EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1001385
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 1001385_10-K_2023_0001437749-23-006891.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
Business
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” are used in this 2022 Form 10-K to refer to Northwest Pipe Company or one of our consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole. We were incorporated in the State of Oregon in 1966.
Overview
Northwest Pipe Company is a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products. In addition to being the largest manufacturer of engineered steel water pipeline systems in North America, we manufacture stormwater and wastewater technology products; high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products; pump lift stations; steel casing pipe, bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe, and one of the largest offerings of pipeline system joints, fittings, and specialized components. Strategically positioned to meet growing water and wastewater infrastructure needs, we provide solution-based products for a wide range of markets under the ParkUSA, Geneva Pipe and Precast, Permalok®, and Northwest Pipe Company lines. Our diverse team is committed to quality and innovation while demonstrating our core values of accountability, commitment, and teamwork. We are headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and have 13 manufacturing facilities across North America.
Our water infrastructure products are sold generally to installation contractors, who include our products in their bids to federal, state, and municipal agencies, privately-owned water companies, or developers for specific projects. We believe our sales are substantially driven by spending on urban growth and new water infrastructure with a recent trend towards spending on water infrastructure replacement, repair, and upgrade. Within the total range of products, our steel pipe tends to fit the larger-diameter, higher-pressure pipeline applications, while our precast concrete products mainly serve stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.
With steady population growth and regional community expansion, as well as continued drought conditions, existing water sources have become stressed, and we see continued opportunities for growth in North American infrastructure.
Recent Strategic Actions
On October 5, 2021, we completed the acquisition of 100% of Park Environmental Equipment, LLC (ParkUSA) for a purchase price of $90.2 million in cash, which is included in the Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (“Precast”) segment for all periods following the acquisition date. ParkUSA is a precast concrete and steel fabrication-based company that develops and manufactures water, wastewater, and environmental solutions. Operations continue with ParkUSA’s previous management and workforce at its three Texas manufacturing facilities located in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. This strategic acquisition provides a foothold into the water infrastructure technology market. As we employ similar operating capabilities at our existing facilities, we intend to explore strategic opportunities to expand ParkUSA’s value-added products within the organization.
On January 31, 2020, we completed the acquisition of 100% of Geneva Pipe and Precast Company (“Geneva”) (fka Geneva Pipe Company, Inc.) for a purchase price of $49.4 million in cash, which is included in the Precast segment for all periods following the acquisition date. Geneva is a concrete pipe and precast concrete products manufacturer based in Utah. This acquisition expanded our water infrastructure product capabilities by adding additional reinforced concrete pipe capacity and a full line of precast concrete products including storm drains and manholes, catch basins, vaults, and curb inlets as well as innovative lined products that extend the life of concrete pipe and manholes for sewer applications. Operations continue with Geneva’s previous management and workforce at its three Utah manufacturing facilities.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Business
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resurgence of new COVID-19 virus variants, on global and domestic economic conditions, including the impacts of labor and raw material shortages, the long-term potential to reduce or delay funding of municipal projects, and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain uncertain. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused various direct and indirect financial impacts associated with project bidding, execution, and product deliveries over the past couple of years, we remain unable to predict the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business, future results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. We continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business.
Our Segments
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (“SPP”). SPP manufactures large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, which are primarily related to drinking water systems. These products are also used for hydroelectric power systems, wastewater systems, seismic resiliency, and other applications. In addition, SPP makes products for industrial plant piping systems and certain structural applications. SPP has manufacturing facilities located in Portland, Oregon; Adelanto and Tracy, California; Parkersburg, West Virginia; Saginaw, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; and San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (Precast). Precast manufactures stormwater and wastewater technology products, high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products, including manholes, box culverts, vaults, and catch basins, pump lift stations, oil water separators, biofiltration, and other environmental and engineered solutions. Precast has manufacturing facilities located in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas; and Orem, Salt Lake City, and St. George, Utah.
Our Industries
Much of the United States water infrastructure is antiquated and many authorities, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), believe the United States water infrastructure is in critical need of update, repair, or replacement. A combination of new population centers, rising demand on developed water sources, substantial underinvestment in water infrastructure over the past several decades, drought conditions, climate change, and increasingly stringent regulatory policies are driving demand for water infrastructure projects in the United States. These trends are intensifying the need for new water infrastructure as well as the need to upgrade, repair, and replace existing water infrastructure. While we believe this offers the potential for increased demand for our water infrastructure products and other products related to water transmission, budgetary pressures could impact governmental and public water agency projects in the near-term.
Federal initiatives to improve the conditions of the aging water infrastructure include the Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center at the EPA and the Water and Environmental Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), signed into law in November 2021, will invest $55 billion to expand access to clean drinking water for households, businesses, schools, and child care centers all across the country. According to its 2021 Annual Report, the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, a federal credit program for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects, closed 31 loans totaling over $5 billion in 2021.
In addition to the Federal initiatives, individual states are also taking action. In November 2013, the State of Texas earmarked $27 billion of future bond funding for state water projects over the next 50 years through their State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT). This program provides low-interest and deferred loans to state agencies making approved investments in water infrastructure projects. In November 2014, the State of California approved the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act which authorizes $7.5 billion in general obligation bonds to fund state water supply infrastructure projects, such as public water system improvements, surface and groundwater storage, drinking water protection, water recycling and advanced water treatment technology, water supply management and conveyance, wastewater treatment, drought relief, emergency water supplies, and ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration. Our strategically located manufacturing facilities are well-positioned to take advantage of the anticipated growth in demand.
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. In its Sixth Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment released in March 2018, the EPA estimated the nation will need to spend $473 billion on public water system infrastructure capital improvements from 2015 to 2034 to continue to provide safe drinking water to the public. The American Society of Civil Engineers (“ASCE”) has given poor ratings to many aspects of the United States water infrastructure in their 2021 Infrastructure Report Card for Drinking Water. The Failure to Act: Economic Impacts of Status Quo Investment Across Infrastructure Systems report published by ASCE and EBP in 2021, estimates there will be $2.6 trillion in cumulative infrastructure needs for water and wastewater infrastructure by 2029, and $5.8 trillion in cumulative infrastructure needs by 2039. The American Water Works Association concluded in their 2012 report, Buried No Longer: Confronting America’s Water Infrastructure Challenge, that from 2011 to 2035 more than $1 trillion will be needed to repair and expand drinking water infrastructure.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of the United States will increase by approximately 52 million people between 2023 and 2050. The resulting increase in demand will require substantial new infrastructure, as the existing United States water infrastructure is not equipped to provide water to millions of new residents. The development of new sources of water at greater distances from population centers will drive the demand for new water transmission lines. Climate change may be a cause for the drought conditions in some regions of the country and are increasing the demand for new infrastructure. The Construction Outlook 2023 from Dodge Construction Network forecasts public works construction in 2023 will grow 18%, supported by several recent federal legislative initiatives that have provided ample funding for infrastructure projects over the coming year.
As water systems degrade over time and cause failures, many current water supply sources are in danger of being exhausted. Much of the drinking water infrastructure in major cities was built in the mid-20th century with a lifespan of 75 to 100 years. In its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card for Drinking Water, the ASCE estimates there are 250,000 to 300,000 water main breaks per year in the United States, wasting over 2.1 trillion gallons of treated drinking water. The ASCE also reports that with utilities averaging a pipe replacement rate of 1.0% to 4.8% per year, the replacement rate now matches the lifecycle of the pipes. These aging water and wastewater systems will drive demand for future investment.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (“DWSRF”), a federal-state partnership and financial assistance program to help water systems and states achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act, provided $3.8 billion in assistance in 2021 and $48.5 billion in assistance since 1997, according to the 2021 DWSRF Annual Report.
Finally, the increased public awareness of problems with the quality of drinking water and efficient water usage has resulted in more stringent application of federal and state environmental regulations. The need to comply with these regulations in an environment of heightened public awareness is expected to contribute to demand in the water infrastructure industry.
Our large-diameter, engineered welded steel pipeline systems are utilized in water, energy, structural, and plant piping applications. Our core market is the large-diameter, high-pressure portion of a water transmission pipeline that is typically at the “upper end” of a pipeline system. This is the portion of the overall water pipeline that generally transports water from the source to a treatment plant or from a treatment plant into the distribution system, rather than the small lines that deliver water directly into households. We believe the total addressable market for the engineered welded steel pipeline system products sold will be approximately $2.0 billion over the next three years.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems. In its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card for Wastewater, the ASCE estimates the drinking water and wastewater pipes in the ground, with a typical lifespan expected of 50 to 100 years, are on average 45 years old. In 2020, Bluefield Research estimated that utilities throughout the country will spend more than $3 billion on wastewater pipe repairs and replacements, addressing 4,692 miles of wastewater pipeline, and this cost is projected to grow by an average of 5% annually.
In its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card for Stormwater, the ASCE states that given the recent increase in rainfall trends and urbanization in certain geographic regions, the actual capacity of a stormwater system is often less than the design standard. In addition, from 2010 to 2018 the length of impaired rivers and streams increased 39%, a key indicator of declining stormwater infrastructure condition.
Our high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products and bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe are typically used in non-pressure, gravity fed sewer and stormwater applications. Demand for these products is generally influenced by general economic conditions such as housing starts, population growth, and interest rates. New residential and commercial construction and state Department of Transportation funding impact our market. The November 2022 Bluefield Research Insight Report - U.S. & Canada Municipal Water Outlook: Utility CAPEX & OPEX Forecasts, 2022-2030 (“Bluefield Report”) states that since the peak of new U.S. home construction in March 2022, interest rate hikes have dissuaded potential new homebuyers from entering the market. According to the United States Census Bureau, the privately-owned housing starts in December 2022 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.4 million, compared to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.8 million in December 2021. However, our Precast manufacturing facilities are located in Texas, one of three states with the largest infrastructure asset base, and Utah; both of these states are in the top five of the fastest growing markets (based on compound annual growth rate forecasted through 2030), according to the Bluefield Report.
Backlog
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. We measure backlog as a key metric to evaluate the commercial health of our water infrastructure steel pipe business. Backlog represents the balance of remaining performance obligations under signed contracts for SPP products for which revenue is recognized over time. Binding agreements received by us may be subject to cancelation or postponement; however, cancelation would obligate the customer to pay the contract consideration proportional to the costs we have incurred through the cancelation date. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, backlog was $274 million and $183 million, respectively. Backlog as of any particular date may not be indicative of actual operating results for any fiscal period. There can be no assurance that any amount of backlog ultimately will be realized. Separate from our backlog, we have been notified that we are the successful bidder on additional projects, but binding agreements have not been executed (“confirmed orders”). As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, backlog including confirmed orders was $372 million and $290 million, respectively. Projects for which a binding agreement has not been executed could be canceled.
Products
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. Water infrastructure steel pipe is used for high-pressure applications, typically requiring pipe to withstand pressures in excess of 150 pounds per square inch. Most of our water transmission products, mainly welded steel pipe and bar-wrapped cylinder pipe, are made to project specifications for fully engineered, large-diameter, high-pressure water infrastructure systems. Other uses include power generation circulating water systems, penstocks, pipe piling, and water and wastewater treatment plants. Spiral welded pipe is manufactured in diameters ranging from 24 inches to 156 inches with wall thickness of 0.135 inches to 1.00 inch. Our rolled and welded capabilities allow for manufacturing diameters greater than 156 inches or wall thicknesses exceeding 1.00 inch. Lining and coating capabilities include cement mortar, polyurethane, epoxy, polyethylene tape, and coal-tar enamel according to our customers’ project specifications. Fabrication of fittings are performed at our own facilities providing installation contractors and project owners with a complete engineered system. Product is delivered to the jobsite using commercial trucks or marine transport as needed.
We manufacture Permalok® steel casing pipe, which is a proprietary pipe joining system that employs a press-fit interlocking connection system. The Permalok® product is generally installed in trenchless construction projects.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems. We manufacture a variety of high-quality precast concrete products for water and adjacent infrastructure applications. Our precast products include reinforced concrete pipe (“RCP”), manholes, box culverts, vaults, catch basins, oil water separators, pump lift stations, lined RCP and manholes, and other precast infrastructure products.
The Geneva facilities manufacture RCP in sizes ranging from twelve inches to 96 inches in diameter and in a variety of strength classes at ASTM International and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (“AASHTO”) specifications which are primarily used for water transmission, sanitary sewer systems, storm drainage, and utilities fabrication. Geneva’s manholes, box culverts, vaults, and other structural products come in a variety of dimensions. Geneva’s lined products include high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) or fiber reinforced plastic internal liners within manholes and RCP with additional corrosion protection in sanitary sewer and wastewater environments.
