil and gas industry and Natur-Tec® products and NTIC’s equity income of joint ventures, which variability in sales and equity in income from joint ventures, in turn, subject NTIC’s earnings to quarterly fluctuations;
Risks associated with NTIC’s international operations and exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, import duties, taxes, and tariffs;
NTIC’s dependence on the success of its joint ventures and fees and dividend distributions that NTIC receives from them;
NTIC’s relationships with its joint ventures and its ability to maintain those relationships, especially in light of anticipated succession planning issues, and risks associated with possible future acquisitions of the remaining ownership interests of certain joint ventures;
Fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials, including resins and other commodities, due to supply chain disruptions and the impact of government sanctions;
The success of and risks associated with NTIC’s emerging new businesses and products and services, including in particular NTIC’s ability and the ability of NTIC’s joint ventures to sell ZERUST® products and services to the oil and gas industry and Natur-Tec® products and the often lengthy and extensive sales process involved in selling such products and services;
NTIC’s ability to introduce new products and services that respond to changing market conditions and customer demand;
Market acceptance of NTIC’s existing and new products, especially in light of existing and new competitive products;
Maturation of certain existing markets for NTIC’s ZERUST® products and services and NTIC’s ability to grow market share and succeed in penetrating other existing and new markets;
Increased competition, especially with respect to NTIC’s ZERUST® products and services, and the effect of such competition on NTIC’s and its joint ventures’ pricing, net sales, and margins;
The enforcement or lack thereof of rules and regulations favorable to the market for biodegradable plastics;
NTIC’s reliance upon and its relationships with its distributors, independent sales representatives, and joint ventures;
NTIC’s reliance upon suppliers;
Oil prices, which may affect sales of NTIC’s ZERUST® products and services to the oil and gas industry, and which may be impacted by ongoing wars, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, or conflicts in the Middle East;
The costs and effects of complying with laws and regulations and changes in tax, fiscal, government, and other regulatory policies, including rules relating to environmental, health, and safety matters;
Unforeseen product quality or other problems in the development, production, and usage of new and existing products;
Unforeseen production expenses incurred in connection with new customers and new products;
Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which may disrupt our industry at an accelerated pace and adversely affect our competitive position, customer expectations, and operational performance if we fail to adapt or implement AI innovations effectively or if competitors leverage AI more effectively or quickly;
Loss of or changes in executive management or key employees and the need to hire and train local support in a timely manner in order to support customer needs;
Ability of management to manage around unplanned events;
Pending and future litigation;
NTIC’s reliance on its intellectual property rights and the absence of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others;
Changes in applicable laws or regulations and NTIC’s failure to comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations;
Changes in generally accepted accounting principles and the effect of new accounting pronouncements;
Fluctuations in NTIC’s effective tax rate;
The effect of extreme weather conditions on NTIC’s operating results; and
NTIC’s reliance upon its management information systems and risks associated with its recent implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning system.
For more information regarding these and other uncertainties and factors that could cause NTIC’s actual results to differ materially from what NTIC has anticipated in its forward-looking statements or otherwise could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition or operating results, see NTIC’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024 under the heading “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
All forward-looking statements included in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. NTIC wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results due to the uncertainties and factors described above and others that NTIC may consider immaterial or does not anticipate at this time. Although NTIC believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, NTIC does not know whether its expectations will prove correct. NTIC’s expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions NTIC might make or by known or unknown uncertainties and factors, including those described above. The risks and uncertainties described above are not exclusive, and further information concerning NTIC and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect its financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time. NTIC assumes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. NTIC advises you, however, to consult any further disclosures NTIC makes on related subjects in its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K that NTIC files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
NTIC is exposed to some market risk stemming from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, tariffs, commodity prices and interest rates.
Because the functional currency of NTIC’s foreign operations and investments in its foreign joint ventures is the applicable local currency, NTIC is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the normal course of business. NTIC’s principal exchange rate exposure is with the Euro, the Japanese Yen, the Indian Rupee, the Chinese Renminbi, the South Korean Won, and the English Pound against the U.S. Dollar. NTIC’s fees for services provided to joint ventures and dividend distributions from these foreign entities are paid in foreign currencies, and, thus, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could result in declines in NTIC’s reported net income. Since NTIC’s investments in its joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment and would not change NTIC’s equity in income from joint ventures reflected in its consolidated statements of operations. NTIC does not hedge against its foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Some raw materials used in NTIC’s products are exposed to commodity price changes. The primary commodity price exposures are with a variety of plastic resins.
With respect to interest rate risk, any outstanding advances under NTIC’s Credit Facility with JPM bear interest at a floating rate, at the option of NTIC, equal to either the CB Floating Rate or the Adjusted SOFR Rate, as defined above. Borrowings of $7,369,949 were outstanding under the Credit Facility as of May 31, 2025. The two term loans undertaken by NTIC China with China Construction Bank Corporation have annual interest rates of 2.75 and 2.96%, respectively, with interest due monthly. The outstanding balance as of May 31, 2025 for both term loans is a total of USD $2,778,125.
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
NTIC maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by NTIC in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to NTIC’s management, including NTIC’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. NTIC’s management evaluated, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered in this report. Based on that evaluation, NTIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that NTIC’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that NTIC files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to NTIC’s management, including NTIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended May 31, 2025 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect NTIC’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 13 to NTIC’s consolidated financial statements in Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements of this report.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Although Item 1A. is inapplicable to NTIC as a smaller reporting company, NTIC hereby discloses the following updated risk factors:
Changes to trade regulation, quotas, duties, or tariffs, caused by the changing U.S. and geopolitical environments or otherwise, have negatively impacted in the past and in the future may negatively impact NTIC’s business, operating results, and financial condition.
