Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2010

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to              .

Commission File Number: 001-33816

 

 

HECKMANN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   26-0287117

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, California 92211

(760) 341-3606

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

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   x     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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨

   Accelerated filer   x

Non-accelerated filer   ¨

   Smaller reporting company   ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of October 31, 2010 was 108,899,985.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION      1   

Item 1.

  

Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

     1   
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2009

     1   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     2   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     3   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     4   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2010

     5   
  

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

     6   

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     17   

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     26   

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     26   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION      28   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     28   

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     29   

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     29   

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     29   

Item 4.

  

Reserved

     29   

Item 5.

  

Other Information

     29   

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

     30   


Table of Contents

 

HECKMANN CORPORATION

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Heckmann Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     September 30,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 148,530      $ 136,050   

Certificates of deposit

     10,463        10,513   

Marketable securities

     55,944        16,020   

Accounts receivable, net

     7,232        5,873   

Inventories, net

     1,908        2,896   

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

     1,881        4,461   

Refundable income tax

     3,489        —     

Other current assets

     405        278   
                

Total current assets

     229,852        176,091   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     56,912        53,520   

Marketable securities

     9,705        86,638   

Equity investments

     7,383        11,229   

Intangible assets, net

     22,253        23,507   

Goodwill

     13,598        13,598   

Other

     211        406   
                

Total assets

   $ 339,914      $ 364,989   
                

Liabilities and equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 15,750      $ 19,501   

Deferred revenue

     399        946   

Accrued expenses

     16,543        13,443   

Current portion of long-term debt

     939        1,398   

Due to related parties

     542        1,472   

Deferred income taxes

     —          178   
                

Total current liabilities

     34,173        36,938   

Acquisition consideration payable

     1,910        1,910   

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     —          439   

Other long-term liabilities

     4,077        4,672   

Equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

     —          —     

Common stock, $0.001 par value: 500,000,000 shares authorized, 125,432,075 shares issued and 108,899,985 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and 125,282,740 shares issued and 108,750,650 shares outstanding at December 31, 2009

     124        124   

Additional paid-in capital

     746,726        746,077   

Purchased warrants

     (6,844     (4,810

Treasury stock

     (14,000     (14,000

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     254        643   

Accumulated deficit

     (428,005     (409,166
                

Total equity of Heckmann Corporation

     298,255        318,868   

Noncontrolling interest

     1,499        2,162   
                

Total equity

     299,754        321,030   
                

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 339,914      $ 364,989   
                

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

 

1


Table of Contents

 

Heckmann Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended September 30,     Nine months ended September 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Revenue

   $ 11,112      $ 11,235      $ 31,343      $ 27,315   

Cost of goods sold

     8,619        8,988        24,088        20,415   
                                

Gross profit

     2,493        2,247        7,255        6,900   

Operating expenses:

        

Selling and marketing

     910        791        2,216        2,218   

General and administrative

     3,671        26,753        11,194        37,677   

Pipeline start-up and commissioning (Note 2)

     590        —          13,595        —     

Goodwill impairment (Note 2)

     —          178,553        —          362,553   

Impairment of property, plant and equipment (Note 2)

     —          6,223        —          6,223   
                                

Total operating expenses

     5,171        212,320        27,005        408,671   
                                

Loss from operations

     (2,678     (210,073     (19,750     (401,771

Interest income, net

     588        863        1,956        3,048   

Income (loss) from equity method investment

     (299     (124     (4,347     211   

Other, net

     58        (688     83        (407
                                

Loss before income taxes

     (2,331     (210,022     (22,058     (398,919

Income tax benefit (expense)

     540        (476     3,262        (896
                                

Net loss

     (1,791     (210,498     (18,796     (399,815

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     (19     (61     (43     (216
                                

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (1,810   $ (210,559   $ (18,839   $ (400,031
                                

Net loss per common share attributable to the Company’s common stockholders

        

Basic and diluted

   $ (0.02   $ (1.93   $ (0.17   $ (3.64
                                

Weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Basic and diluted

     108,899,985        109,275,628        108,842,048        109,852,879   
                                

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

 

2


Table of Contents

 

Heckmann Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended September 30,     Nine months ended September 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (1,810   $ (210,559   $ (18,839   $ (400,031

Add back: net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     19        61        43        216   
                                

Net loss

     (1,791     (210,498     (18,796     (399,815
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

        

Foreign currency translation gain (loss)

     12        38        (72     109   

Reclassification of net gains from sales of available-for-sale securities included in earnings

     —          —          (311     —     

Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities

     75        334        (6     490   
                                

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     87        372        (389     599   
                                

Comprehensive loss, net of tax

     (1,704     (210,126     (19,185     (399,216

Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     (19     (61     (43     (216
                                

Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company

   $ (1,723   $ (210,187   $ (19,228   $ (399,432
                                

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

 

3


Table of Contents

 

Heckmann Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine months ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  

Operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (18,796   $ (399,815

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     3,122        1,596   

Amortization

     1,260        2,344   

Bad debt expense

     270        9,000   

Provision for obsolete inventory

     —          800   

Goodwill impairment (Note 2)

     —          362,553   

Stock-based compensation

     583        1,756   

Loss (gain) from equity method investment (Note 5)

     4,347        (211

Issuance of shares in connection with Settlement and Release Agreement (Note 8)

     —          831   

Loss on deconsolidation of Shen Yang (Note 9)

     —          5,341   

Impairment of property, plant and equipment (Note 2)

     —          6,223   

Restructuring costs

     —          540   

Loss on Harbin rescission (Note 10)

     1,576        —     

Loss on disposal of property plant and equipment

     708        3,933   

Other

     396        165   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of Harbin rescission (2010) and purchase price adjustments (2009):

    

Accounts receivable

     (2,910     (7,795

Inventories

     546        (2,939

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

     2,250        (848

Refundable income tax

     (3,439     —     

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     5,632        6,320   

Deferred revenue

     (930     345   

Deposits

     218        522   

Other assets

     (959     (469

Due to related party

     (74     —     

VAT and income taxes payable

     158        1,004   
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (6,042     (8,804
                

Investing activities

    

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (74,114     (138,560

Proceeds from sale and maturity of available-for-sale securities

     110,212        75,703   

Cash paid for equity investments

     —          (6,801

Restricted cash, for equipment purchase

     —          (2,000

Payments made in connection with Harbin acquisition

     —          (1,193

Payments made in connection with HWR acquisition, no cash acquired

     —          (16,566

Purchases of property and equipment

     (15,206     (12,664

Investment in joint venture

     (500     —     
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     20,392        (102,081
                

Financing activities

    

Payment on long-term debt agreements

     (2,534     (132

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

     2,486        790   

Cash proceeds from exercise of warrants

     66        —     

Proceeds from notes payable

     92        —     

Cash paid to repurchase warrants

     (2,034     (4,405

Cash paid to purchase treasury stock

     —          (14,000
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (1,924     (17,747
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     12,426        (128,632

Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents

     54        (22

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     136,050        281,683   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 148,530      $ 153,029   
                

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

 

4


Table of Contents

 

Heckmann Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Equity

Nine months ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     Total     Heckmann Corporation Shareholders     Noncontrolling
Interest
 
       Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Treasury Stock     Purchased
Warrants
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive

Income
   
       Shares     Amount       Shares     Amount     Warrants     Amount        

Balance at January 1, 2010

   $ 321,030        125,282,740      $ 124      $ 746,077        13,032,098      $ (14,000     6,572,096      $ (4,810   $ (409,166   $ 643      $ 2,162   

Stock based compensation (Note 7)

     583        138,335          583                 

Exercise of warrants for cash

     66        11,000          66                 

Purchase of warrants for cash

     (2,034               4,759,101        (2,034      

Divestiture of Harbin (Note 10)

     (706                       (706

Comprehensive loss:

                      

Net loss

     (18,796                   (18,839       43   

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

                      

Reclassification of net gains from sales of available-for-sale securities included in earnings

     (311                     (311  

Unrealized loss on available for sale securities

     (6                     (6  

Foreign currency translation loss

     (72                     (72  
                            

Other comprehensive loss

     (389                    
                            

Comprehensive loss

     (19,185                    
                                                                                        

Balance at September 30, 2010

   $ 299,754        125,432,075      $ 124      $ 746,726        13,032,098      $ (14,000     11,331,197      $ (6,844   $ (428,005   $ 254      $ 1,499   
                                                                                        

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

 

5


Table of Contents

 

HECKMANN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation

Heckmann Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on May 29, 2007 as a blank check company whose objective was to acquire, through a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination, one or more operating businesses. On May 19, 2008, Heckmann Corporation and Heckmann Acquisition II Corp., a Delaware corporation and the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (“Acquisition Sub”), entered into an agreement and plan of merger and reorganization with China Water and Drinks, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“China Water”). China Water and its subsidiaries are engaged in the manufacture of bottled water products and operate seven bottled water production plants in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”). China Water produces and markets bottled water products under the brand name “Darcunk” and “Grand Canyon” to distributors throughout China, and supplies bottled water products to beverage and servicing companies in the industry. On October 30, 2008, the Company and Acquisition Sub completed the acquisition of China Water pursuant to a merger agreement, as amended, with Acquisition Sub remaining as the surviving entity. On July 1, 2009, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Heckmann Water Resources Corporation, a Texas corporation (“HWR”), completed the purchase of the limited liability company interests of Charis Partners, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and substantially all of the assets of Greer Exploration Corporation, a Louisiana corporation, and Silversword Partnerships, each a Texas limited partnership, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated April 22, 2009, and consummated July 1, 2009. The business acquired under the agreement is a multi-modal saltwater disposal, treatment and pipeline transportation business in Texas and Louisiana serving customers seeking to dispose of complex water flows including flowback water, frac fluids and produced brine waters generated in their oil and gas operations (the “Saltwater Disposal and Transport Business”).

Effective with the July 1, 2009 acquisition of the Saltwater Disposal and Transport Business by HWR and the February 2010 establishment of Heckmann Water Solutions, LLC (“HWS”), the Company has two reportable segments, which as of September 30, 2010 are referred to as international (China Water) and domestic (HWR and HWS).

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared by management in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These financial statements include all normal reoccurring adjustments considered necessary by management to present a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations and cash flows. The results reported in these financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Note 2 — Summary of Selected Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts, transactions and profits are eliminated in consolidation.

Economic and Political Risks - A significant portion of the Company’s operations are conducted in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environment in the PRC, and by the general state of the PRC economy. The Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to special considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among other things, the political, economic and legal environment and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social conditions in the PRC, and by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion, remittances abroad, and rates and methods of taxation.

Seasonality - China Water sales are subject to seasonal factors. Typically, China Water experiences higher sales of bottled water in the summer time in coastal cities while sales remain constant throughout the entire year in some inland cities. China Water’s sales can also fluctuate throughout the year for a number of other reasons, including the timing of advertising and promotional campaigns, and unforeseen circumstances, such as production interruptions.

Accounting Estimates - The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared on the basis of the most current and best available information, however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

6


Table of Contents

 

Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the additional weighted average common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares result from the assumed exercises of outstanding warrants and options, the proceeds of which are then assumed to have been used to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock, commonly referred to as the treasury stock method. Inherently, stock warrants and options are deemed to be dilutive when the average market price of the common stock during the period exceeds the exercise prices of the stock warrants and options. At September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company’s dilutive securities include 66,605,157 and 71,513,592 warrants and options exercisable for common stock, respectively. Dilutive securities have been omitted from the computation of weighted average dilutive shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 because the effect was anti-dilutive. Also excluded from the computation of EPS are 3,500,000 shares previously held in escrow pursuant to the majority stockholder consent agreement, entered into on May 19, 2008, as amended, between the Company and Xu Hong Bin. Those shares were released from escrow on March 13, 2009 pursuant to an escrow resolution and transition agreement among the Company, China Water, Xu Hong Bin and his affiliate, have not been delivered and are subject to cancellation by the Company as of May 4, 2009.

Marketable Securities - All of the Company’s investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale. These marketable securities are stated at fair value with any unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of equity, until realized. Other-than-temporary declines in market value from original cost are included in the current year’s operations. In determining whether an other-than-temporary decline in the market value has occurred, the Company considers the duration that, and extent to which, fair value of the investment is below its cost. Realized gains and losses are calculated based on specific identification to the individual securities involved with the resulting gains and losses included in non-operating income and expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

Accounts Receivable, net - Accounts receivable are recognized and carried at the original invoice amount less an allowance for any uncollectible amounts. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect the expected uncollectibility of trade receivables. Inherent in the assessment of the allowance for doubtful accounts are certain judgments and estimates including, among others, the customer’s willingness or ability to pay, the effect of general economic conditions and the ongoing relationship with the customer. Accounts with outstanding balances longer than the payment terms are considered past due. The Company writes off trade receivables when they become uncollectible. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $1.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Equity Investments - Equity investments in companies over which the Company has no ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for under the cost method. Equity investments in companies over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence but does not hold a controlling interest are accounted for under the equity method and the Company’s income or loss on these investments is recorded in non-operating income or expense.

