Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc.
Annual Report 2011

Plain-text annual report

2011 Annual Report About MFRI MFRI is a multi-line company with interests in specialty piping systems (Perma-Pipe), custom-designed industrial filtration elements (Midwesco Filter), industrial process cooling equipment (Thermal Care) and energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (Midwesco Mechanical). Perma-Pipe is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of specialty piping systems for district heating and cooling, secondary containment and oil and gas gathering flowlines. District heating and cooling systems provide efficient energy distribution. Secondary containment piping systems, consisting of a product pipe inside a containment pipe, securely transports hazardous liquids and petroleum products. Oil and gas gathering flowlines are used to transport crude oil from the well head, either on land or on the ocean floor, to the offloading point. Perma-Pipe’s leak detection and location systems are sold as part of many of its piping systems and on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid may contaminate the environment or damage equipment and property. Midwesco Filter designs and manufactures filter elements for dust collectors used in air filtration. It offers more than 10,000 styles of filter elements designed to fit almost any baghouse or cartridge-type industrial filtration system. These systems are box-like structures where particulates, usually from industrial and utility sources, are removed from exhaust gases while passing through filter elements. Midwesco Filter makes filter elements for both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket users. Thermal Care engineers, designs and manufactures a wide range of heat transfer equipment, including chillers, cooling towers and plant circulating systems for cooling industrial processes. The Company’s cooling products are used to optimize manufacturing productivity by quickly removing heat from manufacturing processes. Chillers and/or cooling towers are combined with plant circulating systems to create plant-wide systems that account for a large portion of its business. Its principal markets for cooling products are thermoplastics processing and general industry. Midwesco Mechanical and Energy provides energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for large commercial, industrial, and institutional projects. In early April, Perma-Pipe inaugurated a new 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The facility will offer insulated piping products to serve the Kingdom’s expanded needs for crude oil transportation pipelines, sulfur pipelines as well as the high growth district cooling and infrastructure opportunities. The facility is capable of producing insulated and fabricated pipe up to 72” diameter and will feature Perma-Pipe’s Xtru-Therm automated spray polyurethane insulation with several jacketing systems including polyethylene, fiberglass and metals. In addition to manufacturing facilities in the USA, Perma-Pipe also operates facilities in Canada, UAE and India. Dear Fellow Shareholders, As we have communicated all year, much of 2011 was dedicated to refocusing our piping systems, driving a return to profi tability for fi ltration and improving the profi tability of industrial process cooling. We met those goals. Looking forward, among our goals for the piping systems unit is to be a signifi cant participant in the rapidly emerging infrastructure and industrial development needs of the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the Saudi Arabian market. To that end, in April 2012, Perma-Pipe celebrated a very successful facility opening in Saudi Arabia. Neither the fourth quarter nor the year’s results were as we had hoped but we believe the stage is set for improved performance starting mid-2012. Th e operating loss for 2011 was driven primarily by the unfavorable full year impact of repositioning our piping systems activities in the Middle East and the absence of large project activity in India, which masks the signifi cant improvements made by our other business units. Filtration products, industrial process cooling and HVAC were all profi table with operating profi ts improved by a combined $3.6 million compared to 2010. 2011 Highlights Summary: • grew net sales 7% to $233.5 million in 2011, from $219 million in 2010 • increased backlog 7% to $83 million from $78 million in 2010 • improved domestic pre-tax income to $5 million from a pre-tax loss of $10 million in 2010 • incurred a foreign pre-tax loss of $10 million in 2011 which included $2.3 million of expensed start-up costs for the new manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia compared to pre-tax income of $12 million in 2010 • repatriated $3.1 million of foreign earnings but incurred $1.8 million tax expense of which $0.5 million was paid to a foreign tax authority and $1.3 million off set by foreign tax credits Geography for Growth We currently have eleven manufacturing facilities located in: Denmark (2), U.A.E., India, Canada JV, Saudi Arabia (began production in April 2012) and the U.S. (5). As you can see from the charts in 2006, only 18 percent of sales and 26 percent of employees were outside the U.S.; whereas in 2011, 30 percent of sales and 41 percent of employees were outside the U.S. Looking Forward Although disappointed with the 2011 result, we appreciate the eff ort made by the piping systems team during the past year to build and commission the Saudi factory, which we believe will enable piping systems to return to more historical levels of profi tability. Turning to 2012, we believe that maintaining our diversifi ed product mix and geographic reach during the diffi cult economic climate will benefi t our Company. In the fi rst quarter of 2012, new orders in North America and Europe show improvement over prior periods. We will continue to make strategic investments intended to facilitate growth in the longer term. We believe our enduring values and business strategies will continue to benefi t our Company. We deeply appreciate the dedication of our approximately 1,200 employees around the world. We also appreciate your support and the confi dence you have placed in us by your investment. We hope you will take the time to learn more about our Company by visiting our website, www.mfri.com, reading our attached 10-K/A report and/or calling us with your questions. Sincerely, David Unger Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer Bradley E. Mautner President and Chief Operating Offi cer UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K/A (Amendment No. 1) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 Commission File No. 0-18370 MFRI, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 7720 N. Lehigh Avenue, Niles, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices) 36-3922969 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 60714 (Zip Code) (847) 966-1000 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Common Stock, $.01 per share Name of each exchange on which registered The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K/A. Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer Smaller reporting company Non-accelerated filer Accelerated filer Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) No The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant (the exclusion of the market value of the shares owned by any person shall not be deemed an admission by the registrant that such person is an affiliate of the registrant) was $53,878,437 based on the closing sale price of $9.00 per share as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on July 31, 2011. The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding at April 25, 2012 was 6,914,646. Portions of the proxy statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE MFRI, Inc. FORM 10-K/A For the fiscal period ended January 31, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Business Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Employees International Executive Officers of the Registrant Risk Factors Unresolved Staff Comments Properties Legal Proceedings Mine Safety Disclosures Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Selected Financial Data Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Controls and Procedures Other Information Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Executive Compensation Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence Principal Accounting Fees and Services Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules Item Part I 1. 1A. 1B. 2. 3. 4. Part II 5. 6. 7. 7A. 8. 9. 9A. 9B. Part III 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Part IV 15. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Signatures 1 2 3 5 6 6 7 8 10 10 11 11 11 12 12 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 23 52 EXPLANATORY NOTE This amendment is being filed to file the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ("Audit Report") for the Company's financial statements as of and for each of the two years ended January 31, 2012. The Audit Report which was dated April 30, 2012 and included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2012 filed on May 1, 2012 (the "Original Filing") was unsigned as the Company's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ("Auditors") had not completed their audit. Due to a misunderstanding the Company believed that the audit was completed and that the Audit Report had been signed on the date of Original Filing and made the Original Filing based on that belief. Included in this filing is the signed Audit Report, which is dated May 9, 2012. Except for (1) the inclusion of the Audit Report made by this filing, (2) an amendment of Item 9A Controls and Procedures (3) an immaterial change to the second paragraph of the Income Taxes of the Management's Discussion and Analysis and in the fourth paragraph of Note 8 - Income taxes; and (4) an immaterial reclassification within the cash flow from operations section of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Original Filing has not been changed or updated by this filing. Forward Looking Statements PART I Statements in this Form 10-K/A that are not historical facts, so-called "forward-looking statements," are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in MFRI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). See "Risk Factors" in Item 1A. Available Information The Company files with and furnishes to the SEC, reports including annual meeting materials, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as amendments thereto. The Company maintains a website www.mfri.com, where these reports and related materials are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically delivers such material to the SEC. The information on the Company's website is not part of this annual report on Form 10-K/A and is not incorporated into this or any other filings by the Company with the SEC. Item 1. BUSINESS MFRI, Inc., collectively with its subsidiaries ("MFRI", the "Company" or the "Registrant"), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in three reportable segments: piping systems, filtration products and industrial process cooling. Corporate and Other includes the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") systems. This activity is not sufficiently large to constitute a reportable segment. The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 2011 and 2010 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In the year ended January 31, 2012, no customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's net sales. 1 MFRI, Inc.'s Operating Units Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Midwesco Mechanical Perma-Pipe, Inc. Niles, IL New Iberia, LA Lebanon, TN Midwesco Filter Resources, Inc. Thermal Care, Inc. Winchester, VA Niles, IL and Energy, Inc. TDC Filter Manufacturing, Inc. Boe-Therm A/S Niles, IL Bolingbrook, IL Assens, Denmark Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC Nordic Air Filtration A/S Fujarah, United Arab Emirates Nakskov, Denmark Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia, LLC Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Perma-Pipe India Pvt. Ltd Gandidham, India Mumbai, India Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. Alberta, Canada All operating units shown are, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by MFRI except Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd., which is owned 49% by MFRI and 51% by an unrelated party. Piping Systems Products and services. The Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping and leak detection and location systems. Piping systems include (i) industrial and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling ("DHC") piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants and (iii) oil and gas gathering flow and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. The Company's leak detection and location systems are sold with many of its piping systems and on a stand-alone basis to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property. Piping systems frequently custom fabricates to job site dimensions and/or to incorporate provisions for thermal expansion due to varying temperatures. This custom fabrication helps to minimize the amount of field labor required by the installation contractor. Most of the Company's piping systems are produced for underground installations and, therefore, require trenching, which is done by unaffiliated installation contractors. Domestic piping systems is seasonal. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") - Piping Systems." Marketing. The customer base is industrially and geographically diverse. In the United States of America ("U.S."), the Company employs national and regional sales managers who use and assist a network of independent manufacturers' representatives, none of whom sells products that are competitive with the Company's piping systems. Globally, the Company employs a direct sales force as well as an exclusive agent network for several countries in the Middle and Far East to market and sell products and services. Recent development. An additional insulated pipe manufacturing plant has been completed in Dammam, Saudi Arabia to better serve the Gulf Cooperation Council ("GCC") and nearby countries. This new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will serve the special requirements of the oil and gas industry as well as the rapidly growing market for district cooling networks. Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia, ("PPSA"), will feature Perma-Pipe's Xtru-Therm automated spray polyurethane insulation and several jacketing systems including polyethylene, metal and fiber reinforced plastic offering a comprehensive product range. PPSA will also be equipped to custom manufacture pipe 2 spools and a complete range of pre-insulated fittings. The Company had its first sale in April 2012. Intellectual Property. The Company owns several patents covering its piping and electronic leak detection systems. The patents are not material either individually or in the aggregate overall because the Company believes sales would not be materially reduced if patent protection were not available. The Company owns numerous trademarks connected with its piping and leak detection systems including the following U.S. trademarks: Perma-Pipe®, Chil-Gard®, Double Quik®, Escon-A®, FluidWatch®, Galva-Gard®, Polytherm®, Pal-AT®, Stereo-Heat®, LiquidWatch®, PalCom®, Xtru-therm®, Auto-Therm®, Pex-Gard®, Multi-Therm®, Ultra- Therm®, Cryo-Gard™, Sleeve-Gard™ and Electro-Gard™. The Company also owns a number of trademarks throughout the world. Some of the Company's more significant trademarks include: Auto-Therm™, Cryo-Gard™, Electro-Gard™, Pal-at™, Permalert™, Perma-Pipe®, Polytherm®, Ric-Wil®, Sleeve-Gard™ and Xtru-therm®. Backlog. As of January 31, 2012, the backlog (uncompleted firm orders) was $53.8 million, net of order cancelled after January 31, 2012 due to technical matters. As of January 31, 2011, the backlog was $46.5 million. Raw materials. The basic raw materials used in production are pipes and tubes made of carbon steel, alloy, copper, ductile iron, plastics and various chemicals such as polyols, isocyanate, urethane resin, polyethylene and fiberglass, mostly purchased in bulk quantities. The Company believes there are currently adequate supplies or sources of availability of these needed raw materials. The sensor cables used in the leak detection and location systems are manufactured to the Company's specifications by companies regularly engaged in manufacturing such cables. The Company owns patents for some of the features of its sensor cables. The Company assembles the monitoring component of the leak detection and location system from standard components purchased from many sources. Competition. Piping systems is highly competitive. The Company believes its principal competition consists of between ten and twenty major competitors and more small competitors. The Company believes quality, service, a comprehensive product line and price are the key competitive factors. The Company also believes it has a more comprehensive line for DHC than any of its competitors. Some competitors have greater financial resources and some have cost advantages as a result of manufacturing a limited range of products. Government regulation. The demand for the Company's leak detection and location systems and secondary containment piping systems, a small percentage of the total annual piping sales, is driven by federal and state environmental regulation with respect to hazardous waste. The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires, in some cases, that the storage, handling and transportation of fluids through underground pipelines feature secondary containment and leak detection. The National Emission Standard for hydrocarbon airborne particulates requires reduction of airborne volatile organic compounds and fugitive emissions. Under this regulation, many major refineries are required to recover fugitive vapors and dispose of the recovered material in a process sewer system, which then becomes a hazardous secondary waste system that must be contained. Although there can be no assurances as to the ultimate effects of these governmental regulations, the Company believes such regulations it may increase the demand for its piping systems products. Filtration Products Products and services. The Company manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for cartridge collectors and baghouse air filtration and particulate collection systems. The principal types of industrial air filtration and particulate collection systems in use are baghouses, cartridge collectors, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and mechanical collectors. This equipment is used to eliminate particulate from the air by passing particulate laden gases through fabric filters (filter bags) or pleated media filter elements, in the case of baghouses or cartridge collectors, between electrically charged collector plates, in the case of electrostatic precipitators and contact with liquid reagents (scrubbers). The Company manufactures filter elements in standard industry sizes, shapes and filtration media and to custom specifications, maintaining manufacturing standards for more than 10,000 styles of filter elements to suit substantially all industrial applications. Filter