There is significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to trade policies, taxes, government regulations, and tariffs. Within recent years, for example, trade policy changes included the imposition of additional tariffs on imported products in an effort to address trade imbalances, specifically with China, the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and sanctions on Russia. On April 2, 2025, the Trump administration implemented additional tariffs on 180 countries and territories, which range from 10% to 125%. Although these tariffs were subsequently paused in part for 90 days, and although some rates have been negotiated, it is uncertain whether and to what extent they will ultimately become effective. In response to some of these actions, certain countries imposed retaliatory actions against the United States, including reciprocal tariffs. An oversupply of inexpensive goods from China has raised concerns of dumping, which may cause the further imposition of tariffs or other trade regulations by the U.S. NTIC and its subsidiaries and joint ventures engage in sales outside of the United States and is, therefore, negatively impacted by such actions. Tariffs may cause NTIC to increase prices, face decreased profit margins, and/or pause deliveries from countries subject to high tariffs. NTIC may also need to seek alternative sourcing or local or in-house production, which may require significant ramp-up time and expense or which may not be available on feasible terms at all. Any changes or potential changes in trade policies in the United States and the potential corresponding actions by other countries in which NTIC does business could adversely and materially affect NTIC’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.
NTIC’s business, properties, and products are subject to governmental regulation and taxes, compliance with which may require NTIC to incur expenses or modify its products or operations, and which may expose NTIC to penalties for non-compliance. Governmental regulation also may adversely affect the demand for some of NTIC’s products and its operating results.
NTIC’s business, properties, and products are subject to a wide variety of international, federal, state, and local laws, rules, taxes, and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, natural resources, and worker health and safety and the use, management, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes, and other regulated materials. These laws, rules, and regulations may affect the way NTIC conducts its operations, and the failure to comply with these regulations could lead to fines and other penalties. In the future, new environmental laws, rules, and regulations with provisions similar to those of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes measures to reduce emissions, may be enacted, which may adversely affect NTIC’s business. Further, because NTIC owns and operates real property, various environmental laws also may impose liability on NTIC for the costs of cleaning up and responding to hazardous substances that may have been released on NTIC’s property, including releases unknown to NTIC. These environmental laws and regulations also could require NTIC to pay for environmental remediation and response costs at third-party locations where NTIC disposed of or recycled hazardous substances. NTIC’s future costs of complying with the various environmental requirements, as they now exist or may be altered in the future, could adversely affect NTIC’s financial condition and operating results. NTIC is also subject to other international, federal, and state laws, rules, and regulations, the future non-compliance with which may harm NTIC’s business or may adversely affect the demand for some of its products. Changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting standards and taxation changes, including tax rate changes, new tax laws, including the changes to U.S. federal tax laws included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, such as a 1% excise tax on stock repurchases, and revised tax law interpretations, also may adversely affect NTIC’s operating results. These laws, rules and regulations may be subject to change by the incoming Trump administration, which has announced intentions to alter environmental and other regulations, although it is not possible at this time to determine whether such actions will be taken and the impacts they may have on NTIC.
Governmental regulation also may adversely affect the demand for some of NTIC’s products and its operating results. For example, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) added several new rules with specified deadlines in calendar year 2024. As a result, pipeline owners and operators and several service contractors in the pipeline inspection sector were required to complete preliminary reporting requirements to meet these deadlines. These reporting requirements significantly delayed pipeline casing protection work in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2024 pending completion of the compliance work, adversely impacting demand for certain products and NTIC’s operating results. PHMSA approvals have been further delayed due to the current political climate in the United States and competing priorities. The implementation of high tariffs and actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency have also contributed to uncertainty and are expected to cause further PHMSA approval slowdowns until these factors stabilize, although it is not possible to predict when this might be. Additionally, other regulations may be enacted, causing similar adverse impacts.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
During the three months ended May 31, 2025, NTIC did not issue any shares of its common stock or other equity securities of NTIC that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table shows NTIC’s third quarter of fiscal 2025 stock repurchase activity.
Period
Total Number of Shares
(or Units) Purchased
Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased As Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Number of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
March 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025
April 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025
May 1, 2025 through May 31, 2025
_______________________
(1)
On January 15, 2015, NTIC’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $3,000,000 in shares of NTIC common stock through open market purchases or unsolicited or solicited privately negotiated transactions. This program has no expiration date but may be terminated by NTIC’s Board of Directors at any time.
(2)
As of May 31, 2025, up to $2,640,548 in shares of NTIC common stock remained available for repurchase under NTIC’s stock repurchase program.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
Credit Agreement
On July 8, 2025, Northern Technologies International Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to increase the availability under the Credit Facility from $8.0 million to $10.0 million. The other material terms of the Credit Facility and the Credit Agreement were not affected by this amendment.
The foregoing represents only a summary of the material terms of the amendment to the Credit Agreement, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the amendment to the Credit Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and is incorporated by reference herein.
Rule 10b5-1 Plan and Non-Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement Adoptions, Terminations, and Modifications
During the three months ended May 31, 2025, none of NTIC’s directors or “officers” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of SEC Regulation S-K.
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are being filed or furnished with this quarterly report on Form 10-Q:
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2025, between JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Northern Technologies International Corporation (filed herewith)
31.1
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
32.1
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
101
The following materials from NTIC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2025, formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Equity, (v) the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (filed herewith)
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.