Goodwill - Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of the businesses acquired. Authoritative guidance requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests when circumstances indicate that the recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill may be in doubt. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value. Significant judgments are required to estimate the fair value of a reporting unit including estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates and other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions or the occurrence of one or more confirming events in future periods could cause the actual results or outcomes to materially differ from such estimates and could also affect the determination of fair value and/or goodwill impairment at future reporting dates. The Company will perform its impairment analysis annually during the third quarter of the fiscal year. The analysis completed in the quarter ended September 30, 2010 did not result in an impairment charge. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $178.6 million and $362.6 million, respectively, in connection with its acquisition of China Water (see Note 3 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009). There was no impairment charge recorded in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

7


Table of Contents

 

Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets other than Goodwill - In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company reviews the carrying value of intangibles and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to the undiscounted cash flows that the asset or asset group is expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset, if any, exceeds its fair market value. The Company’s amortizable intangible assets include registered trademarks, customer relationships, distribution networks and customer contracts acquired in the acquisitions of China Water and the Saltwater Disposal and Transport Business. These costs are being amortized using the straight-line method over a weighted average estimated useful life of approximately 13 years.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of amounts due from and to related parties is not practicable to estimate due to the related party nature of the underlying transactions.

Revenue Recognition - Revenues for bottled water sales are recognized when finished products are delivered to our customers. Revenues for saltwater disposal are recognized upon delivery to our water transport pipeline or upon delivery to our disposal wells or saltwater storage facilities. In addition to the foregoing, all of the following also shall have occurred: (i) both title and the risks and benefits of ownership are transferred; (ii) persuasive evidence of an arrangement with the customer exists; (iii) the price is fixed and determinable; and (iv) collection is reasonably assured.

Income taxes - Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each period-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized.

The Company is subject to taxation in China and in the United States (California, Texas and Louisiana taxing jurisdictions). The Company’s tax returns since inception are subject to examination by those tax authorities. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had no interest or penalties accrued for uncertain tax positions.

Foreign Currency Translation - The functional currency of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries is the Chinese Renminbi, (“RMB”). The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. The functional currency of the Company’s BVI subsidiary and its Hong Kong subsidiaries is the Hong Kong Dollar (“HKD”). The Company’s PRC, BVI and Hong Kong subsidiaries’ financial statements are maintained in their functional currency.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Repair and Maintenance Costs - Property plant and equipment is recorded at its original cost of construction or fair value of assets purchased. Expenditures that extend the useful life or increase the expected output of property, plant and equipment, as well as major improvements are capitalized. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Subsequent to the completion of the 50-mile pipeline in February 2010, HWR incurred significant costs for pipeline start up, commissioning and pipeline integrity testing. As a result, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 the Company recorded start up and commissioning expenses of approximately $0.6 million and $13.6 million, respectively, within operations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 the Company also recognized an impairment charge of $6.2 million relating to construction in process of $3.8 million and property, plant and equipment associated with exiting the Beijing facility of $2.4 million. Management determined that the carrying amount of these assets could not be recovered as of September 30, 2009 and in management’s judgment these assets were fully-impaired.

Reclassifications and Comparability - Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ consolidated financial statements in order to conform them to the current period’s presentation.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – Amended

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the revised authoritative guidance that, among other things, requires a qualitative rather than a quantitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”), which amends previous guidance for consideration of related party relationships in the determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE, amends certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a VIE, requires continuous assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, and requires enhanced disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement with a VIE. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

8


Table of Contents

 

Fair Value Measurements Disclosures

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures, which requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3, a reporting entity should disclose separately information related to purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be included in the roll forward of activity. The updated guidance also requires that an entity should provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities, and disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for interim or annual financial reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll forward activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Therefore, the Company has not yet adopted the guidance with respect to the roll forward activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company has updated its disclosures to comply with the updated guidance, however, adoption of the updated guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements

In October 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which provides guidance for arrangements with multiple deliverables. Specifically, the new standard requires an entity to allocate consideration at the inception of an arrangement to all of its deliverables based on their relative selling prices. In the absence of vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of the selling prices, consideration must be allocated to the deliverables based on management’s best estimate of the selling prices. In addition, the new standard eliminates the use of the residual method of allocation. In October 2009, the FASB also issued a new accounting standard which changes revenue recognition for tangible products containing software and hardware elements. Specifically, tangible products containing software and hardware that function together to deliver the tangible products’ essential functionality are scoped out of the existing software revenue recognition guidance and will be accounted for under the multiple-element arrangements revenue recognition guidance discussed above. Both standards will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

9


Table of Contents

 

Note 3 — Investments

The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains and losses, and fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for sale securities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Contractual
Maturity (in years)
     Amortized
Cost
    Gross Unrealized Holding     Fair
Value
 
        Gains     Losses    

September 30, 2010

           

Certificates of deposit

     1       $ 10,463      $ —        $ —        $ 10,463   
                                   

Available-for-sale:

           

Current:

           

U.S. Government Agencies

     1       $ 17,049      $ 14      $ —        $ 17,063   

Corporate Notes

     1         38,611        270        —          38,881   
                                   
        55,660        284        —          55,944   
                                   

Noncurrent:

           

U.S. Government Agencies

     2-3         1,317        28        —          1,345   

U.S. Government Securities

     2-3         1,015        16        —          1,031   

Corporate Notes

     2-3         7,165        164        —          7,329   
                                   
        9,497        208        —          9,705   
                                   

Total

      $ 65,157      $ 492      $ —        $ 65,649   
                                   
     Contractual
Maturity (in years)
     Amortized
Cost
    Gross Unrealized Holding     Fair
Value
 
        Gains     Losses    

December 31, 2009

           

Certificates of deposit

     1       $ 10,513      $ —        $ —        $ 10,513   
                                   

Available-for-sale:

           

Current:

           

U.S. Government Agencies

     1       $ 605      $ 1      $ —        $ 606   

Corporate Notes

     1         15,213        201        —          15,414   
                                   
        15,818        202        —          16,020   
                                   

Noncurrent:

           

U.S. Government Agencies

     2-3         48,570        67        (54     48,583   

U.S. Government Securities

     2-3         1,023        10        —          1,033   

Corporate Notes

     2-3         36,209        813        —          37,022   
                                   
        85,802        890        (54     86,638   
                                   

Total

      $ 101,620      $ 1,092      $ (54   $ 102,658   
                                   

 

10


Table of Contents

 

Note 4 — Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair value. In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that are observable such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability (in thousands):

 

            Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2010 Using  
     Total      Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable

Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Assets:

          

Certificates of deposit

   $ 10,463       $ 10,463       $ —        $ —     

U.S. Government Agencies

     18,408         18,408         —          —     

Corporate Notes

     46,210         46,210         —          —     

U.S. Government Securities

     1,031         1,031         —          —     
                                  

Total

   $ 76,112       $ 76,112       $ —        $ —     
                                  

In addition to the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company is required, by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges. Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

     Fair Value Measurement Using      New Cost
Basis
     Impairment
Charge
 
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3        

Investment — China Bottles, Inc. (Note 5)

   $ —         $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 4,097   
                                            

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0 and $4,097,000, respectively, related to its equity investment in China Bottles, Inc. (“China Bottles”), as the decrease in fair value of the investment was deemed to be other than temporary. This expense is included in “Income (loss) from equity method investment” in the consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Equity method investments are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when deemed necessary, using observable inputs such as trading prices of the stock as well as using discounted cash flows, incorporating adjusted available market discount rate information and the Company’s estimates for liquidity risk.

Note 5 — Equity Investments

Underground Solutions, Inc.

On May 6, 2009, the Company purchased approximately 7% of the equity of Underground Solutions, Inc. (“UGSI”), a water infrastructure and pipeline supplier located in Poway, California for approximately $6.8 million in cash. On December 10, 2009, the Company purchased 1.0 million preferred shares of UGSI for approximately $0.4 million in cash. Equity investments in companies over which the Company has no ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for under the cost method. Accordingly, this investment is accounted for under the cost method. The Chief Executive Officer of UGSI serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Energy Transfer Water Solutions, JV LLC

On February 4, 2010, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary HWS entered into a limited liability company agreement with ETC Water Solutions, LLC (“ETC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP), that established a 50-50 joint venture, Energy Transfer Water Solutions, JV LLC (the “JV”), to develop solutions for the transportation and treatment of produced water, frac fluids and other types of discharged waters generated in the Marcellus Shale oil and natural gas fields throughout Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, and in the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and Texas (the “Agreement”).

 

11


Table of Contents

 

The Company’s HWS subsidiary will, under a separate operations and reimbursement agreement with the JV, build and operate all water processing and treatment facilities owned by the joint venture. ETC will, under a separate operations and reimbursement agreement with the JV, build and operate all pipeline facilities used to transport produced water, frac fluids and other types of discharged waters to the water processing and treatment facilities operated by HWS.

The JV is managed by a board of directors comprised of an equal number of HWS and ETC representatives, and will be jointly funded unless HWS or ETC opts not to consent to a project, in which case, if the other party elects to proceed on a unilateral basis, it will be entitled to a pre-tax, unlevered internal rate of return of thirty percent on the capital contributions with respect to such project. All other distributions will be made on a 50-50 basis. In February and July 2010, each of HWS and ETC made capital contributions to the JV of $50,000 and $450,000, respectively, toward an initial operating budget of $1,000,000. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded $0.3 million of losses on this equity investment, which represents the Company’s 50 % share of operating expenses of the JV to date.

The Agreement is subject to usual and customary transfer restrictions, and the obligations of HWS and ETC under both the Agreement and the respective operations and reimbursement agreements are guaranteed by the Company in the case of HWS, and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., in the case of ETC, pursuant to guaranty agreements.

China Bottles

During the second quarter of 2010, there was a significant decline in the observable market price of China Bottles, the Company’s 48% owned equity investment. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2010, the Company noted a significant decline in the China Bottles business which impacted the financial results of the equity investment. As a result of these events management believed that the Company would not be able to recover the carrying amount of the investment and that China Bottles did not have the ability to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment. Therefore, the Company concluded that the decline in the value of the equity investment was other than temporary. The Company conducts its equity investment impairment analyses in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 323, “Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures.” ASC 323 requires the Company to record an impairment charge for a decrease in value of an investment when the decline in the investment is considered to be other than temporary. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $4,097,000 non-cash impairment charge within “Income (loss) from equity method investment” in the consolidated statements of operations during the second quarter of 2010 to fully impair the carrying amount of its equity investment in China Bottles.

Note 6 — Income Taxes

The difference between the actual income tax (benefit) expense and that computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% to pretax income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is summarized below.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

United States federal income tax rate

     (35.0 )%      (35.0 )%      (35.0 )%      (35.0 )% 

State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit

     (2.0     (5.7     (1.3     (5.7

Foreign tax rate difference

     (0.7     0.6        3.4        0.5   

Effect of tax holiday

     (3.6     0.2        (1.0     0.1   

Valuation allowance

     13.9        5.0        17.7        3.0   

Goodwill impairment

     —          34.4       —          37.0   

Other

     4.2        0.1        1.4        (0.6 )
                                

Effective income tax rate

     (23.2 )%      (0.4 )%      (14.8 )%      (0.7 )% 
                                

The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income sufficient to offset the related deductions and loss carryforwards within the applicable carryforward period, as well as the existence of operating losses on tax credit carrybacks. During the three and nine month ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized income tax benefits of approximately $0.5 million and $3.3 million for net operating loss carrybacks. The Company is subject to taxation in the various federal, state and province, county, municipal and local taxing jurisdictions where it has operations in the United States and China. The Company’s tax returns since inception are subject to examination by the United States federal and state and PRC tax authorities. Additionally, the Company’s value added tax reports are subject to routine review by PRC tax authorities.

 

12


Table of Contents

 

Note 7 — Stock-Based Compensation

The Company grants stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance shares and units, other stock-based awards and cash-based awards to employees, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company in accordance with the Heckmann Corporation 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”). The 2009 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of common stock.