elements are manufactured from industrial yarn, fabric and paper purchased in bulk. Most filter elements are produced from cellulose, acrylic, 3 fiberglass, polyester, aramid, laminated membranes, or polypropylene fibers. The Company also manufactures filter elements from more specialized materials, sometimes using special finishes. The Company markets numerous filter related products and accessories used during the installation, operation and maintenance of cartridge collectors and baghouses, including wire cages used to support filter bags, spring assemblies for proper tensioning of filter bags and clamps and hanger assemblies for attaching filter elements. In addition, the Company markets other hardware items used in the operation and maintenance of cartridge collectors and baghouses. The Company also provides maintenance services, consisting primarily of air filtration system inspection and filter element replacement, using a network of independent contractors. Over the past three years, the Company's filtration products have supplied filter elements to more than 4,000 user locations. The Company has particular expertise in supplying filter bags for use with electric arc furnaces in the steel industry. The Company believes its production capacity and quality control procedures make it a leading supplier of filter bags to large users in the electric power industry. Orders from the electric power industry tend to be substantial in size, but are usually at lower margins than from other industries. Marketing. The customer base is industrially and geographically diverse. These products and services are used primarily by operators of utility and industrial coal-fired boilers, incinerators and cogeneration plants and by producers of metals, cement, chemicals and other industrial products. Filtration products have an integrated sales program, which consists of field-based sales personnel, manufacturers' representatives, a telemarketing operation and computer-based customer information systems. The Company believes the computer-based information systems are instrumental in increasing sales of filter-related products and accessories and maintenance services, as well as sales of filter elements. Filtration products are marketed domestically under the names, Midwesco Filter and TDC Filter Manufacturing. The Company markets its U.S. manufactured filtration products internationally using domestically based sales resources to target major users in foreign countries. The Denmark filtration facility markets pleated filter elements throughout Europe and Asia, primarily to original equipment manufacturers. Intellectual Property. The Company owns the following trademarks covering its filtration products: Seamless Tube®, Leak Seeker®, Prekote®, We Take the Dust Out of Industry®, Pleatkeeper®, Pleat Plus® and EFC®. The trademarks are not material either individually or in the aggregate overall because the Company believes sales would not be materially reduced if trademark protection were not available. Backlog. As of January 31, 2012, the backlog was $14.5 million, substantially all of which is expected to be completed in 2012. As of January 31, 2011, the backlog was $17.2 million. Raw materials. The basic raw materials used are industrial fibers and media supplied by leading producers of such materials. The majority of raw materials purchased are woven fiberglass fabric, yarns for manufacturing Seamless Tube® products and other woven, felted, spun bond, laminated membranes and cellulose media. Only a limited number of suppliers are available for some of these materials. The Company believes supplies of all materials are adequate to meet current demand. Competition. The filtration products industry is highly competitive. In addition, new installations of cartridge collectors and baghouses are subject to competition from alternative technologies including electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and mechanical collectors described above under Products and Services. The Company believes, based on domestic sales, that its chief competitors consist of approximately five major and at least 50 smaller businesses, most of which are doing business on a regional or local basis. In Europe, several companies supply filtration products and the Company is a relatively small participant in that market. Some of the Company's competitors have greater financial resources than the Company. The Company believes quality, service and price are the most important competitive factors in filtration products. Often, a manufacturer has a competitive advantage when its products have performed successfully for a particular 4 customer in the past. Additional effort is required by a competitor to market products to such a customer. In certain applications, the Company's believes its proprietary Seamless Tube® product and customer support provide the Company with a competitive advantage. Some competitors may have a competitive advantage with respect to their own proprietary products and processes, such as specialized fabrics and fabric finishes. In addition, some competitors may have cost advantages with respect to products as a result of lower wage rates and/or greater vertical integration. Government regulation. The sale of filtration products is dependent upon governmental regulation of air pollution at the federal and state levels. Federal clean air legislation requires compliance with national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards for specific pollutants, including particulate. The states are primarily responsible for implementing these standards and, in some cases, have adopted more stringent standards than those issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 ("Clean Air Act"). In addition, the EPA issued its own fine particle pollution standards in 1997 and 2006. Industrial Process Cooling Products and services. The Company engineers, designs, manufactures and sells cooling and temperature control equipment for industrial applications. The Company believes it manufactures the most complete line of chillers available in its primary markets. Products include: chillers (portable and central); cooling towers; plant circulating assemblies; hot water, hot oil and negative pressure temperature controllers; water treatment equipment; specialty cooling devices for printing presses and ink management; and replacement parts and various accessories relating to the foregoing products. The Company's products are used to optimize manufacturing productivity by quickly removing heat from manufacturing processes and providing accurate temperature control. The Company combines chillers and/or cooling towers with plant circulating systems to create plant wide systems that account for a large portion of its business. The Company specializes in customizing cooling systems and computerized controls according to customer specifications. The principal markets for the Company's cooling and temperature control products are thermoplastics processing and the printing industries. The Company also sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, to other cooling manufacturers on a private branded basis and to manufacturers in the laser, metallizing, machine tool and various other industries. Marketing. The Company sells its products in the global thermoplastics and printing markets as well as to other industrial applications that require specialized heat transfer equipment. Domestic thermoplastics processors are the largest market served by industrial process cooling, representing the core of its business. The Company's cooling products are sold through independent manufacturers' representatives on an exclusive territory basis. Temperature control products are sold through a network of independent dealers/distributors in major industrial markets. The Company believes the total annual U.S. market for water cooling equipment in the plastics industry was more than $100 million on a pre-recession basis and the Company is one of the three largest suppliers of such equipment to the plastics industry. The Company believes the plastics industry is a mature industry with growth consistent with that of the national economy. The Company has increased sales to non-plastics industries that require specialized heat transfer equipment, usually sold to end users as a package by the supplier of the primary equipment, particularly in the laser, metalizing and machine tool industries. The Company believes the size of this market was more than $200 million annually prior to the current recession. The original equipment manufacturer distributes products to the end user in these markets. Intellectual Property. The Company has registered the trademarks Thermal Care®, AWS® and Applied Web Systems®. Backlog. As of January 31, 2012, the backlog was $6.4 million, all of which is expected to be completed in 2012. As of January 31, 2011, the backlog was $4.3 million. Raw materials. The Company uses prefabricated sheet metal and subassemblies manufactured by both Thermal 5 Care and outside vendors for chillers and temperature control fabrication. Cooling towers are manufactured using fiberglass and hardware components purchased from several sources. The Company believes its access to sheet metal, subassemblies, fiberglass and hardware components is adequate to meet demands. Competition. The Company believes there are about 15 competitors selling cooling equipment in the domestic plastics market. The Company further believes three manufacturers, including the Company, account for approximately 50% of the domestic plastics cooling equipment market. Many international customers, with relatively small cooling needs, are able to purchase small refrigeration units (portable chillers), which are manufactured in their respective local markets at prices below that which the Company can offer due to issues such as freight cost and customs duties. However, such local manufacturers often lack the technology and products needed for plant wide cooling systems. The Company believes its reputation for producing quality plant wide cooling products results in a significant portion of the Company's business in the cooling product area. Temperature control units, which are sold globally, compete with both local and European manufacturers. The quality, reliability, features and range of temperature control applications addressed by the Company's products provide a competitive advantage. The Company believes quality, service, a comprehensive product line and price are the key competitive factors in industrial process cooling. The Company believes it has a more comprehensive line of cooling products than any of its competitors. Certain competitors have cost advantages as a result of manufacturing in non-union shops and offering a limited range of products. Some of the Company's competitors may have greater financial resources than the Company. Government regulation. The Company does not expect compliance with federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment to have a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings or the Company's competitive position. Management is not aware of the need for any material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities for the foreseeable future. Regulations, promulgated under the Clean Air Act, prohibit the manufacture and sale of certain refrigerants. The Company does not use those refrigerants in its products. The Company expects that suitable refrigerants conforming to federal, state and local laws and regulations will continue to be available to the Company, although no assurances can be given as to the ultimate effect of the Clean Air Act and related laws on the Company. Employees As of February 29, 2012, the Company had 1,198 full-time employees, of whom 40.7% worked outside the U.S. International The Company's international operations as of January 31, 2012 include subsidiaries and a joint venture in five foreign countries on three continents. The Company's international operations contributed approximately 15.7% of revenue in 2011, 27.6% of revenue in 2010. Refer to the Business descriptions on pages 1 through 5 above and Note 1 - Business and segment information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on international activities. International operations are subject to risks inherent in conducting business in foreign countries, including price controls, exchange controls, limitations on participation in local enterprises, nationalization, expropriation and other governmental action, and changes in currency exchange rates. 6 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The following table sets forth information regarding the executive officers of the Company as of April 15, 2012: Name David Unger Offices and positions, if any, held with the Company; age Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; Age 77 Bradley E. Mautner Director, President and Chief Operating Officer; Age 56 Michael D. Bennett Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer; Age 68 Timothy P. Murphy Vice President of Human Resources; Age 62 Fati A. Elgendy President and Chief Operating Officer of Perma-Pipe; Age 63 Robert A. Maffei Vice President, Perma-Pipe; Age 64 John Mark Foster President, Midwesco Filter; Age 50 Stephen C. Buck President, Thermal Care; Age 63 Edward A. Crylen President and Chief Operating Officer of Midwesco Mechanical and Energy; Age 60 All of the executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Executive officer of the Company or its predecessor since 1972 1994 1989 2008 1990 1987 2008 2007 2006 David Unger, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 1989; President from 1994 until 2004. Bradley E. Mautner, President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2004; Executive Vice President from December 2002 to December 2004;Vice President from December 1996 through December 2002; Director since 1994. Michael D. Bennett, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President since August 1989. Timothy P. Murphy, Vice President of Human Resources since May 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Murphy spent 28 years as a business consultant in roles including Principal Partner of Murphy & Hill Consulting, Managing Director of the Bay Area office of RHR, International and Consultant with YSC, Ltd. Mr. Murphy previously consulted to the Company from 1985 to 2008. Fati A. Elgendy, President and Chief Operating Officer of Perma-Pipe since March 1995. Robert A. Maffei, Vice President, Director of Sales and Marketing of Perma-Pipe since August 1996. John Mark Foster, President of Midwesco Filter since August, 2008. Mr. Foster previously worked at Saint- Gobain (PAR: SGO) in the areas of industrial/project engineering and plant management, followed by positions in market management, human resources and a series of North American and European general management assignments. Stephen C. Buck, President of Thermal Care since October, 2007. Mr. Buck joined Thermal Care after a 22 year career most recently as President - Safety Products Group with Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS), which 7 manufactures and markets products to industrial and municipal customers worldwide. Prior to his employment with Federal Signal Corporation, Mr. Buck held various positions in marketing and management for companies in computer hardware/software, oil field services and telecommunications. Edward A. Crylen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Midwesco Mechanical and Energy, since its formation in December 2006. Item 1A. RISK FACTORS The Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are subject to various risks, including, but not limited to those set forth below, which could cause actual results to vary materially from recent results or from anticipated future results. These risk factors should be considered together with information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. Economic factors. In the latest recession, the economy experienced a severe and prolonged downturn which adversely impacted all of the Company's businesses, directly or indirectly. Downturns in such general economic conditions can significantly affect the business of our customers, which in turn affects demand, volumes, pricing, and operating margins for our services and products. Many of customers and suppliers felt the impact of the economic downturn. A downturn in one or more of our significant markets could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. Because economic and market conditions vary within the Company's segments, the Company's performance by segment will also vary. In addition, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Failure to successfully manage any of these risks could have an adverse impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Customer access to capital funds. Uncertainty about current economic market conditions poses risks that the Company's customers may postpone spending for capital improvement and maintenance projects in response to tighter credit markets or negative financial news, which could have a material negative effect on the demand for the Company's products. The adverse effect of the recent credit availability experienced by the Emirate of Dubai has significantly decelerated construction activity both in the U.A.E. and across other GCC countries, negatively impacting sales volume at the U.A.E. facility. Rapid growth of business. Expansion may result in unanticipated adverse consequences, including significant strain on management, operations and financial systems as well as on the Company's ability to attract and retain competent employees. In the future, we may seek to grow our business by investing in new or existing facilities, making acquisitions, entering into partnerships and joint ventures, or constructing new facilities, which could entail a number of additional risks, including: • • • • • • • strain on working capital; diversion of management from other activities which could impair the operation of existing businesses; failure to successfully integrate the acquired businesses or facilities into existing operations; inability to maintain key pre-acquisition business relationships; loss of key personnel of the acquired business or facility; exposure to unanticipated liabilities; and failure to realize efficiencies, synergies and cost savings. As a result of these and other factors, including the general economic risk, the Company may not be able to realize the expected benefits from any recent or future acquisitions, new facility developments, partnerships, joint ventures or other investments. Changes in government policies and laws, worldwide economic conditions. International sales represent a significant portion of the Company's total sales and continued growth and profitability may involve further international expansion. The Company's financial results could be affected by changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations, or other activities of U.S. and non U.S. governments, agencies and similar 8 organizations. These conditions include, but are not limited, to changes in a country's or region's economic or political conditions, trade regulations affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, burdensome taxes and tariffs and other trade barriers. International risks and uncertainties, including changing social and economic conditions as well as terrorism, political hostilities and war, could lead to reduced