Under the ParkUSA brand, we manufacture pre-assembled stormwater, wastewater, and water management systems housed predominantly in precast concrete or steel housings, including water meter assemblies, break tank systems, pump lift stations, and backflow prevention systems. ParkUSA also manufactures a variety of stormwater products including catch basins, canal valves, and interceptors capable of removing sediments, trash, and oil from stormwater runoff. ParkUSA’s wastewater products protect the environment and limit pollutants from entering sewer systems including interceptors designed to neutralize and macerate foreign materials such as fats, oils, and greases in wastewater for hospitals, service stations, restaurants, and other commercial applications. ParkUSA units are pre-assembled in a quality-controlled environment and are delivered ready to install to the job site, providing significant savings from onsite assembly.
Manufacturing and Product Development
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. Water infrastructure steel pipe manufacturing begins with the preparation of engineered drawings of each unique piece of pipe in a project. These drawings are prepared on our proprietary computer-aided design system and are used as blueprints to manufacture pipe. After the drawings are completed and approved, the manufacturing of engineered steel water pipe begins by feeding a steel coil continuously at a specified angle into a spiral weld mill which cold-forms the band into a tubular configuration with a spiral seam. Automated arc welders, positioned on both the inside and the outside of the tube, are used to weld the seam. The welded pipe is then cut at the specified length. After completion of the forming and welding phases, the finished cylinder is tested and inspected in accordance with project specifications, which may include 100% radiographic analysis of the weld seam. The cylinders are then coated and lined as specified. Possible coatings include polyurethane paint, polyethylene tape, epoxy, cement mortar, coal-tar enamel, and Pritec®. The inside of the pipe cylinders can be lined with cement mortar, polyurethane, or epoxy. Following coating and lining, certain pieces may be custom fabricated as required for the project. This process is performed at our on-site fabrication facilities. Completed pipes are evaluated for structural integrity with a hydrotester prior to shipment.
In April 2022, we introduced the Permalok® Auger Bore Joint, which utilizes a precision-machined interference fit that eliminates the need for time-sensitive field applied butt-welds on trenchless and open-cut applications. This patented pre-installed joint connection is flush with the interior and exterior surfaces of the pipe, allowing for quick, easy, and permanent joining in the field. Its unique stepped profile simplifies installation for our customers.
In November 2022, we announced the development of the Permalok® Radial Bending Joint. This patent-pending technology is a groundbreaking advancement in trenchless microtunneling construction allowing steel pipe to be installed in a curved radius. As with other Permalok joints, the press-fit machined joint reduces field time by eliminating butt-weld joints and results in a shortened install duration and reduced field costs.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems. Precast concrete products are manufactured using either a dry cast or wet cast concrete mix, depending on the size of the piece and the number of identical pieces to be manufactured. In the dry cast method, a concrete mix with low water content, known as zero-slump concrete, is poured into a mold and then densely compacted around the steel reinforcement using a variety of manufacturing methods. The concrete structure is immediately removed from the mold and allowed to cure in a high humidity environment to ensure proper hydration of the concrete. This method allows multiple pieces to be produced from the same mold each day and is most suitable for high volume, repetitive manufacturing. We also manufacture reinforced concrete pipe by producing a steel mesh cage, enclosing it in a form or mold, and then pouring concrete around it to produce the pipe. In the wet cast method, a concrete mix with relatively high water content is poured into a mold and allowed to cure in the mold, which can take from four to 16 hours.
We work hand-in-hand with our customers to develop custom water infrastructure products that help protect the environment. Many of our precast wastewater, stormwater, water management, and process systems include integrated Original Equipment Manufacturer components that we build out at our facilities into the finished solution. We build and test each unit to industry standards in our quality-controlled certified facilities. The units arrive at the jobsite ready to install, which reduces jobsite construction time and the need for specialized trades on site.
Technology. Advances in technology help us produce high-quality products at competitive prices. We have invested in modern welding and inspection equipment to improve both productivity and product quality. We own interlocking pipe joining system technologies (Permalok®) that provide an alternate joint solution used for connecting steel pipes. In addition, we are licensed to manufacture a conventional reinforced concrete pipe with a HDPE liner to protect concrete pipe from corrosion, and a lined manhole system, which integrates a precast concrete monolithic base with a plastic liner that is chemically resistant to raw sewage gases. ParkUSA also holds several patents for commercially viable products.
To stay current with technological developments in the United States and abroad, we participate in trade shows, industry associations, research projects, and vendor trials of new products. Our staff includes some of the most tenured and experienced pipe manufacturing professionals in the nation.
Intellectual Property. We own various patents, registered trademarks and trade names and applications for, or licenses in respect of the same, that relate to our various products, including a number of innovative technologies relating to water infrastructure as well as precast infrastructure and engineered systems produced by ParkUSA. We also license intellectual property for use in certain of our products from unaffiliated third parties. We believe that our patents, trademarks, and trade names are adequately protected and that any expiration or other loss of one or more of our patents or other intellectual property rights would not have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Quality Assurance. We have quality management systems in place that assure we are consistently providing products that meet or exceed customer and applicable regulatory requirements. All of our steel pipe manufacturing facilities’ quality management systems in the United States and Mexico are registered under a multi-site registration by the International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”). In addition to the ISO qualification, we are certified for specific steel pipe products or operations by the American Petroleum Institute. All of our steel pipe water transmission manufacturing facilities are certified by NSF for cement lining. We are certified for specific precast and reinforced concrete products or operations by the National Precast Concrete Association and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. We also follow and make products to the following standards and specifications: American Institute of Steel Construction, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Welding Society, Caltrans, American Water Works Association, ASTM International, AASHTO, and the ASCE. All of our steel pipe nondestructive evaluation technicians are qualified and certified to the guidelines of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc.
Our quality assurance/quality control department is responsible for monitoring and measuring the characteristics of our products. Inspection capabilities include, but are not limited to, visual, dimensional, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, hydrostatic, ultrasonic, conventional, computed and real-time x-ray/radioscopic, base material tensile, yield and elongation, sand sieve analysis, coal-tar penetration, concrete compression, lining and coating dry film thickness, adhesion, concrete absorption, guided bend, charpy impact, hardness, metallurgical examinations, chemical analysis, spectrographic analysis, and finished product final inspection. Our products are not released for customer shipment until there is verification that all requirements have been met.
Marketing
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. Our seven steel pipe manufacturing facilities in Oregon, California, West Virginia, Texas, Missouri, and Mexico allow us to efficiently serve customers throughout North America. The primary customers for our water infrastructure steel pipe products are installation contractors for projects funded by public water agencies. Our marketing strategy emphasizes early identification of potential water projects, promotion of specifications consistent with our capabilities and products, and close contact with the project designers and owners throughout the design phase. Our in-house sales force is comprised of sales representatives, engineers, and support personnel who work closely with public water agencies, contractors, and engineering firms, often years in advance of a project bid date. These relationships allow us to identify and evaluate planned projects at early stages, and pursue these projects by offering technical support and resources. After an agency completes a design, they publicize the upcoming bid for a water transmission project. We then obtain detailed plans and develop our estimate for the pipe portion of the project. We typically bid to installation contractors who include our bid in their proposals to public water agencies. A public water agency generally awards the entire project to the contractor with the lowest responsive bid.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems. Our six precast and water systems manufacturing facilities in Texas and Utah allow us to efficiently serve customers throughout Texas, the Intermountain West region, and surrounding states. The primary customers for our precast infrastructure and reinforced concrete products are installation contractors for various commercial, government, residential, and industrial projects. Our marketing strategy emphasizes our product quality and variety of offerings, competitive pricing, customer service, delivery, and technical expertise. We market many of our engineered systems with preinstalled components as having the advantage of reduced field install time, the elimination of multiple vendors, and higher quality control. Our sales force is comprised of in-house and third-party sales representatives, engineers, and support personnel who work closely with the customers to find the right product or solution for their specific need.
Competition
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. Most water infrastructure steel pipe projects are competitively bid and price competition is vigorous. Price competition may reduce the gross margin on sales, which may adversely affect overall profitability. Other competitive factors include timely delivery, customized specifications, and high freight costs which may limit the ability of manufacturers located in other market areas to compete with us. With water infrastructure steel pipe manufacturing facilities in Oregon, California, West Virginia, Texas, Missouri, and Mexico, we believe we can more effectively compete throughout North America. Our primary competitors in the western United States and southwestern Canada are Imperial Pipe and West Coast Pipe. East of the Rocky Mountains, our primary competitors are Thompson Pipe Group, American SpiralWeld Pipe, and Mid America Pipe Fabricating & Supply, LLC.
Our competitors could build new facilities or expand capacity within our market areas. In 2019, a competitor broke ground on a new spiral welded steel pipe facility in Texas that became operational in the first half of 2021. New or expanded facilities or new competitors could have a material adverse effect on our market share, product pricing, sales, gross margins, and overall profitability in our business.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems. Our six precast and reinforced concrete product manufacturing facilities in Texas and Utah have several local competitors which are primarily other precast concrete manufacturers in the respective states where we operate. Our primary competitors are Oldcastle Infrastructure in Texas and Utah and The QUIKRETE Companies in Texas.
Raw Materials and Supplies
We have at least two suppliers for most of our raw materials. We believe our relationships with our suppliers are positive and do not expect that we will experience shortages of raw materials or components essential to our production processes or that we will be forced to seek alternative sources of supply. Any shortages of raw materials may result in production delays and costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe. The main raw component in our steel pipe manufacturing process is steel. We have historically purchased hot rolled steel coil and steel plate from both domestic and foreign steel mills. Our suppliers include Big River Steel, Steel Dynamics, Inc., United States Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal, SSAB, POSCO INTERNATIONAL, EVRAZ North America, California Steel Industries, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., and Nucor Corporation. Steel is normally purchased after the steel pressure pipe orders are confirmed with an executed contract. Purchased steel represents a substantial portion of our cost of sales. The steel industry is highly cyclical in nature and steel prices fluctuate significantly, influenced by numerous factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions, availability of raw materials, energy costs, import duties, other trade restrictions, and currency exchange rates.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems. The main raw components in our precast and reinforced concrete products are cement, steel, and aggregate, which are widely available commodities. When possible, we source these raw materials from suppliers near our facilities. During 2022, we experienced supply chain challenges for cement resulting from historically high demand as well as equipment outages, which led to suppliers allocating cement to customers in both Texas and Utah. We also rely on certain suppliers of valves, pumps, piping, and certain custom fabricated items, and experienced supply chain challenges for some of these materials during periods of the year.
Seasonality
Our operations can be affected by seasonal variations and our results tend to be stronger in the second and third quarters of each year due to typically milder weather in the regions in which we operate. We are more likely to be impacted by severe weather events, such as hurricanes and excessive flash flooding, snow, ice, or frigid temperatures, which may cause temporary, short-term anomalies in our operational performance in certain localized geographic regions. However, these impacts usually have not been material to our operations as a whole. See Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this 2022 Form 10-K for further discussion.
Government Regulations
We are subject to various environmental, health, and employee safety laws and regulations. We believe we are in material compliance with these laws and regulations and do not currently believe that future compliance with such laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee that, in the future, we will not incur additional costs for compliance or that such costs will not be material.
In particular, we are subject to federal, state, local, and foreign environmental regulations, violations of which could lead to fines, penalties, other civil sanctions, or criminal sanctions. These environmental laws and regulations govern emissions to air; discharges to water; and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of waste materials. We operate under numerous governmental permits and licenses relating to air emissions, stormwater runoff, and other environmental matters. We are subject to environmental laws requiring the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination at properties we presently own or operate and at third-party disposal or treatment facilities to which these sites send or arrange to send hazardous waste. For example, we have been identified as a potentially responsible party at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site discussed in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K. Estimating liabilities for environmental investigations and cleanup is complex and dependent upon a number of factors beyond our control which may change dramatically. We have no reserves for environmental investigation or cleanup, and we believe this is appropriate based on current information; however, we cannot provide assurance that our future environmental investigation and cleanup costs and liabilities will not result in a material expense.
Human Capital Resources
At Northwest Pipe Company, we believe that a commitment to developing our Human Capital Resources is necessary to maintain our position as a leader in our marketplace. Key issues of culture, health and safety, and diversity and inclusion are key priorities in our discussions of our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact.
Employees. As of December 31, 2022, we had 1,312 employees, the overwhelming majority of which were full-time. Approximately 66% of our workforce is employed on an hourly basis, while 34% is salaried. Approximately 5% of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement with a single labor union. We consider our relations with our employees and the labor union to be good. The weighted-average tenure of our employees is 8 years of service.