Stock Options

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted to employees using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. No stock options were granted during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010. Stock-based compensation cost related to stock options granted in August 2009, all of which is included in general and administrative expense in the statement of operations, totaled approximately $90,000 and $265,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

Restricted Common Stock

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded approximately $56,000 and $318,000, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense to its employees and consultants related to shares of restricted common stock granted in May 2009. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, 138,335 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to the 2009 Plan. No shares of common stock were issued pursuant to the 2009 Plan during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Stock and Warrant Repurchase Program

In August 2009, the Board of Directors approved a 1-year extension of the Company’s discretionary equity buy-back plan and an expansion of the plan to include common stock. Under the broadened plan, the Company may purchase warrants and up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock in open market and private transactions through December 31, 2010, at times and in amounts as management deems appropriate, subject to applicable securities laws. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, 3,216,101 warrants and 4,759,101 warrants, respectively, were purchased by the Company for an aggregate of $1.3 million and $2.0 million in cash, respectively (the market price for the public warrants). No common shares were purchased in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies

Environmental Liabilities

In accordance with the requirements of the PRC’s Environmental Protection Law, the Company has installed required environmental protection equipment, adopted environmental protection technologies, established responsibility systems for environmental protection, and has reported to and registered with the relevant local environmental protection departments. The Company has complied with the relevant regulations and has never paid a fee for the excessive discharge of pollutants. Management believes that there are no unrecorded liabilities in connection with the Company’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

The Company also complies with the environmental protection laws and regulatory framework of the United States and the individual states where it operates water gathering pipelines and salt water disposal wells. The Company has installed safety, monitoring and environmental protection equipment such as pressure sensors and relief valves, and has established reporting and responsibility protocols for environmental protection and reporting to relevant local environmental protection departments. In Texas and Louisiana, the Company is subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, all of which are designed to protect the environment and monitor compliance with water quality. Management believes the Company is in material compliance with all applicable environmental protection laws and regulations in the United States, Texas and Louisiana.

 

13


Table of Contents

 

Litigation

On June 1, 2009, Xu Hong Bin, the former president and chairman of China Water , and his affiliated entity, Kotex Development Corp. (collectively “Xu”), filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Court”) making various claims against the Company and its directors and executive officers. Xu’s lawsuit makes claims allegedly arising out of the Company’s intended cancellation of approximately 5.3 million shares of Company common stock held by Xu. Xu claims that the Company’s intended cancellation of his 5.3 million shares is a breach of the general release in an escrow resolution and transition agreement that the Company entered into with him, which was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. On June 8, 2009, the Court denied Xu’s request for expedited scheduling but ordered that pending resolution of the Xu litigation, the Company may not cancel the 5.3 million Xu shares at issue. On June 22, 2009, the Company filed a vigorous answer and countersuit with claims against Xu for his breach of the fiduciary duties of care and loyalty as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company seeks recovery of not only the stock at issue, but also cash paid to Xu and cash the Company believes was misappropriated by Xu. The Company’s affirmative defenses and its countersuit contend that the general release in the escrow resolution and transition agreement is infected with fraud and therefore voidable.

In response to the Company’s affirmative defenses and countersuit, Xu filed a motion for partial judgment on the pleadings, seeking the dismissal of the Company’s claims. On October 26, 2009, the Court denied Xu’s motion in large part and also denied Xu’s request for an order of specific performance of the general release provisions of the escrow resolution and transition agreement. The Court rejected Xu’s arguments regarding the fraud and breach of fiduciary claims as premature, and ruled that evidentiary questions of fraud and the voidabilty of the transition agreement will remain for later proceedings and trial. Although the Company’s countersuit for Xu’s breach of fiduciary duties and its affirmative defenses to his claims are going forward, the Court trimmed the pleadings by dismissing the Company’s counterclaims for contract breach and conversion. In light of the pending litigation, disputed shares will continue to be included in the Company’s outstanding shares until the litigation is finally resolved. Based on statements by Xu during recent discovery proceedings, the Company believes that Xu, together with one of the holders of the noncontrolling interest in China Water’s subsidiary Harbin Taoda Drinks (“Harbin”), were parties to certain loan agreements that were not disclosed to the Company in connection with its acquisition of China Water or in China Water’s SEC filings prior to such acquisition, and were also involved in preparing and submitting to the Chinese government various conflicting purchase agreements that did not accurately reflect correct net asset value for the Harbin business.

In Xu’s companion case for legal fee expense reimbursement as a former director under the indemnity provisions of the Company’s bylaws and certificate of incorporation, Xu recently complied with the conditions set by the Company’s Board of Directors and the Court mandate that he provide an irrevocable bonded and collateralized $1,000,000 letter of credit in favor of the Company. As a result, requests for expense reimbursement are secured, and, upon submission to the Company and/or approval by the Court, as applicable, the Company will issue reimbursement payments. The Company has paid approximately $365,000 and $418,000 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 to Xu’s counsel for these reimbursements.

On May 28, 2010, Ng Tak Kau, a former officer of China Water that was also part of the selling insiders group that includes Xu, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery making various claims against the Company and its directors and executive officers. Ng’s lawsuit makes claims allegedly arising out of the Company’s intended cancellation of 4.08 million shares of Company common stock potentially issuable to Ng in connection with the Company’s acquisition of China Water. Ng contends that the Company’s intended cancellation of his 4.08 million shares is unwarranted and a breach of agreements entered into in connection with the acquisition. On June 23, 2010, the Company filed an answer denying all allegations and also a countersuit for fraud and fraudulent inducement. Ng’s motion for judgment on the pleadings has been scheduled for a hearing on November 15, 2010.

On May 21, 2010, Richard P. Gielata, an individual purporting to act on behalf of shareholders, served a class action lawsuit filed May 6, 2010 against the Company and various directors and officers in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Class Action”). The Class Action alleges violations of federal securities laws in connection with the acquisition of China Water. The Company responded to the Class Action by filing a motion to transfer and consolidate the Delaware action to California and a motion to dismiss the case. On October 6, 2010, the Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation to the District Court Judge to deny the motion to transfer. On October 8, 2010, the plaintiff filed an Amended Class Action Complaint. On October 25, 2010, the Company filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation on the motion to transfer. On May 21, 2010, Westfield Retirement Board, also purporting to act on behalf of shareholders, filed a virtually identical class action lawsuit in the United States District for the Central District of California. On July 26, 2010, Westfield filed a request to voluntarily dismiss that case. On July 27, 2010, the case was dismissed.

The outcome of the above litigation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

14


Table of Contents

 

Cancellation of Common Shares

Previously, the Company initiated cancellation of 15,527,900 common shares that were issued to former China Water management and insiders, and approximately 1.5 million shares underlying warrants issuable to them in connection with the acquisition of China Water. As part of that initiative, on July 18, 2009, the Company entered into a Settlement and Release Agreement with China Water’s former Chief Executive Officer, Chen Xinghua, resulting in the cancellation of 3,361,000 shares. In consideration for Mr. Chen’s entering into and fully performing the agreement, on August 31, 2009, pursuant to the terms of the Settlement and Release Agreement, the Company issued 200,000 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Chen. The shares issued under the settlement agreement are subject to a two-year lock up. The Company is continuing its share cancellation and recovery initiative and may seek to take other actions against the remaining former insiders of China Water.

In addition, the Company is subject to claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business, the outcome of which cannot be predicted with certainty.

Note 9 — Deconsolidation

In August 2007, Pilpol (HK) Biological Limited, a Hong Kong company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of China Water (“Pilpol”), entered into a stock purchase agreement with Haoyang Bian, pursuant to which Mr. Bian agreed to sell to Pilpol 67% of the equity interests of ShenYang Aixin Company Limited, a company formed in accordance with the laws of the PRC (“ShenYang Aixin”). In September 2007, Shenyang Yuchinchuan Economic and Trade Limited, a company formed in accordance with the laws of the PRC (“Yuchinchuan”), became the sole equity holder of ShenYang Aixin. Haoyang Bian owns 90% of the equity of Yuchinchuan. In October 2007, ShenYang Aixin was converted into a Sino-foreign equity joint venture company and Pilpol and Yuchinchuan entered into a cooperative joint venture agreement (the “CJV Agreement”). In December 2007, Pilpol, Haoyang Bian and Yuchinchuan entered into an amendment to the stock purchase agreement to, among other things, memorialize the joint venture arrangement and to confirm the pending sale by Yuchinchuan to Pilpol of 67% of the equity interests of ShenYang Aixin.

The CJV Agreement provided Pilpol with the right to 67% of the profits of ShenYang Aixin and with financial and operational control of ShenYang Aixin’s factory, provided that such right to profits and control would expire if, by an agreed upon date, Pilpol did not consummate the outright purchase of 67% of the equity interests of ShenYang Aixin pursuant to the amended August 2007 stock purchase agreement. As of December 31, 2007, the Company made cash payments for a 33.5% interest in ShenYang and recorded a payable for the remaining 33.5% interest pursuant to a contractual agreement. As such, at December 31, 2007, Pilpol had financial and operational control of ShenYang and, as a result, consolidated this entity. As of September 30, 2009, management made the decision not to consummate the purchase of the equity interests in ShenYang Aixin. Consequently, the contractual agreement that gave Pilpol control of the subsidiary expired, and Pilpol lost financial and operational control of ShenYang Aixin.

As a result, and effective September 30, 2009, the Company deconsolidated ShenYang Aixin. The deconsolidation was attributable to other than a nonreciprocal transaction and a loss of $5.3 million was recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, representing the aggregate of the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest and the carrying amount of ShenYang Aixin’s net assets as of the date of deconsolidation. The loss is included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The fair value of the retained noncontrolling interest in ShenYang Aixin was determined to be zero as of the date of deconsolidation. As the investment balance was determined to be zero as of December 31, 2009, there was no gain or loss attributed to the remeasurement of our retained investment in the former subsidiary subsequent to the deconsolidation.

 

15


Table of Contents

 

Note 10 — Rescission of Prior Business Combination

On April 1, 2009, the Company acquired 67% of Harbin, a bottled water manufacturer located in the northern city of Harbin (Heilongjiang Province), in the PRC. The agreement to purchase Harbin provided the Company with financial and operational control of Harbin’s business subsequent to payment of the aggregate purchase price. In June 2010, the holders of the noncontrolling 33% of Harbin claimed that, on the basis of an undisclosed loan agreement that the Company believes was arranged prior to the Company’s acquisition of China Water and conflicting purchase price agreements that were submitted to the Chinese government, the full purchase price for the business was not paid. Based on statements by former China Water president Xu Hong Bin during recent discovery proceedings (see Note 8), the Company believes that Xu and one of the holders of the noncontrolling interest in Harbin were parties to certain loan agreements that were not disclosed to the Company in connection with its acquisition of China Water or in China Water’s SEC filings prior to such acquisition, and that Xu and the interest holder in Harbin were also involved in preparing and submitting to the Chinese government various conflicting purchase agreements that did not accurately reflect correct net asset value for the Harbin business. The Company was subsequently barred from access to factory operations and records, and demands for additional purchase price consideration were made on the Company by the noncontrolling shareholders. On June 1, 2010, management made the decision not to pay additional consideration for its interest in Harbin and, consequently, rescinded the prior business combination, resulting in substance in a nonmonetary distribution of the net assets of Harbin to the former owners. As a result, and effective June 1, 2010, the Company divested itself of the assets, liabilities and operations of Harbin and recorded a loss of $1.6 million in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations representing the aggregate of the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest and the carrying amount of Harbin’s net assets as of June 1, 2010.

Note 11 — Segments

The Company’s reporting segments have been determined based on the nature of the products and/or services offered to customers or the nature of their function in the organization. The Company evaluates performance based on the operating income contributed by each segment. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The tables below summarize information about reported segments (in thousands):

 

     China
Water
    HWR     Corporate     Total  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

        

Sales

   $ 9,173      $ 1,939      $ —        $ 11,112   

Gross profit

     2,303        190        —          2,493   

Income (loss) before income taxes

     331        (1,169     (1,493     (2,331

Additions to fixed assets

     279        955        —          1,234   

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

        

Sales

     9,618        1,617       —          11,235   

Gross profit

     1,750        497       —          2,247   

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (208,596     367       (1,793     (210,022

Additions to fixed assets

     4,075        4,285       —          8,360   

Nine months ended September 30, 2010

        

Sales

     24,836        6,507        —          31,343   

Gross profit

     5,910        1,345        —          7,255   

Loss before income taxes

     (5,919     (14,005     (2,134     (22,058

Additions to fixed assets

     933        8,076        —          9,009   

Goodwill

     6,341        7,257        —          13,598   

Total assets

     47,420        66,139        226,355        339,914   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

        

Sales

     25,698        1,617       —          27,315   

Gross profit

     6,403        497       —          6,900   

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (395,938     367       (3,348     (398,919

Additions to fixed assets

     8,668        4,285       —          12,953   

Year Ended December 31, 2009

        

Goodwill

     6,341        7,257        —          13,598   

Total assets

     56,541        63,996        244,452        364,989   

Note 12 — Subsequent Events

On November 8, 2010, the Company entered a definitive purchase agreement to purchase 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Complete Vacuum and Rental, Inc. (“CVR”), a company that operates an oilfield waste transportation and disposal business with a fleet of vacuum trucks, winch trucks and frac tanks operating from terminals in east Texas, northwest Louisiana and central Arkansas and a network of six deep injection disposal wells located in east Texas.