international sales and reduced profitability associated with such sales. Government regulation. Demand for the Company's leak detection and location and secondary containment piping systems is driven primarily by government regulation with respect to hazardous waste. Laws such as the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and standards such as the National Emission Standard for Hydrocarbon Airborne Particulates have increased the demand for the Company's leak detection and location and secondary containment piping systems. Filtration products, to a large extent, is dependent on governmental regulation of air pollution at the federal and state levels. The Company believes that continuing growth in the sale of filtration products and services will be materially dependent on continuing enforcement of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act. Although changes in such environmental regulations could significantly alter the demand for the Company's products and services, the Company does not believe such a change is likely to decrease demand in the foreseeable future. Financing. If there were an event of default under the Company's current revolving credit facility, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately. The Company cannot assure that the assets or cash flow would be sufficient to fully repay amounts due under any of the financing arrangements, if accelerated upon an event of default, or, that the Company would be able to repay, refinance or restructure the payments under any such arrangements. Complying with the covenants under the Company's revolving credit facility may limit management's discretion by restricting options such as: incurring additional debt; entering into transactions with affiliates; · · · making investments or other restricted payments; paying dividends or make other distributions; and · creating liens. · Any additional financing the Company may obtain could contain similar or more restrictive covenants. The Company's ability to comply with any covenants may be adversely affected by general economic conditions, political decisions, industry conditions and other events beyond management's control. Competition. The businesses in which the Company is engaged are highly competitive. Many of the competitors are larger and have more resources. Additionally, many of the Company's products are also subject to competition from alternative technologies and alternative products. To the extent the Company relies upon a single source for key components of several of its products, the Company believes there are alternate sources available for such components; however, there can be no assurance that the interruption of supplies of such components would not have an adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company and that the Company, if required to do so, would be able to negotiate agreements with alternative sources on acceptable terms. In periods of declining demand, the Company's fixed cost structure may limit ability to cut costs, which may be a competitive disadvantage to firms with lower cost structures, or may result in reduced operating margins and operating losses. Backlog. The Company defines backlog as the revenue value in dollars resulting from confirmed customer purchase orders that have not yet been recognized as revenue. However, by industry practice, orders may be canceled or modified at any time. If a customer cancels an order, the customer is responsible for all finished goods, all direct and indirect costs incurred and also for a reasonable allowance for anticipated profits. No assurance can be given that these amounts will be recovered after cancellation. Any cancellation or delay in orders may result in lower than expected revenue. Percentage-of-completion method of accounting. The Company measures and recognizes a portion of revenue and profits under the percentage-of-completion accounting methodology. This methodology allows revenue and profits to be recognized proportionally over the life of a contract by comparing the amount of the cost incurred to 9 date against the total amount of cost expected to be incurred. The effect of revisions to revenue and total estimated cost is recorded when the amounts are known and can be reasonably estimated. These revisions can occur at any time and could be material. On a historical basis, management believes that reasonably reliable estimates of the progress towards completion on long-term contracts have been made. However, given the uncertainties associated with these types of contracts, it is possible for actual cost to vary from estimates previously made, which may result in reductions or reversals of previously recorded revenue and profits. Regulatory and legal requirements. As a public company, the Company is required to comply with the reporting obligations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Keeping informed of and in compliance with, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance, public disclosure and accounting standards, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd-Frank Act, as well as new and proposed SEC regulations and accounting standards, has required an increased amount of management attention and external resources. Compliance with such requirements may result in increased general and administrative expenses and an increased allocation of management time and attention to compliance activities. Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS - None. Item 2. PROPERTIES Piping Systems Illinois Louisiana Tennessee Canada India Owned production facilities and office space Owned production facilities and leased land Owned production facilities and office space Joint venture owned production facilities and office space Leased production facilities, office space and land Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Owned production facilities and leased land Leased office space and land for production United Arab facilities Emirates Filtration Products 16,800 square feet 18,900 square feet 131,800 square feet on approximately 23.5 acres 87,160 square feet on approximately 128 acres 34,900 square feet on approximately 4.5 acres 89,000 square feet on approximately 19 acres 119,300 square feet on approximately 18 acres Illinois 101,500 square feet on 5.5 acres Bolingbrook - owned production facilities and office space Cicero - owned production facilities and office space currently idle 130,700 square feet on 2.8 acres Virginia Denmark Owned production facilities Leased production facilities and office space Owned production facilities and office space Industrial Process Cooling 97,500 square feet on 5.0 acres 67,000 square feet 69,800 square feet on 3.5 acres Illinois Denmark Owned production facilities and office space Owned production facilities and office space 87,600 square feet on 8.1 acres 16,500 square feet The Company's principal executive offices, which occupy approximately 23,400 square feet of space in Niles, Illinois, are owned by the Company. The Company believes its properties and equipment are well maintained and in good operating condition and, that productive capacities will be adequate for present and currently anticipated needs. 10 The Company has three significant lease agreements as follows: • Land in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leased through 2030 and 2031. • Office space of approximately 119,300 square feet and land for production facilities in the U.A.E. leased until June 30, 2030. • Production facilities and office space of approximately 67,000 square feet in Virginia are leased through July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2013, respectively. For further information, see Note 6 - Lease information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - The Company had no material pending litigation. Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES - Not applicable. PART II Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 2011 and 2010 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011 respectively. The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "MFRI". The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low Common Stock sale prices as reported by the Nasdaq Global Market for 2011 and 2010. 2011 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter 2010 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter High $13.06 10.21 9.47 7.51 7.21 6.95 8.76 11.00 Low $9.57 6.96 6.51 6.43 6.16 5.86 6.25 7.68 As of March 15, 2012, there were 74 stockholders of record and other additional shareholders for whom securities firms acted as nominees. The Company has never declared or paid a cash dividend and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Management presently intends to retain all available funds for the development of the business and for use as working capital. Future dividend policy will depend upon the Company's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other relevant factors. The Company's line of credit agreement does not permit the payment of dividends. For further information, see Note 5 - Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Neither the Company nor any "affiliated purchaser" as defined in Rule 10b-18 purchased any shares of the Company's Common Stock during the period covered by this report. The Company has not made any sale of unregistered securities during the preceding three years. The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Shares is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004, (212) 509-4000. 11 Equity Compensation Plan Information The following table provides information regarding the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Company's equity compensation plans and the weighted average exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under those plans as of January 31, 2012. Plan Category Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders Number of shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights Number of shares available for future issuance under equity compensation plans 842,966 $11.48 503,435 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - Not applicable. Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The statements contained under the caption MD&A and other information contained elsewhere in this annual report, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "continue," "remains," "intend," "aim," "should," "prospects," "could," "future," "potential," "believes," "plans," "likely" and "probable" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those under the heading Item 1A. Risk Factors. CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Consolidated Backlog ($ in thousands): Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total *net of order cancelled after January 31, 2012 due to technical matters 12 2011 $53,769 * 14,473 6,431 8,539 $83,212 2010 $46,452 17,178 4,332 9,751 $77,713 MFRI, Inc. is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in three reportable segments: piping systems, filtration products and industrial process cooling. Piping systems' domestic sales and earnings are seasonal, typically lower during the fourth and first quarters due to unfavorable weather for construction over much of North America and are correspondingly higher during the second and third quarters. The Company website address is www.mfri.com. The analysis presented below and discussed in more detail throughout the MD&A was organized to provide instructive information for understanding the business going forward. However, this discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report, including the notes thereto. An overview of the segment results is provided in Note 1 - Business and segment information to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report. Critical accounting policies and estimates MD&A discusses the consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that judgments and estimates related to the following critical accounting policies could materially affect the consolidated financial statements: • Revenue recognition • Percentage of completion revenue recognition • • • Equity-based compensation • Fair value of financial instruments Inventory Income taxes In the fourth quarter of 2011, there were no changes in the above critical accounting policies. In the latest recession, the economy experienced a severe and prolonged downturn which adversely impacted all of the Company's businesses, directly or indirectly. Although improvement is expected, the timing of economic recovery in the markets we serve remains uncertain. Because economic and market conditions vary within the Company's segments, the Company's future performance by segment will also vary. Should current economic conditions continue, or a further downturn in one or more of our significant markets, the Company could experience a period of declining net sales, which could adversely impact the Company's results of operations. Correction of immaterial errors In the fourth quarter of 2011, management discovered prior period tax errors related mainly to transfer pricing . The cumulative adjustment for the tax errors covering the period from February 1, 2007 to January 31, 2011, was approximately $315 thousand. The adjustment applicable to the fourth quarter of 2010 was approximately $135 thousand and the adjustment applicable to prior years (February 2007 - January 2010) totaled approximately $180 thousand. Pursuant to the guidance of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 99, Materiality, the Company concluded that the errors were not material to any of its prior period financial statements. However, in accordance with SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements, the prior period financial statements were revised. Prior period amounts stated in this Form 10-K/A have been revised to facilitate comparability between current and prior year periods. For further information, see Note 7 Correction of immaterial errors - in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 13 2011 Compared to 2010 Net sales were $233.5 million in 2011, an increase of 7% from $219 million in 2010. Sales increased in filtration products, industrial process cooling and HVAC. Piping systems' sales declined due to reduced activity at the U.A.E. facility and no large project related revenue at the India facility. Gross profit of $36 million in 2011 decreased 18% from $44 million in 2010. Gross margin was 16% compared to 20% in 2010. Gross profit increased significantly in filtration products, industrial process cooling and HVAC due to increased sales volume and margin improvements. Piping systems' gross profit decreased considerably to $14.4 million in 2011 from $27.3 million in 2010 due to lower volume at the U.A.E. facility and no large project related activity at the India facility. In the second quarter, piping systems also incurred a one-time extended service claim of approximately $0.6 million. General and administrative expenses decreased 6% to $26.3 million from $28 million. The reduction was mainly due to lower profit-based management incentive compensation expense, lower stock compensation expense and lower legal expenses partially offset by start-up costs for piping systems' new facility in Saudi Arabia. Selling expenses increased 11% to $15.1 million from $13.6 million. A change in piping systems' domestic sales commission program resulted in increased sales commission expense, additional sales in industrial process cooling led to higher commission expense and higher healthcare costs were partially offset by reduced costs from closing the facility in South Africa recorded in 2010. The Company's worldwide effective income tax rates, ("ETR"), for 2011 and 2010 were (0.3)% and (67.0)%, respectively. For additional information, see the Income Tax section of the MD&A and see Note 8 - Income taxes in the Notes to the Financial Statements. Net loss was $5 million compared to net income of $4.4 million in 2010. This change is mainly the result of lower volume at the U.A.E. facility and no large project related activity at the India facility. Furthermore piping systems incurred expenses of $1.0 million for the fourth quarter and $2.3 million for 2011 relating to the new start-up facility in Saudi Arabia. Piping Systems The adverse effect of the credit crisis experienced by the Emirate of Dubai has significantly decelerated construction activity both in the U.A.E. and across other GCC countries, negatively impacting sales volume at the U.A.E. facility. The manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia is production ready and staff has been recruited and trained. Initial customer orders have been received, technical submittals are awaiting approval and procurement of raw materials is currently underway. Expenses of $1.0 million for the fourth quarter and $2.3 million for 2011 relating to this new start-up facility were recorded to cost of goods sold, general and administrative and selling expenses. Piping systems' domestic sales and earnings are seasonal, typically lower during the fourth and first quarters due to unfavorable weather for construction over much of North America and are correspondingly higher during the second and third quarters. 