Maintaining a sufficient number of skilled employees in order to support the operations at our corporate office and various manufacturing sites continues to be a key focus at Northwest Pipe Company. To that end, we offer a wide array of company-paid benefits to our employees both in the United States and Mexico. Benefits may vary between countries due to customary local practices and statutory requirements, or due to an employee’s full or part time status, work location, position, or tenure; however, we believe that as a whole our compensation packages are competitive relative to others in our industry. We are committed to ensuring equal pay for equal work regardless of an employee’s age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental ability.
Culture. Our key values are captured in the acronym ACT, which stands for Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork, which we seek to demonstrate in our daily actions. Our executive leadership team guides our strategic direction to provide innovative water, environmental, and other infrastructure solutions for a wide range of commercial, residential, and municipal applications which are manufactured safely (see Health and Safety below) and efficiently. As a trusted partner to engineering firms, contractors, and water municipalities, we strive for operational, manufacturing, and client service excellence. Our success stems from our employees delivering product to our customers that consistently meets or exceeds their expectations.
We believe that our employees are our best resources. In order to recognize and reward the continued commitment and teamwork of our employees, when positions that may offer opportunities for advancement become open at Northwest Pipe Company, we first try to fill those positions from within.
We are committed to promoting and supporting fundamental human rights at our facilities, and have adopted a Human Rights Policy. In that policy, we prohibit the use of child labor and all forms of forced labor, including prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, military labor, modern forms of slavery, and any form of human trafficking.
Health and Safety. Our goal is to send each employee home safe at the end of the day. As such, safety is at the central core of our culture, and is infused at every level of our organization. More than just policy and procedure, our safety program gives equal focus to the human side of safety, integrating coaching and mentoring efforts with compliance-driven approaches. By instilling a deep commitment to safety that reaches from our Chief Executive Officer to our general laborers, we have achieved industry-leading safety performance. Over the last four years, our average total recordable incident rate was 2.35 and our average days away rate was 0.51, calculated in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s record keeping requirements. Each of our facilities utilize various interactions to achieve this performance, from a toolbox meeting to cover the day’s work and any particular safety concern, to monthly Safety Plan Meetings, ‘No Days Away’ Safety Awards, and our employee-favorite, Safety Day. Each year, a facility may close for one full day to cover safety training and updates. Outside vendors demonstrate the latest safety procedures and equipment in a hands-on, fun atmosphere.
As a manufacturer, we work hard to eliminate hazards associated with high-risk work and have measures in place that include programs for fall protection, heavy equipment operation, and lockout/tagout. We also focus on personal safety issues, such as complacency and fatigue. We offer our employees medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage to support their physical and mental well-being. We seek to keep our employees healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking proactive and precautionary steps to ensure the safety of our employees including frequent cleaning and disinfection of workspaces, providing personal protective equipment, instituting social distancing measure, staggering employee schedules, offering remote working environments for certain employees, encouraging vaccination, and guiding employees on preemptive measures as outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Diversity and Inclusion. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our employee experience, and we are proud of our diverse workforce. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are shown to be more resilient. We believe that diversity and inclusion are important in building the most effective, high-performing teams as part of our ACT culture. As of December 31, 2022, 51% of our employees in the United States self-identified as belonging to one or more of the following racial/ethnic groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native, African American/Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. As of December 31, 2022, 12% of our employees self-identified as female.
Our goal is to build a skilled and strong workforce that is not only diverse in race and ethnicity, but also diverse in age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, and perspective. Our Affirmative Action Program (“AAP”) strives to hire, recruit, train, and promote employees in job classifications without regard to race, age, religion, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. To support these efforts, the AAP for our facilities in the United States is reviewed annually by a third-party consultant, establishing annual hiring goals for women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
Ethics and Compliance. We take pride in the high standards of conduct that identifies us as a company. We have controls in place relating to compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code”), including a requirement for employees to review and understand the requirements of our Code, as well as an established whistleblower hotline and related procedures. Our Code, along with other key governance policies, is published on our website.
We conduct training on our Code upon hire, and in regular intervals during the employee’s life cycle with us. The most recent ethics training for all salaried employees was launched in the fourth quarter of 2022. We also conduct anti-trust training annually. The most recent anti-trust training for certain senior management and sales employees was the first quarter of 2023. In addition, we recently conducted our “Respect in the Workplace” training which focused on inclusion, communication, and attentiveness to workplace behaviors and their impact on others.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a top priority, and our program is driven by our commitment to maintaining a strong security architecture, active governance, and robust controls. Our program is led by our Director of Information Technology, who works closely with our senior management team to advance our cybersecurity strategy. The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors receives quarterly updates regarding information about cyber risk mitigation strategies, proposed plans of action to strengthen our architecture against evolving risks, as well as the identification of known cybersecurity breaches, in the event applicable. We do not believe our systems were breached in 2022.
We maintain an incident response plan in the event of a cybersecurity incident, for the purpose of contacting authorities and informing key stakeholders. The principles of our program align with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s five phase Cybersecurity Framework to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. Further, we use industry leading security tools, continuously monitor our networking architecture, conduct simulated attacks, and require employee training.
Information About Our Executive Officers
Information about our executive officers is set forth under the caption “Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons” in Part III - Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” of this 2022 Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Available Information
Our internet address is www.nwpipe.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. All statements made in any of our securities filings, including all forward-looking statements or information, are made as of the date of the document in which the statement is included, and we do not assume or undertake any obligation to update any of those statements or documents unless we are required to do so by law. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not incorporated into this 2022 Form 10-K.
Additionally, the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following factors, together with all the other information included in this 2022 Form 10-K, in evaluating our company and our business. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected, and the value of our stock could decline. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that we currently believe may materially affect our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. As such, you should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties.
Risk Factor Summary
This risk factor summary contains a high-level overview of certain of the principal factors and uncertainties that make an investment in our securities risky, including risks related to our industry and end markets, our business, our supply chain and production process, our financial condition, our internal control over financial reporting, and our common stock. The following summary is not complete and should be read together with the more detailed discussion of these and the other factors and uncertainties that follows before making an investment decision regarding our securities. The principal factors and uncertainties that makes an investment in our securities risky include the following.
Risks Related to Our Industry and End Markets
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Project delays in public water transmission projects could adversely affect our business;
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A downturn in government spending related to public water transmission projects could adversely affect our business;
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Our Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe segment faces an overcapacity situation due to recent capacity expansions as well as the potential for increased competition from substitute products from manufacturers of concrete pressure pipe, ductile iron, polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”), and high-density polyethylene pipe;
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The success of our business is affected by general and local economic conditions, and our business may be adversely affected by an economic slowdown or recession, or an inability of our pricing to keep pace with inflation of input costs; and
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We are subject to stringent environmental, health, and safety laws, which may require us to incur substantial compliance and remediation costs, thereby reducing our profits.
Risks Related to Our Business
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We face risks in connection with the integration of recent or future potential acquisitions and divestitures;
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The acquisitions of ParkUSA, Geneva, and acquisitions of other companies in the future could adversely affect operating results, dilute shareholders’ equity, or cause us to incur additional debt or assume contingent liabilities;
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Our quarterly results of operations are subject to significant fluctuation;
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Operating problems in our business could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows;
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We may be unable to develop or successfully market new products or our products might not obtain necessary approvals or achieve market acceptance, which could adversely affect our growth;
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Our recognition of revenue over time includes estimates;
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We have a foreign operation which exposes us to the risks of doing business abroad;
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Our Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe backlog is subject to reduction and cancelation;
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The COVID-19 pandemic may have an adverse impact on our business;
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The conflict in Ukraine may have an adverse impact on our business; and
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Climate change and related regulatory requirements present an ongoing risk to our business operations.
Risks Related to Our Supply Chain and Production Process
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Our business may be adversely impacted by staffing shortages, other labor matters, and work stoppages;
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Fluctuations in steel prices and availability may affect our future results of operations;
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We may be subject to claims for damages for defective products, which could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows;
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We may not be able to recover costs and damages from vendors that supply defective materials; and
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Our information technology systems can be negatively affected by cybersecurity threats.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition
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We will need to substantially increase working capital if market conditions and customer order levels continue to grow;
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Our debt obligations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows;
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A portion of our indebtedness is subject to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly;
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Our failure to comply with covenants in our debt agreements could result in our indebtedness being immediately due and payable, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows; and
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Disruptions in the financial markets, including in the banking industry, and a general economic slowdown could cause us to be unable to obtain financing or receive customer payments and expose us to risks related to the overall macro-economic environment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
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Our Audit Committee and management have identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting, and we may be unable to develop, implement, and maintain appropriate controls in future periods.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
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The relatively low trading volume of our common stock may limit your ability to sell your shares;
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The market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations; and
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Certain provisions of our governing documents and Oregon law could discourage potential acquisition proposals.
Risks Related to Our Industry and End Markets
Project delays in public water transmission projects could adversely affect our business. The public water agencies constructing water transmission projects generally announce the projects well in advance of the bidding and construction process. It is not unusual for SPP projects to be delayed and rescheduled. Projects are delayed and rescheduled for a number of reasons, including changes in project priorities, difficulties in complying with environmental and other government regulations, changes in ability to obtain adequate project funding, and additional time required to acquire rights-of-way or property rights. Delays in public water transmission projects may occur with insufficient notice to allow us to replace those projects in our manufacturing schedules. As a result, our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows may be adversely affected by unplanned downtime or reductions to facility utilization levels.
A downturn in government spending related to public water transmission projects could adversely affect our business. Our business is primarily dependent upon spending on public water transmission projects, including water infrastructure upgrades, repairs, and replacement and new water infrastructure spending, which in turn depends on, among other things:
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the need for new or replacement infrastructure;
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the priorities placed on various projects by governmental entities;
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federal, state, and local government spending levels, including budgetary constraints related to capital projects and the ability to obtain financing; and
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the ability of governmental entities to obtain environmental approvals, right-of-way permits, and other required approvals and permits.
Decreases in the number of, or government funding of, public water transmission projects could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Our Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe segment faces an overcapacity situation due to recent capacity expansions as well as the potential for increased competition from substitute products from manufacturers of concrete pressure pipe, ductile iron, polyvinyl chloride, and high-density polyethylene pipe. Most SPP projects are competitively bid and price competition can be vigorous. In a market that already has overcapacity issues, recent increases in capacity have negatively affected our sales, gross margins, and overall profitability. Other competitive factors include timely delivery, ability to meet customized specifications, and high freight costs. Although our SPP manufacturing facilities in Oregon, California, West Virginia, Texas, Missouri, and Mexico allow us to compete throughout North America, our competitors could build new facilities or expand capacity within our market areas. In 2019, a competitor broke ground on a new spiral welded steel pipe facility in Texas that became operational in the first half of 2021. New or expanded facilities or new competitors could have a material adverse effect on our market share, product pricing, sales, gross margins, and overall profitability in our business.
Water transmission pipe is manufactured generally from steel, concrete, ductile iron, PVC, or HDPE. Each pipe material has advantages and disadvantages. Steel and concrete are more common materials for larger-diameter water transmission pipelines because ductile iron pipe generally is limited in diameter due to the manufacturing process. The public agencies and engineers who determine the specifications for water transmission projects analyze these pipe materials for suitability for each project. Individual project circumstances normally dictate the preferred material. If we experience cost increases in raw materials, labor, and overhead specific to our industry or the location of our facilities, while competing products or companies do not experience similar changes, we could experience an adverse change in the demand, price, and profitability of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The success of our business is affected by general and local economic conditions, and our business may be adversely affected by an economic slowdown or recession, or an inability of our pricing to keep pace with inflation of input costs. We are subject to national and regional economic conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to, recession, inflation, interest rates, unemployment levels, the state of the housing market, and gasoline prices. These conditions and the economy in general could be affected by significant national or international events such as a global health crisis (like COVID-19), acts of terrorism or acts of war (including the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine).
Periods of economic slowdown or recession in the United States, or the public perception that one may occur, have and could further decrease the demand for our products, affect the price of our products, and adversely impact our business. We have been impacted in the past by the general slowing of the economy, and the economic slowdown has had an adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Alternatively, our business may be adversely impacted by high inflation of input costs.
We currently conduct a significant portion of our precast and reinforced concrete products business in Texas and Utah, which we estimate represented approximately 52% and 43%, respectively, of Precast net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022. Local economic conditions depend on a variety of factors, including national economic conditions, local and state budgets, infrastructure spending, and the impact of federal cutbacks. Any decrease in construction activity in Texas or Utah could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are subject to stringent environmental, health, and safety laws, which may require us to incur substantial compliance and remediation costs, thereby reducing our profits. We are subject to many federal, state, local, and foreign environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, particularly with respect to the use, handling, treatment, storage, discharge, and disposal of substances and hazardous wastes used or generated in our manufacturing processes. Compliance with these laws and regulations is a significant factor in our business. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, significant expenditures to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment, or remedial actions.