The purchase price is $64.0 million, subject to various adjustments, and includes: (i) up to $38.0 million to pay off or assume existing indebtedness of CVR, (ii) $5.0 million in cash to retire certain related party indebtedness, and (iii) approximately $21.0 million to CVR’s shareholders, of which approximately $15.0 million (70%) will be paid in cash and $6 million (30%) will be paid in the Company’s common stock. The Company also has agreed to pay two key CVR employees an aggregate amount of $2.0 million in cash and stock, one half of which to be paid at closing and the balance to be paid, subject to certain restrictions, on January 1, 2012. The Company will make additional payments to CVR’s current shareholders upon the achievement of certain EBITDA targets, as described below. In addition, the Company will assume up to an additional $5.0 million of indebtedness incurred to expand CVR’s operations in key geographies. The Company’s common stock paid at closing will be valued on a per share basis at the average of the closing sales price on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten trading days immediately preceding the public announcement of the definitive agreement.

For each of fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013 in which CVR achieves targeted EBITDA of $20.0 million (as described in the definitive agreement), the Company will pay CVR’s current shareholders an additional $2 million plus one-half of the amount by which EBITDA exceeds $20.0 million for the relevant fiscal year (the “Earn-Out Payments”). The Earn-Out Payments will be paid in a combination of 70% cash and 30% of the Company’s common stock, up to an aggregate maximum of $12.0 million. The specific number of shares of the Company’s common stock to be included in each Earn-Out Payment shall be computed as the average of the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, or such other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock may then be listed, for the ten trading days immediately prior to the issuance of the shares. Each Earn-Out Payment will be made within five Business Days after determination of the EBITDA calculation in the year after the fiscal year in which the EBITDA target was met.

Closing of the transactions contemplated by the November 8, 2010 purchase agreement is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including the completion of due diligence as set forth in the purchase agreement. The Company anticipates that it will consummate these transactions on or before December 15, 2010.

 

16


Table of Contents

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Certain Terms

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the combined company, which is Heckmann Corporation and its subsidiaries, including China Water and Drinks, Inc. and its affiliated entities (“China Water”), acquired October 30, 2008, Heckmann Water Resources Corporation (“HWR”) established July 1, 2009, and Heckmann Water Solutions, LLC (HWS”), established February 4, 2010.

Special Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report contains statements that are forward-looking and, as such, are not historical facts. Rather, these statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements use words such as “believe,” “expect,” “should,” “strive,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or similar expressions. When the Company discusses its strategies or plans, it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Actual results and stockholders’ value will be affected by a variety of risks and factors, including, without limitation, the recent crisis in worldwide financial markets, international, national and local economic conditions, merger, acquisition and business combination risks, financing risks, geo-political risks, and acts of terror or war. Many of the risks and factors that will determine these results and stockholder values are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. These statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgment with respect to the future. You should carefully read the risk factor disclosure contained in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, where many of the important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements are discussed.

All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. The Company is under no obligation to, nor does it intend to, release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Company Overview

We are a holding company that was created to buy operating businesses, and our focus is on buying and building companies in the water sector. We have two operating segments: (1) domestic and (2) international. Our domestic segment presently includes (a) our water disposal, treatment, and pipeline transport facilities in Texas and Louisiana operated by our wholly owned subsidiary HWR, (b) our joint venture with Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., to develop water pipeline infrastructure and treatment solutions for oil and gas producers in the Marcellus and Haynesville Shale fields, operated through our wholly owned subsidiary HWS, and (c) our minority interest investment in water infrastructure solutions and pipeline supplier UGSI. (OTC: UGSI). Our international segment presently includes our bottled water business operated by our wholly owned subsidiary China Water. As of September 30, 2010, we had approximately $148.5 million of cash and cash equivalents as well as approximately $76.1 million of certificates of deposit and marketable securities on our balance sheet. In 2010, we plan to continue building the businesses in our domestic and international segments, and we will also make additional acquisitions as we find attractive long-term opportunities for our stockholders.

Headquartered in Palm Desert, California, the Company was incorporated in Delaware on May 29, 2007. We began our corporate existence as a blank check development stage company. On November 16, 2007, we completed an IPO of 54,116,800 units (each consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant exercisable for an additional share of common stock), including 4,116,800 units issued pursuant to the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and received net proceeds of approximately $421 million. On the same date, we also completed a private placement of warrants to our founders at an aggregate purchase price of $7 million, or $1.00 per warrant.

On October 30, 2008, we completed our acquisition of China Water, consolidated its subsidiaries and affiliate entities, and now operate its seven bottled water facilities in China with Coca-Cola China as our largest customer.

 

17


Table of Contents

 

On July 1, 2009, we purchased of all the assets of Greer Exploration Corporation and the Silversword Partnerships, and all the membership interests of Charis Partners, LLC. The assets of these entities were consolidated into HWR together with the capital and operating resources necessary to build a pipeline and network of disposal wells and terminal facilities. HWR now operates a multi-modal water disposal, treatment and pipeline transportation business in Texas and Louisiana serving customers seeking to dispose of complex water flows including flowback water, frac fluids and produced brine waters generated in their oil and gas operations. In February 2010, we completed our 50-mile water transport pipeline and treatment facility network in the Haynesville Shale field. It is designed to treat and dispose up to 100,000 barrels of water per day and is supported by a network of deep injection disposal wells.

On February 4, 2010, we announced a joint venture with Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. The joint venture is a 50/50 partnership and operates under the name Energy Transfer Water Solutions, JV, LLC (“ETWS”). ETWS is in the process of developing water pipeline infrastructure and treatment solutions for oil and gas producers in the Marcellus and Haynesville Shale fields, and intends to develop similar solutions in other areas within the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana. Our 50% interest in the joint venture is held through HWS.

Operations Overview

China Water produces bottled water products at facilities throughout China. China Water uses two types of production lines, one which produces hand-held sized (330 milliliters to 1.5 liters) bottled water (“Small Bottles”) and the other which produces carboy-sized (11.4 to 18.9 liters, or 3 to 5 gallons) bottled water (“Carboy Bottles”). China Water produces a variety of bottled water products including purified water, mineralized water, oxygenated water, juiced drinks and fruit flavored drinks.

China Water supplies bottled water products to beverage companies and servicing companies, including Coca-Cola China, Uni-President and Jian Li Bao. China Water also markets its bottled water products in China using the brand names “Darcunk” (which means “Absolutely Pure”) and “Grand Canyon.” In addition, China Water provides private label bottled products to companies in the service industry, such as hotels and casinos.

HWR’s saltwater disposal and transport business presently includes seven disposal wells and approximately 50 miles of interconnecting pipeline which, at full capacity, is capable of disposing of approximately 100,000 barrels of saltwater and frac fluid each day. HWR enters into saltwater disposal agreements with oil and gas producers and independent trucking companies that need to dispose of saltwater and frac fluid used in drilling operations. HWR accepts trucking company deliveries of saltwater, condensate, and frac fluid at its filtration terminals, and takes delivery of saltwater and frac fluid directly into its filtration facilities and pipeline network from the oil and gas wells of area operators. The saltwater and frac fluid is pumped through the pipeline and into deep injection disposal wells. HWR is in the process of expanding its operations to include up to four additional disposal wells and several miles of new interconnecting pipeline, which, when completed and operating at full capacity, will raise HWR’s daily receiving and disposal capacity to approximately 120,000 barrels.

HWR currently has multi-year forward contracts with three principal customers, pursuant to which HWR has installed pipeline connecting these customers’ oil and gas wells to HWR’s network of disposal wells. The agreements provide that, upon connection to the pipeline, the customers will have an obligation to dispose of a minimum firm quantity of saltwater and frac fluid into HWR’s network and, in return, HWR will receive an agreed upon per barrel fee for disposal. In addition, HWR currently has agreements and spot market terminal arrangements with approximately 25 other customers, pursuant to which these customers have the right, but not the obligation, to dispose of saltwater and frac fluid into HWR’s network and are obligated to make payments to HWR based upon the volume of saltwater and frac fluid actually delivered.

Initial completion of the HWR 50-mile pipeline system occurred in February 2010 and during the nine month period ending September 30, 2010, HWR incurred significant operating costs for pipeline start up, commissioning, repairs, upgrades, replacements, and pipeline integrity testing. Integrity testing, assessment and hydraulic calibration of all of our pipeline and connected terminal assets will continue as deemed necessary to ensure continued safe and reliable operation. In February 2010, each of HWS and ETC made capital contributions to ETWS, and each of HWS and ETC agreed to a first year operating budget which is largely dedicated to strategic and economic planning, engineering, regulatory analysis, permitting, project cost assessment and bidding, and customer acquisition. HWS and ETC made additional capital contributions in September 2010. The ETWS joint venture is expected to operate on a build, own and operate business model, Through September 30, 2010, at the invitation of several potential customers active in the oil, gas, coal mining, and utility sectors, the joint venture has provided specific project proposals to provide large scale water infrastructure gathering and transit systems consisting of mobile filtration systems in the field, and terminals and treatment facilities for receipt and processing of various waters. We believe these proposals could produce meaningful contract awards in the future. In July, 2010 ETWS entered into letters of intent for the acquisition of three separate businesses that operate water treatment and disposal plants serving oil and gas producers in the Marcellus Shale fields in Pennsylvania. While aware of new environmental regulations which took effect in August of 2010, during our due diligence review we became aware of additional environmental regulations proposed for 2011 which, if enacted, would significantly affect the potential acquisitions. We have decided not to move forward pending clarification from the state of Pennsylvania as to the future of these regulations.

 

18


Table of Contents

 

We believe our balance sheet remains strong and we continue to actively evaluate potential acquisitions.

The following discussion includes the operating results of China Water and the operating results of HWR since July 1, 2009, the acquisition date of the business.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

Revenue

   $ 11,112      $ 11,235   

Cost of goods sold

     8,619        8,988   
                

Gross profit

     2,493        2,247   

Operating expenses:

    

Selling and marketing expenses

     910        791   

General and administrative expenses

     3,671        26,753   

Pipeline start-up and commissioning

     590        —     

Goodwill impairment

     —          178,553  

Fixed asset impairment

     —          6,223  
                

Total operating expenses

     5,171        212,320   
                

Loss from operations

     (2,678     (210,073

Interest income, net

     588        863   

Income (loss) from equity method investment

     (299     (124

Other, net

     58        (688
                

Loss before income taxes

     (2,331     (210,022

Income tax benefit (expense)

     540        (476
                

Net loss

   $ (1,791   $ (210,498
                

Net Sales

Our net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2010 of $11.1 million remained relatively unchanged compared to net sales of $11.2 million for the same period of 2009. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, our net sales included $9.2 million of sales of bottled water and $1.9 million of revenues from water disposal, compared to $9.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Sales of bottled water decreased to $9.2 million during the third quarter of 2010 from $9.6 million during the third quarter of 2009, primarily due to no bottled water sales from our former Beijing, ShenYang Aixin and Harbin facilities during the third quarter of 2010 for the reasons discussed below. During the third quarter of 2009 the Company had bottled water sales of approximately $0.4 million from our former Beijing and ShenYang Aixin facilities and $1.4 million from our former Harbin facility, partially offset by sales from our Xi’an facility, which started production in March 2010, and by sales of our recently introduced Howmax line of private label fruit beverage products of $0.8 million during the third quarter of 2010. The prices of our bottled water products and, except for the introduction of Howmax products, our product mix, did not significantly change during the three month period ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period of 2009. The increase in China Water net sales, after the above mentioned changes, was attributable to increased volume of sales of bottled water products. In September 2009, we announced the restructuring of the Beijing facility and the deconsolidation of the ShenYang Aixin facility (see Notes 2 and 4 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009), and effective June 1, 2010, we divested the Harbin facility (see Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included herein). Accordingly, there were no recorded sales by these facilities after the aforementioned dates.

Revenue from HWR’s water disposal business increased to $1.9 million during the third quarter of 2010 from $1.6 million during the third quarter of 2009 as a result of an increase in volume of water disposal for existing customers. The price charged for water disposal is negotiated in agreements with HWR’s customers and, therefore, did not change during the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period of 2009.

 

19


Table of Contents

 

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold decreased to $8.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 from $8.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to an increase in the reserve for inventory obsolescence at China Water of $0.5 million and a $0.3 million restructuring reserve to exit the Beijing facility, both of which were recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2009, offset by an increase in depreciation expense of $0.7 million during the third quarter of 2009 to $1.1 million in the same period of 2010. The increase in depreciation expense was due to starting up the HWR pipeline in February 2010.

Gross Profit

For the reasons discussed above, gross profit increased to $2.5 million, or 22.4% of net sales, during the three months ended September 30, 2010 from $2.2 million, or 20.0% of net sales, during the same period of 2009.

Gross profit attributable to our bottled water business was $2.3 million, or 25.1% of net sales, during the third quarter of 2010, compared to $1.8 million, or 18.2% of net sales, during the third quarter of 2009. The lower gross margin in the third quarter of 2009 was due primarily to the inventory reserve and the Beijing restructuring costs referred to above.