14 ($ in thousands) Net sales Gross profit Percentage of net sales Income from operations Percentage of net sales 2011 $96,977 2010 $104,559 % (Decrease) (7)% 14,382 15% 1,115 1% 27,303 26% 13,831 13% (47)% (92)% Despite significant sales drops in the Middle East and India, net sales of $97 million decreased only 7% from $104.6 million, in the prior-year due to reduced activity at the U.A.E. facility and no large project related revenue at the India facility, partially offset by a rise in domestic oil and gas product sales. Gross margin decreased to 15% of net sales from 26% of net sales in the prior-year due to lower volume at the U.A.E. facility and no large project related activity at the India facility. In the second quarter, piping systems incurred a one-time extended service claim of approximately $0.6 million. General and administrative expense decreased to $9 million or 9.5% of net sales in 2011 from $10 million or 9.9% of net sales in 2010. The reduction in general and administrative expenses was due to lower profit based management incentive compensation, legal expenses and reduced staffing at the U.A.E. location, partially offset by increased healthcare costs. Selling expense increased to $4 million or 4% of net sales in 2011 from $3 million or 3% of net sales in 2010. This increase was due to a change in the domestic sales commission program, which resulted in higher sales commission expense in the period. Filtration Products The timing of large orders can have a material effect on net sales and gross profit from period to period. Pricing on large orders was extremely competitive and therefore resulted in relatively low gross margins in all periods. Filtration products is dependent on government regulation of air quality at the federal and state levels. The Company believes that growth in the sale of its filtration products and services will be materially dependent on continued enforcement of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act. Although there can be no assurance what the ultimate effect of the Clean Air Act will be on filtration products, the Company believes the Clean Air Act is likely to have a positive long-term effect on demand for the Company's filtration products and services. ($ in thousands) Net sales Gross profit Percentage of net sales Income (loss) from operations Percentage of net sales 2011 $93,705 2010 $85,133 % Increase 10% 12,466 13% 10,394 12 % 614 0.7% (1,335) (1.6)% 20% 146% Net sales increased 10% to $94 million in 2011 from $85 million in 2010 due to improving business conditions in filtration products. New pricing models are being used in an effort to shift the mix of products sold and improve overall profitability. Gross margin increased to 13% of net sales from 12% of net sales in 2010 primarily due to cost containment efforts 15 and improved product mix. In July 2010, the Company announced that the facility in South Africa would close in the third quarter. Expenses related to the closing were approximately $577 thousand. In 2010, these expenses were included in cost of goods sold, general and administrative and selling expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $5 million from $4.8 million and as a percentage of net sales decreased to 5.3% from 5.6% in 2010. The dollar increase was due to additional staffing, foreign exchange currency loss and an increase in bad debt expense partially offset by closing costs related to the facility in South Africa. Selling expenses remained level at $6.9 million. Additional staffing and higher advertising expenses were offset by the 2010 closing of the South Africa facility. Selling expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 7.3% in 2011 from 8.2% of net sales in 2010. Industrial Process Cooling ($ in thousands) Net sales Gross profit Percentage of net sales Income from operations Percentage of net sales 2011 $32,112 2010 $26,220 % Increase 22% 8,541 27% 810 2.5% 7,044 27% 295 1.1% 21% 175% Net sales of $32 million increased 22% from $26 million in 2010 due to improving business conditions in the domestic plastic and industrial market sectors. Gross profit increased 21% to $8.5 million from $7 million in 2010. Gross margin remained constant as a percentage of net sales. General and administrative expenses increased to $3.6 million from $3.2 million in 2010 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 11% from 12% in 2010 due to the effect of higher sales. The change in spending was a result of restoring compensation to levels before wage reductions implemented during the economic downturn, increased profit based management incentive compensation expense related to improved performance, additional staffing and increased professional expenses including legal costs. Selling expenses increased to $4.2 million in 2011 from $3.5 million in 2010 primarily driven by an increase in commission expense due to higher sales, restoring compensation to levels before wage reductions implemented during the economic downturn and higher healthcare costs. Selling expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 13% from 13.5% of net sales in 2010 due to the effect of higher sales. Corporate and Other Net sales of $10.7 million in 2011 increased from $2.7 million in 2010 due to increased construction activity. Corporate expenses include interest expense and general and administrative expenses that are not allocated to the segments. General and administrative expenses decreased 11% to $8.5 million or 3.7% of net sales from $9.6 million or 4.4% of net sales in 2010. The decrease was due to lower profit-based management incentive and stock compensation expense. Interest expense increased to $2.2 million from $1.9 million in 2010 primarily due to higher borrowings and interest 16 rates. Interest income increased to $728 thousand from $676 thousand due to higher cash balances held overseas in piping systems. INCOME TAXES The Company's worldwide ETRs were (0.3)% and (67.0)% in 2011 and 2010, respectively. The ETR in the periods presented was the result of the mix of income earned in multiple tax jurisdictions with various income tax rates. Income earned in the U.A.E. is not subject to any local country income tax. The ETR in 2011 was less than the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, due to foreign losses and repatriation of foreign earnings. The ETR in 2010 was less than the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainly due to the large portion of income earned in the U.A.E. The January 31, 2012 computation of the projected annual tax rate has been significantly impacted by the loss in the U.A.E. for which no tax benefit can be provided. The Company recorded $1.8 million in tax expense associated with the $3.1 million repatriation of foreign earnings that occurred in July 2011. These foreign earnings were previously considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. The repatriation was a one-time nonrecurring event. The Company has not provided Federal tax on unremitted earnings of its international subsidiaries. A deferred tax asset of $1.3 million has been established for U.S. foreign tax credits attributed to repatriated foreign earnings, resulting in a net tax of $0.5 million. The excess foreign tax credits are subject to a ten-year carryforward and will expire in 2022. During 2011, the Company reevaluated the need for a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets and determined that no reserve was needed. As of January 31, 2011 and January 31, 2012, no valuation allowance was deemed necessary on all domestic deferred tax assets except for certain state net operating losses, ("NOL"). The Company believes that it will be more likely than not that the research and development credits will be utilized within the next five years; therefore, the Company has released the valuation allowance of $0.8 million for the $1.3 million research and development credits established in 2009. Another contributing factor to the unusual ETR is the valuation allowance set up on the NOL in Saudi Arabia. The Company does not record a tax benefit for its start-up entities. As of January 31, 2012, the Company had undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which deferred taxes have not been provided. The Company intends and has the ability to reinvest these earnings for the foreseeable future outside the U.S. If these amounts were distributed to the U.S., in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to additional U.S. income taxes. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liabilities on these earnings is not practicable because such liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing if and when remittance occurs. A reconciliation of the ETR to the U.S. Statutory tax rate is as follows: Statutory tax rate Differences in foreign tax rate Foreign tax credit Research tax credit and release of valuation allowance Repatriation Valuation allowance for foreign and state NOLs Nontaxable income from the Canadian joint venture State taxes, net of federal benefit All other, net expense Effective income tax rate 2011 34.0 % (28.8)% 26.2 % 19.1 % (36.4)% (10.1)% 10.7 % (8.4)% (6.6)% (0.3)% 2010 34.0 % (60.7)% — % — % — % (20.8)% (12.8)% (16.6)% 9.9 % (67.0)% For further information, see Note 8 - Income taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 17 LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Cash and cash equivalents as of January 31, 2012 were $4.2 million as compared to $16.7 million at January 31, 2011. The decrease was primarily for the new facility in Saudi Arabia. The Company's working capital was $43 million at January 31, 2012 compared to $59 million at January 31, 2011. Cash used in operations in 2011 was $0.2 million compared to cash provided by operations of $8.7 million at January 31, 2011. In July 2011, the Company recorded a one-time $1.8 million tax expense associated with a $3.1 million repatriation of foreign earnings. This tax expense included a payment of $0.5 million to the foreign tax authority and an accrual of $1.3 million U.S. tax on foreign source income. No cash will be paid for this tax in the U.S. since the Company has a net operating loss carryforward for federal income taxes. The Company does not intend to repatriate remaining unremitted foreign earnings and anticipates reinvesting these earnings overseas to fund current working capital requirements and expansion in foreign markets. If the Company repatriates unremitted foreign earnings, it will have negative tax implications. Net cash used in investing activities in 2011 included $10 million for capital expenditures, primarily for machinery and equipment in piping systems of which $6.6 million was related to the new plant in Saudi Arabia. The Company estimates that capital expenditures for 2012 will be approximately $8 million, of which the Company may finance capital expenditures through real estate mortgages, equipment financing loans, internally generated funds and its revolving line of credit. The majority of such expenditures relates to foreign growth within piping systems. Debt totaled $37.4 million at January 31, 2012, a decrease of $2 million since January 31, 2011. Net cash used by financing activities was $1.9 million. Other long-term liabilities of $5.1 million were composed primarily of accrued pension cost and deferred compensation. The following table summarizes the Company's estimated contractual obligations at January 31, 2012. ($ in thousands) Contractual obligations Revolving line domestic (1) Mortgages (2) Revolving line foreign Term loans (3) Subtotal Capitalized lease obligations Operating lease obligations (4) Projected pension contributions (5) Deferred compensation (6) Employment agreements (7) Uncertain tax position obligations (8) Total $18,252 17,699 1,986 5,396 43,333 2,133 11,871 3,979 5,686 101 945 Year Ending January 31, 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Thereafter $— $18,252 1,156 673 1,436 3,265 518 2,148 705 571 — — 926 75 1,886 21,139 465 1,765 308 105 — — $— 929 75 340 1,344 406 1,504 325 105 — — $— 928 75 62 1,065 385 1,306 343 105 — — $— 927 75 62 1,064 359 1,242 347 52 — — $— 12,833 1,013 1,610 15,456 — 3,906 1,951 4,748 101 945 Total $68,048 $7,207 $23,782 $3,684 $3,204 $3,064 $27,107 Notes to contractual obligations table (1) Interest obligations exclude floating rate interest on debt payable under the domestic revolving line of credit. Based on the amount of such debt at January 31, 2012, and the weighted average interest rate of 3.51% on that debt, such interest was being incurred at an annual rate of approximately $0.8 million. (2) Scheduled maturities, including interest. (3) Term loan obligations exclude floating rate interest on term loan with a January 31, 2012 balance of $1.1 million. Based on the amount of such debt as of January 31, 2012, and the weighted average interest rate of 3.34% on that debt, such interest was being incurred at an annual rate of approximately $42 thousand. (4) Minimum contractual amounts, assuming no changes in variable expenses. (5) Includes expected employer contributions for fiscal year ending January 31, 2012 and estimated future benefit 18 payments reflecting expected future service. (6) Non-qualified deferred compensation plan - The Company has deferred compensation agreements with key employees. Vesting is based on years of service. Life insurance contracts have been purchased which may be used to fund the Company's obligation under these agreements. Payment estimates calculated by the third party administrator, have been included. (7) Refer to the proxy statement for a description of compensation plans for Named Executive Officers. (8) Refer to Note 8 - Income taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the uncertain tax position obligations. Financing On July 11, 2002, the Company entered into a secured loan and security agreement with a financial institution ("Loan Agreement"). Under the terms of the Loan Agreement as amended, which matures on November 30, 2013, the Company can borrow up to $38 million, subject to borrowing base and other requirements, under a revolving asset-based line of credit. The Loan Agreement covenants restrict debt, liens, investments, do not permit payment of dividends, and require attainment of levels of profitability and cash flows. At January 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Loan Agreement. Interest rates are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At January 31, 2012, the prime rate was 3.25%, the LIBOR rate was 0.375%, and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were 0.5 and 2.75 percentage points, respectively. Monthly interest payments were made during the years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011. As of January 31, 2012, the Company had borrowed $18.3 million and had $6.9 million available to it under the revolving line of credit. In addition, $0.2 million of availability was used under the Loan Agreement primarily to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases. The Loan Agreement provides that all domestic receipts are deposited in a bank account from which all funds may only be used to pay the debt under the Loan Agreement. At January 31, 2012, the amount of such restricted cash was $1.7 million. Cash required for operations is provided by draw-downs on the line of credit. The Company also has credit arrangements used by its Denmark and U.A.E. subsidiaries. These credit arrangements are in the form of overdraft facilities at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. At January 31, 2012, borrowings under these credit arrangements totaled $1.5 million; an additional $3.8 million remained unused. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES The Company's significant accounting policies are discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. The application of certain of these policies requires significant judgments or a historical based estimation process that can affect the results of operations and financial position of the Company as well as the related footnote disclosures. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that it believes are reasonable. If actual amounts ultimately differ from previous estimates, the revisions are included in the Company's results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known. Revenue recognition. The Company recognizes revenues including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, when all the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iii) collectability is reasonably assured. All subsidiaries of the Company, except as noted below, recognize revenues upon shipment or delivery of goods or services when title and risk of loss pass to customers. Percentage of completion method revenue recognition. All divisions recognize revenues under the above stated revenue recognition policy except for sizable complex contracts that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. Under this approach, income is recognized in each reporting period based on the status of the uncompleted contracts and the current 19 estimates of costs to complete. The choice of accounting method is made at the time the contract is received based on the expected length and complexity of the project. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated. Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories. Income taxes. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences arising from differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes on temporary differences have been recorded at the current tax rate. The Company assesses its deferred tax assets for realizability at each reporting period. The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. Equity-based compensation. Stock compensation expense for employee equity awards is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of the award. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is utilized to estimate the fair value of awards. Determining the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes model requires judgment, including estimates for (1) risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the yield of zero-coupon treasury securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; (2) expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of the Company's Common Stock; and (3) expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations. Fair value of financial instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are based upon reasonable estimates of their fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the cash surrender value of life insurance policies approximated fair value and was based on the market value of the underlying investments, which may increase or decrease due to fluctuations in the overall financial markets. The carrying amount of the Company's short-term debt, revolving line of credit and long-term debt approximate fair value because the majority of the amounts outstanding accrue interest at variable rates. The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to reduce its exposure to market risks from changing interest rates under the revolving credit agreement. Any differences paid or received on the interest rate swap agreements are recognized as adjustments to interest expense over the life of the swap, thereby adjusting the effective interest rate on the underlying obligation. Reclassifications. Reclassifications were made to prior-year financial statements to conform to the current-year presentations as required. New accounting pronouncements. See "Financial Statements - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements," Note 2 - "New accounting pronouncements," for information regarding new accounting pronouncements. Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK - Not applicable. 20 Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The consolidated financial statements of the Company for each of the two years in the periods ended as of January 31, 2012 and 2011 and the notes thereto are set forth elsewhere herein. Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE - None. Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of January 31, 2012. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, due to a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described below in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of January 31, 2012. Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. As required by Rule 13a-15(c) under the Exchange Act, MFRI's management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the last fiscal year. The framework on which such evaluation was based is contained in the report entitled "Internal Control-Integrated Framework" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the "COSO Report"). The Company's system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Based on its assessment, management has concluded that the Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2012, based on criteria in the COSO Report. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The Company's processes, procedures and controls related to the preparation, review and filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K ("10-K") were not effective at January 31, 2012 to ensure that its Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ("Auditors") had completed its audit work and signed its Report and Consent prior to filing the 10-K. This material weakness resulted in filing a 10-K prior to the Auditors' completion of their work as well as without the signed Auditors Report and Consent, due to a misunderstanding. This material weakness did not result in any other material adjustments to the Registrant's financial statements, notes thereto, or other disclosures in the 10-K. Change in Internal Controls. Other than the material weakness noted above, there has been no change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting. Remediation Plan for Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting: Beginning with the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, the Company has adopted a procedure that requires the Auditors signed Report and Consent, or such other report that is required for filing any report with the SEC to be in hand 21 prior to such filing. The Company also intends to increase senior management's direction and review of the 10-K reporting process to ensure compliance with existing Company internal controls. We anticipate the actions described above and resulting improvements in controls will strengthen the Company's processes, procedures and controls related to the preparation, review and filing of such reports, and will address the related material weakness that we identified as of January 31, 2012. Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION - None PART III Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Information with respect to executive officers of the Company is included in Item 1, Part I hereof under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant". Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTING FEES AND SERVICES Information with respect to this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES PART IV a. List of documents filed as part of this report: (1) Financial Statements - Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company Refer to Part II, Item 8 of this report. (2) Financial Statement Schedules Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts b. Exhibits: The exhibits, as listed in the Exhibit Index included herein, are submitted as a separate section of this report. c. The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted under 15a (2) above. 22 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Board of Directors and Shareholders MFRI Inc. and Subsidiaries We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MFRI Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the two years ended January 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MFRI Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years ended January 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Chicago, Illinois May 9, 2012 /s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP 23  January 31, 2012 2011 $233,496 197,203 36,293 $218,598 174,140 44,458 26,252 15,132 41,384 27,926 13,634 41,560 (5,091) 2,898 1,558 1,437 (4,970) 983 1,261 2,620 17 (1,755) $(4,987) $4,375 6,878 6,878 6,842 6,850 $(0.73) $0.64 MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) Net sales Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses: General and administrative expense Selling expense Total operating expenses (Loss) income from operations Income from joint venture Interest expense, net (Loss) income before income taxes Income tax expense (benefit) Net (loss) income Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic Diluted (Loss) earnings per share Basic and diluted See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 24 MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except per share data) ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $235 at January 31, 2012 and $346 at January 31, 2011 Inventories, net Prepaid expenses and other current assets Deferred tax assets - current Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Income tax receivable Total current assets Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation Other assets Deferred tax assets - long-term Note receivable from joint venture Investment in joint venture Cash surrender value of deferred compensation plan Other assets Patents, net of accumulated amortization Total other assets Total assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Trade accounts payable Commissions and management incentives payable Accrued compensation and payroll taxes Other accrued liabilities Current maturities of long-term debt Customers' deposits Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Income tax payable Total current liabilities Long-term liabilities Long-term debt, less current maturities Deferred compensation liabilities Other long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Stockholders' equity January 31, 2012 2011 $4,209 1,854 28,109 39,968 3,973 1,946 2,375 — 82,434 47,842 10,967 4,195 4,636 2,782 3,860 331 26,771 $157,047 $20,020 4,722 4,571 2,610 2,736 2,432 1,978 417 39,486 34,682 5,686 5,074 45,442 $16,718 984 36,634 35,509 4,575 2,389 2,055 204 99,068 43,655 8,470 4,270 3,078 2,869 1,605 260 20,552 $163,275 $19,296 6,867 4,332 3,166 3,082 1,913 1,597 — 40,253 36,192 5,138 3,638 44,968 Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 50,000 shares; 6,913 issued and outstanding at 69 69 January 31, 2012 and 6,851 issued and outstanding at January 31, 2011 Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 25 49,828 22,802 (580) 72,119 $157,047 49,003 27,789 1,193 78,054 $163,275 MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ($ in thousands) Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Stockholders' Equity Balances at January 31, 2010 $68 $48,061 $23,414 $814 $72,357 Net income 4,375 4,375 Stock options exercised 1 Stock-based compensation expense Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised Interest Rate Swap (net of taxes of $43) Pension liability adjustment (net of taxes of $525) Foreign currency translation adjustment 45 895 2 (334) 203 510 (334) 203 510 4,375 46 895 2 (334) 203 510 Balances at January 31, 2011 $69 $49,003 $27,789 $1,193 $4,754 $78,054 Net loss (4,987) (4,987) (4,987) Stock options exercised — Stock-based compensation expense Excess tax expense from stock options exercised Interest Rate Swap (net of tax benefit of $120) Pension liability adjustment (net of taxes of $1,119) Foreign currency translation adjustment 210 621 (6) Balances at January 31, 2012 $69 $49,828 $22,802 210 621 (6) 139 (970) (942) $72,119 139 (970) (942) ($580) 139 (970) (942) ($6,760) Common stock shares Balance beginning of year Stock options exercised Balance end of year 2011 6,851,471 61,300 6,912,771 2010 6,836,433 15,038 6,851,471 See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 26 MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS ($ in thousands) Operating activities Net (loss) income Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities Depreciation and amortization Deferred tax benefit Income from joint venture Stock-based compensation expense Cash surrender value of deferred compensation plan Loss on sale of fixed assets Changes in operating assets and liabilities Accounts payable Accrued compensation and payroll taxes Inventories Customers' deposits Income taxes receivable and payable Prepaid expenses and other current assets Accounts receivable, net Other assets and liabilities Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Investing activities Additions to property, plant and equipment Proceeds from sales of property and equipment Net cash used in investing activities Financing activities Borrowings Payment of debt (Decrease) increase in drafts payable Payment on capitalized lease obligations Stock options exercised Tax benefit of stock options exercised Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents - end of period Supplemental cash flow information Cash paid for Interest expense Income taxes paid, net of refunds See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 27 January 31, 2012 2011 $(4,987) $4,375 5,582 (989) (1,558) 621 86 115 1,308 (1,852) (4,593) 520 8 (234) 8,075 (2,292) (190) (10,086) 18 (10,068) 195,363 (196,671) (475) (293) 210 — (1,866) (385) (12,509) 16,718 4,209 6,070 (3,752) (983) 895 (377) 69 4,820 (2,583) 1,706 (1,607) 1,214 (1,408) (488) 763 8,714 (4,030) 96 (3,934) 151,258 (148,904) 1,166 (198) 45 2 3,369 502 8,651 8,067 16,718 $2,117 431 $1,992 1,108 MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEARS ENDED January 31, 2012 and 2011 (Tabular dollars in thousands, except per share data) Note 1 - Business and segment information MFRI, Inc. ("MFRI", the "Company", or the "Registrant") was incorporated in Delaware on October 12, 1993. MFRI is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in three distinct segments: piping systems, filtration products and industrial process cooling. Fiscal year. The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 2011 and 2010 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Nature of business. Piping systems engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping and leak detection and location systems. This segment's specialty piping systems include (i) industrial and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, waste streams and petroleum liquids, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants, and (iii) oil and gas gathering flow and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. Piping systems' leak detection and location systems are sold as part of many of its piping systems products, and on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property. Filtration products manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for use in industrial air filtration systems and particulate collection systems. Air filtration systems are used in a wide variety of industries to limit particulate emissions, primarily to comply with environmental regulations. Filtration products markets air filtration related products and accessories, and provides maintenance services, consisting primarily of dust collector inspection, filter cleaning and filter replacement. Industrial process cooling designs, manufactures and sells industrial process cooling, including chillers, cooling towers, plant circulating systems, and related accessories for use in industrial process applications. Corporate and Other includes the installation of HVAC systems, that is not sufficiently large to constitute a reportable segment. The Company's products are sold both within the U.S. and internationally. MFRI's reportable segments are strategic businesses that offer different products and services. Each is managed separately based on fundamental operating differences. Each strategic business was acquired as a unit and management at the time of acquisition was retained. The Company evaluates performance based on gross profit and income or loss from operations. 28 Segment information was as follows: Net sales Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total net sales Gross profit (loss) Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total gross profit Income (loss) from operations Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total (loss) income from operations Income (loss) before income taxes Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total (loss) income before income taxes Segment assets Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total segment assets Capital expenditures Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total capital expenditures Depreciation and amortization Piping Systems Filtration Products Industrial Process Cooling Corporate and Other Total depreciation and amortization 29 2011 2010 $96,977 93,705 32,112 10,702 $233,496 $104,559 85,133 26,220 2,686 $218,598 $14,382 12,466 8,541 904 $36,293 $1,115 614 810 (7,630) $(5,091) $2,673 614 810 (9,067) $(4,970) $27,303 10,394 7,044 (283) $44,458 $13,831 (1,335) 295 (9,893) $2,898 $14,814 (1,335) 295 (11,154) $2,620 $74,717 $77,371 55,095 10,810 16,425 56,427 10,545 18,932 $157,047 $163,275 $8,396 1,449 51 190 $2,578 1,218 34 200 $10,086 $4,030 $3,076 1,734 154 618 $3,401 1,822 167 680 $5,582 $6,070 Geographic information. Net sales are attributed to a geographic area based on the destination of the product shipment. Long-lived assets are based on the physical location of the assets and consist of property, plant and equipment used in the generation of revenues in the geographic area. Net sales United States Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean Europe Middle East Canada All other Asia India Africa Other Total net sales Long-lived assets United States Middle East Denmark India Total long-lived assets Note 2 - Significant accounting policies 2011 2010 $163,104 22,370 20,815 12,721 6,894 3,513 2,259 385 1,435 $233,496 $30,366 11,417 4,623 1,436 $47,842 $144,336 3,336 17,286 31,927 6,936 3,809 9,772 817 379 $218,598 $31,375 6,050 4,585 1,645 $43,655 Use of estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Revenue recognition. The Company recognizes revenues including shipping and handling charges billed to customers, when all the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iii) collectability is reasonably assured. All subsidiaries of the Company, except as noted below, recognize revenues upon shipment or delivery of goods or services when title and risk of loss pass to customers. Percentage of completion revenue recognition. All divisions recognize revenues under the above stated revenue recognition policy except for sizable complex contracts - that require periodic recognition of income. For these contracts, the Company uses the "percentage of completion" accounting method. Under this approach, income is recognized in each reporting period based on the status of the uncompleted contracts and the current estimates of costs to complete. The choice of accounting method is made at the time the contract is received based on the expected length and complexity of the project. The percentage of completion is determined by the relationship of costs incurred to the total estimated costs of the contract. Provisions are made for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. Such revisions are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims for additional compensation due the Company are recognized in contract revenues when realization is probable and the amount can be reliably estimated. 30 Shipping and handling. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold, and the amounts invoiced to customers relating to shipping and handling are included in net sales. Sales tax. Sales tax is reported on a net basis in the consolidated financial statements. Operating cycle. The length of piping systems contracts vary, but are typically less than one year. The Company includes in current assets and liabilities amounts realizable and payable in the normal course of contract completion unless completion of such contracts extends significantly beyond one year. The Company's other businesses do not have an operating cycle beyond one year. Principles of consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Correction of immaterial errors. Prior year amounts were revised to reflect the out-of-period correction for tax errors. For further information, see Note 7 - Correction of immaterial errors in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Translation of foreign currency. Assets and liabilities of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Gains or losses on foreign currency transactions and the related tax effects are reflected in net income. The resulting translation adjustments are included in stockholders' equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income. Contingencies. The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, including those involving environmental, tax, product liability and general liability claims. The Company accrues for such liabilities when it is probable that future costs will be incurred and such costs can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are based on developments to date, the Company's estimates of the outcomes of these matters, and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling other similar matters. The Company does not currently anticipate the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to these matters will materially affect the Company's financial position, liquidity or future operations. Cash and cash equivalents. All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents were $4.2 million and $16.7 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The balance is primarily cash and cash equivalents at the foreign subsidiaries. The Company has not experienced any losses as a result of its cash concentration. Consequently, no significant concentration of credit risk is considered to exist. Accounts payable included drafts payable of $3.3 million and $3.8 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Restricted cash. The Loan Agreement provides that all domestic receipts are deposited in a bank account from which all funds may only be used to pay the debt under the Loan Agreement. At January 31, 2012, the amount of such restricted cash was $1.7 million. At January 31, 2012, $0.2 million of restricted cash was held by a foreign subsidiary. Accounts receivable. The majority of the Company's accounts receivable are due from geographically dispersed contractors and manufacturing companies. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a customer's financial condition, including the availability of credit insurance. In the U.S. collateral is not generally required. In the U.A.E., letters of credit are obtained for substantially all orders. Accounts receivable are due within various time periods specified in the terms applicable to the specific customer and are stated at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for claims and doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated using a percentage of sales method based upon collection history and an estimate of uncollectible accounts. Management may exercise its judgment in adjusting the provision as a consequence of known items, such as current economic 31 factors and credit trends. Past due trade accounts receivable balances are written off when the Company's collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due. Accounts receivable adjustments are recorded against the allowance for doubtful accounts. Concentration of credit risk. The Company has a broad customer base doing business in all regions of the U.S. as well as other areas in the world. In the fiscal years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011, no customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's net sales. Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Represents the change in equity from non-owner transactions and consisted of foreign currency translation, minimum pension liability and an interest rate swap. Equity adjustment foreign currency Minimum pension liability, gross Interest rate swap, gross Subtotal excluding tax effect Tax effect of Minimum pension liability Tax effect of interest rate swap Total other comprehensive (loss) income 2011 $1,442 (2,945) (316) (1,819) 1,119 120 ($580) 2010 $2,384 (1,381) (291) 712 524 (43) $1,193 Pension plan. The Winchester filtration hourly rated employees are covered by a defined benefit plan. The benefits are based on fixed amounts multiplied by years of service of retired participants. The Company engages outside actuaries to calculate its obligations and costs. The funding policy is to contribute such amounts as are necessary to provide for benefits attributed to service to date and those expected to be earned in the future. The amounts contributed to the plan are sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for all inventories. Raw materials Work in process Finished goods Subtotal Less allowances Inventories, net 2011 $33,166 2,927 4,715 40,808 840 $39,968 2010 $29,780 1,963 4,940 36,683 1,174 $35,509 Long-lived assets. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Interest is capitalized in connection with the construction of facilities and amortized over the asset's estimated useful life. Long-lived assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review indicates impairment, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to an estimated fair value. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to 30 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the remaining life of the lease or its useful life whichever is shorter. Amortization of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization. Depreciation expense was approximately $5.4 million in 2011 and $5.9 million in 2010. 32 Land, buildings and improvements Machinery and equipment Furniture, office equipment and computer systems Transportation equipment Subtotal Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Property, plant and equipment, net 2011 $36,565 50,066 12,682 465 99,778 51,936 $47,842 2010 $33,460 46,138 13,229 486 93,313 49,658 $43,655 Other intangible assets with definite lives. The Company owns several patents including those covering features of its piping and electronic leak detection systems. The patents are not material either individually or in the aggregate overall because the Company believes sales would not be materially reduced if patent protection were not available. Patents are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed the legal lives of the patents. The Company expenses costs incurred to renew or extend the term of intangible assets. Gross patents were $2.5 million and $2.4 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Accumulated amortization was approximately $2.20 million and $2.17 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Future amortizations over the next five years ending January 31 will be $49,300 in 2012, $46,000 in 2013, $43,400 in 2014, $36,300 in 2015, $26,500 in 2016, and $129,600 thereafter. Investment in joint venture. In October 2009, the Company invested $5.9 million, which consisted of $2.0 million for a 49% interest and $3.9 million for a note receivable, in a Canadian joint venture with The Bayou Companies, Inc., a subsidiary of Insituform Technologies, Inc. The joint venture completed an acquisition of Garneau, Inc's pipe coating and insulation facility and associated assets located in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, which provides the Company the opportunity to participate in the growing oil sands market. The Company accounts for the investment in joint venture using the equity method. The financial results included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. Share of income from joint venture The following information summarizes the joint venture financial data as of January 31: Current assets Noncurrent assets Current liabilities Noncurrent liabilities Equity Revenue Gross profit Income from continuing operations Net income 2011 $1,558 2010 $983 2011 $14,381 14,259 3,449 15,403 9,789 29,010 7,565 5,137 $3,189 2010 $9,676 12,633 2,616 13,034 7,657 22,164 5,685 3,718 $2,032 Research and development. Research and development expenses consist of materials, salaries and related expenses of engineering personnel and outside services for product development projects. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense was $2.1 million in 2011 and $1.8 million in 2010. Income taxes. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences arising from differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes on temporary differences have been recorded at the current tax rate. The Company assesses its deferred tax assets for realizability 33 at each reporting period. The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. For further information, see Note 8 - Income taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Net (loss) income per common share. Earnings per share ("EPS") are computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic) plus all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the year (diluted). Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding Dilutive effect of stock options Weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming full dilution Weighted average number of stock options not included in the computation of diluted EPS of common stock because the option exercise prices exceeded the average market prices Expired or canceled options during the year Stock options with an exercise price below the average stock price 2011 6,878 — 6,878 653 28 190 2010 6,842 8 6,850 385 50 441 In 2011, a total of $61,300 stock options were exercised. Equity-based compensation. Stock compensation expense for employee equity awards is recognized ratably over the requisite service period of the award. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is utilized to estimate the fair value of awards. Determining the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes model requires judgment, including estimates for (1) risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the yield of zero-coupon treasury securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; (2) expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of the Company's Common Stock; and (3) expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations. If any of these assumptions differ significantly from actual, stock-based compensation expense could be impacted. Fair value of financial instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are reasonable estimates of their fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying amount of the Company's short-term debt, revolving line of credit and long-term debt approximate fair value because the majority of the amounts outstanding accrue interest at variable rates. The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to reduce its exposure to market risks from changing interest rates under the revolving credit agreement. Any differences paid or received on the interest rate swap agreements are recognized as adjustments to interest expense over the life of the swap, thereby adjusting the effective interest rate on the underlying obligation. Reclassifications. Reclassifications were made to prior-year financial statements to conform to the current-year presentations. New accounting pronouncements. In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("FASB") issued new guidance which requires additional disclosures about an employer's participating in multi-employer pension plans. The new guidance is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2011. The Company's adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Presentation of Comprehensive 34 Income ("Update 2011-05"). Update 2011-05 allows the option of presenting the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements, removing the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of stockholders' equity. The guidance does not change the components that are recognized in net income or other comprehensive income. The amended guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is applied retrospectively. The Company is evaluating its presentation options under this ASU; however these changes are not expected to impact the consolidated financial statements other than the change in presentation. Other accounting guidance that has been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption. Note 3 - Retention Retention receivable is the amount withheld by a customer until a contract is completed. Retention receivables of $0.6 million and $2.2 million were included in the balance of trade accounts receivable as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Retention payable is the amount withheld by the Company until a contract is completed. Retention payables of $0.4 million and $0.2 million were included in the balance of trade accounts payable as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Note 4 - Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts Estimated earnings Earned revenue Less billings to date Total Balance sheet classification Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Total Note 5 - Debt Debt Revolving line domestic Mortgage notes Revolving lines foreign Term loans Capitalized lease obligations (See Note 6 - Lease information) Total debt Less current maturities Total long-term debt 35 2011 $61,938 11,550 73,488 73,091 $397 $2,375 (1,978) $397 2011 $18,252 11,012 1,526 4,797 1,831 37,418 2,736 $34,682 2010 $40,039 6,668 46,707 46,249 $458 $2,055 (1,597) $458 2010 $18,252 11,864 2,180 6,562 416 39,274 3,082 $36,192 The following table summarizes the Company's scheduled maturities at January 31,: Revolving line domestic Mortgages Revolving line foreign Term loans Capitalized lease obligations Total Total $18,252 11,012 1,526 4,797 1,831 $37,418 2013 2014 $— $18,252 281 499 — 589 1,749 1,237 379 411 $20,661 $2,736 2015 $— 298 — 263 345 $906 2016 $— 315 — — 349 $664 2017 Thereafter $— $— 9,286 333 937 — 1,548 — — 347 $11,771 $680 On July 11, 2002, the Company entered into a secured loan and security agreement with a financial institution ("Loan Agreement"). Under the terms of the Loan Agreement as amended, which matures on November 30, 2013, the Company can borrow up to $38 million, subject to borrowing base and other requirements, under a revolving asset-based line of credit. The Loan Agreement covenants restrict debt, liens, investments, do not permit payment of dividends, and require attainment of levels of profitability and cash flows. At January 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Loan Agreement. Interest rates are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At January 31, 2012, the prime rate was 3.25%, the LIBOR rate was 0.375%, and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were 0.5 and 2.75 percentage points, respectively. Monthly interest payments were made during the years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011. As of January 31, 2012, the Company had borrowed $18.3 million and had $6.9 million available to it under the revolving line of credit. In addition, $0.2 million of availability was used under the Loan Agreement primarily to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases. The Loan Agreement provides that all domestic receipts are deposited in a bank account from which all funds may only be used to pay the debt under the Loan Agreement. At January 31, 2012, the amount of such restricted cash was $1.7 million. Cash required for operations is provided by draw-downs on the line of credit. The weighted average interest rates based on the domestic revolving line balance at January 31, 2012 and 2011, were 3.51% and 3.16%, respectively. The Company guarantees the subsidiaries' debt including all foreign debt. Mortgages. On July 10, 2010, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of 4,649,000 Danish Kroners ("DKK") (approximately $850 thousand U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on transaction date) from a Danish bank under a mortgage note secured by its industrial process cooling manufacturing facility in Denmark. The loan has an interest rate of 3.29%, quarterly payments of approximately $16 thousand for both principal and interest and matures July 2030. On March 4, 2008, the Company borrowed $5.4 million under a mortgage note secured by the filtration products manufacturing facility located in Bolingbrook, Illinois and matures March 2033. The 25 year mortgage resets its interest rate every five years based on a published index. The initial interest rate is 6.54% during the first five years with monthly payments of $37 thousand for principal and interest combined. On January 18, 2008, the Company borrowed $3.7 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing and office facility in Niles, Illinois. The loan bears interest at 6.26% with monthly payments of $23 thousand for both principal and interest based on an amortization schedule of 30 years with a balloon payment at maturity in January 2018. On December 31, 2005, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of 7,067,000 DKK (approximately $1.1 million U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a Danish bank to partially finance a building addition at the filtration products manufacturing facility in Denmark. The loan bears interest at 4.28% with quarterly payments of $23 thousand for both principal and interest and matures December 2025. On May 11, 2005, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of 3,241,500 DKK (approximately $536 thousand 36 U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a Danish bank to partially finance the building addition. The loan bears interest at 4.89% with quarterly payments of $11 thousand for both principal and interest and matures May 2025. On July 31, 2002, Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $1.8 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. The proceeds were used for payment of amounts borrowed. The loan bears interest at 7.75% with monthly payments of $21 thousand for both principal and interest and matures July 2012 On April 26, 2002, Midwesco Filter borrowed $2.0 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Winchester, Virginia. Proceeds from the mortgage, net of a prior mortgage loan were used to make payments under the Term Loan (defined below). The loan bears interest at 7.10% with a monthly payment of $24 thousand for both principal and interest and matures April 2012. Revolving lines foreign. The Company also has credit arrangements used by its Denmark and U.A.E. subsidiaries. These credit arrangements are in the form of overdraft facilities at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. The interest rate at the Denmark subsidiaries was 4.9% January 31, 2012, and the interest rate at the U.A.E subsidiaries was 6.0% at January 31, 2012. At January 31, 2012, borrowings under these credit arrangements totaled $1.5 million; an additional $3.8 million remained unused. Term loans. On May 14, 2010, Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $1.0 million under an equipment loan secured by equipment. The loan bears interest at 5.8393% with monthly payments of $24 thousand for both principal and interest and matures May 2014. The Company purchased insurance on the lives of key executive officers. As beneficiary, the Company receives the cash surrender value if the policy is terminated and, upon death of the insured, receives all benefits payable. Cash surrender value of life insurance is reported in long term assets on the balance sheet. On April 27, 2010, the Company obtained a loan with no maturity date in the amount of $2.0 million collateralized by the cash surrender value of the policies. The loans carry interest at a rate of 4.25% and require interest only payments annually. At January 31, 2012, the balance was $1.5 million. On August 28, 2007, the Company amended and restated the Term Loan Note to $3.0 million ("Term Loan"). Interest rates under the Term Loan are based on options selected by the Company as follows: (a) a margin in effect plus a prime rate; or (b) a margin in effect plus the LIBOR rate for the corresponding interest period. At January 31, 2012, the prime rate was 3.25%, the LIBOR rate was 0.375% and the margins added to the prime rate and the LIBOR rate, which are determined each quarter based on the applicable financial statement ratio, were 0.75 and 3 percentage points, respectively. The Company is scheduled to pay $107 thousand of principal on the first days of March, June, September and December in each year, with the remaining unpaid principal payable on November 30, 2013. The weighted average interest rates based on this loan at January 31, 2012 and 2011, were 3.34% and 2.92%, respectively On December 30, 2005, Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $0.9 million under an equipment loan secured by equipment. The loan bears interest at 6.23% with monthly payments of $13 thousand for both principal and interest and matures December 2012. On April 8, 2003, the Company obtained a loan from a Danish bank to purchase equipment and office furniture for a building for the filtration products' facility in Denmark, in the amount of 700,000 Euros, approximately $0.8 million U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the transaction date. The loan bears interest at 6.1% with quarterly payments of $9 thousand for both principal and interest and matures April 2013. Capital leases. On January 31, 2012, Perma-Pipe, Inc. borrowed $1.2 million under an equipment loan secured by equipment. The loan bears interest at 6.6966% with monthly payments of $24 thousand for both principal and interest and matures January 2017. On July 1, 2011, filtration products' Denmark location obtained a capital lease in the amount of 2,180,827 DKK 37 (approximately $387 thousand U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a Danish bank to finance capital expenditures. The loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 6.372% per annum with monthly principal payments of $6 thousand, and quarterly interest payments and matures June 2016. Between 2009 and 2011, the Company obtained several capital leases totaling $273 thousand to finance capital computer equipment. The interest rate for these capital leases range from 3.7935% to 5.763% per annum with monthly principal and interest payments of $9 thousand and matures between October 2013 and May 2014. During 2011, piping systems obtained several capital leases totaling 3,129,000 Indian Rupees (approximately $57 thousand U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) to finance vehicle equipment. The interest rate for these capital leases range from 14.4% to 17.8% per annum with monthly principal and interest payments of $2.5 thousand and mature in 2014. On April 23, 2010, filtration products' Denmark location obtained a capital lease in the amount of 952,600 DKK (approximately $170 thousand U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a Danish bank to finance capital expenditures. The loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.00% per annum with monthly principal payments of $2.5 thousand, and quarterly interest payments and matures April 2015. Note 6 - Lease information Property under capitalized leases Machinery and equipment Furniture and office equipment Transportation equipment Computer equipment Subtotal Less accumulated amortization Total Fixed assets acquired under capital leases Fixed assets acquired in previous years now under capital leases 2011 $1,956 — 63 208 2,227 241 $1,986 $917 $845 2010 $512 225 48 154 939 263 $676 $300 $0 Piping systems leases manufacturing and warehouse facilities, land, transportation equipment and office space under non-cancelable operating leases, which expire beginning 2012 through 2034. Filtration products leases approximately 67,000 square feet of production and office space under an operating lease, which began in June 2004 and expires in 2012 and 2013. At January 31, 2012, future minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable lease obligations were as follows: 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Thereafter Subtotal Less Amount representing interest Future minimum lease payments 38 Operating Leases Capital Leases $2,148 1,765 1,504 1,306 1,242 3,906 11,871 — $11,871 $518 465 406 385 359 — 2,133 302 $1,831 Rental expense for operating leases was $2.5 million and $2.2 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Note 