We are currently, and may in the future be, required to incur costs relating to the environmental assessment or environmental remediation of our property, and for addressing environmental conditions, including, but not limited to, the issues associated with our Portland, Oregon facility as discussed in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K. Some environmental laws and regulations impose liability and responsibility on present and former owners, operators, or users of facilities and sites for contamination at such facilities and sites without regard to causation or knowledge of contamination. Consequently, we cannot assure you that existing or future circumstances, the development of new facts, or the failure of third parties to address contamination at current or former facilities or properties will not require significant expenditures by us.
We expect to continue to be subject to increasingly stringent environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations. It is difficult to predict the future interpretation and development of environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations or their impact on our future earnings and operations. We anticipate that compliance with these laws and regulations will continue to require capital expenditures and operating costs. Any increase in these costs, or unanticipated liabilities arising, for example, out of discovery of previously unknown conditions or more aggressive enforcement actions, could adversely affect our results of operations, and there is no assurance that they will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Business
We face risks in connection with the integration of recent or future potential acquisitions and divestitures. Acquiring businesses that expand and/or complement our operations has been an important element of our business strategy, and we continue to evaluate potential acquisitions that may expand and/or complement our business. We may not be able to successfully identify attractive acquisition candidates or negotiate favorable terms in the future. Furthermore, our ability to effectively integrate any future acquisitions will depend on, among other things, the adequacy of our implementation plans, the ability of our management to oversee and operate effectively the combined operations, and our ability to achieve desired operational efficiencies. We may face challenges in integrating cultures, information systems, and business processes and policies in a seamless manner that minimizes any adverse impact on customers, suppliers, employees, and other parties. Acquired businesses may have liabilities, adverse operating issues, or other matters of concern arise following the acquisition that we fail to discover through due diligence prior to the acquisition. Further, our acquisition targets may not have as robust internal controls over financial reporting as would be expected of a public company, and therefore could lead to potential internal control deficiencies or material weaknesses. Acquisitions may also result in the recording of goodwill and other intangible assets that are subject to potential impairment in the future that could harm our financial results. We may also consider other alternatives in order to strategically position our business and continue to compete in our markets, which may include joint ventures and/or divestitures. Our failure to successfully integrate the operations of any businesses that we may acquire in the future or our inability to attract a business partner in which to enter into a joint venture or a buyer willing to purchase our assets may adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
We acquired ParkUSA on October 5, 2021 and Geneva on January 31, 2020. The success of these acquisitions depends, in part, on our ability to successfully integrate these businesses with our current operations and to realize the anticipated benefits, including synergies, from the acquisitions on a timely basis. It may take longer than expected to realize these anticipated benefits and they may ultimately be smaller than we expect. There are a number of challenges and risks involved in our ability to successfully integrate ParkUSA and Geneva with our current business and to realize the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions, including all of the risks identified in the previous paragraph. Material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 were identified in connection with the design and implementation of the enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system implemented on August 1, 2022 at ParkUSA, as described in Part II - Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures” of this 2022 Form 10-K. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
The acquisitions of ParkUSA, Geneva, and acquisitions of other companies in the future could adversely affect operating results, dilute shareholders’ equity, or cause us to incur additional debt or assume contingent liabilities. To increase business, broaden the diversification of our products, or for other business or strategic reasons, we may acquire other companies in the future. For example, in October 2021, we acquired ParkUSA and in January 2020, we acquired Geneva. The acquisitions of ParkUSA and Geneva and any other acquisitions that we may enter into from time to time, involve a number of risks that could harm our business and result in ParkUSA, Geneva, and/or any other acquired business not performing as expected, including:
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problems integrating the acquired operations, personnel, technologies, or products with the existing business and products;
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failure to achieve cost savings or other financial or operating objectives with respect to an acquisition;
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possible adverse short-term effects on cash flows or operating results, and the use of cash and other resources for the acquisition that might affect liquidity, and that could have been used for other purposes;
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diversion of management’s time and attention from our existing business to the acquired business;
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potential failure to retain key technical, management, sales, and other personnel of the acquired business;
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difficulties in retaining relationships with suppliers and customers of the acquired business, particularly where such customers or suppliers compete with us;
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difficulties in the integration of financial reporting systems, which could cause a delay in the issuance of, or impact the reliability of the consolidated financial statements;
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failure to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including a delay in or failure to successfully integrate these businesses into our internal control over financial reporting, such as the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 identified in connection with the design and implementation of the ERP system implemented on August 1, 2022 at ParkUSA, as described in Part II - Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures” of this 2022 Form 10-K;
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insufficient experience with technologies and markets in which the acquired business is involved, which may be necessary to successfully operate and integrate the business;
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subsequent impairment of goodwill and acquired long-lived assets, including intangible assets;
• failure to achieve the expected return on investment for capital deployed to the organic growth strategies associated with prior acquisitions; and
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assumption of liabilities including, but not limited to, lawsuits, environmental liabilities, regulatory liabilities, tax examinations, and warranty issues.
We may enter into acquisitions that are dilutive to earnings per share or that adversely impact margins as a whole. In addition, acquisitions could require investment of significant financial resources and require us to obtain additional equity financing, which may dilute shareholders’ equity, or require us to incur indebtedness.
Our quarterly results of operations are subject to significant fluctuation. Our net sales and operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors, including:
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the commencement, completion, or termination of contracts during any particular quarter;
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unplanned down time due to project delays or mechanical failure;
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underutilized capacity or facility productivity;
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adverse weather conditions;
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fluctuations in the cost of raw materials;
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disruptions in our supply chain; and
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competitive pressures.
Results of operations in any period are not indicative of results for any future period, and comparisons between any two periods may not be meaningful.
Operating problems in our business could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Our manufacturing operations are subject to typical hazards and risks relating to the manufacture of similar products such as:
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explosions, fires, inclement weather, and natural disasters;
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mechanical failure;
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unscheduled downtime;
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labor shortages;
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loss of process control and quality;
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disruptions to supply;
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raw materials quality defects;
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service provider delays or failures;
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transportation delays or failures;
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an inability to obtain or maintain required licenses or permits; and
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environmental hazards such as chemical spills, discharges, or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases into the environment or workplace.
The occurrence of any of these operating problems at our facilities may have a material adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on our operations as a whole, during and after the period of these operating difficulties. For example, as discussed in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K, on April 21, 2019, there was an accidental fire at our Saginaw, Texas facility which resulted in damage to the coatings building. There were no injuries, but the ability to coat at this facility was impaired while we repaired the damage. The operating problems listed above may also cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, and environmental damage. In addition, individuals could seek damages for alleged personal injury or property damage. Furthermore, we could be subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace injury, exposure to hazardous materials, workers’ compensation, and other matters. Although we maintain property and casualty insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for our industries, we cannot assure you that our insurance coverage will be adequate for liability that may be ultimately incurred or that such coverage will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms. Any claims that result in liability exceeding our insurance coverage could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
We may be unable to develop or successfully market new products or our products might not obtain necessary approvals or achieve market acceptance, which could adversely affect our growth. We will continue to actively seek to develop new products and to expand our existing products into new markets, but we cannot assure you that we will be successful in these efforts. If we are unsuccessful in developing and marketing new products, expanding into new markets, or we do not obtain or maintain requisite approvals for our products, the demand for our products could be adversely affected, which could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Our recognition of revenue over time includes estimates. SPP revenue for water infrastructure steel pipe products is recognized over time as the manufacturing process progresses, and is measured by the costs incurred to date relative to the estimated total direct costs to fulfill each contract (cost-to-cost method). Estimated total costs of each contract are reviewed on a monthly basis by project management and operations personnel for all active projects. All cost revisions that result in a material change in gross profit are reviewed by senior management personnel.
Significant judgment is required in estimating total costs and measuring the progress of project completion, as well as whether a loss is expected to be incurred on the contract. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract change orders, contract penalty provisions, foreign currency exchange rate movements, changes in raw materials costs, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to estimates of revenue, costs, and income, and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. Due to the variability of events affecting our estimates which have a material impact on our contract accounting, actual results could differ from those estimates, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
We have a foreign operation which exposes us to the risks of doing business abroad. Our facility in San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico primarily exports products to the United States. We may operate in additional countries in the future. Any material changes in the quotas, regulations, tariffs, or duties on imports imposed by the United States government and our agencies, or on exports imposed by these foreign governments and their agencies could adversely affect our foreign operations.
We also sell some of our products internationally, most often into Canada. Our foreign activities are also subject to various other risks of doing business in a foreign country, including:
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currency fluctuations;
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the imposition of duties, tariffs, and other trade barriers;
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transportation delays and interruptions;
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political, social, and economic instability and disruptions;
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government embargoes or foreign trade restrictions;
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import and export controls;
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labor unrest and current and changing regulatory environments;
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limitations on our ability to enforce legal rights and remedies; and
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potentially adverse tax consequences.
No assurance can be given that our operations may not be adversely affected in the future. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on our operations in the future by reducing the demand for our products and services, decreasing the prices at which we can sell our products, or increasing costs such that there could be an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We cannot assure you that we will continue to operate in compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations, or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject, or that any such regulations or laws will not be modified. Any failure by us to comply with any such applicable regulations or laws, or any changes in any such regulations or laws could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Our Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe backlog is subject to reduction and cancelation. Backlog, which represents the balance of remaining performance obligations under signed contracts for SPP water infrastructure steel pipe products for which revenue is recognized over time, was approximately $274 million as of December 31, 2022. Our backlog is subject to fluctuations; moreover, cancelations of purchase orders, change orders on contracts, or reductions of product quantities could materially reduce our backlog and, consequently, future revenues. Our failure to replace canceled or reduced backlog could result in lower revenues, which could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have an adverse impact on our business. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resurgence of new COVID-19 virus variants, on global and domestic economic conditions, including the impacts of labor and raw material shortages, the long-term potential to reduce or delay funding of municipal projects, and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain uncertain. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused various direct and indirect financial impacts associated with project bidding, execution, and product deliveries over the past couple of years, we remain unable to predict the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business, future results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. We continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate other risks discussed in Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this 2022 Form 10-K, any of which could have a material effect on us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise that we are not aware of currently.
The conflict in Ukraine may have an adverse impact on our business. On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion received widespread international condemnation and many countries, including the United States, imposed new sanctions. While the situation remains highly fluid and the outlook is subject to extraordinary uncertainty, the crisis has already resulted in economic consequences. Energy and commodity prices have surged, adding to inflationary pressures from supply chain disruptions and the rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The sanctions on Russia have had a substantial impact on the global economy and financial markets, with significant spillovers to other countries. Should the conflict escalate, the economic damage may increase.
We continue to monitor the impact of the crisis in Ukraine on all aspects of our business, including how it will impact our employees, customers, supply chain, and distribution network. Impacts include financial and commodity volatility in raw material and other input costs and availability, as well as volatility in the financial markets. The severity of impacts on the global economy and our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows remain unknown.
Climate change and related regulatory requirements present an ongoing risk to our business operations. The rise in average global temperatures has resulted in elevated levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, altering long-term weather patterns that lead to an increased frequency and severity of natural disasters. Severe weather conditions could potentially disrupt our manufacturing and construction activities; areas prone to flooding could face delays resulting in lost production and extreme heat could threaten the health and well-being of our employees. Given the changes in weather patterns brought on by climate change, essentially all of our facilities are vulnerable to extreme conditions and natural disasters, increasing the risk of damage to our facilities and products. Those risks could also hinder our supply chain processes and limit our access to raw materials or our ability to fulfill orders for customers. Evolving governmental regulations to combat climate change risks would likely increase our costs for items including energy and transportation, which may prove disproportional to similar increases in costs experienced by competitors. We anticipate heightened regulatory focus in the near future and failure to comply with new environmental regulations and policies could result in reputational damage with our stakeholders, resulting in decreased demand for our products and lower than expected revenue.
Risks Related to Our Supply Chain and Production Process
Our business may be adversely impacted by staffing shortages, other labor matters, and work stoppages. Current nationwide staffing shortages have impacted our ability to attract both skilled and unskilled workers needed for our manufacturing operations, and the inability to fully staff any one of our facilities may impact our ability to work on projects and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. A work stoppage or other limitation on production could occur at our facilities or our suppliers’ facilities for any number of reasons, including as a result of absenteeism, public health issues (i.e. COVID-19), labor issues, including disputes under our existing collective bargaining agreement or in connection with negotiation of new collective bargaining agreements, or for other reasons.
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately 62 employees that were represented by a single labor union. Although we believe that our relations with our employees and the labor union are good, no assurances can be made that we will not experience conflicts with the labor union, other groups representing employees, or our employees in general, especially in the context of any future negotiations with the labor union. We can also make no assurance that future negotiations with the labor union will not result in a significant increase in the cost of labor.