Gross profit from HWR’s water disposal business was $0.2 million, or 9.8% of net sales, during the third quarter of 2010, compared to $0.5 million, or 30.7% of net sales, during the third quarter of 2009. The decrease in gross margin was primarily attributable to higher depreciation expense during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased significantly to $5.2 million from $212.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, primarily due to impairment charges recorded during the third quarter of 2009 and a significant decrease in general and administrative expenses, partially offset by an increase in pipeline start-up and commissioning expense.

During the three months ended September 30, 2009, we completed our goodwill impairment analysis of the goodwill of our China Water subsidiary and accordingly, we recorded a $178.6 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge and a $6.2 million charge for the impairment of property, plant and equipment. We did not record any impairment charges during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

General and administrative expenses decreased significantly from $26.8 million during the third quarter of 2009 to $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2010. The decrease was primarily due to general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2009 including approximately $5.3 million of expenses relating to the deconsolidation of ShenYang Aixin, a $4.5 million expense for reimbursements made to Xu Hong Bin that were previously capitalized, a $7.2 million expense to write off bad debts, a $3.9 million expense to write off other assets, and provisions for liabilities of $1.3 million. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 include approximately $0.1 million of stock-based compensation and approximately $0.4 million of amortization expense, compared to $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, during the same period of 2009.

Also included in operating expense for the three months ended September 30, 2010 are pipeline start-up and commissioning costs of approximately $0.6 million resulting from ongoing activities related to the start-up of HWR’s pipeline in the Haynesville Shale. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we continued to keep pipeline operating pressures below normal as we performed additional start-up procedures on the pipeline. The associated lower throughput and start-up costs adversely impacted our water disposal revenues and operating costs during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Loss from Operations

We had operating losses of $2.7 million and $210.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a result of the items mentioned above.

Interest Income, net

During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded interest income, net, of $0.6 million compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009. The decrease was due to lower interest rates for invested funds and lower investment balances in the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period of 2009.

 

20


Table of Contents

 

Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investment

During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded $0.3 million of equity loss from our 50% equity method investment in the ETWS. The loss was primarily due to project related expenditures associated with the review of proposed acquisitions in the Marcellus Shale oil and gas fields in Pennsylvania. Our $0.1 million of equity loss in the three months ended September 30, 2009 was attributable to our 48% equity method investment in China Bottles, Inc.

Other Income (Expense), net

We recorded other income of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $0.7 million of other expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009. The difference from the prior period relates primarily to a $0.5 million restructuring reserve recorded for the exit of the Beijing factory in the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Income Taxes

The Company expects to utilize the deferred tax asset generated from operating losses recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2010 by carrying back the amount to offset prior year’s taxable income, and accordingly has recorded an income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2010 of approximately $0.5 million compared with a $0.5 million income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Net Loss

Our net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was approximately $1.8 million compared to a net loss of $210.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, as a result of the items mentioned above.

Results of Operations for the Nine months ended September 30, 2010 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

Revenue

   $ 31,343      $ 27,315   

Cost of goods sold

     24,088        20,415   
                

Gross profit

     7,255        6,900   

Operating expenses:

    

Selling and marketing expenses

     2,216        2,218   

General and administrative expenses

     11,194        37,677   

Pipeline start-up and commissioning

     13,595        —     

Goodwill impairment

     —          362,553   

Fixed asset impairment

     —          6,223   
                

Total operating expenses

     27,005        408,671   
                

Loss from operations

     (19,750     (401,771

Interest income, net

     1,956        3,048   

Income (loss) from equity method investment

     (4,347     211   

Other, net

     83        (407
                

Loss before income taxes

     (22,058     (398,919

Income tax benefit (expense)

     3,262        (896
                

Net loss

   $ (18,796   $ (399,815
                

Net Sales

Our net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased to $31.3 million from net sales of $27.3 million for the same period of 2009. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, our net sales included $24.8 million of sales of bottled water and $6.5 million of revenues from water disposal, compared to $25.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2009.

 

21


Table of Contents

 

Sales of bottled water decreased to $24.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $25.7 million during the same period of 2009, primarily due to no bottled water sales from our former Beijing and ShenYang Aixin facilities during the first three quarters of 2010 and $2.5 million of sales from our Harbin facilities during the period from January 1 to May 31, 2010 for the reasons discussed below. During the first three quarters of 2009, the Company had bottled water sales of approximately $1.3 million from our former Beijing and ShenYang Aixin facilities and $3.1 million from our former Harbin facility during the first three quarters of 2009, partially offset by sales from our Xi’an facility, which started production in March 2010, and by sales of the Howmax line of private label fruit beverage products of $2.0 million during the first three quarters of 2010. The prices of our bottled water products and, other than the introduction of Howmax products, our product mix did not significantly change during the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period of 2009. In September 2009, we announced the restructuring of the Beijing facility and the deconsolidation of the ShenYang Aixin facility (see Notes 2 and 4 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009), and effective June 1, 2010, we divested the Harbin facility (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included herein). Accordingly, there were no recorded sales by these facilities after the aforementioned dates.

Revenue from HWR’s water disposal business increased to $6.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $1.6 million during the same period of 2009 as a result of the HWR acquisition being consummated on July 1, 2009 and HWR’s pipeline in the Haynesville Shale coming online in February 2010. Prior to such time, revenues from HWR’s water disposal business were derived primarily from trucking deliveries.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold increased to $24.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $20.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense from $1.6 million during the first three quarters of 2009 to $3.1 million during the same period of 2010, and approximately $2.5 million of increased cost of sales associated with the February 2010 start-up of the Haynesville pipeline. The increase in depreciation expense was primarily due to the start-up of the Haynesville pipeline.

Gross Profit

For the reasons discussed above, gross profit increased to $7.3 million, or 23.1% of net sales, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $6.9 million, or 25.3% of net sales, during the same period of 2009.

Gross profit attributable to our bottled water business was approximately $6.0 million, or 23.8% of net sales, during the first three quarters of 2010, compared to $6.4 million, or 24.9% of net sales, during the first three quarters of 2009. Gross profit from HWR’s water disposal business was $1.3 million, or 20.7% of net sales, during the first three quarters of 2010, compared to $0.5 million, or 30.7% of net sales, during the first three quarters of 2009.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 decreased significantly to $27.0 million from $408.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, primarily due to impairment charges recorded during the first three quarters of 2009 and a significant decrease in general and administrative expenses, partially offset by an increase in pipeline start-up and commissioning expenses.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded a $362.6 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to its acquisition of China Water (see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009) and a $6.2 million charge for the impairment of property, plant and equipment. We did not record any impairment charges in operating expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

General and administrative expenses decreased significantly from $37.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $11.2 million in the same period of 2010. The decrease was primarily due to general and administrative expenses in the first three quarters of 2009 including approximately $5.3 million of expenses relating to the deconsolidation of ShenYang Aixin, a $4.5 million expense for reimbursements made to Xu Hong Bin that were previously capitalized, a $9.0 million expense to write off bad debts, a $3.9 million expense to write off other assets, and provisions for liabilities of $1.3 million, offset by $1.6 million of expenses in the same period of 2010 relating to undertaking the rescission of the Harbin business acquisition. Also, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 include approximately $0.6 million of stock-based compensation and approximately $1.3 million of amortization expense, compared to $1.8 million and $2.3 million, respectively, during the same period of 2009.

Also included in operating expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are pipeline start-up and commissioning costs of approximately $13.6 million resulting from ongoing activities related to the start-up of HWR’s pipeline in the Haynesville Shale. Accordingly, we reduced pipeline operating pressures below normal as we performed additional testing procedures to remediate the anomalies. The associated lower throughput and start-up costs adversely impacted our water disposal revenues and operating costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

22


Table of Contents

 

Loss from Operations

We had operating losses of $19.8 million and $401.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a result of the items mentioned above.

Interest Income, net

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded interest income, net, of $2.0 million compared to $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The decrease was due to lower interest rates for invested funds and lower investment balances in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period of 2009.

Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investment

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded $4.4 million of equity loss, which includes a $4.1 million impairment expense, from our 48% equity method investment in China Bottles (see Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements included herein), and $0.3 million of equity loss from our 50% equity method investment in ETWS. The $0.3 million loss was primarily due to project related expenditures associated with the review of proposed acquisitions in Marcellus Shale oil and gas fields in Pennsylvania. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009 we recorded $0.2 million of equity income in our 48% equity method investments in China Bottles.

Other Income (Expense), net

We recorded other income of $0.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to other expense of $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Income Taxes

We expect to utilize the deferred tax asset generated from operating losses recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 by carrying back the amount to offset taxable income from prior years, and accordingly have recorded an income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of approximately $3.3 million compared with a $0.9 million income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Net Loss

Our net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was approximately $18.8 million compared to a net loss of $399.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The change relates primarily to $362.6 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 in addition to the other items mentioned above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We require cash to fund our operating expenses and working capital requirements, including outlays for capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions and investments, repurchases of our securities, and lease payments. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand and cash generated from operations. Cash generated from operations is a function of such factors as changes in demand for our products and services, competitive pricing pressures, effective management of our manufacturing capacity, our ability to achieve further reductions in operating expenses, and the impact of integration on our productivity. We seek to preserve our cash balances by investing in marketable securities consisting of high grade corporate notes and United States government securities purchased in accordance with our investment policy, which allows us to invest and reinvest in United States government securities having a maturity of five years or less, other obligations of United States government agencies and instrumentalities, including government sponsored enterprises, commercial paper, corporate notes and bonds, short term instruments that are direct obligations of issuers, long term instruments that are direct obligations of issuers, and municipal notes and bonds with a maturity of five years or less. We avoid any involvement with mortgage backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations, credit default swaps and similar high risk and/or exotic instruments. Any decisions regarding the size of individual investments or their composition are made only to investments that comply with our investment policy with the intent to yield higher obtainable returns with the understanding that the investment may need to be liquidated in the near term to consummate strategic business combinations. As of September 30, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $148.5 million, and approximately $76.1 million of certificates of deposit and marketable securities, for an aggregate of approximately $225 million in cash and cash equivalents and investments.

 

23


Table of Contents

 

We have budgeted capital expenditures of approximately $5 million for the remainder of 2010 for new equipment, plant expansion, pipeline construction, and similar projects. In addition, we expect to make capital contributions to the ETWS joint venture in the remainder of 2010.

We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund operations, facilitate plant expansions and complete any acquisitions we may undertake for the foreseeable future.

Cash Flows for Nine months ended September 30, 2010

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Cash used by operating activities was primarily driven by working capital changes offset by various non-cash charges.

Net cash provided by investing activities was approximately $20.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Of this amount, $110.2 million was received from the sale and maturity of securities, offset by the use of $74.1 million for investments in high grade corporate notes and the use of $15.2 million for payments on purchases of machinery and equipment.

Net cash used in financing activities was $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This amount primarily represents $2.0 million of cash used to repurchase the Company’s warrants in the open market and at prevailing market prices and $2.5 million of cash used in payment on long-term debt agreements, offset by $2.5 million of cash received from borrowings under a revolving credit facility.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2010, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – Amended

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the revised authoritative guidance that, among other things, requires a qualitative rather than a quantitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”), which amends previous guidance for consideration of related party relationships in the determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE, amends certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a VIE, requires continuous assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, and requires enhanced disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement with a VIE. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements Disclosures

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures, which requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3, a reporting entity should disclose separately information related to purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be included in the roll forward of activity. The updated guidance also requires that an entity should provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities and disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for interim or annual financial reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll forward activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Therefore, the Company has not yet adopted the guidance with respect to the roll forward activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company has updated its disclosures to comply with the updated guidance; however, adoption of the updated guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

 

24


Table of Contents

 

Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements

In October 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which provides guidance for arrangements with multiple deliverables. Specifically, the new standard requires an entity to allocate consideration at the inception of an arrangement to all of its deliverables based on their relative selling prices. In the absence of vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of the selling prices, consideration must be allocated to the deliverables based on management’s best estimate of the selling prices. In addition, the new standard eliminates the use of the residual method of allocation. In October 2009, the FASB also issued a new accounting standard which changes revenue recognition for tangible products containing software and hardware elements. Specifically, tangible products containing software and hardware that function together to deliver the tangible products’ essential functionality are scoped out of the existing software revenue recognition guidance and will be accounted for under the multiple-element arrangements revenue recognition guidance discussed above. Both standards will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies

Accounts Receivable, net - Accounts receivable are recognized and carried at the original invoice amount less an allowance for any uncollectible amounts. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect the expected uncollectibility of trade receivables. Inherent in the assessment of the allowance for doubtful accounts are certain judgments and estimates including, among others, the customer’s willingness or ability to pay, the effect of general economic conditions and the ongoing relationship with the customer. Accounts with outstanding balances longer than the payment terms are considered past due. The Company writes off trade receivables when they become uncollectible. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $1.2 and $0.9 million, respectively.