7 - Correction of immaterial errors In the fourth quarter of 2011, management discovered prior period tax accounting errors. The cumulative adjustment for the tax errors covering the period from February 1, 2007 to January 31, 2011, was approximately $315 thousand. The adjustment applicable to the fourth quarter of 2010 was approximately $135 thousand and the adjustment applicable to prior years (February 2007 - January 2010) totaled approximately $180 thousand. Pursuant to the guidance of Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 99, Materiality, the Company concluded that the errors were not material to any of its prior period financial statements. Although the errors were immaterial to prior periods, the prior period financial statements were revised, in accordance with SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, due to the significance of the out-of-period correction. A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported balance sheet at January 31, 2011 follows: ($ in thousands) Other long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Additional paid in Capital Retained earnings Total stockholders' equity As Reported $3,271 44,601 49,055 28,104 78,421 Adjustment $367 367 (52) (315) (367) As Adjusted $3,638 44,968 49,003 27,789 78,054 A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of operation for the year ending January 31, 2011 follows: ($ in thousands) Income tax benefit Net Income As Reported Adjustment As Adjusted ($1,890) 4,510 $135 (135) ($1,755) 4,375 A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of cash flows for the year ending January 31, 2011 follows: ($ in thousands) Net Income Deferred tax benefit Net cash provided by operating activities Tax expense (benefit) of stock options exercised Net cash provided by financing activities As Reported $4,510 (3,914) 8,687 29 3,396 Adjustment ($135) 162 27 (27) (27) As Adjusted $4,375 (3,752) 8,714 2 3,369 A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of shareholders equity for the year ending January 31, 2011 follows: ($ in thousands) Net Income Retained earnings Tax expense (benefit) of stock options exercised Additional paid in Capital Total comprehensive income As Reported $4,510 28,104 29 49,055 4,889 Adjustment ($135) (315) (27) (52) (135) As Adjusted $4,375 27,789 2 49,003 4,754 39 A reconciliation of the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported statement of shareholders equity for the year ending January 31, 2010 follows: ($ in thousands) Additional paid in Capital Retained earnings Total comprehensive income Note 8 - Income taxes Income (loss) before income taxes Domestic Foreign Total Components of income tax expense (benefit) Current Federal Foreign State and other Subtotal Deferred Federal Foreign State and other Subtotal Total As Reported $48,086 23,594 7,220 Adjustment ($25) (180) (180) As Adjusted $48,061 23,414 7,040 2011 $4,517 (9,487) $(4,970) 2010 $(9,805) 12,425 $2,620 $183 627 253 1,063 (880) (273) 107 (1,046) $17 $(94) 1,880 48 1,834 (3,510) 155 (234) (3,589) $(1,755) The excess tax (expense) benefit related to stock options recorded through equity and did not affect net (loss) income was ($5) thousand and $2 thousand in 2011 and 2010, respectively. The amounts were recorded to additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets and in operating activities in 2011 and financing activities in 2010 on the consolidated statement of cash flows. The determination of the consolidated provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the related valuation allowances requires management to make judgments and estimates. As a company with subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions, the Company is required to calculate and provide for estimated income tax expense for each of the tax jurisdictions. The process of calculating income taxes involves estimating current tax obligations and exposures in each jurisdiction as well as making judgments regarding the future recoverability of deferred tax assets. Changes in the estimated level of annual pre-tax income, in tax laws, and resulting from tax audits can affect the overall ETR, which impacts the level of income tax expense and net income. Judgments and estimates related to the Company's projections and assumptions are inherently uncertain; therefore, actual results could differ materially from projections. The 2011 and 2010 ETRs have been impacted by the mix of the U.A.E. (loss) earnings versus total (loss) earnings because the U.A.E. is not subject to any local country income tax. The ETR was less than the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainly due to the large portion of loss and repatriation of foreign earnings in 2011 and income earned in 2010 in the U.A.E. Another contributing factor to the unusual ETR is the valuation allowance set up on the NOL in Saudi Arabia. The Company does not record a tax benefit for its start-up entities. The Company recorded a $1.8 million tax expense associated with the $3.1 million repatriation of foreign earnings that occurred in July 2011. These foreign earnings were previously considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside 40 the United States. The repatriation was a one-time nonrecurring event. The Company has not provided Federal tax on unremitted earnings of its international subsidiaries. The Company anticipates that unremitted earnings will be reinvested overseas to fund current working capital requirements and expansion in foreign markets. Accordingly, a provision for income tax expense in excess of foreign jurisdiction income tax requirements relative to such unremitted earnings has not been provided in the accompanying financial statements. A deferred tax asset of $1.3 million has been established for U.S. foreign tax credits attributed to repatriated foreign earnings, resulting in a net tax of $0.5 million. The excess foreign tax credits are subject to a ten-year carryforward and will expire in 2022. Several valuation allowances impacted the ETRs. In 2011, the Company released a valuation allowance of $0.8 million established in 2009 for a portion of the research and development credits. In 2010, the Company closed its operations in South Africa and released intercompany liabilities. Related income was offset by an existing NOL for which a prior valuation allowance had been previously provided. This release of liabilities increased the federal NOL in 2010. The difference between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the Federal ETR of 34% was as follows: Tax expense at federal statutory rate Differences in foreign tax rate Foreign tax credit Research tax credit and release of valuation allowance Repatriation Valuation allowance for foreign and state NOLs Nontaxable income from the Canadian joint venture State taxes, net of federal benefit All other, net expense Total Valuation allowances against foreign and state NOL benefits For current year NOL For prior year NOL carryovers Total 2011 ($1,690) 1,429 (1,300) (951) 1,810 611 (530) 308 330 $17 $611 601 $1,212 2010 $890 (1,590) — — — (673) (334) (436) 388 ($1,755) ($673) 1,274 $601 The Company has a Federal operating loss carryforward of $11 million with a recognized tax benefit of $3.7 million that will begin to expire in the year ending January 31, 2030. At January 31, 2012, no valuation allowance was deemed necessary on all domestic deferred tax assets except for certain state NOLs. The Company periodically reviews the adequacy of its valuation allowance in all of the tax jurisdictions in which it operates, evaluates future sources of taxable income and tax planning strategies and may make further adjustments based on management's outlook for continued profits in each jurisdiction. The deferred tax asset for state NOL carryforwards of $921 thousand relates to amounts that expire at various times from 2012 to 2030. The amount that expired in 2011 is approximately $3 thousand. A valuation allowance has been established for approximately $333 thousand of this tax asset based upon an assessment that it is more likely than not that realization cannot be assured in these tax jurisdictions. The Company has a deferred tax asset for foreign NOL carryforwards of $2.7 million that can be carried forward indefinitely and does not have a valuation allowance recorded against it. The ultimate realization of this tax benefit is dependent upon the generation of sufficient operating income in the foreign tax jurisdictions. As of January 31, 2012, the Company had undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which deferred taxes have not been provided. The Company intends and has the opportunities to reinvest these earnings for the foreseeable future outside the U.S. If these amounts were distributed to the U.S., in the form of dividends or 41 otherwise, the Company would be subject to additional U.S. income taxes. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liabilities on these earnings is not practicable because such liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing if and when remittance occurs. The most significant foreign entity, which has undistributed earnings is Perma-Pipe Middle East, FZC in the U.A.E., where cumulative undistributed earnings as of January 31, 2012 were $19 million. Components of the deferred income tax asset U.S. Federal NOL carryforward Non-qualified deferred compensation Research tax credit Foreign NOL carryover Foreign tax credit Stock compensation Other accruals not yet deducted State NOL carryover Accrued commissions and incentives Accrued pension Inventory valuation allowance Other Inventory uniform capitalization Goodwill Subtotal Valuation allowance for net operating losses Valuation allowance for research tax credit Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances Components of the deferred income tax liability Depreciation Accrued pension Prepaid Total deferred tax liabilities 2011 $3,728 1,968 1,858 2,726 1,300 1,243 1,233 921 691 578 300 224 128 1 16,899 (1,934) — $14,965 $1,733 — 319 $2,052 2010 $5,707 1,780 1,721 1,120 — 1,050 1,373 933 776 — 401 162 111 6 15,140 (601) (814) $13,725 $2,029 566 271 $2,866 Deferred income tax, net $12,913 $10,859 Balance sheet classification Current assets Long-term assets Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances $1,946 10,967 $12,913 $2,389 8,470 $10,859 The following table summarizes unrecognized tax benefit activity, excluding the related accrual for interest and penalties: Balance at beginning of the year Increases (decreases) in positions taken in a prior period Increases in positions taken in a current period Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations Balance at end of the year 42 2011 $1,202 (52) 89 (26) $1,213 2010 $1,009 — 333 (140) $1,202 Included in the total unrecognized tax liability at January 31, 2012 were estimated accrued interest of $82 thousand and penalties of $82 thousand and at January 31, 2011, accrued interest and penalties were $91 thousand and $90 thousand, respectively. These non-current income tax liabilities are recorded in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company's policy is to include interest and penalties in income tax expense. At January 31, 2012, the Company did not anticipate any significant adjustments to its unrecognized tax benefits caused by the settlement of the ongoing tax examinations detailed above, or other factors, within the next twelve months. Included in the balance at January 31, 2012 were amounts offset by deferred taxes (i.e., temporary differences) or amounts that could be offset by refunds in other taxing jurisdictions (i.e., corollary adjustments). Thus, $1.2 million of the amount accrued at January 31, 2012 and 2011 would impact the ETR, if reversed. The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. Tax years back to January 31, 2009 are open for federal and state tax purposes. In addition, federal and state tax years January 31, 2004 through January 31, 2008 are subject to adjustment on audit, up to the amount of research tax credit generated in those years. The Company's management periodically estimates the probable tax obligations of the Company using historical experience in tax jurisdictions and informed judgments. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business. The judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits, as well as changes to or further interpretations of regulations. If such changes take place, there is a risk that the tax rate may increase or decrease in any period. Tax accruals for tax liabilities related to potential changes in judgments and estimates for federal, foreign and state tax issues are included in current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Note 9 - Retirement plans Pension plan The Winchester filtration hourly rated employees are covered by a defined benefit plan. The benefits are based on fixed amounts multiplied by years of service of retired participants. The Company engages outside actuaries to calculate its obligations and costs. The funding policy is to contribute such amounts as are necessary to provide for benefits attributed to service to date and those expected to be earned in the future. The amounts contributed to the plan are sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Company may contribute additional amounts at its discretion. Asset allocation Plan assets Vanguard balanced index fund Vanguard inflation protected fund Fifth Third Banksafe Trust Vanguard REIT index fund Total at January 31, 2012 Market Value $5,007 268 117 110 $5,502 The plans hold no securities of MFRI, Inc. 100% of the assets are held for benefits under the plan. The fair value of the major categories of the pension plans' investments are presented below. The FASB has established a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below: 43 Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. Level 1 market value of plan assets Equity securities U.S. bond market High-quality inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and government agencies as well as domestic corporations Real estate securities Subtotal Level 2 significant other observable inputs Money market fund Total 2011 $3,018 1,968 268 110 5,364 138 $5,502 2010 $2,830 1,837 229 97 4,993 96 $5,089 At January 31, 2012, 54.9% of plan assets were held in mutual funds, 40.6% were held in bond funds and the remaining 2.5% was in a money market fund. The target asset allocation was 95% to 100% mutual funds. The investment policy is to invest all funds not needed to pay benefits and investment expenses for the year, with target asset allocations of 60% equities (plus or minus 10%) and 40% fixed income (plus or minus 10%), diversified across a variety of sub-asset classes and investment styles, following a flexible asset allocation approach that will allow the plan to participate in market opportunities as they become available. The expected long-term rate of return on assets is based on historical long-term rates of equity and fixed income investments and the asset mix objective of the funds. Investment market conditions in 2011 resulted in $342 thousand actual return on plan assets as presented below, which increased the fair value of plan assets at year end. The Company did not change its 8% expected return on plan assets used in determining cost and benefit obligations, the return that the Company has assumed during every profitable and unprofitable investment year since 1991. The plan's investments are intended to earn long-term returns to fund long-term obligations, and investment portfolios with asset allocations similar to those of the plan's investment policy have attained such returns over several decades. Future contributions that may be necessary to maintain funding requirements are not expected to materially affect the Company's liquidity. 44 Reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of plan Accumulated benefit obligations Vested benefits Accumulated benefits 2011 2010 $6,576 $7,186 $4,823 $4,931 Change in benefit obligation Benefit obligation - beginning of year Service cost Interest cost Actuarial loss Benefits paid Benefit obligation - end of year Change in plan assets Fair value of plan assets - beginning of year Actual return on plan assets gain Company contributions Benefits paid Fair value of plan assets - end of year $5,570 126 313 1,380 (203) $7,186 $5,089 342 274 (203) $5,502 $4,814 118 280 210 (162) $5,260 $4,250 684 317 (162) $5,089 Unfunded status $(1,684) $(171) Balance sheet classification Prepaid expenses and other current assets Other assets Other long-term liabilities Net amount recognized Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income Unrecognized actuarial (gain)/loss Unamortized prior service cost Net amount recognized $305 1,261 (3,250) $(1,684) $2,623 322 $2,945 $315 1,209 (1,695) $(171) $931 449 $1,380 The amount of unamortized prior service cost and net loss to be amortized in the year ended January 31, 2013 is $127 thousand. Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost and benefit obligations End of year benefit obligation Service cost discount rate Expected return on plan assets Rate of compensation increase 2011 4.250% 5.780% 8.000% N/A 2010 5.780% 5.980% 8.000% N/A The discount rate was based on a Citigroup pension discount curve of high quality fixed income investments with cash flows matching the plans' expected benefit payments. The Company determines the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets by performing a detailed analysis of historical and expected returns based on the strategic asset allocation approved by the Board of Directors and the underlying return fundamentals of each asset class. The Company's historical experience with the pension fund asset performance is also considered. 45 Components of net periodic benefit cost Service cost Interest cost Expected return on plan assets Amortization of prior service cost Recognized actuarial loss Net periodic benefit cost Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income Actuarial loss on obligation Amendments Actual return on plan assets gain Reclassify prior service cost Total in other comprehensive income Cash flows Expected employer contributions for 2012 [fiscal year ending 1/31/2013] Expected employee contributions for 2012 [fiscal year ending 1/31/2013] Estimated future benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal year(s) ending January 31,: 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 - 2022 401(k) plan 2011 $126 313 (405) 127 62 $223 2011 $(1,380) — (1) 127 $(1,254) 2010 $118 280 (342) 132 65 $253 2010 $(210) — 406 132 $328 400 — 305 308 325 343 347 1,951 The domestic employees of the Company participate in the MFRI, Inc. Employee Savings and Protection Plan, which is applicable to all employees except employees covered by collective bargaining agreement benefits. The plan allows employee pretax payroll contributions of up to 16% of total compensation. The Company matches 50% of each participant's contribution, up to a maximum of 3% of each participant's salary. Contributions to the 401(k) plan were $558 thousand and $436 thousand for the years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Deferred compensation plans The Company has deferred compensation agreements with key employees. Vesting is based on years of service. Life insurance contracts have been purchased which may be used to fund the Company's obligation under these agreements. Multi-employer plans The Company contributes to a multi-employer plan for certain collective bargaining U.S. employees and for foreign employees according to their countries requirements. The risks of participating in this multi-employer plan are different from a single employer plan in the following aspects: • Assets contributed to the multi-employer by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. 