Additionally, the employees of some of our customers are unionized. Any strikes, other labor matters, or work stoppages experienced by our customers may impact our ability to work on projects and, as a result, have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Fluctuations in steel prices and availability may affect our future results of operations. Purchased steel represents a substantial portion of SPP cost of sales. The steel industry is highly cyclical in nature, and at times, pricing can be highly volatile due to a number of factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions, import duties, other trade restrictions, and currency exchange rates. Over the past three years, steel prices have fluctuated significantly. Our average cost for a ton of steel was approximately $1,174 per ton in 2022, $1,291 per ton in 2021, and $655 per ton in 2020. In 2022, our monthly average steel purchasing costs ranged from a high of approximately $1,782 per ton to a low of approximately $906 per ton. This volatility can significantly affect our gross profit.
Although we seek to recover increases in steel prices through price increases in our products, we have not always been successful. Any increase in steel prices that is not offset by an increase in our prices could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In addition, if we are unable to acquire timely steel supplies, we may need to decline project bidding opportunities, which could also have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
We may be subject to claims for damages for defective products, which could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We warrant our products to be free of certain defects. We have, from time to time, had claims alleging defects in our products. We cannot assure you that we will not experience material product liability losses in the future or that we will not incur significant costs to defend such claims. While we currently have product liability insurance, we cannot assure you that our product liability insurance coverage will be adequate for liabilities that may be incurred in the future or that such coverage will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms. Any claims relating to defective products that result in liabilities exceeding our insurance coverage could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
We may not be able to recover costs and damages from vendors that supply defective materials. We may receive defective materials from our vendors that are incorporated into our products during the manufacturing process. The cost to repair, remake, or replace defective products could be greater than the amount that can be recovered from the vendor, in addition to creating inefficiencies in our production scheduling. Such excess costs could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Our information technology systems can be negatively affected by cybersecurity threats. Increased global information technology security requirements, vulnerabilities, threats, and a rise in sophisticated and targeted computer crime pose a risk to the security of our systems, networks, and the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of our data. Despite our efforts to protect sensitive information and confidential and personal data, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to security breaches. This could lead to disclosure, modification, or destruction of proprietary, employee, and other key information and operational disruptions, which in turn could adversely affect our reputation and competitiveness in our markets. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss or damage to our data, or an inappropriate disclosure of confidential or protected personal information, it could cause significant damage to our reputation, affect our relationships with our customers, suppliers, and employees, lead to claims against us, and ultimately harm our business. Additionally, we may be required to incur significant costs to protect against damage caused by these disruptions or security breaches in the future. Any of the foregoing factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition
We will need to substantially increase working capital if market conditions and customer order levels continue to grow. If market conditions and SPP customer order levels were to dramatically increase, we would have to increase our working capital substantially, as it takes several months for project production to be translated into cash receipts. In general, revolving loan borrowings and letters of credit under the Credit Agreement dated June 30, 2021 with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), as administrative agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto, including the initial sole lender, Wells Fargo (the “Lenders”), as amended by the Incremental Amendment dated October 22, 2021 and the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2022 (together, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), are limited to the aggregate amount of $125 million. As of December 31, 2022 under the Amended Credit Agreement, we had $83.7 million of outstanding revolving loan borrowings, $1.1 million of outstanding letters of credit, and additional borrowing capacity of approximately $40 million. We may not have sufficient availability under the Amended Credit Agreement to borrow the amounts we need, and other opportunities to borrow additional funds or raise capital in the equity markets may be limited or nonexistent. A shortage in the availability of working capital could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Our debt obligations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. We have financed our operations through cash flows from operations, available borrowings, and other financing arrangements. As of December 31, 2022, we had $83.7 million of outstanding revolving loan borrowings, $10.8 million of current debt, $94.2 million of operating lease liabilities, and $3.0 million of finance lease liabilities. We could incur additional revolving loan borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement in the future to finance increases in working capital, finance mergers, acquisitions, and capital expenditures, fund negative operating cash flows, or for other corporate purposes. These borrowings could become significant in the future.
Our current and future debt and debt service obligations could:
•
limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital or other purposes in the future;
•
reduce the amount of funds available to finance our operations, capital expenditures, and other activities;
•
increase our vulnerability to economic downturns, illiquid capital markets, and adverse industry conditions;
•
limit our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions, including increased competition;
•
place us at a disadvantage when compared to our competitors that have less debt; and
•
with respect to our borrowings that bear interest at variable rates, cause us to be vulnerable to increases in interest rates.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on our current and future debt will depend on our future operating performance and cash flows, which are subject to prevailing economic conditions, prevailing interest rate levels, and other financial, competitive, and business factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our inability to make scheduled payments on our debt or any of the foregoing factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
To the extent we have not hedged against rising interest rates, an increase in the applicable benchmark interest rates would increase our cost of servicing our indebtedness and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
A portion of our indebtedness is subject to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement and our current debt are, and additional borrowings in the future may be, at variable rates of interest that expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed will remain the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease. We have, and may in the future enter into additional, interest rate swaps for a portion of our variable rate debt whereby we exchange floating for fixed rate interest payments in order to reduce exposure to interest rate volatility. However, any interest rate swaps into which we enter may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk.
Our failure to comply with covenants in our debt agreements could result in our indebtedness being immediately due and payable, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The agreements governing our debt include covenants that impose certain requirements with respect to our financial condition and results of operations and general business activities. These covenants place restrictions on, among other things, our ability to incur certain additional debt and to create liens or other encumbrances on assets. In addition, our obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement are secured by a senior security interest in substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets.
Our ability to comply with the covenants under our debt instruments in the future is uncertain and will be affected by our results of operations and financial condition as well as other events and circumstances beyond our control. If market and other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. A failure to comply with the requirements of these covenants, if not waived or cured, could permit acceleration of the related debt. If any of our debt is accelerated, we cannot assure you that we would have sufficient assets to repay such debt or that we would be able to refinance such debt on commercially reasonable terms or at all. The acceleration of a significant portion of our current and future debt could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Disruptions in the financial markets, including the banking industry, and a general economic slowdown could cause us to be unable to obtain financing or receive customer payments and expose us to risks related to the overall macro-economic environment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The United States equity and credit markets, as well as certain financial institutions, have experienced significant price volatility, dislocations, and liquidity disruptions, which have caused market prices of many equities to fluctuate substantially, the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably, and disruptions in select banking transactions. These circumstances have materially impacted liquidity in the financial markets, making terms for certain financings less attractive, and in some cases have resulted in the unavailability of financing, even for companies who are otherwise qualified to obtain financing. These events may make it less likely that we will be able to obtain additional financing, may make it more difficult or prohibitively costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of debt or equity securities, which may prove necessary to execute our growth strategies, and may impact our customers and their ability to make payments or obtain credit.
Risks Related to Our Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our Audit Committee and management have identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting, and we may be unable to develop, implement, and maintain appropriate controls in future periods. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and SEC rules require that management report annually on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures. Among other things, management must conduct an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to audit, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Based on our management’s assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2022, our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective. The specific material weakness is described in Part II - Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures” of this 2022 Form 10-K in “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. A “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements would not be prevented or detected. We have adopted a remediation plan to address the material weakness identified. The implementation and administration of the remediation plan may divert the attention of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as well as other senior members of our management team, away from the operations of our business until the material weakness in our internal control is considered remediated.
The material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 was attributed to control deficiencies in the ERP system implementation project at ParkUSA and resultant business process control deficiencies. We cannot assure you that additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Any failure to maintain or implement required new or improved controls, or any difficulties we encounter in their implementation, could result in additional material weaknesses, and create a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement to the consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. This could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, leading to a decline in our stock price.
Further and continued determinations that there are material weaknesses in the effectiveness of our internal controls could also reduce our ability to obtain financing or could increase the cost of any financing we obtain and require additional expenditures of both money and management’s time to comply with applicable requirements. For more information relating to our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, see Part II -Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
The relatively low trading volume of our common stock may limit your ability to sell your shares. Although our shares of common stock are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, we have historically experienced a relatively low trading volume. If we have a low trading volume in the future, holders of our shares may have difficulty selling a large number of shares of our common stock in the manner or at a price that might otherwise be attainable.
The market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations. The market price of our common stock has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant volatility. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:
•
our operating and financial performance and prospects;
•
quarterly variations in the rate of growth of our financial indicators, such as earnings per share, net income, and net sales;
•
changes in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of research reports by analysts;
•
loss of any member of our senior management team;
•
speculation in the press or investment community;
•
strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructuring;
•
sales of our common stock by shareholders;
•
relatively low trading volume;
•
general market conditions and market expectations for our industry and the financial health of our customers; and
•
domestic and international economic, legal, and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance.
The stock markets in general have experienced broad fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
Certain provisions of our governing documents and Oregon law could discourage potential acquisition proposals. Our articles of incorporation contain provisions that:
•
classify the board of directors into three classes, each of which serves for a three-year term with one class elected each year;
•
provide that directors may be removed by shareholders only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of 75% of the outstanding shares of common stock; and
•
permit the board of directors to issue preferred stock in one or more series, fix the number of shares constituting any such series, and determine the voting powers and all other rights and preferences of any such series, without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
In addition, we are subject to certain provisions of the Oregon Business Corporation Act that could discourage potential acquisition proposals, could deter, delay, or prevent a change in control that our shareholders consider favorable, and could depress the market value of our common stock. Additional information regarding the above described provisions of our governing documents and the Oregon Business Corporation Act is set forth in the “Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” filed as Exhibit 4.2 to our 2019 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 3, 2020.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
Properties
Our facilities serve regional markets, which vary in the number and sizes of projects year-over-year. Consequently, we have excess manufacturing capacity from time to time at each of our facilities. We believe the quality and productive capacity of our facilities are sufficient to maintain our competitive position for the foreseeable future.
The following tables provide certain information about our operating facilities as of December 31, 2022:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe
Location
Manufacturing Space
(approx. sq. ft.)
Property Size
(approx. acres)
Ownership
Portland, Oregon
300,000
Owned
San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico
285,000
Owned
Adelanto, California
200,000
Owned
Parkersburg, West Virginia
170,000
Owned
Saginaw, Texas (2 facilities)
170,000
1 Owned, 1 Leased
Tracy, California
165,000
Owned
St. Louis, Missouri
100,000
Leased
Additionally, land adjacent to our Portland, Oregon, Saginaw, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri facilities used for parking and/or pipe storage is leased.
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems
Location
Manufacturing Space
(approx. sq. ft.)
Property Size
(approx. acres)
Ownership
Houston, Texas
239,000
Leased
Orem, Utah
150,000
Leased
Dallas, Texas
62,000
Leased
Salt Lake City, Utah
58,000
Leased
San Antonio, Texas
34,000
Leased
St. George, Utah
6,000
Leased

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
We are party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the ordinary course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. We do not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on our consolidated financial results. We are also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines, penalties, and other costs in substantial amounts. See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NWPX.”
There were 18 shareholders of record as of March 6, 2023. A substantially greater number of holders of our common stock are beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers, and other financial institutions. We do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We have not issued any securities during the past three years that were not registered under the Securities Act.
On November 3, 2020, our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-249637) covering the potential future sale of up to $150 million of our equity and/or debt securities or combinations thereof, was declared effective by the SEC. This shelf registration statement provides another potential source of capital, in addition to other alternatives already in place. We cannot be certain that funding will be available on favorable terms or available at all. To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our shareholders may experience significant dilution. As of the date of this 2022 Form 10-K, we have not yet sold any securities under this shelf registration statement, nor do we have an obligation to do so. Please refer to the factors discussed in Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
On September 2, 2022, we entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the “At-the-Market Offering”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), pursuant to which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having aggregate offering sales proceeds of up to $50 million (the “Shares”) from time to time through Jefferies as our sales agent. We may sell the Shares in amounts and at times to be determined by us from time to time subject to the terms and conditions of the At-the-Market Offering, but we have no obligation to sell any of the Shares under the At-the-Market Offering. The Shares to be sold under the At-the-Market Offering, if any, will be offered and sold pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 discussed above, and the prospectus supplement dated September 2, 2022 filed by us. We will pay Jefferies a cash commission of up to 3.0% of gross proceeds from the sale of the Shares pursuant to the At-the-Market Offering. We have also agreed to provide Jefferies with customary indemnification and contribution rights. No proceeds were raised under the At-the-Market Offering during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the performance of our common stock to the performance of the Russell 2000 Index, the S&P 600 Construction Machinery and Heavy Trucks Index, and a weighted composite of certain peer companies (“Peer Group”) selected by us. The Peer Group is comprised of Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation, Badger Meter, Inc., Circor International, Inc., DMC Global Inc., L.B. Foster Company, Insteel Industries, Inc., Lindsay Corporation, Luxfer Holdings, PLC, Mueller Water Products, Inc., NN, Inc., and Orion Group Holdings, Inc.