Goodwill - Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of the businesses acquired. Authoritative guidance requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests when circumstances indicate that the recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill may be in doubt. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value. Significant judgments are required to estimate the fair value of a reporting unit including estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates and other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions or the occurrence of one or more confirming events in future periods could cause the actual results or outcomes to materially differ from such estimates and could also affect the determination of fair value and/or goodwill impairment at future reporting dates. The Company will perform its impairment analysis annually during the third quarter of the fiscal year.

The Company’s two reporting units, China Water and HWR, have reported goodwill balances of approximately $6.3 million and $7.3 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2010, or 1.9% and 2.1% of total assets as of September 30, 2010, respectively. The Company estimated the fair value of these reporting units as of July 31, 2010 (the “Valuation Date”) using the discounted cash flow method, which requires future values to be discounted to present values at the Valuation Date. This method involves the use of estimates and judgments, particularly related to cash flows and discount rates. The Company considers various factors when deriving the discount rates, including the risk-free interest rate available within the market, the industry average beta and market return. During the third quarter 2010, the Company performed a goodwill impairment analysis. The analysis did not result in an impairment charge as the estimated fair value of China Water and HWR exceed the carrying amount, including goodwill, by approximately 2% and 20%, respectively. If economic conditions deteriorate or other events adversely impact the business model and the related assumptions including revenue growth rates, projected cash flows, and discount rates, the Company’s goodwill impairment analysis could change.

Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets other than Goodwill - In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company reviews the carrying value of intangibles and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to the undiscounted cash flows that the asset or asset group is expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset, if any, exceeds its fair market value. The Company’s amortizable intangible assets include registered trademarks, customer relationships, distribution networks and customer contracts acquired in the acquisitions of China Water and HWR. These costs are being amortized using the straight-line method over a weighted average estimated useful life of approximately 13 years.

Revenue Recognition - Revenues for bottled water sales are recognized when finished products are delivered to our customers. Revenues for saltwater disposal are recognized upon delivery to our water transport pipeline or upon delivery to our disposal wells or saltwater storage facilities. In addition to the foregoing, all of the following also shall have occurred: (i) both title and the risks and benefits of ownership are transferred; (ii) persuasive evidence of an arrangement with the customer exists; (iii) the price is fixed and determinable; and (iv) collection is reasonably assured.

 

25


Table of Contents

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Foreign Exchange Risk

The value of the RMB against the United States dollar and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the RMB has no longer been pegged to the United States dollar at a constant exchange rate. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate within a flexible peg range against the United States dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future, China’s governmental authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.

Because substantially all of the earnings from our Chinese subsidiary are denominated in RMB, but our reporting currency is the United States dollar, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the United States dollar and the RMB will affect our balance sheet and our earnings per share in United States dollars. In addition, appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the United States dollar would affect our financial results reported in United States dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations.

We do not believe that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have had a material impact on the Company’s balance sheet and earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. The impact in actual U.S. dollars that foreign currency translation had on our balance sheet, statements of comprehensive loss and changes in equity are reported in the line item “Foreign currency translation loss” within other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity. The impact that foreign currency translation had on our statement of cash flows is reported in the line item “Effect of change in foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents” in our statement of cash flows.

Inflation

Inflationary factors, such as increases in the cost of our products and overhead costs, could impair our operating results. Although we do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, a high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales revenue if the selling prices of our products do not increase with these increased costs.

Company’s Operations in Foreign Countries

Our operations conducted in China are subject to various political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties inherent in conducting business in China. Among other risks, the operations of the Company’s China Water subsidiary are subject to the risks of restrictions on transfer of funds; export duties, quotas, and embargoes; domestic and international customs and tariffs; changing taxation policies; foreign exchange restrictions; and political conditions and governmental regulations.

Interest Rates

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates to our cash investments. Our cash investments policy emphasizes the preservation of principal over other portfolio considerations. If market interest rates increased by one percent from September 30, 2010, the fair value of our portfolio would decline approximately $0.2 million.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer), performed an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at that time to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Exchange Act, are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and are accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

26


Table of Contents

 

In making this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer considered the material weaknesses of China Water discussed in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, under the heading “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.” Based on this evaluation, we concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at a reasonable assurance level as of September 30, 2010 because of the identification of material weaknesses in China Water’s internal control over financial reporting that have not yet been fully remediated and which continue to exist at September 30, 2010.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The term “internal control over financial reporting” is defined under Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act and refers to the process of a company that is designed by, or under the supervision of, the issuer’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the issuer’s board of directors, management and other personnel, 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 and includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the issuer; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the issuer are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the issuer; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the issuer’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated whether any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. As a result of this review there were no changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

27


Table of Contents

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

On June 1, 2009, Xu Hong Bin, the former president and chairman of China Water , and his affiliated entity, Kotex Development Corp. (collectively “Xu”), filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Court”) making various claims against the Company and its directors and executive officers. Xu’s lawsuit makes claims allegedly arising out of the Company’s intended cancellation of approximately 5.3 million shares of Company common stock held by Xu. Xu claims that the Company’s intended cancellation of his 5.3 million shares is a breach of the general release in an escrow resolution and transition agreement that the Company entered into with him, which was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. On June 8, 2009, the Court denied Xu’s request for expedited scheduling but ordered that pending resolution of the Xu litigation, the Company may not cancel the 5.3 million Xu shares at issue. On June 22, 2009, the Company filed a vigorous answer and countersuit with claims against Xu for his breach of the fiduciary duties of care and loyalty as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company seeks recovery of not only the stock at issue, but also cash paid to Xu and cash the Company believes was misappropriated by Xu. The Company’s affirmative defenses and its countersuit contend that the general release in the escrow resolution and transition agreement is infected with fraud and therefore voidable.

In response to the Company’s affirmative defenses and countersuit, Xu filed a motion for partial judgment on the pleadings, seeking the dismissal of the Company’s claims. On October 26, 2009, the Court denied Xu’s motion in large part and also denied Xu’s request for an order of specific performance of the general release provisions of the escrow resolution and transition agreement. The Court rejected Xu’s arguments regarding the fraud and breach of fiduciary claims as premature, and ruled that evidentiary questions of fraud and the voidabilty of the transition agreement will remain for later proceedings and trial. Although the Company’s countersuit for Xu’s breach of fiduciary duties and its affirmative defenses to his claims are going forward, the Court trimmed the pleadings by dismissing the Company’s counterclaims for contract breach and conversion. In light of the pending litigation, disputed shares will continue to be included in the Company’s outstanding shares until the litigation is finally resolved. Based on statements by Xu during recent discovery proceedings, the Company believes that Xu, together with one of the holders of the noncontrolling interest in China Water’s subsidiary Harbin Taoda Drinks (“Harbin”), were parties to certain loan agreements that were not disclosed to the Company in connection with its acquisition of China Water or in China Water’s SEC filings prior to such acquisition, and were also involved in preparing and submitting to the Chinese government various conflicting purchase agreements that did not accurately reflect correct net asset value for the Harbin business.

In Xu’s companion case for legal fee expense reimbursement as a former director under the indemnity provisions of the Company’s bylaws and certificate of incorporation, Xu recently complied with the conditions set by the Company’s Board of Directors and the Court mandate that he provide an irrevocable bonded and collateralized $1,000,000 letter of credit in favor of the Company. As a result, requests for expense reimbursement are secured, and, upon submission to the Company and/or approval by the Court, as applicable, the Company will issue reimbursement payments.

On May 28, 2010, Ng Tak Kau, a former officer of China Water that was also part of the selling insiders group that includes Xu, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery making various claims against the Company and its directors and executive officers. Ng’s lawsuit makes claims allegedly arising out of the Company’s intended cancellation of 4.08 million shares of Company common stock potentially issuable to Ng in connection with the Company’s acquisition of China Water. Ng contends that the Company’s intended cancellation of his 4.08 million shares is unwarranted and a breach of agreements entered into in connection with the acquisition. On June 23, 2010, the Company filed an answer denying all allegations and also a countersuit for fraud and fraudulent inducement. Ng’s motion for judgment on the pleadings has been scheduled for a hearing on November 15, 2010.

On May 21, 2010, Richard P. Gielata, an individual purporting to act on behalf of shareholders, served a class action lawsuit filed May 6, 2010 against the Company and various directors and officers in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Class Action”). The Class Action alleges violations of federal securities laws in connection with the acquisition of China Water. The Company responded to the Class Action by filing a motion to transfer and consolidate the Delaware action to California and a motion to dismiss the case. On October 6, 2010, the Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation to the District Court Judge to deny the motion to transfer. On October 8, 2010, the plaintiff filed an Amended Class Action Complaint. On October 25, 2010, the Company filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation on the motion to transfer. On May 21, 2010, Westfield Retirement Board, also purporting to act on behalf of shareholders, filed a virtually identical class action lawsuit in the United States District for the Central District of California. On July 26, 2010, Westfield filed a request to voluntarily dismiss that case. On July 27, 2010, the case was dismissed.

 

28


Table of Contents

 

The outcome of the above litigation could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Separately, we are subject to claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business, the outcome of which is not material and cannot be predicted with certainty.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in this report are any of the risks recently updated and described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which we filed with the SEC on March 11 , 2010. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

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

We did not make any unregistered sales of equity securities during the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

Purchases of Equity Securities

In August 2009, the Board of Directors approved a 1-year extension of the Company’s discretionary equity buy-back plan and an expansion of the plan to include common stock. Under the broadened plan, the Company may purchase warrants and up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock in open market and private transactions through December 31, 2010, at times and in amounts as management deems appropriate, subject to applicable securities laws. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, 3,216,101 warrants and 4,759,101 warrants, respectively, were purchased by the Company, in cash, for an aggregate of $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively (the market price for the public warrants). No common shares were purchased in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010. The following table provides additional details regarding warrant repurchases during the periods indicated.

 

     Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities  

Period

   Total Number of
Warrants
Purchased
     Average Price
Paid
per Warrant
     Total Number of
Warrants
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plan or
Program
     Maximum Number
of Warrants that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plan
 

April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010

     —           —           —           *   

May 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010

     —           —           —           *   

June 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010

     1,543,000       $ 0.47         1,543,000         *   

July 1, 2010 to July 31, 2010

     3,216,101       $ 0.41         3,216,101         *   

August 1, 2010 to August 30, 2010

     —           —           —           *   

September 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010

     —           —           —           *   

 

* The volume is in the Board’s discretion.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

 

Item 4. Reserved

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

 

29


Table of Contents

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated May 19, 2008, by and among Heckmann Corporation, Heckmann Acquisition II Corporation and China Water and Drinks, Inc. (included in Annex A to Amendment No. 5 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on October 1, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference)
  2.1A    Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated September 29, 2008, by and among Heckmann Corporation, Heckmann Acquisition II Corporation and China Water and Drinks, Inc. (included in Annex A to Amendment No. 5 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on October 1, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference)
  2.1B    Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated October 30, 2008, by and among Heckmann Corporation, Heckmann Acquisition II Corporation and China Water and Drinks, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 5, 2008)
  2.2    Amended and Restated Agreement for Share Exchange, dated May 11, 2007, by and among Ugods, Inc. (predecessor of China Water and Drinks, Inc.), Gain Dynasty Investments Limited and the shareholders of Gain Dynasty Investments Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.3    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 15, 2007, by and among China Water and Drinks, Inc., Fine Lake International Limited, Peter Ng and Connie Leung, relating to the acquisition of Pilpol (HK) Biological Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.3A    Amendment No. 1 to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated August 15, 2007, by and among China Water and Drinks, Inc., Fine Lake International Limited, Peter Ng and Connie Leung, relating to the acquisition of Pilpol (HK) Biological Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.3B    Amendment No. 2 to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 16, 2008, by and among China Water and Drinks, Inc., Fine Lake International Limited, Peter Ng and Connie Leung, relating to the acquisition of Pilpol (HK) Biological Limited (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.4    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated August 24, 2007, by and among China Water and Drinks, Inc., Pilpol (HK) Biological Limited and Haoyang Bian, relating to the acquisition of Shenyang Aixin Industry Company Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.4A    Amendment No. 1 to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated December 13, 2007, by and among China Water and Drinks, Inc., Pilpol (HK) Biological Limited and Haoyang Bian, relating to the acquisition of Shenyang Aixin Industry Company Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.5    Amended and Restated Share Purchase Agreement, dated June 12, 2008, by and between China Water and Drinks, Inc. and Li Sui Poon, relating to the acquisition of the parent company of Guangzhou Grand Canyon Pure Distilled Water Co. Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.6    Share Purchase Agreement, dated October 22, 2008, by and between Gain Dynasty Investments Ltd. and Yu Waiman, relating to the acquisition of the parent company of Changsha Rongtai Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.7    Share Purchase Agreement, dated October 22, 2008, by and between Gain Dynasty Investments Ltd. and Leung Yu, relating to the acquisition of the parent company of Beijing Changsheng Taoda Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)
  2.8    Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2009, by and among Heckmann Corporation, Heckmann Water Resources Corporation, Charis Partners, LLC, David Melton, Chris Cooper, Craig Zips, Mike Davis, Kevin Greer, Greer Exploration Corporation, James Greer, Silversword, L.P., Silversword II, L.P., Silversword III, L.P., Silversword IV, L.P., Silversword V, L.P., Silversword VII, L.P., and Jon Hileman (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 12, 2009)