46 • • If a participating employer ceases contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be inherited by the remaining participating employers If the Company chooses to stop participating in the multi-employer plan, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. The Company has assessed and determined that the multi-employer plans to which it contributes is not significant to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect to incur a withdrawal liability or expect to significantly increase its contribution over the remainder of the contract period. The Company made contributions to the bargaining unit supported multi-employer pension plan resulting in expense of approximately $2.5 million and $2.3 million for the years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Note 10 - Stock options Under the 2004 Stock Option Plan ("Option Plan"), 250,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance to employees of the Company and its affiliates as well as advisors and consultants to the Company. In addition, under the Option Plan, the number of shares that may be issued shall be increased by an additional two percent of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company, beginning January 31, 2005. Option exercise prices will be no less than fair market value for the common stock on the date of grant. The options granted under the Option Plan may be either non-qualified options or incentive options. Under the 2009 Independent Directors' Stock Option Plan, 100,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance to Directors of the Company. In addition, the number of shares that may be issued shall be increased May 1, 2010 and each May 1 thereafter until May 1, 2019, pursuant to the terms of this Plan shall be increased by the number equal to 0.35% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company. Pursuant to the 2009 Independent Directors' Stock Option Plan, an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock is granted automatically to each director who is not an employee of the Company (an "Independent Director") on the date the individual is first elected as an Independent Director. An option to purchase 1,000 shares was granted to each Independent Director acting on June 23, 2009, and options to purchase 1,000 shares are granted to each Independent Director upon each date such Independent Director is re- elected as an Independent Director, commencing with the Company's annual meeting for the year 2009. Such options vest ratably over four years and are exercisable for up to ten years from the date of grant. To cover the exercise of vested options, the Company issues new shares from its authorized but unissued share pool. The Company calculates all stock compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the option and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the four-year vesting period of the option. The fair value of each option award was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Merton option- pricing model that used the assumptions noted in the following table. The principal variable assumptions utilized in valuing options and the methodology for estimating such model inputs include: 1. risk-free interest rate - an estimate based on the "Market yield on U.S. Treasury securities at the rate for the period described in assumption 3 below, quoted on investment basis" for the end of week closest to the stock option grant date, from the Federal Reserve web site; 2. expected volatility - an estimate based on the historical volatility of MFRI Common Stock's weekly closing stock price for the period 1/1/93 to the date of grant; and 3. expected life of the option - an estimate based on historical experience including the effect of employee terminations. 1. Risk-free interest rate 2. Expected volatility 3. Expected life in years 4. Dividend yield 47 2011 1.54%-5.13% 2010 1.88%-5.16% 51.72%-66.82% 51.72%-66.82% 5 to 7 — 4.9 to 7 — The following summarizes the activity related to options outstanding under the plans for the years ended January 31, 2011 and 2012: Weighted average exercise price $13.20 Weighted average remaining contractual term 7.2 Options 680 Aggregate intrinsic value $379 Outstanding at January 31, 2010 Granted Exercised Expired or forfeited Outstanding at January 31, 2011 162 (15) (50) 777 Options exercisable at January 31, 2011 408 Granted Exercised Expired or forfeited Outstanding at January 31, 2012 Options exercisable at January 31, 2012 155 (61) (28) 843 470 6.10 3.00 13.63 11.88 7.68 3.42 19.29 11.48 $14.37 84 2,241 1,000 240 430 $217 6.9 5.4 6.9 5.7 Range of exercise prices Options outstanding Weighted average remaining contractual life Weighted average exercise price Options exercisable Weighted average exercise price $2.00-$2.99 6.00-6.99 7.00-7.99 10.00-10.99 12.00-12.99 13.00-13.99 16.00-16.99 17.00-17.99 26.00-26.99 $28.00-$28.99 Outstanding at January 31, 2012 19 312 201 70 3 10 1 122 3 102 843 1 7.9 8 4.4 6.3 6.4 6.1 6.4 5.5 4.4 6.9 $2.1674 6.4589 7.6650 10.0750 12.6650 13.6500 16.1150 17.6436 26.0450 28.9900 $11.4781 19 122 50 70 2 7 1 94 3 102 470 $2.1674 6.5676 7.6150 10.0750 12.6650 13.6500 16.1150 17.6462 26.0450 28.9900 $14.3714 The weighted average fair value of options granted, net of options surrendered, during 2011 and 2010 are estimated at $3.84 and $3.40, per share, respectively, on the date of grant. Unvested options outstanding Outstanding at beginning of the year Granted Vested Expired or forfeited Outstanding at end of the year Options 369 155 (149) (2) 373 Weighted-average grant date fair value $9.98 7.68 12.99 8.34 $7.84 Aggregate intrinsic value $1,241 $212 Based on historical experience the Company expects 85% of these options to vest. As of January 31, 2012, there was $1.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options 48 granted under the plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.4 years. The stock-based compensation expense for the years ended January 31, 2012 and 2011 was $0.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Note 11 - Stock rights On September 15, 2009, the Company entered into the Amendment ("Amendment") to Rights Agreement dated as of September 15, 1999. Among other things, the Amendment extends the term of the Rights Agreement until September 15, 2019 and amends definitions to include positions in derivative instruments related to the Company's common stock as constituting beneficial ownership of such stock. On September 15, 1999, the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of MFRI's common stock outstanding at the close of business on September 22, 1999. The stock issued after September 22, 1999 and before the redemption or expiration of the Rights is also entitled to one Right for each such additional share. Each Right entitles the registered holders, under certain circumstances, to purchase from the Company one share of MFRI's common stock at $25.00, subject to adjustment. At no time will the Rights have any voting power. The Rights may not be exercised until 10 days after a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's common stock, or announces a tender offer that, if consummated, would result in 15% or more ownership of the Company's common stock. Separate Rights certificates will not be issued and the Rights will not be traded separately from the stock until then. Should an acquirer become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's common stock, Rights holders other than the acquirer would have the right to buy common stock in MFRI, or in the surviving enterprise if MFRI is acquired, having a value of two times the exercise price then in effect. Also, MFRI's Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than those of the acquirer which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of MFRI common stock (and/or other securities, cash or other assets having equal value) per Right subject to adjustment. The Rights described in this paragraph and the preceding paragraph shall not apply to an acquisition, merger or consolidation approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Rights will expire on September 15, 2019, unless exchanged or redeemed prior to that date. The redemption price is $0.01 per Right. MFRI's Board of Directors may redeem the Rights by a majority vote at any time prior to the 20th day following public announcement that a person or group has acquired 15% of MFRI's common stock. Under certain circumstances, the decision to redeem requires the concurrence of a majority of the independent directors. Note 12 - Interest expense, net Interest expense Interest income Interest expense, net Note 13 - Fair value of financial instruments 2011 $2,165 (728) $1,437 2010 $1,937 (676) $1,261 At January 31, 2012, one interest rate swap agreement was in effect with a notional value of $9 million that matures November, 2013. The swap agreement, which reduces the exposure to market risks from changing interest rates, exchanges the variable rate to fixed interest rate payments of 2.23% plus LIBOR margin. The exchange-traded swap is valued on a recurring basis using quoted market prices and was classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because the exchange is not deemed to be an active market. The derivative of $316 thousand was classified as a long-term liability on the balance sheet. 49 Note 14 - Subsequent event At January 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants under our Loan Agreements. Subsequent to January 31, 2012, the Company was not in compliance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant for the period ended March 31, 2012. Prior to filing these statements, the Company has received a waiver and amendment to adjust the covenants to levels which the Company has complied without interruption and which the Company believes continues to be attainable for the next 12 months. 50 Schedule II MFRI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS For the Years Ended January 31, 2012 and 2011 Balance at beginning of period Charged to costs and expenses Deductions from reserves (1) Charged to other accounts (2) Balance at end of period Year Ended January 31, 2012 Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables Year Ended January 31, 2011 Allowance for possible losses in collection of trade receivables 346 63 20 (154) 235 $379 $86 $212 $93 $346 (1) Uncollectible accounts charged off (2) Primarily related to recoveries from accounts previously charged off and currency translation 51 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. SIGNATURES MFRI, INC. Date: May 9, 2012 /s/ David Unger David Unger Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. DAVID UNGER* Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) BRADLEY E. MAUTNER* Director, President and Chief Operating Officer MICHAEL D. BENNETT* Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) DENNIS KESSLER* Director ARNOLD F. BROOKSTONE* Director EUGENE MILLER* Director STEPHEN B. SCHWARTZ* Director MICHAEL J. GADE* Director MARK A. ZORKO* Director *By: /s/ David Unger David Unger Individually and as Attorney in Fact May 9, 2012 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 52 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. 3(i) 3(ii) 4 4(a) 10(b) 10(c) 10(d) Description Certificate of Incorporation of MFRI, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Registration Statement No. 33-70298] By-Laws of MFRI, Inc. amended and restated [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed on July 27, 2009] Specimen Common Stock Certificate [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 33-70794] 2010 Rights Agreement as amended [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2009] 1994 Stock Option Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994] 2001 Independent Directors Stock Option Plan, as amended [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d)(5) to the Company's Schedule filed on May 25, 2001] Form of Directors Indemnification Agreement Certificate [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2006 filed on May 15, 2006] 10(e) MFRI 2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004] 10(f) Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement between the Company and Bank of America dated December 15, 2006 [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2006] Code of Conduct [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004] Thirteenth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement Employment agreement with Fati Elgendy dated February 1, 2007 [Incorporated by reference to DEF14A Schedule filed on May 29, 2008] 2009 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(k) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010] Subsidiaries of MFRI, Inc. [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012] Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Grant Thornton LLP Power of Attorney executed by directors and officers of the Company [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 24 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012] Rule 13a - 14(a)/15d - 14(a) Certifications 10(g) 10(h) 10(i) 10(j) 21 23* 24 31* 32* (1) Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (2) Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 1350 Certifications (1) Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (2) Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 101.INS* XBRL Instance 101.SCH* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 101.CAL* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation 101.DEF* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition 101.LAB* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels 101.PRE* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation *Filed herewith 53 [This page intentionally left blank] Officers & Directors David Unger Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board MFRI, Inc. Dennis Kessler Lead Independent Director President, Kessler Mgmt. Consulting and Former Co-President of Fel-Pro Inc. Stephen B. Schwartz Independent Director Retired Senior Vice President IBM Corporation Bradley E. Mautner Director, President and Chief Operating Officer MFRI, Inc. Arnold F. Brookstone Independent Director Retired Chief Financial & Planning Officer Smurfit-Stone Corporation Mark A. Zorko Independent Director Chief Financial Officer and Secretary Del Global Technologies Corporation Piping Systems Filtration Products Mark Foster President Midwesco Filter Resources, Inc. André Radley Grundahl Managing Director Nordic Air Filtration A/S Dhananjay Maslekar General Manager Fabric Filter Products Midwesco Filter Resources, Inc. Fati A. Elgendy President Perma-Pipe, Inc. John Carusiello Vice President Perma-Pipe, Inc. Robert A. Maffei Vice President Perma-Pipe, Inc. Brian Pollack Vice President Perma-Pipe, Inc. Avin Gidwani President PPME, PPSA, PPIL Michael D. Bennett Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer MFRI, Inc. Timothy P. Murphy Vice President – Human Resources MFRI, Inc. Michael J. Gade Independent Director Executive-in-Residence University of North Texas Founding Partner of the Challance Group, LLP Eugene Miller Independent Director Executive-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor Florida Atlantic University Industrial Process Cooling Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Edward A. Crylen President Midwesco Mechanical and Energy, Inc. Stephen C. Buck President Thermal Care, Inc. Kim Lauridsen Managing Director BOE-THERM A/S Thomas A. Benson Vice President Thermal Care, Inc. Transfer/Rights Agent Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company 17 Battery Place New York, NY 10004 Independent Registered Public Accountants Grant Thornton LLP 175 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604-2615 Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of MFRI, Inc. will be held at: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 28, 2012 At: Hilton Rosemont Chicago O’Hare 5550 North River Road Rosemont, Illinois 60018 Corporate Headquarters MFRI, Inc. 7720 North Lehigh Avenue Niles, Illinois 60714 Phone: 847-966-1000 Fax: 847-966-8563 www.mfri.com Offices & Manufacturing Facilities Perma-Pipe, Inc. Business Offices 7720 North Lehigh Avenue Niles, Illinois 60714 Phone: 847-966-2235 www.permapipe.com Perma-Pipe, Inc. Manufacturing Plants 1310 Quarles Drive Lebanon, Tennessee 37087 Phone: 615-444-4910 Perma-Pipe, Oil & Gas 5008-11 Curtis Lane New Iberia, Louisiana 70560 Phone: 337-560-9116 Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC P.O. Box 4988 Fujairah, U.A.E. Phone: 971-9-228-2540 www.permapipe.ae Perma-Pipe India Ltd. 804, Palm Spring Centre Malad Link Road Malad (W), Mumbai 400 064 Phone: 91-22-4003-6007 www.permapipe.in Perma-Pipe Saudi Arabia, LLC Dammam Industrial City – 2 Al Madinah Al Munawarah Road Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Phone: 966-3-812-3039 www.permapipe.com.sa BAYOU PERMA-PIPE CANADA, LTD. Sales Office Suite 104, 221 18th Street SE Calgary, AB T2E 6J5 Phone: 403-264-4880 www.bayoupermapipe.com Manufacturing Plant 5233 39th Street Camrose, AB T4V 4R5 Phone: 780-672-2345 Midwesco Filter Resources, Inc. 385 Battaile Drive Winchester, Virginia 22601 TDC Filter Manufacturing, Inc. 2 Territorial Court Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440 Phone: 540-667-8500 www.midwescofilter.com Phone: 630-410-6200 www.tdcfilter.com Nordic Air Filtration A/S Bergenvej 1 DK-4900 Nakskov, Denmark Phone: 45-5495-1390 www.nordic-air-filtration.dk Thermal Care, Inc. 7720 North Lehigh Avenue Niles, Illinois 60714 Phone: 847-966-2260 www.thermalcare.com Boe-Therm A/S Industrivaenget 1 DK-5610 Assens, Denmark Phone: 45-6471-2375 www.boe-therm.dk Midwesco Mechanical and Energy, Inc. 7720 N. Lehigh Avenue Niles, Illinois 60714 Phone: 847-929-1700 Midwesco Filter Resources manufactures filter bags for the capture of dry particulate from dust laden air streams. As represented in this picture, the company specializes in filtration products used in applications up to 500°F in industries such as Metals, Power Generation, and Mineral Production. Thermal Care is an industry leader in the sale of central chilling systems to the plastics industry. Our most popular central chiller, the TC Series, sets us apart from the competition by offering the energy efficient Turbocor centrifugal compressor. It is not unusual for customers to see savings of 30% or more on their energy bills with the TC Series chiller. Beyond the energy savings, customers appreciate the small footprint, quiet operation, remote diagnostics, and low maintenance this chiller provides. PermAlert is a leading manufacturer and supplier of electronic liquid leak detection and location systems, which can be configured to provide continuous line and/or discreet point monitoring. PermAlert provides leak detection for various applications including data centers, web hosting facilities, fuel systems and preinsulated piping systems. Midwesco Mechanical and Energy Attention to detail, energy efficient design and safety are important elements of every project. 

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