To better align with comparable investment opportunities, we are transitioning from the Russell 2000 Index and the S&P 600 Construction Machinery and Heavy Trucks Index to the self-selected Peer Group for the year ended December 31, 2022. All indices are presented, in accordance with SEC rules, which require that if a company selects a different index from that used in the immediately preceding fiscal year, the company’s stock performance must be compared against both the newly selected index and previous index in the year of change.
The comparisons in the chart below are provided in response to SEC disclosure requirements and, therefore, are not intended to forecast or be indicative of future performance of our common stock.
Indexed Return
Northwest Pipe Company
Russell 2000 Index
S&P 600 Construction Machinery and Heavy Trucks Index
Peer Group
December 31, 2017
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
December 31, 2018
121.68
88.99
71.53
79.86
December 31, 2019
174.03
111.70
93.66
102.59
December 31, 2020
147.86
134.00
105.83
116.38
December 31, 2021
166.14
153.85
120.94
129.46
December 31, 2022
176.07
122.41
128.71
113.09
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The information with respect to equity compensation plans is included under Part III - Item 12. “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of this 2022 Form 10-K.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
[Reserved]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following is management’s discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected our consolidated financial condition and results of operations during the periods included herein. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our historical Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” or in other parts of this 2022 Form 10-K. For discussion related to the results of operations and changes in financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, refer to Part II - Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our 2021 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Overview
Northwest Pipe Company is a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products, and operates in two segments, Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (SPP) and Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (Precast). For detailed descriptions of these segments, see the “Our Segments” discussion in Part I - Item 1. “Business” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
In addition to being the largest manufacturer of engineered steel water pipeline systems in North America, we manufacture stormwater and wastewater technology products; high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products; pump lift stations; steel casing pipe, bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe, and one of the largest offerings of pipeline system joints, fittings, and specialized components. Strategically positioned to meet growing water and wastewater infrastructure needs, we provide solution-based products for a wide range of markets under the ParkUSA, Geneva Pipe and Precast, Permalok®, and Northwest Pipe Company lines. Our diverse team is committed to quality and innovation while demonstrating our core values of accountability, commitment, and teamwork. We are headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and have 13 manufacturing facilities across North America.
Our water infrastructure products are sold generally to installation contractors, who include our products in their bids to federal, state, and municipal agencies, privately-owned water companies, or developers for specific projects. We believe our sales are substantially driven by spending on urban growth and new water infrastructure with a recent trend towards spending on water infrastructure replacement, repair, and upgrade. Within the total range of products, our steel pipe tends to fit the larger-diameter, higher-pressure pipeline applications, while our precast concrete products mainly serve stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.
Our Current Economic Environment
Demand for our Precast products is generally influenced by general economic conditions such as housing starts, population growth, interest rates, and rates of inflation. According to the United States Census Bureau, privately-owned housing starts in December 2022 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.4 million, compared to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.8 million in December 2021, and the population of the United States is expected to increase by approximately 2 million people in 2023. Additionally, while recent and anticipated future increases in the federal funds rate by the Federal Reserve are expected to temper demand for housing, the immediate impacts have been muted by the demand for housing, stymied by recent labor and commodity shortages currently limiting the supply of new homes.
Our SPP projects are often planned for many years in advance, as we operate that business with a long-term time horizon for which the projects are sometimes part of 50-year build-out plans. Long-term demand for water infrastructure projects in the United States appears strong. Even though recent demand for engineered steel pressure pipe has improved, a shift to a recessionary economy could strain governmental and water agency budgets and financing which could impact prospects for our business in the medium term. Additionally, we have experienced effects of the current labor shortage at certain manufacturing facilities, for which we are mitigating the impact through the use of overtime and third-party outsourcing as warranted. It is possible that a prolonged shortage of qualified, available workers could have an adverse effect on our business.
Purchased steel typically represents approximately 35% of cost of sales, and higher steel costs generally result in higher selling prices and revenue; however, volatile fluctuations in steel markets can affect our business. SPP contracts are generally quoted on a fixed-price basis, and volatile steel markets can result in selling prices that no longer correlate to the cost available at the time of steel purchase. Steel markets have remained volatile through 2022, with prices dropping significantly in the fourth quarter. The reduced steel costs have begun and will continue to be realized in our financial results.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is considered to be largely responsible for increased fuel costs, increasing our delivery costs. While these costs are generally passed along to the customer, there can be no assurance that all of these increased costs will be recouped, which could be material until world economic forces stabilize. Freight costs represent approximately 6% of cost of sales of our SPP business, for which the risk is more significant due to the long lead times between when an SPP contract is entered and the product is shipped.
Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System at ParkUSA
In the third quarter of 2022, we implemented our ERP system at the ParkUSA manufacturing facilities. Due primarily to an underinvestment in systems preceding our acquisition, and vastly broader product offerings, this implementation has caused, and may continue to cause, disruption and inefficiencies in ParkUSA’s operations.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Business
While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused various direct and indirect financial impacts associated with project bidding, execution, and product deliveries over the past couple of years, we remain unable to predict the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business, future results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. For additional details, refer to the information set forth under the caption “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Business” in Part I - Item 1. “Business” and discussions in Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain financial information regarding costs and expenses expressed in dollars (in thousands) and as a percentage of total net sales.
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Year Ended December 31, 2020
$
% of Net Sales
$
% of Net Sales
$
% of Net Sales
Net sales:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe
$ 307,572
67.2 %
$ 259,823
78.0 %
$ 241,690
84.5 %
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems
150,093
32.8
73,490
22.0
44,217
15.5
Total net sales
457,665
100.0
333,313
100.0
285,907
100.0
Cost of sales:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe
263,099
57.5
228,542
68.6
197,397
69.0
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems
108,711
23.7
60,517
18.1
37,991
13.3
Total cost of sales
371,810
81.2
289,059
86.7
235,388
82.3
Gross profit:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe
44,473
9.7
31,281
9.4
44,293
15.5
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems
41,382
9.1
12,973
3.9
6,226
2.2
Total gross profit
85,855
18.8
44,254
13.3
50,519
17.7
Selling, general, and administrative expense
41,034
9.0
28,222
8.5
24,954
8.8
Operating income
44,821
9.8
16,032
4.8
25,565
8.9
Other income
-
0.1
1,002
0.3
Interest expense
(3,568 )
(0.8 )
(1,202 )
(0.4 )
(933 )
(0.2 )
Income before income taxes
41,350
9.0
15,158
4.5
25,634
9.0
Income tax expense
10,201
2.2
3,635
1.0
6,584
2.3
Net income
$ 31,149
6.8 %
$ 11,523
3.5 %
$ 19,050
6.7 %
Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net sales. Net sales increased 37.3% to $457.7 million in 2022 compared to $333.3 million in 2021.
SPP net sales increased 18.4% to $307.6 million in 2022 compared to $259.8 million in 2021 driven by a 20% increase in selling price per ton due to increased raw materials costs, partially offset by a 1% decrease in tons produced resulting from changes in project timing. Bidding activity, backlog, and production levels may vary significantly from period to period affecting sales volumes.
Precast net sales increased 104.2% to $150.1 million in 2022 compared to $73.5 million in 2021 primarily due to the ParkUSA operations acquired in October 2021, which contributed $84.7 million and $18.0 million in net sales for 2022 and 2021, respectively. In addition, the segment realized a 17.9% increase in net sales at the pre-existing Precast operations due to a 45% increase in selling prices due to the high demand for our concrete products coupled with increased material costs, partially offset by an 18% decrease in volume shipped due to unscheduled equipment downtime and changes in product mix.
Gross profit. Gross profit increased 94.0% to $85.9 million (18.8% of net sales) in 2022 compared to $44.3 million (13.3% of net sales) in 2021.
SPP gross profit increased 42.2% to $44.5 million (14.5% of SPP net sales) in 2022 compared to $31.3 million (12.0% of SPP net sales) in 2021 due to improved product pricing. SPP gross profit in 2022 was reduced, in part, as a result of a $2.0 million product liability settlement reserve recorded in the first quarter.
Precast gross profit increased 219.0% to $41.4 million (27.6% of Precast net sales) in 2022 compared to $13.0 million (17.7% of Precast net sales) in 2021 due to contributions from the ParkUSA operations, as well as improved pricing at the pre-existing Precast operations. Precast gross profit in 2021 was reduced by $2.3 million of acquisition-related fair value inventory charges.
Selling, general, and administrative expense. Selling, general, and administrative expense increased 45.4% to $41.0 million (9.0% of net sales) in 2022 compared to $28.2 million (8.5% of net sales) in 2021. The increase in selling, general, and administrative expense was primarily due to the acquired ParkUSA operations, including $5.0 million in higher compensation-related expense and $2.3 million in higher amortization expense, partially offset by $3.3 million in lower acquisition-related transaction costs. We also incurred an additional $6.7 million in higher other compensation-related expense, $1.0 million in higher professional fees, and $0.7 million in higher travel expense.
Income taxes. Income tax expense was $10.2 million in 2022 (an effective income tax rate of 24.7%) compared to $3.6 million in 2021 (an effective income tax rate of 24.0%). The effective income tax rate for 2022 was primarily impacted by non-deductible permanent differences. The effective income tax rate for 2021 was primarily impacted by estimated changes in our valuation allowance. The effective income tax rate can change significantly depending on the relationship of permanent income tax deductions and tax credits to estimated pre-tax income or loss and the changes in valuation allowances. Accordingly, the comparison of effective income tax rates between periods is not meaningful in all situations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources and Uses of Cash
Our principal sources of liquidity generally include operating cash flows and the Amended Credit Agreement. From time to time our long-term capital needs may be met through the issuance of additional debt or equity. Our principal uses of liquidity generally include capital expenditures, working capital, organic growth initiatives, acquisitions, and debt service. Information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 are presented in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows contained in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K, and are further discussed below.
As of December 31, 2022, our working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) was $187.9 million compared to $164.1 million as of December 31, 2021. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.7 million and $3.0 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Fluctuations in SPP working capital accounts result from timing differences between production, shipment, invoicing, and collection, as well as changes in levels of production and costs of materials. We typically have a relatively large investment in working capital, as we generally pay for materials, labor, and other production costs in the initial stages of a project, while payments from our customers are generally received after finished product is delivered. A portion of our revenues are recognized over time as the manufacturing process progresses; therefore, cash receipts typically occur subsequent to when revenue is recognized and the elapsed time between when revenue is recorded and when cash is received can be significant. As such, our payment cycle is a significantly shorter interval than our collection cycle, although the effect of this difference in the cycles may vary by project, and from period to period.
As of December 31, 2022, we had $83.7 million of outstanding revolving loan borrowings, $10.8 million of outstanding current debt, $94.2 million of operating lease liabilities, and $3.0 million of finance lease liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, we had $86.8 million of outstanding revolving loan borrowings, $98.4 million of operating lease liabilities, and $2.2 million of finance lease liabilities. For future maturities of these obligations, see Notes 7, 8, and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
Due to the uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash flows associated with our approximately $4.5 million in unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2022, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authorities. For further information, see Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $17.5 million in 2022 compared to $(5.8) million in 2021. Net income, adjusted for non-cash items, provided $52.2 million of operating cash flow in 2022 compared to $28.7 million of operating cash flow in 2021. The net change in working capital used was $34.6 million of operating cash flow in 2022 compared to $34.5 million of operating cash flow in 2021.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $23.1 million in 2022 compared to $100.2 million in 2021. Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired, were $0 in 2022 compared to $87.2 million in 2021. Capital expenditures were $22.8 million in 2022 compared to $13.3 million in 2021, which includes $10.1 million in 2022 of investment in our new reinforced concrete pipe mill, and the remainder primarily for standard capital replacement. We currently expect capital expenditures in 2023 to be approximately $24 million to $28 million, which includes approximately $5 million of investment in our new reinforced concrete pipe mill, and associated ancillary equipment, and the remainder primarily for standard capital replacement.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $6.2 million in 2022 compared $71.0 million in 2021. Net borrowings (repayments) on the line of credit were $(3.1) million in 2022 compared $86.8 million in 2021. Net borrowings (repayments) on other debt were $10.8 million in 2022 compared to $(13.8) million in 2021.
We anticipate that our existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flows expected to be generated by operations, and additional borrowing capacity under the Amended Credit Agreement and other loans will be adequate to fund our working capital, debt service, and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. To the extent necessary, we may also satisfy capital requirements through additional bank borrowings, senior notes, term notes, subordinated debt, and finance and operating leases, if such resources are available on satisfactory terms. We have from time to time evaluated and continue to evaluate opportunities for acquisitions and expansion. Any such transactions, if consummated, may necessitate additional bank borrowings or other sources of funding. As previously discussed, we acquired ParkUSA in October 2021 which was funded primarily by borrowings on the line of credit.