 

30


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  2.9    Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2009, by and among Heckmann Corporation, Heckmann Water Resources Corporation, Charis Partners, LLC, David Melton, Chris Cooper, Craig Zips, Mike Davis, Kevin Greer, Greer Exploration Corporation, James Greer, Silversword, L.P., Silversword II, L.P., Silversword III, L.P., Silversword IV, L.P., Silversword V, L.P., Silversword VII, L.P., and Jon Hileman (incorporated herein by reference to Heckmann Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 30, 2009).
  2.10   

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2010, by and among Heckmann Corporation, Complete Vacuum and Rental, Inc., Steven W. Kent, II and Jana S. Kent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.10 to Heckmann Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010)

  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 4, 2007)
  3.1A    Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Heckmann Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 5, 2008)
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 4 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed October 26, 2007)
  3.2A*    Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended on October 7, 2010
  4.1    Specimen Unit Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed June 26, 2007)
  4.2    Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed June 26, 2007)
  4.3    Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Amendment No. 2 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 4, 2007)
  4.4    Form of Second Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, by and between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and Heckmann Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Amendment No. 6 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed November 8, 2007)
  4.5    Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 19, 2008, by and between Heckmann Corporation and the signatories party thereto (included as Annex G to Amendment No. 5 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed October 1, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference)
  4.6    Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Heckmann Corporation and certain security holders (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Amendment No. 6 to Heckmann Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed November 8, 2007)
  10.48*    Executive Employment Agreement, dated effective October 1, 2010, by and between Heckmann Corporation and Charles Gordon
  31.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2*    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

* Filed herewith.

 

31


Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 9, 2010

/s/ RICHARD J. HECKMANN

Name:   Richard J. Heckmann
Title:  

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ BRIAN R. ANDERSON

Name:   Brian R. Anderson
Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Accounting Officer)

 

32

 

EXHIBIT 3.2A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

HECKMANN CORPORATION

A Delaware Corporation

Effective                              , 2007


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE

   PAGE  
I  

OFFICES

     1   
  Section 1.  

Registered Office

     1   
  Section 2.  

Other Offices

     1   
II  

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

     1   
  Section 1.  

Place of Meetings

     1   
  Section 2.  

Annual Meetings

     1   
  Section 3.  

Special Meetings

     1   
  Section 4.  

Notice

     1   
  Section 5.  

Adjournments

     2   
  Section 6.  

Quorum

     2   
  Section 7.  

Voting

     2   
  Section 8.  

Proxies

     2   
  Section 9.  

Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting

     3   
  Section 10.  

List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote

     4   
  Section 11.  

Record Date

     4   
  Section 12.  

Stock Ledger

     5   
  Section 13.  

Conduct of Meetings

     5   
  Section 14.  

Inspectors of Election

     5   
III  

DIRECTORS

     6   
  Section 1.  

Number and Election of Directors

     6   
  Section 2.  

Vacancies

     6   
  Section 3.  

Duties and Powers

     6   
  Section 4.  

Meetings

     6   
  Section 5.  

Organization

     7   
  Section 6.  

Resignations and Removals of Directors

     7   
  Section 7.  

Quorum

     7   
  Section 8.  

Actions of the Board by Written Consent

     7   
  Section 9.  

Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone

     7   
  Section 10.  

Committees

     8   
  Section 11.  

Compensation

     8   
  Section 12.  

Interested Directors

     8   
IV  

OFFICERS

     9   
  Section 1.  

General

     9   
  Section 2.  

Election

     9   
  Section 3.  

Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation

     9   
  Section 4.  

Chairman of the Board of Directors

     10   
  Section 5.  

Vice Chairman of the Board

     10   
  Section 6.  

President

     10   
  Section 7.  

Vice Presidents

     10   
  Section 8.  

Secretary

     11   
  Section 9.  

Treasurer

     11   
  Section 10.  

Assistant Secretaries

     11   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

ARTICLE

   PAGE  
  Section 11.  

Assistant Treasurers

     12   
  Section 12.  

Other Officers

     12   
V  

STOCK

     12   
  Section 1.  

Form of Certificates

     12   
  Section 2.  

Signatures

     12   
  Section 3.  

Lost Certificates

     12   
  Section 4.  

Transfers

     13   
  Section 5.  

Dividend Record Date

     13   
  Section 6.  

Record Owners

     13   
  Section 7.  

Transfer and Registry Agents

     13   
VI  

NOTICES

     13   
  Section 1.  

Notices

     13   
  Section 2.  

Waivers of Notice

     14   
VII  

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     14   
  Section 1.  

Dividends

     14   
  Section 2.  

Disbursements

     14   
  Section 3.  

Fiscal Year

     14   
  Section 4.  

Corporate Seal

     14   
VIII  

INDEMNIFICATION

     14   
  Section 1.  

Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation

     14   
  Section 2.  

Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation

     15   
  Section 3.  

Authorization of Indemnification

     15   
  Section 4.  

Good Faith Defined

     16   
  Section 5.  

Indemnification by a Court

     16   
  Section 6.  

Expenses Payable in Advance

     16   
  Section 7.  

Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

     16   
  Section 8.  

Insurance

     17   
  Section 9.  

Certain Definitions

     17   
  Section 10.  

Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

     17   
  Section 11.  

Limitation on Indemnification

     18   
  Section 12.  

Indemnification of Employees and Agents

     18   
IX  

AMENDMENTS

     18   
  Section 1.  

Amendments

     18   
  Section 2.  

Entire Board of Directors

     18   

 

-ii-


 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

HECKMANN CORPORATION

(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office . The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, State of Delaware.

Section 2. Other Offices . The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Place of Meetings . Meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Annual Meetings . The Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the election of directors shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any other proper business may be transacted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Section 3. Special Meetings . Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), Special Meetings of Stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chairman, if there be one, or (ii) the President, (iii) any Vice President, if there be one, (iv) the Secretary or (v) any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, and shall be called by any such officer at the request in writing of (i) the Board of Directors or (ii) a committee of the Board of Directors that has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority include the power to call such meetings. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. At a Special Meeting of Stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).

Section 4. Notice . Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a Special Meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.


 

Section 5. Adjournments . Any meeting of the stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 4 hereof shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

Section 6. Quorum . Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 5 hereof, until a quorum shall be present or represented.

Section 7. Voting . Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws or permitted by the rules of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares are listed and traded, any question brought before any meeting of the stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the Corporation’s capital stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, each stockholder represented at a meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 8 of this Article II. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

Section 8. Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted upon after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:

(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.

 

2


 

(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram or cablegram to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such telegram or cablegram, provided that any such telegram or cablegram must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram or cablegram was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined that such telegrams or cablegrams are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information on which they relied.

Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing, telegram or cablegram authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing, telegram or cablegram for any and all purposes for which the original writing, telegram or cablegram could be used; provided, however, that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing, telegram or cablegram.

Section 9. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any Annual or Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this Section 9 to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided above in this Section 9.

 

3


 

Section 10. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote . The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

Section 11. Record Date .

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

4


 

Section 12. Stock Ledger . The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 10 of this Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

Section 13. Conduct of Meetings . The Board of Directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.

Section 14. Inspectors of Election . In advance of any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors, by resolution, the Chairman or the President shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by applicable law.

 

5


 

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number and Election of Directors . The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. The initial division of the Board of Directors into classes shall be made by the decision of the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The term of the initial Class I directors shall terminate on the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting; the term of the initial Class II directors shall terminate on the date of the 2009 Annual Meeting; and the term of the initial Class III directors shall terminate on the date of the 2010 Annual Meeting or, in each case, upon such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. At each succeeding Annual Meeting of Stockholders beginning in 2008, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that Annual Meeting shall be elected for a three-year term and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class or from the removal from office, death, disability, resignation or disqualification of a director or other cause shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors have the effect of removing or shortening the term of any incumbent director.

Section 2. Vacancies . Any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, provided that a quorum is present, and any other vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors of such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor.

Section 3. Duties and Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

Section 4. Meetings . The Board of Directors and any committee thereof may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be held without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors or such committee, respectively. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, if there be one, the President, or by any director. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman of such committee, if there be one, the President, or any director serving on such committee. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director (or, in the case of a committee, to each member of such committee) either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone or telegram on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

 

6


 

Section 5. Organization . At each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the chairman of such committee, as the case may be, or, in his or her absence or if there be none, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman. Except as provided below, the Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all the Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board of Directors may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.

Section 6. Resignations and Removals of Directors . Any director of the Corporation may resign from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation and, in the case of a committee, to the chairman of such committee, if there be one. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately; and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors. Any director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Quorum . Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 8. Actions of the Board by Written Consent . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.

Section 9. Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 9 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

7


 

Section 10. Committees . The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another qualified member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors when required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing any committee of the Board of Directors and/or the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these By-Laws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these By-Laws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.

Section 11. Compensation . The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary for service as director, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for service as committee members.

Section 12. Interested Directors . No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

8


 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. General . The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, also may choose a Chairman of the Board of Directors (who must be a director) and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, need such officers be directors of the Corporation.

Section 2. Election . The Board of Directors, at its first meeting held after each Annual Meeting of Stockholders (or action by written consent of stockholders in lieu of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders), shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation . Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the President or any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board of Directors and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

9


 

Section 4. Chairman of the Board of Directors . The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors designates the President as the Chief Executive Officer, and, except where by law the signature of the President is required, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall possess the same power as the President to sign all contracts, certificates and other instruments of the Corporation which may be authorized by the Board of Directors. During the absence or disability of the President, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers and discharge all the duties of the President. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Vice Chairman of the Board . At the request of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, in the Chairman’s absence, or in the event of the Chairman’s inability or refusal to act, the Vice Chairman of the Board shall perform the duties of the Chairman, such duties to include presiding at meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and any other duties of the Chairman, including those of the Chief Executive Officer. During the absence or disability of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall exercise the same power as the Chief Executive Officer to sign all contracts, certificates and other instruments of the Company which may be authorized by the Board of Directors. The Vice Chairman also shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to the Vice Chairman by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. President . The President shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and, if there be one, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, have general supervision of the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President shall execute all bonds, mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except that the other officers of the Corporation may sign and execute documents when so authorized by these By-Laws, the Board of Directors or the President. In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or if there be none, the President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, provided the President is also a director, the Board of Directors. If there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors, or if the Board of Directors shall otherwise designate, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The President shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Vice Presidents . At the request of the President or in the President’s absence or in the event of the President’s inability or refusal to act (and if there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors), the Vice President, or the Vice Presidents if there are more than one (in the order designated by the Board of Directors), shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe. If there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors and no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the President or in the event of the inability or refusal of the President to act, shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.

 

10


 

Section 8. Secretary . The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for committees of the Board of Directors when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the Board of Directors or the President may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest to the affixing by such officer’s signature. The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.

Section 9. Treasurer . The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of the Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the Treasurer’s possession or under the Treasurer’s control belonging to the Corporation.

Section 10. Assistant Secretaries . Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary’s inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.

 

11


 

Section 11. Assistant Treasurers . Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer’s inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer. If required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of Assistant Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Assistant Treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the Assistant Treasurer’s possession or under the Assistant Treasurer’s control belonging to the Corporation.

Section 12. Other Officers . Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

Section 1. Form of Certificates . Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation (i) by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President and (ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation.

Section 2. Signatures . Any or all of the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 3. Lost Certificates . The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

12


 

Section 4. Transfers . Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these By-Laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. Every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “Cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.

Section 5. Dividend Record Date . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 6. Record Owners . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

Section 7. Transfer and Registry Agents . The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI

NOTICES

Section 1. Notices . Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Written notice may also be given personally or by telegram, telex or cable.

 

13


 

Section 2. Waivers of Notice . Whenever any notice is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a person at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any Annual or Special Meeting of Stockholders or any regular or special meeting of the directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Dividends . Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 8 of Article III hereof), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

Section 2. Disbursements . All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

Section 3. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Corporate Seal . The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation . Subject to Section 3 of this Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

14


 

Section 2. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation . Subject to Section 3 of this Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 3. Authorization of Indemnification . Any indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

15


 

Section 4. Good Faith Defined . For purposes of any determination under Section 3 of this Article VIII, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be.