On November 3, 2020, our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-249637) covering the potential future sale of up to $150 million of our equity and/or debt securities or combinations thereof, was declared effective by the SEC. This shelf registration statement provides another potential source of capital, in addition to other alternatives already in place. We cannot be certain that funding will be available on favorable terms or available at all. To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our shareholders may experience significant dilution. As of the date of this 2022 Form 10-K, we have not yet sold any securities under this registration statement, nor do we have an obligation to do so. Please refer to the factors discussed in Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
On September 2, 2022, we entered into the At-the-Market Offering with Jefferies, pursuant to which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having aggregate offering sales proceeds of up to $50 million from time to time through Jefferies as our sales agent. We may sell the Shares in amounts and at times to be determined by us from time to time subject to the terms and conditions of the At-the-Market Offering, but we have no obligation to sell any of the Shares under the At-the-Market Offering. The Shares to be sold under the At-the-Market Offering, if any, will be offered and sold pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 discussed above, and the prospectus supplement dated September 2, 2022 filed by us. We will pay Jefferies a cash commission of up to 3.0% of gross proceeds from the sale of the Shares pursuant to the At-the-Market Offering. We have also agreed to provide Jefferies with customary indemnification and contribution rights. No proceeds were raised under the At-the-Market Offering during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Current Debt
In August 2022, we entered into an Interim Funding Agreement (“IFA”) with Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. (“WFEF”) allowing for aggregate interim funding advances up to $13.5 million of equipment purchased for a new reinforced concrete pipe mill, to be converted into a term loan upon final delivery and acceptance of the financed equipment. The IFA bears interest at the Term Secured Overnight Finance Rate (“SOFR”) plus 1.75%, requires monthly payments of accrued interest, and grants a security interest in the equipment to WFEF. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of the IFA was $10.8 million, which is classified as a current liability since there is not a firm commitment for long-term debt financing.
Credit Agreement
The Amended Credit Agreement provides for a revolving loan, swingline loan, and letters of credit in the aggregate amount of up to $125 million (“Revolver Commitment”). The Amended Credit Agreement will expire, and all obligations outstanding will mature, on June 30, 2024. We may prepay outstanding amounts in our discretion without penalty at any time, subject to applicable notice requirements. As of December 31, 2022 under the Amended Credit Agreement, we had $83.7 million of outstanding revolving loan borrowings, $1.1 million of outstanding letters of credit, and additional borrowing capacity of approximately $40 million. Based on our business plan and forecasts of operations, we expect to have sufficient credit available to support our operations for at least the next twelve months.
Revolving loans under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at rates related to, at our option and subject to the provisions of the Amended Credit Agreement, either: (i) Base Rate (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) plus the Applicable Margin; (ii) Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) plus the Applicable Margin; or (iii) Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) plus the Applicable Margin. The “Applicable Margin” is 1.75% to 2.35%, depending on our Consolidated Senior Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) and the interest rate option chosen. Interest on outstanding revolving loans is payable monthly. Swingline loans under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. The Amended Credit Agreement requires the payment of a commitment fee of between 0.30% and 0.40%, based on the amount by which the Revolver Commitment exceeds the average daily balance of outstanding borrowings (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). Such fee is payable monthly in arrears. We are also obligated to pay additional fees customary for credit facilities of this size and type.
The letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2022 relate to workers’ compensation insurance. Based on the nature of these arrangements and our historical experience, we do not expect to make any material payments under these arrangements.
The Amended Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, as well as customary affirmative and negative covenants, events of default, and indemnification provisions in favor of the Lenders. The negative covenants include restrictions regarding the incurrence of liens and indebtedness, annual capital expenditures, certain investments, acquisitions, and dispositions, and other matters, all subject to certain exceptions. The Amended Credit Agreement requires us to regularly provide financial information to Wells Fargo and to maintain a consolidated senior leverage ratio no greater than 2.50 to 1.00 (subject to certain exceptions) and a minimum consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) of at least $31.5 million for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended. Pursuant to the Amended Credit Agreement, we have also agreed that we will not sell, assign, or otherwise dispose or encumber, any of our owned real property. The occurrence of an event of default could result in the acceleration of the obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement. We were in compliance with our financial covenants as of December 31, 2022. Based on our business plan and forecasts of operations, we believe we will remain in compliance with our financial covenants for the next twelve months.
Our obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement are secured by a senior security interest in substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a description of recent accounting pronouncements affecting our company, including the dates of adoption and estimated effects on financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, see Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management Estimates
The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate all of our estimates including those related to revenue recognition, business combinations, goodwill, inventories, property and equipment, including depreciation and valuation, intangible assets, including amortization, share-based compensation, income taxes, allowance for doubtful accounts, and litigation and other contingencies. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies and related judgments and estimates affect the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Revenue Recognition
SPP revenue for water infrastructure steel pipe products is recognized over time as the manufacturing process progresses because of our right to payment for work performed to date plus a reasonable profit on cancellations for unique products that have no alternative use to us. Revenue is measured by the costs incurred to date relative to the estimated total direct costs to fulfill each contract (cost-to-cost method). Contract costs include all material, labor, and other direct costs incurred in satisfying performance obligations. The cost of steel material is recognized as a contract cost when the steel is introduced into the manufacturing process. Estimated total costs of each contract are reviewed on a monthly basis by project management and operations personnel for all active projects. All cost revisions that result in a material change in gross profit are reviewed by senior management personnel. Significant judgment is required in estimating total costs and measuring the progress of project completion, as well as whether a loss is expected to be incurred on the contract. We use certain assumptions and develop estimates based on a number of factors, including the degree of required product customization, our historical experience, the project plans, and an assessment of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the contract related to implementation delays or performance issues that may or may not be within our control. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract change orders, contract penalty provisions, foreign currency exchange rate movements, changes in raw materials costs, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to estimates of revenue, costs, and income, and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. Provisions for losses on uncompleted contracts are estimated by comparing total estimated contract revenue to the total estimated contract costs and a loss is recognized during the period in which it becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated.
Precast revenue for water infrastructure concrete pipe and precast concrete products is recognized at the time control is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for the products. All variable consideration that may affect the total transaction price, including contractual discounts, returns, and credits, is included in net sales. Estimates for variable consideration are based on historical experience, anticipated performance, and management’s judgment. Our contracts do not contain significant financing.
We generally do not recognize revenue on a contract until the contract has approval and commitment from both parties, the contract rights and payment terms can be identified, the contract has commercial substance, and its collectability is probable.
Business Combinations
Business combinations are accounted for under the acquisition method which requires identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the business acquired be recognized and measured at fair value on the acquisition date, which is the date that the acquirer obtains control of the acquired business. The amount by which the fair value of consideration transferred as the purchase price exceeds the net fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The amount by which the net fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed exceeds the fair value of consideration transferred as the purchase price is recorded as a bargain purchase gain. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.
Accounting for business combinations requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions in the determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in order to allocate purchase price consideration properly. These assumptions and estimates include a market participant’s use of the asset and the appropriate discount rates for a market participant. Our estimates are based on historical experience, information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and, when appropriate, include assistance from independent third-party appraisal firms. Our significant assumptions and estimates can include, but are not limited to, the cash flows that an asset is expected to generate in the future, the appropriate weighted-average cost of capital, and the cost savings expected to be derived from acquiring an asset. These estimates are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. In addition, unanticipated events and circumstances may occur which may affect the accuracy or validity of such estimates. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill or bargain purchase gain.
Goodwill
Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually, or whenever events occur or circumstances change that indicate goodwill may be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). During the fourth quarter of 2022, we changed the date of our annual impairment test of goodwill from December 31 to November 30. The change in the impairment test date will lessen resource constraints that exist in connection with our year-end close and financial reporting process and provide for additional time to complete the required impairment testing. This change does not represent a material change to our method of applying an accounting principle, and therefore does not delay, accelerate, or avoid an impairment charge.
In testing goodwill for impairment, we have the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances indicate that it is more-likely-than-not (more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. When performing a qualitative assessment, we evaluate factors such as industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, and other relevant entity specific events and changes. In the evaluation, we look at the long-term prospects for the reporting unit and recognize that current performance may not be the best indicator of future prospects or value, which requires management judgment.
If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if we choose not to perform the qualitative assessment, then a quantitative assessment is performed to determine the reporting unit’s fair value. The fair value calculation uses a combination of income and market approaches. The income approach is based upon projected future after-tax cash flows discounted to present value using factors that consider the timing and risk associated with the future after-tax cash flows. The market approach is based upon historical and/or forward-looking measures using multiples of revenue or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization. We utilize a weighted average of the income and market approaches. If the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, then an impairment loss is recognized for the amount of the excess of the carrying amount over the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Determining net realizable value of inventories involves judgments and assumptions, including projecting selling prices and cost of sales. To estimate net realizable value, we review recent sales and gross profit history, existing customer orders, current contract prices, industry supply and demand, forecasted steel prices, replacement costs, seasonal factors, general economic trends, and other information, as applicable. If future market conditions are less favorable than those projected by us, inventory write-downs may be required. The cost of raw material inventories of steel is either on a specific identification basis or on an average cost basis. The cost of substantially all other raw material inventories, as well as work-in-process and supplies, is on an average cost basis. The cost of finished goods uses the first-in, first-out method of accounting.
Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, and are depreciated using either the units of production method or the straight-line method depending on the classification of the asset. Depreciation expense calculated under the units of production method may be less than, equal to, or greater than depreciation expense calculated under the straight-line method. We evaluate historical and projected units of production at each facility to reassess the units of production expected on an annual basis.
Intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships, trade names and trademarks, patents, and backlog recorded as the result of acquisition activity. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives.
We assess impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values of the asset or asset group(s) may not be recoverable. The recoverable value of a long-lived asset group is determined by estimating future undiscounted cash flows using assumptions about our expected future operating performance. Estimates of future cash flows used in the recoverability test incorporate our own assumptions about the use of the asset group and shall consider all available evidence. Our estimates of undiscounted cash flows may differ from actual cash flow due to, among other things, technological changes, economic conditions, or changes to our business operations. If we determine the carrying value of the property and equipment and intangible assets will not be recoverable, we calculate and record an impairment loss.
Share-based Compensation
We recognize the compensation cost of employee and director services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant date estimated fair value of the awards. We estimate the fair value of restricted stock units and performance share awards using the value of our stock on the date of grant. Share-based compensation cost is recognized over the period during which the employee or director is required to provide service in exchange for the award and, as forfeitures occur, the associated compensation cost recognized to date is reversed. For awards with performance-based payout conditions, we recognize compensation cost based on the probability of achieving the performance conditions, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of change. Any recognized compensation cost is reversed if the conditions are ultimately not met.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements or income tax returns. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The determination of our provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Our provision for income taxes primarily reflects a combination of income earned and taxed in the various United States federal, state, local, and to a lesser extent, foreign jurisdictions. Jurisdictional tax law changes, increases or decreases in permanent differences between book and tax items, accruals or adjustments of accruals for unrecognized income tax benefits or valuation allowances, and our change in the mix of earnings from these taxing jurisdictions all affect the overall effective income tax rate.
We record income tax reserves for federal, state, local, and international exposures relating to periods subject to audit. The development of reserves for these exposures requires judgments about tax issues, potential outcomes and timing, and is a subjective estimate. We assess our income tax positions and record income tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting dates. For those income tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that an income tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of income tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a tax authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that an income tax benefit will be sustained, no income tax benefit has been recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We maintain allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments or from contract disputes. The amounts of such allowances are based on historical experience and management’s judgment. The extension and revision of credit is determined by obtaining credit rating reports or financial information on the customer. An allowance is recorded based on a variety of factors, including our historical collection experience and our historical product quality claims. At least monthly, we review past due balances to identify the reasons for non-payment. We will write down or write off a receivable account once the account is deemed uncollectible for reasons such as customer quality claims, a contract dispute, deterioration in the customer’s financial position, a bankruptcy filing, or other events. If the customer’s financial conditions were to deteriorate resulting in their inability to make payments, or if contract disputes were to escalate, additional allowances may need to be recorded which would result in additional expenses being recorded for the period in which such determination was made.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The primary market risks affecting our business relate to our exposure to commodity risk, interest rate risk, and foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Commodity Risk
Certain materials we use in our business are classified as commodities traded in the worldwide markets, of which the most significant commodity is steel, used in the manufacturing of pipe. We do not hedge our commodity risk and do not enter into any transactions in commodities for trading purposes. The impact of volatility in steel prices varies significantly. This volatility can significantly affect our gross profit. Although we seek to recover increases in steel prices through price increases in our products, we have not always been successful.
Steel typically makes up approximately 35% of SPP’s project costs. As this raw material represents a substantial portion of our cost of sales, we attempt to minimize our risk exposure to steel price volatility by submitting bids based on general assumptions of the expected price of steel when we will receive a purchase order or contract, which is typically awarded within 30 to 90 days of the bid date, as well as ordering steel as soon as possible after a project is contracted.
Interest Rate Risk
Our debt bears interest at both fixed and variable rates. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $94.5 million and $86.8 million, respectively, of variable-rate debt outstanding. We have managed a portion of our variable-rate debt with an interest rate swap agreement to effectively convert a portion of our variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. The principal objective of this contract is to reduce the variability of the cash flows in interest payments associated with a portion of our variable-rate debt, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest payment cash flows. We have elected to apply the hedge accounting rules in accordance with authoritative guidance for this contract.
As of December 31, 2022, the total notional amount of the interest rate swap was $26.7 million, which will amortize ratably on a monthly basis to zero by the April 2024 maturity date. We receive floating interest payments monthly based on the SOFR and pay a fixed rate of 1.941% to the counterparty.
Assuming average interest rates and borrowings on variable-rate debt, a hypothetical 1.0%, or 100 basis points, change in interest rates would not have a material impact on our interest expense in 2022 or 2021.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We conduct business in various foreign countries and, from time to time, settle our transactions in foreign currencies. We have experienced and will continue to experience fluctuations in our net income as a result of gains (losses) on the settlement and the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies that are not our functional currency. As of December 31, 2022, our foreign currency exposures were between the U.S. Dollar and the Canadian Dollar, Mexican Peso, and European Euro.
We have established a program that utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to offset the risk associated with the effects of certain foreign currency exposures. Foreign currency forward contracts are consistent with our strategy for financial risk management and are not used for trading or for speculative purposes. As of December 31, 2022, the total notional amount of the foreign currency forward contracts was $17.1 million (CAD$23.2 million) and $1.1 million (EUR$1.1 million), which included $0.3 million (CAD$0.4 million) of foreign currency forward contracts not designated as cash flow hedges. As of December 31, 2022, our foreign currency forward contracts mature at various dates through October 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the total notional amount of these foreign currency forward contracts was $19.0 million (CAD$24.1 million), of which we applied hedge accounting to all.
A hypothetical 10% change in the Canadian Dollar, Mexican Peso, or European Euro foreign currency exchange rates would not have a material impact on our reported net income in 2022 or 2021.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The Consolidated Financial Statements required by this item are included on pages to at the end of this 2022 Form 10-K. The financial statement schedule required by this item is included on page S-1.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022. Based on their evaluation, as of December 31, 2022, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were not effective due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as described below.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that our transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and our directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2022 due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, as follows:
Subsequent to our acquisition of Park Environmental Equipment, LLC (“ParkUSA”), a privately held company, we instituted new internal controls, processes and procedures, and we converted ParkUSA to our enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system. We have identified control deficiencies related to that system implementation project. Specifically, we did not exercise sufficient oversight, design effective controls to ensure completeness of the data conversion, or conduct sufficient testing to ensure the system would operate effectively. Additionally, we were unable to implement and evidence compensating business controls specific to ParkUSA’s sales transactions and cost of sales transactions. As a result, these business process control deficiencies, when combined with the ERP implementation control deficiencies, create a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement to the consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, which is included in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K.
As a result of the identification of the material weakness, and prior to filing this 2022 Form 10-K, we performed further analysis and completed additional procedures intended to ensure our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Based on these procedures and analysis, and notwithstanding the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, our management has concluded that our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in this 2022 Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our CEO and CFO have certified that, based on each such officer’s knowledge, the financial statements, as well as the other financial information included in this 2022 Form 10-K, fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of, and for, the periods presented in this 2022 Form 10-K. In addition, Moss Adams LLP has issued an unqualified opinion on our financial statements, which is included in Part II - Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this 2022 Form 10-K, and we have developed a remediation plan for the material weakness, which is described below.
Planned Remediation
We have taken, and continue to take, steps to remediate the control deficiencies contributing to the material weakness described in this Item 9A. These remediation actions include: hiring consultants to assist with an evaluation of the ERP system, process, and workflow design; educating control owners concerning the principles and requirements of each control, with a focus on those related to sales and cost of sales transactions; and implementing new monitoring controls including additional analyses to help mitigate the risk that controls do not operate effectively. We will report regularly to our Audit Committee on the progress and results of our remediation plan, and we may take additional measures to address these control deficiencies, or we may modify certain of the remediation measures described above.
Management is committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that our internal control over financial reporting is designed and operating effectively, and we intend to remediate this material weakness as soon as possible and believe the measures described above will do so. This material weakness will not be considered remediated until the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded through testing that the controls are operating effectively. We anticipate that the remediation will be completed during 2023.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Except for the material weakness identified by management and described above, there were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2022 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
Other Information
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons
The information required by Paragraph (a) and Paragraphs (c) through (g) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K (except for information required by Paragraph (e) of that Item to the extent the required information pertains to our executive officers) and Item 405 of Regulation S-K (to the extent required) is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the caption Nominees and Continuing Directors.
The following table lists our executive officers and each of their ages and positions as of December 31, 2022.
Name
Age
Current Position with Northwest Pipe Company
Scott Montross
Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Wilkins
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary
Miles Brittain
Executive Vice President
Eric Stokes
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe
Michael Wray
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems
Megan Kendrick
Vice President of Human Resources
Scott Montross has served as our Director, President, and CEO since January 1, 2013. Mr. Montross joined the Company in May 2011 and served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Montross has served in Senior Vice President level positions since 2003 with commercial, operational, and planning responsibilities and has spent a total of 24 years in the steel industry prior to joining the Company. Mr. Montross previously served as the Executive Vice President of the Flat Products Group for EVRAZ North America’s Oregon Steel Division from 2010 to 2011, as the Vice President and General Manager of EVRAZ North America from 2007 to 2010, as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Oregon Steel Mills, Inc. from 2003 to 2007, and as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales for National Steel Corporation from 2002 to 2003.
Aaron Wilkins has served as our Senior Vice President and CFO since April 2020 and our Corporate Secretary since September 2019. Mr. Wilkins served as our Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller from September 2016 to April 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Wilkins served two years as CFO of Omega Morgan, an industrial services company. Prior to that, Mr. Wilkins served seven years with Oregon Steel Mills, Inc. and then EVRAZ North America holding several finance and accounting positions including Corporate Controller and Assistant Treasurer and Director of Finance of EVRAZ North America’s Flat Products Group.
Miles Brittain has served as our Executive Vice President since May 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Brittain served as our Vice President of Operations from February 2020 to May 2021, Vice President of Operations for Water Transmission Engineered Systems from September 2018 to February 2020, and our Vice President of Operations, Water Transmission from 2013 to September 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Brittain served in the steel industry for over 28 years, holding key positions including Vice President and General Manager for EVRAZ North America/Claymont Steel, Director of Operations for EVRAZ North America/Oregon Steel Mills, Inc., and Regional Director of Quality Assurance for National Steel Corporation.
Eric Stokes has served as our Senior Vice President and General Manager of Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe since May 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Stokes served as our Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Water Transmission from February 2020 to May 2021 and Vice President of Sales from April 2012 to February 2020. Prior to joining the Company in 2008, Mr. Stokes spent twelve years with Anderson Construction, holding key positions including Project Superintendent.
Michael Wray has served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems since November 2021. Mr. Wray served as Vice President and General Manager of Geneva from February 2020 to October 2021 and as Senior Director of Operations from September 2018 to January 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Wray held a variety of operational positions within the Company. Prior to joining the Company in 2007, Mr. Wray spent two years with Continental Pipe Company and nine years with Smith Megadiamond, a Schlumberger company.
Megan Kendrick has served as our Vice President of Human Resources since January 2017. Prior to that, Ms. Kendrick held a variety of positions within the Company in the accounting and human resource departments. Prior to joining the Company in 2008, Ms. Kendrick worked for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association for seven years.
Code of Ethics
We have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for all employees and a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers. Copies can be found on our website in the Corporate Governance area of the Investor Relations section. None of the material on our website is part of this 2022 Form 10-K. If there is any waiver from any provision of either the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, we will disclose the nature of such waiver on our website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Corporate Governance
The information required by Items 407(c)(3), (d)(4), and (d)(5) of Regulation S-K is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the caption Corporate Governance.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the captions Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation, and Compensation Committee Report.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2022, with respect to the shares of our common stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans.
Plan Category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(a) (1)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b) (2)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
200,924
$ -
873,402
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (3)
-
-
-
Total
200,924
$ -
873,402
(1)
Consists of performance share awards and restricted stock unit awards under our 2022 Stock Incentive Plan and our 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. The number of securities disclosed in this table for performance share awards are at the target level of 100%.
(2)
Reflects the exercise price per share of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of stock options only. As of December 31, 2022, no stock options were outstanding.
(3)
We do not have any equity compensation plans or arrangements that have not been approved by shareholders.
The information required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K is included in our definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the caption Stock Owned by Management and Principal Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the captions Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Nominees and Continuing Directors.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the caption Disclosure of Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) (1) Consolidated Financial Statements
The Consolidated Financial Statements, together with the report thereon of Moss Adams LLP are included on the pages indicated below.
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Moss Adams LLP, Portland, Oregon, PCAOB ID No. 659)
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31,2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a) (2) Financial Statement Schedule
The following schedule is filed herewith:
Page
Schedule II
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
S-1
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.
(a) (3) Exhibits included herein:
Exhibit Number
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of January 31, 2020 among Northwest Pipe Company, Hatch Acquisition Corporation, Geneva Pipe Company, Inc., the Shareholders of Geneva Pipe Company, Inc., and Kurt Johnson, as Shareholder Representative, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2020**
2.2
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of October 5, 2021 by and among Northwest Pipe Company, EBSR, LLC, the equity holders of EBSR, LLC, and Park Environmental Equipment, LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2021**
3.1
Second Restated Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2022
Exhibit Number
Description
3.2
First Amendment to Second Restated Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2006, Commission Registration No. 333-137923
3.3
Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2022
4.1
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2020
10.1
Northwest Pipe NQ Retirement Savings Plan, dated July 1, 1999, incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Company’s Quarterly Report Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2000*
10.2
Northwest Pipe Company 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated April 20, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2007*
10.3
Amendment to the Northwest Pipe Company 2007 Stock Incentive Plan dated April 12, 2013, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2013*
10.4
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between Scott Montross and Northwest Pipe Company dated August 1, 2016, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2016*
10.5
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2019*
10.6
Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2020*
10.7
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2020*
10.8
Change in Control Agreement dated April 1, 2020 between Northwest Pipe Company and Aaron Wilkins, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2020*
10.9
Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2021*
10.10
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2021*
10.11
Change in Control Agreement dated June 10, 2021 between Northwest Pipe Company and Miles Brittain, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2021*
10.12
Credit Agreement dated June 30, 2021 by and among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Northwest Pipe Company, NWPC, LLC, and Geneva Pipe and Precast Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2021
Exhibit Number Description
10.13
Guaranty and Security Agreement dated June 30, 2021 among Northwest Pipe Company, NWPC, LLC, Geneva Pipe and Precast Company, Permalok Corporation, Thompson Tank Holdings, Inc., WTG Holding U.S., Inc., Bolenco Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2021
10.14
Incremental Amendment dated October 22, 2021 by and among Northwest Pipe Company, NWPC, LLC, Geneva Pipe and Precast Company, Park Environmental Equipment, LLC, certain other subsidiaries of Northwest Pipe Company, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2021
10.15
Separation Agreement dated April 8, 2022 between Northwest Pipe Company and William Smith, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2022
10.16
Northwest Pipe Company 2022 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2022 *
10.17
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated April 29, 2022 by and among Northwest Pipe Company, NWPC, LLC, Geneva Pipe and Precast Company, Park Environmental Equipment, LLC, certain other subsidiaries of Northwest Pipe Company, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2022
10.18
Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2022 *
10.19
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2022 *
10.20 Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated September 2, 2022 between Northwest Pipe Company and Jefferies LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 2, 2022
10.21
Form of Indemnification Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2022
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Registrant, filed herewith
23.1
Consent of Moss Adams LLP, filed herewith
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith
32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith
99.1
Interim Funding Agreement dated August 2, 2022 by and between Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. and Geneva Pipe and Precast Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2022
Exhibit Number Description
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
SM
“Open Market Sale Agreement” is a service mark of Jefferies LLC.
*
This exhibit constitutes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
**
Schedules and similar attachments to this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) to Regulation S-K. The Registrant will furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the Securities and Exchange Commission request.