Section 5. Indemnification by a Court . Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this Article VIII, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this Article VIII nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

Section 6. Expenses Payable in Advance . Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VIII. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

Section 7. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses . The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 1 and Section 2 of this Article VIII shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article VIII but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.

 

16


 

Section 8. Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII.

Section 9. Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article VIII shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VIII.

Section 10. Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses . The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

17


 

Section 11. Limitation on Indemnification . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5 of this Article VIII), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Section 12. Indemnification of Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments . These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new By-Laws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new By-Laws be contained in the notice of such meeting of the stockholders or Board of Directors, as the case may be. All such amendments must be approved by either the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote thereon or by a majority of the entire Board of Directors then in office.

Section 2. Entire Board of Directors . As used in this Article IX and in these By-Laws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

*    *    *

Adopted as of:              , 2007

 

18

 

EXHIBIT 10.48

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement between Heckmann Corporation (“Company”) and Charles Gordon (“Executive”) is made effective on this 1st day of October 2010 (“Agreement”) Company and Executive hereby agree to the employment of Executive by Company on the following terms and conditions:

 

1. Commencement and Term of Agreement

Executive’s employment under this Agreement will commence on October 1, 2010, and continue for three (3) years (the “Term”), unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. The Term may be modified or extended by mutual agreement.

 

2. Positions and Appointments

Executive shall serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and, at the Chairman or Chief Executive Officer’s election, its subsidiaries. Executive’s duties shall include, but not be limited to, those typical of the President and Chief Operating Officer of a New York Stock Exchange listed company, and such other duties as may be required by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors of the Company from time to time consistent therewith. Executive will be required to travel for business purposes.

 

3. Base Salary

Company will pay Executive a base salary in cash at the rate of $300,000 per annum ($25,000 per month) from which tax and other withholdings will be deducted. Executive will be paid in installments in accordance with normal Company policy Executive’s base salary may be changed by mutual agreement at any time during the Term.

 

4. Bonus and Equity Incentive Holdings

 

4.1 Executive shall be eligible for a bonus of up to 60% of base salary, from which tax and other withholdings will be deducted, pursuant to a plan or plans developed by you and the Chairman and approved by the Company from time to time, beginning for the calendar year 2011.

 

4.2 Upon your execution of this Agreement, Executive will be granted 550,000 options to purchase a share of common stock, at the fair market value thereof as defined in our equity plan. The terms of the option will be reflected in our standard grant agreement.

 

4.3 Thereafter on or about each anniversary of this Agreement during which you are employed as President and Chief Operating Officer, we will grant you 100,000 options on essentially the same terms (with fair market value measured at the applicable grant date), and 50,000 shares of restricted stock, which shall be governed by our equity plan and standard grant agreement.

 

5. Expenses

Company shall reimburse Executive in respect of all reasonable travelling, accommodation, marketing, entertainment, and other similar out-of-pocket business expenses necessarily incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties, provided that any expense reimbursement claims are supported by relevant documentation and are made in accordance with Company’s expense or travel policies.

 

1


 

6. Benefits and Vacation

Executive shall be entitled to participate in, and receive benefits as permitted by applicable law under, any pension benefit plan, welfare benefit plan (including, without limitation, health insurance), vacation benefit plan including 14 paid vacation days per annum or other executive benefit plan made available by Company to its senior executives. Any such plan or benefit arrangement may be amended, modified, or terminated by Company from time to time with or without notice to Executive

 

7. Termination of Employment

 

7.1 By Executive

Executive may seek to terminate his employment by choice without any “Good Reason” by giving the Company thirty (30) days minimum notice in writing. In such case, Executive will receive only his base salary through his final day of service.

Executive may seek to terminate his employment with “Good Reason” by giving to Company thirty (30) days notice in writing, and Company shall have sixty (60) days after said notice to cure the problem. If uncured, Executive will receive severance compensation paid in an amount equal to his most recent twelve (12) months’ base salary, plus a prorated bonus. Payments will be made at the same time as Company salary (or bonus) payments. Executive shall also remain covered by the Company’s health benefits plan for twelve (12) months (or the Company shall reimburse Executive for such costs).

“Good Reason” shall mean: (a) a material reduction or addition in Executive’s authority, duties, and executive responsibilities with the Company, or (b) a change in direct reporting to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or (c) a material breach of this Agreement.

 

7.2 By Company

Company may seek to terminate Executive’s employment by choice without “Cause” by giving Executive not less than thirty (30) days notice in writing. In such case, Executive will receive severance compensation equal to his most recent twelve (12) months’ base salary, plus a prorated bonus. Payments will be made at the same time as Company salary (or bonus) payments. Executive shall also remain covered by the Company’s health benefits plan for twelve (12) months (or the Company shall reimburse Executive for such costs).

Company may seek to terminate Executive’s employment with “Cause” by giving Executive not less than thirty (30) days notice in writing, as well as providing Executive thirty (30) days to cure the problem. If uncured, Executive will receive only his base salary through his final day of service. “Cause” shall be deemed to exist if Executive shall at any time: (a) commit a material breach of this Agreement, or (b) be guilty of gross negligence in connection with or affecting the business or affairs of the Company, or (c) be guilty of insubordination, or (d) be convicted of, or plead no contest to, a felony criminal offense

 

2


 

7.3 Death and Disability

Executive’s employment will automatically terminate upon his death. Further, Company reserves the right to terminate Executive’s employment at any time during which Executive has a “Disability.” In the event of a termination of Executive’s employment due to death or Disability, Company will pay to Executive or his estate, as applicable, a severance payment equal to his most recent twelve months’ salary, payable at the same time as Company salary payments.

For purposes of this Agreement, a “Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that prevents Executive from performing the essential duties of his position, with or without reasonable accommodation, for (i) a period of sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or (ii) an aggregate of ninety (90) work days in any six (6) month period. A determination that Executive has incurred a Disability will be made by Company, in its sole discretion, but in consultation with a physician selected by Company and provided that such selected physician consults with Executive’s physician in addition to any examination of Executive and/or other tests on Executive that such selected physician performs or orders to be performed. Executive hereby agrees to submit to any such examinations and/or other tests from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any termination of employment due to a “Disability” will be made in accordance with applicable law.

 

8.0 Change of Control

In the event that the Executive’s employment with Company is terminated by Company without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason, in either case following a “Change of Control” (as defined below) then in lieu of any payments or benefits under clauses 7.1 or 7 2, as applicable, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits:

 

  (a) within thirty (30) days, or other mutually agreed date, a payment equal to two (2) times the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect as the time of termination or immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control; and

 

  (b) within thirty (30) days, or other mutually agreed date, a payment equal to two (2) times the Executive’s bonus for the year immediately preceding the year in which the Change of Control occurs; and

 

  (c) two (2) years of continued coverage under the Company’s (or its successor’s) health insurance plan at the same rates and under the same terms and conditions that are applicable to senior Executives of Company or its successor (or reimbursement therefore); and

 

  (d) immediate lapse of restrictions and immediate vesting respecting any restricted stock and outstanding equity incentive awards made to the Executive.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” means a material change in Executive’s position and responsibilities combined with the earliest to occur of the following events:

 

  (i) the acquisition or ownership by any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any successor statute, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”)) (each, a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Outstanding Voting Securities”) ; or

 

  (ii) individuals who, as of the commencement of the Executive’s employment with Company, constitute the Board of Directors of Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of Company; or

 

3


 

  (iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Company (a “Corporate Transaction”): or

 

  (iv) approval by the stockholders of Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Company

 

9. Confidential Information

 

9.1 Executive acknowledges that, during the course of his employment with Company, he will have access to confidential business information and secrets. Executive agrees, both during the term of his employment and following its termination, that he will hold the confidential business information and secrets in the strictest confidence, and that he will not use or attempt to use or disclose any confidential information or business secrets any other person or entity without the prior written authorization of Company.

 

9.2 The restrictions of clause 9.1 do not apply to any Confidential Information that (a) has entered into the public domain other than by a breach of this Agreement or other obligation of confidentiality of which Executive is aware, or (b) solely to the extent and for the duration required, is required to be disclosed under a validly-issued court order, pursuant to a request by government regulators, and which disclosure Company is unable legally to prevent.

 

10. Further Obligations of Executive

 

10.1 Executive shall comply with all applicable rules of law, securities laws, regulations, and codes of conduct of Company in effect from time to time in relation to dealings in shares, notes, debentures, or other securities.

 

10.2 Executive represents that his employment with Company does not violate any prior agreement with a former employer or third party.

 

11. Application of Section 409A

 

11.1 Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no amount payable on account of Executive’s termination of employment which constitutes a “deferral of compensation” (“Section 409A Deferred Compensation”) within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations issued pursuant to Section 409A of the Code (the “Section 409A Regulations”) shall be paid unless and until Executive has incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations. Furthermore, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations as of the date of Executive’s separation from service, no amount that constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation which is payable on account of Executive’s separation from service shall be paid to Executive before the date (the “Delayed Payment Date”) which is first day of the seventh month after the date of Executive’s separation from service or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death following such separation from service. All such amounts that would, but for this Section, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date will be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.

 

11.2 To the extent that all or any portion of the Company’s payment of or reimbursement to Executive for the cost of health care coverage premiums pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 (the “ Company-Provided Benefits ”) would exceed an amount for which, or continue for a period of time in excess of which, such Company Provided Benefits would qualify for an exemption from treatment as Section 409A Deferred Compensation, then, for the duration of the applicable period during which the Company is required to provide such benefits: (a) the amount of Company-Provided Benefits furnished in any taxable year of Executive shall not affect the amount of Company-Provided Benefits furnished in any other taxable year of Executive; (b) any right of Executive to Company-Provided Benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; and (c) any reimbursement for Company-Provided Benefits to which Executive is entitled shall be paid no later than the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which Executive’s expense for such Company-Provided Benefits was incurred.

 

4


 

11.3 Any equity award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and become payable upon a Change of Control in accordance with Section 8 shall vest in full as provided by Section 8 but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change of Control into a right to receive in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or on such earlier date as provided by Sections 7 or 8) an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the equity award at the time of the Change of Control.

 

11.4 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Agreement solely by reason of a Change of Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change of Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations

 

11.5 The Company intends that income provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement will not be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in favor of satisfying any applicable requirements of Section 409A and the Section 409A Regulations. However, the Company does not guarantee any particular tax effect for income provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement. In any event, except for the Company’s responsibility to withhold applicable income and employment taxes from compensation paid or provided to Executive, the Company shall not be responsible for the payment of any applicable taxes incurred by Executive on compensation paid or provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

 

12. Miscellaneous

 

12.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between Company and Executive and supersedes any other agreements, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may only be modified or amended by a further agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

12.2 This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, and without giving effect to conflict of law principles.

 

12.3 In the event the parties are unable to settle a dispute respecting this Agreement such dispute shall be referred to and finally settled by arbitration at a mutually agreed local office of the American Arbitration Association within the counties of Riverside or Los Angeles, California, in accordance with its commercial and employment Arbitration Rules then in effect, administered by a three member panel of experienced arbitrators selected by mutual agreement. The parties may offer any relevant materials in discovery under volume and timescale guidelines set by the arbitrators.

 

12.4 This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts when taken together shall constitute one and the same original.

 

12.5 Except to the extent that applicable law requires that any specific action be taken or performed by Company’s Compensation Committee, or to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, any action to be taken or performed, or direction to be provided, by Company under this Agreement may be taken, performed, or provided at the direction of Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

 

12.6 Any waiver by Company of any provision, or any breach of any provision, of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any other provision herein.

 

5


 

12.7 Due to the personal nature of the services contemplated under this Agreement, this Agreement and Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by Executive. Company may assign its rights, together with its obligations hereunder, in connection with any sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of its business and/or assets, provided that any such assignee of Company agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Company    
By:   /s/ Richard J. Heckman     Date: 8/23/10
  Name: Richard J. Heckman    
  Title: Chairman of the Board and CEO    
Executive    
By:   /s/ Charles Gordon     Date: 8/28/10
  Name: Charles Gordon    

 

6

 

EXHIBIT 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Richard J. Heckmann, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010 of Heckmann Corporation.

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control for financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

  e) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 9, 2010

 

By:  

/s/ Richard J. Heckmann

Name:   Richard J. Heckmann
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

EXHIBIT 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Brian R. Anderson, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010 of Heckmann Corporation.

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control for financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

  e) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 9, 2010

 

By:  

/s/ Brian R. Anderson

Name:   Brian R. Anderson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer/Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

Certification of CEO Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the report of Heckmann Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, we, the undersigned, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of our knowledge, that:

 

  (1) The report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 9, 2010

 

By:  

/s/ Richard J. Heckmann

    By:  

/s/ Brian R. Anderson

Name:   Richard J. Heckmann     Name:   Brian R. Anderson
Title:  

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

    Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal

Accounting Officer)

This certification accompanies this report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or otherwise subject to liability pursuant to that section. The certification shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Secretary of the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.